Rodes’ comments follow ongoing speculation that Havas chairman Vincent Bolloré may be seeking to mount a takeover bid for the company. He indicated that a deal was likely to be struck, but was unable to comment on the nature or timing of the move.
“Something will happen, as we are very complementary,” he said, adding that “many different possibilities” existed. “But what, when and how, I can’t say. It is not in our hands. It is the chairman’s decision.”
Earlier in the week, meanwhile, Aegis Media global CEO Mainardo de Nardis pointed out that any bid would come from Bollore’s individual capacity as an Aegis shareholder. “I’m not sure Havas could afford any plans with Aegis,” de Nardis told Media. “He’s a shareholder like any other. We respect him immensely, but we will treat him in exactly the same way as we would any other shareholder.”
Aegis Media Asia-Pacific CEO Patrick Stahle, for his part, added that Rodes’ point about synergies between the two groups “is correct”.
“A merger would allow them [Havas] to build a truly global network, which they don’t have. From an Asia-Pacific perspective, Havas Media is almost non-existant. In this region, we don’t have much to gain from a merger. But it’s up to our shareholders to decide.”
