Ad-hoc | 21 September 2007 22:41
United Internet AG / Miscellaneous
Release of an Ad hoc announcement according to § 15 WpHG, transmitted by
DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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Ad hoc announcement acc. to Sec. 15 WpHG
United Internet makes strategic investment
Montabaur, September 21, 2007. United Internet AG will take a stake of 50%
in a newly established holding company; the remaining 50% of this holding
company will be owned by Drillisch AG. The holding company directly owns
approx. 6.01% of shares in freenet AG, Büdelsdorf. Furthermore, the holding
company indirectly has the right to acquire a further 18.49% of the freenet
shares.
In return for its stake in the holding company, United Internet will
contribute up to EUR 151.3 million in cash and in the form of a
shareholder’s loan to the holding company. The respective contracts between
United Internet AG and Drillisch AG were registered today. The stake of
United Internet AG in the holding company is subject to the usual clearing
by the antitrust authorities. The participation agreement provides for put-
and call options, rights of first refusal and preemption rights for the
parties and, until occurrence of the conditions precedent, a right of
withdrawal for each party.
Both shareholders of the holding company want to keep all options open
regarding changes in ownership within the holding company and in its stake
in freenet, and in particular to increase its stake in freenet AG or
possibly take over freenet AG completely. With this investment United
Internet is pursuing a strategic positioning on the German DSL market,
which is currently in the midst of consolidation. The move was prompted by
the new strategy of freenet’s management board to separate the company’s
Mobile Telephony and Fixed Line/Internet business segments.
Marcus Schaps
Press spokesman United Internet AG
United Internet AG
Elgendorfer Strasse 57
56410 Montabaur
Germany
Tel: +49 2602/96-1076
Fax: +49 2602/96-1013
E-mail: mschaps@united-internet.de
Internet: www.united-internet.de
21.09.2007 Financial News transmitted by DGAP
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Language: English
Issuer: United Internet AG
Elgendorfer Straße 57
56410 Montabaur
Deutschland
Phone: +49 (0)260 296-1631
Fax: +49 (0)260 296-1013
E-mail: Investor-Relations@United-Internet.de
Internet: www.United-Internet.de
ISIN: DE0005089031
WKN: 508903
Indices: TecDAX
Listed: Geregelter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr
in Berlin, Stuttgart, München, Hamburg, Düsseldorf
End of News DGAP News-Service
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