Corporate | 29 April 2005 12:20

United Internet enters sports sponsorship

Corporate-news transmitted by DGAP. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. —————————————————————————— Press release United Internet enters sports sponsorship “United Internet Team Germany” registered for America”s Cup First German yacht in the world”s most important sailing regatta Montabaur, April 29, 2005. United Internet AG is to take its first step into sports sponsorship as the main sponsor of the “United Internet Team Germany” yacht (formerly: FRESH SEVENTEEN) for the America”s Cup 2007. “United Internet Team Germany” will be skippered at the America”s Cup 2007 by two-times Olympic gold medalist and experienced AC skipper Jesper Bank. For the first time since its start in 1851, the world”s most prestigious sailing event will be taking place in Europe again. In April 2007, the world”s best crews will challenge the winning boat of 2003, the Swiss yacht “Alinghi”, off the coast of Valencia. Among the challengers will also be the “United Internet Team Germany” – the first German yacht to take part since the regatta first began. The necessary declaration was handed in to the Société Nautique de Genève, the club of the defending champion, by the German Challenger Yacht Club, Munich. “We are very happy to be able to support the first German America”s Cup challenger and to give the team its name as main sponsor,” says Ralph Dommermuth, CEO of United Internet AG. “For us, it is a unique opportunity to be involved in the most important sporting event of 2007 – together with the Tour de France. The America”s Cup and the qualification process, in the form of pre-regattas and the Louis Vuitton Cup, will generate considerable interest and media coverage from 2005 to 2007 in Germany, Europe and the rest of the world. The German TV stations “ARD” and “ZDF” have already acquired extensive broadcasting rights. Global press reports and TV broadcasts of the world”s fourth most important sporting event will ensure that United Internet and its brands receive extensive media coverage in all target markets.” “As a high-tech sport, sailing fits perfectly to our internet business. The target groups are also pretty much identical. The 8-million strong sailing community already displays a high affinity for the internet and its interactive applications. With the broad coverage given to the America”s Cup, we expect to generate further interest for both sailing and our business. Our internet portals 1&1 and GMX will be devoting extensive space to the event and providing exclusive reports. This will help demonstrate the potential, high performance and reach of our portals. Furthermore, it will enable us to generate significant advertising revenues,” adds Dommermuth. United Internet will provide a significant amount for the project from its existing advertising budget over the coming years. Further information: http://www.united-internet-team-germany.com With over 3.5 million customer contracts, United Internet AG is one of Europe”s leading Internet Service Providers (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, 1&1 and Schlund+Partner. In addition to its “Product” business, the Group is also engaged in “Outsourcing” (via the brands InterNetX and twenty4help) as well as “Online Marketing” (via the brands AdLINK, Sedo and affilinet). Contact partner: Marcus Schaps United Internet AG Press spokesman Phone: +49 2602/96-1076 Fax: +49 2602/96-1013 E-mail: mschaps@united-internet.de End of announcement (c)DGAP 29.04.2005 —————————————————————————— WKN: 508903; ISIN: DE0005089031; Index: TecDAX Listed: Geregelter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin- Bremen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover, München und Stuttgart 291220 Apr 05