HIG 'Submits Formal Offer for Kantar Media'

Private equity company HIG Europe has submitted a formal offer for Kantar Media, according to Sky News. The offer, described by Sky's sources as 'serious and credible', is thought to be the only one so far on the table.

HIG is the backer of Interpath Advisory, a British-based corporate restructuring consultancy. Sky cited anonymous banking sources, who as usual emphasized there is 'no certainty a deal will be struck'. By contrast investment firms Cinven and Triton Partners, linked to a possible deal since earlier this year, are not thought to have made formal offers, and Ipsos announced last week it had withdrawn from the process.

Reports have suggested a possible price tag of around £1 billion for the company, which is home to the veteran consumer tracker TGI and conducts broadcast audience measurement in 62 countries, including the UK. The Media division, which is run by former Sky exec Patrick Behar (pictured), accounts for around 15% of Kantar's total revenue (2022: $3,062m) and a very similar proportion of headcount (4,000 of a total 25,000).

Web site: www.kantarmedia.com .