Revenue ($ in millions)	2007	2006	% chg
Worldwide	$468.6	$308.6	51.8
U.S	$440.0	$300.0	46.7
Non-U.S.	$28.6	$8.6	232.6
Employees	2007	2006	% chg
Worldwide	2,013	1,306	54.1
U.S.	1,826	1,206	51.4
Non-U.S.	187	100	87.0
Offices	2007	2006	% chg
Worldwide	25	23	8.7
U.S.	12	12	0.0
Non-U.S.	13	11	18.2

Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

Fast facts: Alliance Data Systems provides database, direct-marketing and payment-transaction services. It offers customer loyalty programs, database marketing services, marketing strategy consulting, analytics and creative services, e-mail marketing and private-label retail credit card programs. Epsilon is Alliance Data's marketing services unit.

Alliance Data was formed from the 1996 merger of two entities acquired by private-equity firm Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe: J.C. Penney Co.'s transaction services business (BSI Business Services) and Limited Brands' credit-card bank (World Financial Network National Bank). Alliance Data went public in June 2001. In May 2007, it agreed to be bought by private-equity firm Blackstone Group for $7.8 billion, including assumption of debt. In the wake of the credit crunch and upheaval in financial markets, Alliance Data Systems Corp. and Blackstone, on April 18, 2008, terminated the deal after battling over Blackstone's obligations in the deal.

Alliance Data serves more than 800 clients across industries including financial services, retail, petroleum marketing, technology, hospitality and travel, media and pharmaceuticals. Clients include BMO Bank of Montreal, Citibank, Hilton, Bank of America, Victoria's Secret, Canada Safeway, Shell Canada, Amex Bank of Canada, J. Crew and Expedia.

Epsilon's U.S. clients include Barnes & Noble, Charter Communications, Pfizer and Best Buy.

Alliance Data had 2007 worldwide revenue of $2.3 billion and ended the year with 9,800 employees. Its ranking among agency companies is based on estimated revenue of Epsilon, its marketing services unit; employee and office figures shown also are for Epsilon. Epsilon had estimated 2007 worldwide revenue of $468.6 million (20% of Alliance Data total) and 2,013 employees (21% of Alliance Data total).

Epsilon has three divisions: Purple@Epsilon, its direct-marketing and digital agency; strategic database services, which builds and manages databases, creates loyalty programs and offers analytics and strategic consulting; and Abacus and data services, which compiles and sells consumer and business data.

Alliance Data bought Epsilon for $314.5 million in October 2004, and it's expanded Epsilon through acquisitions. It bought Abacus (a provider of data, data management and analytical services for retailers and catalogs) from DoubleClick in February 2007 for $439.3 million.

Epsilon launched Purple@Epsilon in March 2008 as a rebranding of Epsilon's direct-marketing and digital agency services. Purple@Epsilon offers creative design, direct-mail production, e-mail marketing, web development and search-engine optimization. Purple@Epsilon bundles Epsilon's direct-marketing agency services along with services acquired through acquisitions (including Bigfoot Interactive in 2005, digital creative specialist Big Designs in 2006 and DoubleClick Email Solutions in 2006).



Top executive: J. Michael Parks, chmn & CEO
Headquarters: Alliance Data Systems (Epsilon)/17655 Waterview Parkway, Dallas, Texas 75252/Phone: (972) 348-5100/Fax: (972) 348-5100

Revenue ($ in millions)	2007	2006	% chg
Worldwide	$2,093.9	$1,839.8	13.8
U.S	$691.0	$680.7	1.5
Non-U.S.	$1,402.9	$1,159.1	21.0
Employees	2007	2006	% chg
Worldwide	14,438	13,328	8.3
U.S.	3,637	3,518	3.4
Non-U.S.	10,801	9,810	10.1

Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

Fast facts: Havas is a publicly traded agency company based in France. It operates two worldwide networks: Euro RSCG Worldwide, a New York-based global advertising and marketing-services network; Havas Media, an umbrella created in 2006 for its media-agency holdings.

The Euro RSCG Worldwide network houses Euro RSCG Worldwide, its flagship agency; Euro RSCG 4D, a marketing-services agency; Euro RSCG Latino, a Hispanic ad agency; Euro RSCG Life, a healthcare agency; and Euro RSCG Worldwide PR, the network's public relations holding.

Havas Media consists of: MPG, a global media network; Arena, which Havas calls a "network for tailor-made communication services"; Havas Sports, a global sports communication network; Havas Entertainment, a branded entertainment network; and Havas Digital.

Havas also owns regional agencies including U.S. shops Arnold Worldwide and McKinney that aren't part of the global networks.

Havas at year-end 2007 employed 14,438 people, up 8.3% from a year earlier (13,328). The U.S. workforce accounts for about 25% of the 2007 worldwide headcount. Worldwide revenue rose 13.8% to $2.1 billion.

Havas in June 2007 formed a new agency, H, by combining existing shops Scher Lafarge, DevarrieuxVillaret, EuroRSCG27 and Communider. H, launched with 225 employees, was to offer a "crossover between different advertising and marketing services," with all communications professions "united to work in complete harmony."

Non-Executive Chairman Vincent Bollore in May 2008 made another move to gain two seats on the board of competitor Aegis Group. Bollore's shareholding in Aegis as of May 2008 was just below 30%. Aegis has previously rejected his efforts, contending Bollore's seats would be a conflict of interest since he controls a major competitor. Under U.K. law, Bollore would have to make an offer to buy the company if he reached a 30% ownership threshold.

Top executive: Fernando Rodes Vila, CEO
Headquarters: Havas/2 allee de Longchamp, Suresnes, France F92281/Phone: 33-1-58 47 90 00/Fax: 33-1-58 47 99 99