• by Joe Mandese  @mp_joemandese, May 3, 2007

Vincent Bollore has inexplicably reduced his stake in Aegis Group to 28.96% from 29.09%, the London-based agency holding company said this morning.

Bollore, a French financier who also is chairman of Paris-based Havas, had been accumulating shares and voting rights in Aegis, but has remained below the 30% stake that would require him to make a formal offer to take control of Aegis, according to U.K. law.

Bollore recently was rejected by Aegis shareholders in his third attempt to place two representatives on the Aegis board, though he has vowed to continue his efforts to gain board representation.

Aegis is the parent of media services networks such as Carat, Isobar, Vizeum and Posterscope, and marketing and media research services under the Synovate banner. Havas is the parent of media network MPG.