3U HOLDING AG can further increase EBITDA, profit and cash flow in the first nine months 2009

  • Operative cash flow significantly increased
  • Organic growth fostered
  • Cost savings decided

Marburg, 25 November 2009 – The 3U HOLDING AG was able to significantly improve profits over the past nine months. Given Group sales that decreased from EUR 80.6 m to EUR 70.8 m due to the expected decline in the fixed-line telephony segment, Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortisation (EBITDA) as well as net profit for the period increased significantly.

At EUR 10.7 m, EBITDA of the reporting period was 26.3 % higher than EBITDA of the first nine months 2008 (EUR 8.5 m). The result improved by EUR 4.1 m to EUR 1.1 m in the first nine months 2009, compared to the respective period last year. Earnings in the third quarter 2008 included the special item of backlog depreciations and amortisations in the broadband/IP segment. Earnings per share are reported at EUR 0.02 for the current business year.

The 3U HOLDING AG continues to show a very solid equity ratio. This ratio continuously changed for the better and was at 49.3% on 30 September 2009 – after being at 44.9 % on 31 December 2008.

Operating cash flow was increased by 88.3% and was, at EUR 6.6 m in the first three quarters 2009, EUR 3.5 m higher than in the same period last year.

The Groups’ liquid assets decreased from EUR 35.5 m on 31 December 2008 to EUR 31.1 m on 30 September 2009 due to redemption payment for loan and lease liabilities of LambdaNet, the repurchase of own stock, prepaid network rentals as well as investments into the new Groups’ Headquarters.

Despite the overall positive development of the Group there continues to be a divergent development within the two core segments. While the corporations in the fixed-line telephony segment hold their grounds within their market niches successfully through innovative products and newly founded affiliates, the results in the broadband/IP segment continue to disappoint. Taking the difficult market conditions into consideration, LambdaNet’s management has planned a far-reaching package of measures for a reversal of trend that also includes personnel adjustments. The implementation of this package was started with urgency in the current quarter and should lay the groundwork for a getting LambdaNet profitable in short time.

The activities in the Renewable Energies sector are continuously expanded. Besides the progress made with regards to the construction of the new Group Headquarters that is equipped with progressive technology, in which the concept of “Solar Heating Power Plant” (“Solarheizkraftwerk, SHKW”) is implemented for the first time, a further business venture, the 3U SOLAR Systemhandel AG, was entered into in the current fourth quarter 2009 that will be operating as of the first quarter 2010 at the latest.

In the scope of our continuous screening of investment inquiries, an opportunity occurred to acquire a minority stake in an attractive business venture that was opportunistically entered into in the current fourth quarter. “It would be negligent not to consider attractive investment opportunities outside of our investment focus,” explains CFO Oliver Zimmermann. “With our financial means we are capable to grab opportunities at any time and to therefore pave the way for future profitable growth of our Corporation. Hence we are confident that the positive trend of earnings increases will continue in the future”, adds fellow executive board member Michael Schmidt.

 

Contact:
Peter Alex

Head of Investor Relations
3U HOLDING AG

Frauenbergstraße 31–33
35039 Marburg

Tel.: +49 6421 999-1200
Fax: +49 6421 999-1222
E-Mail: ir@3u.net

3U HOLDING AG in the first half-year with increase of EBITDA, result and Cash flow

  • Operating Cash flow strongly increased
  •  EBITDA forecast significantly raised
  •  Important investment in own Group headquarters

Marburg, 26 August 2009 – Group sales decreased during the first six months of the current business year with 48.4 Mil. € as expected compared with the year before (52.9 Mil. €). The segment fixed line telephony could not avoid the influence of the shrinking call-by-call-market. The segment broad band/IP showed a moderate sales growth in contrast.

Earnings before interest, taxes and write-offs (EBITDA) as well as the net earnings for the period were clearly improved. EBITDA of 6.6 Mil. € in the first six months of 2009 topped EBITDA of the respective comparison period of the year before (5.5 Mil. €) by 18.8%. Earnings improved compared with the corresponding period of the year before by 0.4 Mil. € to 0.3 Mil. € during the first six months in 2009. As a result earnings per share are reported at 0.01 €.

