British market research firm Kantar is in final talks to buy U.S. rival Numerator from Vista Equity Partners in a deal worth about $1.5 billion, two sources with knowledge of the discussions told Reuters.
Bain Capital bought about 60% of Kantar in 2019 in a deal that valued the business at about $4 billion while WPP retained a 40% stake.
Were WPP to want to maintain its 40% holding in Kantar it would need to contribute between $125 million and $150 million to the transaction, which it is expected to do, one of the sources said.
Kantar – led by boss Alexis Nasard who took the reins on Dec. 30 – recently pocketed $375 million from the sale of its global health division – headquartered in New York – to U.S. healthcare technology company Cerner in December.
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By Pamela Barbaglia and Kate Holton
