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 Friday December 21 2001
Newconomy sells stake in Ilse to VNU
Newconomy has sold its 6% stake in Ilse Media Group to VNU, the company announced on Friday afternoon. Newconomy will use the revenues to pay off part of its bank debts. Its total bank debt will amount to EUR 4.1 mln after the transaction.

Thursday December 13 2001
VNU reaffirms earnings forecast 2001
VNU on Thursday announced that, further to the press release on October 5, the Company is on track to meet its 2001 profit forecast, based on the present information on developments in the second half of the year. VNU expects 2001 cash earnings per share - earnings per share before goodwill amortization and extraordinary items - to decline by 0% to 5% compared to 2000.

Friday November 23 2001
Appointment VNU Media Measurement & information
Ms. Susan Whiting has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Nielsen Media Research as per January 1, 2002. She will succeed John Dimling, who is retiring, but will remain with the company on a part-time basis as non-executive Chairman. Susan Whiting has been with Nielsen Media Research for over 23 years, and currently is President and Chief Operating Officer of the company.

Thursday November 22 2001
VNU to sell 49,9% interest in CVI Media Group to Chrysalis
VNU on Thursday announced that it will sell its 49.9% stake in European television production company CVI Media Group b.v. - owner of 100% of IdtV - to Chrysalis Group of London. The sale will not materially influence VNU's net earnings and cash earnings in 2001. The music and media group Chrysalis Group already owns the other 50.1% of CVI Media Group. The sale is part of VNU's previously announced strategy to divest all consumer information activities.

Monday November 12 2001
Appointments VNU Business Media Europe and Claritas Europe
Mr. Richard Halpenny has been appointed Chief Operating Officer of the division VNU Business Media Europe as per November 1, 2001. Richard Halpenny is Chief Financial Officer of this division. He will retain this responsibility, but will be supported by a Financial Director. Effective January 2, 2002, Mrs.

VNU and Jaarbeurs enter joint venture
VNU on Monday announced that it has signed an agreement with Jaarbeurs B.V. in Utrecht to acquire a 50% interest in its wholly-owned subsidiary 'Jaarbeurs Exhibitions & Media', effective January 1, 2002. Through this joint venture both companies aim to build up a European trade show organization, which will be a platform for the business group VNU Business Media Europe.

Friday October 26 2001
Netratings to acquire Jupiter Media Metrix
VNU on Friday announced that NetRatings in which VNU has a 64% interest, has agreed to purchase Jupiter Media Metrix, in a transaction valued at approximately USD 71.2 mln. In addition, NetRatings, a leading provider of Internet audience measurement information and analyses, simultaneously announced that it has agreed to purchase the 80.1% of ACNielsen eRatings.com that it does not currently own for USD 16.4 mln in a transaction in which NetRatings will issue 1,256,000 shares.

Monday October 22 2001
Career site Newmonday.com discontinues its activities
VNU and Randstad Holding, an international staffing company, on Monday announced that they have decided to discontinue the activities of the career site newmonday.com, effective November 1, 2001. Both companies have a 50% stake in the joint venture. Newmonday.com, an on-line career center for college graduates, is active in The Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Belgium, France, Italy and Spain.

Thursday October 18 2001
VNU launches EUR 600 mln Eurobond
VNU on Thursday announced that it has completed the successful launch of a EUR 600 mln seven year Eurobond issue with a coupon of 6.75%. The bond has been issued under VNU's recently-signed EUR 2 bn Euro Medium Term Note program, arranged by Merrill Lynch International. VNU is rated Baa1 (with stable outlook) by Moody's and BBB+ (with negative outlook) by Standard & Poor's.

Friday October 12 2001
Maybe VNU loss jobs
Haarlem-based VNU Business Publications plans to shed 40 of its 350 jobs. Forced dismissals have not been ruled out. The job losses will affect all departments, including editorial staff. VNU Business Publications is responsible for trade publications such as Intermediar and Computable. The division has been plagued by falling advertising income. Last week, VNU issued its second profit warning in two months due to shrinking advertising revenues in the US and Europe.

Wednesday October 10 2001
VNU,Sanoma and TPG sign agreement
Sanoma Uitgevers, formerly VNU Magazines The Netherlands, and TPG, on Wednesday announced their intention to join forces in the field of electronic mail delivery in The Netherlands. TPG will acquire the business-to-business direct marketing company, VNU Directview, from VNU. In addition, Sanoma Uitgevers and VNU will gradually out-source the delivery of their magazines to TPG.

Friday October 5 2001
VNU revises 2001 earings outlook
VNU expects 2001 cash earnings per share - earnings per share before goodwill amortization and extraordinary items - to decline by 0% to 5% compared to 2000. In the half yearly report published on August 22 of this year, VNU stated that it expected cash earnings per share to increase by at least 5% for 2001 as a whole.

