DGAP-PVR: Probiodrug AG: Release according to Article 26,

Probiodrug AG 17.11.2015 16:00 Dissemination of a Voting Rights Announcement, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Probiodrug AG Halle (Saale), Germany Handelsregister: Amtsgericht Stendal, HRB 213719 (Commercial Register: Local Court of Stendal, HRB 213719) ISIN: DE0007921835 Release pursuant to Article 26 Section 1 WpHG (Wertpapierhandelsgesetz - German Securities Trading Act) with the objective of Europe-wide distribution 1. Dissemination of notifications of voting rights pursuant to sec. 21 para. 1 WpHG (Wertpapierhandelsgesetz - German Securities Trading Act) 1.1 Wellington Management Group LLP, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, informed our company pursuant to sec. 21 para. 1 WpHG (German Securities Trading Act) on November 13, 2015, that its voting rights proportion fell below the threshold of 3% of the voting rights in Probiodrug AG, Weinbergweg 22, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany, ISIN DE0007921835, on November 9, 2015, and that its voting rights proportion in Probiodrug AG amounted to 2.86% (corresponding to 212,771 voting rights) on that date. 2.86% (corresponding to 212,771 voting rights) are attributed to Wellington Management Group LLP pursuant to sec. 22 para. 1 sentence 1 no. 6 in connection with sentence 2 WpHG and concurrently pursuant to sec. 22 para. 1 sentence 1 no. 1 WpHG. A portion of 1.20% (corresponding to 89,316 voting rights) of the total of 2.86% (corresponding to 212,771 voting rights) is attributed to Wellington Management Group LLP concurrently pursuant to sec. 22 para. 1 sentence 1 no. 2 in connection with sentence 2 WpHG. 1.2 Wellington Investment Advisors Holdings LLP, Wilmington, Delaware, USA, informed our company pursuant to sec. 21 para. 1 WpHG (German Securities Trading Act) on November 13, 2015, that its voting rights proportion fell below the threshold of 3% of the voting rights in Probiodrug AG, Weinbergweg 22, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany, ISIN DE0007921835, on November 9, 2015, and that its voting rights proportion in Probiodrug AG amounted to 2.86% (corresponding to 212,771 voting rights) on that date. 2.86% (corresponding to 212,771 voting rights) are attributed to Wellington Investment Advisors Holdings LLP pursuant to sec. 22 para. 1 sentence 1 no. 6 in connection with sentence 2 WpHG. 1.3 Wellington Management Funds Holdings LLP, Wilmington, Delaware, USA, informed our company pursuant to sec. 21 para. 1 WpHG (German Securities Trading Act) on November 13, 2015, that its voting rights proportion fell below the threshold of 3% of the voting rights in Probiodrug AG, Weinbergweg 22, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany, ISIN DE0007921835, on November 9, 2015, and that its voting rights proportion in Probiodrug AG amounted to 2.86% (corresponding to 212,771 voting rights) on that date. 2.86% (corresponding to 212,771 voting rights) are attributed to Wellington Management Funds Holdings LLP pursuant to sec. 22 para. 1 sentence 1 no. 1 WpHG. A portion of 1.20% (corresponding to 89,316 voting rights) of the total of 2.86% (corresponding to 212,771 voting rights) is attributed to Wellington Management Funds Holdings LLP concurrently pursuant to sec. 22 para. 1 sentence 1 no. 2 in connection with sentence 2 WpHG. 1.4 Wellington Hedge Management, LLC, Wilmington, Delaware, USA, informed our company pursuant to sec. 21 para. 1 WpHG (German Securities Trading Act) on November 13, 2015, that its voting rights proportion fell below the threshold of 3% of the voting rights in Probiodrug AG, Weinbergweg 22, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany, ISIN DE0007921835, on November 9, 2015, and that its voting rights proportion in Probiodrug AG amounted to 2.86% (corresponding to 212,771 voting rights) on that date. 2.86% (corresponding to 212,771 voting rights) are attributed to Wellington Hedge Management, LLC pursuant to sec. 22 para. 1 sentence 1 no. 1 WpHG. A portion of 1.20% (corresponding to 89,316 voting rights) of the total of 2.86% (corresponding to 212,771 voting rights) is attributed to Wellington Hedge Management, LLC concurrently pursuant to sec. 22 para. 1 sentence 1 no. 2 in connection with sentence 2 WpHG. 1.5 Wellington Management Company LLP, Wilmington, Delaware, USA, informed our company pursuant to sec. 21 para. 1 WpHG (German Securities Trading Act) on November 13, 2015, that its voting rights proportion fell below the threshold of 3% of the voting rights in Probiodrug AG, Weinbergweg 22, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany, ISIN DE0007921835, on November 9, 2015, and that its voting rights proportion in Probiodrug AG amounted to 2.86% (corresponding to 212,771 voting rights) on that date. 2.86% (corresponding to 212,771 voting rights) are attributed