WPP to quit Britain over tax changes -paper

LONDON, Sept 28 (Reuters) - WPP (WPP.L), the world's second-biggest advertising and marketing group, will this week announce it is quitting Britain, probably for Ireland, because of changes to the country's tax regime, the Mail on Sunday newspaper reported.

Moving the British group's official headquarters offshore would be a blow for the government, particularly as WPP Chief Executive Martin Sorrell has acted as an ambassador for British business.

He also played a role in helping win the 2012 Olympics for London.

Earlier this year, drugmaker Shire (SHP.L) and media group United Business Media (UBM.L) both decided to shift their tax domiciles from Britain to Ireland because of planned tax changes on foreign earnings.

Other big names in British business have also warned the new rules could trigger a corporate exodus.

WPP paid 204 million pounds ($375 million) in tax last year but reckons the changes would add tens of millions to its British tax bill, the newspaper said.

Sorrell, who has voiced concerns about the issue in the past, has been lobbying to persuade the government to change its plans but now believes his efforts have been to no avail, it added.

Officials at WPP were not immediately available to comment. (Reporting by Ben Hirschler; Editing by Paul Bolding)