ots Ad hoc-Service: United Internet AG <DE0005089007> United Internet grows by 64 percent First quarter exceeds targets
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United Internet AG has reported a successful first quarter. The network has now been extended to 17 companies with two further shareholdings (Netzpiloten AG, gatrixx AG). One shareholding. Jobs & Adverts, has already successfully achieved its stock market flotation; a further two (AdLINK AG and GMX AG) will follow in the second quarter. The internationalisation of the network made great progress. "The launch of United Internet could not have gone better", summed up Chairman Ralph Dommermuth: "In the first quarter we have significantly strengthened our market position."
Sales subject to consolidation by the majority shareholdings rose by 52.5 percent to 46.8 million Euro; overall sales of the 17 United Internet shareholdings rose by 64 percent to 54 million Euro. Investments in internationalisation, brand development and new shareholdings led to a group loss on ordinary activities of 1.9 million Euro. In addition there were further, non cash-relevant, charges on the group profit and loss account amounting to 8.2 million Euro through at-equity losses from associated companies, goodwill write-offs, and expenses reportable according to US GAAP under the employee share ownership programme due to the favourable movement of United Internet shares. This resulted in overall DVFA earnings per share of -1.79 Euro, and after elimination of goodwill write-offs of -1,13 Euro per share. "Thus we remain significantly below the forecast losses arising from our investments in the growth and brand development of the shareholdings", says Dommermuth.
In order to remain successful in future, extensive investments in the expansion of the United Internet network are planned. A total of five shareholdings will be floated on the stock market this year, or - like Jobs & Adverts - already have their successful flotation behind them. The flotations of AdLINK and GMX are planned for the current quarter.
The next step for United Internet is the consistent Europeanisation of the entire company. Some shareholdings, such as GMX, Jobs & Adverts, AdLINK, 1&1 Internet AG and twenty4help, are already European top players. The management holding company will now follow them. During this year, branch offices will open in the main European Internet markets. Great Britain (London), France (Paris) and Scandinavia (Stockholm). The united Internet offices will support the shareholdings in the internationalisation of their services, and create synergy effects.
The United Internet AG is Europe's leading alliance of Internet companies. The management holding, which is listed on Frankfurt's Neuer Markt, encompasses 17 innovative firms, such as AdLINK, GMX, 1&1 Internet, twenty4help, gatrixx and Jobs & Adverts. All these enterprises make use of the outstanding cooperative potential and synergetic effects which the United Internet network offers them.
Contact:
Burkhard Böndel Brodeur Kohtes & Klewes Phone: +49 211/38640-125
Fax: +49 211/38640-300 Email: bboendel@de.brodeur.com
Matthias Riess United Internet AG Phone: +49 2602/96-1076 Fax: +49
2602/96-1013 Email: mriess@united-internet.de
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Original-Content von: United Internet AG, übermittelt durch news aktuell