Ad-hoc | 2 March 2005 22:38
Deutsche Telekom AG: Financial Year 2004
Ad hoc announcement §15 WpHG
Financial Year 2004
Deutsche Telekom AG: Financial Year 2004
Ad hoc announcement transmitted by DGAP.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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end of ad hoc announcement
Deutsche Telekom AG
Friedrich Ebert Allee 140
53113 Bonn
Deutschland
ISIN: DE0005557508 (DAX)
WKN: 555750
Listed: Amtlicher Markt in Berlin-Bremen, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt (Prime
Standard), Hamburg, Hannover, München und Stuttgart; EUREX; London; Amsterdam;
NASDAQ Europe; Virtex; New York (ADR); Tokio
End of ad hoc announcement (c)DGAP 02.03.2005
Issuer’s information/explanatory remarks concerning this ad hoc announcement:
part 2 of Issuer’s information/explanatory remarks
Deutsche Telekom ended the 2004 financial year with net income
of EUR 4.6 billion, thus clearly achieving its goal of continued
profitable growth. Net revenue increased by 3.7 percent to
EUR 57.9 billion in 2004 compared with EUR 55.8 billion in 2003.
Exchange rate effects and first-time consolidations of
EUR 0.7 billion and deconsolidations of EUR 0.4 billion had a
negative impact on revenue in the year under review. Adjusted for
these factors, organic revenue growth amounted to 5.8 percent. Revenue
growth in the Group was mainly attributable to mobile communications
and broadband business. At EUR 19.4 (previous year 18.3) billion,
Deutsche Telekom recorded an increase in EBITDA excluding special
factors of 5.9 percent. Organic EBITDA, adjusted for exchange rate
fluctuations and changes in the composition of the Group, rose by as
much as 7.1 percent to EUR 19.5 billion. The adjusted EBITDA margin
increased from 32.8 percent to 33.5 percent. Operating results in 2003
amounted to EUR 5.4 billion; in 2004, the Group generated
EUR 9.9 billion – an increase of roughly 83 percent. In addition to
sustained revenue growth and the resulting improvement in adjusted
EBITDA, special factors also had a positive impact on operating results.
These special factors were mainly attributable to the write-up for
U.S. mobile communications licenses and proceeds from disposals.
Excluding special factors, operating results improved from
EUR 5.2 billion in 2003 to EUR 6.9 billion in 2004. The considerable
increase in net income from EUR 1.3 billion to EUR 4.6 billion in 2004
resulted from the positive development of the operating results and
the improvement in financial expense. Adjusted net income increased
from EUR 0.2 billion to EUR 2.2 billion.
Net debt decreased by EUR 11.4 billion to EUR 35.2 billion in 2004.
This was achieved primarily due to free cash flow and the sale of
investments, such as the sale of a share in the Russian mobile
communications company MTS. In 2004, free cash flow before dividend
payments amounted to EUR 10.2 billion compared with EUR 8.3 billion
the previous year. The ratio of net debt to adjusted EBITDA was 1.8
at December 31, 2004.
As a result of the encouraging performance in the 2004 financial year,
the Board of Management plans, subject to final approval by the
Supervisory Board, to propose to the shareholders’ meeting a dividend
of EUR 0.62 per share carrying dividend rights.
In 2005, Deutsche Telekom expects adjusted EBITDA, calculated in
accordance with IFRS, to be between EUR 20.7 billion and EUR 21.0 billion.
The Group plans to invest between EUR 7.5 billion and EUR 8.0 billion
in property, plant and equipment and expects to generate free cash flow
in the same amount. Deutsche Telekom expects additional cash outflows
as a result of the acquisition of additional mobile communications
licenses in the U.S. and the reintegration of T-Online. Deutsche Telekom
considers the dividend to be paid for 2004 a guide for future dividend
payments. Any decisions regarding future dividend payments will,
however, be based on the development of net income.
This notification contains forward-looking statements that reflect the
current views of the Deutsche Telekom management with respect to future
events. Forward-looking statements are based on current plans, estimates
and projections, and therefore too much reliance should not be placed on
them. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, most of
which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond Deutsche
Telekom’s control, including those described in the sections
“Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” of the Form 20-F
submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. If these
or other risks and uncertainties materialize, or if the assumptions
underlying any of these statements prove incorrect, Deutsche Telekom’s
actual results may be materially different from those expressed or
implied by such statements. Deutsche Telekom does not assume any obligation
to update forward-looking statements to take new information or future
events into account. In addition to the figures shown in accordance with
German GAAP, Deutsche Telekom also shows so-called pro forma figures,
e.g., EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, net debt, and free cash flow. These pro
forma financial measures should be considered in addition to, but not
as a substitute for, the information prepared in accordance with German
GAAP. For a definition of these pro forma figures, please refer to
the explanations under “Reconciliation to pro forma figures” on
Deutsche Telekom’s Investor Relations website at www.deutschetelekom.com.
– End of Issuer’s information/explanatory remarks –
End of message (c)DGAP
022238 Mär 05