An explicit offer to acquire Aegis Group is imminent, and may come even today, according to Le Figaro, which said Publicis Groupe has been conducting due diligence on a friendly offer while other Aegis shareholders - namely Chicago-based fund manager Harris Associates and French corporate raider Vincent Bollore - increase their positions in the company, reports MediaPost.

According to reports circulating since yesterday, Publicis and Aegis have struck a "standstill agreement" to work together to help Publicis prepare a friendly offer. Havas's Bollore might either try to block a sale to Publicis or actually sell his shares to Publicis to aid with its bid, according to other reports.