Tuesday October 2 2001
VNU establishes new Euro Medium Term Note
VNU announced that it is currently establishing a EUR 2 bn Euro Medium Term Note (EMTN) program for which Merill Lunch International has been appointed as Arranger and for which ABN AMRO, Barclays Capital, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs International, MerillLynch International, Morgan Stanley, Schroder Salomon Smith Barney and UBS Warburg have been invited as dealers.

Monday October 1 2001
VNU concludes sale of its consumer information group
VNU on Monday announced it has closed the sale of the Consumer Information Group to the media group SanomaWSOY. On July 20, 2001, VNU announced that it had signed a definitive agreement to sell its Consumer Information Group to SanomaWSOY, based in Helsinki, Finland, for a price of EUR 1.25 bn.

Wednesday September 12 2001
VNU sells Tutch
VNU reported on Wednesday that its World Directories unit had sold mobile internet portal Tutch to a group of investors headed by former KPNKPN Mobile chief commercial officer Luc Maas. No financial details were released. VNU launched the service last year but said it would pull out in July because of disappointing demand.

Monday September 3 2001
VNU: 2001 interim dividend
VNU on Monday announced regarding the 2001 interim dividend payment, which included a choice between a cash dividend or common shares, that the number of common shares necessary to obtain one new share has been fixed at 299. This number was decided on the basis of the average closing prices of common shares VNU listed on Euronext Amsterdam on August 30, August 31, and September 3, 2001. The interim cash dividend amounts to EUR 0.12 per common share.

Change VNU marketing information Europe
Peter Tordoir, Chairman and CEO of VNU Marketing Information Europe and Claritas Europe, has decided to pursue his career outside of VNU. He will leave the company on December 31, 2001. Further announcements regarding his succession will be made in due course.

Wednesday August 29 2001
VNU: appointments human resources department
In relation to the changes in the business portfolio of VNU, the Executive Board has decided to split the corporate staff department Human Resources into a Human Resources / Management Development department for Europe and a Human Resources / Management Development department for the United States. Due to this change the current position of Corporate Staff Director Human Resources will lapse.

Friday August 24 2001
VNU executive Board changes
VNU on Friday announced that the Board of Supervisory Directors of VNU intends to appoint Mr. M.P. Connors (46) to VNU's Executive Board. Shareholders will be informed of this intention during an extraordinary meeting to be held on Tuesday, September 11, 2001 at 2:00 p.m. (CET) at VNU's head office in Haarlem, The Netherlands.

Wednesday August 22 2001
VNU H1 2001 cash earnings EUR 191 mln
Significant progress has been achieved with the transformation of VNU. Agreements have been reached for the sale of the Consumer Information Group and the Educational Information Group. The integration of ACNielsen has been successfully implemented. This integration has led to the internal separation of the Marketing and Media Information Group into two units: Marketing Information and Media Measurement & Information.

Tuesday August 7 2001
VNU completes disposal process with sale of EIG
VNU sold its education information arm VNU, the Dutch publisher, yesterday sold its education information arm for Euros 195m (Dollars 171m), completing its transformation into a market research and business information group. The management buy-out, backed by 3i, the UK-based venture capitalist, marks the end of an eight-month disposal process designed to offset the cost of acquiring AC Nielsen, the US market research company.

Friday July 20 2001
VNU sells consumer information group to media group SanomaWSOY in Finland
VNU announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to sell its Consumer Information Group to the media group SanomaWSOY, based in Helsinki, Finland, for a price of EUR 1.25 bn. In December of last year, VNU announced its intention to sell the Consumer Information Group to focus on its three main activities: marketing and media information, business information and directories.

Friday July 13 2001
PAI and VNU preparing bid for Vivendi Iniversal's publishing interests
The number of candidates lining up to buy the publishing interests of Vivendi Universal is greater than originally anticipated. Among the heavyweights are Bertelsmann of Germany and Elsevier Reed of the UK. Today the Dutch investment group VNU, which is already present on the French market, is preparing to team up with Paribas Affaires Industrielles (PAI) to make an offer.

Tuesday July 10 2001
Sanoma says it wants VNU magazine arm
Sanoma WSOY, Finland's largest media group, yesterday confirmed it was in talks with VNU about buying the Dutch publisher's consumer magazine business. The Helsinki-based company is one of two bidders in the final rounds of negotiations. The other is BC Partners and CVC, the private equity groups. A deal, expected next week, would mark the end of a protracted auction.

Monday July 9 2001
VNU says difficult to say when talks on consumer magazines sale to end
VNU spokesman Maarten Schikker declined to predict when talks on the sale of the group's consumer magazines will be concluded. "It is difficult to say when the negotiations will be finalised", he said following news earlier that Sanoma WSOY is one of the groups in talks with the Dutch media and information group on the sale.

Monday July 2 2001
VNU announces management appointments in the business media group
Michael Marchesano has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of its American group VNU Business Media located in New York. He will succeed John Wickersham, who has decided to pursue business opportunities outside of VNU, including a family business. Since August 1999 Michael Marchesano has been CEO of Bill Communications, an operating company of VNU Business Media.

