Mario Rosso appointed new CEO of Tiscali; group reports consolidated revenues for 2007 of €910M, up 34% year on year

February 29, 2008

3 Min Read

CAGLIARI, Italy -- The Board of Director has examined the preliminary results for FY2007 detailed below.

Also following the successful completion of the capital increase transaction, the Board has then determined that the phase of strategic repositioning and financial strengthening of the last two years is completed.

Tommaso Pompei, in agreement with the Company, has therefore renounced his powers, intending to remain as Director until the ordinary expiration of the term of the entire Board, and as such, until the approval of the 2007 financial statements. The Directors Gabriele Racugno and Rocco Sabelli have resigned with immediate effect.

The Company warmly thanks Tommaso Pompei for his activity in the past two years, which has allowed the Company to achieve important targets in key markets.

The Board of Directors of Tiscali has confirmed the intention of the Company to pursue the objectives of the Strategic Plan and in the same time evaluate every strategic alternative to generate further value for shareholders, in relation with the ongoing consolidation process in the telecommunication arena in Europe.

The Board of Directors has therefore asked Mario Rosso to oversee and coordinate this new strategic phase for the Company, by appointing him as CEO of Tiscali.

Mario Rosso, with a long standing managerial experience in large industrial corporations, has a deep knowledge of the Tiscali Group and of its potential, by holding managerial and planning roles in the Group through its development phase and, ultimately, by becoming a Director.

Tiscali’s Board of Directors approves preliminary results for the year endingDecember 31, 2007. Group’s revenues grew by 34%, EBITDA by 60%. Net debtreduction after rights issue.

Tiscali Group’s consolidated revenues for the year ending December 31, 2007 stoodat EUR 910 million, up 34% YoY. Organic growth, net of the acquisition of thebroadband and voice divisions of Pipex, consolidated from September 2007, stood atapproximately 18% YoY.

The Gross Operating Result (EBITDA) of the Group is EUR 160 million, in line with theobjectives of the business plan and up 60% compared to 2006. In 2007, net of Pipex,the Gross Operating Result (EBITDA) grew organically by 40%.

As expected, DSL users in Italy grew by approximately 30,000 in the last quarter of2007, to over 547,000, of which over 160,000 are double play customers, thanks to thesuccess of the latest marketing campaigns. In the UK ADSL “retail” users stood atapproximately 1.73 million, of which 787,000 double play, up 10,000 compared to thesame data as of September 30, 2007 and in line with the business plan targets. Todate, following a new marketing campaign, Tiscali UK has recorded 90,000 newcustomer registrations, 70% of which subscribing to dual play services.

Revenues of Tiscali Italia SpA stood, in line with the business plan, at EUR 277 million,up 24% compared to 2006 and UK revenues stood at EUR 608 million up 36%compared to 2006 (11% organic growth YoY).

Consolidated revenues reflect the EUR/Sterling exchange rate depreciation throughoutthe last months of 2007, which explains the gap between revenues and the businessplan’s targets.

The net financial position as of December 31, 2007 stood at approximately EUR 640million, EUR 38 million lower than the business plan targets. Following thereimbursement of the bridge loan to finance the acquisition of Pipex with the proceedsfrom the recently completed capital increase, the net debt position would beapproximately EUR 490 million, resulting from EUR 160 million of cash equivalents andapproximately EUR 650 million of financial debt, of which over EUR 600 million ofmedium-long term financing.

Tiscali SpA

Subscribe and receive the latest news from the industry.
Join 62,000+ members. Yes it's completely free.

You May Also Like