Haarlem, the Netherlands – VNU N.V. (ASE: VNU), a leading global information and media company, said today that it has received a non-binding proposal to purchase the company for EUR 28.00 to 28.50 per common share from a private equity consortium consisting of AlpInvest Partners, The Blackstone Group, The Carlyle Group, Hellman & Friedman, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., Permira and Thomas H. Lee Partners. This proposal was made by this private equity consortium after several weeks of diligence and access to VNU management. VNU said it will proceed with discussions with this private equity consortium as VNU continues to weigh alternatives and fully and fairly evaluate what course of action will serve the best interests of VNU’s stakeholders. VNU, after having gauged the level of interest of certain other parties, is at this time not proceeding with discussions with any other party.

The non- binding proposal of the private equity consortium is subject to, among other things, negotiation and execution of a merger protocol and completion of due diligence. The company said that there can be no assurance that these discussions will result in any specific transaction and, if so, at what price and with what conditions. VNU expects to be able to provide further information within three to four weeks.

This announcement is a public announcement as referred to in section 9b, par. 1, of the Dutch Securities Trading Supervision Decree (Besluit Toezicht Effectenverkeer 1995).