Nielsen annuncia la vendita delle attività di global connect ad advent international per 2,7 miliardi di dollari

Advent, in partnership with former TransUnion CEO Jim Peck, will accelerate Nielsen Global Connect’s transformation and support its continued innovation in consumer and market measurement.

Nielsen terrà una teleconferenza per discutere gli annunci odierni e i risultati finanziari del terzo trimestre 2020 alle ore 8:00 (ora orientale degli Stati Uniti) di lunedì 2 novembre 2020.

NEW YORK, and BOSTON, November 1, 2020 — Nielsen Holdings plc (“Nielsen”) (NYSE: NLSN) announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement under which affiliates of Advent International (“Advent”), one of the largest and most experienced global private equity investors, in partnership with James “Jim” Peck, former Chief Executive Officer of TransUnion, will acquire the Nielsen Global Connect business for $2.7 billion (subject to working capital, cash, debt-like items and other customary adjustments). Nielsen will also receive warrants in the new company exercisable in certain circumstances. Upon completion of the transaction, Nielsen Global Connect will be a private company with the flexibility to continue investing in the development and deployment of leading-edge measurement products and solutions. The transaction was unanimously approved by Nielsen’s Board of Directors. 

"È una vittoria sia per Nielsen Global Connect che per Nielsen (RemainCo), oltre che per i nostri azionisti", ha dichiarato David Kenny, Chief Executive Officer di Nielsen. "La vendita di questa attività ad Advent produrrà un valore sostanziale prima di quanto previsto attraverso il previsto spin-off e crea certezza per tutte le parti interessate. Il ricavato della vendita consentirà a Nielsen di ridurre significativamente il debito, garantendo una maggiore flessibilità finanziaria per attuare la nostra strategia di crescita ed espandere il nostro ruolo nel mercato globale dei media. Allo stesso tempo, siamo entusiasti di questa opportunità per Nielsen Global Connect e crediamo che il passaggio a società privata permetterà all'azienda di accelerare la sua trasformazione e di rafforzare la sua posizione di leader di mercato. Con il supporto delle risorse e dell'esperienza di Advent, crediamo che la nuova società creerà e definirà il prossimo secolo di misurazione dei consumatori e del mercato. Ringraziamo l'intero team di Nielsen Global Connect per la sua preziosa collaborazione e ci auguriamo di continuare a lavorare con loro anche in futuro".

Kenny ha aggiunto: "Tutto l'ottimo lavoro svolto da molti per perseguire lo spin-off consentirà a entrambe le aziende di prosperare come società autonome e ci permetterà di eseguire una transazione senza problemi". Siamo grati per tutto questo impegno".

"Nielsen Global Connect è il gold standard nella misurazione del retail, con intuizioni eccezionali e una copertura e una scala senza pari dei mercati globali CPG e retail", ha dichiarato Peck. "Poiché i clienti si trovano ad affrontare un mercato in rapida evoluzione, riconosciamo che si aspettano molto da Nielsen Global Connect che li aiuti a soddisfare queste nuove esigenze e che si basi sulla sua piattaforma principale esistente e su altre capacità di misurazione del retail. Intendiamo collaborare con David Rawlinson e con il talentuoso team di gestione per accelerare la fornitura di nuove funzionalità e per continuare la trasformazione in corso per costruire una cultura innovativa e ad alte prestazioni, fortemente focalizzata sulla fornitura di valore ai clienti di tutto il mondo." 

"Advent è entusiasta di collaborare con Jim per guidare questa prossima fase di crescita di Nielsen Global Connect", ha dichiarato Chris Egan, Managing Partner di Advent. "Advent ha investito in società di dati e servizi informativi per quasi tre decenni e all'inizio di quest'anno abbiamo collaborato con Jim per identificare un business interessante nel settore in cui possiamo applicare la nostra esperienza e le nostre risorse combinate per creare valore. Vediamo un enorme potenziale per costruire sulla piattaforma all'avanguardia di Global Connect, attingendo alla nostra impronta globale e alla nostra forza operativa per scalare ulteriormente l'azienda e far avanzare la sua leadership nei mercati consolidati ed emergenti."

David Rawlinson rimarrà CEO di Nielsen Global Connect fino alla chiusura della transazione e si prevede che farà parte del team di leadership della futura società. Al termine della transazione, Peck sarà coinvolto nelle attività strategiche e operative quotidiane dell'azienda, che avrà sede a Chicago, IL. All'inizio del 2021, l'attività Global Connect sarà rinominata NielsenIQ.

