Mobile TeleSystems Announces Financial Results for the Third Quarter Ended September 30, 2015

MOSCOW, November 17, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

Mobile TeleSystems PJSC ("MTS" NYSE: MBT; MOEX: MTSS), the leading telecommunications provider in Russia and the CIS, today announces its unaudited IFRS financial results for the three months ended September 30, 2015. 

Key Financial Highlights of Q3 2015 

• Consolidated group revenue increased 7.4% y-o-y to RUB 115.0 bln
• Total revenue in Russia rose 4.7% y-o-y to RUB 103.9 bln
• Mobile service revenue in Russia improved 1.0% y-o-y to RUB 78.0 bln
• Data traffic revenue in Russia grew 20.2% y-o-y to RUB 20.6 bln
• Handset sales in Russia increased 58.8% y-o-y to RUB 12.6 bln
• Group Adjusted OIBDA down 1.9% y-o-y to RUB 48.0 bln
• OIBDA in Russia down 2.1% y-o-y to RUB 44.5 bln
• MTS raises its Group guidance:
  • Group revenue growth of more than 4%
  • Revenue growth in MTS Russia of more than 4%
• MTS reiterates its guidance:
  • Group OIBDA margin of more than 40%
  • FY2015 CAPEX in the amount of RUB 92 bln reflecting planned investments in 3G network development in Ukraine

Key Corporate and Industry Highlights 

• Extension of strategic partner market agreement with Vodafone expanding the scope of new partnership in Ukraine where the companies will roll out 3G and develop new services in the market using the Vodafone brand
• Acquisition of the licenses to provision mobile telecommunications services in the GSM standard, LTE standard and its subsequent modifications in the 1710-1785 MHz and 1805-1880 MHz ranges in Amur Region, North-Ossetia-Alania, Orenburg Region, Perm Krai and in Komi-Perm District, for a total amount of RUB 1.91 bln through an auction held by The Federal Service for Supervision in the Sphere of Communications, Information Technologies and Mass Media (Roskmonadzor)
• Signing of strategic partnership agreement with Google to promote mobile Internet technologies and Google search services in Russia
• Redemption of the RUB 10 bln series 02 ruble-denominated
• Repurchase of the series 08 ruble denominated bond in the amount of RUB 12.9 bln
• Payout of the semi-annual dividends of RUB 5.61 per ordinary MTS share (RUB 11.22 per ADR), or a total of RUB 11.592 bln based on H1 2015 financial results

Commentary 

Mr. Andrei Dubovskov, MTS President and CEO, commented, "In Q3 2015, we delivered a 7.4% year-over-year increase in Group revenue to RUB 115.0 bln. This growth was driven by strong data adoption across our operating markets, and in Russia, our topline was supported by increasing smartphone sales across our retail network. Group adjusted OIBDA was RUB 48.0 bln, a slight decline year-over-year as a result of due to the impact of inflationary costs, reduced profitability in our non-Russian businesses, and the impact of our new commercial policies in retail. However, on a quarterly basis, revenue and Adjusted OIBDA increased by more than 12%, which allowed MTS to once again outpace the market."

Mr. Vasyl Latsanych, MTS Vice President for Marketing, said, "For the quarter, total revenue in Russia increased by 4.7% year-over-year to RUB 103.9 billion. Growth in our mobile business revenue equaled 6.4% as data usage continues to drive growth. Data usage continues to be a primary driver of growth as data traffic revenue increased by more than 20% year-over-year and smartphone penetration exceeded 47%."

Mr. Alexey Kornya, MTS Vice President for Finance and Investments, said, "In Russia, OIBDA for the period was RUB 44.5 bln, or 2.1% below Q3 2014, as increased handset sales put pressure on profitability. Group net income declined 6.6% year-over-year to RUB 14.4 bln, due to the impact of OIBDA dynamics and a non-cash RUB 3.3 bln FOREX loss based on the value of our non-ruble denominated debt. Free cash flow for the first nine months amounted to RUB 29.2 bln, and CAPEX reached RUB 73.1 bln. We had accelerated our network build-out to H1 2015 from H2 2015, so our run-rate is higher compared to last year. For the full year 2015, we expect CAPEX to be in line with our guidance of RUB 92 bln, which includes the planned construction of 3G networks in Ukraine."

