STOCKHOLM, Sweden and NEW YORK, Aug. 5, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Tele2 AB ("Tele2","the Group") (Nasdaq:TLTOA) (Nasdaq:TLTOB) (Stockhomsborsen:TEL2A and TEL2B), the leading alternative pan-European telecommunications company, today announced its consolidated results forthe second quarter ended June 30, 2002.
MSEK 1,207 EBITDA in Q2* (Q2 2001 MSEK 347)
Positive EBT in Q2 of MSEK 249 (Q2 2001 MSEK -505)
Central Europe reports MSEK 12 EBITDA in fixed telephony
(Q2 2001 MSEK -133)
Mobile operations for Tele2 in Sweden reported EBITDA margin
of 56% in Q2 and revenues up 21%
Positive cash flow of MSEK 70 (Q2 2001 MSEK -180) after
investments, including special investments of MSEK 550**
Interest bearing liabilities continue to be reduced
* includes MSEK 87 relating to court case with Telia (Note 5).
** includes payments relating to acquisition of FORA Telecom and
investment in Svenska UMTS nat
Lars-Johan Jarnheimer, President and CEO of Tele2 AB stated: "This is the second successive quarter in which Tele2 has delivered a positive result before tax. The mobile businesses continued to perform strongly, the fixed line operations in continental Europe continued to improve and, in Sweden, mobile margins of over 50% remain best in class. Our focus continues to be on low customer acquisition cost, churn management and operational cost control. The market conditions support Tele2 in achieving these three objectives. Firstly competitors are retreating from the market place and this has opened up opportunities to acquire customers at competitive prices. Also churn continues to be reduced by offering customers more products in an integrated service as local calling is now generally available, except in Germany. Finally the continued fall in interconnection rates across Europe allows Tele2 to reduce costs further."
FINANCIAL AND OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS
The figures shown in parenthesis correspond to the comparable periods in 2001 and all negative amounts are distinguished with a minus sign).
Financial highlights for the second quarter, 2002
2002 2001
SEK millions Q2 Q2
Operating Revenue 7,710 6,213
EBITDA (i) 1,207 347
EBIT (ii) 423 -379
EBT (iii) 249 -505
Profit (loss) after taxes -48 -695
(iv)
Earnings (loss) per share, -0.33 -4.79
after dilution
(i) Operating Profit (loss) before depreciation and amortization
(ii) Operating Profit (loss) after depreciation and amortization
(iii) Profit (loss) after financial items
(iv) The taxes for the period are mainly related to deferred
taxes and have no cash impact
Operating highlights, for the second quarter, 2002
Operating highlights, for the second quarter, 2002
-- During the quarter Tele2 invested MSEK 250 as the remaining part of
its equity injection into Svenska UMTS naet, the Swedish UMTS
network company jointly owned with Telia. Tele2 also made a final
payment of $30 million to Millicom International Cellular for the
acquisition of FORA Telecom B.V, following the award of two GSM
licenses in St Petersburg and its surrounding area. Despite
these payments, which totaled approximately MSEK 550 for the
quarter, Tele2 remained cash flow positive.
-- Local calling is being progressively introduced across Europe and
is already available in Sweden, France, Spain and Italy. Local
calling has been available in Holland since 1 August 2002 and will
be introduced in other countries in due course.
-- The Swedish Administrative Court of Appeal did not grant Telia
an inhibition in its case against Tele2 regarding interconnection
rates. The Stockholm County Administrative Court had previously
ruled that Telia is liable for payments regarding traffic
transited via their network. Telia has decided to ignore the
court's ruling, final judgement is expected in the Autumn.
-- Tele2 was awarded two GSM 1800 wireless licenses in St. Petersburg
and its environs.
-- Tele2 increased its ownership in Finnish 3 G Ltd from 20%
to 27.44%.
-- Tele2 has been awarded a third generation UMTS license
in Luxembourg. No license fee was paid.
Post Quarter Events
Tele2 Denmark purchased the corporate customers of Ventelos. Nordic
Operating revenue Q2, MSEK 3,379 (2,912), +16% EBITDA Q2, MSEK 1,204 (833), +45% The Nordic market encompasses Tele2 operations in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland, and Datametrix. Optimal Telecom is included with effect from 1 January 2002 (note 4).
Tele2 has agreed terms with Telia in Sweden, Telenor in Norway and TDC in Denmark to resell ADSL services and Tele2 expects that the launch of these services will take place this summer.
