Atnaujinta: 2024.11.29 07:16 (GMT+2)

ETL: CORRECTED RELEASE ABOUT FINANCIAL RESULT

2002.07.18, Eesti Telekom, TLN

Eesti Telekom CORRECTIVE RELEASE 07/18/2002

CORRECTED RELEASE ABOUT FINANCIAL RESULTS, H1 2002, EEK

In previously discloused announcement about financial results, H1 2002, EEK,
there was a mistake in the number of main lines.
The correct sentence would be
"The number of main lines in use at the end of June was 472
thousand (a penetration of 34.7 lines per 100 people)."

Corrected announcement follows:
-------------------------------

18 July 2002




THE FINANCIAL RESULTS OF THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF 2002


Eesti Telekom, the leading provider of telecommunication
services in Estonia, hereby announces its results for the
six-month period ended 30 June 2002.



Financial highlights
6 months 2002 6 months Change, %
2001
Total revenues, 2,272 2,071 10
mEEK
EBITDA, mEEK 1,090 1,016 7
EBITDA margin, % 48 49
EBIT, mEEK 578 495 17
EBIT margin, % 25 24
Profits before 572 531 8
taxes, mEEK
Net profits for the 479 499 -4
period, mEEK
EPS, EEK 3.48 3.64 -4
No. of A- shares 137,383,178 137,383,178
Investments, mEEK 207 430 -52
Net gearing, % -12.0 2.4
ROA, % 23 23
ROE, % 33 31


Commenting on these financial results, Chairman Jaan Männik
stressed:

"Several favourable trends in the operations of the Group
have continued to prevail during the first half-year of
2002. Measures oriented on efficiency improvement have
started to show positive results."

For further information, please contact:

Krister Björkqvist +372 6272 465
CFO

Hille Võrk +372 6272 460
Financial Manager


CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT

Results of the first half-year of 2002 were favourable for
the Eesti Telekom Group. Although the Estonian mobile market
has been intensively penetrated, AS EMT, the mobile operator
of the Group, has still found new possibilities for
increasing its revenues and profits. The fixed market was
liberalized on January 1, 2001. AS Eesti Telefon, the fixed
communications operator, has adjusted to the existing
working environment and has been able to stabilize its
market shares.

Last year, we talked extensively about measures meant for
improving efficiency. Our investing policy and the structure
of our tangible assets were reviewed. Changes were made in
our customer service sphere. As a result, the profit margins
of almost all the companies of the Group improved in the
first half of 2002.

The Eesti Telekom Group cash flow has continued to be
positive. Net gearing has reached -12%.

Revenues, expenses and profit

In the first half of 2002, consolidated revenues of the
Eesti Telekom Group amounted to 2,272 mln EEK, showing a
rise of 10% compared to the first half-year of 2001.
Operating expenses were 1,182 mln EEK, up by 12%. EBITDA of
the Group was 1,090 mln EEK (margin 48%), showing a rise of
7%. Depreciation for the period was 2% lower than a year
ago. EBIT of the Group was up by 17%, amounting to 578 mln
EEK. On June 19, 2002, AS Eesti Telekom paid out dividends
in the amount of 756 mln EEK to its shareholders for the
year 2001. Income tax on dividends amounted to 94 mln EEK
(31 mln EEK in 2001). The net profit of the Eesti Telekom
Group in the first half-year of 2002 was 479 mln EEK, or
3.48 EEK per share.

Outcomes of the first six months of 2001 and 2002 were
influenced by the following extraordinary factors:

2002 2001
Total revenues AS Eesti Telefon sold
property with a
capital gain of 54
mln EEK.

Total expenses AS Eesti Telefon
released a 46 mln EEK
reserve related to
the OÜ Albufent
claim.

Income from AS Eesti Telefon sold
associates its ownership in AS
Teabeliin. 33 mln EEK
of profit were
accounted as income
from associates.


The consolidated revenues of the Eesti Telefon Group
amounted to 1,326 mln EEK, down by 9% compared to the same
period in 2001. Operating expenses were 799 mln EEK, down by
16%. EBITDA of the Group was 527 mln EEK. The EBITDA margin
has risen to 40%. Depreciation during the first six months
of the year was significantly lower than in 2001 (down by
9%). EBIT of the group was up by 40%, amounting to 188 mln
EEK. The Eesti Telefon Group earned 174 mln EEK of net
profit in the first half-year of 2002 (up by 18%, compared
to the same period in 2001).

