United Internet AG / Key word(s): Investment 15.08.2014 19:02 Dissemination of an Ad hoc announcement according to § 15 WpHG, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Montabaur, August 15, 2014. United Internet AG ("United Internet") is investing - via its subsidiary United Internet Ventures AG - a total of EUR 435 million for a 10.7% stake in the company Rocket Internet AG, Berlin ("Rocket"). The investment will cement the long term strategic relationship between United Internet and Oliver Samwer, Rocket's Chief Executive Officer and co-founder. United Internet's investment consists of EUR 333 million in cash, and EUR 102 million represented by United Internet's equity participation in the portfolio of the Global Founders Capital funds ("Global Founders Capital"). Global Founders Capital is a portfolio of over 50 venture capital investments held jointly by United Internet and Global Founders Fund GmbH ("Global Founders Fund", formerly European Founders Fund GmbH), the personal investment vehicle of Oliver Samwer and his brothers. The portfolio includes minority stakes in companies such as games maker Goodgame Studios; online travel sites such as Traveloka and Travelbird; online marketplaces Yemek Sepeti and DaWanda; and financial technology companies Kreditech, Borro and SocietyOne. United Internet has been successfully investing in consumer Internet and technology businesses together with the Samwer brothers through Global Founders Capital since 2007. United Internet's investment will be in newly issued shares by Rocket, of the same class and bearing the same rights as shares held by current Rocket investors. Ralph Dommermuth, CEO of United Internet, will become a member of Rocket's nine-person Supervisory Board. Rocket Internet identifies and builds proven internet business models and transfers them to new, underserved or untapped markets where it seeks to scale them into market leading online companies. It aims to become the world's largest Internet platform outside of China and the United States. Rocket is focused on online business models that satisfy basic consumer needs across three sectors: e-Commerce, marketplaces and financial technology. Rocket started in 2007 and now has more than 20,000 employees across its network of companies, which operate in more than 100 countries on five continents. The company's target markets are located mainly in the emerging markets of Latin America, the Middle East, Africa and Asia, as well as in Russia. These markets are generally characterized by fast-growing smartphone penetration, younger populations then developed markets, newly evolving middle classes, and limited access to physical retail infrastructure. Following this investment, in addition to United Internet (10.7%), shares in Rocket Internet will be held by Investment AB Kinnevik (18.5%), Access Industries (8.5%), Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (8.6%) and the Global Founders Fund (53.7%). By contributing its shares in the investment funds to Rocket Internet, United Internet will recognize one-off, non-cash income of around EUR 70 million this year. Contact Maika-Alexander Stangenberg Head of Corporate Communications & Public Affairs United Internet AG Elgendorfer Strasse 57 56410 Montabaur Germany Tel: +49 2602/96-1076 Fax: +49 2602/96-1013 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.united-internet.de 15.08.2014 The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: [email protected] Internet: www.united-internet.de ISIN: DE0005089031 WKN: 508903 Indices: TecDAX Listed: Regulierter Markt in Berlin, Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover, München, Stuttgart End of Announcement DGAP News-Service ---------------------------------------------------------------------------