Nielsen to acquire DoubleVerify for $2.15 billion in all-cash deal

Audience measurement and media intelligence company Nielsen has agreed to acquire digital advertising verification platform DoubleVerify in an all-cash transaction valued at about $2.15 billion, as it seeks to build an end-to-end independent media intelligence platform for the advertising industry.

Under the definitive 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 August 5.

The combined company is expected to generate more than $4 billion in pro forma revenue and expand its solutions to companies that collectively account for more than $300 billion in advertising spend, according to the companies.


"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," Nielsen Chief Executive Karthik Rao said.

"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," Rao added.

DoubleVerify Chief Executive Mark Zagorski said the deal would give the company access to greater resources while preserving its focus on innovation.

"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," Zagorski said.

The companies said the acquisition would combine Nielsen's audience measurement and cross-platform analytics with DoubleVerify's media verification capabilities, including viewability, brand suitability and invalid traffic detection. They added that the combined platform would support advertisers across linear television, connected TV, social media, mobile and AI-driven advertising workflows.

The transaction, which has been approved by the boards of both companies, is expected to close in the first quarter of 2027, subject to DoubleVerify shareholder approval, regulatory clearances and other customary closing conditions.

The deal will be financed through committed debt financing provided by Barclays, BofA Securities and Citi, incremental equity financing and Nielsen's cash on hand. Upon completion, DoubleVerify will become a privately held company and continue to operate under the DoubleVerify name and brand.