WPP WPP PLC

By Rory Gallivan

LONDON-- Advertising group WPP PLC (WPP.LN) Wednesday said that its research arm Kantar has sold call center business Center Partners to business outsourcing and call center service provider Qualfon for an undisclosed fee.

Center Partners employs about 2,500 people in six contact centers in the U.S. and posted revenue of $110 million for 2013, WPP said.

"The decision to divest the company will allow Kantar to focus on its core data investment management business," it added.

WPP shares closed flat Wednesday at 1,268 pence, valuing the company at 16.9 billion pounds ($28.61 billion).

-Write to Rory Gallivan at rory.gallivan@wsj.com; Twitter: @RoryGallivan

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