Balance sheet ratios remained highly robust. The equity ratio is now 46.5% as opposed to 44. 9% at 31 December 2008.

Operating cash flow of 4.8 Mil. € was 3.0 Mil. € higher than the first half year 2008.

Due to capital repayments on LambdaNet loans and lease obligations, own-share buy-backs and pre-paid network leases, Group cash and cash-equivalents ended down from 35.5 Mil. € at 31 December 2008 to 32.2 Mil. € at 30 June 2009. Compared to 31 March 2009 this represents an increase of 1.2 Mil. €.

After a positive second quarter for the fixed line telephony segment the EBITDA forecast for this segment is raised by over 3 Mil. € for the second time this year to 7-9 Mil. €. As a result the 3U Group expects sales of around 96 Mil. € and EBITDA of 12-14 Mil. € for the current financial year.

3U HOLDING AG has for some time now identified the renewable energies segment as a business focal point. One particularly promising area thereby is realisation of solar-thermal power plant projects.

Against that background the company has grasped a financially very attractive opportunity to acquire an inexpensive site in Marburg. A new group headquarters building will be constructed there, whereby implementing the concept of solar-thermal power plants (STPP).

The STPP concept entails efficient transformation of solar energy directly into heat and electrical energy. Such a reference project is quasi a conditio sine qua non for a successful bid for a municipal STPP project. The company also plans to build testing and trialling facilities in the area of renewable energies on the site.

Because of the planned low-energy construction method, it will be possible to reduce energy consumption drastically. This will mean not only cost savings for 3U – especially with regard to the uncertainty surrounding future energy costs – but will also be reflected positively in the company’s carbon balance sheet.

The site also offers very flexible options in terms of its use, which will be very helpful in developing new business segments in the area of renewable energies.

“That this investment is also profitable goes without saying. Because of the extremely attractive purchase price and the currently very favourable interest rates, the new corporate headquarters of the 3U Group will be a very attractive investment”, explains Chief Financial Officer Oliver Zimmermann. “With the construction of the new building, associated with implementation of the solar-thermal power plant concept, we are taking a decisive step in demonstrating our competence in the renewable energies field and can combine our strategic interests perfectly with our financial interests,” adds fellow executive board member Michael Schmidt.

 

Contact:
Peter Alex

Head of Investor Relations
3U HOLDING AG

Frauenbergstraße 31–33
35039 Marburg

Tel.: +49 6421 999-1200
Fax: +49 6421 999-1222
E-Mail: ir@3u.net

Good start to the year at 3U HOLDING AG

Marburg, 26th May 2009 – As expected, Group sales in the first three months of the current financial year fell by € 1.28 million to € 24.77 million against the same period last year (€ 26.02 million). The shrinking market brought a fall in fixed-line telephony revenue which was unable to be compensated for by the rise in broadband/IP sales. Profit figures, however, were up significantly over the same period. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of € 3.06 million were € 0.74 million up on the same period last year (€ 2.32 million), and significant growth was also seen in earnings before tax (EBT) and final net profit for the period, with EBT at € 0.49 million (€ -0.33 million) and final net profit for the year at € 0.13 million (€ -0.42 million). This equates to earnings per share of € 0.002.

Balance sheet ratios remained highly robust. The equity ratio is now 45.93% as opposed to 44.89% at 31st December 2008. Operating cash flow of € 1.00 million was € 2.39 million higher than the same period last year. Due to capital repayments on LambdaNet loans and lease obligations, own-share buy-backs and pre-paid network leases, Group cash and cash-equivalents ended the quarter down from € 35.47 million at 31st December 2008 to € 30.99 million at 31st March 2009.

