Havas Buys UK Agency, Readies Global Expansion

Global media network Havas Media has added to its digital portfolio, acquiring U.K.-based integrated agency Archibald Ingall Stretton.

“This deal is very much aimed towards international expansion,” a Havas spokesperson told ClickZ News.

Havas will launch a new global integrated network under the AIS banner, which will extend into Europe, North America, Latin America, Australia and Asia, with offices opening in the U.S., Mexico, Spain and Portugal by the end of 2008. AIS Partner Stuart Archibald will head up the company’s international strategy.

According to Havas, the acquisition will allow AIG’s clients to scale their business across the Havas network, which currently spans 40 countries.

“Archibald Ingall Stretton has a similar philosophy to our group, and its ability to fully embrace and leverage digital media is unique,” Havas Media CEO Alfonso Rodes said in a company statement.

Current AIS clients include O2, Skoda, Pioneer and EDF Energy. The agency currently employs 130 staff, and has billings in excess of $98 million.

Existing Havas Media digital brands include Media Contacts, Lattitud, iGlue and Mobext.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.