Bain Capital

Bain Capital is negotiating to buy a majority stake in WPP's Kantar research arm, a transaction that is a linchpin of CEO Mark Read's transformation plan at the unwieldy ad/research combine.

WPP said the transaction values Kantar in the $4B range.

The proposal is "subject to negotiation" and "there is no certainty that these discussions will result in a transaction involving Kantar."

WPP on July 1 announced the sale of its minority interest in Chime Group Holdings, the sports & entertainment communications firm, to majority shareholder Providence.

That transaction is pegged at $65M with additional payments geared to the future value of Chime growth.