DGAP-News: United Internet AG / Key word(s): Mergers & Acquisitions 
United Internet supports the implementation of Tele Columbus's Fiber 
Champion strategy and welcomes the takeover offer of Morgan Stanley 
Infrastructure Partners 
 
2020-12-21 / 07:31 
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. 
 
*- Voluntary public takeover offer for* *Tele Columbus by bidding company of 
Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners * 
 
*- On success of takeover offer - United Internet to contribute minority 
stake in Tele Columbus to bidding company and to acquire a minority interest 
in bidding company* 
 
*- Preliminary wholesale agreement for broadband lines signed with 1&1 
Drillisch * 
 
*Montabaur, December 21, 2020.* As an anchor shareholder in Tele Columbus 
AG, United Internet AG has announced that, together with Morgan Stanley 
Infrastructure Partners, it will provide sustained support for the 
implementation of Tele Columbus's Fiber Champion strategy. With this 
strategy, Tele Columbus plans to play a major role in driving the expansion 
of Germany's fiber infrastructure. At present, 2.4 million households are 
connected to the broadband network of Tele Columbus; by 2030, around 2.0 
million of these households are to be supplied with gigabit bandwidths via 
fiber optic networks. 
 
To this end, Tele Columbus AG has gained Morgan Stanley Infrastructure 
Partners as an infrastructure investor with a long-term perspective. UNA 
422. Equity Management GmbH, a bidding company which will trade in future as 
Kublai GmbH and behind which is Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners, 
today announced a voluntary public takeover offer of EUR 3.25 per Tele 
Columbus share. 
 
If the takeover offer is successful, United Internet will contribute its 
stake in Tele Columbus of around 29.9 percent to the bidding company. In 
return, United Internet will receive a shareholding in the bidding company. 
In addition, the bidding company has committed to subscribe for new shares 
worth up to EUR 475 million in the event of a rights offering to be adopted 
by Tele Columbus. On conclusion of the takeover offer, United Internet will 
participate in the capital increase with an amount in the range of EUR 142 
to EUR 190 million. Following successful completion of the transaction, 
United Internet can increase its stake in the bidding company at its own 
discretion so that it has an indirect shareholding in Tele Columbus of 
between 29.9% and 40%. 
 
Moreover, the bidding company has announced that it is prepared to provide 
further equity of up to EUR 75 million in the future for the implementation 
of the Fiber Champion strategy. United Internet will also participate on a 
pro rata basis. Part of Tele Columbus's Fiber Champion strategy is also to 
open up its broadband network for cooperation partners. In the wake of this 
move, 1&1 Drillisch AG - a member of the United Internet Group - has signed 
a binding preliminary agreement with Tele Columbus to use the latter's 
cable/fiber optic network as a pre-service for its broadband products. The 
preliminary agreement is subject to the successful conclusion of the 
takeover offer. 
 
Ralph Dommermuth, CEO of United Internet AG, welcomes the move to secure the 
long-term financing of Tele Columbus and accelerate its fiber expansion: "As 
the anchor shareholder, we have a strong interest in a sustainable solution 
which will create a solid capital structure for Tele Columbus. This will 
secure our strategic investment in the company and enable a long-term growth 
strategy. We are delighted that Tele Columbus has found a strong partner in 
Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners." He added: "For shareholders, the 
takeover offer presents an excellent opportunity to sell their shares at an 
attractive price - particularly in view of the fact that Tele Columbus has 
just left the SDAX." 
 
United Internet's participation in the bidding company is subject to 
conclusion of the takeover offer, which in turn depends on various 
conditions, including approval by the relevant supervisory authorities. 
 
*About United Internet * 
With over 25 million fee-based customer contracts and around 39 million 
ad-financed free accounts, United Internet AG is a leading European internet 
specialist. At the heart of United Internet is a high-performance "Internet 
Factory" with approx. 9,550 employees, of which around 3,000 are engaged in 
product management, development, and data centers. In addition to the high 
sales strength of its established brands (such as 1&1, GMX, WEB.DE, IONOS, 
STRATO, 1&1 Versatel, and the brands of Drillisch Online), United Internet 
stands for outstanding operational excellence with over 64 million customer 
accounts worldwide. 
 
*Contact partner* 
United Internet AG 
Mathias Brandes 
Phone +49 2602 96-1616 
presse@united-internet.de 
 
*Note* 
In the interests of clear and transparent reporting, the annual financial 
statements and interim statements of United Internet AG, as well as its 
ad-hoc announcements pursuant to Art. 17 MAR, contain additional financial 
performance indicators to those required under International Financial 
Reporting Standards (IFRS), such as EBITDA, EBITDA margin, EBIT, EBIT 
margin, and free cash flow. Information on the use, definition and 
calculation of these performance measures is provided in the Annual Report 
2019 of United Internet AG from page 49 onwards. 
 
2020-12-21 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a 
service of EQS Group AG. 
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. 
 
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Language:    English 
Company:     United Internet AG 
             Elgendorfer Straße 57 
             56410 Montabaur 
             Germany 
Phone:       +49 (0)2602 / 96 - 1100 
Fax:         +49 (0)2602 / 96 - 1013 
E-mail:      info@united-internet.de 
Internet:    www.united-internet.de 
ISIN:        DE0005089031 
WKN:         508903 
Indices:     MDAX, TecDAX 
Listed:      Regulated Market in Berlin, Frankfurt (Prime Standard); 
             Regulated Unofficial Market in Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Hanover, 
             Munich, Stuttgart, Tradegate Exchange 
EQS News ID: 1156522 
 
End of News DGAP News Service 
 
1156522 2020-12-21 
 
 

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

December 21, 2020 01:32 ET (06:32 GMT)