VNU Continues Talks With Private Equity Group Over Buyout Offer.
January 13, 2006
VNU N.V. said that it continues to be in active talks with a private-equity consortium over a proposed buyout of the company, and that its Supervisory and Executive Boards expect to provide their view on the non-binding offer by the end of this month.
In connection with the discussions, the private-equity group has been conducting extensive due diligence of the company, and that process continues, VNU said.
The Supervisory and Executive Boards discussed the private-equity proposal, among other matters, during a regularly scheduled meeting yesterday. The Boards continue to evaluate fully and fairly what course of action will serve the best interests of VNU’s stakeholders, and they have retained the investment bank, N M Rothschild & Sons, to provide additional, third-party advice. VNU said there can be no assurance that the ongoing discussions with the private-equity consortium will result in any specific transaction and, if so, at what price and with what conditions.
The company also said that Aad Jacobs, chairman of VNU’s Supervisory Board, along with VNU’s Executive Board, met yesterday with Eric Knight of Knight Vinke Asset Management to hear his views.