Mr. Andrei Dubovskov concluded, "We continue to see resilient markets in our countries of operation and deliver strong topline growth through a sustained increase in the usage of voice and data products and vigorous sales of data generating devices in Russia. Strong momentum in sales allows us to raise both our Group, and Russia, revenue guidance to more than 4%.  We also reiterate our Group OIBDA margin guidance of more than 40% as we continue to deliver on our market-leading and innovative commercial strategies."

Additional Information 

MTS continues to see sustained macroeconomic volatility in its markets of operations that may impact the financial and operational performance throughout the Group.

MTS announces that as the Company had previously disclosed, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and the SEC are conducting an investigation into MTS's business activities in Uzbekistan. In addition, MTS publicly confirmed that it had been referenced in a civil forfeiture complaint, filed by the DOJ, directed at certain assets of an unnamed Uzbek government official. The complaint alleges that MTS made corrupt payments to gain access to the Uzbek telecommunications market. The Complaint alleges among other things that MTS and certain other parties made corrupt payments to the unnamed Uzbek official to assist MTS entering and operating in the Uzbekistan telecommunications market. The Complaint is solely directed towards assets held by the unnamed Uzbek official, and none of MTS's assets are affected by the Complaint.

MTS has made no provision in relation to the investigation conducted by the US Department of Justice and the SEC regarding MTS's business activities in Uzbekistan.  In accordance with IAS 37 Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets, a provision should be recognized when a legal or constructive obligation exists and such an obligation can be reliably estimated. MTS continues to cooperate with the authorities.   At the current stage of the investigations, MTS has no reliable basis to predict any outcome.

This press release provides a summary of some of the key financial and operating indicators for the period ended September 30, 2015. For full disclosure materials, please visit http://www.mtsgsm.com/resources/reports/.

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Mobile TeleSystems PJSC ("MTS" - NYSE:MBT; MOEX:MTSS) is the leading telecommunications group in Russia, Central and Eastern Europe.  We provide wireless Internet access and fixed voice, broadband and pay-TV to over 100 million customers who value high-quality of service at a competitive price. Our wireless and fixed-line networks deliver best-in-class speeds and coverage throughout Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus. To keep pace with evolving customer demand, we continue to grow through innovative products, investments in our market-leading retail platform, mobile payment services, e-commerce and IT solutions. For more information, please visit: http://www.mtsgsm.com.have been listed on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker symbol MBT). Additional information about the MTS Group can be found at http://www.mtsgsm.com.

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Some of the information in this press release may contain projections or other forward-looking statements regarding future events or the future financial performance of MTS, as defined in the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify forward looking statements by terms such as "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "will," "could," "may" or "might," and the negative of such terms or other similar expressions.  We wish to caution you that these statements are only predictions and that actual events or results may differ materially. We do not undertake or intend to update these statements to reflect events and circumstances occurring after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. We refer you to the documents MTS files from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, specifically the Company's most recent Form 20-F. These documents contain and identify important factors, including those contained in the section captioned "Risk Factors" that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those contained in our projections or forward-looking statements, including, among others, the severity and duration of current economic and financial conditions, including volatility in interest and exchange rates, commodity and equity prices and the value of financial assets; the impact of Russian, U.S. and other foreign government programs to restore liquidity and stimulate national and global economies, our ability to maintain our current credit rating and the impact on our funding costs and competitive position if we do not do so, strategic actions, including acquisitions and dispositions and our success in integrating acquired businesses, potential fluctuations in quarterly results, our competitive environment, dependence on new service development and tariff structures, rapid technological and market change, acquisition strategy, risks associated with telecommunications infrastructure, governmental regulation of the telecommunications industries and other risks associated with operating in Russia and the CIS, volatility of stock price, financial risk management and future growth subject to risks.

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For further information, please contact in Moscow:

Joshua B. Tulgan
Director, Corporate Finance & Investor Relations
Mobile TeleSystems PJSC
Tel: +7-495-223-2025
E-mail: ir@mts.ru

Learn more about MTS. Visit the official blog of the Investor Relations Department at http://www.mtsgsm.com/blog/ and follow us on Twitter: JoshatMTS