KKR teams up with Dell-linked fund in offer for Germany's GfK

FRANKFURT: A fund managed on behalf of American IT entrepreneur Michael Dell has agreed a deal to take a stake in the investment vehicle that private equity firm KKR is using to invest in German research firm GfK SE .

MSD Capital built up a stake of just over 10 percent in GfK, potentially throwing into doubt KKR's plans to take over the German company together with GfK Verein.

KKR said in a statement late on Friday it has agreed to acquire around 3.7 million shares, equivalent to a 10.07 percent stake in GfK from three shareholders. The three shareholders are funds managed by MSD Capital and MSD Partners. MSD Capital is the private investment firm that manages the capital of Michael Dell and his family.

KKR will pay around 50 million euros ($53.1 million) for a portion of the shares, while around 6.89 percent of the shares will be exchanged for a stake in the investment vehicle through which KKR is investing in GFK, according to the statement.

The deal means KKR and GfK Verein have together passed the 75 percent threshold they needed for the 43.50 euro per share offer for GfK to succeed.

The takeover values the German company at about 1.69 billion euros. - Reuters