In a statement VNU said that it expected with regards to the sale it would a book loss of between £17.5m and £21m.
This sale follows a review by VNU announced in January in which VNU stated its intention to explore strategic options, including the possible sale, for its Claritas Europe business.
The business has little in common with the rest of VNU's Marketing Information business in the European marketplace.
At the time of the review VNU slashed the workforce at Clartias by 20%with cuts across the board. The losses were in response to the adverse economic climate and the changing nature of the list business.
Claritas Europe employs approximately 550 people and owns and operates the largest consumer lifestyle database in Europe, serving the direct marketing industry.
It has nine offices in seven countries, including the UK office which opened in 1985, and is run independently from Claritas Inc in the US, which remains part of VNU's Marketing Information group.
The sale does not affect Trade Dimensions and Spectra Marketing Systems, which were both formally part of Claritas Europe. These two businesses will remain part of VNU's Marketing Information, as their activities are more closely aligned with VNU's mainstream marketing information businesses.
If you have an opinion on this or any other issue raised on Brand Republic, join the debate in the .
_1.jpg)
.jpg)
