NL - VNU completes sale of its stake in Solucient to Thomson

VNU, minority owner in Solucient since 1999, no longer considered the business to be a strategic fit with VNU’s Marketing Information group, which focuses primarily on the fast-moving consumer goods sector.

Earlier this month, the information and media company proposed to acquire the outstanding publicly held minority interest in NetRatings, an internet media and market research company in which it already owns 60.5% of the common stock that is currently outstanding. VNU proposed to acquire the remaining minority interest for $ 16 per share in cash, which is estimated to value the company at an enterprise value multiple of 54x and 36x over 2006 and 2007 EBITDA respectively. NetRatings has confirmed that it has appointed a special committee of independent advisers to evaluate the proposal.

VNU has been private equity-owned since July, when AlpInvest Partners, The Blackstone Group, The Carlyle Group, Hellman & Friedman, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, and Thomas H. Lee Partners (collectively Valcon Acquisition BV)delisted the firm from Euronext Amsterdam for approximately EUR 8.7bn, including net indebtedness.

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