INTERVIEW-QSC seeks partner for DSL network Plusnet-CEO Tue Jul 15, 2008 4:54am EDT By Nicola Leske and Nikola Rotscheroth COLOGNE, Germany, July 15 (Reuters) - German telecoms provider QSC AG (QSCG.DE: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) is looking for a partner for its DSL broadband network Plusnet in an effort to speed up its goal of breaking even this year, its chief executive said. "A partner would help us expand our network and enable us to cut our costs by a third, meaning we would immediately be profitable," Bernd Schlobohm told Reuters in an interview. Plusnet is a joint venture launched in 2006 by QSC and the German subsidiary of Swedish Tele2 (TEL2b.ST: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz). QSC owns 67.5 percent, Tele2 owns 32.5 percent of the network. Preferably, QSC would like a mass market service provider or a cable operator to buy into Plusnet, Schlobohm said citing Internet service providers such as United Internet (UTDI.DE: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), freenet (FNTG.DE: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) or Telecom Italia's (TLIT.MI: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) Hansenet as a possible option. "Our forecast planning for this year does not include a partner, but the search for one is pretty high up on our agenda," he said, adding he was confident QSC would reach its 2008 targets. QSC had planned on a net profit last year but reduced its outlook due to weaker than expected operational development. The Cologne-based company cited expansion costs for its network, costs related to the integration of broadband provider Broadnet AG as well as delays in line access from Deutsche Telekom (DTEGn.DE: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) as reasons for its 2007 loss of 10.4 million euros ($16.59 million). This year, QSC aims to break even and reach sales of 385 to 405 million euros and a core profit (EBITDA) of 50 to 60 million euros. Last year, it reported a core profit of 34.9 million euros on revenue of 335.2 million euros. REGAIN TRUST QSC offers broadband communications to business customers and resellers, as well as residential customers. Its network connects directly with end users in more than 140 German cities. In the second quarter, QSC switched on 120,000 new DSL connections and Schlobohm said he expected the third and fourth quarter to grow at the same rate. In areas not covered by its own network, QSC collaborates with its partners such United Internet. Schlobohm, who founded the company in 1997 with current QSC chairman Gerd Eickers, said the focus was mainly on German mid-sized companies, where he saw plenty of opportunities for growth. For the time being, Schlobohm ruled out further acquisitions and said QSC was not planning to buy back shares to boost its stock. QSC shares have lost 36 percent in value year-to-date giving rise to market speculation that QSC could be a takeover target. "We need to regain trust after our profit warning last year," Schlobohm said. Schlobohm and Eickers both own around 10 percent of QSC, U.S. private equity firm Baker Capital holds a stake of almost 25 percent. "The major shareholders are not looking to sell at the current share price," he said but added QSC was not opposed to playing its part in a consolidation among network providers. Germany's mobile telephony and Internet market is ripening for consolidation as competition between multiple service providers for German consumers drives prices down. Schlobohm said a dividend will not be paid while the company was using its cash to finance growth. ((nicola.leske@thomsonreuters.com; +49 69 7565 1214; Reuters Messaging: nicola.leske.reuters.com@reuters.net)) ($1=.6268 Euro) Keywords: QSC/ (C) Reuters 2008. All rights reserved. |