Growing Chinese ad/PR group BlueFocus Communications reported first half PR revenue jumped 67% to $198M while overall revenues soared 122% to $428M.
Net profit was up 119% to $49.13M.
Much of the first half growth came from its advertising operations, which were up more than 200% to $229M. Only about 5% ($20M) of its overall revenues are from markets outside of China, but BF recently tapped Holly Zheng as global president to lead its international expansion from San Francisco.
Beijing-based BlueFocus, which went public in China in 2010, made its first US acquisition in July when it nabbed San Francisco digital and design firm Fuseproject, a foray CEO Oscar Zhao called "just the start" of his US moves.
BF last year bought a 20% in UK-based Huntsworth, its first major global deal. Its firms include Dentsu BlueFocus, Insight PR, Eyes Media and BlueDigital, among others. Clients include Honda, Olympus and Dell.
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