Adds 2025 guidance in paragraph 1, adds CEO & CFO comments on AI cost-savings, headcount, strategy, mergers in paragraphs 2 to 6

By Leo Marchandon

Feb 17 - French advertising group Havas HAVAS.AS on Tuesday reported full-year organic growth of 3.1%, slightly beating its guidance of 2% to 3%, saying it benefited from artificial intelligence boosting its productivity.

Havas, a global advertising agency that completes its first full trading year after being spun-off form Vivendi VIV.PA in December 2024, said it had achieved the growth without headcount changes.

Chief Executive Officer Yannick Bollore said on a call with reporters that Havas had reduced the production cost of an advertising film by up to 50% thanks to AI tools.

The company will maintain its 100 million euro annual budget for targeted AI investments and partnerships with Google, Microsoft, Anthropic and Adobe in 2026, he added.

Bollore dismissed market speculation about potential mega-mergers with rivals like Dentsu 4324.T or WPP WPP.L, saying Havas's mid-sized scale of 23,000 employees helped it to implement AI technology.

Havas reported net revenue of 2.78 billion euros ($3.29 billion) for 2025, with adjusted earnings before interest and taxes margin improving 50 basis points to 12.9% from 12.4% the previous year. Net income rose 11.1% to 210 million euros.

For 2026, the company forecast organic growth of 2-3% and adjusted EBIT margin of 13.2% to 13.5%, with a dividend payout ratio of around 40%.

($1 = 0.8454 euros)