Dutch media giant VNU (2004 turnover EUR 3.3 bn, 38,000 employees in more than 100 countries), the world's biggest market research company, has received an offer worth up to EUR 7.3 bn from a group of private equity investors, including KKR, PERMIRA, BLACKSTONE and CARLYLE. The offer works out at between EUR 28 and EUR 28.50 a share.