尼尔森宣布以 27 亿美元将全球连接业务出售给 advent international

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.

尼尔森将于美国东部时间2020年11月2日（星期一）上午8:00召开电话会议，讨论今天发布的消息以及2020年第三季度财报。

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. 

"尼尔森首席执行官大卫-肯尼（David Kenny）表示："这对尼尔森全球互联和尼尔森（RemainCo）以及我们的股东来说都是一次胜利。尼尔森首席执行官大卫-肯尼（David Kenny）表示："将该业务出售给Advent公司将比计划中的分拆更快地实现巨大价值，并为所有利益相关者带来确定性。出售所得将使尼尔森能够大幅削减债务，从而为我们执行增长战略和扩大在全球媒体市场中的作用提供更大的财务灵活性。同时，我们对尼尔森全球联接所面临的机遇感到兴奋，并相信作为一家私营公司，尼尔森全球联接将更好地加快转型步伐，巩固其市场领先地位。在安宏资本的资源和专业知识的支持下，我们相信新公司将开创并定义下一个世纪的消费者和市场测量。我们感谢尼尔森全球联接整个团队的宝贵合作，并期待在未来继续与他们保持稳固的合作关系。

Kenny 补充说："许多人为分拆业务所做的出色工作将使这两家公司作为独立公司茁壮成长，并使我们能够顺利进行交易。我们对所有这些兢兢业业的工作表示感谢。

"尼尔森全球联接是零售测量领域的黄金标准，对全球消费类商品和零售市场具有卓越的洞察力、无与伦比的规模和覆盖范围，"Peck说。"我们认识到，客户对尼尔森全球联接寄予厚望，希望尼尔森全球联接能够帮助他们满足这些新需求，并在其现有核心平台和其他零售测量能力的基础上更上一层楼。我们打算与大卫-罗林森（David Rawlinson）和优秀的管理团队合作，加快新能力的交付，并继续推进正在进行的转型，打造创新、高绩效的企业文化，专注于为全球客户提供价值。 

"安宏资本管理合伙人 Chris Egan 表示："安宏资本非常高兴能与吉姆合作，共同推动尼尔森全球互联下一阶段的发展。"安宏资本投资于数据和信息服务公司已有近三十年的历史，今年早些时候，我们与吉姆合作，在该行业中发现了一家引人注目的企业，我们可以利用我们的综合经验和资源创造价值。我们看到了在 Global Connect 尖端平台基础上发展的巨大潜力，利用我们的全球足迹和运营实力，进一步扩大业务规模，提升其在成熟市场和新兴市场的领导地位。

在交易完成后，David Rawlinson 将继续担任尼尔森全球连接公司的首席执行官，并有望成为公司未来领导团队的一员。交易完成后，Peck 将参与公司的日常战略和运营活动，公司总部将设在伊利诺伊州芝加哥市。2021 年初，Global Connect 业务将更名为 NielsenIQ。

尼尔森将授权尼尔森全球联接在交易完成后的 20 年内使用 "Nielsen "名称和其他尼尔森商标作为其产品和服务的品牌。此外，尼尔森和Advent还将签署协议，根据协议，尼尔森和Advent将在交易完成后的24个月内互相提供某些过渡性服务，在交易完成后的5年内互相授予对方某些数据和与该数据相关的相应服务的互惠许可，并互相授予对方某些专利的使用许可。    

尼尔森全球联接（Nielsen Global Connect）为消费包装商品制造商和零售商提供可操作的信息以及复杂多变的市场全貌，这是品牌创新和发展业务所必需的。公司提供数据并构建工具，利用预测模型将市场观察结果转化为商业决策和制胜方案。这些数据和洞察力提供了重要的基础，使市场在快速发展的商业世界中成为可能。

尼尔森计划将交易净收益主要用于减少债务和一般公司用途。在交易的备考基础上，尼尔森预计2020年年底的净杠杆率约为4倍。该交易尚需获得尼尔森股东的批准、监管部门的批准、与劳资协议会的协商以及其他惯例成交条件；预计将于 2021 年第二季度完成。

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. 

Advent International 成立于 1984 年，是规模最大、经验最丰富的全球私募股权投资者之一。截至 2020 年 6 月 30 日，该公司已在 41 个国家投资了 350 多项私募股权交易，管理资产达 584 亿美元。安宏资本在 12 个国家设有 15 个办事处，在北美、欧洲、拉丁美洲和亚洲建立了一支由 200 多名投资专业人士组成的全球一体化团队。公司专注于五大核心领域的投资，包括商业和金融服务；医疗保健；工业；零售、消费和休闲；以及技术。致力于国际投资 35 年后，安宏资本仍致力于与管理团队合作，为所投资公司带来持续的收入和盈利增长。

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.

尼尔森

投资者关系： Sara Gubins, +1 646 654 8153, sara.gubins@nielsen.com 

媒体关系： Fernanda Paredes, +1 917 291 1196, fernanda.paredes@nielsen.com

降临国际

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