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euro adhoc: GfK AG
Justice/Processes
Legal Dispute between GfK and UBM settled out-of-court

  Disclosure announcement transmitted by euro adhoc. The issuer is responsible
  for the content of this announcement.
31.01.2008
Ad-hoc release:
Legal Dispute between GfK and UBM settled out-of-court
- Estimated positive EPS effect of approximately EUR 0.30 - No effect
on adjusted operating income of the GfK Group - Preliminary state of 
consolidation indicates sales and earnings at upper end of GfK´s 
guidance
In May 2005, GfK acquired the NOP World, one of the leading global 
market research companies, from its former UK parent UBM. Following 
completion of the acquisition of NOP World, UBM asserted a claim 
against GfK to discharge certain balances owed by the NOP World 
companies to UBM pre completion. In August 2006, UBM filed a court 
action against GfK AG in London. GfK defended this claim responding 
that the claim had no merits in the amount claimed by UBM. The 
dispute was already mentioned in GfK´s 2006 annual report.
Today GfK and UBM discontinued the court proceedings in the form of 
an out of court settlement. The result of the settlement with UBM is 
significantly below the amount claimed by UBM and quite in line with 
most recent management expectations.
According to the final settlement agreement, GfK AG will pay to UBM 
approximately EUR 7 million plus interest and UBM´s legal cost which 
will result in a total settlement payment of approximately EUR 10 
million. In its 2006 annual report, GfK carried a liability to UBM in
the amount of approximately EUR 20 million. The positive effect of 
the settlement booked as other operating income will be reflected in 
the highlighted items and thus not impact GfK´s adjusted operating 
income, its key operational performance measure.
The total amount of highlighted items also includes Purchase Price 
Allocation (PPA) amortisation and impairments. The current state of 
preparation of the group financial statements indicates a PPA 
impairment of approximately EUR 10 million above the level of 2006. 
The combined effect of the settlement with UBM and the expected 
additional PPA impairment will likely off-set each other and should 
therefore only have a negligible EBIT impact.
On an after tax basis the above events will lead to an EPS increase 
of approximately EUR 0.30.
The current state of preparation of the group financial statements of
the financial year of 2007 indicates sales and earnings at the upper 
end of GfK´s guidance.
Details on the GfK group´s operating results will be released as 
scheduled on 28. February 2008.
end of announcement                               euro adhoc

Further inquiry note:

Bernhard Wolf
Tel.: +49 (0)911 395-2012
E-Mail: bernhard.wolf@gfk.com

Branche: Consultancy Services
ISIN: DE0005875306
WKN: 587530
Index: SDAX
Börsen: Börse Frankfurt / regulated dealing/prime standard

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