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Bonanza for Nielsen bosses?03/January/2002 |
 Nicholas Trivisonno | ||||
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The acquisition of ACNielsen by VNU, assuming that the agreed deal is completed as expected during the first quarter of this year, may make several of ACN's senior managers much richer. VNU is offering ACN stockholders $36.75 for each share, representing a 49% premium over the share price immediately before the bid. According to figures filed by Nielsen with the Securities & Exchange Commission, the research agency's Chairman and CEO, Nicholas Trivisonno, now aged 49, held at the end of 1999 645,323 shares and share options. This was in addition to his salary of $600,000 and bonus of $950,000. President and Chief Operating Officer Robert Lievense, now aged 51, held 538,302 shares and options. (Salary $510,000, bonus $450,000.) Holdings by other executive officers were as follows: Vice Chairman Michael Connors (aged 41) 325,000 (salary $$425,000, bonus $650,000); Executive Vice President and General Counsel Earl Doppelt (aged 43) 250,000 (salary $410,000, bonus $480,000); and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Robert Chrenc (aged 52) 250,000 (salary $380,000, bonus $410,000). It is not known how many of the share options were exercised. If all were, Trivisonno would now be in line to make a gross profit of around $8 million, Lievense $7 million, Connors $4 million and the others $3 million each. Together ACNielsen's 14 directors (including non-executives) and executive officers held at the end of 1999 a total of 2,394,803 shares, including options, or just under 4% of the company's common stock. © Market Research News 
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