Media group Aegis beats forecasts

UK media buying and planning firm Aegis Group beat analyst forecasts today with first-half organic revenue growth at 9.6 per cent.

Analysts had been expecting organic growth of 7.7 per cent.

First-half pretax profit rose 8.7 per cent to £41.3 million (€61 million) and revenue was up 7.7 per cent at £499 million.

Organic revenue growth at Aegis Media division was 9.8 per cent and 9.3 per cent for research arm Synovate. Net new business was up 14.8 per cent from last year, at almost $1.5 million.

The group increased its dividend per share by 15.9 per cent to 0.84 pence.