Axel Springer AG / Preliminary Results 03.03.2008 Release of an Ad hoc announcement according to § 15 WpHG, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- According to preliminary data, Axel Springer AG has for the financial year 2007 managed to significantly exceed the previous record EBITA from the previous year. The group has increased EBITA (earnings before interest, taxes and amortisation), adjusted for extraordinary items, from EUR 375 million in the previous year by 12.5 percent to EUR 422 million. Adjusted for income from the Kirch insolvency in the amount of EUR 34 million in 2006 and EUR 13 million in 2007, EBITA increased by 19.9 percent. The group revenues rose from EUR 2,376 million in 2006 to EUR 2,578 million in 2007. This corresponds to a growth of 8.5 percent. Revenues from the PIN Group AG are not included herein. In the 2007 annual financial statement, the PIN Group will be reported as discontinued activities. The income from continuing operations, EUR 284 million, continues to remain on a high level (previous year: EUR 295 million). Due to the write-down of the PIN Group AG, the income from discontinued operations amounted to EUR -572 million. This resulted in an annual net income in the Group of EUR -288 million (previous year: net income of EUR 291 million). In light of the positive operational earnings performance in the core business and in order to return liquidity to the shareholders, the Management Board will propose increasing the dividend from EUR 3.50 to a new record level of EUR 4.00 per share. Berlin, March 3, 2008 Axel Springer AG Axel-Springer-Str. 65 D-10888 Berlin ISIN: DE0005501357; DE0005754238 WKN: 550 135; 575 423 Contact: Investor Relations Kontakt: Claudia Thomé +49 (0)30 2591-77421 claudia.thome@axelspringer.de DGAP 03.03.2008 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Issuer: Axel Springer AG Axel-Springer-Straße 65 10888 Berlin Deutschland Phone: +49 (0)30 2591-77421 Fax: +49 (0)30 2591-77422 E-mail: information@axelspringer.de Internet: www.axelspringer.de ISIN: DE0005501357, DE0005754238 WKN: 550135, 575423 Indices: SDAX Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin, Stuttgart, München, Hamburg, Düsseldorf End of News DGAP News-Service ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
DGAP-Adhoc: Axel Springer AG: Fourth consecutive record EBITA and dividend proposal of 4.00 Euros per share
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