Monday June 25 2001
Russia-led consortium withdraws bid for VNU consumer magazines
A consortium led by Moscow-based Independent Media has withdrawn its EUR 1.2 bn bid for VNU NV's consumer-magazine division, charging that the Dutch publisher refused to grant it exclusivity to negotiate and had already identified a preferred buyer, the Wall Street Journal reported. "I confirm that we have heard these reports (about a preferred bidder) and that on that basis we no longer see an opportunity to remain in the bidding", said Independent Media Chairman Boudewijn Poelman.

Tuesday June 12 2001
Hearst is supporting bid for VNU unit
US media group Hearst has agreed to support VNU NV's USD 1 bn bid for Moscow's Independent Media ING Bank, a unit of the Dutch ING Group. Hearst is yet to commit to the deal financially. The president of the company's magazine unit, George Green, said the company could support VNU by expanding existing business relations between the two companies.

Monday May 14 2001
VNU in discussion with 3i group on sale of Educational Information Group
In relation to the ongoing sales process regarding its Educational Information Group, VNU announces that it is in discussion with 3i Group on an exclusive basis, although no binding agreement has as yet been reached. VNU expects these discussions to continue in the upcoming weeks.

Wednesday March 14 2001
VNU cash earnings increase by 27%
VNU: in 2000, cash earnings (net earnings before goodwill amortization and extraordinary items) increased by 27% to EUR 407 mln from EUR 320 mln. As a result of an increase in the average number of common shares outstanding of 17%, cash earnings per share (earnings per share before goodwill amortization and extraordinary items) increased by 8% to EUR 1.78 from EUR 1.65.

Tuesday March 13 2001
VNU enriches popular magazine group with Sportweek
VNU Tijdschriften will acquire 50% of Sportweek Media, the Dutch publisher of Sportweek magazine and the internet site Sportweek.nl. VNU could raise its stake in three years in order to finally take over Sportweek completely. The takeover price has not been disclosed. The new acquisition is important for VNU to complete its range of men's magazines, while Sportweek could profit from the advantages of a large group such as VNU.

Friday February 16 2001
VNU completes acquisition of ACNielsen
VNU will continue its acquisition of US research bureau ACNielsen. The Dutch publishing house owned about 96% of shares on the bid's closing date of 14 February. VNU previously extended the bid twice, partly because it was awaiting permission by the EU Commission. The EU now has given its permission to the takeover.

Monday February 12 2001
European Commission approves VNU's acquisition of ACNielsen
VNU on Monday announced that The European Commission has issued a decision on February 12, 2001, declaring the offer to purchase all outstanding shares of common stock of ACNielsen Corporation to be compatible with the European Common Market. With this decision the sole remaining regulatory condition to the offer has been satisfied and VNU intends to complete the offer at 12:00 midnight, New York City time, on Wednesday, February 14, 2001.

Wednesday February 7 2001
VNU announces extension of tender offer for ACNielsen
VNU announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Artist Acquisition,., is extending its offer to purchase all outstanding shares of common stock of ACNielsen Corporation for USD 36.75 per share, net to seller in cash, until 12:00 midnight, New York City time, on Wednesday, February 14, 2001. The offer had previously been scheduled to expire on February 6, 2001.

Wednesday January 24 2001
VNU announces extension of tender offer for ACNielsen
VNU announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Artist Acquisition,., is extending its offer to purchase all outstanding shares of common stock of ACNielsen Corporation for USD 36.75 per share, net to seller in cash, until 12:00 midnight, New York City time, on Tuesday, February 6, 2001. The offer had previously been scheduled to expire on January 23, 2001.

Friday January 19 2001
VNU US unit lifts stake in EMIS
VNU said VNU Marketing Information lifted its stake in Entertainment Marketing Information Services to 100% from 60% with effect from Jan 1. No financial details were disclosed. VNU spokesman Maarten Schikker declined to comment on the sum paid by VNU but said this is "no small acquisition. We're not talking about a small sum." EMIS tracks and reports retail sales of audio and video entertainment products as well as book sales, and also supplies sales information to the entertainment and publishing industries, VNU said.

Wednesday January 17 2001
VNU to acquire Gruppo Pubblicita Italia
VNU on Wednesday announced that its VNU Business Publishing Europe division has acquired the publishing activities of Gruppo Pubblicit… Italia. The company, a market leader in Italy, produces publications and organizes popular industry events for the advertising, marketing and media industries. The acquisition includes the market leading weekly Pubblicit… Italia, the monthly Pubblicit… Italia Net, the daily newsletter Today Pubblicit… Italia and the yearbooks and directories Guida Agenzie, Guida Marketing, Media Book Italia and Chi Š delle Pubblicit… ('Who's who' in the Italian communication industry).

Monday January 8 2001
VNU eyes up Emap titles
VNU, the Dutch publishing and market research group, has emerged as the front-runner to buy Emap's business publishing arm, valued at around GBP 750 mln. Kevin Hand, Emap's chief executive, hoisted a "for sale" sign over the division late last year in an attempt to focus the business on consumer media.

