PE consortium makes €7.3bn VNU offer

Dutch information and media group VNU has received a non-binding offer to purchase the company from a private equity consortium.
 
The consortium, comprising AlpInvest Partners, The Blackstone Group, The Carlyle Group, Hellman & Friedman, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, Permira and Thomas H. Lee Partners has made an offer of €28 to €28.50 per common share.
 
The takeover bid values VNU at up to €7.32 billion ($8.89 billion), according to media reports.
 

VNU: only talking to PE consortium currently

VNU said in a statement that it would proceed with discussions with the consortium as it evaluates its next course of action. The group added that, “after having gauged the level of interest of certain other parties, [it] is at this time not proceeding with discussions with any other party”.
 
Permira, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and The Blackstone Group are also among a private equity consortium bidding for Danish telecom company, TDC, which is currently the subject of a $15.3 billion offer.
 
VNU publishes marketing information and media measurement through its ACNielsen and Nielsen Media Research brands, as well as a number of business information titles, such as Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, Computing and Intermediair.
 
The media group is active in over 100 countries, with headquarters in Haarlem, the Netherlands and New York. VNU employs 38,000 people and reported revenues of €3.3 billion in 2004, according to a statement.