Dentsu Reports Revenue Decline Amid International Business Challenges

What's Happening?

Dentsu Group has reported a slight decline in its organic revenue for the first half of 2025, with a 0.2% year-on-year decrease. The company has adjusted its full-year outlook, reducing its growth expectations from 1% to flat, while maintaining a target operating margin of 12%. The EMEA region experienced a 3.8% organic decline in Q2, primarily due to difficulties in customer experience management markets such as the UK and Northern Europe. Japan, however, showed strong performance with a 5.3% organic revenue growth in H1, driven by gains in internet media and business transformation services. Other regions, including APAC and the Americas, faced ongoing challenges, with APAC excluding Japan seeing a 12.7% fall in organic revenue during Q2.

Why It's Important?

The revenue decline highlights the ongoing struggles Dentsu faces in its international markets, particularly in customer experience management and creative services. The company's decision to accelerate restructuring efforts, including a headcount reduction of about 8%, aims to streamline operations and improve profitability. This restructuring is crucial for Dentsu to stabilize its international business and achieve its target operating margins by 2027. The strong performance in Japan provides a foundation for resilience, but the international challenges underscore the need for strategic adjustments to address client losses and macroeconomic uncertainties.

What's Next?

Dentsu plans to continue its restructuring efforts, targeting annual cost savings of approximately ¥52 billion by 2027. The company is focusing on improving its international media operations and expects steady performance with new business wins. However, recovery in customer experience management and creative sectors may be slower than anticipated. Dentsu has suspended its interim dividend and withdrawn its year-end dividend forecast due to significant impairment losses, indicating a cautious approach to financial management amid challenging conditions.

Beyond the Headlines

The Tokyo Court's recent decision to uphold a ¥300 million penalty for Dentsu over Olympic bid-rigging adds a legal dimension to the company's challenges. This penalty, along with valuation losses on shares of subsidiaries, has impacted retained earnings, highlighting the broader implications of legal and financial issues on Dentsu's overall business strategy.