Monday December 18 2000
VNU enters into agreement to acquire ACNielsen
VNU has entered into a definitive merger agreement with ACNielsen, under which VNU will acquire ACNielsen in an all cash transaction for USD 36.75 per share, representing an offer value and transaction value of USD 2.3 bn (EUR 2.6 bn). Acquisition reunites ACNielsen's brand and provides 'must-have' information to consumer product companies.

Tuesday December 12 2000
VNU leads best-visited Dutch internet sites
VNU NV's web sites startpagina.nl and ilse.nl rank number one and two among the best-visited Dutch-language internet sites, according to research by Dutch consulting group Multiscope. Altavista.nl ranks number four, Microsoft Corp's msn.nl number five, and Royal KPN's planet.nl comes in number six. The rankings are based on monthly surveys of internet users performed by Multiscope over the past 11 months.

Thursday December 7 2000
HCIA-Sachs and HBS International merge healthcare information businesses
VNU on Thursday announced that HCIA-Sachs, a joint venture of VNU Marketing Information,. in New York and VS&A Communications Partners III, L.P., and HBS International have reached an agreement to merge the healthcare information businesses of both companies. The company will be named Solucient and will be headquartered in Evanston, IL.

Wednesday November 29 2000
VNU quits internet jv
VNU said it would terminate its joint venture with US internet player.com, adding it was reducing its stake in the company's European websites to 15% from 50%. VNU said it was disappointed in the interest shown in the sites of the joint venture, which offer news and background information for internet professionals.

Thursday November 2 2000
VNU and Naviant to establish European precision marketing company
VNU on Thursday announced that Claritas, part of VNU, and Naviant Marketing Solutions,., a leading US-based provider of precision marketing tools, have reached an agreement to establish Naviant Europe on a 50/50% joint venture basis. The new company will enable target marketing of Internet users. Naviant Europe expects to establish subsidiaries in the UK, France and Germany.

Tuesday October 17 2000
VNU launches Dutch mobile internet portal Tutch
VNU said it launched a portal called Tutch for internet access over mobile telephones in the Netherlands. VNU has invested "several million eur" to develop the site, which is aimed at the youth market, will boost marketing spending as the number of users rises, said Tutch managing director Thomas Snyder said. Access to the site is free and VNU expects to generate revenues through advertising, e-commerce, sponsorships and subscriptions to value-added services.

Friday September 29 2000
VNU and Ilse media groep agreement
VNU on Friday announced that its division, VNU Magazines The Netherlands and the Dutch Internet company, ilse media groep, have signed a definitive agreement regarding the combination of their Internet activities. On July 5, 2000 both companies had announced that they had signed an agreement in principle.

Thursday September 7 2000
VNU unit acquires collegenet.nl
VNU said its unit Malmberg reached an agreement in principle with Dutch internet company SM&C on the acquisition of the educational site collegenet.nl. The site has around 100,000 users each month, and is aimed at students aged 12-18, VNU said. No financial details were disclosed.

VNU greenshoe option exercised
ABN Amro Bank said ABN Amro Rothschild and Merrill Lynch International, acting as joint global coordinators and joint bookrunners for the offering of 9.0 mln new ordinary VNU shares, have exercised the option to require VNU to issue an additional 1.3 mln new shares. The total number of new ordinary shares offered will be 10.3 mln, ABN Amro said.

Wednesday September 6 2000
VNU to issue new shares
VNU announced it plans to issue around 8.7 mln new ordinary shares excluding the greenshoe option, representing around 3.9% of its issued share cpaital. VNU said it will use the proceeds of the offering to re-finance part of the indebtedness incurred in connection with the acquisition of Miller Freeman USA.

Tuesday September 5 2000
KPN and VNU set up venture capital fund
VNU and KPN signed a letter of intent to set up the KPN-VNU Convergence Fund, a venture capital fund which will invest in start-ups operating in the new sectors resulting from the overlap between telecommunications, media/information and IT, KPN announced. KPN and VNU have each reserved USD 15 mln for the new activity, and expect the fund to start its activities next month, KPN said.

Thursday August 31 2000
VNU unit, Valassis in joint venture
Advertising and direct-mail company Valassis Communications. said on Thursday it has formed a joint venture with a marketing information unit of the American arm of Dutch publishing company VNU. Terms of the agreement with the VNU. unit, VNU Marketing Information., were not disclosed. Valassis said the venture -- named Valassis Relationship Marketing Systems -- would not have a material impact on 2000 financial results.

Wednesday August 23 2000
VNU raises online investments
VNU plans to spend EUR 125 mln this year on developing internet-based businesses, up from the EUR 75 mln it had previously budgeted, amid the launch of a handful of ventures where it expects to reach break-even within two years. The group said on Wednesday, in producing well-received interim results, that it was focusing on the recruitment business and users and buyers of information technology, as well as web-based directory services and consumer sites.

