Metrobus could attract interest from Bollore, TF1, Exterion or ClearChannel
Publicis Groupe [EPA: PUB], the listed French advertising group, is expected to relaunch the sale of its French outdoor advertising unit Metrobus after JCDecaux SA [EPA: DEC] announced yesterday it decided not to pursue this acquisition, because of the excessive commitments required by the French Competition Authority.
An unsourced report from French daily Les Echos named French media groups Bollore and TF1, as well as advertising specialists Exterion Media France and ClearChannel as potential buyers for the business, in which Publicis holds a 66% shareholding, while JCDecaux owns the remaining 33%.
The report cited analysts as saying that JCDecaux offered EUR 115m for Metrobus.
Les Echos