Sir Martin Sorrell's new marketing communications venture has reported a full-year loss, despite revenues being boosted by a string of new clients.

S4 Capital booked a £9.1 million pre-tax loss in 2018, its first year in existence.

However, pro-forma revenue jumped 58 per cent to £135.9m.

The firm said it won significant new business from the likes of Procter & Gamble, Nestle, Avon, Mondelez, Bayer, Electronic Arts and Electrolux.

Sales were driven by deals to acquire digital content production company MediaMonks and San Francisco-based MightyHive.

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Sir Martin said: "It is clear that the company's purely digital model based on first-party data fuelling digital content and programmatic is resonating with clients.

"Our tag line 'faster, better, cheaper' and unitary, one P&L (profit and loss) structure also appeal strongly.

"The imperatives will be to broaden and deepen relationships with existing and new clients; to broaden and deepen geographical coverage; and to attract additional data, content and media talent and resources through direct recruitment, acquisition and/or merger."

S4 added that revenue and gross like-for-like profit growth was up more than 30% in January and, for 2019, the firm is pencilling in improved margins.

S4 has grown to employ 1,200 people in 16 countries.

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Travelodge has reported rising annual sales and profits, with the budget hotels chain set to create 3,000 new jobs over the coming years as it continues to expand.

The group saw revenue climb 8.8 per cent to £693.3 million in the year to December 31, while adjusted earnings grew £9.6m to £122m.

Chief Peter Gowers said the results were helped by investment in price and quality.

"Our strategic focus on location, price and quality has enabled Travelodge to deliver a set of excellent results."

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"We extended our network of hotels, remained focused on delivering attractive prices and took another step forward on quality," he said.

Joules boss Colin Porter has been lined up as the new chairman of Moss Bros, amid challenges at the retailer which saw it warn on profits last year.

Mr Porter has been appointed as a non-executive director with effect from Monday, and will replace current chairman Debbie Hewitt when she retires in May after nine years in the post.

Shares in the company were up by more than 5.4 per cent in early trading.