VNU to buy IMS Health for $7B

Dutch media giant VNU is buying IMS Health for $7 billion in cash and stock. VNU believes that adding IMS -- a leading provider of pharmaceutical and healthcare information on product use -- will be a good fit with its Nielsen ratings and analysis of consumer packaged goods. Analysts, however, weren't quick to agree, with some noting that IMS may not have all that much available to cut. VNU is paying $11.25 per share, a 16 percent premium over the stock's average trading price over the past 30 days.

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