DEFA14A 1 d191546ddefa14a.htm DEFA14A DEFA14A

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

 

Filed by the Registrant  ☒                             Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  ☐

Check the appropriate box:

 

  Preliminary Proxy Statement
  Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
  Definitive Proxy Statement
  Definitive Additional Materials
  Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12

NIELSEN HOLDINGS PLC

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

NA

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

  No fee required.
  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
  (1)  

Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

 

     

  (2)  

Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

 

     

  (3)  

Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

 

     

  (4)  

Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

 

     

  (5)  

Total fee paid:

 

     

  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
  (1)  

Amount Previously Paid:

 

     

  (2)  

Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

 

     

  (3)  

Filing Party:

 

     

  (4)  

Date Filed:

 

     

 

 

 


The below contains excerpts of portions of Nielsen Holdings plc’s third quarter 2020 earnings presentation that are related to the proposed sale of Nielsen’s Global Connect business to affiliates of Advent International Corporation.


LOGO

1 Copyright © 2020 The Nielsen Company. Confidential and proprietary. NYSE: NLSN 3RDQUARTER 2020 EARNINGS November 2, 2020 | 8:00 am ET


LOGO

2 Copyright © 2020 The Nielsen Company (US), LLC. Confidential and proprietary. Do not distribute. This communication includes information that could constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include those set forth below relating to the proposedsale by Nielsen of its Global Connect business to an affiliate of Advent International Corporation (the “proposed transaction”), “2020 Full Year Guidance”, those related to the impact of the recent coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on our business as well as those that may be identified by words such as “will,” “intend,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “should,” “could” and similar expressions. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results and events could differ materially from what presently is expected. Factors leading thereto may include, without limitation, the risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy and financial markets,the uncertainties relating to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Nielsen’s business, the timing, receipt and terms and conditions of any required governmental or regulatory approvals of the proposed transaction that could reduce the anticipated benefits of or cause the parties to abandon the proposed transaction, the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give riseto the termination of the stock purchase agreement entered into pursuant to the proposed transaction (the “Agreement”), the possibilitythat Nielsen shareholders may not approve the entry into the Agreement, the risk that the parties to the Agreement may not be abletosatisfy the conditions to the proposed transaction in a timely manner or at all, risks related to the disruption of management time from ongoing business operations due to the proposed transaction, the risk that any announcements relating to the proposed transaction could have adverse effects on the market price of Nielsen’s common stock, the risk of any unexpected costs or expenses resultingfrom the proposed transaction, the risk of any litigation relating to the proposed transaction, the risk that the proposed transaction and its announcement could have an adverse effect on the ability of Nielsen to retain customers and retain and hire key personnel andmaintain relationships with customers, suppliers, employees and other business relationships an on its operating results and business generally, the risk the pending proposed transaction could distract management of Nielsen, conditions in the markets Nielsen is engaged in, behavior of customers, suppliers and competitors, technological developments, as well as legal and regulatory rules affecting Nielsen’s business and other specific risk factors that are outlined in our disclosure filings and materials, which you can find on http://www.nielsen.com/investors, such as our 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K reports that have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Please consult these documents for a more complete understanding of these risks and uncertainties. This list of factors is not intended to be exhaustive. Such forward-looking statements only speak as of the date of this communication, and we assume noobligation to update any written or oral forward-looking statement made by us or on our behalf as a result of new information, future events or other factors, except as required by law. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS


LOGO

3 Copyright © 2020 The Nielsen Company (US), LLC. Confidential and proprietary. Do not distribute. Additional Information and Where to Find It This communication relates to the proposed transaction involving Nielsen. In connection with the proposed transaction, Nielsen will file relevant materials with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including Nielsen’s proxy statement on Schedule 14A (the “Proxy Statement”). This communication is not a substitute for the Proxy Statement or for any other document that Nielsen may file with the SEC and send to its shareholders in connection with the proposed transaction. The transaction will be submitted to Nielsen’s shareholders for their consideration. Before making any voting decision, Nielsen’s shareholders are urged to read all relevant documents filed or to be filed with the SEC, including the Proxy Statement, as well as any amendments or supplements to those documents, when they become available because they will contain important information about the proposed transaction. Nielsen’s shareholders will be able to obtain a free copy of the proxy statement, as well as other filings containing information about Nielsen, without charge, at the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov). Copies of the proxy statement and the filings with the SEC that will be incorporated by reference therein can also be obtained, without charge, by directing a request to Nielsen Holdings plc, 85 BroadStreet, New York, NY 10004, Attention: Corporate Secretary; telephone (646) 654-5000, or from Nielsen’s website www.nielsen.com. Participants in the Solicitation Nielsen and certain of its directors, executive officers and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the transaction. Information regarding Nielsen’s directors and executive officers is available in Nielsen’s definitive proxy statement for its 2020 annual meeting, which was filed with the SEC on April 1, 2020 and Nielsen’s Current Report on Form 8-K, which was filed with the SEC on April 30, 2020. Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the Proxy Statement and other relevantmaterials to be filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction when they become available. Free copies of this document and suchother materials may be obtained as described in the preceding paragraph.


LOGO

5 Copyright © 2020 The Nielsen Company (US), LLC. Confidential and proprietary. Do not distribute. Strengthens balance sheet and drives flexibility: Proceeds to primarily be used for debt reduction, with pro forma year-end 2020E net leverage of approximately 4X Definitive agreement to sell Nielsen Global Connect to Advent International, in partnership with Jim Peck, former CEO of TransUnion, for $2.7 billion plus performance-based warrants tied to long-term performance SALE OF GLOBAL CONNECT TO ADVENT INTERNATIONAL Creates certainty of value for NLSN shareholders Singular focus on Global Media product and platform evolution, driving accelerated revenue growth with attractive margins and free cash flow generation Expect Global Connect segment to be reported as a discontinued operation starting in Q1 2021 Transaction expected to close in Q2 2021, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals, and shareholder vote Transaction Summary Details Deliberate Steps to Unlock Value Unlocking value with greater certainty than the proposed spin-off