According to the report, the industry has grossed an income of Rs 799.15 crore in 1997-98, which translates into a capitalised billing of Rs 5,330.09 crore. This figure was arrived at by adding up the financial figures authenticated by chartered accountants and reported to A&M by adding 131 agencies operating in the country.

In terms of ranking of all the agencies by capitalised billings, once again, Hindustan Thompson Associates (HTA) has emerged as the clear leader by clocking 17.5 per cent growth. It has a capitalised billing of Rs 914.9 crore. Ammirati Puri Lintas has captured the second slot with a capitalised billing of Rs 625.6. crore. The gap between HTA and Lintas has widened to Rs 289crore this year. Mudra Communications has notched up the third place with a capitalised billing of Rs 424.1 crore.

At number four is Ogilvy & Mather with a capitalised billing of Rs 389.1 crore, a 24 per cent growth in 1997-98. On its heels are FCB Ulka (capitalised billings: Rs 348.4 crore) and Rediffusion-DY&R (Rs 224.5 crore).But while Rediffusion has gained by one rank with a growth rate of 33.7 %, RK Swamy/BBDO, with Rs 198 crore in capitalised billings, has slid from the fifth to the seventh position.

Finally, Chaitra Leo Burnett, holding its earlier position as the last of the Top Ten, grossed Rs 144.8 crore in capitalised billings.