Nielsen is being acquired for US$16 billion (A$21.3b) by a private equity group, after rejecting the group’s initial US$9 billion takeover offer just a week ago.
The bid was made by a group led by Evergreen Coast Capital, an affiliate of Elliott Investment Management, and Brookfield, the latter of which was part of a successful takeover bid for Australian telco infrastructure company Uniti.
They will pay $28 for each outstanding share, and take the company private.
The Nielsen board voted unanimously in support of the offer, after at first rejecting a lowball A$12 billion pitch, which the company said “significantly undervalued the business.”
Nielsen brings in revenue of about A$4.66 billion a year.
The deal is expected to close in the latter half of the year, after approval from Nielsen shareholders, and regulatory bodies.
