American private equity firm KKR has announced a definitive agreement to acquire German IT services provider Datagroup, further cementing its interest in Europe’s digital infrastructure sector. The deal represents another addition to KKR’s growing portfolio of technology and infrastructure assets and underscores continued investor appetite for digital transformation enablers in key European markets.
Under the terms of the transaction, KKR has agreed to pay €54 per share for Datagroup—representing a 33% premium over the company's most recent closing price of €40.75. This all-cash offer reflects strong confidence in Datagroup’s long-term growth potential and current market position.
Following the completion of the transaction, which is anticipated in the third quarter of 2025 subject to customary regulatory approvals, Datagroup will be delisted from the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. This move is intended to streamline operations and facilitate long-term strategic planning outside the scrutiny of public markets.
Datagroup’s founder, Max H.-H. Schaber, will retain joint control of the company alongside KKR. His continued involvement is seen as a stabilizing factor, ensuring strategic continuity and long-term alignment of interests. The transaction is being supported by both the company’s executive and supervisory boards and is being executed through KKR’s European Fund VI.
According to KKR Managing Director Laura Schröder, the deal “reflects a strong conviction in the importance of digital infrastructure and Datagroup’s role as a transformation partner to Germany’s Mittelstand and beyond.”
The acquisition of Datagroup adds to a series of recent strategic transactions by KKR, highlighting its proactive approach even amid a slowdown in global deal activity. Earlier in April, the firm announced the acquisition of OSTTRA—a financial technology joint venture owned by S&P Global and CME Group—for $3.1 billion.
KKR also reached an agreement to acquire Karo Healthcare, the maker of E45 skin products, from EQT, a Swedish private equity group. These deals underscore the firm's ongoing focus on long-term structural themes such as digitalization, healthcare, and essential services.
With a workforce of approximately 3,700 employees and a network of operations spanning across Germany, Datagroup serves as a major IT services provider to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Its service portfolio includes cloud hosting, data management, cybersecurity, and full-service IT operations.
Earlier this year, the company projected that its full-year revenue would increase to between €545 million and €565 million, reflecting both organic growth and increased demand for digital services across its client base.
Its customer-centric approach and reliable service delivery have positioned Datagroup as a trusted partner in the digitization of business operations—especially within Germany’s highly competitive and fragmented SME segment.
KKR’s investment reflects a broader trend in the private equity sector, where firms are increasingly targeting assets that enable long-term technological transformation. The acquisition of Datagroup allows KKR to tap into a resilient revenue stream driven by ongoing digital adoption and regulatory modernization.
For Datagroup, the transaction provides a platform for accelerated expansion, potential synergies through private ownership, and the flexibility to focus on innovation without the short-term pressures of public markets.
KKR's move to acquire Datagroup reflects the relentless push for innovation in Europe's tech landscape.
