Axel Springer announces development on the strategic partnership with KKR

Axel Springer announces development on the strategic partnership with KKR

(PRESS RELEASE) BERLIN, 26-Aug-2019 — /EuropaWire/ — Axel Springer announces important milestone reached regarding its strategic partnership with KKR.

The voluntary public tender offer by KKR has been accepted for an additional 14.7 percent of the Axel Springer shares, during the additional acceptance period. The final acceptance rate reaches 42.5 percent of the share capital of Axel Springer SE, including the shares which were tendered during the original acceptance period. On 21 August 2019, the additional acceptance period expired, thereby, reaching further important milestone on the path towards the strategic partnership with KKR.

KKR also informed that in addition, as of the end of the additional acceptance period, agreements have been entered into acquiring Axel Springer shares outside the public tender offer corresponding to approximately 1.04 percent of the share capital and the voting rights of Axel Springer.

“The offer result is a very strong foundation for the planned strategic partnership with KKR. In the coming months, we will be focussing our attention on executing our growth strategy, which we will accelerate further,“ commented Mathias Döpfner, CEO of Axel Springer.

The completion of the offer remains subject to merger control, foreign investment and media concentration clearances. Closing of the transaction is expected in the coming months.

About Axel Springer SE

Headquartered in Berlin, Axel Springer SE is a German digital publishing house which is the largest in Europe, with numerous multimedia news brands, such as Bild, Die Welt, and Fakt. The company has more than 15,000 employee and is active in more than 40 countries with subsidiaries, joint ventures, and licensing. It generated total revenues of about €3.3 billion and an EBITDA of €559 million in the financial year 2015.

For media contact:

Edda Fels
Senior Vice President Corporate Communications
+49 30 2591 77600
edda.fels@axelspringer.de

SOURCE: Axel Springer SE