On April 15, 2025, DATAGROUP SE entered into an investment agreement with the private equity firm KKR and supports its public acquisition offer at a price of 54 euros per share in cash. This offer represents a premium of about 33% over the Xetra closing price of DATAGROUP shares on the same day.
Details of the Offer
- Price: The offer is 54 euros per share, representing a significant premium over the current market price.
- Support from the Board and Supervisory Board: Both the Board and the Supervisory Board of DATAGROUP support the offer and recommend its acceptance to the shareholders. They have committed to tender their personally held shares under the offer.
- Strategic Partnership: At the same time, a strategic partnership between KKR and the majority shareholder HHS Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH has been established. This arrangement provides for the existing stake of HHS in DATAGROUP to be indirectly transferred to KKR, leading to a long-term joint control.
Financing and Timeline
- Financing through equity: The transaction will be fully financed through equity from KKR.
- Settlement in the third quarter of 2025: The completion of the acquisition offer is planned for the third quarter of 2025. The offer is subject to usual conditions such as regulatory approvals, but not a minimum acceptance threshold.
Impact on Company Structure
After the completion of the offer, a delisting of DATAGROUP shares is planned. A separate delisting offer is not required. Over the next two years, there will be no domination or profit transfer agreements between KKR or its subsidiaries and DATAGROUP.
This development has significant implications for DATAGROUP’s business development and for investors in the German-speaking region, as it could influence both the ownership structure and the strategic direction of the company.
Relevance for Investors
This news is particularly relevant for investors in the German-speaking region:
- Premium: The high price offers shareholders an attractive selling value.
- Strategic Partnership: The joint control by KKR and HHS could open up new growth opportunities.
- Delisting: The planned delisting could affect trading in the shares.
Overall, the offer presents both opportunities and challenges for all parties involved – viewed from both a financial and strategic perspective.
The decision to accept this offer ultimately depends on the individual’s investment horizon: For some shareholders, it may be attractive to sell their shares at this high price; others may see longer-term potential or wish to resist changes in the corporate structure.
In summary, this acquisition signals strong interest from major financial investors in German IT service providers.