Ipsos confirms talks with Kantar Media over possible acquisition (updated)

Ipsos SA

02/12/2024 09:11

(Adds context and analyst comment in paragraphs 5-6)
       Dec 2 (Reuters) - French market research firm Ipsos
 ISOS.PA  said on Monday it was in talks with Kantar Media over
a potential acquisition of the London-based group, confirming a
Reuters report from Friday.
    "There can be no certainty that any offer will be made, nor
as to the terms on which any such offer might be made," Ipsos
said in a statement.
    Ipsos is preparing a binding offer to buy the TV ratings
data business from market research group Kantar, two people with
knowledge of the matter told Reuters.
    Any deal involving Kantar could be worth more than 1 billion
euros ($1.05 billion), one of the sources said.
    Kantar's largest shareholders are U.S. private equity firm
Bain Capital  BCSF.N  and advertising giant WPP  WPP.L , with
respective stakes of 60% and 40%.
    "From WPP's perspective, Kantar does not contribute to its
earnings as it is effectively held as an 'investment' rather
than an associate," Citi analysts said in a note, adding there
would be questions over shareholders' returns if a deal is
reached.
    Shares in Ipsos, listed and headquartered in Paris, fell
more than 2% by 0815 GMT, touching their lowest price in more
than a year.
    The French group, which provides consumer market research
services and has become a household name globally for its
opinion and election polls, has a market value of 1.9 billion
euros.
    ($1 = 0.9522 euros)

 (Reporting by Gianluca Lo Nostro in Gdansk; editing by Milla
Nissi)
 ((gianluca.lonostro@thomsonreuters.com;))