In fact it does not convene as early as September or October a new Assembly

A year after to be imposed on the Board of Directors of Havas, Vincent Bollore has remained, yesterday, at the door of the Aegis, which is the first shareholder with 29.1 of the capital. He yet made the trip to London for the General Assembly of the advertising group British, accompanied by including the two men that he wanted to see appointed directors, Philippe Germond and Roger Hatchuel. From psychodrama which had marked, last year, the General Assembly of Havas culmination of the confrontation between Vincent Bolloré and Alain de Pouzilhac , the Aegis instead proceeded, in the heart of the City, in a very serene climate. Vincent Bolloré and Lord Colin Sharman, President of Aegis, competed courtesy, the second leaving the floor at the beginning of the Assembly at the first so that it can express its views. London is between gentlemen. Vincent Bolloré was able to repeat why he wished to see its representatives sit on the board of Aegis. In vain. He has failed to convince the shareholders of the British for the validity of its position.

A fund with Bolloré

As is often the case in Britain, where the assemblies are not destined for the small shareholders grand-messes and where the resolutions is quickly shipped, the meeting was brief half an hour in total and was held before a sparse: only one half of shareholders were physically present, most previously voted by mail.

Shareholders overwhelmingly voted against the appointment of Philippe Germond and Roger Hatchuel. They received that 41.68 of the votes in their favour, only Vincent Bolloré 38 weight in the Assembly, 76 of the capital being present or represented. This means that the shareholders have, almost all, followed the recommendations made by the Board of Directors of Aegis, who had recommended to vote against these two appointments: 94 of the votes not belonging to the Bolloré group were indeed closely followed these recommendations.

A one exception: EFL Philippine investment Fund (based in Hong Kong) which is supported by Vincent Bolloré. As Alain de Pouzilhac, the Chairman of Havas, failed last year to the shareholders of the French advertising to counter Vincent Bolloré, as the Aegis Board has benefited from the support without fault of its shareholders.

A war of attrition

Vincent Bolloré has therefore lost the first battle, but the conflict he prefers to personally speak to "love story" with Aegis likely to be long. "We will continue to fight for representation in the Board of Directors," he said after the meeting. In fact, it does not convene, as early as September or October, a new Assembly. In the meantime, he hopes to convince the shareholders of Aegis of the merits of its claims, admitting not having enough done previously. Above all, he seems to want to play wear: summoning one, or even several general meetings in the coming months, he would play the weariness of the shareholders, which, little by little, would be less likely to take part in the vote, boosting mechanically its weight to the capital. Unless a coup de théâtre, the battle for control of Aegis is far from completed.