The operating revenues of AS Eesti Telefon were down by 11%,
compared to the same period in 2001. Revenues from all
categories of voice-communication services to end-customers
were down: domestic call revenues by 17%, dial-up revenues
by 41%, international call revenues by 9%, and revenues from
calls to mobile networks by 14%. On the positive side,
revenues from monthly fees were up by 26%. Revenues from
data communications and the Internet grew by 89%. In the
first half of 2002, Eesti Telefon made a capital gain of 54
mln EEK from the selling of various assets, which is
categorized under "other revenues".

Market shares of AS Eesti Telefon have been stable. The
company estimates its share of total call minutes, domestic
call minutes, fixed to mobile minutes, and international
call minutes to be 89%, 89%, 75%, and 71%, respectively.

The operating expenses of AS Eesti Telefon were down by 18%.
The largest part of the decrease was due to lower
interconnection costs resulting from directing a large part
of mobile calls directly from the network of one operator to
the network of another. Personnel expenses were down by 10%.
The number of employees of AS Eesti Telefon had fallen to
1,418 by the end of June 2002 (June 2001: 1,797).

The total revenues of the EMT Group amounted to 1,164 mln
EEK, up by 10%. The operating expenses of the Group were 590
mln EEK, also up by 10%. EBITDA of the EMT Group was 574 mln
EEK, with a margin of 49%. The net profit of the Group was
405 mln EEK, up by 6%, compared to the same period in 2001.

The number of customers of AS EMT reached 406 thousand by
the end of June. The company had 267 thousand contractual
customers and 139 thousand prepaid-card users. Monthly ARPU
(Average Revenues Per User) has been traditionally high over
the summer. Monthly ARPU in June 2002 was 451 EEK (June
2001: 469 EEK, December 2001: 439 EEK).

EMT’s revenues from all main categories were up during the
first half-year of 2002. Revenues from SMS had the highest
growth-rate, exceeding the corresponding figure in 2001 by
28%. The growth resulted from a wider customer base and new
services being offered by EMT. A good example is the multi-
SMS service, which allows enterprisers to send messages via
Internet to their numerous customers’ mobile phones, or
offers consumers the possibility of paying for purchases by
mobile phone. For instance, at the recent exceedingly
popular beer festival in Tallinn, it was possible to pay for
a glass of beer by mobile phone. In February, Sonera, the
Finnish mobile operator, and EMT successfully demonstrated
the roaming and interconnection capability of the multimedia
messaging service (MMS) between the various pay GPRS
networks available to the consumer. The successful
implementation of this service showed that mobile
subscribers can send and receive multimedia messages even
through other networks. Sonera and EMT also demonstrated
how multimedia messages can be exchanged between the
subscribers of different operators. In June, EMT continued
testing MMS in Estonia in cooperation with Ericsson. But,
despite rapid growth, SMS revenues were only 3% of the total
revenues of AS EMT during the first half-year of 2002,
thereby showing that there is still plenty of space for
future growth.

Balance sheet and cash flows

At the end of June, 2002, the total assets of the Eesti
Telekom Group amounted to 4,037 mln EEK (December 2001:
4,236 mln EEK). Tangible assets were reduced, from the
beginning of the year, by 324 mln EEK. Current and non-
current interest bearing liabilities of the Group were
reduced by 18 mln EEK. By the end of the period, net debt of
the Group amounted to -399 mln EEK, and net gearing was
-12%.

Net cash inflows of the Group in the first half of 2002
amounted 55 mln EEK. Net operating cash flow was 950 mln EEK
(first half-year of 2001: 795 mln EEK). The operating cash
flow does not include income tax on dividends in the amount
of 94 mln EEK. Cash outflow into investing activities was
essentially smaller than a year ago: 121 mln EEK in 2002,
364 mln EEK in 2001. Cash outflow into financing activities
was 774 mln EEK, including dividends of 756 mln EEK.

