10th Mar 2025 08:49
(Alliance News) - WPP PLC and US private equity group Bain Capital LP are looking to sell market research group Kantar, shifting from a plan to pursue a stock exchange flotation, the Financial Times reported on Sunday.
WPP is a London based and listed advertising company and Bain Capital, a Boston, Massachusetts-based private equity firm.
Bain Capital acquired 60% of Kantar in 2019, giving the company a valuation of about USD4 billion, while WPP retained a minority shareholding.
Bain and WPP are now seeking to cash in on their investment while facing a difficult time for initial public offerings, the FT said.
FT said its sources explained that a sale of the businesses would be a quicker and surer way to raise money than waiting for markets to be favourable for an IPO.
In January, Kantar sold off its media division, which runs the UK’s TV audience measurement system, to private equity group HIG Capital.
While Bain and WPP had previously been weighing up an IPO for the remaining business, they are now seeking to sell its large divisions, the FT said.
Shares in WPP are up 1.0% at 645.24 pence each in London on Monday morning.
By Jeremy Cutler, Alliance News reporter
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