VNU raises FY outlook to slight increase in EPS
VNU said it raised its outlook to a slight increase in full-year earnings per share from ordinary operations, up from an earlier outlook for flat EPS. The company forecasts full-year EPS before amortisation of goodwill and extraordinaries to rise in line with the 3% growth posted in the first half. VNU reported first-half results near the top of analysts' expectations, with net before goodwill and extraordinaries rising 21% to EUR 167 mln and EPS up 17% to 0.75 eur.

VNU seeks NYSE listing
VNU said on Wednesday it will seek a listing on the New York stock exchange within two years. A New York listing would make it easier for VNU to raise capital and boost its profile in the US, company chairman Rob van den Bergh said. More than 50% if VNU's sales are now generated in the US.

Thursday August 17 2000
VNU sells stakes in Scoot
VNU has sold its stakes in the Dutch and Belgian subsidiaries of the holding company Scoot for EUR 47 mln in cash. These stakes, of 75 and 50% respectively, have been acquired by Scoot's UK division and the French conglomerate Vivendi. VNU first announced its plans to sell these two interests in September last year.

Tuesday July 18 2000
VNU mulls US listing after Miller Freeman buy
VNU said on Tuesday it was considering a US listing after its USD 650 mln purchase of Miller Freeman USA from United News and Media which firmly established VNU in the US market. With the purchase of Miller Freeman USA, about half of VNU's revenues will now come from the United States. The purchase also gives VNU the number one position in trade shows in the United States, according to company officials on the call.

VNU buys Miller US for USD 650 mln
British media group United News & Media said on Tuesday it had reached a deal to sell the US business of its trade publisher Miller Freeman to Dutch publisher VNU for USD 650 mln in cash. As part of the deal, VNU will take onboard more than 180 media products, 80 exhibitions, conferences and seminars, 81 business publications and an online portfolio covering five key markets: sports and apparel; jewellery, gifts and merchandise; real estate and construction; and travel and Latin America.

Monday July 17 2000
Britain's United close to sell Miller US to VNU
Britain's United News & Media is set to wrap up a deal within days to sell the US business of its trade publisher Miller Freeman to publisher VNU, according to media reports on Monday. Industry sources would have said the two sides had agreed a price of some USD 650 mln in cash for the business which includes a number of trade publications and conferences but excludes United's technology-media company CMP Media.

Wednesday July 12 2000
VNU buys ZD's European magazines
VNU said on Wednesday it had reached an initial agreement to buy the European publishing activities of Ziff Davis Media for an undisclosed sum. VNU said in a statement it expected to complete the its purchase of 10 British, French and German magazines within a few weeks. Ziff Davis Europe's titles include magazines IT Week, PC Magazine, PC Direct and PC Gaming World. They employ 350 people and had 1999 revenues of USD 77 mln.

Wednesday July 5 2000
VNU acquires 59% stake in Ilse
VNU announced on Wednesday that its unit VNU Magazines has taken a 58.7% stake in internet company Ilse Media Groep. VNU said that in return, VNU Magazines The Netherlands will incorporate its business-to-consumer Internet activities in ilse media groep, and an additional acquisition sum will be paid. Financial details were not disclosed. VNU said it would keep a majority interest in Ilse in case Ilse would receive a bourse listing.

Friday May 26 2000
VNU and Randstad in internet deal
VNU and Randstad Holding, on Friday announced that they have decided to join forces: they have signed a preliminary agreement to jointly develop a European recruitment portal. The 50/50% joint venture will operate a full service career center aiming at the graduate career market in Europe. Building on VNU's strong presence in Internet recruitment markets with European brands like the 'jobworld' sites and the strong Dutch brand 'intermediair.nl', both companies will contribute core assets and competencies to create a leading European recruitment portal.

Friday May 19 2000
VNU increases stake in ORG-Marg
VNU said it increased its stake in India's ORG-Marg to 85.25% from 35% on May 12. VNU has owned an interest in this company since early 1997. ORG-Marg's activities include television ratings and advertising expenditure measurement. Company sales amount to about EUR 20 mln. VNU said it plans to expand geographically and reinforce its media information positions in the US and Europe.

Monday April 17 2000
VNU, PCM and HMG in e-Commerce pact
VNU said on Monday that it aims to enter into a partnership with publisher PCM Uitgevers and the TV production company Holland Media Group. Under the terms of this partnership the supply-and-demand site developed by VNU, 'Spott.nl', will have a daily television edition on RTL 4, starting July 31, 2000, VNU said.

Thursday April 6 2000
VNU acquires startpagina.nl
VNU said it agreed to acquire Startpagina.nl, a Dutch internet portal, for an undisclosed sum. The web site, which offers links to 500 sites on various subjects, attracts about 1.3 mln users a day and is "growing quickly", VNU said. Startpagina's founder DJ de Bruin will stay on at the company, VNU said. Financial details were not released.