Investments

The Eesti Telefon Group invested 110 mln EEK during the
first half of 2002 (first half-year of 2001: 291 mln EEK).
The majority of the investments went into improving the
quality of the network. By the end of June, the
digitalisation rate had risen to 74.1% (December 2001:
71.8%). 5,400 new ADSL connections were installed during the
six-month period. The total number of Atlas ADSL connections
reached 22,300 (a penetration of 1,7 lines per 100 people).
In May, the speed of most ADSL Internet permanent connection
packages was as much as doubled, allowing customers to
better enjoy the various multi-media and content services.
If, up until now, ADSL services could primarily be enjoyed
by the consumers and firms located in the more highly
populated areas, then in July 2002, Eesti Telefon began to
offer a new wireless Internet permanent connection Atlas
RDSL. New connection functions through radio waves and gives
rural consumers also an opportunity to make use of a
practical and even faster Internet permanent connection.

The number of main lines in use at the end of June was 472
thousand (a penetration of 34.7 lines per 100 people). The
number of main lines, compared to the beginning of the year,
has been reduced by 29 thousand. Mainly residential
customers have been giving up their fixed lines. The number
of lines per employee was 326.

The second biggest sphere of investment for Eesti Telefon,
during the first half-year, was the development of an in-
house IT network. In February, the Group expanded through
the acquisition of a new firm. So as to extend its
activities beyond Estonia, AS Connecto, a subsidiary of the
Group, acquired 100 % of the shares of the network
construction company SIA Connecto Latvia (previously SIA
Link), which operates in Latvia. In April, AS Eesti Telefon
invested an additional 5 mln EEK into the Group associated
firm AS Sertifitseerimiskeskus.

The EMT Group invested 97 mln EEK during the first half-year
(2001: 138 mln EEK). The majority of investments made by EMT
went into base stations and exchanges. AS EMT also made also
a 5 mln EEK investment into AS Sertifitseerimiskeskus.

On May 21, 2002, the Ministry of Roads and Communications
presented to the Riigikogu (Parliament) an amendment for
the Telecommunications Act, which establishes the conditions
for the issuing of the third generation mobile network
licenses. According to the Ministry’s proposal, the licenses
would be issued on a tender basis. The participation fee in
the tender would be 50 mln EEK. The Ministry’s plan is to
issue four third generation licenses. The tender is expected
to take place in the beginning of 2003. It is the opinion of
the management of AS EMT, that for a small market like
Estonia, four licenses are too many. If four licenses are
issued, the capacity of the frequency band of each operator
would be quite limited, leading to lower efficiency of
investments, and higher prices for the final consumers.

Relations with state regulators

During the second quarter of 2002, two legal disputes
between AS Eesti Telefon and certain government agencies
came to an end.

On April 24, 2001, the Competition Board issued a precept,
based on the Competition Act, prohibiting Eesti Telefon from
levying a per-minute rate of 34 cents at peak time, 28 cents
at off-peak time, and 14 cents at night for voice calls in
its network. Eesti Telefon was expected to levy a rate lower
than the aforementioned rates. According to the Competition
Act, a fine in the amount of up to 5% of the net sales for
the year preceding the decision to impose the fine can be
imposed for the abuse of a market dominant position.

Eesti Telefon was of the opinion that the aforementioned
rates were cost-based, and contested the precept at the
Tallinn Administrative Court on May 23, 2001. The Tallinn
Administrative Court agreed with Eesti Telefon and nullified
the precept of the Competition Board on January 17, 2002.
The Competition Board appealed to a higher court, but the
Circuit Court confirmed the Administrative Court’s decision.

On April 18, 2001, the Communications Board issued a precept
to Eesti Telefon, which required Eesti Telefon to provide
interconnection services below the cost of the service.
Eesti Telefon contested the precept. In June 2002, Eesti
Telefon decided to end the actions concerning the legality
of the precept, and the conformity of the underlying
provisions of the Telecommunications Act to the
Constitution, because the legal action had lost its meaning
for Eesti Telefon. Namely, these provisions of the
Telecommunications Act expired on December 31, 2001. Thus,
the cause of the legal action became null and void.

Potential change in the ownership structure

On March 26, 2002, Sonera of Finland and Telia of Sweden,
the strategic partners of AS Eesti Telekom, announced that
they are planning to merge. Telia will make a purchase offer
to the shareholders of Sonera, offering 1.51440 Telia shares
for one Sonera share. The Sonera and Telia merger plan was
presented to the European Union for approval, which was
given on July 10, 2002. However, the approval is dependent
upon the fulfilment of certain conditions by Sonera and
Telia.

