Bid for Nielsen TV ratings company almost doubles to $16B

Brookfield Business Partners is boosting its buyout offer for Nielsen Holdings to about $16 billion after the TV ratings and marketing data company rejected a $9 billion takeover bid

Nielsen Rejected Takeover (Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

The buyout offer for Nielsen rose to $16 billion Tuesday, about a week after the TV ratings and marketing data company rejected a $9 billion bid.

A group of private equity investors led by Brookfield Business Partners will invest approximately $2.65 billion via preferred equity, convertible into 45% of Nielsen’s common equity.

The company said Tuesday that it anticipates investing approximately $600 million, with the remaining balance funded from institutional partners. It added that part of its commitment may be syndicated to other institutional investors.

The deal is expected to close in the second half of the year.