Financial Times predicts merger of Aegis and Havas
Havas Chairman Vincent Bolloré has increased his stake in the media and market research group Aegis to 24.99 % .
The French investor Vincent Bolloré
has further increased its stake in the media and market research group Aegis.
expanded. The chairman and shareholder of the advertising holding company Havas owned
Thursday according to the Aegis website already 24.99 %. The fact that Bolloré is
the 20-% threshold, the Financial Times believes that the
Times (FT) as a sign that he is considering a merger of the group with Havas
plans. As the competitor Publicis refrained from making an offer for Aegis
and was also taken by the consortium Hellman &
Friedman/WPP has so far received hardly any indication of an offer,
The FT analysts do not believe that the acquisitions as financial investments
make sense. Rather, they suggest that Bolloré is using this method to
a takeover of Aegis by Havas is being prepared. The Aegis shareholders
are only likely to agree to a cash offer, says the FT. But that
would put a strain on Havas' financial structure. The solution: a
cash offer with an option to convert into Havas shares, which
Bolloré would be redeemed. This would give the investor a larger
investment in Havas, the advertising holding company with the Aegis subsidiary Carat to
more market power in media buying, and the research arm of Aegis
could be sold to WPP in order to recoup part of the cash offer.
to catch up.
has further increased its stake in the media and market research group Aegis.
expanded. The chairman and shareholder of the advertising holding company Havas owned
Thursday according to the Aegis website already 24.99 %. The fact that Bolloré is
the 20-% threshold, the Financial Times believes that the
Times (FT) as a sign that he is considering a merger of the group with Havas
plans. As the competitor Publicis refrained from making an offer for Aegis
and was also taken by the consortium Hellman &
Friedman/WPP has so far received hardly any indication of an offer,
The FT analysts do not believe that the acquisitions as financial investments
make sense. Rather, they suggest that Bolloré is using this method to
a takeover of Aegis by Havas is being prepared. The Aegis shareholders
are only likely to agree to a cash offer, says the FT. But that
would put a strain on Havas' financial structure. The solution: a
cash offer with an option to convert into Havas shares, which
Bolloré would be redeemed. This would give the investor a larger
investment in Havas, the advertising holding company with the Aegis subsidiary Carat to
more market power in media buying, and the research arm of Aegis
could be sold to WPP in order to recoup part of the cash offer.
to catch up.
