Hey Nielsen… Go Sell Yourself!
CNBC reports that Elliott prefers that Nielsen sell itself entirely, as opposed to a specific business, citing “a person with knowledge of the plans.” Nielsen has already fielded interest from several private equity firms, a source said. The company has a long history with buyout firms, having been taken private by a consortium of six firms in 2006 for about $10 billion. Those firms — which include Carlyle, Blackstone and KKR — took Nielsen public about 7 1/2 years ago. Nielsen has engaged J.P. Morgan to help with the strategic review and assess takeover offers.
A Nielsen spokesperson said, “Nielsen’s Board of Directors and management team are actively focused on executing the company’s strategy to achieve sustainable, profitable growth and drive long-term value creation for all shareholders. The board and management regularly engage with shareholders and welcome the views and perspectives of its owners, including Elliott.” [Photo from Wilipedia]