Finalize

Google Finalizes $1 Billion Investment Deal With AOL

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 28, 2006 - 10:45am.

Dulles, Va. - Following several months of negotiations, Google, the Internet search giant, said in a regulatory filing on Wednesday that it has officially signed a deal to invest $1 billion in America Online. Under the deal, first announced in December, Google will acquire a 5% stake in AOL, its largest advertising partner, sometime before mid-year. There is also a large advertising portion of the deal, in which AOL will get $300 million worth of ads on Google's network, and in turn will sell graphical ads for Google's search engine. The news sent shares of Google up nearly 5% in Wednesday's trading.

tags: AOL | Google | Finalize | Deal |

Private-Equity Firms Finalizing Bid for VNU, Report Says

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 27, 2006 - 10:40am.

Amsterdam - According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, a group of seven private-equity firms is preparing a $8.6 billion bid for VNU, the Netherlands-based media firm that owns the Nielsen ratings service, in addition to Billboard and The Hollywood Reporter. The report said the group includes AlpInvest Partners of the Netherlands, Permira Advisers of the U.K., Blackstone Group, Carlyle Group, Hellman & Friedman, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. and ThomasH. Lee Partners.