The planned growth in our corporate investment portfolio has not yet yielded any visible success. “Nevertheless, our sceptical response to the business plans submitted by companies looking to acquire capital and our reticence in committing fresh investment funds have paid off”, explains CFO Oliver Zimmermann. “Any investment made in 2008 would have lost value by now. Having said that, we’ve now intensified our efforts to increase our deal-flow and stimulate a growing number of enquiries from attractive businesses. Right now, none of these businesses has been able to meet all of our detailed requirements, but it’s just a matter of time”, adds fellow CTO Michael Schmidt.

 

Contact:
Peter Alex

Head of Investor Relations
3U HOLDING AG

Frauenbergstraße 31–33
35039 Marburg

Tel.: +49 6421 999-1200
Fax: +49 6421 999-1222
E-Mail: ir@3u.net

Publication of Annual Report 2008

Dear Shareholders,

Despite the global financial crisis and the worldwide recession now setting in we stood our ground in the elapsed financial year. Even if we could not attain all our goals, we can nonetheless be satisfied with the progress achieved in the front-line business and in organizational implementation of our growth strategy.

 

Contact:
Peter Alex

Head of Investor Relations
3U HOLDING AG

Frauenbergstraße 31–33
35039 Marburg

Tel.: +49 6421 999-1200
Fax: +49 6421 999-1222
E-Mail: ir@3u.net

Correction: Publication according to § 26 paragraph. 1 WpHG with the objective of Europe-wide distribution

3U HOLDING AG / Correction: Release of an announcement according to Article 26 Section 1 Sentence 2 of the WpHG (Own shares)

Release of a Voting Rights announcement, transmitted by DGAP – a company of EquityStory AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

This is a correction of the publication of February 25, 2009. On February 25, 2009 , 3U HOLDING AG informes according to Article 26, Section 1 Sentence 2 that its Voting Rights on 3U HOLDING AG, Marburg, Deutschland,

ISIN: DE0005167902, WKN: 516790, have exceeded the 3% and 5% limit of the Voting Rights on February 25, 2009 on that day amounted to 6.93% (this corresponds to 3244714 Voting Rights).

Publication according to § 26 paragraph. 1 WpHG with the objective of Europe-wide distribution

Release of a Voting Rights announcement, transmitted by DGAP – a company of EquityStory AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

On February 25, 2009 , 3U HOLDING AG informes according to Article 26, Section 1 Sentence 2 that its Voting Rights on 3U HOLDING AG, Marburg, Deutschland, ISIN: DE0005167902, WKN: 516790, have exceeded the 3% and 5% limit of the Voting Rights on February 25, 2009 and now amount to 6.93 %

(this corresponds to 3244714 Voting Rights).

Ad hoc disclosure in accordance with §15 WpHG: Public buyback offer successfully concluded

Marburg, 25 February 2009. Within the offering period of the public share buyback offer, which ran until 20 February 2009, 12:00 am, 3U HOLDING AG was offered 2,398,573 shares. The offer concerned a total of up to 3,838,083 shares of the Company. This corresponds to an acceptance ratio of 100 %. The 2,398,573 shares correspond to a share of 5.12 % in the nominal capital of the Company.

846,141 shares were acquired in the scope of the share buyback program executed through the stock exchange until 6 February 2009. In total 3U HOLDING AG holds now 3,244,714 own shares, which corresponds to a stake of 6.93 % in the equity of the Company.

Ad hoc disclosure in accordance with §15 WpHG: 3U HOLDING AG – Public buyback offer for 3,838,083 of its own shares

Marburg, February 7, 2009 – The Executive Board of 3U HOLDING AG (ISIN DE0005167902) in agreement with the Supervisory Board has decided today to stop the share buyback program executed through the stock exchange and submit a public buyback offer under German law for up to 3,838,083 shares of 3U HOLDING AG with an offering price of EUR 0.45 per share.

The offering period is to commence on Monday, February 9, 2009 and end on February 20, 2009, 12h00 CET.

The offering document is to be published on February 9, 2009, in the electronic Bundesanzeiger (Federal Bulletin) and on the website of the company under http://www.3u.net