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Press Release | Munich, 8 November 2006
AdAstra investment asknet off to successful start on the stock exchange
_Today, asknet AG (ISIN: DE0005173306), one of the
leading providers of outsourcing solutions for software distribution via the
Internet, successfully started trading in the Entry Standard of the Frankfurt Stock
Exchange. The shares of the Karlsruhe eCommerce specialist were placed at an
offer price of EUR 9 with German and European institutional investors as well as
German private investors. The placement volume including the over-allotment
totalled EUR 21.6 million.
_asknet AG (www.asknet.de) was established in 1995 as a spin-off from the Computer
Centre of Karlsruhe University and has grown into the world’s number two of
independent providers of electronic software distribution in the past few years. AdAstra
has held a stake in asknet for six years and been closely associated with the company
on its growth path. In 2005, asknet’s sales rose by 49 percent to EUR 35.1 million.
_The issue comprised a total allotment of 2,400,000 shares, including the over-allotment
of 310,000 shares. AdAstra, before the IPO asknet‘s biggest shareholder with 32.8
percent, reduced its stake in connection with the transaction and will retain a stake of
16.2 percent if the greenshoe option is fully exercised. At this figure, it will continue as
the biggest shareholder of the Karlsruhe company.
_Gerhard Rumpff, CEO of asknet, comments: "We are very pleased with the sucessful
placement of the asknet shares. Going public provides us with the opportunity to further
extend our international presence and to exploit the gigantic potential waiting in the ESD
market."
_Dr. Dietmar Waudig, founder and COO of asknet, adds: "Today, our technology platform
is unique in the market in terms of range of functionalities and flexibility, and forms the
basis for our good position. We owe this, not least, to our investors who afforded us the
necessary financial scope to achieve this success, and especially to AdAstra."
_Thomas Krüger, Managing Director of AdAstra Erste Beteiligungs GmbH and Deputy
Chairman of the asknet Supervisory Board, declares: "We have held a stake in asknet
since the year 2000 and are convinced of the huge potential of that company. Remaining
the biggest shareholder even after the successful IPO, we will continue our association
with asknet AG as it pursues its growth strategy."
About AdAstra:
_AdAstra Erste Beteiligungs GmbH, established in mid-2000, is an independent Private Equity firm
based in Munich and specialising in technology companies. Through its investments, AdAstra
provides venture capital for companies from the IT, telecommunication and high-tech sector. AdAstra
currently holds investments in the following leading companies: ASK S.A., asknet AG and Gomez Inc.
Contact AdAstra:
Ulrich Clemm / Thomas Krueger
Managing Partner
Phone: +49 89 452 391 36
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