DGAP-PVR: Axel Springer SE: Release according to Article

Axel Springer SE 17.12.2015 18:10 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notification of Major Holdings 1. Details of issuer Axel Springer SE Axel-Springer-Straße 65 10888 Berlin Germany 2. Reason for notification Acquisition/disposal of shares with voting rights Acquisition/disposal of instruments X Change of breakdown of voting rights Other reason: 3. Details of person subject to the notification obligation Name: City and country of registered office: Axel Springer Gesellschaft für Berlin Germany Publizistik GmbH & Co. KG 4. Names of shareholder(s) holding directly 3% or more voting rights, if different from 3. 5. Date on which threshold was crossed or reached 09.12.2015 6. Total positions % of voting % of voting rights total of total number rights attached through instruments both in % of voting to shares (total (total of 7.b.1 + (7.a. + rights of of 7.a.) 7.b.2) 7.b.) issuer Result- 47,27 % 0 % 47,27 % 107895311 ing situat- ion Previo- 50,0000294 % 0 % 50,0000294 / us % notifi- cation 7. Notified details of the resulting situation a. Voting rights attached to shares (Sec.s 21, 22 WpHG) ISIN absolute in % direct (Sec. indirect (Sec. direct (Sec. indirect 21 WpHG) 22 WpHG) 21 WpHG) (Sec. 22 WpHG) DE0005501357 10098030 0 9,36 % 0 % DE0005754238 40902000 0 37,91 % 0 % Total 51000030 47,27 % b.1. Instruments according to Sec. 25 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 WpHG Type of Expiration or Exercise or Voting Voting instrument maturity date conversion rights rights in period absolute % % Total % b.2. Instruments according to Sec. 25 Abs. 1 Nr. 2 WpHG Type of Expiration Exercise or Cash or Voting Voting instrume- or maturity conversion physical rights rights nt date period settlement absolute in % % Total % 8. Information in relation to the person subject to the notification obligation Person subject to the notification obligation is not controlled and does itself not control any other undertaking(s) holding directly or indirectly an interest in the (underlying) issuer (1.). X Full chain of controlled undertakings starting with the ultimate controlling natural person or legal entity: Name % of voting % of voting rights Total of rights (if through both (if at at least instruments (if at least held held 3% or least held 5% or 5% or more) more) more) Dr. h.c. Friede Springer 54,2 % % 54,2 % Friede Springer % % % Verwaltungs GmbH (Komplementärin der Friede Springer GmbH & Co. KG) Friede Springer GmbH & 53,69 % 6,42 % 60,11 % Co. KG AS Publizistik GmbH % % % (Komplementärin der Axel Springer Gesellschaft für Publizistik GmbH & Co. KG) Axel Springer 47,27 % % 47,27 % Gesellschaft für Publizistik GmbH & Co. KG 9. In case of proxy voting according to § 22 Abs. 3 WpHG Date of general meeting: Holding position after general meeting: % (equals voting rights) 17.12.2015 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: Axel Springer SE Axel-Springer-Straße 65 10888 Berlin Germany Internet: www.axelspringer.de End of Announcement DGAP News-Service ---------------------------------------------------------------------------