Budapest, August 10, 2006
Magyar Telekom (Reuters: NYSE: MTA.N, BSE: MTEL.BU and Bloomberg: NYSE: MTA US, BSE: MTELEKOM HB), the leading Hungarian telecommunications service provider, today reported its consolidated financial results for the first six months of 2006, in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). From the second quarter of 2005, the consolidated income statement includes the results of Telekom Montenegro Group (“TCG”), while the company’s balance sheet has been consolidated in Magyar Telekom's accounts as of March 31, 2005.
Highlights:
Elek Straub, Chairman and CEO commented: “I am pleased to report an above 4% top line growth and a broadly stable EBITDA, excluding the one-time impact of the investigation-related expenses, in the second quarter of this year. These figures underline that we are on track to achieve our targets set for this year. In line with our strategy, we capitalized on inorganic growth opportunities in the second quarter through, for example, the purchase of Dataplex and KFKI (Hungarian IT companies). In the latter case, we are awaiting Competition Office approval for the acquisition. In the Hungarian fixed line business, the number of flat rate solutions continued to grow, increasing the access revenue stream. However, traffic erosion also continued. The successful ADSL sales campaign contributed to sustained growth in internet revenues. In the Hungarian mobile market, we preserved the strong leading position; underlying financial performance was stable. In the second quarter of this year, T-Mobile was the first in Hungary to launch a super-speed HSDPA mobile-internet service. By introducing broadband data transmission solutions in Hungary, T-Mobile once again demonstrated the Group’s clear leadership in the market. Regarding the EDR investment, the service started in Budapest in April 2006 and we accounted revenue for the service in the second quarter. Finally, international operations in Macedonia and Montenegro performed well, contributing to Group revenue and EBITDA in line with our expectations.”
Hungarian fixed line operations: growing IT and broadband revenues, continuous fall in traffic
Revenues
before elimination grew by 2.5% to HUF 73.4 bn in Q2 2006 over the same
period in 2005 with an EBITDA margin for the quarter at 31.6%. In Q2,
excluding the HUF 1.5 bn cost of the investigation (accounted for
within the Headquarter costs), EBITDA was HUF 24.6 bn with a 33.6%
EBITDA margin. The segment EBITDA was negatively influenced by the
retrospective application of the reduced interconnection fees (net HUF
1 bn) and positively influenced by a HUF 0.8 bn increase in receivables
relating to reimbursements from the Universal Telecommunications
Support Fund. Domestic and international traffic revenues combined
declined by 22.4%, mainly due to mobile substitution and traffic loss
to fixed line competitors. Fixed-to-mobile minutes fell but local
traffic and domestic long distance traffic increased. Nevertheless,
discounts and bundled minutes provided in our packages contributed to
the revenue decline. At the same time, system integration & IT
revenues grew from HUF 2.2 bn to HUF 6.1 bn. Internet revenues also
increased, as a result of a significant increase in the number of
installed ADSL lines. The total number of broadband connections (mainly
ADSL and cable) reached almost 446 thousand at end-June 2006. Strong
mobile substitution and number portability resulted in a continuous
decline in the total number of fixed lines (down 4.6% at end-June 2006
compared to a year ago). Customised tariff packages at parent company
represented around 80% of the total number of lines, with 1.9 million
lines at the end of the second quarter of 2006.
International fixed line operations: top line growth and EBITDA expansion
Revenues
before elimination grew by 12.1% to HUF 17.2 bn in Q2 2006, reflecting
the FX rate impact and the strong contribution of Telekom Montenegro.
EBITDA increased to HUF 6.2 bn with an EBITDA margin of 35.7%. Despite
lower traffic revenues, MakTel’s fixed line revenues grew by 5.2%,
reflecting a favourable foreign exchange movement (6.5%), and growing
subscription, international wholesale and internet-related revenues.
EBITDA fell by 5.7% to HUF 4.7 bn, primarily as a result of the
increased other operating expense. EBITDA margin was 42.4%. Telekom
Montenegro’s fixed line operations contributed HUF 4.8 bn to Group
revenues in the second quarter of 2006 (HUF 4.2 bn in Q2 2005). The
growth was fuelled by higher IC and internet revenues. EBITDA
contribution increased to HUF 1.5 bn (against a negative of HUF 0.4 bn
in Q2 2005) as the higher payment to other network operators was
compensated by a fall in employee-related expenses due to a severance
provision of HUF 1.3 bn booked in Q2 2005.
