Mathias Döpfner and KKR on the Verge of Splitting Up Axel Springer

Mergers and acquisitions remain highly popular, and now Axel Springer appears to be at the center of a significant reorganization. According to confidential sources, German billionaire Mathias Döpfner and the investment firm KKR are on the verge of splitting up the media giant Axel Springer. An official announcement could come as early as this week, although the final details still need to be worked out and negotiations could possibly stall or fail. According to an initial report by the Financial Times, the total value of the company could be estimated at up to 13.5 billion euros (15 billion dollars), with the value of the classifieds business estimated at over 10 billion euros. Talks about a potential split have been ongoing for months and would end an almost five-year partnership between Döpfner, Friede Springer—the widow of the company's founder—and KKR. After jointly taking the company private, Axel Springer has increasingly focused on the U.S. market in recent years, acquiring media outlets such as Politico and Business Insider. On its home market, Axel Springer remains a heavyweight in the media sector, holding long-standing publications such as the nearly 80-year-old daily newspaper Die Welt and the high-circulation Bild newspaper in its portfolio. Representatives from Axel Springer and KKR declined to comment on the ongoing negotiations.