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VNU Agrees to $9 Billion Bid by Private-Equity Firms

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 8, 2006 - 4:23am.
Amsterdam - VNU, currently the largest market-research firm in the world and publisher of Billboard and The Hollywood Reporter, announced that it has agreed to be acquired by a group of private-equity firms for $9 billion in cash. The Dutch firm accepted the offer after the group -- which includes Alpinvest, Blackstone, Carlyle, Hellman & Friedman, Kohlberg Kravis Robertsand Thomas H Lee -- increased its bid from about $33.40 per share to $34.30 per share. Fidelity International, a Dutch business-information group and one of VNU's largest shareholders, said it was unlikely to support the offer, however. The bid requires support from 95% of VNU's shareholders for approval.
tags: Deals | VC | VNU | Private-Equity |