Microsoft keen to sell Razorfish

Source: Agencies  |   2009-6-30  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

MICROSOFT has hired Morgan Stanley to sell Razorfish, its digital agency, and French marketing company Publicis Groupe SA is thought to be a possible bidder, the Financial Times said on its Website late Sunday.

Microsoft acquired the agency, formerly called Avenue A Razorfish, as part of its US$6 billion takeover of aQuantive in 2007.

The report cited an analyst valuing Razorfish at US$600 million to US$700 million, based on sales of about US$400 million last year and profit margins for similar businesses of 12 percent to 13 percent.

Publicis and Morgan Stanley were not immediately available for comment. Microsoft also declined comment.

Razorfish is one of the largest interactive advertising and marketing agencies, boasting a client list that includes McDonald's Corp, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, and Carnival Cruise Lines.