NetRatings Backs Away From Jupiter Media Deal
Bloomberg News
NetRatings Inc. ended plans to buy Jupiter Media Metrix Inc., its biggest rival in counting visits to Web sites, citing potential challenges from the Federal Trade Commission related to the purchase agreement.
NetRatings said Oct. 25 that it planned to buy Jupiter Media for $71.2 million and lend the company as much as $25 million.
It also had planned to purchase the remaining 80.1% of ACNielsen ERatings.com, a joint venture of VNU’s ACNielsen and NetRatings, for $16.4million.
NetRatings shares fell 4 cents to $14.11, and Jupiter Media plummeted 62 cents to 19 cents, both on Nasdaq.
