The European Commission is investigating an antitrust complaint against Dutch media group VNU and its market research unit ACNielsen, an EC spokesman confirmed, saying that officials raided the
company's Netherlands offices last month. The raids were enjoined to establish if there was evidence pointing to a breach of EU competition rules after rival Information Resources, Inc. complained
about ACNielsen's pricing and contract policies. Last January, a U.S. Federal District Court in New York through out IRI's $650 million lawsuit against ACNielsen, although IRI said it would likely
appeal. A VNU spokesman based in Europe said that the company is cooperating with EC authorities. -- D.K.
