Simpson Thacher is representing KKR in connection with the announced combination of NielsenIQ and GfK SE (“GfK”). KKR and Nuremberg Institute for Market Decisions will remain invested as significant shareholders in the combined company, while Advent International will be the majority shareholder in the combined company. The transaction is expected to close later this year or early next year, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.
NielsenIQ is a global information services company that delivers the gold standard in consumer and retail measurement through the most connected, complete and actionable understanding of the evolving global, omnichannel consumer. NielsenIQ’s data, connected insights, and predictive analytics optimize the performance of CPG and retail companies, bringing them closer to the communities they serve and helping to power their growth.
For over 85 years, GfK has earned the trust of its clients around the world by solving critical business questions in their decision-making process around consumers, markets, brands and media. The company’s reliable data and insights, together with advanced AI capabilities, have shaped access to real-time actionable recommendations that drive marketing, sales and organizational effectiveness of its clients and partners.
The Simpson Thacher team included Mark Pflug, Clare Gaskell, Christian Madsen, James Campisi, Austin Uhm, Eilidh Reid and Tarek Soliman (M&A); Tristan Brown, Linda Barrett, Harry Hudesman and Guanxiong Xu (ECEB); Étienne Renaudeau, Peter Guryan, Henry Llewellyn and Sandeep Mahandru (Antitrust); Meredith Jones and William Smolinski (Tax); Kate Sinclair, George Dyesmith and Emma Lynam (Credit); Jessica Cohen, Kate Mirino and Rachelle Broida (IP); Steve DeLott (Insurance); and Drew Kofsky (Labor). Summer associate Sichen Zhang provided valuable assistance.