Release of 29.04.2019

Results for the 1st Quarter 2019

This press release has: 3 Documents
Key financial and operating highlights

  • Group total revenues increased by 1.5%, with service revenue growth in all parts of the business.
  • Fixed-line service revenues were higher in all markets, with particularly strong growth in solutions and connectivity revenues in Austria.
  • Mobile service revenues rose with increases or stable developments in all markets, driven by the ongoing strong demand for mobile WiFi routers.
    • Austrian mobile service revenues were stable as retail mobile service revenue growth outweighed lower visitor roaming and interconnection revenues.
  • Mobile contract subscribers rose by 3.6% with growth in all markets except for Bulgaria where the decline was due to a cleaning of inactive SIM-cards. Fixed-line RGUs increased by 3.5%, with broadband RGU growth in all convergent markets except for Austria and higher TV RGUs.
  • Group EBITDA excluding restructuring charges increased by 1.9% driven by higher service revenues.
    • While Austria continued to show solid operational trends, EBITDA excluding restructuring declined due to a lower equipment margin and higher workforce costs. Both were particularly supportive in the comparison period.
    • On a reported basis, EBITDA declined due to restructuring charges in Austria, which amounted to EUR 20.9 mn in Q1 2019 (no restructuring charges in Q1 2018).
  • Net result increased from EUR 28.4 mn in Q1 2018 to EUR 85.9 mn positively impacted by the brand amortization of last year.
  • Free cash flow declined by 58.3% driven by higher capex paid and lower net cash flow from operating activities due to seasonally high needs for working capital.
  • Capital expenditures rose by 8.6% to EUR 157.9 mn due to higher investments in the fiber roll-out and for IT customer projects in Austria. Additionally, 2.1 GHz spectrum was acquired in Croatia. Spectrum was also acquired in Austria (3.5 GHz) and in Belarus (2.1 GHz) but has not yet been included in capital expenditures as approvals were received in April.
  • In March, velcom in Belarus entered into an agreement with beCloud relating to LTE capacities and officially launched its LTE services in Minsk and other relevant cities. In April, the launch of the ‘A1’ brand was successfully started.
  • Outlook for the full year 2019 remains unchanged: Group revenue growth of ~ 2%; CAPEX (ex spectrum and acquisitions) of ~ EUR 770 mn; dividend of EURc 21 (intended proposal to the AGM 2020)


Further information can be found here:
https://www.a1.group/en/investor-relations


Disclaimer for forward-looking statements:
This document contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are usually accompanied by words such as "believe", "intend", "anticipate", "plan", "expect" and similar expressions. Actual events may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of important factors could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. Neither A1 Telekom Austria Group nor any other person accepts any liability for any such forward-looking statements. A1 Telekom Austria Group will not update these forward-looking statements, whether due to changed factual circumstances, changes in assumptions or expectations. This report does not constitute a recommendation or invitation to purchase or sell securities of A1 Telekom Austria Group.