Hungarian mobile operations: strong market position coupled with sound underlying financial performance
Revenues
before elimination grew by 2.3% to HUF 70.1 bn in Q2 2006 as a result
of higher enhanced service revenues and, to a lesser extent, higher
traffic and access revenues. EBITDA was HUF 26.7 bn with an EBITDA
margin of 38.1%, reflecting higher other operating expenses, partly
offset by lower employee-related expenses. A major driver of the higher
other operating expense in Q2 2006 was a HUF 1.1 bn accrual re-created
for payments to the Universal Telecommunications Support Fund following
an unfavourable Court decision in 2006. At the same time, receivables
from the Fund shown in the Hungarian fixed line operations increased by
HUF 0.8 bn. Average acquisition cost per customer continued to fall
reflecting reduced subsidies in both prepaid and postpaid segments.
When calculating subscriber acquisition cost, we include the connection
margin (SIM card cost less the connection fee) and the sales-related
equipment subsidy and agent fee. Although the introduction of new
packages generated higher usage and growth in value added services, the
discounts and bundled free minutes offered, combined with the impact of
regulatory changes and the extensive use of closed user group offers,
resulted in a slight reduction in ARPU (monthly average revenue per
user). MOU (monthly average minutes of use per subscriber) grew to 142
in the second quarter of 2006, indicative of the improved price
elasticity.
International mobile operations: impressive growth in Montenegro, very high EBITDA margin in Macedonia
Revenues
before elimination grew by 15.1% to HUF 12.7 bn in Q2 2006, driven by
the FX rate effect and the strong performance of Monet, the mobile
subsidiary of Telekom Montenegro. EBITDA was HUF 6.7 bn with a high
EBITDA margin of 52.9%. MakTel’s mobile business reported 10.6% revenue
growth in a growing market characterised by strong tariff competition.
EBITDA at Mobimak was HUF 5.3 bn with an outstanding EBITDA margin of
56.4%. Finally, Monet was a further contributor to international mobile
operations with revenues of HUF 3.2 bn (up 31.3%) and an EBITDA of HUF
1.4 bn in Q2 2006 (against HUF 1.0 bn in Q2 2005).
As disclosed in the full-year 2005 results announcement made on February 13, 2006, in the first quarter 2006 results announcement made on May 11, 2006 as well as in announcements made on March 30, 2006, on April 26, 2006, on July 3, 2006 and on July 27, 2006, the Company is still inquiring into certain contracts and certain actions taken subsequent to these contracts including potential interference with the investigation to determine whether they have been entered into in violation of Company policy or applicable law or regulation. This inquiry, which is being conducted by an independent law firm and supervised by the Audit Committee, is still ongoing and it is at this point still too early to determine its outcome. The Company also announced that due to the delay to the respective Annual General Meetings, the Company and some of its subsidiaries have failed and may fail to meet certain deadlines prescribed by the Hungarian and other applicable laws and regulations for preparing and filing audited annual results. The Company has notified the Hungarian Financial Supervisory Authority, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice of the investigation and is in contact with these authorities regarding the investigation. The Company is committed to complying fully with the requirements and requests of these and other authorities with jurisdiction over it. In its Resolution No J-III-B/86.332/2006, the Hungarian Financial Supervisory Authority ordered Magyar Telekom to prepare its annual report and to take all possible and necessary legal measures in order to comply with the statutory obligations. The Company is currently investigating the legal solutions to hold a GM and prepare the annual report as soon as possible. No assurance can be given that, as a result of the investigation, the audited financial statements for 2005 and financial statements for any other period will not vary from those published prior to the completion of the investigation.
About Magyar Telekom
Magyar Telekom is the
principal provider of telecom services in Hungary. Magyar Telekom
provides a broad range of services including traditional fixed line and
mobile telephony, data transmission and value-added services. Magyar
Telekom owns 51% of the shares of MakTel, the sole fixed line operator
and its subsidiary Mobimak, the leading mobile operator in Macedonia.
Magyar Telekom has a majority stake in Telekom Montenegro. TCG Group
provides fixed, mobile and Internet services in Montenegro. Key
shareholders of Magyar Telekom as of June 30, 2006 include MagyarCom
Holding GmbH (59.21%), owned by Deutsche Telekom AG. The remainder,
40.79% is publicly traded.
This investor news contains forward-looking statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about our beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current plans, estimates and projections, and therefore should not have undue reliance placed upon them. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update publicly any of them in light of new information or future events .
F orward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. We caution you that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Such factors are described in, among other things, our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2004 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.