THE NETHERLANDS - Permira leaves VNU consortium

Press reports suggest that Permira has dropped out of the private equity consortium which has tentatively offered to buy VNU for between EUR 28 and EUR 28.50 a share, because of concerns that the offer price is too high. This withdrawal reduces the consortium to six members and follows the earlier departure of Apax Partners. The remaining members are AlpInvest, Blackstone, Carlyle, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co, Hellman & Friedman and Thomas H. Lee.