Stars align for Big Bang, the sequel; Publicis' hunger for acquisitions could spark another wave of consolidation- with IPG, Havas and Aegis among the few choice targets left.(Publicis Groupe, Interpublic Group of Companies Inc.)

Advertising Age, December, 2006 by Creamer, Matthew

Byline: MATTHEW CREAMER

mcreamer@crain.com

Get ready for Big Bang Part Deux, a new period of ad-industry deal-making with a decidedly French twist that could make an already small field of major players even smaller.

Since 2001, the end of the last period of industry consolidation, the conventional wisdom has been that the major players had bought most everything worth buying. But now there's a growing sense that the stars in the holding-company constellation are once again going to be realigned.

Much of the recent acquisition speculation has focused on ad-conglomerate tweens such as Havas and Aegis Group and the man who controls them both, corporate raider Vincent Bollore. But another Frenchman might turn out to be more crucial to...

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