Saatchi Buyout by French Group Expected

French advertising group Publicis will announce today a $1.82-billion takeover of Britain’s Saatchi & Saatchi, industry sources said, in a deal that would continue a wave of consolidation in the advertising world. Saatchi, which does nearly half of its business in the U.S., had said it was in talks that could lead to a merger, triggering speculation that either Interpublic or Grey Advertising of the U.S. were seeking a transatlantic deal. Saatchi was not available for comment on its talks with Publicis but the French group scheduled a news conference for today. The news emerged a little more than a month after Publicis lost out to British rival WPP in efforts to buy U.S. group Young & Rubicam Inc. In 1998, Publicis bought San Francisco’s Hal Riney & Partners and Evans Group, and in 1999, it bought a 49% stake in Burrell Communications Group. Saatchi’s top clients are Procter & Gamble Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. It also owns the public relations firm Rowland Wordlwide.