Cologne/22 March 2007 – OnVista AG (DE0005461602) is acquiring Cologne based Ad2Net AG retroactively as at 1 January 2007. An appropriate contract of sale was signed today. The supervisory bodies of the two companies have already given their approval. Non-listed Ad2Net AG is one of the largest independent online advertising sales companies in Germany. The purchase price amounts to EUR 4.5 million, plus a performance related component, which is not payable until 2008.
For the OnVista Group, the acquisition of Ad2Net AG is a further step towards becoming a broadly based internet company. OnVista, up to now operator of its own portals financed through advertising and provider of performance marketing, began to market third party web sites in addition to its own in 2006. However, external marketing activities are still low key (currently four non-corporate web sites in the marketing portfolio; anticipated sales 2007 in the lower six digit region). With this acquisition, the OnVista Group is accelerating its entry into this lucrative business. The attractive media portfolio and excellent agency contacts of Ad2Net ensure the company a strong position in the booming online advertising market. In addition, the group is able to realise synergy effects on the sales side for marketing of its own portals – currently the OnVista finance portal and the healthcare portal Onmeda – as well as for its Performance Marketing business which operates under the Ligatus brand.
The marketing portfolio of Ad2Net AG currently includes more than 100 web sites, which together achieve well over 1 billion page impressions per month (according to Nielsen//NetRatings). In 2006, the fast-growing marketing service provider generated sales in the mid-region of single digit million as well as operating profitably, with around 20 staff. In the financial year 2007, Ad2Net is expected to contribute revenues to the OnVista group accounts in the mid to higher region of single digit million and EBIT in the mid six digit region. These figures have not yet been taken into account in the annual projections 2007 of the OnVista Group published today (sales EUR >17.5 mill., EBIT EUR >2.5 mill., pre-tax income EUR >2.9 mill.). A revised forecast will be presented on the occasion of the annual press conference on 18 April 2007.
Ad2Net will be integrated in the OnVista Group as a wholly-owned group company and will continue to operate in the advertising market under its known brand. The current Board Members, Thilo Burgey (CEO and sole shareholder) and Michael Dameris (Director of Finance, Sales and Marketing) will continue to manage the online sales company's business after the transformation of Ad2Net AG into a limited liability company. The management of Ad2Net will be expanded with the addition of Jörg Vogelsang who, as Head of Agency Sales at the OnVista Group, has up to now been responsible for the development of third party ad sales business as well as agency sales for OnVista's own portals.
detailed press release on the acquisition (available in German language only)
ad hoc release on the key figures for the financial year 2006