Rudolf Wild sell shares to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co

Monday, 08 February 2010

Rudolf Wild GmbH & Co. KG announced on 27th January that international investor Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR) acquired some of their shares as of 1st January 2010. After nearly 80 years as a privately owned family business, WILD will enter a new era. Dr Hans-Peter Wild, the current owner, sold shares of the German company to KKR, including the subsidiaries in eleven countries. It has been agreed that there will be no changes to top management. "The strategic partnership will allow us to tap into the capital markets and financing sources that have previously been unavailable to us, hereby driving the growth of our business," said Dr Wild. "KKR is a strong partner with extensive global expertise and will assist WILD in its focused expansion and strengthening of or business." Described as "an innovative type of private equity transaction" by Johannes Huth, European Head of KKR, WILD will now, leaning on KKR for support, be able to reach foreign markets. The fruit preparation businesses of WILD across Germany, France and Poland will remain unaffected. Deutsche SiSi Werk with Capri-Sonne/Capri-Sun and INDAG (WILD's Technology Centre) will continue to be fully owned by Dr Wild. Following the transfer of shares, WILD and KKR plan to eventually form a global flavours business in which Dr Hans-Peter Wild will be the majority shareholder.

 

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