Brookfield consortium to buy Nielsen in $16bn deal
Nielsen Hldgs Eo-,07
€37.96
19:59 22/03/17
TV ratings company Nielsen Holdings said on Tuesday that it has agreed to be bought by a consortium led by Evergreen and Brookfield Business Partners in a $16bn cash deal.
Under the terms of the acquisition, Nielsen shareholders will receive $28 per share, which is a 10% premium over the consortium's previous proposal and a 60% premium to Nielsen’s unaffected share price as of 11 March.
James A. Attwood, chairperson of Nielsen's board of directors, said: "After a thorough assessment, the board determined that this transaction represents an attractive outcome for our shareholders by providing a cash takeout at a substantial premium, while supporting Nielsen's commitment to our clients, employees and stakeholders.
"The consortium sees the full potential of Nielsen's leadership position in the media industry and the unique value we deliver for our clients worldwide."
Dave Gregory, managing partner at Brookfield, said: "Nielsen is deeply embedded in the media ecosystem and a trusted service provider to its customers. As a private company, Nielsen will be even better positioned to deliver the best measures of consumers' rapidly changing behaviours across all channels and platforms.
"We are pleased to invest in this iconic company and help lead the industry into the next generation of audience measurement."