FCB eyes creative shop in Portland By Jim Kir

CHICAGO--Foote, Cone & Belding Communications is believed to be negotiating to acquire creative boutique Borders, Perrin & Norrander, a $50-million shop based in Portl

Sources said that while no deal has been signed, FCB officials have been in “deep discussions” with executives of the Northwest agency to acquire it outright.
Although FCB has made known its interest in setting up a second network to expand its client base, possibly through the agency’s Publicis unit based in N.Y. (ADWEEK, June 21), Borders apparently isn’t a part of that plan, and may only be a regional freestanding acquisition with no plans to consolidate with any other FCB agency.
Said Borders chairman Pete Hart, “We’ve had some discussions with them. They’ve been off and on for some time, but nothing is decided and no deal has been reached.”
FCB execs were traveling on Friday and unavailable for comment.
Details of the negotiations are sketchy, but if acquired, Borders most likely would report to Jack Balousek, president of both the parent company and its FCB/West division, Both Balousek and FCB executive vp/operations North America Jack Boland are said to be involved in the negotiations.
Borders received creative acclaim in the mid-’80s via its then-flagship Avia athletic footwear account. While it has continued to pick up creative awards for local clients as well as for nationally sold Columbia Sportswear, it has failed to maintain the momentum achieved by Portland rival Wieden & Kennedy.
FCB has cleared all possible conflict hurdles with its clients, agency insiders said, including Levi’s, handled out of FCB’s San Francisco office.
Copyright Adweek L.P. (1993)