Publicis, the world's fourth largest advertising group, has posted a 6.5% increase in first quarter revenues to €1.059bn (£723m).

The agency group, which owns ad networks including Saatchi & Saatchi and Fallon, said it achieved organic growth of 3% for the first quarter.

A "vigorous pace" of growth in new client business of €2.5bn (£1.7bn) was fuelled by wins including Asda and Airbus in the UK and Wendy's in the US.

The Publicis chairman and chief executive, Maurice Levy, said that the $1.3bn (£660m) acquisition of US digital and direct marketing company Digitas late last year was "unfolding very smoothly".

"Our external growth strategy is being carried out as planned," he added. "I am therefore confident for 2007 and I confirm our objectives of organic growth on the order of 5% over the whole year, with progressive acceleration as the year unfolds."

· To contact the MediaGuardian newsdesk email editor@mediatheguardian.com or phone 020 7239 9857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 7278 2332.

· If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".