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

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Disclosure announcement transmitted by euro adhoc. The issuer is responsible
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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.

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

end of announcement euro adhoc
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emitter: GfK AG
Nordwestring 101
D-90319 Nürnberg
phone: +49 (0)911 395 2012
FAX: +49 (0)911 395 4075
mail: bernhard.wolf@gfk.com
WWW: http://www.gfk.com
sector: Consultancy Services
ISIN: DE0005875306
indexes: SDAX
stockmarkets: regulated dealing/prime standard: Börse Frankfurt
language: English

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