Digital Media, Research Fueling Aegis Growth

Its focus on digital media and marketing research is paying off for U.K.-based holding company Aegis Group, which this morning reported first quarter 2007 revenues and annual outlook that are beating the overall growth of its peers on Madison Avenue. The results were equally strong for both research and media operations, the latter of which appears to have been bolstered by a surge in demand for digital media.

"Digital services continue to be the fastest-growing part of our business," the company said in a statement scheduled to be released at its annual meeting in London today. "Our leadership in digital is allowing us to deliver ever greater integration to clients as marketing disciplines converge."

While Aegis did not break out the explicit contribution of its digital operations, it said its digital media network Isobar now is the world's largest, citing new estimates from Paris-based researcher RECMA.

Total revenues from its media operations rose 10.3% during the first quarter, about the same as the 10.8% growth of the overall group. Aegis' Synovate research unit outpaced media, increasing 11.6% during the quarter.

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Aegis' organic revenues rose a healthy 8.4% overall and within its media operations, which have had especially strong momentum in Asia-Pacific and the EMEA markets, and especially China, which generated $2.7 billion in net new business during 2006.

"2007 has started well, with strong organic revenue growth in both Aegis Media and Synovate, and we continue to see a healthy outlook for both the advertising and market research markets," the company said, noting that it expects even better results during the second half of the year.

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