EANS-Adhoc: freenet AG
freenet Group announces preliminary figures
ad-hoc disclosure pursuant to section 15 of the WpHG transmitted by euro adhoc with the aim of a Europe-wide distribution. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
annual report
09.02.2010
Büdelsdorf, 09 February 2010 - Preliminary figures indicate that freenet AG generated Group revenue of 3,650.7 million euros in 2009, compared with 2,776.5 million euros in 2008. The Group´s gross profit for the past financial year came to 774.6 million euros, vs. 563.6 million euros the previous year.
Earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation/amortisation (EBITDA) came to 327.2 million euros compared with 172.1 million euros in 2008. The 2009 EBITDA figure includes negative one-off items in the amount of 66.2 million euros, of which 55.2 million euros pertain to the Mobile Communications segment. In 2008, the one-off items were incurred only in the Mobile Communications segment, and burdened EBITDA by 82.9 million euros.
The recurring EBITDA - adjusted for one-off items - for the past financial year was 393.4 million euros, compared with 255.0 million euros in 2008. The Mobile Communications segment accounted for 377.7 million euros of this figure (past financial year 206.9 million euros).
The Group result was 256.5 million euros vs. 111.6 million euros in 2008.
The Executive Board has decided to propose to the Supervisory Board the payment of a dividend in the amount of 0.20 euros per individual share certificate from retained earnings.
The DSL business and the STRATO Group, both sold during the financial year under review, and debitel Nederland B.V., which had already been sold in 2008, are shown in the Group figures as discontinued operations in accordance with IFRS 5. The discontinued operations contributed 239.9 million euros (-15.9 million euros in 2008) to the Group result, while the continued operations generated a Group result of 16.6 million euros (127.5 million euros in 2008) - one-off tax income was incurred in the past financial year in connection with the acquisition of the debitel Group.
The following should be noted in connection with the previous year comparison figures with respect to the consolidated financial statements published in 2008: firstly, the debitel Group, which was acquired in early July 2008, was not yet consolidated in freenet´s financial statements for the first half of 2008. Secondly, the comparable figures were adjusted in accordance with IFRS 5 to reflect the sale of the STRATO Group. In addition, there were retrospective reclassifications to be made within the income statement items relating to continued operations for 2008 due to the completed sale of the broadband business.
All figures are based on preliminary calculations prior to the final consolidation and completion of audit. Therefore, there may be deviations from the final financial figures, to be presented on 16 March.
end of announcement euro adhoc
Further inquiry note:
freenet AG
Investor Relations
Tel.: +49 (0)40 51306-778
E-Mail: ir@freenet.ag
Branche: Telecommunications
ISIN: DE000A0Z2ZZ5
WKN: A0Z2ZZ
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