to Wellington Management Company LLP pursuant to sec. 22 para. 1 sentence 1 no. 6 WpHG. 1.6 Wellington Group Holdings LLP, Wilmington, Delaware, USA, informed our company pursuant to sec. 21 para. 1 WpHG (German Securities Trading Act) on November 13, 2015, that its voting rights proportion fell below the threshold of 3% of the voting rights in Probiodrug AG, Weinbergweg 22, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany, ISIN DE0007921835, on November 9, 2015, and that its voting rights proportion in Probiodrug AG amounted to 2.86% (corresponding to 212,771 voting rights) on that date. 2.86% (corresponding to 212,771 voting rights) are attributed to Wellington Group Holdings LLP pursuant to sec. 22 para. 1 sentence 1 no. 6 in connection with sentence 2 WpHG and concurrently pursuant to sec. 22 para. 1 sentence 1 no. 1 WpHG. A portion of 1.20% (corresponding to 89,316 voting rights) of the total of 2.86% (corresponding to 212,771 voting rights) is attributed to Wellington Group Holdings LLP concurrently pursuant to sec. 22 para. 1 sentence 1 no. 2 in connection with sentence 2 WpHG. 1.7 Aviva plc, London, United Kingdom, informed our company pursuant to sec. 21 para. 1 WpHG (German Securities Trading Act) on November 13, 2015, that its voting rights proportion exceeded the thresholds of 3%, 5% and 10% of the voting rights in Probiodrug AG, Weinbergweg 22, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany, ISIN DE0007921835, on November 10, 2015, and that its voting rights proportion in Probiodrug AG amounted to 10.84% (corresponding to 806,443 voting rights) on that date. 10.84% (corresponding to 806,443 voting rights) are attributed to Aviva plc pursuant to sec. 22 para. 1 sentence 1 no. 6 in connection with sentence 2 WpHG. A portion of 10.20% (corresponding to 759,262 voting rights) of the total of 10.84% (corresponding to 806,443 voting rights) is attributed to Aviva plc concurrently pursuant to sec. 22 para. 1 sentence 1 no. 1 WpHG. The voting rights attributed pursuant to sec. 22 para. 1 sentence 1 no. 6 in connection with sentence 2 WpHG are attributed through the following shareholders holding directly 3% voting rights or more in Probiodrug AG: Aviva Life & Pensions UK Limited. The voting rights attributed pursuant to sec. 22 para. 1 sentence 1 no. 1 WpHG are attributed through the following controlled undertakings holding 3% or more in Probiodrug AG: Aviva Life & Pensions UK Limited; Aviva Life Holdings UK Limited; Aviva Group Holdings Limited. 1.8 Aviva Investors Global Services Limited, London, United Kingdom, informed our company pursuant to sec. 21 para. 1 WpHG (German Securities Trading Act) on November 13, 2015, that its voting rights proportion exceeded the thresholds of 3%, 5% and 10% of the voting rights in Probiodrug AG, Weinbergweg 22, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany, ISIN DE0007921835, on November 10, 2015, and that its voting rights proportion in Probiodrug AG amounted to 10.84% (corresponding to 806,443 voting rights) on that date. 10.84% (corresponding to 806,443 voting rights) are attributed to Aviva Investors Global Services Limited pursuant to sec. 22 para. 1 sentence 1 no. 6 WpHG. The voting rights attributed pursuant to sec. 22 para. 1 sentence 1 no. 6 WpHG are attributed through the following shareholders holding directly 3% voting rights or more in Probiodrug AG: Aviva Life & Pensions UK Limited. 1.9 Aviva Life & Pensions UK Limited, York, United Kingdom, informed our company pursuant to sec. 21 para. 1 WpHG (German Securities Trading Act) on November 13, 2015, that its voting rights proportion exceeded the thresholds of 3% and 5% of the voting rights in Probiodrug AG, Weinbergweg 22, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany, ISIN DE0007921835, on November 10, 2015, and that its voting rights proportion in Probiodrug AG amounted to 9.70% (corresponding to 722,285 voting rights) on that date. 1.10 Aviva Investors Holdings Limited, London, United Kingdom, informed our company pursuant to sec. 21 para. 1 WpHG (German Securities Trading Act) on November 13, 2015, that its voting rights proportion exceeded the thresholds of 3%, 5% and 10% of the voting rights in Probiodrug AG, Weinbergweg 22, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany, ISIN DE0007921835, on November 10, 2015, and that its voting rights proportion in Probiodrug AG amounted to 10.84% (corresponding to 806,443 voting rights) on that date. 10.84% (corresponding to 806,443 voting rights) are attributed to Aviva Investors Holdings Limited pursuant to sec. 22 para. 1 sentence 1 no. 6 in connection with sentence 2 WpHG. A portion of 0.44% (corresponding to 32,651 voting rights) of the total of 10.84% (corresponding to 806,443 voting rights) is attributed to Aviva Investors Holdings Limited concurrently pursuant to sec. 22 para. 1 sentence 1 no. 1 WpHG. The voting rights attributed pursuant to sec. 22 para. 1 sentence 1 no. 6 in connection with sentence 2 WpHG are attributed through the following shareholders holding directly 3% voting rights or more in Probiodrug AG: Aviva Life & Pensions UK Limited. 