Press release
Montabaur (euro adhoc) -
United Internet and Samwer brothers expand cooperation
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cooperations
Montabaur, November 21, 2007. United Internet AG and the Samwer brothers´ "European Founders Fund (EFF)", Germany´s leading early-phase investor for European internet and technology companies, are to extend their cooperation beyond the early-phase market. Against the backdrop of positive experience made with projects such as the joint investment in Hamburg-based browser game specialist "bigpoint", the two companies plan to also invest in future in young companies which have already passed the start-up phase and developed a valid business model - so-called late-stage investments.
The European Founders Fund, formed by German internet entrepreneurs Alexander, Marc and Oliver Samwer (founders of such companies as alando / eBay Germany and Jamba, and investors in Studivz, LinkedIn etc.), regards itself as the "founder behind the founders". "The companies we invest in profit directly from our experience in establishing companies. We can therefore lay the foundation as partners for fast and sustainable growth," explains Oliver Samwer. "We are very pleased about the expansion of our cooperation to include more mature companies. We can now bundle the competencies of both partners also in this field to the benefit of the company founders."
"The cooperation we began in June has already made tremendous progress. It therefore makes sense to widen our field of investment," says Ralph Dommermuth, CEO of United Internet AG. "In future, we aim to also invest in fast growing companies which have already successfully established themselves on the market. We are convinced that we can also contribute considerable added value in this area."
The expansion of the partnership with United Internet AG thus not only provides company founders but also established growth companies with additional opportunities to benefit from the expertise for optimal customer access and for professional marketing, enabling fast and successful growth. With high-reach portals, such as WEB.DE (12.7 million unique visitors/month), GMX (8.9 million) and 1&1 (2.9 million), as well as over 7.07 million fee-based customer contracts, United Internet is one of Europe´s leading internet companies. "Our networks, and especially our high-reach portals, offer the companies we invest in valuable experience for their own national and international expansion and thus provide the respective management teams with a further basis to significantly accelerate the growth of their companies," says Ralph Dommermuth. "What´s more, our online marketing brands, AdLINK Media, affilinet and Sedo, offer excellent opportunities for young companies in the field of online advertising."
Those interested can present their concepts to the European Founders Fund at any time via e-mail (businessplan@europeanfounders.com) or access further information via the website www.europeanfounders.com.
About EFF The brothers Marc, Oliver and Alexander Samwer invest in selected technology companies via their company European Founders Fund GmbH. The Samwer brothers are the founders of eBay Germany (alando) and Jamba! (now part of News Corp.). The companies founded by the Samwer brothers today generate sales of over 1 billion euros. The brothers focus their investments on young and later stage technology companies from the field of internet and wireless technologies. The Samwer brothers have extensive experience in these sectors and a tight-knit network of partners with which they can support the companies they invest in. The Samwers aim to support exceptional business founders and promising business models facilitate.
Contact partner for the press: Tilo Bonow | European Founders Fund GmbH Tel. +49/30/40042888 | E-mail: tilo.bonow@piabo.net
About United Internet With around 7.07 million customer contracts, United Internet AG is a leading Internet Service Provider (ISP). In its "Product" segment, the Group´s value-added internet services and fast internet connections are directed at private users, small/home offices (SoHos) and small to mid-size enterprises (SMEs). These groups are served by the brands GMX, WEB.DE, 1&1, InterNetX and Fasthosts. In addition to its "Product" business, the Group is also engaged in "Online Marketing" (via the brands AdLINK Media, affilinet and Sedo).
end of announcement euro adhoc 21.11.2007 10:00:26
Further inquiry note:
Contact partner for the press:
Marcus Schaps | United Internet AG
Tel. +49/2602/96-1076 | E-mail: mschaps@united-internet.de
Branche: Telecommunications Services
ISIN: DE0005089031
WKN: 508903
Index: TecDAX, Technologie All Share, HDAX, Midcap Market Index,
Prime All Share, CDAX
Börsen: Börse Frankfurt / regulated dealing/prime standard
Börse Berlin / free trade
Börse Hamburg / free trade
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Original content of: United Internet AG, transmitted by news aktuell