Sweden
Tele2 in Sweden is the main component of the Nordic region. In the second quarter Tele2 in Sweden was able to maintain high margins, with EBITDA margins of 56% in mobile and 23% in fixed line and Internet, compared to 53% and 18% respectively in quarter two 2001. The mobile operations in Sweden reported 2.8 million customers, an annualized increase of 21%. Monthly average revenue per mobile customers (ARPU), including both postpaid and prepaid customers, was SEK 205 in the second quarter and monthly mobile minutes of usage (MOU) were 107 in the second quarter. Prepaid mobile customers accounted for 69% of the total mobile subscriber base. Fixed telephony and Internet had 1.9 million customers at the end of the quarter.
Denmark, Finland and Norway
Denmark, Finland and Norway reported 1.6 million, predominantly fixed telephony, customers and encouragingly, competitive pressures continue to reduce in these countries.
In Norway Tele2 has been successful in cross selling mobile services to its fixed line customers which have kept customer acquisition costs low. In Denmark margins have improved as costs have been reduced and prices have stabilised and Tele2 is now the only remaining fixed telephony and internet provider competing with the incumbent TDC. In July Tele2 Denmark purchased Ventelos' corporate customers.
Following the successful launch of a cost saving initiative in Sweden in September last year this programme has been replicated in Norway and Denmark. This led to staff reductions of approximately 10% in Denmark and 20% in Norway.
Eastern Europe and Russia
Operating revenue Q2, MSEK 588 (272), +116% EBITDA Q2, MSEK 133 (58), +129% The Eastern Europe and Russia market encompasses Tele2 operations in the Baltics (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia), in Poland, the Czech Republic and Russia, and X-source.
In Russia Tele2 was awarded two licenses to develop GSM 1800 wireless telephony in the city of St. Petersburg and its surrounding area (Oblcom). Tele2 acquired FORA Telecom B.V., the Russian mobile operator, from Millicom International Cellular in the fourth quarter of 2001 and, following this award, Tele2 now has 12 GSM licenses in Russia.
In the Baltics, Tele2's offering was further enhanced through the launch of a pan-Baltic Intelligent Network pre-paid platform, capable of supporting pre-paid roaming.
Tele2 signed an interconnect agreement for fixed telephony in the Czech Republic in quarter two, the first operator in this market to do so.
Revenues within Eastern Europe and Russia are predominantly from the mobile businesses.
Central Europe
Operating revenue Q2, MSEK 1,374 ( 1,205), +14% EBITDA Q2, MSEK -51 (-133), of which MSEK 12 (-133) for fixed telephony
The Central European market encompasses Tele2 operations in Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Austria, and a license in Ireland.
EBITDA for this market area continued to improve and the fixed line operations were EBITDA positive for the second successive quarter, in line with Tele2's target of reaching breakeven within three years from operational launch. ARPU for the fixed line business in Central Europe was SEK 148 in the second quarter.
In Germany Tele2 continues to benefit from market consolidation as a number of competitors have either been integrated into larger organisations or disappeared from the market and Tele2 is now the number four operator in Germany. Local calling however, has not yet been introduced and consequently Tele2 has not benefited from these revenues.
Tele2 is the largest alternative telephony operator in The Netherlands. Tele2's fixed line business now includes local calling from 1 August and with further interconnect cuts Tele2 will be able to offer an increasingly competitive product to its customers. The MVNO, which was launched last summer is acquiring customers at a low cost, and illustrates the benefits of cross selling mobile services to the fixed line customer base.
Tele2 is now the second largest alternative operator in Switzerland, and it is the largest alternative fixed telephony operator in Austria. Consumption per customer in both countries continues to rise reflecting the high levels of preselection. In Switzerland Tele2 has been able to take local traffic since April 1, 2002 and so the full benefit was reflected in Q2 numbers.
Southern Europe
Operating revenue Q2, MSEK 2,010 (1,293), +55% EBITDA Q2, MSEK -72 (-310) The Southern Europe market includes Tele2 operations in France, Italy and Spain and a license in Portugal.
This market area has continued to show strong growth in operating revenue, which was up 12% from last quarter. There has been a strong improvement in EBITDA in the second quarter with MSEK -72 as compared to MSEK -181 in quarter one. Tele2 achieved a strong ARPU for Southern Europe of SEK 148 in the second quarter, a 5% increase on the first quarter.
