VNU buyout confirmed following tender of 90% of share capital

LONDON – The takeover of market research giant VNU is set to go ahead after 90% of the company's share capital was committed to the deal.

VNU and Valcon, the buyout vehicle that includes Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co and Carlyle Group, said that 90% of its share capital and 11.95% of the ordinary share capital of the company had been tendered since the start of the post-acceptance period.

The additional shares have been tendered on a daily basis since the start of the post-acceptance period and Valcon and VNU expect that more will be tendered during the remainder of the period. VNU owns the Nielsen TV ratings business and trade magazines such as Billboard and Hollywood Reporter.

Valcon intends to de-list VNU at the end of the post-acceptance period, which closes on June 9.

The deal had been expected to fail last month as many investors said the original bid was too low, and a leading investor in VNU urged shareholders to accept a partial sell-off.

But the buyout team made an improved offer of €8.7bn (£6bn) for the firm, after its initial €7.5bn bid was rejected. 

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