Marburg, May 8, 2006. According to preliminary results, the 3U group recorded sales of 32.15 million EUR in the first quarter of the financial year 2006. This is an improvement of 5.47 million EUR or 20.5% compared to the corresponding prior-year period (26.68 million EUR). The 3U group realized a noticeable increase in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA). Due to reduced structural and network costs as well as further advanced productivity, the EBITDA of the group increased to 2.78 million EUR (first quarter 2005: 1.30 million EUR). The EBITDA margin of the group thus reached 8.6%. As a result of continuing amortization of 4.10 million EUR the group´s net loss amounts to -1.93 million EUR in the first quarter of 2006 (first quarter 2005: -5.14 million EUR). This corresponds with earnings per share of -0.04 EUR.
In the segment “fixed line telephony” the 3U group attained an increase in sales of 5.81 million EUR to 23.04 million EUR in the first quarter of 2006 (first quarter 2005: 17.23 million EUR). Despite a strong decline in prices to mobile network connections the 3U group expanded its market share in the core business “fixed line telephony” in the beginning of the year. EBITDA of this segment were at 0.38 million EUR, thus confirming the positive trend of the previous quarters (first quarter 2005: -0.52 million EUR).
Sales in the segment “broadband/IP” showed a solid development. In spite of a decline in prices for carrier services, which are usual in the market, sales rose to 9.11 million EUR in the first quarter of 2006 compared to the corresponding prior-year sales figure (8.95 million EUR). With an EBITDA of 2.40 million EUR, an increase of 31.9% compared to the corresponding prior-year period (1.82 million EUR) the EBITDA margin of the “broadband/IP” segment rose to 26.3%.
As of March 31, the group´s equity ratio of 35.9% was nearly constant in comparison to the previous quarter. Cash and cash equivalents were at 36.91 million EUR, and thus approximately at the same level of the preceding year (March 31, 2005: 37.66 million EUR), despite scheduled loan redemption and advance payments to Deutsche Telekom AG for interconnection costs.
The complete quarterly report will be published on May 15, 2006.
Contact:
3U TELECOM AG
Ulrich Wiehle
Tel.: +49 6421 999-1200
Fax: +49 6421 999-1111
ir@3u.net