DGAP-News: Axel Springer SE: Ariane Melanie Springer and Axel Sven Springer sell parts of their Axel Springer shareholdings to KKR

The investor KKR announced today that the grandchildren of company founder Axel Springer, Ariane Melanie Springer and Axel Sven Springer, have decided to accept the voluntary public tender offer by Traviata II S.à r.l. for parts of their shareholdings in Axel Springer SE. Traviata II S.à r.l. is a holding company owned by funds advised by KKR.
 

According to the announcement, Ariane Melanie Springer and Axel Sven Springer will accept the tender offer for shares representing approximately 3.7 percent of the share capital of Axel Springer SE in the course of the ongoing additional acceptance period. With their remaining shares, they will continue to be independent shareholders of the company.
 

"My sister and I are convinced of the entrepreneurial concept for the further development of Axel Springer. We therefore back the tender offer and intend to use the remaining part of our shareholdings to further support the company's development and its growth path," said Axel Sven Springer.
 

Axel Springer shareholders who have not yet accepted the offer can do so within the additional acceptance period, which will expire at midnight (CEST) on 21 August 2019.
 

Press contact:
Edda Fels
Axel Springer SE
+49 30 2591 77600
edda.fels@axelspringer.com
 

About Axel Springer
Axel Springer is a media and technology company and active in more than 40 countries. By providing information across its diverse media brands (among others BILD, WELT, BUSINESS INSIDER, POLITICO Europe) and classifieds portals (StepStone Group and AVIV Group) Axel Springer SE empowers people to make free decisions for their lives. Today, the transformation from a traditional print media company to Europe's leading digital publisher has been successfully accomplished. The next goal has been identified: Axel Springer wants to become global market leader in digital content and digital classifieds through accelerated growth. The company is headquartered in Berlin and employs more than 16,300 people worldwide. In the fiscal year 2018, Axel Springer generated 71 percent of revenues with its digital activities which also contributed 84 percent to earnings (adj. EBITDA).