MAM
Havas group rebrands; Euro RSCG now known as Havas Worldwide
MUMBAI: France based communications network Havas has implemented a new business model with an integrated structure with the aim of placing digital at the core of all its activities and agencies, unifying creative and media assets and strengthening the visibility of its global brand by renaming its largest network.
Effective from today all Euro RSCG agencies have been renamed Havas Worldwide (316 offices in 75 countries, including the Euro RSCG, Euro RSCG Life, Euro RSCG 4D and Euro RSCG WW PR brands). This does not translate into any change in leadership.
Euro RSCG was formed in 1991 by the merger of two French agencies Eurocom and RSCG, both formed in the mid-1970s.
Under the new brand structure, the Havas group consists of two main brands – Havas Media and Havas Creative. The former entity will include all of the group‘s media agencies while Havas Creative will include Havas Worldwide (previously known as Euro RSCG) and Arnold Worldwide (16 agencies in 15 countries across five continents) along with other communications agencies.
The rebranding also involves the creation of a new brand Havas Digital Group which will be an umbrella brand operating across media and creative. It will not be a new network pr operational division, but purely a brand. The move comes as a step towards proving the group‘s commitment towards digital.
Havas CEO David Jones said, “A decade ago, we set ourselves apart by being the first major communication holding company to place digital at the core of all our agencies around the world. Our industry doesn‘t make it easy for clients. They are the ones who have to do the hard job of sifting through big bureaucratic holding companies to try to get a variety of different companies, cultures and P&L‘s to work together; to try to get creative, media and digital to collaborate. With this name change and with the moving together of our creative and media companies in Paris and New York, we‘re aiming to reinforce a key competitive advantage of Havas – that we‘re the most integrated of all of the communications groups with the simplest structure that can offer our clients a powerful combination of creative excellence, digital expertise, scale, agility and innovation.”
Jones added, “Today with the rebranding we‘re making a small change, but it‘s one we want to use as a catalyst for driving big change through Havas and the broader industry.”
The Havas Media brand, as well as its network names (MPG, Arena Media Communications, Havas Digital and Havas Sports & Entertainment) remains unchanged. Havas Media will reveal a new visual identity at the beginning of 2013.
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI:Â Jubilant FoodWorks Limited has landed in a tax tussle after receiving a GST demand of Rs 47.5 crore from the office of the additional commissioner of CGST and central excise in Thane, Maharashtra.
The order, issued under the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, relates to an alleged incorrect classification of certain services under the category of restaurant services. According to the tax authorities, this classification resulted in a short payment of goods and services tax for the period between the financial years 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The demand includes Rs 47.5 crore in GST along with an equal amount as penalty, in addition to applicable interest. The order was received by the company on March 13, 2026.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, the company said it disagrees with the order and believes its arguments were not adequately considered.
The company is preparing to challenge the decision and plans to file an appeal. It added that once the redressal process is complete, the demand is likely to be dropped.
Despite the sizeable figure attached to the notice, the company said it does not expect any material impact on its financials, operations or other activities.
The disclosure was signed by Suman Hegde, EVP and chief financial officer, who confirmed that the company received the order at 19:06 IST on March 13 and has already initiated steps to contest it.
The development places the quick service restaurant major in the middle of a tax debate that could hinge on how certain restaurant-linked services are classified under GST rules. For now, the company appears ready to take the matter from the tax office to the appeals desk.
