• by Joe Mandese , December 4, 2006

Publicis Chairman-CEO Maurice Levy denied rumors late last week that the Paris-based agency holding company was weighing a takeover of the Interpublic Group of Companies, but the advertising trade press has been speculating madly that something is afoot and that Madison Avenue would be restructured as a result.

In October, Levy indicated that Publicis was considering a major acquisition, but speculation then focused on Aegis Group, the London-based parent of Carat that has been fending off ardent investor and Havas Chairman Vincent Bollore.

Wall Street analysts have estimated that Publicis currently could muster $1.3 billion for an acquisition, and possibly more for the right asset. A takeout of Aegis group is expected to fetch about $2.8 billion.

While still facing some significant financial hurdles, Interpublic has been in the throes of a turnaround, and many of its operating units have been winning new business.

Recently, Wall Street securities firm Merrill Lynch downgraded Interpublic's stock from "neutral" to a "sell" rating because of the excessive exuberance of investors on Interpublic's recent good news.

Interpublic's stock closed at $11.95 on Friday, down slightly from the prior day's trading. However, Interpublic's shares reached $12.19 in after-hours trading over the weekend, approaching its 52-week high of $12.20. Based on Friday's close, Interpublic has a stock market capitalization of $5.27 billion.