Cannes Lions and Possible Purchases Reflect Growing Optimism in the Ad Industry

Two of the largest conferences in the advertising and media circuit, Cannes Lions and Possible, were both acquired this week, the latest sign of the burgeoning value of business-to-business events. The business intelligence firm Informa acquired Ascential, the parent company of the Cannes Lions Festival, on Wednesday for $1.6 billion. And on Friday, Beyond Ordinary...