Equity Firms Plan VNU Takeover

Shares in VNU, owner of ACNielsen and Nielsen Media Research, rose more than 4% on Friday after reports that two private equity firms were considering making bids for the Netherlands-based company.

According to the Wall Street Journal, one of two consortiums is expected to make a bid for VNU before the end of the year. One of the interested groups is said to include Apax Partners Worldwide LLP, the Blackstone Group International Ltd, Carlyle Group, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co, Permira Advisers, Thomas H. Lee Partners, and Alpinvest Partners NV. The other reportedly comprises Bain Capital, Texas Pacific Group and Warburg Pincus.

Reports at the weekend say that VNU will reject any takeover offer that values the company below 8.2bn Euros ($9.7bn, £5.5bn) or 32 Euros per share. This price excludes debt, which stood at 1.1bn Euros at the end of the first half of 2005.

Earlier this year, VNU had plans to buy MR firm IMS Health, but was forced to abandon the move last month after shareholders objected. The company is online at www.vnu.com.

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.

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