WPP and Publicis Deny Aegis Interest

French-based ad group Publicis has dismissed speculation that it might be considering a bid for Synovate, and reports suggest that WPP is also an unlikely rival for front-runner Ipsos.

Aegis' confirmation last Monday that it was in talks with Ipsos regarding the sale of Synovate set analysts speculating about other possible buyers for Synovate, and also the possible sale of Aegis Media.

Publicis Chief Executive Maurice Levy told a questioner at the group's AGM last Tuesday that his firm was 'not a candidate' for buying Synovate. He also told Reuters the company was 'not interested' in Synovate and that Aegis was 'not part of our plans to date'.

Meanwhile reports quote a senior exec at WPP as saying that it also has 'absolutely no interest' in a bid. It has recently stated that near future M&A activity will focus on 'small- and medium-sized companies focused on new markets, new media and consumer insight'.

Web sites: www.synovate.com , www.wpp.com and www.publicisgroupe.com .