French entrepreneur Vincent Bollore has further increased his stake in Aegis, pushing it up to 13.35% and heightening industry speculation of his intentions surrounding the media communications company.
The move follows Bollore slowly raising his profile in the firm, gaining share throughout August from 9% just last week.
Earlier this week, global advertising agency, WPP, joined the growing list of businesses interested in acquiring Aegis, with the company reportedly considering a bid for the British firm’s research arm (see Bollore Raises Stakes As WPP Shows Interest In Aegis).
Bollore is also the chief executive of rival group Havas, with the Paris based advertising group recently clarifying that the French entrepreneur’s comments surrounding a possible take-over were made in his capacity as chief executive of Groupe Bollore, and not as head of Havas (see Havas Denies Takeover Rumours).
However, Havas refused to rule out its own approach for Aegis, stating only that Bollore’s comments should “not be taken as having any bearing on the question of whether or not Havas might participate at any time in any offer for Aegis in any capacity.”
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