KKR publishes offer document for the voluntary public tender offer for GfK SE - acceptance period begins

London/Nuremberg (ots) -

- BaFin approves offer document
- Acceptance period runs from 21 December 2016 to 10 February 2017
- Offer price of EUR 43.50 per GfK share
- Offer represents a premium of about 44 percent on the volume
weighted three-month average price of GfK's shares

Acceleratio Capital N.V., a holding company controlled by funds
advised by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. (together with
affiliates, "KKR"), today published the offer document for the
voluntary public tender offer for the shares (ISIN: DE0005875306) of
GfK SE ("GfK"). Prior to its publication, the offer document was
approved by the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority
("BaFin") in accordance with the German Securities Acquisition and
Takeover Act (Wertpapiererwerbs- und Übernahmegesetz - "WpÜG").

As of today, GfK shareholders can accept the offer and thus tender
their shares to Acceleratio Capital N.V. at a price of EUR 43.50 per
share, which represents a premium of about 44 percent on the volume
weighted three-month average price of GfK's shares prior to the
announcement of the voluntary public tender offer on 8 December 2016.
To tender their shares, shareholders must issue a written declaration
to their respective custodian bank.

The acceptance period will end at midnight (CET) on 10 February
2017. Consummation of the tender offer is, inter alia, subject to the
condition that a shareholding quota of 18.54 percent of the GfK
shareholding is reached. The transaction requires no approvals by
authorities other than the merger control and foreign investment
authorities. Subject to the fulfilment of the offer conditions,
closing of the transaction is expected in the first quarter of 2017.

As announced on 8 December 2016, GfK Verein as the majority
shareholder in GfK welcomes KKR. Accordingly, Acceleratio Capital
N.V. and GfK Verein have signed a shareholder agreement on that day,
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. 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 in the context of the transaction.

KKR has also entered into an investor agreement with GfK on 8
December 2016, outlining the terms of their cooperation in the
development of GfK. 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 offer document and a non-binding English translation are now
available at www.acceleratio-angebot.de. Copies of these documents
can also be obtained free of charge at BNP Paribas Securities
Services S.C.A., Europa-Allee 12, 60327 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
(orders by fax: +49 69 1520 5277; orders by email:
frankfurt.gct.operations@bnpparibas.com).

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 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.

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 92 18 74 87
Email: dveit@heringschuppener.com

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