Nielsen Holdings BV, the television ratings and consumer research company that also owns Outdoor Retailer, ASR and Interbike trade shows, plans to raise up to $1.75 billion in an initial public offering, the company said in a securities filing.
In March 2006, Nielsen agreed to a $10.2 billion leveraged buyout. The deal involved many of the heavy-hitters of private equity, and was described as a “mega-transaction.”
Preliminary documents state that Nielsen intends to use the anticipated net proceeds to repay existing indebtedness and for general corporate purposes.
