Ad hoc announcement acc. to Sec. 15 WpHG: United Internet once again posts record figures, Earnings per share up 34.5%
Montabaur, August 12, 2008. The Management Board and Supervisory Board of United Internet AG today adopted the Group?s consolidated results according to IFRS for the first six months of 2008 ? earnings per share were up by 34.5%.
Consolidated sales of United Internet AG grew by 16.7% in the first half of 2008, from EUR 698.0 million (comparable prior-year figure) to EUR 814.4 million. Adjusted for currency fluctuations, sales growth amounted to 18.6%. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) grew by 20.9%, from EUR 142.1 million (comparable prior-year figure) to EUR 171.8 million. Due to the strategic investments in MSP Holding (freenet), Versatel and Drillisch, consolidated net income and earnings per share (EPS) were burdened by higher interest payments of around EUR 10 million and a negative net contribution to earnings from associated companies of EUR 10.2 million. Despite these negative effects, consolidated net income of the United Internet Group improved by 27.9%, from EUR 70.6 million (comparable prior-year figure) to EUR 90.3 million. Earnings per share (EPS) rose by 34.5% from EUR 0.29 (comparable prior-year figure) to EUR 0.39.
| Half-year comparison in EUR million (continued operations) | 1st half-year 2007* | 1st half-year 2008 | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales | 698.0 | 814.4 | 16.7% / 18.6% |
| EBITDA | 142.1 | 171.8 | 20.9% |
| Net income | 70.6 | 90.3 | 27.9% |
| EPS in EUR | 0.29 | 0.39 | 34.5% |
*Results without positive special item in Q2/07
| Quarter comparison in EUR million (continued operations) | 2nd quarter 2007* | 2nd quarter 2008 | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales | 361.1 | 412.4 | 14.2% / 16.2% |
| EBITDA | 78.7 | 88.6 | 12.6% |
| Net income | 39.7 | 45.2 | 13.9% |
| EPS in EUR | 0.16 | 0.20 | 25% |
*Results without positive special item in Q2/07
The number of fee-based customer contracts grew to 7.7 million as of June 30, 2008 (31.12.2007: 7.15 million). Of this total, the Information Management product line accounted for 1.30 million (31.12.2007: 1.21 million), the Webhosting business for 3.51 million (31.12.2007: 3.21 million), of which 1.82 million were outside Germany (31.12.2007: 1.55 million), and Internet Access for 2.89 million (31.12.2007: 2.73 million), of which 2.76 million were DSL contracts (31.12.2007: 2.59 million). Around 60,000 further DSL contracts were still being processed at the end of the first half-year.
| Customer contracts in million | 31.12.2007 | 31.03.2008 | 30.06.2008 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information Management | 1.21 | 1.24 | 1.30 |
| Webhosting | 3.21 | 3.31 | 3.51 |
| thereof abroad | 1.55 | 1.63 | 1.82 |
| Internet Access | 2.73 | 2.83 | 2.89 |
| thereof DSL* | 2.59 | 2.70 | 2.76 |
| Total | 7.15 | 7.38 | 7.70 |
*DSL contracts without prorated order backlog