Aegis a possible target as Publicis considers acquisitions

LONDON - Publicis Groupe has hinted it is ready to look at making a major acquisition, sparking speculation that it could once again be considering a bid for UK media group Aegis.

Talking to The Wall Street Journal Europe, Maurice Levy, the Publicis chairman and chief executive, said that the network was looking at several strategies including a major acquisition.

Levy said he expected to consider the acquisitions strategy he would take "in the next few months".
 
He said that he would move to a strategy of acquisitions should it serve the interests of the Publicis shareholders.
 
Although he did not mention specific acquisition targets, last year it was reported that Publicis had made a bid of 140p-a-share or £1.56bn for media network Aegis, which owns the Carat and Vizeum agencies.
 
In October 2005, the network announced that it would withdraw from the race for Aegis because Levy had been reported to be concerned that its bid would increase the French ad group's debt and hinder moves to secure an investment grade debt rating from credit agencies.

If an approach for Aegis was what was on Levy's mind, it would pit him against his native rival Havas chairman Vincent Bollore.

Bollore has slowly built up a stake of more than 29% in media buying and research network Aegis. He wants to combine it with Havas's Media Planning Group to give it greater buying power.

Recently, there has been no love lost between the two French networks. Earlier this month, three senior Publicis executives defected to form a start-up ad agency backed by Bollore, chairman of rival group Havas.

Christophe Lambert, Publicis Conseil chairman, is being joined by Frederic Raillard and Farid Mokart, co-partners at Marcel, the boutique agency owned by Publicis.

Their new shop will go by the name Fred/Farid/Lambert. It will be based in Paris and will open in January.

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