• by Joe Mandese  @mp_joemandese, June 19, 2019

WPP’s plan to sell a majority stake of its Kantar research division is on course, the company said in an update provided to investors today.

The sale is “progressing in line with our expectations,” the company said.

At least four suitors -- three of them private-equity firms -- made it through to the short list in May, according to reports attributed to unnamed sources familiar with the discussions.

WPP reportedly hoped to finalize a deal by the end of this month, according to Reuters, which said it identified private equity firms Bain Capital, Apollo and Platinum as three of the finalists.