StrawberryFrog Talks to Suitors

NEW YORK Independent StrawberryFrog is in talks to be acquired by a number of different entities, agency CEO and CCO Scott Goodson has confirmed.

Goodson identified the suitors as Publicis Groupe and at least one private equity firm.

“We continue to talk to people as we try to grow the business to meet new demands. There’s no deal signed,” Goodson said. “We’ve talked to the elite holding companies. We’re talking to Publicis and venture capital firms.”

A Publicis representative declined comment. The Paris-based company has been bolstering its offerings of late through acqusitions. It closed on a $1.3 billion deal for Boston’s Digitas as the year began in order to strengthen its interactive services. Publicis has also scooped up smaller shops in the medical marketing and consulting fields and expanded its presence in Asia.

The 8-year-old shop has offices in New York and Amsterdam, the Netherlands, approximately 125 staffers and estimated billings of $250 million. Current clients include Sam’s Club, Mitsubishi and Unisys.

The news comes as the shop’s Amsterdam office bids farewell to its executive creative director, Al Kelly, who this week was named to the same position at Publicis-owned Fallon in Minneapolis. Kelly said he would leave at the end of the summer.