The new private equity owners of VNU are planning their first large-scale disposals since winning a €7.6bn ($9.7bn) battle to take control of the Dutch publisher in June, by putting itsEuropean business magazines and trade shows on the market.

The group has appointed Goldman Sachs and The van Tulleken Company, a specialist in publishing mergers and acquisitions, to find buyers for 70 magazines and70 exhibitions with combined revenues of about €235m.