Bollore expected to call for third Aegis EGM

LONDON - Vincent Bollore, the chairman of Havas, is expected to call for a third extraordinary general meeting of Aegis shareholders in another attempt to place two of his candidates on the company's board.

Bollore claims his 29.1% stake in the company entitles him to place his candidates, Philippe Germond and Roger Hatchuel, on the board as independent directors.

His efforts have been vehemently opposed by the Aegis board directors, who claim the involvement of the chairman of one their rivals would be a serious conflict of interest.

Aegis could be under the impression that history could repeat itself, because Bollore took control of the global Havas network, whose agencies include the creative shops Euro RSCG and Arnold Worldwide Partners and the media network Media Planning Group, by first building up a financial stake in the company before taking over board seats and eventually ousting Alain de Pouzilhac, chairman and CEO.

It is believed that Bollore would like to consolidate Aegis's media planning and buying networks with Havas' Media Planning Group, and sell off its market research division Synovate, with WPP's Sir Martin Sorrell a prime candidate to purchase the research firm.

Should the meeting be called, it will be the third time the Aegis board has been convened to vote on the issue of appointing the two directors.

In November, a 58.5% majority of Aegis shareholders rejected Germond and Hatchuel, and the result of the first vote in June was very similar.

Late last month, Bollore further advanced his interest in Havas when he became non-executive chairman of MPG France, reflecting his hands-on involvement in the restructure of the French holding company.

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