An estimated US$12 million deal expected to be completed today would have given Aegis control over the agency's three offices in Hong Kong, San Francisco and Korea, where Ion is strongest. But CDC has shelved the deal, and both Ion and Aegis are awaiting further notification.
No reason has been given for the backtrack, and CDC was not available for comment as Media went to press. Ion was set to be housed within the Aegis digital network Isobar, which began to build its presence in Asia through the acquisition of 51 per cent of Korea's AgencyW and Wwwins, with offices in mainland China and Taiwan, in 2004.
Ion Global was founded in 1995 and has around 100 staff worldwide.
