Performance of the Telekom Slovenije Group during the first nine mons of the year

Performance of the Telekom Slovenije Group during the first nine months of the year Ljubljana, 29 November: The Telekom Slovenije Group generated EUR 595.9 million in operating revenues during the first nine months of this year, a decrease of 4% on the same period last year. Contributing in particular to the decline in revenues were certain trends that have been characteristic of the operations of the majority of leading operators around the world for several years. Revenues generated by the once primary services of fixed and mobile telephony are in decline, while growth in broadband connections and services based on that technology is slowing. Nevertheless, the Group's stringent measures to reduce all types of costs during this period resulted in a net profit of EUR 41.9 million, an increase of 11% on the same period last year. The Telekom Slovenije Group's operating results for the first nine of the year were discussed and approved yesterday by the Companys Supervisory Board.

If the Telekom Slovenije Group wants to maintain or improve profitability, it must counter negative trends by consistently reducing all types of costs and by expanding operations and the range of products and services in the long term beyond traditional telecommunications activities to television, digital advertising, management services and cloud computing services. The Business Report for the first nine months of the year indicates that the Group successfully managed the aforementioned trends by adopting the appropriate measures.

The Telekom Slovenije Group generated EUR 595.9 million in operating revenues over the first three quarters of the year. Net profit totalled more than EUR 41.9 million, compared with EUR 37.7 million during the same period last year. Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) reached EUR 63.2 million, at the same level generated during the comparable period last year, but above planned EBIT. A similar trend was seen in EBITDA, which amounted to more than EUR 198.4 million, resulting in an EBITDA margin of 33.3%. Net financial debt was down by nearly EUR 52 million to stand at EUR 336.7 million, meaning that the Slovenian national operator is among the least indebted leading operators in Europe.

The Telekom Slovenije Group is aware that all previously adopted measures will not be sufficient if they do not facilitate the urgently needed development of networks, technologies and services. The Group also remains one of the major investors in Slovenia. The Group earmarked EUR 60.9 million for investments over the first nine months of the year, an increase of 22% on the same period last year. The parent company accounted for more than half, or EUR 32.6 million, of the aforementioned amount, while investments in Kosovo and in TSmedia and GVO were up on the previous year, confirming the Group's focus on the construction of state-of-the-art fibre optic umbrella networks, on new ICT services and solutions, and on multimedia content and digital advertising. One of the most important recent projects in Slovenia is the start of construction of the most state-of-the-art mobile LTE network.

The Telekom Slovenije Group had a total of 2.7 million fixed and mobile connections at the end of September, an increase of 1% on the same period last year. The number of broadband connections is gradually stagnating, while the number of fixed connections continues to decline. The Group recorded growth in mobile connections, primarily owing to growth at the Macedonian company One and at Ipko in Kosovo.

Business expectations of Telekom Slovenije for 2012 are as follows:

EBITDA up to 250 million

CAPEX from 130 to 140 million

Net profit 43 million

LINK:	http://en.telekom.si/company/press-releases/article?aid=2420...
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