By Ed Ballard
LONDON--WPP PLC (WPP.LN), the world's biggest advertising group,
said Wednesday it increased its stake in Ibope, a Brazil-based data
investment management group covering Latin America.
"This acquisition further strengthens our capabilities in data
investment management and at the same time in an important fast
growth region," said Chief Executive Martin Sorrell.
Kantar Media, WPP's audience measurement subsidiary, agreed to
acquire IBOPE Participacoes Ltda, which owns a majority of the
Ibope Media Group, WPP said. It has held a minority stake since
1997.
WPP also said it will buy the 45% it doesn't already own in
Millward Brown do Brasil Ltda, a market research agency that is
already part of Kantar; and a 49% stake in Ibope Inteligencia
Pesquisa e Consultoria Ltda, a polling brand.
Ibope Media's gross revenue was 392 million Brazilian Real ($144
million) in its 2013 financial year.
At 1002 GMT, WPP's shares were down 18 pence, or 1.4%, at 1,295
pence.
Write to Ed Ballard at ed.ballard@wsj.com