Investor News

Budapest, February 25, 2015 18:01

Magyar Telekom (Reuters: MTEL.BU and Bloomberg: MTELEKOM HB), the leading Hungarian telecommunications service provider today announces its 2015 financial targets as well as its updated outlook for 2017. Furthermore, based on currently available information, the Company believes that it will be able to pay a minimum of HUF 15 per share dividend on 2015 earnings.

2015 targets and dividend expectations

• Revenues: Low single digit increase driven by revenue restructuring and GTS acquisition
  The Company intends to continue its revenue rebalancing efforts in order to mitigate pressure stemming from voice revenue decline. This will be achieved by migrating customers to bundled packages in fixed line and also in mobile and thus increasing the contribution of TV, fixed broadband and mobile data. Performance will also be supported by the consolidation impact of GTS adding ca. 1% to top line results. Consequently, we expect revenues to increase by up to 3% in 2015 compared to 2014.
• EBITDA: Slight decrease due to higher severance expense
  We continue to expect improved efficiency performance at our Telekom Hungary operation throughout 2015, and also foresee an EBITDA performance turnaround at
  T-Systems Hungary. Nevertheless, continuous market pressure at international operations is anticipated. EBITDA performance will be supported by the GTS acquisition impact but will be adversely affected by the ca. HUF 8 billion severance expense to be booked in relation to the headcount reduction program initiated at our parent company. Overall, our reported EBITDA is expected to decline by no more than 3% compared to 2014.
  
• Capex: Accelerating next generation fixed access rollout
  After strengthening our technological leadership in the Hungarian mobile market during 2014, Magyar Telekom plans to execute a similar task in the fixed segment to increase its competitiveness. The Company therefore anticipates Capex of around HUF 105 billion for 2015 that will allow us to expand our fixed high speed internet coverage from the current ca. 1.8 million households to over 2.2 million households.
• Dividend: Minimum of HUF 15 per share expected
  Based on the Company’s dividend policy, the Group’s financial position and the current operating, regulatory and taxation environment and outlook coupled with the anticipated significant improvement in its free cash flow generation, Magyar Telekom believes that it will be in the position to pay a dividend of at least HUF 15 per share on 2015 earnings. This is subject to the Board of Directors’ future proposal to the General Meeting which will be submitted in due course, once all necessary information is available and all prerequisites to making such a proposal are met.

2017 targets
The Company continues to expect revenue growth of ca. 2% CAGR compared to 2012 levels. At the same time, reported EBITDA is expected to be higher than earlier forecasted partly due to the current headcount rationalization program. We also expect to be able to leverage the acceleration of fixed network development in terms of improved market positions in Hungary. As a result, the Company now targets a reported EBITDA of at least HUF 185 billion and while keeping our Capex target of around HUF 80 billion unchanged, we also increase our free cash flow target to at least HUF 50 billion.

2015 and 2017 public guidance:

*excluding spectrum acquisitions and annual frequency fee capitalization
**after minority dividend

This investor news may contain 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.

Forward-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 Reports for the year ended December 31, 2013 available on our website at https://www.telekom.hu.