WPP PLC

Advertising group WPP <WPP.L> will consider making acquisitions to bolster its capabilities in faster growing segments such as technology and commerce after selling a majority stake in its research arm Kantar, Chief Executive Mark Read said on Thursday.

The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals were reported by 1330 GMT on Friday:

Kenyan marketing company WPP Scangroup <SCAN.NR> said on Friday its board had approved the sale of some of its assets in East and West Africa, sending its shares up 23%.

WPP <WPP.L> reported a return to quarterly organic sales growth for the first time in over a year on Friday, with a new strategy from boss Mark Read helping the world's biggest advertising company to attract talent and win more work.

UK blue-chips eased from a near one-month high on Friday, but was still headed for its best weekly performance in nine months as a tug of war between the parliament and its leader over Brexit knocked the pound and boosted exporter stocks.

WPP reported a return to quarterly organic sales growth on Friday, showing the world's biggest advertising company had avoided the problems ensnaring French rival Publicis.

Advertising group WPP <WPP.L> has poached John Rogers, the boss of Sainsbury's <SBRY.L> Argos business and previously seen as a frontrunner to be the British supermarket group's next CEO, as its new finance chief.

WPP has appointed John Rogers, the boss of retailer Sainsbury's Argos, as its new finance director, to take over from the outgoing Paul Richardson in early 2020.

New client wins including Instagram and eBay helped WPP <WPP.L> report better-than-expected trading in the second quarter, giving a lift both to its shares and the boss of the world's biggest advertising company.

London's FTSE 100 slipped on Friday after a report that the United States was delaying a decision on letting its companies do business with Huawei, casting a shadow over global markets, though WPP soared after a quarterly update.

WPP reported a better-than-expected organic sales performance in the second quarter as its new strategy under boss Mark Read helped the world's biggest advertising group to win new business and retain clients.

WPP <WPP.L> is selling a 60% stake in Kantar to private equity firm Bain Capital, valuing the data analytics business at about $4 billion (£3.19 billion) and giving the British owner of agencies including Ogilvy and Wunderman Thompson funds to cut debt and rebuild.

WPP said on Friday U.S.-based private equity firm Bain Capital would buy a 60% stake in Kantar, valuing the data analytics unit at about $4 billion in the proposed deal. (Reporting by Noor Zainab Hussain in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur)

WPP <WPP.L> is in exclusive talks to sell a majority stake in its data analytics unit Kantar to private equity firm Bain Capital, it said on Monday, in a $4 billion deal aimed at steering the world's biggest advertising company back to growth.

WPP has entered exclusive talks with private equity firm Bain Capital over the sale of a majority stake in its data analytics unit Kantar, the world's biggest advertising company said on Monday. (Reporting by Justin George Varghese in Bengaluru; Editing by Mark Potter)

WPP Plc <WPP.L> said it sold its minority stake in sports, entertainment and communications company Chime for 54.4 million pounds ($68.91 million), as the world's biggest advertising company looks to sell non-core assets and return to growth.

WPP said on Wednesday the sale of a majority stake in data analytics business Kantar is on track and that its full-year outlook was steady.

WPP said on Wednesday the sale of a majority stake in data analytics unit Kantar is progressing in line with expectations, and that its full-year outlook was unchanged.

Private equity fund Vista Equity Partners has emerged as one of four U.S. bidders vying for a majority stake in WPP's data analytics firm Kantar, two sources close to the deal told Reuters.