NEW YORK: Nielsen Holdings announced Thursday it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire DoubleVerify (NYSE: DV) in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $2.15 billion, uniting the audience measurement giant with the leading digital media verification platform.
Under the terms of the agreement, DoubleVerify shareholders will receive $13.60 per share in cash, representing a 30% premium to the company’s 60-trading day volume-weighted average price as of Aug. 5.
Nielsen is a global leader in audience measurement, data and analytics and a leading media intelligence platform.
DoubleVerify (NYSE: DV) is the industry’s leading media effectiveness platform that leverages AI to drive superior outcomes for global brands.
The combination creates an independent, end-to-end media intelligence platform spanning audience measurement, verification, and campaign optimization across linear and digital channels.
Karthik Rao, Chief Executive Officer of Nielsen, said: “Over the last few years, Nielsen has undergone a fundamental transformation – accelerating product innovation; expanding our platform across the full media lifecycle, from discovery and planning through measurement and outcomes; and strengthening our financial foundation. The result is a stronger, more agile Nielsen that has earned its place as a leading media intelligence platform for the modern advertising ecosystem.”
“This combination will unite two organizations focused on strengthening independence and trust in advertising. Joining forces with DoubleVerify will extend our capabilities deeper into the digital media industry, ensuring that the spend flowing between buyers and sellers is reaching real people in brand-suitable environments, through verified channels. As advertising workflows become increasingly automated, together we can offer publishers, advertisers, agencies, and platforms a truly independent, end-to-end partner that connects trusted audience intelligence with verified media delivery – across every screen, every channel, and every transaction – enabling superior decisions and outcomes.”
Mark Zagorski, Chief Executive Officer of DoubleVerify, added: “Today’s announcement is an exciting milestone for DoubleVerify. As a private entity with the support of Nielsen, we will have access to expanded resources to deliver new, market-leading solutions that drive exceptional value for our customers and partners. DoubleVerify’s MRC-accredited quality signals, in combination with Nielsen’s deduplicated cross-screen audience measurement, will fuel genuine market innovation – a single currency that scores media on both audience delivery and media environment quality. I’m proud of the strong momentum we’ve built for DoubleVerify as the leading media effectiveness platform, the strength of our AI-powered measurement and optimization platform, and the exceptional work of our team.”
R. Davis Noell, Chairperson of the Board of DoubleVerify, said: “DoubleVerify has established itself as the global benchmark in digital media quality and effectiveness. Over its growth trajectory, DoubleVerify expanded its AI-powered platform, deepened customer relationships, and scaled into a true category leader. Bringing these assets together creates a significant win for both companies’ customers and partners. We’re excited for Mark and the DoubleVerify leadership team as they continue that journey with Nielsen.”
Key Benefits
The transaction extends Nielsen’s platform across the full media intelligence stack, unifying audience, context, and delivery quality into a single, integrated offering. Advertisers currently must reconcile these signals across separate vendors.
The deal also expands Nielsen’s addressable market into the $240 billion digital advertising segment, positioning the company more deeply within workflows used by advertisers, agencies, publishers, and technology platforms.
Nielsen said the combined company will preserve the independent verification standards the industry depends on, including DoubleVerify’s capabilities in fraud detection, viewability, and brand suitability.
Transaction Details
The transaction, approved by the boards of directors of both companies, is expected to close by the first quarter of 2027, subject to approval by DoubleVerify shareholders, regulatory approvals, and other customary closing conditions.
Financing will come from a combination of committed debt financing provided by Barclays, BofA Securities, and Citi, incremental equity financing, and cash on hand at Nielsen.
Upon completion, DoubleVerify will become a privately held company as part of Nielsen, and its common stock will no longer be publicly traded. DoubleVerify will continue operating under its own name and brand.
Funds affiliated with Providence Equity Partners LLC, which own approximately 11.8% of DoubleVerify’s outstanding shares as of Aug. 5, have agreed to vote their shares in favor of the transaction and will conclude their investment upon closing.
Barclays served as exclusive financial advisor and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP served as legal advisor to Nielsen. PJT Partners served as exclusive financial advisor and Paul Hastings LLP served as legal advisor to DoubleVerify. Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP served as legal advisor to Providence.
