MAM
News Corp board gives the nod regarding US reincorporation
MUMBAI: Media conglomerate News Corporation has announced that a special committee of non-executive directors and the full board of directors have recommended the proposed reorganisation of the company.
It was in April that the company’s CEO Rupert Murdoch had announced plans to shift its incorporation to the US from Australia.
News Corp expects the reorganisation to be completed by the end of the year. As reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com the move to reincorporate in the US makes sense as 75 per cent of News Corp’s revenues and profits are from US based businesses like Fox and now Directv.
However the proposed move will not result in a change in strategy. The reorganisation must now be approved by News Corp’s shareholders.
As part of the plan, the board has approved of a deal under which News Corp. would acquire from the Murdoch family a holding company that owns News Corp shares and a 58 per cent stake in Australian newspaper publisher Queensland Press. News Corp already owns the rest of Queensland Press. This will result in the full consolidation of the Queensland Press publishing business,
The board, adviser bank UBS and the Murdoch family agreed to value the Queensland Press publishing business at 2.45 billion Australian dollars ($1.75 billion), after deducting about 500 million Australian dollars for debt.
After the deals are done, the Murdoch Interests, which are controlled by News Corp. Chief Executive Rupert Murdoch and his family, will own 29.48 percent of the voting shares of News Corp. US. This will be slightly less than the 29.87 per cent that they now own.
In a statement, the company said the deals would enhance demand for its stock and improve its performance by increasing the U.S. shareholder base and allowing the company to be included in U.S. stock indexes.
The deals will also simplify News Corp’s structure and allow external reporting consistent with its peer group.
Brands
Havas reports solid Q1 2026 with 2.5 per cent organic net revenue growth
Advertising group maintains positive momentum and confirms full-year guidance.
MUMBAI: Havas has started 2026 on a strong note proving that even in uncertain times, its converged model continues to deliver. The global advertising and communications group reported net revenue of €638 million for the first quarter of 2026, representing organic growth of +2.5 per cent compared to the same period last year. This performance was driven particularly by a robust +7.4 per cent organic growth in the United States.
Total revenue for the quarter reached €667 million, with organic growth of +2.8 per cent. Recent acquisitions contributed a positive scope impact of +1.7 per cent, while foreign exchange movements had a negative impact of -5.8 per cent, mainly due to the US dollar and British pound.
Europe, which accounts for 50 per cent of net revenue, delivered +1.1 per cent organic growth, supported by a good performance in France. North America (36 per cent of net revenue) led the way with +7.4 per cent growth, thanks to strong contributions from both Havas Creative and Havas Media. APAC & Africa (8 per cent) saw a decline of -6.2 per cent, while Latin America (6 per cent) remained nearly stable at -0.6 per cent.
Havas chairman and CEO Yannick Bolloré said, “Havas has started 2026 on a solid footing, continuing its momentum and delivering organic growth in net revenue of +2.5 per cent. This performance, in line with our full-year 2026 guidance, was driven in particular by continued strength in the US.”
The group also continued its bolt-on acquisition strategy, acquiring majority stakes in four agencies during the quarter: Acento Public Affairs (Spain), Ctrl Digital (Sweden), Styleheads (Germany), and Eyesight (France).
Havas maintained its strong creative reputation, ranking as a top holding company in the WARC Creative 100 for the sixth consecutive year, with three agencies BETC, Havas Paris, and Havas India placing in the Top 50.
Looking ahead, Havas confirmed its 2026 guidance: organic net revenue growth between +2.0 per cent and +3.0 per cent, adjusted EBIT margin between 13.2 per cent and 13.5 per cent, and a dividend payout ratio of around 40 per cent. The group also reiterated its medium-term targets for 2028.
Despite ongoing macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty, Havas enters the rest of the year with solid fundamentals and confidence in its ability to deliver sustainable, profitable growth.
In a challenging environment, Havas is proving that its integrated, client-centric model remains resilient delivering steady growth while continuing to invest in creativity and innovation. The first quarter results suggest the group is well-positioned to navigate the year ahead with confidence.
