Telekom Austria sees flat 2012 sales, core profit

VIENNA: Telekom Austria forecast 2012 sales and core profit may nearly match 2011 levels that met market expectations on Thursday.

It said it expected revenues of approximately 4.4 billion euros ($5.83 billion) and adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of approximately 1.5 billion versus 4.46 billion and 1.53 billion respectively in 2011.

Fourth-quarter adjusted EBITDA fell 4.7 percent to 336.9 million euros, in line with the average estimate of 332 million in a Reuters poll of analysts.

The company lost a net 321.5 million euros in the quarter - worse than expected in the poll - after taking a well-flagged impairment charge linked to hyperinflation in Belarus.