In a statement issued on the Bollore Group website, the company confirmed that it had, through several of its subsidiaries, exceeded on "the thresholds of 20% in the capital and voting rights of Havas".
Bollore said that its holding in Havas now amounted to 20.19% of its capital and 20.69% of its voting rights.
The move is likely to put more pressure on Havas's management and questions the future of Havas chief executive Alain de Pouzilhac, who appears to be in the dark over what Bollore's next move might be.
In an interview today in French newspaper Le Figaro coinciding with the news Alain de Pouzilhac said that he wanted to "know what Bollore's intentions" were.
"We wrote to him on September 16 and are waiting for his reply. Given his track record, you have to admit our questions are legitimate," De Pouzilhac said.
There is speculation that Bollore could now sell his stake to another advertising group, with fellow Publicis Groupe and WPP Group seen as the most likely buyers.
At the weekend, Maurice Levy, chairman and CEO of Publicis Groupe, said he preferred to see Havas stay independent in the wake of speculation that the two French groups could merge.
Levy said that it was unlikely that Publicis would act as a white knight to rescue Havas if rival WPP Group made a takeover bid.
Bollore has been buying up shares in the company for several months now and is set to win two seats on its board. It had been reported that Levy has been talking to Bollore about buying his stake in Havas, with the wider issue of keeping Havas in French hands at stake.
However, Levy did not rule it out a move completely: "Some think Publicis would be the perfect white knight and that Publicis would come to the rescue. The answer is no, not necessarily. Maybe."
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