Nielsen, the world's largest TV and consumer measurement company, plans to begin hiring bankers for its initial public offering, the Financial Times reported on Sunday.

Nielsen's private equity backers offering will value the company's equity and debt at up to $21 billion, the newspaper reported in its electronic edition.

The owners aim for the IPO to value Nielsen at 11-times to 13-times earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization, the report said. Nielsen should make about $1.6 billion in EBITDA this year, according to the report.

Nielsen, which could not be immediately reached for comment, will start auditioning bankers next month, the report said. Nielsen distributed requests for proposals to banks last week to prepare for a beauty parade next month, which could involve six to eight banks, the report said.

The company was taken private in a $10 billion deal in 2006 by a group of six private equity firm. The IPO would likely be structured to both repay debt and allow Nielsen's owners to make a gain on their investment, the report said.

(Reporting by Jessica Hall; Editing by Bernard Orr)

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