VIENNA, November 14 /PRNewswire/ --
-- Revenues Increase by 2.0% to EUR 3,630.9 Million
-- EBITDA Declines From EUR 1,535.6 Million to EUR 1,463.6 Million
-- Fixed Net and Start-up Costs for New Operations Weigh on EBITDA
-- Net Income Declines From EUR 498.5 to EUR 451.5 Million
-- Acquisition of the Belarusian MDC Strengthens Emerging Markets Profile
-- Total of EUR 712.9 Million Returned to Shareholders via Dividend and Share Buyback During 1-9 2007
-- Full year 2007 Outlook Raised for Revenues & EBITDA
Telekom Austria Group (VSE: TKA, OTC US: TKAGY)(NYSE: TKA) today announced its results for the first nine months of 2007 and the third quarter ending September 30, 2007.
Year-to-date comparison:
During the first nine months of 2007, revenues increased by 2.0% to EUR 3,630.9 million due to higher revenues from international operations.
Lower contribution from Fixed Net and costs for the launch of start-up companies in the Republic of Serbia and in the Republic of Macedonia in the amount of EUR 34.8 million led to a decline in EBITDA by 4.7% to EUR 1,463.6 million.
Operating income decreased by 4.5% to EUR 668.0 million as growth in operating income from the Fixed Net could only partly offset a lower operating income in the Mobile Communication segment.
Net income declined by 9.4% to EUR 451.5 million as a consequence of lower operating income and higher interest expenses. Consequently earnings per share declined by 5.7% to EUR 0.99.
Capital expenditures for tangible and intangible assets increased by 26.9% to EUR 534.8 million mainly due to investments in the Republic of Serbia and in the Republic of Macedonia as well as investments in the network infrastructure.
Net debt increased by 4.7% to EUR 3,317.4 million at the end of September 2007 compared to the end of December 2006 due to higher dividend payments and an increased share buyback. During the same period net debt to EBITDA (last 12 months) increased by 5.9% to 1.8x.
Quarterly comparison:
Revenues increased by 3.6% to EUR 1,277.1 million in 3Q 07 compared to 3Q 06 due to higher revenues in both segments.
EBITDA declined by 5.4% to EUR 521.2 million due to lower contributions from the Fixed Net as well as start-up costs of EUR 18.1 million from the operations in the Republic of Serbia and in the Republic of Macedonia. Operating income declined by 8.9% to EUR 257.8 million mainly due to higher operating expenses and higher D&A in the Mobile Communication segment.
Net income decreased by 18.7% to EUR 173.7 million during 3Q 07 compared to 3Q 06 mainly due to a lower operating income and higher interest expenses following increased shareholder returns via dividends and share buybacks. Earnings per share decreased by 13.6% to EUR 0.39 as a consequence of a lower net income. Group capital expenditures for tangible and intangible assets increased by 6.5% to EUR 158.1 million during 3Q 07 due to investments for the start-up operations in the Republic of Serbia and in the Republic of Macedonia.
For more detailed information about the financial results for the first nine months of 2007 please refer to the corresponding interim report on Telekom Austria's website at http://www.telekomaustria.com/interim_re...
Contacts:
Elisabeth Mattes
Group Spokeswoman
Phone: +43-664-331-2730
E-Mail: elisabeth.mattes@telekom.at
Peter Zydek
Head of Investor Relations
Phone: +43-(0)59059-1-19000
E-Mail: peter.zydek@telekom.at
Contacts: Elisabeth Mattes, Group Spokeswoman, Phone: +43-664-331-2730, E-Mail: elisabeth.mattes@telekom.at. Peter Zydek, Head of Investor Relations, Phone: +43-(0)59059-1-19000, E-Mail: peter.zydek@telekom.at
