Private equity group KKR & Co. and Friede Springer, the wife of Axel Springer SE's founder, are in talks with the German publisher's executive board regarding a potential strategic investment in the company.

As part of the deal, KKR will launch a tender offer to buy out other shareholders in Axel Springer after it has formed a consortium with companies held by Friede Springer and the publisher's CEO, Mathias Döpfner.

Majority shareholder Axel Springer Gesellschaft für Publizistik GmbH & Co., Friede Springer and Döpfner together hold 45.4% and do not intend to sell their stakes under the deal.