Axel Springer AG: European Online Jobs Marketplace StepStone Acquires Totaljobs Group in the United Kingdom

Axel Springer AG  / Key word(s): Acquisition

04.04.2012 11:22

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Ad-hoc announcement pursuant to § 15 WpHG (German Securities Trading Act)

European Online Jobs Marketplace StepStone Acquires Totaljobs Group in the
United Kingdom

StepStone GmbH, parent company of the European StepStone Group and
subsidiary of Axel Springer AG, is continuing with its international growth
strategy by acquiring the Totaljobs Group, which operates among others the
market leading jobs website Totaljobs.com in the United Kingdom. A sale and
purchase agreement for the acquisition of all shares in Totaljobs Group
Ltd. from Reed Business Information Ltd., of the Reed Elsevier Group, was
concluded on 31 March 2012. The purchase price comes to approximately EUR
132 million (£110 million). The acquisition had been initially subject to
the consent of the Supervisory Board of Axel Springer AG, which has been
given today.

The Totaljobs Group, with headquarters in London, was founded in 1999 and
employs a staff of over 340 people, operating a total of seven job boards.
Thus, Totaljobs Group is the largest online recruitment business in the
United Kingdom. Every month, more than seven million unique visitors use
the Totaljobs Group's platforms, making over four million applications. In
2011 Totaljobs Group served more than 24,000 UK companies of all sizes and
industries, as well as recruitment and advertising agencies.

In early March, Axel Springer AG and global growth investor, General
Atlantic LLC, agreed to set up a joint venture and, by this strategic
partnership, they created the conditions necessary for a growth offensive
in the area of digital classifieds. Axel Springer's online classifieds
business will be bundled into Axel Springer Digital Classifieds GmbH, with
Axel Springer holding a 70% share, as majority shareholder, and General
Atlantic holding a 30% share in this company. Along with StepStone, French
and German real estate portals SeLoger and Immonet will also form part of
Axel Springer Digital Classifieds.

Berlin, 4 April 2012

Axel Springer AG

Axel-Springer-Straße 65

D-10888 Berlin


Investor Relations contact:
Claudia Thomé
+49 (0)30 2591-77421
claudia.thome@axelspringer.de


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Language:     English
Company:      Axel Springer AG
              Axel-Springer-Straße 65
              10888 Berlin
              Germany
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:      MDAX
Listed:       Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr
              in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover, München, Stuttgart
 
End of Announcement                             DGAP News-Service
 
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