• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, March 18, 2011

Aegis Group, parent of the Carat media agency and Synovate research operation, is open to acquisitions in the U.S., but is wary that a type of bidding war could lead to inflated prices.

"In the context that all U.S. acquisitions tend to be extremely competitive, we have no desire to overpay for any acquisitions going forward," Aegis CEO Jerry Buhlmann told investors last week. "So we'll take a relatively prudent view on the opportunities there. But we would like to find them if they're available, and fit our business in the right way."

Still, he said the company has been performing well in the U.S. with a solid leadership team. "We don't have an absolute requirement" to do deals, "though clearly there is an opportunity to further scale our business."

Buhlmann said small- to medium-sized deals are preferable, but Aegis is not averse to large-scale ones, should they create a proper strategic and financial fit.

For 2010 for the Americas region, Aegis Media reported a 19.4% increase in revenues to $305.1 million. New business for that media sector, which also includes Isobar and Vizeum, accounted for $780 million in North America last year.

Synovate had Americas revenue up 16.1% to $282.8 million.