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Hutchison Telecom reports financial results for 2009(Telecomworldwire Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Telecoms services provider Hutchison Telecommunications International Limited (HTIL) (SEHK:2332) (NYSE:HTX) announced on Thursday its 2009 annual results and its fourth quarter key performance indicators. The company said that in 2009 it added approximately 6.3m customers to end the year with a customer base of approximately 12.8m, which reflected an annual growth of approximately 98% on a like-for-like basis, which was driven mainly by the expansion of the network coverage in Indonesia and the relaunch of its business in Vietnam. Turnover rose 2.7% year-on-year to HKD1.8bn. The increase was driven mainly by the larger Indonesia operation and the revenue generated by the newly launched GSM services in Vietnam, offset in part by a revenue decrease in the group's Sri Lanka and Thailand operations. The company's loss before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation ('LBITDA') increased to HKD1.8bn, compared to HKD1.6bn in 2008. This was mainly due to the higher operating expenses incurred from the expanded network rollout in Indonesia and Vietnam. The group operating loss from continuing operations was HKD2.1bn, compared to HKD813m in 2008. Excluding the profit on disposal of base tower sites and other one-time items, the operating loss would have been HKD2.5bn, compared to HKD2bn in 2008 on a like-for-like basis. Profit for the year was HKD58bn, which included the gain of approximately HKD6.3bn on disposal of the group's entire indirect stake in Partner Communications Company Ltd. Profit attributable to equity holders of the company was HKD4.9bn and basic earnings per share was HKD1.03 compared to HKD0.24 in 2008. During the year, the company paid an interim dividend by way of a distribution in specie of the entire share capital of Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Holdings Ltd. The board did not recommend a final dividend for the year ended 31 December 2009. (USD1=HKD7.76) ((Comments on this story may be sent to [email protected])) (c) 2010 M2 COMMUNICATIONS |