BEIJING Speculation has again resurfaced linking highly-rated local independent PR agency BlueFocus PR with a sale, with sources pointing to UK-based Huntsworth as a likely buyer.
The development follows an expectation that BlueFocus would be sold earlier this year, when five companies -Omnicom, Havas, Publicis Groupe, Edelman and Huntsworth - converged in a bidding war that drove the price of the 10-year old agency skywards (Media, 6 May). "We have discussions with agency groups all over the world,"said Huntsworth business development director Alison Clarke.
Huntsworth's Asian presence is primarily limited to PR networks Grayling and Citigate Dewe Rogerson. BlueFocus has 260 employees across 19 cities, and formed a strategic partnership with Omnicom Group agency Porter Novelli earlier this year (Media, 11 February).
