Advent and Blackstone among bidders for WPP's Kantar, say sources
Buyout funds in talks on majority stake in advertising group's data-analytics unit
London — A series of buyout funds including US firms Advent and Blackstone are in talks with advertising group WPP to explore bids for a majority stake in its data analytics unit Kantar, said four sources familiar with the matter. The sale, led by Goldman Sachs, may value Kantar at up to £3.5bn, but some private equity investors are fretting about the business's decline in profit and revenue in recent years. Hellman & Friedman and CVC Capital Partners are also working on the deal, the sources said, while industry players have so far shied away from the process. Bain Capital has also expressed interest in making a bid for Kantar, another source said, adding Bain might later decide to team up with one of the other buyout funds in the race. WPP sent out confidential information packs this week, with nonbinding offers expected in April, one of the sources said. WPP, Blackstone, Advent and CVC declined to comment, while representatives at Bain Capital and Hellman & Friedman were not imme...
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