(Reuters) - Private equity firm Apax Partners LLP is near to buying Advantage Sales & Marketing Inc from buyout firm J.W. Childs Associates LP and Bank of America Corp (BAC.N) for $1.8 billion, Bloomberg news reported, citing to a person familiar with the deal.

The transaction could be announced on Thursday and close by December 31, according to the person cited by Bloomberg. This person also said that Advantage Sales generated earnings before tax, interest and amortization of $180 million this year.

According to its web page, Advantage Sales helps market products, process orders and display products on store shelves and serves clients such as Kroger (KR.N) and Unilever

(ULVR.L).

Representatives for Apax, Bank of America, J.W. Childs and Advantage Sales could not immediately be reached for comment on Thursday, the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday.

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