GfK SE ("GfK"), a portfolio company of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co ("KKR"), announced its contemplated divestiture of four global divisions of its custom research business to Ipsos S.A. ("Ipsos") for an enterprise value of EUR 105m. Close to 1,000 GfK professionals would join Ipsos in 25 countries globally at the closing of this transaction. The estimated 2018 revenue for the acquired businesses exceeds €200 million, with EMEA contributing to around 55% of the revenues, the Americas 39% and APAC 6%.
Hengeler Mueller served as legal advisor to GfK. K&L Gates served as legal advisor to Ipsos.
Duff & Phelps served as exclusive sell side M&A advisor to GfK in connection with the divestiture transaction.
Peter Feld, Chief Executive Officer of GfK, commented: "The divestment of our Custom Research business is the next important step in transforming GfK into a truly technology enabled data analytics provider with a clear client centric focus on our core assets in our key industries and markets. We are very happy that Ipsos decided to acquire our Custom Research business and with that will become a great future home for our Custom Research employees."
About GfK
GfK was founded in 1934 and was the first market research institute in Germany. The product portfolio of GfK comprises amongst others, online price monitoring, brand and customer experience, point of sales analytics, digital market intelligence, point of sales tracking, geo-marketing and social media intelligence. Clients of GfK include leading companies in nearly all relevant industries. Today, GfK belongs to the leading global market research companies, is present in more than 100 countries and counts approximately 11,500 employees.
About Ipsos
Founded in 1975, Ipsos is the 3rd largest global market research company. The company produces and analyzes information about society, markets, people, brands and ideas in order to offer its clients the tools to act and to evaluate. The core business of Ipsos includes marketing research, media and advertising research, client and employee relationship management and opinion and social research and within this scope, serves over 5,000 clients. In 2017, Ipsos generated revenues of €1,780.5m, had 16,600 employees and operated in 89 countries.
