Dissident VNU shareholder Knight Vinke Tuesday said it is prepared to underwrite part of the cost of buying out the Dutch research and publication company if shareholders reject the $9 billion-plus
offer from a group of private equity firms, reports the
Financial Times. Knight Vinke Managing Director Eric Knight also told the paper that the company, which owns 1.2 percent of VNU, the
parent of Nielsen Media Research, ACNielsen and various trade magazines, said the company also has identified a "world class" candidate to become CEO of VNU. That candidate is expected to have
experience in the U.S. media industry.
