Private equity firm H.I.G. Capital signs deal to purchase media measurement and analytics company Kantar Media.
H.I.G. Capital Acquires Kantar Media in $1 Billion Deal
In early August 2025, global alternative investment firm H.I.G. Capital completed a $1 billion acquisition of Kantar Media from the Kantar Group. Kantar Media, a prominent media measurement and analytics firm, operates in over 60 global markets, delivering audience measurement and advertising effectiveness services [1][2][3][5].
H.I.G. Capital aims to sharpen Kantar Media’s strategic focus and reinforce its position as an independent leader in media measurement. The investment is expected to accelerate innovation for Kantar Media’s clients and partners worldwide, leveraging advanced capabilities such as machine learning to enhance audience measurement at a granular, device-level scale [1][3][5].
Nishant Nayyar, managing director at H.I.G., has acknowledged Kantar Media's role as a foundational player in the global media ecosystem. Patrick Behar, CEO of Kantar Media, has expressed delight about the completion of the acquisition by H.I.G. Capital. However, the terms and conditions of the acquisition deal are still yet to be disclosed [1][5].
Under the leadership of Patrick Behar, Kantar Media intends to strengthen its strategic direction with renewed focus on innovation and independence. The company plans to expand technology-driven measurement solutions, including machine learning-powered people-based measurement to better understand audience behavior at a census level. They also aim to support growth and operational improvements to maintain and broaden global reach across 60+ markets [1][5].
The acquisition of Kantar Media by H.I.G. Capital is a significant move in the media and analytics industry. It is expected to bring greater innovation and advanced analytics capabilities to media measurement, potentially shifting competitive dynamics and accelerating transformation in audience metrics and advertising effectiveness. The acquisition also supports advertisers, media owners, and stakeholders with improved tools to optimize media investments and understand consumer engagement in a rapidly evolving media landscape [1][2][5].
Overall, H.I.G. Capital’s acquisition signals a strategic investment into a leading media measurement platform with an emphasis on technological innovation and global market expansion, likely influencing how the global media industry measures and utilizes data for advertising and audience analysis. The acquisition marks the beginning of a new chapter for Kantar Media as part of the H.I.G. family.
[1] Kantar Media Press Release [2] H.I.G. Capital Press Release [3] Marketing Week Article [4] AdAge Article [5] Business Insider Article
The acquisition by H.I.G. Capital has marked a strategic investment in Kantar Media, a global media measurement and analytics firm, aiming to boost its independence and technology-driven innovation. This deal is expected to accelerate advancements in audience measurement and advertising effectiveness, leveraging machine learning and technology.
Under the H.I.G. umbrella, Kantar Media plans to bolster its strategic focus and expand technology-driven measurement solutions, potentially reshaping the media and analytics industry.
