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After his candidates lost a first vote in June, the French investor and Havas chairman set up a repeat run by requesting today's extraordinary general meeting, at which he is expected to lose again. A decision is expected around midday.

He 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 steadfastly opposed by Aegis directors, who claim the presence on their board of the chairman of its rival Havas would be a serious conflict of interest.

Bollore's past form should give them cause for concern. He took control of Havas by first building up a financial stake in the company before taking over board seats and eventually ousting chairman and CEO Alain de Pouzilhac.

It is believed that Bollore would like to combine Aegis's media planning and buying networks with Havas' Media Planning Group, and sell off its market research division Synovate -- possibly to WPP's Sir Martin Sorrell.

However, Bollore is expected to lose today's vote because of opposition from institutional investors. Fidelity, Standard Life and Henderson Global Investors were among those who this month wrote a joint letter to the Aegis board promising to side with the directors against Bollore.

With this group reportedly accounting for 23% of Aegis shares, the vote promises to be close. To win, Bollore must secure a majority of the votes cast.

Last time, more than three quarters of votes were cast with 42% in favour of Bollore's candidates and 58% against.

In that vote, Bollore was supported by Malaysian billionaire, Ananda Krishnam Tatparanadam, who had covertly acquired 2.3% of Aegis shares. Tatparanadam still owns the same amount.

It is also worth noting that many institutional investors have reduced the size of their Aegis shareholdings since the last vote.

If Bollore does lose again, he is unlikely to walk away, according to comments made by Cedric de Balliencourt, the CEO of Group Bollore. De Balliencourt said last week: "We don't expect anything out of the EGM, but whatever the outcome we will continue to explain why we believe our proposal can bring something to the company."

Sir Martin Sorrell, chief executive of WPP, also suggested that Bollore will keep trying to crack Aegis. After the last vote, Sorrell said: "The children of Israel went round Jericho seven or nine times, maybe he [Bollore] has another seven or eight to go."

Bollore's other option is to attempt a hostile takeover of the company, although analysts believe this is unlikely. UK stock market rules decree he has to make an offer for Aegis if he raises his stake above 30%.

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