WPP Group is upping the ante in its six-month-long pursuit of Montreal-based interactive marketing strategist Nurun, The Globe and Mail reports.

After a number of twists and turns going back to July, WPP has issued a written offer for C$76 million ($73.6 million), or C$5.25 ($5.08) a share in cash, for Nurun’s total shares. At the same time, Quebecor Media, which has a majority stake in Nurun, has been trying to take the company private. It has offered C$4.75 ($4.60) per share for the 42 percent of the company that it doesn’t already own. And despite WPP’s higher offer, Quebecor reportedly has most of the minority shareholders on board. Quebecor Media’s controlling interest allows it to deny any takeover of Nurun. Still, WPP has indicated that it’s willing to purchase only the publicly traded shares, if it can’t have the whole thing. (via Mediapost)

-- NYP:  Sorrell told Bloomberg News that he expects to make one or two more digital purchases in the near term, nothing major.  I spoke with Sorrell at last month’s UBS Global Media & Communications conference, when he told me he didn’t expect to make many digital acquisitions in North America this year, adding that he mainly wanted to concentrate on building up WPP’s interactive services holdings in Brazil, Russia, India and China.

Nevertheless, there are still a few independent shops available in the U.S. And NYP offers some speculation on some possible targets, including LA-based digital creative shop Spot Runner. WPP already owns 3 percent of of the company. Sorrell is also said to be eying mobile marketer JumpTap and video ad network VideoEgg.

• @ UBS Media Week: Sorrell: WPP Looks To Emerging Markets For Next Wave Of Digital Acquisitions