Bollore's Aegis battle for seats on the board not over

by Mark Banham, Brand Republic 18-Sep-06, 11:00

LONDON - Havas chairman Vincent Bollore has, once again, stated that he will not be giving up on his request to win seats on the board of media buying network Aegis, of which he owns a 29.12% share.

Speaking to French radio station BFM today, Bollore said he would continue to press the board for the positions, earmarked for Bollore's preferred candidates Philippe Germond and Roger Hatchuel.

Bollore said: "It's a long love affair. As the main shareholder with a 29% stake, we want board representation. We will wait for as long as it takes."

Aegis shareholders rejected Bollore's demands for two board seats in June after they were opposed by the company's chief executive and chairman, Robert Lerwill and Lord Sharman.

The network, whose operating companies include Carat and Vizeum and market research network Synovate, claimed representation would hand Bollore's company, and rival network, Havas access to commercially sensitive information.

At the time, Lord Sharman, the Aegis chairman, told the Aegis AGM: "The board takes the view that there is a fundamental, irreconcilable conflict of interest."

Bollore is yet to surpass the 30% share of the company that would force him to make a bid for Aegis, in accordance with UK law.

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