French advertising group, Publicis, is still interested in making a bid for Aegis, with Maurice Levy, chief executive of the group, claiming “the flame is never off” and there is a “burning fire under the ice” in his desire to purchase the group.
Speaking at the recent Worldwide Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Levy told delegates that he was determined that he would not enter into a contest for the UK media company resulting in an increase in market price.
According to a report in this morning’s Times, inside sources at Publicis Groupe feel the group may table another bid for Aegis as early as the end of March.
Publicis first showed interest in Aegis in September, after offering 140p per share for the media and research group, valuing it at around £1.8 billion (see Publicis Group Confirms Offer For Aegis).
However, three weeks later the group put an end to weeks of speculation over the company’s intentions for the group, saying in a statement that making an offer for Aegis was not “in the best interests of its shareholders”(see Publicis Backs Down From Aegis Take-Over).
Sir Martin Sorrell also recently announced that WPP was still interested buying Aegis’s research division, Synovate and taking a small stake in the remaining media business. The WPP boss told Reuters: “The idea was that we could have a small stake in the media organisation and buy Synovate, and we are still interested in that (see Sorrell Still Interested In Aegis).”
Meanwhile, chairman of French advertising giant Havas, Vincent Bollore has steadily been increasing his share in the UK media and communications company, recently purchasing a further 2.9 million shares, pushing his stake to 25.47% (see Bollore Pushes Aegis Stake To 25.47%).
The beginning of the year saw Bollore, outline plans to appoint the company’s Fernando Rodes Vila, currently head of Havas’s media planning arm, as the next group chief executive, potentially forging closer ties with Aegis.
The move could, according to speculation, force closer links between Havas and Aegis, building on Bollore’s stated desire for the two firms to work together, and echoing the sentiments of Aegis’ chief executive, Robert Lerwill.
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