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Exhibit 99.4
[HAVAS ADVERTISING LOGO APPEARS HERE]
For Immediate Release
HAVAS ADVERTISING COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF SNYDER COMMUNICATIONS;
BEGINS TRADING AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES TODAY ON NASDAQ UNDER
THE SYMBOL "HADV"
Levallois, France, September 27, 2000 - The Havas Advertising Group (Nasdaq:
HADV; Paris Stock Exchange: HAV.PA), the world's fourth largest communications
group*, begins trading of its American Depositary Shares (ADSs) today on the
Nasdaq National Market under the symbol "HADV".
Havas Advertising's ADS listing results from its acquisition of Snyder
Communications that was approved on September 25, 2000 at an Extraordinary
General Meeting of Havas Advertising shareholders and a special meeting of
Snyder Communications shareholders. The merger became effective at 4:30 PM
Eastern Daylight Time on September 26, 2000. As a result of the acquisition,
Havas Advertising has become the world's fourth largest communications group.*
"I am extremely pleased the merger of Snyder Communications has been completed
and we can now focus our efforts on developing synergies between the four
components of Snyder (Arnold Communications, Bounty SCA Worldwide, Brann
Worldwide and Circle.com) and the four divisions of Havas Advertising,"
commented Alain de Pouzilhac, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Havas
Advertising. "Our target is to achieve synergies of between 40 and 57 million
euro on a full-year basis."
Commenting on the listing, Mr. de Pouzilhac, said "As Havas Advertising
continues to globalize its business and shareholder base, our presence has
expanded in the US which now represents approximately 45% of our revenues. The
Nasdaq Stock Market is an ideal choice for our listing because of its mission to
build a global securities market and its prominence in the US marketplace. We
are extremely proud to be listed on Nasdaq which, like Havas Advertising, is
well-positioned for the digital age."
About Havas Advertising
Havas Advertising (Paris Stock Exchange: HAV. PA, effective September 25, Nasdaq
: HADV, effective 27) is the world's fourth largest communications group, after
the Snyder Communications acquisition.* Based in Paris, Havas Advertising has
four operating divisions - Euro RSCG Worldwide, headquartered in New York, NY,
Media Planning Group in Barcelona, Spain, Diversified Agencies Group in Paris,
France and Arnold Worldwide Partners, headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.
Havas Advertising brings a multicultural approach to its business that
distinguishes it from other major communications companies. Havas Advertising
has a presence in 75 countries. Havas Advertising offers a complete line of
communications services, including general advertising, direct marketing, media
planning and buying, corporate communications, sales promotion, design, sports
marketing, human resources,
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multimedia interactive communications and public relations. With the Snyder
Communications acquisition, Havas Advertising now has a worldwide presence of
over 250 agencies and a staff of approximately 20,000.
Further information on Havas Advertising can be found on the company's web site
at: www.havas-advertising.com or in Havas Advertising's registration statement
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on Form F-4 filed with the SEC (SEC file #333-43362), which may be obtained free
of charge at the SEC's website, www.sec.gov. Further information about the
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calculation of the number of Havas Advertising ADSs issued to holders of Snyder
Communications SNC stock can also be found in Havas Advertising's registration
statement.
* Advertising Age Annual Agency Report ranking, April 24, 2000 and pro forma
for Snyder Communications acquisition.
Contacts :
Alain Camon : (33 1) 41 34 30 51
Robert McCann : (33 1) 41 34 36 32
[email protected]
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FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This document contains certain "forward-looking statements" about the merger of
Havas Advertising and Snyder Communications. These include statements regarding
the anticipated tax consequences and anticipated future operating results.
Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate
strictly to historical or current facts. They often include words like
"believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimated," "pro forma," and "intend" or
future or conditional verbs such as "will," "would," or "may." Certain factors
that could cause actual results to differ materially from expected results
include difficulties in integrating the Snyder Communications companies with the
Havas Advertising divisions and changes in general economic conditions that may
adversely affect the businesses in which Havas Advertising and Snyder
Communications are engaged and changes in the securities markets.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Havas Advertising and Snyder Communications filed a proxy statement /
prospectus and other relevant documents concerning the merger with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). WE URGE INVESTORS TO READ THE PROXY
STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC BECAUSE
THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors are able to obtain the documents
free of charge at the SEC's web site, www.sec.gov. In addition, documents filed
with the SEC by Havas Advertising are free of charge from its Secretaire
General, at 84, rue de Villiers, 92683 Levallois-Perret Cedex, France, 33-1-41
34 30 00. Documents filed with the SEC by Snyder Communications are available
free of charge from its Corporate Secretary at 6903 Rockledge Drive, Bethesda,
Maryland 20817, 301-571-6265.
Havas Advertising has filed with the French Commission des Operations de Bourse
(COB) a prospectus consisting of a document de reference and a note d'operation
definitive that have received the visas of the COB. Investors are able to obtain
this prospectus, free of charge, from Havas Advertising.
