Axel Springer SE (SPR.XE) said late Wednesday that it is negotiating with KKR & Co. KKR for the U.S. private equity firm to make a strategic investment in the company. The German publishing group, which owns the Bild newspaper, said KKR can launch an offer for minority shareholders to tender their shares once it has reached an agreement with major shareholders Friede Springer and Chief Executive Mathias Doepfner.