Thursday March 23 2000
VNU reduces Scoot stake
VNU announced on Thursday that it is reducing its 75% interest in Scoot The Nederlands to 25%. The 50% interest in Scoot Belgium will also be reduced to 25%. VNU has agreed in principle with the British Scoot.com to transfer these interests to Scoot Europe bv, of which Scoot.com and the French Vivendi are the shareholders.

Wednesday March 15 2000
VNU net profit down 2%
VNU reported on Wednesday net profit for 1999 decreased 2% to EUR 244.9 mln, compared with net profit of EUR 250.7 mln the company booked in the comparible period of 1998. Net profit before goodwill amortisation and extraordinaries rose 18% to EUR 320 mln. Turnover increased 16% from EUR 2,426.6 mln to EUR 2,809.2 mln.

VNU sees flat profit for 2000
VNU on Wednesday reported that net profits before goodwill in 1999 increased 18% to EUR 320 m, compared to EUR 272 mln the previous year. Net earnings were down 2% at EUR 245 mln. According to VNU this was because of the divestiture of interests in the Holland Media Group and Vlaamse Televisie Maatschappij.

Tuesday March 14 2000
VNU in Internet portal j/v
VNU said on Tuesday that it has signed an agreement with Gatrixx in Berlin, to jointly develop and operate a financial portal with country specific sites in the most important European financial markets. The new finance platform will deliver stock quotes, company news and high quality research content covering all market segments with a specific focus on high tech- and Internet-companies.

Monday March 13 2000
VNU acquires 22.5% stake in Euroclix
VNU said its VNU Business Information Europe unit agreed to acquire a 22.5% stake in Dutch marketing and loyalty management company EuroClix BV for an undisclosed amount. VNU said it will acquire the stake from Motioncontainer Interactive Architects BV and Koninklijke Kampert en Helm Rotaform BV without disclosing financial details. EuroClix currently has 40,000 members and will expand its activities to "other European countries" shortly, according to VNU.

VNU sells CMR for USD 88 mln
VNU is selling its unit Competitive Media Reporting (CMR) to Taylor Nelson Sofres for USD 88 mln in cash. Taylor Nelson Sofres said the deal will considerably strengthen the groups's position in media monitoring and gives it the leading U.S internet advertising expenditure business, CMR Interactive.

Monday February 14 2000
VNU acquires stake in Beute Pereira
VNU subsidiary Claritas Europe has acquired a 33% stake in Beute Pereira Van der Kooij of Almere. The small company, which builds and manages data bases, employs 33 people. Financial details were not disclosed.

Wednesday February 9 2000
VNU plans new share issue
VNU announced on Wednesday its plans to make a private placement of 4.5 million new shares. The placement, which represents about 2% of its share capital, is expected to raise some NLG 600 mln. VNU said it would use the proceeds of the issue for new and existing internet activities and extra investments in core operations.

Tuesday January 25 2000
NetRatings 1999 revenues USD 3 mln
NetRatings, in which VNU's Nielsen Media Research holds a 54% stake, reported net revenues of USD 3.0 mln for 1999, compared with USD 237,000 in net revenue for fiscal 1998. Net loss for fiscal 1999, exclusive of amortization of non-cash stock-based compensation, was USD 12.5 mln or a loss of USD 2.24 per share on approximately 5.6 million shares outstanding, compared with a net loss of USD 3.9 mln or a loss of USD 1.66 per share on approximately 2.3 million shares outstanding for fiscal 1998.

Monday January 17 2000
Vivendi increases Scoot.com stake
British Internet directory company Scoot.Com announced on Monday funding package of GBP 112 mln on Monday from Vivendi, the French media group. The French group increased its stake in Scoot.com, which is a partner of VNU, from 2.8% to 9.8%. Scoot offers an interactive yellow pages service. Last year VNU sold its minority shareholding in Scoot.

Tuesday January 4 2000
VNU upgrades 1999 EPS forecast
VNU's chairman of the board Joep Brentjes said in his new year speech that earnings per share before amortization of goodwill and extraordinary items would increase by some 19%. Earlier the company expected earnings per share growth of about 10%. Excluding the one-time positive effects related to the consolidation of World Directories, EPS before amortization of goodwill and extraordinary items will increase by approximately 15%, VNU said in a statement.

Wednesday December 22 1999
VNU increases NetRatings stake
VNU announced on Wednesday that its US subsidiary Nielsen Media Research had increased its stake in California-based NetRatings to 54% for USD 246 mln. Nielsen, which VNU is buying for USD 2.5 bn, had a two-step option to boost its minority interest in NetRatings to a majority. NetRatings' proprietary activity tracking and data collection technology gathers information on Internet user behaviour, including site and advertising activity.

Monday December 20 1999
VNU launches new service
VNU launchesa new service under which it will distribute telephone data via the internet. The move follows a long-running legal battle between telecoms group KPN and Oldenzaal-based Denda Multimedia for the right to publish phone data. Telecoms watchdog Opta recently ruled that KPN may charge no more than NLG 0.05 (USD 0.02) per subscriber request. VNU will distrtibute the data via its yellow pages subsidiary Gouden Gids.