1.11 Aviva Life Holdings UK Limited, York, United Kingdom, informed our company pursuant to sec. 21 para. 1 WpHG (German Securities Trading Act) on November 13, 2015, that its voting rights proportion exceeded the thresholds of 3% and 5% of the voting rights in Probiodrug AG, Weinbergweg 22, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany, ISIN DE0007921835, on November 10, 2015, and that its voting rights proportion in Probiodrug AG amounted to 9.70% (corresponding to 722,285 voting rights) on that date. 9.70% (corresponding to 722,285 voting rights) are attributed to Aviva Life Holdings UK Limited pursuant to sec. 22 para. 1 sentence 1 no. 1 WpHG. The voting rights attributed pursuant to sec. 22 para. 1 sentence 1 no. 1 WpHG are attributed through the following controlled undertakings holding 3% or more in Probiodrug AG: Aviva Life & Pensions UK Limited. 1.12 Aviva Group Holdings Limited, London, United Kingdom, informed our company pursuant to sec. 21 para. 1 WpHG (German Securities Trading Act) on November 13, 2015, that its voting rights proportion exceeded the thresholds of 3%, 5% and 10% of the voting rights in Probiodrug AG, Weinbergweg 22, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany, ISIN DE0007921835, on November 10, 2015, and that its voting rights proportion in Probiodrug AG amounted to 10.84% (corresponding to 806,443 voting rights) on that date. 10.84% (corresponding to 806,443 voting rights) are attributed to Aviva Group Holdings Limited pursuant to sec. 22 para. 1 sentence 1 no. 6 in connection with sentence 2 WpHG. A portion of 10.20% (corresponding to 759,262 voting rights) of the total of 10.84% (corresponding to 806,443 voting rights) is attributed to Aviva Group Holdings Limited concurrently pursuant to sec. 22 para. 1 sentence 1 no. 1 WpHG. The voting rights attributed pursuant to sec. 22 para. 1 sentence 1 no. 6 in connection with sentence 2 WpHG are attributed through the following shareholders holding directly 3% voting rights or more in Probiodrug AG: Aviva Life & Pensions UK Limited. The voting rights attributed pursuant to sec. 22 para. 1 sentence 1 no. 1 WpHG are attributed through the following controlled undertakings holding 3% or more in Probiodrug AG: Aviva Life & Pensions UK Limited; Aviva Life Holdings UK Limited. 2. Dissemination of a notification of voting rights pursuant to sec. 27a WpHG (Wertpapierhandelsgesetz - German Securities Trading Act) Aviva plc, London, United Kingdom, informed our company on November 13, 2015 pursuant to sec. 27a WpHG in relation to its voting rights notification pursuant to sec. 21, 22 WpHG dated November 13, 2015 and the exceeding of the threshold of 10% of the voting rights in Probiodrug AG, as follows: 1. The investment is not aimed to implement strategic objectives but is aimed at generating a trading profit. 2. There are no plans to acquire further voting rights within the next twelve months by means of a purchase or by any other means. 3. It is not our objective to nominate onto or remove directors from the Board, but if we feel there are issues with board composition we would, in our engagement with the company encourage it to address any concerns we may have. We expect boards to be effective in safeguarding shareholder interests and they should have the right skills and experience to take the company's strategy forward. In particular we recognise the important (and independent) role of the chairman and non-executive directors in providing appropriate internal challenge to board discussions and decisions to ensure that all directors act in the best interests of the company. We also place particular importance on boards setting appropriate standards and values for the company both in terms of corporate responsibility and also on doing the right thing in the way companies make decisions. 4. There are no intentions to achieve a material change in the Company's capital structure, in particular as regards the ration between own funds and external funds and the dividend policy. Within our total holding of 806,443 shares (10.84%) acquired on 10 November 2015, I can confirm that 726,611 shares are held as a beneficial (own funds) interest (9.76%) and the remaining 79,82 shares are held as a non-beneficial (external funds) interest (1.07%). Halle (Saale), in November 2015 The Management 17.11.2015 The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Company: Probiodrug AG Weinbergweg 22 06120 Halle/Saale Germany Internet: www.probiodrug.de End of Announcement DGAP News-Service ---------------------------------------------------------------------------