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EANS-Adhoc: Telekom Austria Group Acquires Two Cable Operators in Bulgaria (Ad-hoc Release)

  ad-hoc disclosure transmitted by euro adhoc with the aim of a Europe-wide
  distribution. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this
  announcement.
Company Information
15.09.2010
Shareholder Information
Telekom Austria Group Acquires Two Cable Operators in Bulgaria 
(Ad-hoc Release)
Vienna, 15 September 2010 - Today, the Telekom Austria Group (VSE: 
TKA, OTC US: TKAGY) announced that it has agreed to acquire 100% of 
Megalan Network AD and 100% of Spectrum Net AD, two cable operators 
in Bulgaria. The combined debt free value of both entities will 
amount to a total of EUR 83.0 mn. Telekom Austria Group will acquire 
both companies through its Bulgarian subsidiary Mobiltel and will pay
an amount of EUR 72.0 mn out of existing cash flow, which includes a 
performance oriented element of a total of EUR 14.5 mn. This portion 
of the purchase price will be paid by end of 2011 and is subject to 
the achievement of performance criteria.
The acquisitions are subject to the approval by the Bulgarian 
competition authority. Local management of Megalan and Spectrum Net 
will remain in place as both companies will operate as separate 
entities for approximately 18 months. However, product bundles under 
the M-Tel brand will already be launched in 2010.
"The convergence of fixed and mobile communication has become a key 
feature of the telecommunication market. This trend is clearly 
visible in Telekom Austria Group´s home market and now also 
increasingly shapes the competitive environment in Bulgaria. As such,
the planned acquisition of two cable operators will be the natural 
next step for Mobiltel. It will allow Mobiltel to become a fully 
integrated operator and to participate in the strong anticipated 
growth of fixed broadband, IPTV and convergent products. Moreover, 
this step will further strengthen its leading position and will 
ensure future growth in an existing market, a continuation of Telekom
Austria Group´s strategy", says Hannes Ametsreiter, CEO of Telekom 
Austria Group.
The two companies complement each other through their product 
offerings and will enable Mobiltel to address both business and 
residential customers. Megalan is the leading provider of residential
broadband in Sofia and offers broadband as well as IPTV services. 
Spectrum Net focuses with broadband and voice services on business 
customers in Bulgaria´s major cities. Combined the two companies had 
85,400 access lines by year end 2009. In 2009, the two companies 
generated a total of EUR 25.3 mn of revenues and EUR 7.0 mn of 
EBITDA. For 2010, management expects the two companies to achieve a 
combined EBITDA of EUR 9.6 mn with further growth being anticipated 
in the future. Hence, the transaction´s EBITDA multiple for 2011 is 
estimated at approximately 6.8x.
"Both operations will immediately contribute positively to the 
Group´s cash flow. Moreover, the acquisitions are included in the 
current CAPEX guidance for the Group of EUR 0.75 - 0.80 bn for 2010 
and are in line with the Group´s stated cash use policy", states Hans
Tschuden, CFO of Telekom Austria Group. The planned acquisitions of 
Megalan and Spectrum Net will have no impact on the dividend floor of
EUR 0.75 until 2012.
Financial overview
|Pro forma 2009       |Megalan               |Spectrum Net*         |
|                     |                      |                      |
|Revenues (EUR mn)    |6.5                   |18.8                  |
|EBITDA (EUR mn)      |3.9                   |3.1                   |
|CAPEX (EUR mn)       |1.6                   |1.3                   |
|Access lines (000)   |55.6                  |29.8                  |
* Consolidated values of Spectrum Net and its fully owned subsidiary Orbitel
EAD
Disclaimer: This document contains forward-looking statements that 
involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are
usually accompanied by words such as "believe," "intend," 
"anticipate," "plan," "expect" and similar expressions. Actual 
results 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. These factors include, but are not limited to, the 
following: 1) the level of demand for telecommunications services or 
equipment, particularly with regard to access lines, traffic, 
bandwidth and new products; 2) competitive forces in liberalized 
markets, including pricing pressures, technological developments, 
alternative routing developments and new access technologies, and our
ability to retain market share in the face of competition from 
existing and new market entrants; 3) the effects of our tariff 
reduction or other marketing initiatives; 4) the regulatory 
developments and changes, including the levels of tariffs, the terms 
of interconnection, unbundling of access lines and international 
settlement arrangements; 5) our ability to achieve cost savings and 
realize productivity improvements; 6) the success of new business, 
operating and financial initiatives, many of which involve start-up 
costs, and new systems and applications, particularly with regard to 
the integration of service offerings; 7) our ability to secure the 
licenses we need to offer new services and the cost of these licenses
and related network infrastructure build-outs; 8) the progress of our
domestic and international investments, joint ventures and alliances;
9) the impact of our new business strategies and transformation 
program; 10) the availability, terms and deployment of capital and 
the impact of regulatory and competitive developments on capital 
expenditure; 11) the outcome of litigation in which we are involved; 
12) the level of demand in the market for our shares which can affect
our business strategies; 13) changes in the law including regulatory,
civil servants and social security law, including pensions and tax 
law; and general economic conditions, government and regulatory 
policies, and business conditions in the markets we serve.
Through its expansion into the Eastern and South-eastern European 
region, the company operates in markets that have been experiencing 
political and economic change. This circumstance has affected, and 
may continue to affect, the activities of enterprises operating in 
this environment. Consequently, operations in the Eastern and 
South-eastern European region involve uncertainties, including tax 
uncertainties and risks related to foreign exchange rates that 
typically do not exist in other markets.
Due to rounding differences deviations in subtotals and totals may 
occur.
end of announcement                               euro adhoc

Further inquiry note:

Matthias Stieber
Director Investor Relations
Tel.: +43 (0) 50 664 39126
mailto:matthias.stieber@telekomaustria.com

Branche: Telecommunications
ISIN: AT0000720008
WKN: 555750
Index: WBI, ATX Prime, ATX
Börsen: Wien / official market

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