Axel Springer AG / Share Buyback/Quarter Results 22.07.2008 Release of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Revenue growth in the first half of 2008 of app. 11 percent / EBITDA above previous year/ Forecast for full year confirmed The main shareholders of Axel Springer AG - Axel Springer Gesellschaft für Publizistik GmbH & Co, the investment companies H&F Rose Partners L.P. and H&F International Rose Partners L.P. controlled by Hellman & Friedman, Good Media Investment Holdings S.á r.l. and TriAlpha Oceana Concentrated Opportunities Fund Ltd., companies associated with Michael Lewis, and Friede Springer - and the members of the management have declared that they will not participate in the current repurchase offer of Axel Springer AG to buy - back up to 918,000 shares of the company in the form of a share repurchase offer against a payment of a cash consideration in the amount of EUR 80.00 per share. They will therefore not sell any shares to the company. The main shareholders and the management members believe that the repurchase offer of EUR 80.00 per share does not reflect the true value potential of the company. In the first half of 2008 the group`s total revenues increased roughly 11 percent year-on-year to approximately EUR 1.3 bn. The EBITDA in the first half year, adjusted for non recurring items and purchase price allocation effects, surpassed the previous year figure as well. Revenues and the adjusted EBITDA are preliminary figures. The Management Board confirms its forecast for the year as a whole. The EBITDA, adjusted for earnings from the Kirch insolvency and dividends from the divested stakes in ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG, and total revenues for the full year 2008 will both be higher than the corresponding year-ago figures. The Interim Report January June 2008 will be published on 13 August, 2008. Investor Relations Contact: Claudia Thomé +49 (0)30 2591-77421 claudia.thome@axelspringer.de Press Contact: Edda Fels +49 (0)30 2591-77600 edda.fels@axelspringer.de DGAP 22.07.2008 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: ir@axelspringer.de Internet: www.axelspringer.de ISIN: DE0005501357, DE0005754238 WKN: 550135, 575423 Indices: SDAX Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin, Hannover, München, Hamburg, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart End of News DGAP News-Service ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
DGAP-News: Axel Springer AG: Main shareholders and management will not participate in share repurchase offer
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