According to the Wall Street Journal, both Publicis and the Japanese holding company Dentsu have placed bids for Razorfish. The valuation of Dentsu’s offer has not been released.
In Asia-Pacific, Dentsu and Microsoft manage Razorfish in Japan through a joint venture.
In Asia-Pacific, Dentsu and Microsoft manage Razorfish in Japan through a joint venture.
French holding company Publicis was tipped as the lead suitor for the digital agency since Microsoft first appointed Morgan Stanley to facilitate Razorfish’s sale in June.
At the time, a senior holding company source told Media that Microsoft has long been looking to rid itself of the agency. “The agency has been heading for a sale since the day Microsoft bought it. There have been plenty of talks over the past year.”
The source further predicted that all the major holding companies would be interested in buying it, “but it will all come down to price.”
Outside of its Japanese presence through Dentsu, Razorfish’s key Asian assets are Hong Kong-based e-Crusade, which handles Nike among other clients, and Amnesia Razorfish in Australia.
