Business News

Deutsche Bank acquires approx. 8.4 percent participation in Axel Springer AG

Friday 19. December 2008 - Deutsche Bank has acquired 2,753.301 shares in Axel Springer AG on December 15, 2008 and now holds in total a participation of approx. 8.4 percent in the company.

US investor Hellman & Friedman, which has been holding a participation in Axel Springer AG since 2003, has reduced its participation at the same time from approx. 9.9 percent to approx. 1.6 percent.

Mathias Döpfner, CEO of Axel Springer, said “Hellman & Friedman has been an outstanding partner to us in developing the Company. We thank them for their involvement and we look forward to their continued participation.”

Brain Powers, CEO of Hellman & Friedman, said “Our investment in Axel Springer has been very successful. We thank Mathias Döpfner, the management team and the staff for the Company’s extraordinary operating performance over this period. We have been involved with Axel Springer for over five years and look forward to continuing our association as a shareholder and through our representation on the supervisory board.”

According to Axel Springer AG’s estimations the shares held by Deutsche Bank will be placed broadly in the market in a recovered capital markets environment within a medium-term perspective. This would correspond to the wishes of Axel Springer shareholders for higher liquidity in the share and further enhance the company value.

http://www.axelspringer.de
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