Annual General Meeting of the Shareholders

The Annual General Meeting of the Shareholders of AS Eesti
Telekom took place on May 17, 2002. The meeting approved
Annual Report 2001, and the proposal for allocation of net
profit. It was decided that the owners of A-shares would be
paid dividends of 5.50 EEK per share (in total 756 mln EEK,
or 97% of the net profit of 2001). The owner of B-share
was entitled to dividends of 10,000 EEK.

The list of shareholders entitled to dividends was fixed on
June 5, 2002 and dividends were paid out on June 19, 2002.

The General Meeting authorised AS Eesti Telekom to acquire,
within one year, AS Eesti Telekom A-series shares, so that
the total nominal value of own shares held by AS Eesti
Telekom would not exceed the legal limits, and so that the
price payable per share would not exceed the highest price
paid for an AS Eesti Telekom A share on the Tallinn Stock
Exchange, on the day of acquiring the shares. Any possible
share buy-back shall be approved by AS Eesti Telekom
council.

Kennet Rådne, Heido Vitsur, Raivo Vare, and Aimo Eloholma
were elected to be new members of the Supervisory Council of
Eesti Telekom, where they replaced Mart Nurk, Andrus Villem,
Madis Üürike, and Timo Virtanen. The remaining six members
of the council were re-elected for one more term. Aare Tark
continues as the chairman of the Council.

Villu Vaino from AS Deloitte & Touche Audit continues to
audit Eesti Telekom in 2002.


Definitions

Net debt - long term and short term debt, less cash and cash
equivalents and short term investments
ROA - Net profit for the period expressed as percentage of
average total assets
ROE - Pre-tax profit for the period expressed, as percentage
of average equity


AS EESTI TELEKOM AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
INCOME STATEMENT
In thousands of Estonian kroons (EEK)
6 mths to 6 mths to 2001
30 June 02 30 June 01
Restated
Revenue
Net sales 2,195,973 2,031,444 4,154,43
8
Change in work-in- 3,501 3,750 529
progress
Capitalized self- 5,847 17,657 87,112
constructed assets
Other revenue 66,265 17,920 42,461
Total revenue 2,271,586 2,070,771 4,284,54
0

Operating expenses
Materials, 697,694 582,370 1,290,73
consumables, 0
supplies and
services
Other operating 220,004 198,449 494,962
expenses
Personnel expenses 246,780 258,297 534,754
Other expenses 17,078 15,670 33,118
Total expenses 1,181,556 1,054,786 2,353,56
4

Profit from 1,090,030 1,015,985 1,930,97
operations before 6
depreciation and
amortisation

Depreciation and 511,830 521,066 1,135,66
amortisation 1

Profit from 578,200 494,919 795,315
operations

Income/ expenses -3,513 32,684 26,828
from subsidiaries
and associated
companies (net)
Other net financing -2,261 3,335 -11,719
items

Profit before tax 572,426 530,938 810,424

Income tax on 93,660 30,932 30,932
dividends

Profit after tax 478,766 500,006 779,492

Minority interest 0 557 557

Net profit from 478,766 499,449 778,935
ordinary activities

Net profit for the 478,766 499,449 778,935
period

Earnings per share
Basic earnings per 3.48 3.64 5.67
share (in kroons)
Diluted earnings per 3.48 3.64 5.67
share (in kroons)
AS EESTI TELEKOM AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
BALANCE SHEET
In thousands of Estonian kroons (EEK)
30 June 31 Dec 30 June
2002 2001 2001
Restated
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash 518,781 464,217 245,254
equivalents
Trade receivables, 469,534 403,324 427,102
net
Other receivables 12,364 10,715 7,183
Accrued income 120,508 99,242 95,520
Prepaid expenses 14,223 28,159 27,606
Inventories 104,085 104,013 160,566
Total current assets 1,239,495 1,109,670 963,231

Non-current assets
Long term financial 32,749 26,464 36,824
assets
Tangible assets, net 2,719,860 3,043,869 3,127,977
Intangible assets, 44,494 56,139 56,255
net
Total non-current 2,797,103 3,126,472 3,221,056
assets

