History of Firsts

1968		Carat Espace is created in Paris to become the world’s first media agency. Carat stands for Centre achete radio et television (Centre buys radio and Television)
1979		WCRS Group formed as a conventional advertising agency
1984		WCRS acquires full control of Carat Espace WCRS lists on the London Stock Exchange for the first time
1989	December	The WCRS Group undergoes financial restructuring; emerges with strategy to focus on specialist media services Carat Espace acquires Harrison Salinson Carat, Europe’s first media planning and buying network was created
1990	December May	Turnover - £1,717m Pre tax profit - £67.8m WCRS changes its name to Aegis Group plc
1991	December June	Turnover - £2,109m Pre tax profit - £54.4m TV becomes the largest single medium in Europe in expenditure terms Carat UK formed
1992	December September September	Turnover - £2,845.3m Pre tax loss - £10.9m All remaining interests in full-service advertising are sold, enabling Aegis to become a specialist in media planning and buying Board confirms refinancing
1993	December April	Turnover - £2,748.4m Pre tax loss - £18.1m Loi Sapin comes into effect in France representing a profound change to the business model in Aegis largest market
1994	December	Turnover - £2,969.9m Pre tax profit - £20.1m Aegis headquarters moved from Paris to London New business wins overtake acquisition as a source of growth
1995	December	Turnover - £3,400.9m Pre tax profit - £33.6m Disney and Phillips become the first major Pan-European wins Carat International created Carat extends its services beyond media planning and buying into all aspects of media communication - creating a new type of agency
1996	December	Turnover - Pre-tax profit - £39.6m Harrison Salinson becomes Posterscope Aegis wins Phillips international account Aegis moves in to the US Market share in Europe of 12%, more than double our nearest competitor International clients now account for 50% of turnover Carat Interactive launched in the UK
1997	December March	Turnover - £3,652.5m Pre tax profit - £45.6m Aegis moves in to India, Hong Kong, Russia and Malaysia MMA acquired