Conduit Share Discussion Threads

[madengland] 04/9/2012 02:36

Riv, I don't think Havas are speculative with small stakes are they. Think you are right, and its a matter of when not if. Thanks funkmaster, good spot. Seems a few stocks bought after the agm ended. Davies seems a good choice for integrating the acquisition of CRE. Bit surprised this has not moved a bit more since that last bit news. Glad it did not though! GLA

[rivaldo] 03/9/2012 15:30

Excellent spots Funkmaster.

Havas will certainly know what's on offer given the new CEO's background at CRE, which makes the taking of their stake in CRE much more definitive than merely "speculative".

[funkmasterp12] 03/9/2012 12:59

Another report on Havas' recent results - they're being coy about a potential bid for Creston but at least he didn't say no..


"The company also doubled its stake in the UK marketing services holding company Creston to just over 6%. Asked on the call if Havas had plans to acquire control of the company, Jones declined to comment."

[funkmasterp12] 03/9/2012 12:57

Ex-head of Creston's health division has joined Havas.

NEW CEO AT HAVAS WORLDWIDE HEALTH EUROPE SIGNALS AGENCY'S DEEP COMMITMENT TO GROWTH
August 30, 2012
The Agency's New Head, Ben Davies, Brings Extensive Pharma Marketing and Advertising Experience to His Role

London (30 August 2012) - Havas Worldwide Health, a leading health and wellness communications agency, is pleased to announce the selection of Ben Davies as CEO of its European division, effective Sept. 3, 2012. Davies takes the reins from current CEO, Ed Stapor, who will serve through the end of the year in order to ensure a smooth transition before taking on a new challenge within the network. Davies will report to New York–based Havas Worldwide Health managing partners and CEOs Doug Burcin and Donna Murphy.

For the past 26 years, Davies has held a broad range of positions in healthcare marketing and advertising. He comes to HWWH from PAN Advertising, where he rose from director to managing director and ultimately CEO. Davies was also the co-founder and EU Chairman of Indigenus, an independent global network of entrepreneurial healthcare creative agencies; a member of the executive board and joint head of the health division at Creston Plc; and was previously a founding partner of both a consumer health agency and a medical education agency. His strong leadership and management skills and extensive experience in the field will be an asset for both employees and clients.

[madengland] 03/9/2012 12:00

Hi all, yeah the sun still shining thanks. Looks like it might here soon. Good time to put money on the table again? ;-)

[funkmasterp12] 03/9/2012 07:57

Havas filed their latest results last week - looking positive and lots of mentions of aggressive Digital acquisitions still to come. On BB so can't link but it's up on the Havas website.

[funkmasterp12] 31/8/2012 12:00

(double post by mistake)

[funkmasterp12] 31/8/2012 11:59

Slow day... only 5k traded by midday. Feels like we need some new news here.

[gretel1921] 30/8/2012 17:03

Madengland,sun still shining?
you might like to have a look at Chime communications,
Wpp might bid before Havas.

[gretel1921] 29/8/2012 22:05

Madengland,
if you think a bid is on the horizon
you should get in now,
won't drop much from here in my opinion.

[cutlosses] 29/8/2012 19:31

M-E - Thanks for the "postcard" - are the guys from Havas on the same beach?

[cutlosses] 29/8/2012 16:53

Reckon M-E should have pressed the sell button a week ago

[d1nny] 29/8/2012 14:00

I would also say, that this is probably exactly what Havas are wanting, a nice 10% drop in the share price is going to save them a few bob

[d1nny] 29/8/2012 13:59

last few days have been pretty interesting for Creston, it looks to me that investors are losing their nerve and selling up and taking their profit. We cant exactly blame these persons, although i would say its a little short sighted.

[qs9] 26/8/2012 11:08

IMO bid has to come. why by a c.6% stake, the yield on that isn't that great. Havas are wanting to increase their digital sphere from what I read/understand, there will undoubtedly be some cost savings and top line client synergies IMO and they have 6% at a nice low value.....holding tight and waiting for a knockout offer the directors and shareholders will accept and that no-one else will see value in trying to top.

let's see....

[d1nny] 23/8/2012 10:37

the creston AGM is the 3rd of September, so information could be announced just prior to that that

[madengland] 22/8/2012 15:53

mm very happy to take stock off your hands.....just dummy sold 50k for 86.25. Sept may well be the month, but it could come earlier. Havas will release results 30th or 31st Aug (so some work does go on)

From annual results in March (Havas).....Digital and social media grew rapidly and once again increased their contribution to the company's overall revenue, as the Group pursued its strategy of putting these businesses at the core of all its activities and agencies around the world. With no significant acquisitions made over the course of the year in these areas, digital and social media now make up 23% of total Group revenue.

Havas have since announced and made 4 acquisitions, 3 in the digital/health arena. Hmm, wonder why the stock is being taken

[rivaldo] 22/8/2012 14:18

Excellent point about France being on hols for August. Some volume today with 240k shares traded to date, but it'll be interesting to see if volumes bump up towards the end of August/beginning of September.

[qs9] 20/8/2012 19:33

They may not have had a choice if someone wanted to offload such a chunk of shares....IMO!

[madengland] 20/8/2012 14:09

Maybe a good point, would not have been a bad tactic, buy a holding, go on holiday for a month and let price settle and see what the market does and then make your bid. Still think a pe around 8 is a fair spot to take the price to while we wait for a bid, so up to 110p. Needs to get through 92p.

[fargonorthdakota] 20/8/2012 13:28

Too true, been trying to arrange moving some shipping containers from France today that are stuck in St Malo, and everyone is on holiday, best advice was come back in September. Can't beat that customer service :(

[d1nny] 20/8/2012 09:14

i would agree with QS9, the French generally disappear for August, so if anything was going to happen it will be september

[qs9] 18/8/2012 15:58

Interesting with Havas....personally I think that with most Euros, they disappear for August so any action will be when they come back, i.e. September...just a view....