Friday December 3 1999
VNU to get 52% stake in NetRatings
VNU said on Friday that it would acquire a 52% stake in NetRatings once the unit is spun off by VNU's subsidiary Nielsen Media Research. NetRatings, which monitors internet usage, is to be floated on the Nasdaq shortly. VNU has an option to buy 14.9 million shares in NetRatings at USD 10.70 a share.

Wednesday December 1 1999
VNU Business On-line Europe
VNU, a leading international publishing and information company, on Wednesday announced that its division, VNU Business Publishing Europe, will regroup its rapidly expanding Internet operations into a new pan-European business unit: VNU Business On-line Europe. Last week, VNU announced a European joint venture with internet.com.

Monday November 29 1999
VNU in health care information j/v
VNU Marketing Information, a subsidiary of VNU USA which recently acquired Nielsen Media Research, has formed a joint venture with VS&A Communication Partners which combines the health care information businesses of Sachs Group and HCIA, the companies said in a joint statement on Monday. Each partner will have a 50% interest in this joint venture.

Thursday November 25 1999
VNU acquires Hungarian publisher
VNU announced on Thursday that VNU Budapers Lapkiado, a subsidiary of its division VNU Magazines, has reached an agreement on the acquisition of the Hungarian publishing company Egyesult Kiadoi Holding (EKH) in Budapest. The acquisition is subject to approval of the Hungarian competition authorities.

Monday November 22 1999
VNU steps up European internet presence
VNU announced on Monday that it has signed an agreement with internet.com in Westport, Connecticut, to jointly operate local internet.com branded websides in the UK, Scandinavia, Spain, France, Germany, The Netherlands and Italy. VNU said that the two companies will leverage their respective on-line and off-line media properties to promote and drive traffic to these new sites.

Friday November 12 1999
VNU says capital issues to raise EUR 1.25 bn
VNU said on Friday greenshoe options had been exercised for its combined share and debt issue, giving total proceeds from the offering of EUR 1.25 bn. "Including the greenshoe option, the share capital of VNU will increase by EUR 135 mln to a total of EUR 985 mln. The transaction of the offering of convertible subordinated bonds will increase by an amount of EUR 15 mln to a total of EUR 265 mln", VNU said in a statement.

Thursday November 11 1999
VNU, Suhler in US
VNU said on Thursday its US unit VNU Marketing Information would set up a joint venture with a unit of Veronis Suhler & Associates. The jointly-owned firm will offer marketing information services to the health sector. It will consist of VNU subsidiary Sachs Group and Veronis unit HCIA. Turnover of the new company was estimated at about USD 100 mln, VNU said. No financial details of the transaction, which is pending regulatory approval, were disclosed.

Tuesday October 26 1999
VNU accepts Nielsen Media buy
VNU announced on Tuesday that 94.8% of the outstanding Nielsen Media Research shares were validly tendered pursuant to the tender offer and not withdrawn. Payment for the tendered shares accepted in the offer will be made as soon as practicable following the expiration date of the offer. VNU pays USD 37.75 per share.

Monday October 25 1999
VNU bids for Hungarian publishing company
VNU announced on Monday that it has launched a public bid for Hungarian publishing company Egyesult Kiadoi of Budapest. VNU said it expects the take over to be completed not later than the end of 1999, and will be subject to regulatory approval. EKH publishes twelve consumer magazines. With net revenues of EUR 30 mln, it is one of the largest magazine publishing companies in Hungary, VNU said.

Friday October 22 1999
FTC allows VNU purchase of Nielsen Media
US antitrust regulators said Friday they would allow Dutch publisher VNU to go ahead with its purchase of Nielsen Media Research. provided VNU divested its Competitive Media Reporting (CMR) division. The Federal Trade Commission said the sale was essential to maintain competition in the specialized area of measuring advertising expenditures across multiple markets.

Thursday October 21 1999
Moody's revises VNU debt rating
Moody's Investors Service on Thursday changed the outlook for the A3 senior debt rating of VNU NV's 5.5% senior unsecured debentures due 2008 to negative. The change in outlook reflects the company's decision to issue up to Euro 500 million of subordinated convertible debt in connection with its USD 2.7 bn acquisition of Nielsen Media Research,., which provides audience measurement services for electronic media in the US.

VNU in internet ad joint venture
VNU announced on Thursday that it has set up a joint venture with Normad & Blend Communicatie under the name of MediaNet. The new enterprise will centralize the commercial exploitation of banners and buttons for the Dutch Internet sites of VNU. VNU takes a participating interest of 80% in MediaNet bv, while the advertising agency Normad & Blend Communicatie will participate for the remaining 20%.

