Got a press release from Nielsen this afternoon outlining the full aquisition of BuzzMetrics by Nielsen (of which it already owned 58%). I am not sure how to read the timing - does it have anything to do with the Google and Yahoo aquisitions or not?
Anyway, since Nielsen owned 58% to begin with - I'm not sure if there's any significant change since they owned controlling interest in BuzzMetrics anyway. Here's a part of the Press Release:
"..
Nielsen to Acquire Remaining Interest in BuzzMetrics; Will Merge Internet/Online Operations to Create ‘Fully Integrated Suite of Services’
April 30, 2007 - New York and Haarlem, the Netherlands - The Nielsen Company, a leading global information and media company, and BuzzMetrics, the global leader in tracking and analysis of online consumer-generated media, today announced that Nielsen and the other stockholders of BuzzMetrics have agreed in principle to a transaction under which Nielsen, which already owns approximately 58 percent of BuzzMetrics, would acquire the remaining BuzzMetrics shares it does not currently own.
Financial terms were not disclosed. The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of May 2007. Nielsen has been involved with BuzzMetrics since January 2005, and took a majority position in February 2006.
Earlier this year, Nielsen announced it had entered into a merger agreement with NetRatings, Inc. (Nasdaq: NTRT) under which Nielsen, which already owns approximately 60 percent of NetRatings, would acquire the NetRatings shares it does not currently own. That transaction, subject to NetRatings stockholder approval, is expected to be completed in the second or third quarter of this year.
Upon completion of the BuzzMetrics and NetRatings transactions, Nielsen’s premiere Internet information services -- which are marketed as Nielsen//NetRatings and Nielsen BuzzMetrics -- will be consolidated into a single service unit. The new service will be led by Itzhak Fisher, Executive Chairman of BuzzMetrics. As Executive Chairman of the new service, Mr. Fisher will continue to report to David Calhoun, Chairman and CEO of The Nielsen Company.
“NetRatings and BuzzMetrics are recognized as the two leading providers of insight about consumer behavior online,” said David Calhoun, Chairman and CEO of The Nielsen Company.
“By acquiring 100 percent of these world-class brands, Nielsen can provide our clients with unrivaled understanding of consumer behavior in this space, “added Calhoun. “More broadly, we can provide our clients with even more insightful information when Internet/Online consumer usage is combined with what products and services consumers buy (ACNielsen), what consumers watch on television (Nielsen Media Research), and what books, films, audio and video usages consumers interact with across multiple platforms. Providing a fully integrated suite of services will enable Nielsen to provide clients with unprecedented insights they need to grow their businesses.”
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