February 9, 2007

Welcome to the Hoover's EMEA 50, a monthly list of the companies in the Europe-Middle East-Africa region that are most searched on Hoover's. Derived by tracking the search requests of Hoover's subscribers, the Hoover's EMEA 50 provides insight on which companies are being watched most closely by corporate executives, as well as sales, marketing, and business development professionals, who represent a large portion of Hoover's customers.

The news behind the biggest movers on this month's Hoover's EMEA 50 ranged from acquisitions to company name changes.

The Nielsen Company (From #69 to #28)

This Netherlands-based company got a boost in viewership when it changed its name from VNU to The Nielsen Company. The move is designed to identify the parent company more strongly with the Nielsen brand made famous by its U.S.-based subsidiaries ACNielsen and Nielsen Media Research. Meanwhile, the Nielsen Media unit has launched a pilot program that will track the viewing habits of college students who live in dorms. In the future, Nielsen also plans to analyze viewership of computer-viewable video streams alongside broadcast television.
News | Financials

Vodafone Group plc (From #58 to #41)

The Vodafone name is known better in its native U.K., but the Vodafone Group continues to expand worldwide through a long string of acquisitions. The world's #2 wireless phone services provider - it trails only China Mobile in terms of subscribers - is trying to grow even bigger by acquiring India-based Hutchison Essar Limited (HEL). Trouble is, HEL's owner, Hutchison Telecommunications International (HTI), has taken its time deciding between Vodafone and other suitors, including India-based companies Reliance Communications and The Hinduja Group. HTI is part of the giant Hong Kong trading company Hutchison Whampoa.
News | Financials