TOTAL ASSETS 4,036,598 4,236,142 4,184,287

EQUITY AND
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities
Interest bearing 83,219 88,166 207,890
loans and borrowings
Customer prepayments 3,636 9,237 6,083
Accounts payable to 130,838 260,932 204,518
suppliers
Other payables 0 168 647
Tax liabilities 215,853 32,697 119,367
Accrued expenses 214,381 152,644 143,637
Provisions 12,369 17,482 6,427
Prepaid revenue 1,626 10,350 43,401
Total current 661,922 571,676 731,970
liabilities

Non-current
liabilities
Interest bearing 36,108 49,115 116,452
loans and borrowings
Total non-current 36,108 49,115 116,452
liabilities


Equity
Issued capital 1,373,833 1,373,833 1,373,833
Share premium 309,964 309,964 309,964
Statutory legal 137,384 137,384 137,384
reserve
Retained earnings 1,038,621 1,015,235 1,015,235
Net profit for the 478,766 778,935 499,449
period
Total equity 3,338,568 3,615,351 3,335,865

TOTAL EQUITY AND 4,036,598 4,236,142 4,184,287
LIABILITIES

AS EESTI TELEKOM AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
CASH FLOW STATEMENT
In thousands of Estonian kroons (EEK)
6 mths to 6 mths to
30 June 02 30 June
01
Restated
Cash flows from operating
activities
Profit before tax and minority 572,426 530,938
interest
Adjustments for:
Depreciation and amortisation 511,830 521,066
Profit/loss from disposal of -52,693 -4,702
fixed assets
Income/ expense from 3,513 -32,684
subsidiaries and associates, net
Interests income/ expense, net -7,141 -4,572
Other non-cash adjustments 699 2,302
Operating profit before working 1,028,634 1,012,348
capital changes

Change in current receivables -73,961 -72,955
Change in inventories 1,019 -11,343
Change in current liabilities -1,800 -122,054
(except loans)
Adjusted cash generated from 953,892 805,996
operations
Interest paid -4,051 -10,971
Net cash flows provided by 949,841 795,025
operating activities
Cash flows from investing
activities
Purchase of tangible assets -185,544 -399,618
Purchase of licenses -11,135 -9,466
Purchase of shares, investments -10,000 -21,986
and other
Proceeds from sales of tangible 74,487 7,520
assets
Proceeds from sales of 0 43,500
associates
Loans granted -128 -319
Cash receipts from repayment of 24 52
loans
Dividends received 96 1
Interest received 11,005 16,265
Net cash flows used in investing -121,195 -364,051
activities
Cash flows from financing
activities
Proceeds from convertible long- 32 438
term debt
Repayment of convertible long- -8 -8
term debt
Proceeds from nonconvertible 1,235 0
long-term debt
Repayment of nonconvertible long- -3,783 -3,402
term debt
Repayment of long-term -15,941 -20,245
borrowings
Payment of finance lease 0 -16,629
liabilities
Dividends paid -755,617 -755,617
Net cash flows used in financing -774,082 -795,463
activities
Net increase / (decrease) in 54,564 -364,489
cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at 464,217 609,743
beginning of year
Cash and cash equivalents at end 518,781 245,254
of period

REVIEW REPORT


To the Management Board and shareholders of AS Eesti
Telekom:

We have reviewed the accompanying consolidated balance
sheets of AS Eesti Telekom and its subsidiaries ("the
Group") as at 30 June 2002 and 2001 and the related
consolidated statements of income, cash flows and changes in
shareholders’ equity for the periods from 1 January to
30 June 2002 and 2001, respectively. These consolidated
financial statements are the responsibility of the AS Eesti
Telekom management. Our responsibility is to issue a report
on these financial statements based on our review.

We conducted our review in accordance with the International
Standards on Auditing applicable to review engagements.
These Standards require that we plan and perform the review
to obtain moderate assurance as to whether the financial
statements are free of material misstatement. A review is
limited primarily to inquiries of Group’s personnel and
analytical procedures applied to financial data. It is
substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in
accordance with International Auditing Standards, the
objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding
the financial statements taken as a whole. We have not
performed an audit, and accordingly, we do not express an
audit opinion.

Based on our review, nothing has come to our attention that
causes us to believe that the accompanying consolidated
financial statements are not presented fairly, in all
material respects, in accordance with International
Accounting Standards.








Deloitte & Touche

17 July 2002


Hille Võrk
Finantsjuht
6 272 460

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