Will M&A Activity Tank Along With Economy?

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NEW YORK Last week, Martin Sorrell was quick to use Davos’ spotlight to announce three deals in 48 hours. Even as the WPP Group CEO has mandated global staff reductions and belt-tightening, he’s still adding to his corporate portfolio, buying into Web analytics’ firm Omniture, South African creative independent The Jupiter Drawing Room and Vietnamese ad agency Smart Media.

While not huge transactions, Sorrell’s predilection to spend added to fresh concerns after WPP’s $1.95 billion acquisition of Taylor Nelson Sofres last fall.

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