EANS-Adhoc: United Internet with strong 3rd quarter 2009: EBITDA +21.5%, EBIT +26.0% - Forecast upgraded once again
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03.11.2009
United Internet with strong 3rd quarter 2009: EBITDA +21.5%, EBIT +26.0%
Forecast upgraded once again
Montabaur, November 3, 2009. The Management Board of United Internet AG (ISIN DE0005089031) today announced the Group´s results according to IFRS for the 3rd quarter of 2009. The Group once again succeeded in significantly raising all key operating figures in comparison with the prior-year period.
3rd quarter 2009 In the 3rd quarter of 2009, consolidated sales of United Internet AG grew by 4.4% over the same quarter last year, from EUR 391.7 million (comparable prior- year figure after sale and deconsolidation of the AdLINK Display Marketing business in the 3rd quarter of 2009) to EUR 409.1 million. Ordinary earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) improved by 21.5%, from EUR 78.5 million (comparable prior-year figure) to EUR 95.4 million. Ordinary earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) grew by 26.0% from EUR 65.1 million (comparable prior-year figure) to EUR 82.0 million. Including non-recurring income of EUR 50.2 million from the sale of directly held freenet shares, EBITDA rose to EUR 145.6 million and EBIT to EUR 132.2 million. Earnings per share (EPS) improved from EUR -0.45 last year (including EUR -0.63 from write-downs) to EUR 0.43. This amount includes EUR 0.19 from positive non- recurring income on balance of EUR 45.2 million (sale of freenet shares, write- ups of the MSP holding and write-downs especially for the Versatel shares) as well as EUR 0.03 from discontinued operations.
|Group |3rd quarter |3rd quarter |Change | |Quarterly comparison (in EUR |2008* |2009 | | |millions) | | | | |Sales |391.7 |409.1 |4.4% | |EBITDA |78.5 |95.4 |21.5% | |EBITDA incl. one-off income |78.5 |145.6 |85.5% | |EBIT |65.1 |82.0 |26.0% | |EBIT incl. one-off income |65.1 |132.2 |103.1% |
* Prior-year figures adjusted after sale and deconsolidation of the AdLINK Display Marketing business
First 9 months of 2009 In the first nine months of 2009, consolidated sales of United Internet AG grew by 5.1% over the same period last year, from EUR 1,165.2 million to EUR 1,224.8 million. Ordinary earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) improved by 8.1%, from EUR 248.9 million (comparable prior-year figure) to EUR 269.1 million. Ordinary earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) grew by 9.4% from EUR 209.8 million (comparable prior-year figure) to EUR 229.6 million. Including non-recurring income of EUR 50.2 million from the sale of directly held freenet shares, EBITDA rose to EUR 319.3 million and EBIT to EUR 279.8 million. Earnings per share (EPS) improved from EUR -0.06 last year (including EUR -0.63 from write-downs) to EUR 0.79. This amount includes EUR 0.19 from positive non-recurring income on balance of EUR 45.2 million (sale of freenet shares, write-ups of the MSP holding and write-downs especially for the Versatel shares) as well as EUR 0.03 from discontinued operations.
|Group |Jan.-Sept. |Jan.-Sept. |Change | |9-month comparison (in EUR |2008* |2009 | | |millions) | | | | |Sales |1,165.2 |1,224.8 |5.1% | |EBITDA |248.9 |269.1 |8.1% | |EBITDA incl. one-off income |248.9 |319.3 |28.3% | |EBIT |209.8 |229.6 |9.4% | |EBIT incl. one-off income |209.8 |279.8 |33.4% |
* Prior-year figures adjusted after sale and deconsolidation of the AdLINK Display Marketing business
Including approx. 700,000 freenet DSL contracts, the number of fee-based customer contracts grew to 9.17 million as of September 30, 2009. The technical migration of freenet customers is expected to be fully completed on schedule next month.
|Customer contracts |Dec. 31, |June 30, |Sept. 30, | |in millions |2008 |2009 |2009 | |Information Management |1.36 |1.46 |1.52 | |Webhosting |3.62 |3.96 |4.05 | |- of which abroad |1.93 |2.07 |2.14 | |Internet Access* |2.97 |3.63 |3.60 | |- of which DSL* |2.82 |3.47 |3.44 | | - of which all-inclusive DSL |0.78 |1.58 |1.70 | |packages | | | | | - of which resale-DSL / T-DSL |2.04 |1.89 |1.74 | |Total * |7.95 |9.05 |9.17 |
* Including freenet DSL
Outlook United Internet expects further contract growth in the product lines Information Management and Webhosting in the 4th quarter. In its DSL business, the turnaround will continue - after a decline of 50,000 contracts in the 2nd quarter and 30,000 in the 3rd quarter, the company expects a further improvement also in the 4th quarter.
Due to its healthy business development, United Internet AG has raised its earnings forecasts for 2009 once again. After the company´s Management Board already raised its growth forecast for EBITDA and EBIT to 5% on the
announcement of its half-year figures, an increase of approx. 8% over the comparable prior-year figures is now expected for EBITDA and EBIT.
The 9-month report of United Internet AG will be published on November 12, 2009.
Further inquiry note:
Marcus Schaps
Head of Press and Public Relations
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
Branche: Telecommunications Services
ISIN: DE0005089031
WKN: 508903
Index: Midcap Market Index, TecDAX, CDAX, HDAX, Prime All Share,
Technologie All Share
Börsen: Frankfurt / regulated dealing/prime standard
Berlin / free trade
Hamburg / free trade
Stuttgart / free trade
Düsseldorf / free trade
Hannover / free trade
München / free trade