KKR to launch voluntary public tender offer for GfK SE

London & Nuremberg (ots) - Acceleratio Capital N.V., a holding
company controlled by funds advised by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.
L.P. (together with affiliates, "KKR"), today announced its intention
to make a voluntary public tender offer for the shares (ISIN:
DE0005875306) of GfK SE ("GfK").

GfK is a leading global market research company, listed on the
Frankfurt Stock Exchange. By turning big data into smart data, GfK
enables clients such as major advertisers, consumer goods
manufacturers and broadcasters to improve their competitive edge and
enrich consumers' experiences and choices.

The offer price will be EUR 43.50 per share. Under the terms of
the public tender offer, holders of GfK shares will receive a premium
of about 44 percent on the estimated volume weighted three-month
average price of GfK's shares prior to the announcement.

GfK Verein as the majority shareholder in GfK welcomes KKR and
supports its strategy. Accordingly, Acceleratio Capital N.V. and GfK
Verein, today signed a shareholder agreement, outlining how they will
work together following a successful tender offer to jointly develop
the company further. In this context, it was agreed that GfK Verein
will not tender any shares into the offer and remain majority
shareholder with a stake of 56.46 percent.

The Management and Supervisory Boards of GfK welcome the voluntary
public tender offer. Subject to their review of the offer document,
the Boards intend to recommend that GfK shareholders accept the
offer. Furthermore, the members of the Management Board of GfK intend
to accept the offer with regard to their respective personal
shareholdings.

The tender offer will be subject to the condition that a
shareholding quota of 18.54 percent of the GfK shareholding is
reached. The consummation of the transaction requires no approvals by
authorities other than the merger control and foreign investment
authorities. Following a successful tender offer, Acceleratio Capital
N.V. and GfK Verein would jointly own at least 75 percent of the
shares in GfK. The parties do not intend to enter into a domination
and/or profit-transfer agreement with GfK. The capital structure of
the company shall remain unchanged. Closing of the transaction is
expected in the first quarter of 2017.

KKR has also entered into an investor agreement with GfK. Amongst
other things, this agreement states that Nuremberg will remain the
headquarters and the registered seat of the company. Further details
on the investor agreement will be included in the offer document.

In light of a challenging market environment, which is
characterized by rapid change, progressive digitization and new
competitors, KKR believes that GfK is at a pivotal time of its
development and market positioning. The investor sees meaningful
strategic opportunities to transform the company into a globally
leading provider of integrated, technology-based market research
services. To this end, GfK Verein and KKR intend to support GfK's
growth strategy and help the company realize its full operational
potential to better benefit from digitization opportunities.

KKR builds on a strong track record in developing global market
leaders in media and new technologies, having worked successfully
with companies such as Nielsen, ProSiebenSat1, BMG, Arago,
GetYourGuide, and Scout24 Schweiz. The investment firm has a truly
international expert network and operational growth platform,
including a strong presence in the German-speaking region. KKR also
has a long history in partnership investments with other shareholders
such as corporates, families, or entrepreneurs.

The public tender offer will only be made pursuant to an offer
document to be approved by the German Federal Financial Supervisory
Authority (BaFin). This offer document will be published following
receipt of permission from BaFin, at which point the public tender
offer will commence. The offer document and other information
pertaining to the public tender offer will be made in accordance with
the German Securities Acquisition and Takeover Act
(Wertpapiererwerbs- und Übernahmegesetz - WpÜG) on the following
website: www.acceleratio-angebot.de.

About KKR

KKR is a leading global investment firm that manages investments
across multiple asset classes including private equity, energy,
infrastructure, real estate, credit and hedge funds. KKR aims to
generate attractive investment returns by following a patient and
disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and
driving growth and value creation at the asset level. KKR invests its
own capital alongside its partners' capital and brings opportunities
to others through its capital markets business. References to KKR's
investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds. For
additional information about KKR & Co. L.P. (NYSE:KKR), please visit
KKR's website at www.kkr.com and on Twitter @KKR_Co.

Disclaimer and Forward-Looking Statement

This release is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of
an offer to sell GfK shares or any other security. The offer
document, the terms and conditions contained therein shall have sole
relevance in respect to the offer. Investors and holders of shares in
GfK are advised to read the relevant documents regarding the tender
offer to be published by Acceleratio Capital N.V. as they contain
important information. Investors and holders of shares in GfK can
receive the offer document as well as other documents in connection
with the offer from the website www.acceleratio-angebot.de once they
become available.

The information herein may contain "forward-looking statements"
that may be identified by words such as "expects," "anticipates,"
"intends," "plans" "believes," "estimates" or words of similar
meaning about the expected future business of Acceleratio Capital
N.V., GfK or any other entity. These statements are based on the
current expectations of the management of Acceleratio Capital N.V.
and KKR and are inherently subject to uncertainties and the change of
circumstances. Acceleratio Capital N.V. and KKR do not assume any
obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual
results, or any change in events, conditions, assumptions or other
factors.

Pressekontakt:
Dominik Veit
Phone: +49 69 921874 87
Email: dveit@heringschuppener.com

Carola Wenzel
Phone: +49 69 92 18 74 56
Email: cwenzel@heringschuppener.com

Original-Content von: Acceleratio Capital N.V., übermittelt durch news aktuell