"Nothing prevents WPP from retaining its Tempus stake. It has still to prove that it would be worth it," Ingram said in an interview with French newspaper Le Figaro today.
Ingram also pointed out that WPP would make a capital gain of £50m to £60m, if Havas's £425m bid to acquire Tempus is successful.
Ingram, along with Havas CEO Alain de Pouzilhac, is waiting to see if WPP will make a counter-bid for Tempus. Ingram and much of his management team are known to be hostile to such a bid. With the management team against him, WPP CEO Sir Martin Sorrell might take the money and run.
Replying to a question about a possible counter-bid, Ingram said, "My priority is to serve my shareholders' interests. And I can only answer based on the bidders' performances."