3U Holding AG — Earnings Release 2009

Aug 26, 2009

News Details

Corporate | 26 August 2009 08:00

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

3U HOLDING AG / Quarter Results

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

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• 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. EUR as expected compared with
the year before (52.9 Mil. EUR). 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. EUR in
the first six months of 2009 topped EBITDA of the respective comparison
period of the year before (5.5 Mil. EUR) by 18.8%. Earnings improved
compared with the corresponding period of the year before by 0.4 Mil. EUR
to 0.3 Mil. EUR during the first six months in 2009. As a result earnings
per share are reported at 0.01 EUR.

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. EUR was 3.0 Mil. EUR 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. EUR at 31 December 2008 to 32.2
Mil. EUR at 30 June 2009. Compared to 31 March 2009 this represents an
increase of 1.2 Mil. EUR.

After a positive second quarter for the fixed line telephony segment the
EBITDA forecast for this segment is raised by over 3 Mil. EUR for the
second time this year to 7-9 Mil. EUR. As a result the 3U Group expects
sales of around 96 Mil. EUR and EBITDA of 12-14 Mil. EUR 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
Neue Kasseler Straße 62 F
D-35039 Marburg
Tel.: + 49 (0)6421 999-1200
Fax: + 49 (0)6421 999-1222
Email: IR@3U.net
www.3u.net

26.08.2009 Financial News transmitted by DGAP

Language: English
Issuer: 3U HOLDING AG
Neue Kasseler Str. 62 F
35039 Marburg
Deutschland
Phone: +49 (0)6421/999-1200
Fax: +49 (0)6421/999-1222
E-mail: IR@3U.net
Internet: www.3u.net
ISIN: DE0005167902
WKN: 516790
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr
in Berlin, München, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart, Hamburg

End of News DGAP News-Service

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