VNU Moves AGM to Allow Sale Debate

VNU has changed its April 18 AGM to an EGM (Extraordinary General Meeting), the sole focus of which will be a discussion of the public offer for the company made by Valcon Acquisition B.V. The AGM has been rescheduled for June 13.

The EGM will begin at 4:00 p.m. (CET) at Hotel Okura Amsterdam, Ferdinand Bolstraat 333, Amsterdam. The original agenda for the AGM included a broad discussion of the Offer, among other items, but VNU says the current debate has focused shareholder attention squarely on the Offer, suggesting that a fuller and more comprehensive discussion of the transaction is required. VNU says it believes that 'a constructive discussion of the other AGM items is not feasible until the results of the Offer become clear'.

Ads setting out the agenda for the April 18 EGM will be published in the Dutch newspapers Het Financieele Dagblad, NRC Handelsblad and the Officiële Prijscourant. Shareholders who registered for the original April 18 AGM and who held their shares on April 11 are welcome to attend the EGM.

VNU and Valcon announced the agreement on a public offer valuing the company's equity at EUR 28.75 per ordinary share, on March 8 (DRNO www.mrweb.com/drno/news5266.htm). Public opposition from some major shareholders, including the activist firm Knight Vinke Asset Management (KVAM) (www.mrweb.com/drno/news5278.htm and www.mrweb.com/drno/news5370.htm )has already drawn VNU into a response and counterclaims (www.mrweb.com/drno/news5390.htm ).

The firm 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.