Axel Springer

Performance Indicators

In the world Axel Springer revenue for 2014 grew to €3.038 billion, EBITDA — to €507.1 million, net profit — to €251.2 million.

In 2017 in holding 2,867 journalists worked that it is a little less, than in 2016th (2,888)^[1].

History

2015

Artcom Media redeems assets of Axel Springer in Russia

In September, 2015 it was announced that Axel Springer SE sold 100% of shares to the Russian owner of Artcom Media Alexander Fedotov. The sales agreement was signed on September 17, 2015. Trademarks on editions became a subject of sale. After carrying out the transaction the company was renamed assorted Rus Media

Fedotov possesses Artcom Media publishing house (issues the L'Officiel, Numero, Port and SNC magazines). He calculates that new assets will be able to strengthen the business direction of publishing house.

The CEO of Axel Springer Russia Regina von Flemming will redeem further 20% of the company, negotiations on it are at a final stage, says the companies. Since January 1, 2016 von Flemming will resign from the post of the CEO and will hold a post of the advisor to director general.

"We are glad to cooperation and are ready to begin work with Alexander Fedotov and the ACMG command on promotion of the Forbes brand in Russia. Artcom Media proved as publishing house of high-quality magazines on external characteristics and in respect of the content of editorial material", - the chief executive of Forbes Media Mike Federle says.

The president of Axel Springer International Ralf Byukhi regrets that the company had to leave the Russian market as in it believed in 'further economic development and liberalization of the country'.

'We regret that are forced to abandon the Russian market because of entry into force of amendments to the federal law on the media limiting foreign persons in the rights. For us as publisher of the influential business magazine Forbes this restriction is unacceptable. We are glad to find the buyer ready to completely accept editorial collective in its structure', - words of Byukhi in the message of the company are cited.

Assets of publishing house were among:

Magazines:

• Forbes Russia,
• OK!,
• GEO,
• GALA Biography,
• GEO Traveller
• Geolyonok

Websites:

• Finanz.ru

The closed projects:

• Russian Newsweek

The audience of Forbes.ru according to TNS in June, 2015 reached 3.3 million people of 12−63 years (June of 2014 — 3 million, 2013 — 3.9 million, 2012 — 1.4 million), Finanz.ru — 644.9 thousand. A median number of visits Forbes according to Similarweb — 6.4 million a month, at Finanz has 1.25 million.

Search of buyers for assets in Russia

In August, 2015 it became known that Axel Springer looks for buyers of the Russian division issuing the magazines Forbes, OK! and GEO and also owning their online versions and the Finanz.ru portal Kommersant with reference to three anonymous sources reported. Germans try to sell the assets in Russia since 2013, but at this time they accelerated because of the law on restriction of foreigners in the Russian media which will become effective since 2016.

Among possible buyers:

• owner of the UST group, ID Komsomolskaya Pravda and Moscow newspaper Metro Grigory Beryozkin,
• partner of "Vardanyan, Broytman and Partners" company, former shareholder of Troika Dialog Ruben Vardanyan and
• owner of Artcom Media Group Alexander Fedotov.

Sell not all Russian division, but 80%. Regina von Flemming since 2005 holding a position of the CEO of the company can receive the remained fifth part of Axel Springer Russia.

The senior vice president for corporate communications of Axel Springer Edda Fels, the representative of the American Forbes Media Mia Karbonell and Regina von Flemming reported to Kommersant that they do not comment on market rumors. Ruben Vardanyan transmitted through a reception that did not receive the offer on purchase of 80% of Axel Springer Russia. Alexander Fedotov refused comments. Also the Chief Editor of the Russian Forbes Elmar Murtazayev arrived.

Also the third party — Forbes Media, the owner of the rights to the Forbes brand should approve the buyer. Forbes Media hopes to transfer an asset to the new partner whereas Axel Springer is ready to close it absolutely.

It will become not the first big deal in the Russian media market which reason was an Aliens Act in media. At the beginning of August, 2015 Victor Shkulev increased a share in HSM holding to 80%, having left to the American partners 20%.

2014: Net loss in Russia 155 million rubles.

By data SPARK-Interfax, revenue of Axel Springer Russia made 872 million rubles in 2014, net loss — 155 million rubles.

As it appears from the report of the company for the first half of the year 2015 in Russia advertizing feels very badly: the predicted revenue dropped by 35% in printing and grew up for only 5% online year-on-year. In the same place the company notes prolonged crisis in the Russian economy and decrease in GDP by 3.2% in real terms in comparison with 2014.

2013: Sale of the rights to the Computer Bild magazine in Russia

In March, 2013 Burda acquired the rights to the Computer Bild magazine at Axel Springer holding which earlier independently published it in Russia.

2012: Internet income for the first time bypassed paper

In 2012 at Axel Springer Internet income for the first time exceeded revenue from paper editions within the country. At the expense of it the company showed record profit^[2].

2004: Start of business in Russia

The division of Axel Springer SE in Russia was founded in 2004.

Notes