QIAGEN : shareholders approve return of approximately $250 million in cash to shareholders via synthetic share repurchase

Adjustment to capital structure through reduction in number of shares outstanding and direct capital repayment to shareholders expected to be completed in January 2017

Venlo, the Netherlands, October 26, 2016- QIAGEN N.V. (NASDAQ: QGEN; Frankfurt Prime Standard: QIA) today announced that shareholders overwhelmingly approved a proposal to return approximately $250 million in cash to shareholders through a synthetic share repurchase plan that combines a direct capital repayment with a reverse stock split. The capital repayment forms part of a commitment announced in July 2016 to return $300 million to shareholders by the end of 2017.

Following the announcement of the synthetic share repurchase plan in August 2016, shareholders at an Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders (EGM) today approved all three proposals to amend the Company's Articles of Association to allow for an adjustment in QIAGEN's share capital in order to complete the related capital repayment. Similar approaches have previously been used by other large, multinational Dutch companies as an efficient way to provide returns to all shareholders, and to do so in a faster and more efficient way than through a traditional open-market share repurchase program.

The transactions are expected to be completed in early January 2017 following the expiration of a two-month creditor objection period, which is required by Dutch law and begins after filing of the EGM resolution with the Dutch Trade Register and publication in a Dutch daily newspaper. An announcement will be made about specific details and dates (including public communication of final capital repayment amount, conversion ratio and record date) following expiration of the creditor objection period.

QIAGEN intends to fund the capital repayment from existing cash reserves and expects to maintain its current non-rated, investment-grade credit profile. Further information on the share repurchase program is available atwww.qiagen.com.

About QIAGEN

QIAGEN N.V., a Netherlands-based holding company, is the leading global provider of Sample to Insight solutions that enable customers to gain valuable molecular insights from samples containing the building blocks of life. Our sample technologies isolate and process DNA, RNA and proteins from blood, tissue and other materials. Assay technologies make these biomolecules visible and ready for analysis. Bioinformatics software and knowledge bases interpret data to report relevant, actionable insights. Automation solutions tie these together in seamless and cost-effective workflows. QIAGEN provides solutions to more than 500,000 customers around the world in Molecular Diagnostics (human healthcare), Applied Testing (forensics, veterinary testing and food safety), Pharma (pharma and biotech companies) and Academia (life sciences research). As of June 30, 2016, QIAGEN employed approximately 4,600 people in over 35 locations worldwide. Further information can be found athttp://www.qiagen.com.

Certain statements contained in this press release may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. To the extent that any of the statements contained herein relating to QIAGEN's capitalization, the value of its shares, the amount and timing of any payment to its shareholders, the timing and effects of the proposed synthetic share repurchase and other share repurchase programs, and its corporate objectives are forward-looking, such statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that involve a number of uncertainties and risks. Such uncertainties and risks include, but are not limited to, QIAGEN's receipt of stockholder approval for the synthetic share repurchase, market conditions, including currency exchange rate fluctuations, global financial instability, industry conditions, the timing of the transactions, the price of its common shares, its ability to complete the transaction and its ability to repurchase its shares in the open-market, its investment profile and its ability to attract future financing. For further information, please refer to the discussions in reports that QIAGEN has filed with, or furnished to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).