Singapore – Kantar Group is seeing yet another breakup from its current corporate structure, with multiple reports suggesting that Worldpanel, the consumer knowledge and insights arm of Kantar, is up for sale for $6.5b.
An initial report from Sky News notes that included in the move will leave Worldpanel as a pureplay brand strategy consultancy. It will merge with US-based business Numerator, which Kantar acquired back in 2021.
It is worth noting that Numerator and Kantar Worldpanel merged together in January this year to form a new global consumer data company. Eric Belcher, who was the current CEO of Numerator, will lead the new combined organisation which will operate globally under the name Numerator
WPP, Kantar’s owners, as well as Bain Capital has yet to approve the Kantar Wordlpanel sale, according to reports.
It is worth noting that Kantar Group recently proposed the sale of its media measurement arm Kantar Media to global alternative investment firm H.I.G. Capital. earlier this year. The transaction’s purchase price of approximately $1b is anticipated to be primarily paid in cash, along with certain non-cash consideration, including separation-related investments by H.I.G. Capital, and an earn-out.