UPDATE 1-Bollore says Havas figures "very good"

Thu Jun 19, 2008 6:35am EDT
 
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CANNES, France, June 19 (Reuters) - French financier Vincent Bollore said on Thursday that figures for his advertising company Havas were very good so far this year and added that Havas had not been impacted by the global credit crunch.

"Regarding 2008, until now the figures are very good," Bollore told the Cannes Lions 2008 advertising festival.

Commenting on the credit crunch, he added: "For the moment, Havas has not suffered at all ... I believe it could be an opportunity for us. We are prepared for it."

Bollore said he had "no interest" in U.S. advertising company Interpublic (IPG.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and that he had no plans to ask for another extraordinary shareholders' meeting at UK media group Aegis Plc (AEGS.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) this year.

Bollore has built up a stake of 29 percent in Aegis but has consistently failed to win board seats at the British company. He failed in another attempt to win Aegis boardroom seats earlier this year.

Bollore is the largest shareholder and the chairman of Havas. The businessman is one of the country's richest financiers and has close links to French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Havas owns agencies such as Arnold Worldwide Partners, Euro RSCG Worldwide and MPG, and its clients include carmakers Citroen (PEUP.PA: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and Volvo (VOLVb.ST: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and drugmaker Sanofi-Aventis (SASY.PA: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz).

Havas shares were unchanged at 2.60 euros in early afternoon trade. The stock has fallen around 22 percent since the start of 2008 and fell 20 percent last year.

(Reporting by Dominique Vidalon; editing by Rory Channing)

 

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