Bollore keeps 'em guessing

4 October 2005 By Fiona Maharg-Bravo

The French corporate raider has built a substantial holding in the UK media buyer, now being stalked by ad group WPP as well as Publicis. Maybe he wants to make a turn on any deal. But as the top shareholder in Havas, he may also want to prevent Aegis falling into rival hands.

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WPP has teamed up with Hellman & Friedman, a US buyout firm, with a view to making a bid for UK media buying agency Aegis, according to a person familiar with the situation. The UK ad giant is interested in Synovate, Aegis' market research arm, while H&F would take the media buying business.

Meanwhile, Vincent Bollore has increased his stake in Aegis to 12.6%. The French corporate raider, chairman and top shareholder of rival ad agency Havas, has said that his stake in Aegis is a shortterm financial investment.

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