ROSTELECOM'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS DIVIDEND PAYMENT FOR 2017
Moscow, Russia - May 18, 2018 - Rostelecom PJSC (MOEX: RTKM, RTKMP; OTCQX: ROSYY), Russia's national telecommunications operator, today announces that its Board of Directors has approved an agenda for the Annual General Meeting (the "AGM") as well as recommended dividend payment for 2017.
Rostelecom's Board of Directors has recommended that the AGM approves a 2017 dividend payment on both ordinary and preferred shares of RUB 14.050 billion, or 100% of IFRS[1] net profit. The dividends are to be paid as follows:
- RUB 5.05 per Class A preferred share[2];
- RUB 5.05 per ordinary share[3].
The record date for receiving dividends has been set at July 8, 2018.
Mikhail Oseevskiy, the President of the Company commented on the BoD recommendation on dividends:
"The level of dividends the BoD proposes to the AGM reflects the company's actual performance in the reporting period. This year we intend to distribute the largest portion of free cash flow and the whole net profit generated in 2017. Thus, the company will pay to its shareholders more than RUB 45 billion within the three years of 2015-2017, as stipulated in the dividend policy for the mentioned period.
In March this year, we updated our strategy and dividend policy, setting a minimum threshold of RUB 5 for the dividend per one ordinary share. Consistent implementation of our new strategic goals will contribute to solid dividend payments to our shareholders in line with the new dividend policy as we aim to deliver a leading dividend yield across the industry."
The AGM will be held on June 18, 2018 in the conference hall of the Radisson Slavyanskaya Hotel and Business Centre, Europe Square, 2, Moscow. The record date to participate in the AGM has been previously set by the BoD at May 24, 2018.
The 2017 AGM materials will be available on Rostelecom's official website http://www.rostelecom.ru/ir/agm/events/gosa/detail/2017/.
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Rostelecom (www.rostelecom.ru) is one of the largest national telecommunications operators in Russia and Europe. The Company operates in all segments of the telecommunications market and covers millions of households in Russia.
Rostelecom is an undisputable leader of the broadband and pay-TV markets in Russia with over 12.7 million fixed-line broadband subscribers and over 9.9 million pay-TV subscribers, over 5.0 million of which are subscribed to Rostelecom's IPTV services.
In the first quarter of 2018, the Group generated RUB 76.2 billion of revenues, RUB 23.2 billion of OIBDA (30.4% of revenue) and RUB 3.9 billion of net income.
The Group is a market leader in providing telecommunications services to government bodies and corporates of all levels.
Rostelecom is an important innovator that provides solutions in the field of E-Government, cloud computing, healthcare, education, security and housing & utility services.
The Group's stable financial position confirmed by its credit ratings. Rostelecom was assigned 'BBB-' and 'BB+' international credit ratings by Fitch Ratings and Standard&Poor's respectively, and AA(RU) by ACRA.
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Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws and intended to be covered by the safe harbours created thereby.
Those forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:
- Assessment of PAO Rostelecom's (the Company) future operating and financial results as well as forecasts of the present value of future cash flows and related factors;
- The Company's plans to take ownership stakes in other organisations;
- the Company's anticipated capital expenditures and plans to construct and modernize its network;
- the Company's expectations as to the growth in demand for its services, plans relating to the expansion of the range of its services and their pricing;
- the Company's plans with respect to improving its corporate governance practices;
- the Company's expectations as to its position in the telecommunications market and forecasts on the development of the market segments within which the Company operates;
- economic outlook and industry trends;
- the Company's expectations as to the regulation of the Russian telecommunications industry and assessment of impact of regulatory initiatives on the Company's activity;
- other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts.
Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include:
- risks relating to changes in political, economic and social conditions in Russia as well as changes in global economic conditions;
- risks relating to Russian legislation, regulation and taxation, including laws, regulations, decrees and decisions governing the Russian telecommunications industry, securities industry as well as currency and exchange controls relating to Russian entities and their official interpretation by regulatory bodies;
- risks relating to the Company, including the achievement of the anticipated results, levels of profitability and growth, ability to create and meet demand for the Company's services including their promotions, and the ability of the Company to remain competitive in a liberalized telecommunications market;
- technological risks associated with the functioning and development of the telecommunications infrastructure, technological innovations as well as the convergence of technologies;
- other risks and uncertainties. For a more detailed discussion of these and other factors, see the Company's Annual Report and the Company's other public filings.
Many of these factors are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict. Given these and other uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of the forward-looking statements contained herein or otherwise. The Company does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements (which are made as of the date hereof) to reflect events or circumstances upon the annual report publication or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable laws.
Note: This announcement contains inside information in accordance with Article 7 of EU Regulation 596/2014 of November 10, 2014
Full name and position making the announcement - Ekaterina Ustinova, IR Director.
