IPO: zooplus AG to list on Frankfurt Stock Exchange

zooplus was founded in 1999 and is meanwhile Europe’s leading online retailer for pet supplies according to turnover. Total sales for 2007 were EUR 55,4 Mio. and have been growing at an average of approx. 40% p.a. between 2005 and 2007. So far, the company’s business model has been successfully introduced to 13 countries, including Germany, UK, France, Benelux and Austria.

“In 1999, zooplus was an initial trial whether it would be possible at all to retail pet supplies online. Today ‐ with more than EUR 50mm in total sales ‐we are Europe’s largest player in our segment by far." -- Cornelius Patt, zooplus

“We are well positioned versus our competition, growing fast with enormous further potential while at the same time solidly profitable. Our IPO is a logical next step towards taking the company to a substantially higher level in terms of profits and sales during the coming years,” says Dr. Cornelius Patt, zooplus’ CEO and co‐founder in Munich.

“The team did a great job in developing zooplus from a first mover into Europe’s leading online retailer in its segment. It was their consequent use of technology and data in all aspects of the zooplus’ business model that has helped to create such a rapidly growing and profitable company.” -- Frank Seehaus, Acton Capital

All of zooplus’ 2.386.150 bearer shares will be released for trading.
Initially, and due to various lock‐up agreements, only 5% of the total stock can be traded freely. Medium‐tem, this percentage is set to increase substantially. zooplus does not rule out a later change of market segment into a German or European regulated market. The company’s shareholder meeting has already given its consent to such a measure, especially in the form of introducing the company to trade on Frankfurt’s General or Prime Standard market segment. zooplus seeks to communicate and report as openly and transparently as possible and has voluntarily agreed to give an annual declaration of adherence to the German Corporate Governance Codex. In addition, all the company’s reporting is already based upon international accounting standards (IFRS).

Strong operational cash flow vs. challenging IPO climate
zooplus Co-founder Dr. Cornelius Patt adds: ”Under a different IPO climate one might have thought about a capital increase whilst at the same time creating a substantially higher free float from day one. This, however, does neither appear sensible nor possible in a way which would have added value for zooplus. Moreover, and due to our strong operational cash flow zooplus does not require such a measure in the first place right now. As we have been working on our listing for quite some time and seem to be very well prepared for such a step, we have decided to go forward nevertheless. Further steps will follow soon.”

Online market volume in Europe expected to grow

With more than EUR 17bn in total European market volume – pet supplies is an attractive retail segment which is expected to grow substantially online over the coming years while at the same time benefitting from a growing trend towards premium and higher‐margin products. With more than 7000 pet‐related products ranging from pet food to accessories, zooplus offers a wide product range to European costumers. The zooplus website also features a number of community‐ and content‐related services, such as vet advice or online pet owner communities. With activities in all core European markets (Germany, the UK, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland and Poland), zooplus seeks to build upon its successful European expansion and continue to grow aggressively whilst increasing its profitability over the upcoming years.