Monday October 18 1999
VNU extends Nielsen Media bid
VNU said on Monday it had 93.9% of shares in Nielsen Media Research and had extended the period of its public offer. The offer period, originally open until last week, will now continue until midnight, New York time, on October 25. According to the Bank of New York, VNU said, the Dutch publisher had received about 54.2 million of the 57.7 million Nielsen shares by Friday. VNU launched its USD 37.75 cash offer for the US ratings firm in August. The deal values Nielsen at USD 2.7 bn.

Thursday October 14 1999
VNU expects issue pricing November 8-9
VNU said on Thursday it expected the pricing and allocation of its 1.1 billion euro share and convertible issue to take place on November 8 or 9. The road shows will tour the Netherlands, England, Scotland, France, Germany, Spain and Switzerland and as well as various cities in the United States. Lead managers of the issue are ABN AMRO and Merrill Lynch.

VNU shares drop on issue, unit sale
Shares in VNU dropped about 4% on Thursday after the Dutch publisher announced a share issue and said it had bowed to US regulatory pressure to sell a unit. The shares dropped to a low of EUR 32.89, down 4.2%, making them the weakest of the stocks in Amsterdam's leading AEX index. VNU said on Thursday it would issue EUR 1.1 bn (USD 1.19 bn) of shares and convertible subordinated bonds to finance the purchase of US ratings firm Nielsen Media Research.

Wednesday October 13 1999
VNU issues new shares and convertibles
VNU announced on Wednesday that it will issue EUR 1.1 bn of new shares and convertible bonds to finance its purchase of Nielsen Media Research. The company also announced that it has agreed to sell the assets of its Competitive Media Reporting divison, which includes VNU's advertising expenditure measurement operations.

Monday October 4 1999
VNU extends Nielsen Media bid
VNU announced on Monday that it has extended its bid for Nielsen Media Research until Friday, October 15. VNU said about 90.7% of the outstanding shares had been tendered at the close of the offer on October 1. VNU offers USD 37.75 per share of Nielsen Media Research.

Tuesday September 28 1999
VNU acquires 50% of internet medical publisher
VNU announced on Tuesday that its division VNU Magazines has acquired a 50% stake in Medical Media, a medical internet publishing company based in The Hague. VNU said that with the move it acquires access to a rapidly growing segment of the internet. The activities of Medical Media also fit with many titles of VNU Magazines, VNU said. Financial details were not disclosed.

Monday September 20 1999
VNU extends Nielsen tender offer
VNU said Monday its unit is extending its USD 2.7 bn tender offer for Nielsen Media Research to October 1 after it had already received about 85.2% of the US TV ratings company's shares. The company said Niner Acquisition.'s offer to acquire all Nielsen outstanding shares for USD 37.75 per share, net to seller in cash, had previously been scheduled to expire on September 17.

Friday September 17 1999
VNU acquires all RVC Entertainment
VNU announced on Friday that it has increased its interest in RCV Entertainment from 50% to 100% as per September 1, 1999. VNU has held a 50% interest in RCV Entertainment since May 1997, at which point it was agreed that VNU would obtain full ownership at a later stage, the company said. RCV Entertainment is the largest independent distributor of films, videos and television programs in The Netherlands and Belgium, VNU said. Financial details were not disclosed.

Wednesday September 15 1999
VNU sells stake in Scoot.com
VNU announced on Wednesday it has sold its 9.5% stake in UK information service company Scoot.com to a number of institutional investors for about GBP 18.5 mln. VNU said the minority stake in Scoot.com no longer fit in its core activities. The two companies would continue cooperative efforts to expand Scoot's business in the Netherlands and Belgium.

Tuesday September 7 1999
VNU sells five regional papers to Wegener Arcade
VNU announced on Tuesday that it expects to reach an agreement with publisher Wegener Arcade on the sale of VNU Dagbladen to Wegener Arcade for NLG 1.8 bn. The regional daily newspapers NB/DE Stem, Brabants Dagblad, Eindhovens Dagblad and De Gelderlander will become part of Wegener Arcade. Wegener Arcade announced its intention to sell Uitgeversmaatschappij De Limburger, a subsidiary of VNU Newspapers, to the Dutch publishing company Telegraaf after final agreement has been reached with VNU.

FT, WSJ launch new Russian business daily
The Financial Times and The Wall Street Journal joined forces to launch a new Russian-language business daily on Tuesday with publisher Independent Media, which is 35% owned by VNU. The paper, Vedomosti (Gazette), claims to be the only truly independent newspaper of its type in Russia, where politicians and wealthy businessmen are vying for influence over the media in the run-up to parliamentary and presidential elections, Derk Sauer, the CEO of Independent Media, said.

Wednesday September 1 1999
Editors oppose VNU sell-off
The Dutch society of editors-in-chief is oppesed to VNU's plan to sell five regional newspapers. In an open letter to the journalist's union NVJ and the association of newspaper publishers, the editors proposed to set up an independent publisher for the regional papers. The society said that the balance in the market would be disrupted if the regional publications would be sold to existing newspaper publishers.

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