Axel Springer plans layoffs after KKR becomes biggest shareholder: report

BERLIN (Reuters) - Axel Springer is planning layoffs as part of a cost-cutting program that would mainly affect its newspapers, the German media group's chief executive told the Sueddeutsche Zeitung in an interview released on Sunday.

"It doesn't only sound like a big cut (in jobs), it is one," Mathias Doepfner was quoted as saying, though the report gave no concrete figures.

"Where we have digital growth we will invest and recruit staff... And where we have declining sales we must restructure and cut jobs."

German newspapers Bild and Welt will be affected, he added.

The cost-cutting plan comes one month after U.S. private equity firm KKR (NYSE: KKR) became the company's biggest shareholder.

(Reporting by Joseph Nasr; Editing by Jan Harvey)

---

Serious News for Serious Traders! Try StreetInsider.com Premium Free!

---

You May Also Be Interested In

• Steadfast Group accepts A$7.7 billion takeover offer
• KKR offered to buy UGI for $42.50 a share - WSJ
• UK economy hands Burnham surprise boost before first budget