Company Assessment: VNU N.V.

What makes the largest market research vendor on the planet tick? How did it become the largest? And how will it carry on as top dog in the months and years ahead? This Briefing focuses on VNU's Marketing and Media Information Group (MMIG), the group of companies including brand leaders ACNielsen and Nielsen Media Research that do the research and provide the answers to many consumer goods manufacturers' most vital business questions. With the Marketing and Media Information group at the helm, VNU is today the undisputed leader in the non-IT Market Research, Reports & Services (MRRS) market. In 2001, the company had the right business model priorities, most of which outperformed MRRS. Its chief future challenge: making good on its recent acquisitions by transforming them into higher, sustainable revenue growth and profits.'