Advertising agency Havas posts Q2 organic sales growth of 5.5 pct

PARIS, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Advertising agency Havas (Other OTC: HAVSF - news) achieved 5.5 percent organic sales growth in the second quarter driven by North America, outpacing larger rivals such as WPP (Swiss: OXWPP.SW - news) and Publicis (Paris: FR0000130577 - news) .

Chief Executive Yannick Bollore told Reuters on Thursday the company was on course to reach its goal of 5 percent organic sales growth this year despite recent volatility on world stock markets and concerns about China's economic slowdown.

"I remain confident in the long-term prospects for the global economy, and for Havas this year will continue to be a good one," said Bollore (Other OTC: BOIVF - news) .

"The first-half results were better than we had hoped."

The world's sixth-largest advertising company by sales, majority owned by French tycoon Vincent Bollore's eponymous group, posted second-quarter revenue of 565 million euros ($635 million).

For the first half, operating profit rose 22 percent to 128 million euros, lifting the operating margin to 12.3 percent from 12 percent a year earlier. ($1 = 0.8899 euros) (Reporting by Leila Abboud; Editing by Laurence Frost)