Ad-hoc | 9 August 2005 20:12
Financing of the extensive alliance between United Internet AG and WEB.DE AG
Ad hoc announcement §15 WpHG
Mergers & Aquisitions
Financing of the extensive alliance between United Internet AG and WEB.DE AG
Ad hoc announcement transmitted by DGAP.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
——————————————————————————
Ad hoc announcement acc. to § 15 WpHG
Financing of the extensive alliance between United Internet AG and WEB.DE AG
Montabaur, August 9, 2005. The Executive Board and Supervisory Board of United
Internet AG (ISIN: DE 000 508 903 1), Elgendorfer Strasse 57, 56410
Montabaur, Germany, have today formulated resolutions concerning the financing
of the extensive alliance between the United Internet Group and WEB.DE AG
(ISIN: DE 000 529 650 3), Karlsruhe, Germany. As stated in the ad hoc
announcement of May 13, 2005, United Internet AG and its affiliated companies
on the one hand and WEB.DE AG on the other have concluded contracts concerning
a comprehensive alliance. According to the terms of this contract, WEB.DE AG
is to transfer its Internet Portal business segment with all employees,
technologies, assets as well as trademarks and licenses to the United Internet
Group. In return, WEB.DE AG is to receive mainly a cash sum of EUR 200
million plus 5.8 million United Internet AG shares. Under certain conditions
WEB.DE AG may receive 2 million shares and a cash amount of EUR 100 million
instead of the 5.8 million shares. In this case, the total compensation amount
would consist of a cash payment of EUR 300 million and the transfer of 2
million shares.
In order to finance the cash payment, the Supervisory Board of United Internet
AG today approved the decision of the Executive Board to use the company’s
own funds amounting to approx. EUR 100 million and to commission BayernLB and
WestLB AG to arrange a credit consortium for a Euro-loan of up to EUR 200
million. BayernLB and WestLB AG have each given United Internet AG an
underwriting commitment for EUR 100 million. Should total compensation include
a cash amount of EUR 300 million, there would thus also be sufficient cash
funds available. With regard to the provision of 5.8 million shares in United
Internet AG to WEB.DE AG, the Supervisory Board has approved the decision of
the Executive Board to raise the company’s capital stock by an amount of EUR
3,800,000 from EUR 58,127,637 to EUR 61,927,637, using Authorized Capital
2005, by issuing 3.8 million new no-par registered shares in return for non-
cash contribution and under exclusion of subscription rights. WEB.DE AG is to
receive a further 2 million shares in United Internet AG from the company’s
stock of treasury shares. Should compensation consist of EUR 300 million in
cash and 2 million shares, the capital increase will not be carried out and 2
million shares from the company’s stock of treasury shares will be transferred
to WEB.DE AG.
Approval for the deal has already been granted by the Supervisory Boards of
both companies as well as by the respective antitrust authorities. The annual
shareholders meeting of WEB.DE AG adopted the necessary resolutions with a
majority of 99%. The transaction, including the capital increase, is expected
to be completed during the course of 2005.
Marcus Schaps
Press spokesman United Internet AG
United Internet AG
Elgendorferstrasse 57
56410 Montabaur
Germany
Phone: +49 2602/96-1076
Mobile: +49 173/5112703
Fax: +49 2602/96-1013
E-mail: mschaps@united-internet.de
Internet: http://www.united-internet.de
United Internet AG
Elgendorfer Straße 57
56410 Montabaur
Deutschland
ISIN: DE0005089031 (TecDAX)
WKN: 508903
Listed: Geregelter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin-
Bremen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover, München und Stuttgart
End of ad hoc announcement (c)DGAP 09.08.2005
092012 Aug 05