• April 16, 2007

French financier Vincent Bollore has renewed his quest to gain two seats on Aegis Group's board, making his fourth quest for a shareholder's vote. The new vote is scheduled for May 25, but the Aegis board once again called on shareholders to reject Bollore's two nominees - Philippe Germond and Roger Hatchuel - for the fourth time and for the same reason: that Bollore's representatives on the Aegis board would represent a conflict of interest as Bollore also is chairman of Paris-based rival Havas. Bollore controls 29.09% of Aegis stock, just below the 30% level that would require him to make a formal offer to acquire the company under U.K. law.

"We regret Groupe Bollore's continuing disregard for the views of other shareholders. We will put these resolutions to another vote, as we are bound to do. However, we hope that [Bollore's] Groupe Bollore will come to respect the firm views of the other shareholders on the right corporate governance for Aegis," stated Aegis Chairman Colin Sharman.