Each week, NewsLine brings you a round-up of the latest news from the City affecting the media industry.There were some major manoeuvres in the City this week, with Havas chairman Vincent Bollore once again failing in his bid to win representation on the Aegis board.
Bollore, who has a 21.9% share in Aegis, called a third board meeting in an attempt to have his two nominees, Philippe Germond and Roger Hatchuel, placed on the board.
However, prior to this third EGM, the board of Aegis advised shareholders to vote against the proposals, saying that Bollore’s 25% stake in rival company Havas constituted a conflict of interest.
The majority of shareholders went with the board’s advice, as 93% of shares not controlled by Groupe Bollore were voted against the two resolutions (Full Story).
Meanwhile, National Grid Wireless (NRG) was bought by Arqiva for £2.5 billion ($4.9 billion) (see National Grid Wireless Bought For £2.5 Billion).
Arqiva, owned by Australia’s Macquarie Bank, already operates the existing national digital radio multiplex, Digital One, alongside GCap Media and the purchase follows last weeks news that NRG had submitted its bid for the UK’s second multiplex.
Arqiva was quite busy overall, as it also completed a £25 million cash deal for BT’s satellite broadcast services business.
The deal included ed a long-term customer contract, operations and personnel located in the USA, France, Italy and Holland, as well as the UK (Full Story).
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