Nielsen concederà a Nielsen Global Connect una licenza per l'uso del marchio "Nielsen" e di altri marchi Nielsen per 20 anni dopo il closing. Inoltre, Nielsen e Advent stipuleranno accordi in base ai quali, tra l'altro, Nielsen e Advent si forniranno reciprocamente alcuni servizi transitori per periodi fino a 24 mesi dopo la chiusura, si concederanno reciprocamente licenze per alcuni dati e servizi corrispondenti relativi a tali dati per periodi fino a cinque anni dopo la chiusura e si concederanno reciprocamente licenze per l'utilizzo di alcuni brevetti.    

Nielsen Global Connect fornisce ai produttori di beni di consumo confezionati e ai rivenditori al dettaglio informazioni utili e un quadro completo del mercato, complesso e mutevole, di cui i marchi hanno bisogno per innovare e far crescere il proprio business. L'azienda offre dati e costruisce strumenti che utilizzano modelli predittivi per trasformare le osservazioni del mercato in decisioni aziendali e soluzioni vincenti. Questi dati e approfondimenti forniscono la base essenziale che rende possibili i mercati nel mondo del commercio in rapida evoluzione.

Nielsen prevede di utilizzare i proventi netti della transazione principalmente per ridurre il debito e per scopi aziendali generali. Su base proforma per la transazione, Nielsen prevede che la leva finanziaria netta a fine 2020 sarà di circa 4X. La transazione è soggetta all'approvazione degli azionisti di Nielsen, alle approvazioni normative, alla consultazione con il consiglio di fabbrica e ad altre condizioni di chiusura abituali; si prevede che si chiuda nel secondo trimestre del 2021.

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Guggenheim Securities, LLC are acting as financial advisors to Nielsen, and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, Clifford Chance LLP, DLA Piper, and Baker McKenzie are serving as legal advisors to Nielsen. Ropes & Gray LLP and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP are serving as legal counsel to Advent and BofA Securities is serving as lead financial advisor, with Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., RBC Capital Markets and UBS Investment Bank also advising. Financing for the transaction is being arranged and provided by Bank of America, UBS Investment Bank, Barclays, Deutsche Bank AG New York, HSBC, RBC Capital Markets, MUFG and Wells Fargo.

Nielsen will hold a conference call to discuss today’s announcements as well as its third quarter 2020 financial results at 8:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time (ET) on Monday, November 2, 2020. This conference call will replace the previously announced conference call scheduled for Thursday, November 5, 2020. Interested parties are encouraged to listen to the webcast as wait times for the call may be longer than normal. The webcast can be found on Nielsen’s Investor Relations website at https://nielsen.com/investors. Within the United States, listeners can also access the call by dialing 1+833-502-0473. Callers outside the U.S. can dial 1+236-714-2183. Please note that the conference ID is required to access this call; the conference ID is 2671835.

A replay of the event will be available on Nielsen’s Investor Relations website, https://nielsen.com/investors, from 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time, November 2, 2020 until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, November 9, 2020. The replay can be accessed from within the United States by dialing +1-800-585-8367. Other callers can access the replay at +1-416-621-4642. The replay pass code is 2671835.

Nielsen Holdings plc (NYSE: NLSN) is a global measurement and data analytics company that provides the most complete and trusted view available of consumers and markets worldwide. Nielsen is divided into two business units. Nielsen Global Media provides media and advertising industries with unbiased and reliable metrics that create a shared understanding of the industry required for markets to function. Nielsen Global Connect provides consumer packaged goods manufacturers and retailers with accurate, actionable information and insights and a complete picture of the complex and changing marketplace that companies need to innovate and grow. Our approach marries proprietary Nielsen data with other data sources to help clients around the world understand what’s happening now, what’s happening next, and how to best act on this knowledge. An S&P 500 company, Nielsen has operations in over 90 countries, covering more than 90% of the world’s population. For more information, visit www.nielsen.com. 

From time to time, Nielsen may use its website and social media outlets as channels of distribution of material company information. Financial and other material information regarding the company is routinely posted and accessible on our website at https://beta.nielsen.com/investors and our Twitter account at https://twitter.com/Nielsen. 

