Japan-based Dentsu Group may be considering selling its international operations.
The advertising group has reached out to financial firms to gauge potential market interest in acquiring its international assets, according to The Financial Times. This includes competing advertising companies and investment firms.
Dentsu could make billions if it proceeds with the sale, the Times reported, but it would also signal the end of its ambitions for international conquest.
In a statement to Jiji Press, a Dentsu spokesperson said, “Nothing has been decided, and we are looking at various options to increase the corporate value.”
The news that Dentsu is looking to offload its international assets comes after the group acknowledged it was facing a challenging global environment. On Aug. 15, Dentsu announced it had laid off 8% of its staff.
The restructuring impacted corporate and back-office functions, with the company stating at the time that it aimed to streamline its operations without compromising its growth potential or competitive advantage.
According to its financial report on the first half of 2025, the company’s organic revenue dropped 0.2% year-over-year. Its Japan region was the only strong performer, generating organic revenue growth of 5.3%.
“Our Japan business achieved record-high net revenue and underlying operating profit, marking sustained growth for the ninth quarter in a row,” said Hiroshi Igarashi, Dentsu’s president and global CEO, in a statement. “However, our international business continues to face negative growth across all regions, resulting in a challenging overall performance.”
