Ad-hoc | 26 May 2000 08:53

Ad hoc-Service: United Internet AG English

Ad hoc-announcement edited and send by DGAP. The sender is responsible for the contents of this announcement. —————————————————————————— United Internet founds European portal for online car trading WebAuto merges with new European auto exchange Car4you Montabaur, May 26, 2000. Together with PubliGroupe SA (Switzerland) and Eurotax Holding AG (Switzerland) as service partner. United Internet AG has founded a European portal for online car trading called Car4you. United Internet and PubliGroupe each hold 45 percent in the joint venture, the remaining 10 percent being held by Eurotax. The new Car4you brand incorporates German car exchange WebAuto and Swiss market leader Autoweb, together with its Austrian offshoot. The company plans to expand quickly on the European market. A Spanish subsidiary is due to start business within the next few days . “The company’s presence on four European markets, the strength of its three shareholders and a car exchange concept which has been successfully positioned on various national markets for the last three years, will immediately make Car4you one of the leading players in web-based car trading”, explains Ralph Dommermuth, Board member of United Internet AG. The move will greatly strengthen United Internet’s standing in the strategically important “virtual market” segment. With over 4,000 participating dealers and more than 140,000 cars, Car4you will be one of Europe’s leading online car traders right from the very start. “This strong market position will give Car4you a realistic chance of establishing itself as a top European player when the Internet market begins to consolidate”, says Dommermuth. Car4you aims to provide car dealers with tailored solutions for using the Internet as a cheap and efficient sales channel. In addition, Car4you offers a variety of software modules for manufacturers and importers, so that they can include important dealer stock information on their own Internet pages – enhancing the efficiency of both new and used car sales. Car4you will also appeal to insurers, financial service companies and publishers, who can use the site as a platform for contacting potential customers. “This will create one of the most efficient car trading portals currently on the Internet”, states Dommermuth. Car4you is not a seller of cars, but an attractive and highly frequented platform for interested dealers, which end users can use to search for their dream car. With its comprehensive and clearly structured car data, Eurotax is a guarantee for quality and ensures that every customer finds his ideal car within seconds. United Internet AG is Europe’s leading network of Internet companies. The stock-exchange listed management holding comprises 18 innovative companies – such as AdLINK, GMX, l&l Internet, twenty4help, gatrixx and Jobs & Adverts. They all utilize the cooperation possibilities and synergies which the United Internet network provides. With a total of 2,000 employees, the United Internet companies are expected to post sales of around 500 million DEM in 2000. PubliGroupe is active in promoting and selling press and online advertising space. PubliGroupe comprises around 60 companies operating in 21 countries which generate sales of around 1.5 billion Euro. PubliGroupe holds majority interests in companies such as RealMedia Inc. (banner advertising) and Namics (web publishing). With 400 employees in 25 nations, Eurotax is the leading supplier of market information, data and systems concerned with mobility. The company provides a host of important and practical information for companies in the automotive sector. An important part of the company’s business concentrates exclusively on developments on the Internet, where more and more information for end consumers is being placed. Contact partners for the press: Marcus Schaps United Internet AG Phone: +49 2602/96-1076 Fax: +49 2602/96-1013 E-mail: mschaps@united-internet.de Burkhard Böndel Brodeur Kohtes & Klewes Phone: +49 211/38640-0 Fax: +49 211/38640-200 E-mail: bboendel@de.brodeur.com End of Message