Fondata nel 1984, Advent International è uno dei maggiori e più esperti investitori globali di private equity. L'azienda ha investito in oltre 350 operazioni di private equity in 41 Paesi e, al 30 giugno 2020, aveva 58,4 miliardi di dollari di asset in gestione. Con 15 uffici in 12 Paesi, Advent ha creato un team integrato a livello globale di oltre 200 professionisti degli investimenti in Nord America, Europa, America Latina e Asia. L'azienda si concentra sugli investimenti in cinque settori chiave, tra cui servizi commerciali e finanziari, assistenza sanitaria, industria, commercio al dettaglio, beni di consumo e tempo libero e tecnologia. Dopo 35 anni dedicati agli investimenti internazionali, Advent rimane impegnata a collaborare con i team di gestione per garantire una crescita sostenuta dei ricavi e degli utili delle società in portafoglio.

For more information, visit www.adventinternational.com or LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/advent-international 

This communication includes information that could constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These statements include those set forth above relating to the proposed sale by Nielsen of its Global Connect business to an affiliate of Advent International Corporation (the “proposed transaction”), as well as those that may be identified by words such as “will,” “intend,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “should,” “could” and similar expressions.  These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results and events could differ materially from what presently is expected.  Factors leading thereto may include, without limitation, the risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy and financial markets, the uncertainties relating to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Nielsen’s business, the timing, receipt and terms and conditions of any required governmental or regulatory approvals of the proposed transaction that could reduce the anticipated benefits of or cause the parties to abandon the proposed transaction, the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the stock purchase agreement entered into pursuant to the proposed transaction (the “Agreement”), the possibility that Nielsen shareholders may not approve the entry into the Agreement, the risk that the parties to the Agreement may not be able to satisfy the conditions to the proposed transaction in a timely manner or at all, risks related to the disruption of management time from ongoing business operations due to the proposed transaction, the risk that any announcements relating to the proposed transaction could have adverse effects on the market price of Nielsen’s common stock, the risk of any unexpected costs or expenses resulting from the proposed transaction, the risk of any litigation relating to the proposed transaction, the risk that the proposed transaction and its announcement could have an adverse effect on the ability of Nielsen to retain customers and retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with customers, suppliers, employees and other business relationships and on its operating results and business generally, the risk that the pending proposed transaction could distract management of Nielsen, conditions in the markets Nielsen is engaged in, behavior of customers, suppliers and competitors, technological developments, as well as legal and regulatory rules affecting Nielsen’s business and  other specific risk factors that are outlined in our disclosure filings and materials, which you can find on https://beta.nielsen.com/investors, such as our 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K reports that have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Please consult these documents for a more complete understanding of these risks and uncertainties.  This list of factors is not intended to be exhaustive.  Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this communication, and we assume no obligation to update any written or oral forward-looking statement made by us or on our behalf as a result of new information, future events or other factors, except as required by law.

This communication relates to the proposed transaction involving Nielsen.  In connection with the proposed transaction, Nielsen will file relevant materials with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including Nielsen’s proxy statement on Schedule 14A (the “Proxy Statement”).  This communication is not a substitute for the Proxy Statement or for any other document that Nielsen may file with the SEC and send to its shareholders in connection with the proposed transaction.  The transaction will be submitted to Nielsen’s shareholders for their consideration.  Before making any voting decision, Nielsen’s shareholders are urged to read all relevant documents filed or to be filed with the SEC, including the Proxy Statement, as well as any amendments or supplements to those documents, when they become available because they will contain important information about the proposed transaction.

Nielsen’s shareholders will be able to obtain a free copy of the proxy statement, as well as other filings containing information about Nielsen, without charge, at the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov).  Copies of the proxy statement and the filings with the SEC that will be incorporated by reference therein can also be obtained, without charge, by directing a request to Nielsen Holdings plc, 85 Broad Street, New York, NY 10004, Attention: Corporate Secretary; telephone (646) 654-5000, or from Nielsen’s website, www.nielsen.com.  

Nielsen and certain of its directors, executive officers and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the transaction.  Information regarding Nielsen’s directors and executive officers is available in Nielsen’s definitive proxy statement for its 2020 annual meeting, which was filed with the SEC on April 1, 2020, and Nielsen’s Current Report on Form 8-K, which was filed with the SEC on April 30, 2020.  Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the Proxy Statement and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction when they become available.  Free copies of this document and such other materials may be obtained as described in the preceding paragraph.

Nielsen

Relazioni con gli investitori: Sara Gubins, +1 646 654 8153, sara.gubins@nielsen.com 

Relazioni con i media: Fernanda Paredes, +1 917 291 1196, fernanda.paredes@nielsen.com

Avvento Internazionale

Kerry Golds or Anna Epstein, Finsbury, Tel: +1 646 805 2000, Adventinternational-US@finsbury.com