WPP Buying Canadian Firm: WPP Group PLC...

WPP Buying Canadian Firm: WPP Group PLC of London said it has agreed to buy PARG, Public Affairs Resource Group of Toronto, one of Canada’s largest public affairs consulting and public opinion research firms. WPP Group said the deal will make its Hill & Knowlton (Canada) Ltd. subsidiary the largest public relations firm in Canada. The price was not disclosed, but the companies said in a statement that it included cash and stock and possible additional payments over the next five years. WPP is also the parent of the J. Walter Thompson advertising company.