WPP to buy Blast Radius

WPP Group, one of the most aggressive holding companies when it comes to snapping up digital-technology firms, is closing in on a deal to acquire Vancouver-based Blast Radius, one of the few large independents on the market.

The 400-person shop, which has worked on campaigns for Electronic Arts, Nike's Air Jordan and AOL, brought in an estimated $60 million in revenue this year. Blast Radius does about 75% of its business in the U.S., but its headquarters in Canada have kept it slightly below the radar.