MUMBAI: WPP‘s wholly-owned global communications network Grey Group has agreed to acquire a majority stake in China based full service integrated communications agency ArtM Communications Group. The investment is in line with WPP‘s strategy to expand its services in the fast growing markets around the world.

ArtmM was founded in 1999 and has offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzen and Guangzhou. It offers services ranging from advertising, branding, digital marketing, public relations, events, retail marketing and merchandising to channel promotion. It employs around 180 people and its client list includes companies like Intel, Microsoft, TCL and China Mobile.

ArtM‘s unaudited revenues for the year ended 31 December 2011 were approximately RMB 45 million, with gross assets at the same date of approximately RMB 157 million.

Greater China remains one of the fastest growth markets for the company and is currently WPP‘s third largest market with revenues of US $1.3 billion. The group currently employs over 14,000 people (including associates) across Greater China. In 2011, Asia-based agency research consultancy R3 estimated that WPP‘s revenues in mainland China were US$813 million, with the next biggest competitors Publicis and Omnicom at US$236 million and US$219 million respectively.