Often touted as China's largest independent shop, the agency confirmed that a final decision is expected within one month. "We are in the process of negotiating with several bigger companies," said co-founder and CEO Oscar Zhao. "We see a global opportunity for the PR industry in China. We have leadership and if we want to make the most of this chance we need to find the right partner."
It is believed that five companies — Omnicom Group, Havas, Publicis Groupe, Edelman and Huntsworth — are all interested parties. Of these, Omnicom and Huntsworth are tipped to be the front runners. Last year BlueFocus set up a joint venture with Omnicom's Porter Novelli, called Porter Novelli China.
Local players are increasingly being seen as prized assets by Western firms looking for a foothold into China.