Tele2 now offers a complete product portfolio including local, long distance, international and fixed to mobile calls allowing Tele2 to exploit any opportunities that may emerge from the local loop market. Tele2 now offers local calls to 100% of clients in France and Spain which has had a very positive impact on traffic, revenues and churn. These improvements have been achieved at minimal cost.
Tele2 Italy continued to show a substantial improvement in profitability in quarter two and has managed to consolidate its position as Italy's second alternative fixed telephony operator. Since the beginning of 2002 Tele2 Italy has offered local calls to 100% of clients.
In Spain Tele2 is now the number four operator which underlines the success of the IP network, which delivers a high-quality service to our clients. The full prepaid offer generates high operational savings and allows Tele2 to offer the best prices on the market.
Luxembourg
Operating revenue Q2, MSEK 195 (163), +20% EBITDA Q2, MSEK 32 (-1) The Luxembourg market includes Tele2 operations in Liechtenstein and Luxembourg, a license in Belgium, 3C and Transac.
Tango is the largest mobile provider in Luxembourg. The launch of TANGO TV in conjunction with Tango Sunshine radio is successfully reaching its younger target audience and is the first step to interactivity between media and mobile which will drive SMS traffic in particular. Tango has launched GPRS prepaid in the second quarter and has also recently launched MMS services. Branded Products and Services
Operating revenue Q2, MSEK 164 (368) EBITDA Q2, MSEK -39 (-100) Branded Products include Tele2 UK, the operation recently launched in conjunction with the Post Office in the UK, C3, Everyday.com and IntelliNet.
Optimal Telecom has been moved to the Nordic market area with effectfrom 1 January 2002 (Note 4).
GROUP REVIEW
Parent Company
At the Parent company level, Tele2 reported, at June 30, 2002, operatingrevenue of MSEK 8 (7), EBIT of MSEK -41 (-25) and liquidity of MSEK 3compared to MSEK 8 at December 31, 2001.
In May 2002 the AGM authorized the board to issue an option program to employees within the Group through a new issue in the company representing a maximum of 1,055,000 B-shares (Note 2).
In July 2002, 8,317,143 A-shares have been converted into B-shares (see Note 2).
COMPANY DISCLOSURE
Third Quarter of 2002 Results
The release of Tele2's financial and operating results for the period ended September 30, 2002 will be on October 23, 2002.
Stockholm, August 5, 2002
Board of Tele2 AB
REPORT REVIEW
The financial and operating results for the period ended June 30, 2002have not been subject to specific review by the Company's auditor.
Tele2 AB, formed in 1993, is the leading alternative pan-European telecommunications company offering fixed and mobile telephony, data network and Internet services under the brands Tele2, Tango and Comviq to 16.1 million people in 21 countries. Tele2 operates Datametrix, which specializes in systems integration, 3C Communications, operating public pay telephones and public Internet services; Transac, providing billing and transaction processing service; C(3), offering co-branded pre-paid calling cards and IntelliNet and Optimal Telecom, the price-guaranteed residential router device. The Group offers cable television services under the Kabelvision brand name and together with MTG, owns the Internet portal Everyday.com. The Company is listed on the Stockholmsborsen, under TEL2A and TEL2B, and on the Nasdaq Stock Market under TLTOA and TLTOB.
For further information please contact:
Lars-Johan Jarnheimer Telephone: + 46 8 562 640 00 President and CEO, Tele2 AB Hakan Zadler Telephone: + 46 8 562 640 00 CFO, Tele2 AB Andrew Best Telephone: + 44 20 7321 5022 Investor enquiries
Visit us at our homepage: http://www.Tele2.com
CONFERENCE CALL DETAILS
A conference call to discuss the results will be held at 17:30 (Swedish time)/11:30 (New York time), on 5 August 2002. The dial in numbers are: +44 (0)20 8781 0571 and +1 303 713 7898 and participants should quote, Tele2 AB. A live audio stream of the conference call can also be accessed at www.Tele2.com. Please dial in / log on 5 minutes prior to the start of the conference call to allow time for registration. An instantaneous recording of the conference call will be available for 48 hours after the call on +44 (0)20 8288 4459 access code 792582, or on +1 703 736 7336, access code 792582.
APPENDICES
Consolidated Income Statement Consolidated Balance Sheet Consolidated Cash flow Statement Change of Consolidated Shareholders' Equity Customers Market Areas split by Business Areas Investments Tele2 in Sweden Five Year Summary Notes to the Accounts
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