The proposed £50 million merger between internet research group NetRatings and its main rival Jupiter Media Metrix has collapsed following opposition from US anti-competition authorities, it has emerged.
NetRatings, which is 64% owned by VNU, announced last October that it planned to acquire Jupiter MMXI’s global operation and integrate it with its own online research and measurement services. However, a mutual decision to terminate the acquisition was taken yesterday after the US Federal Trade Commission indicated that it would contest the merger on competition grounds.
As part of the deal, NetRatings also planned to acquire the 80.1% outstanding share in the eRatings joint venture between itself and ACNielsen, but the transaction has been put on hold while the terms of the deal are considered.
The collapse of the merger, which was being hailed as a major step towards the establishment of a global standard in internet audience measurement, will come as a blow to NetRatings. However, analysts forecast that the company is still in a good position to become the global market leader in internet measurement research.
