Consortium Acquires Nielsen For £12bn
Nielsen, the analytics firm that provides audience data to large parts of the sport and media industry, has announced an agreement that will see it acquired at $16bn (£12bn).
The private equity consortium purchasing the company is being led by Evergreen Coast Capital and Brookfield Business Partners. The all-cash transaction includes the assumption of debt through an approximately £4.3bn equity commitment.
The agreement triggers a ‘go-shop’ clause which gives Nielsen the opportunity to seek a higher bid from other parties for a period of 45 days.sport on
The Nielsen Board of Directors voted unanimously to support the acquisition proposal, which represents a 10% premium over the consortium’s previous proposal and a 60% premium over Nielsen’s unaffected stock price as of 11th March.
The acquisition remains subject to approval by Nielsen shareholders, as well as regulatory approvals, consultation with the works council and other customary closing conditions. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2022.
Chairperson of Nielsen’s Board of Directors, James A. Attwood, 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.”
Managing Partner Brookfield Business Partners, Dave Gregory added, “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.”
Image: Unsplash
