Telekom Austria reported second-quarter revenues down 1.9 percent from a year earlier to EUR 1.043 billion, led by weaker sales in its home market and Bulgaria on termination rate cuts and difficult market conditions. EBITDA fell 9.2 percent to EUR 330.3 million, as cost reduction efforts were unable to offset higher costs for customer acquisition and marketing. Net profit improved 54 percent to EUR 52.2 million, thanks to lower costs for restructuring, depreciation and financing. Capex fell slightly to EUR 176 million, and operating cash flow improved 6.9 percent to EUR 302 million.
Telekom Austria maintained its full-year outlook for revenues of around EUR 4.1 billion, with competition, regulation and a difficult economy in eastern Europe expected to continue to weigh on results. The group will continue to focus on cost reductions, targeting savings of EUR 100 million in 2013. It slightly lowered its annual capex budget to EUR 650-700 million, from approximately EUR 700 million previously, and maintained its outlook for an annual dividend of at least EUR 0.05 per share.
