Publicis to buy Beijing ad agency

Publicis, a French advertising firm with a market capitalization of US$4.3 billion, announced on Tuesday it plans to acquire Beijing-based advertising agency W&K Communications, Reuters reported. W&K clients include Air China and Tsingtao. The acquisition is the fourth in a string of Chinese  acquisitions by Publicis since 2006, which is specifically targeting the fast-growing Chinese advertising market among other emerging markets. Chinese advertising expenditures have tripled since 2000, and the Shanghai 2010 World Expo and the Asian games may increase demand over the next two years.