• by Steve McClellan  @mp_mcclellan, March 15, 2012

Media agency holding company Aegis Group reported 2011 revenue of nearly $1.8 billion, up 21% while tripling pre-tax profits which rose to $167 million. The numbers do not include results for research arm Synovate, which was sold in mid-2011.

Aegis said its organic revenue growth (ORG), which excludes acquisitions and currency fluctuations, was up 9.9% for the year, almost double what the group achieved in 2010. That was higher than the major full service ad holding companies, although from a lower revenue base. WPP for example, with more than $16 billion in revenue last year reported organic growth of 5.3%, while the Omnicom Group, with nearly $14 billion in revenue reported 6.1% ORG for the year.

Aegis said that strong performances from digital, faster growing regions and North America helped boost results. Revenues for the Americas totaled $340 million, up nearly 18% with most of the gain (17.2%) coming from organic growth. Asia Pacific revenue was up 87% to $346 million. And digital accounted for over one-third (35%) of the company’s revenues.

The strong results were driven by “record-equaling” net new business for the year which totaled $2.7 billion, $700 million more than in 2010. That does not include the award for the $3 billion General Motors global media account, which occurred in January 2012. Aegis described that win as the “most significant” in the company’s history. Wins last year included Home Depot, a portion of Disney and eBay Europe.

Aegis CEO Jerry Buhlmann characterized 2011 performance as “very strong…The successful sale of Synovate represented the largest structural change in our history and gives the Group increased flexibility to move ahead with our program of target acquisitions and investments.”

He added that 18 acquisitions last year improved the company’s core capabilities and positioning in key markets. “This is in line with our strategy to increase revenue contribution from digital, faster-growing region and North America,” he said.

Addressing 2012, Buhlmann stated: “We are optimistic about the outlook for the advertising sector,” this year, which is “supported by key sporting events and the U.S. presidential elections and we anticipate further success for the Group in the year ahead.”