Havas to Buy Digital Marcoms Group FullSIX

Global communications network Havas is to acquire Paris-based digital marcoms agency group FullSIX. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but sources close to the acquisition are suggesting a figure of around $75m.

Founded in 1998 by Marco Tinelli (pictured) and his partners, FullSIX operates twenty agencies in eleven countries on four continents, and employs about 600 employees in France, Portugal, the UK, Spain, the US and Italy. The company places digital strategy and data at the heart of its clients' performance through a range of services which includes analytics, data and insights, branding and advertising, strategy and media buying, and eCommerce, as well as store experience and ROPO (research online, purchase offline) analysis.

FullSix generated revenues of $67m last year, and an insider told AdAge that Havas will likely pay 1.1 or 1.2 times this figure. The transaction, which is expected to close during October, is subject to a consultation process with FullSIX staff representatives. Assuming it goes ahead, the acquisition will add FullSIX services to Havas Group's Digital & Data scope and expertise, Tinelli will continue as President of the FullSIX group, and Havas CEO Yannick Bolloré will oversee the process of integrating entities into the group.

Commenting on the deal, Bolloré said: 'I am delighted to welcome all the FullSIX talents into the Havas family. We share common values and we both put innovation and integration at the heart of everything we do. I am confident that Marco and his team will further reinforce Havas' expertise on behalf of our clients, and that Havas will provide FullSIX with a major new source of growth.'

Web sites: www.havas.com and www.group.fullsix.com .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.