Kantar Agrees to Sell Health Division to Cerner

Kantar has agreed to sell its Health division to global healthcare technology provider Cerner, in a $375m all-cash transaction. Kantar Group Deputy CEO and CFO Ian Griffiths says the sell-off will enable the group to increase its focus on its previously identified growth priorities.

At the end of last year, WPP shareholders approved the sale of 60% of Kantar to private equity firm Bain Capital, in a deal which valued the whole of Kantar at around £3.2bn ($4.0bn). In September, the firm said that like many companies it had felt the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, and consequently would be making changes to its business, focused on building a 'faster, simpler organisation', enabling the group to allocate resources to company growth and innovation priorities.

The Health division sale is expected to complete during the first half of 2021, subject to regulatory and consultation processeses. With this acquisition, Cerner says it plans to harness data to improve the 'safety, efficiency and efficacy' of clinical research across life sciences, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare at large. The transaction is also expected to allow Cerner's Learning Health Network client consortium to more directly engage with life sciences for funded research studies.

Lynnette Cooke (pictured), CEO, Kantar Health, comments: 'We are excited about this next chapter, where our real-world evidence and commercial data assets will be powered by Cerner. There is a strong cultural fit between the two organizations, grounded by our shared vision to increase access and affordability for patients around the world. We expect the combination of our expertise and assets with Cerner's technology and unique insights into patients will enable a step-change in the way healthcare is developed and delivered, resulting in improved patient outcomes.'

Web sites: www.kantar.com and www.cerner.com .