WPP 強化するs No. 1 広告 position with strong 2015 start
By Kate Holton
LONDON, March 9 (Reuters) - WPP 強化するd its position at the 最高の，を越す of the advertising 産業 last year as its geographical reach and strong 数字表示式の sales gave it the 辛勝する／優位 over its two closest 競争相手s, who were distracted by a failed 合併.
The British company, run by the high-profile 実業家 ツバメ Sorrell, said on Monday that 2015 started 堅固に with an 増加する in January 貿易（する）ing, helped by standout 業績／成果s in the 部隊d 明言する／公表するs and 中国.
WPP's 安心させるing 見通し and the January 業績／成果 示すd a slight 改良 in 感情 from an October update, when Sorrell said 貿易（する）ing in the fourth ４半期/4分の1 was 始める，決める to be 堅い.
"After coming across いっそう少なく 上昇傾向 in the last two ４半期/4分の1s, 株主s should be pleased with the 業績／成果 over the 十分な year," said 吊りくさび Sturdy, a 仲買人 at London 資本／首都 Group.
WPP, which counts the likes of Ford, Unilever and Microsoft の中で its （弁護士の）依頼人s, 報告（する）／憶測d a 3.3 パーセント rise in 2014 like-for-like 逮捕する sales and that 手段 rose by 3.9 パーセント in January.
The 測定 more 一般的に used by its 競争相手s, like-for-like 歳入, was up 8.2 パーセント in 2014, comfortably ahead of the 5.7 パーセント growth 記録，記録的な／記録するd by Omnicom, the No. 1 U.S. advertising company, and a 2 パーセント rise at フラン's Publicis.
Omnicom and Publicis tried to 合併する in 2014 to leapfrog WPP as the world's biggest advertising group, 誘発するing many （弁護士の）依頼人s to 再考する their 契約s. While Omnicom stabilised 比較して quickly, Publicis has taken longer to 回復する.
DIGITAL CHALLENGE
WPP, owner of the JWT and Ogilvy & Mather 機関s, said it had topped the 産業's new 商売／仕事 （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する for the third year running in 2014 and 推定する／予想するd solid growth in 2015 に引き続いて a number of 最近の big 契約 勝利，勝つs.
WPP had 歳入 of $18.96 billion in 2014, より勝るing Omnicom with $15.3 billion and Publicis on $7.9 billion.
With big brands moving large chunks of advertising spend online to reach the millions of people on social 網状組織s and 伝統的な 場所／位置s, WPP has 歴史的に been 井戸／弁護士席 placed as it had the greatest （危険などに）さらす to 数字表示式の advertising.
That may be challenged, however, after Publicis moved to buy 数字表示式の specialist Sapient.
WPP also 公式文書，認めるd that 貿易（する）ing in its home market could be 影響する／感情d by the May 7 議会の 選挙, which is 形態／調整ing up to be the most 予測できない in a 世代 and will likely result in another 連立政権.
On a geographical basis, North American 逮捕する sales rose 3 パーセント on a like-for-like basis in 2014, with Britain up 4.8 パーセント. Western 大陸の Europe 増加するd 1.1 パーセント and its 分割 of Asia 太平洋の, Latin America, Africa & Middle East and Central & Eastern Europe climbed 4.6 パーセント.
分析家s welcomed the results, and WPP 株 opened 1.2 パーセント higher to 追加する to the 14 パーセント rise since the start of the year, although they 公式文書，認めるd that the 十分な-year results did 示す a 減産／沈滞 in the fourth ４半期/4分の1.
WPP, which has more than 179,000 staff in 111 countries, said the strongest growth had come in the travel, 航空機によるs and entertainment 部門s while 一括d goods 会社／堅いs remained under 圧力 as shoppers looked for cheaper 取引，協定s for their brands.
"The growth has been across the board," Sorrell said. "I was pleased with the 回復 in western 大陸の Europe. But the two areas that make the big difference are the U.S. and 中国."
The company will 目的（とする） to buy 支援する 2-3 パーセント of its 優れた 株 資本／首都.
"WPP remains a true 全世界の 晴雨計, 抽出するing 伸び（る）s from the 経済的な pockets which are faring 井戸／弁護士席, whilst also 存在 mindful of the 大型の and geopolitical 関心s which are yet to be 解決するd," said Richard Hunter, 長，率いる of 公正，普通株主権s at Hargreaves Lansdown Stockbrokers.
($1 = 0.6637 続けざまに猛撃するs) (Editing by Paul Sandle and David Clarke)
