VNU has indicated the credit facility is "for general corporate purposes, including working capital and acquisition financing".
The new facility, supplied by ABN AMRO, BNP Paribas, ING bank, JPMorgan and Rabobank, has a maturity of five years, with two extension options potentially raising the maturity to seven years.
The £700m replaces the two existing syndicated facilities that expire next year.
Rumours about possible acquisition targets are rife following the sale of the World Directories group for £1.4bn a month ago. According to reports, £70m is earmarked to fund purchases in the market research or media sector.
Analysts at finanacial management compnay Merrill Lynch cite research companies GfK and Arbitron as possible take-over targets.
VNU is a global information and media company with leading market positions and recognised brands in marketing information through ACNielsen and media measurement and information through Nielsen Media Research.
Its business information publishing arm includes Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, Computing and Intermediair.
VNU is active in more than 100 countries, with headquarters in Haarlem, the Netherlands and New York.
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