
LONDON, Jan. 18, 2025 — Kantar Group, a leading global market research firm headquartered in London and a Bain Capital portfolio company, today announced the proposed sale of Kantar Media to H.I.G. Capital, a prominent global alternative investment firm managing $67 billion in assets.

This planned transaction signifies a new chapter for Kantar Media, initiating a period of growth and innovation focused on providing advanced insights to clients in the advertising and content sectors.
H.I.G. Capital’s proposed acquisition, known for its active involvement and successful track record in business growth acceleration, arrives at a crucial juncture for Kantar Media. Operating in over 60 markets, the company is well-positioned to influence the measurement landscape with a comprehensive portfolio of solutions encompassing audience measurement, data analytics, media planning, and validation.
Kantar Media CEO, Patrick Béhar, will continue in his leadership role. “Over a year ago, I joined Kantar Media from Sky to accelerate its transformation into a nimble, technology-focused organization, shaping the measurement industry through cutting-edge cross-media solutions. This transaction would provide us with the resources and support to further accelerate our growth and solidify our position as the global leader in media measurement and analytics. With H.I.G.’s expertise in scaling businesses and enhancing performance, we are more confident than ever in our ability to deliver innovative, data-driven solutions that meet the evolving needs of our expanding global client base. Today marks a significant milestone for Kantar Media, its teams, partners, and clients as we embark with H.I.G. on the next phase of our transformation.”
“We are pleased to partner with Patrick and his highly skilled team,” stated Nishant Nayyar, Managing Director at H.I.G Capital. “Kantar Media has a long-standing reputation for delivering crucial data and reliable insights to the global media industry. We are confident that as an independent entity under Patrick’s leadership, the company will continue to flourish and remain at the forefront of media measurement and analytics innovation.”
Chris Jansen, Kantar’s Chief Executive, added, “We established Kantar Media as an operationally independent entity in 2023 to enable it to strengthen its global leadership in audience measurement. Today’s announced partnership with H.I.G. Capital positions Kantar Media to continue its investments in technological and geographic leadership, and we wish Patrick and his team all the best for the future. Following the proposed sale, Kantar will be even more focused on assisting both global and local brands to grow through a unique combination of IP, data assets, and the accelerated deployment of AI. Kantar remains the world’s leading data and marketing analytics company.”
The transaction’s purchase price, approximately $1 billion, is expected to be primarily paid in cash, along with certain non-cash considerations, including separation-related investments by H.I.G. Capital, and an earn-out.
Pending customary legal and regulatory approvals and the completion of information and consultation procedures with employee representatives where needed, the transaction is anticipated to conclude later this year.
J.P. Morgan and Jefferies served as financial advisors to Kantar Group in this planned transaction.
Morgan Stanley & Co International acted as lead financial advisor and ING acted as financial advisor to H.I.G. Capital on the contemplated transaction.
About Kantar Media
Kantar Media is a global leader in media measurement and analytics, providing clients with comprehensive insights into audience behavior, advertising effectiveness, and media consumption patterns. Possessing an extensive understanding of the global media landscape, Kantar Media offers data-driven solutions that help brands, agencies, and media owners optimize their marketing strategies and achieve measurable results.
About H.I.G. Capital
H.I.G. is a leading global alternative investment firm with $67 billion in assets under management.* Headquartered in Miami, with offices in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco in the United States, as well as international affiliate offices in Hamburg, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Bogotá, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Dubai, and Hong Kong, H.I.G. specializes in providing debt and equity capital to middle-market companies, employing a flexible and operationally focused/value-added approach. Since its inception in 1993, H.I.G. has invested in and managed over 400 companies globally. The Firm’s current portfolio includes more than 100 companies with combined sales exceeding $53 billion. For more information, please visit the H.I.G. website at .
*Based on total capital raised by H.I.G. Capital and affiliates.
About Kantar
Kantar is the world’s leading marketing data and analytics business and an essential brand partner to leading global companies. We integrate the most insightful attitudinal and behavioral data with profound expertise and sophisticated analytics to understand how people think and act. We help clients understand what has happened and why, and how to develop marketing strategies that shape their future.
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