Dentsu shares tumble 11% on reports of global sale collapse

Dentsu Group’s plans to offload its beleaguered international operations have reportedly collapsed after prospective buyers walked away from negotiations, sending its share price tumbling yesterday.

The Japanese media and advertising giant had been in talks to sell its overseas business since August. Private equity firm Apollo has dropped out, while the last remaining serious potential buyer, Bain Capital, is now unlikely to proceed, the Financial Times reported.

The FT article triggered an 11% fall in Dentsu’s share price on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, although the group said in a media statement that no final decisions had been made.