Johan Dennelind: An okay quarter for Telia, the Swedish newspaper svenska Dagbladet

Telia, with the ceo, Johan Dennelind, reports the financial statements for 2016. Arkivbild. Photo: Joakim Goksör/TT

Telia Sonera reports a pre-tax profit of 7 671 million for the fourth quarter of 2016. It can be compared with the gain on 2, 033 million in the corresponding period in 2015.

– It is an ok quarter. We know that we have more potential. It is a first quarter which we have intäktsväxt for the whole group on a quarterly basis (in 2016). Even if it is little it is a signal that we manage to balance the old products and intäktsfall with new intäktsgrupper, says Teliasonera ceo Johan Dennelind, about the report.

the Board of directors now proposes a dividend to shareholders of sek 2 per share, which means a reduction in the dividend in the year low of sek 3 per share.

Telia fit in connection with the the financial statements to update its guidelines for the payment of the dividend. The dividend policy now says that 80% of free cash flow, excluding licenses, for continuing operations is to be distributed. In the previous policy included licenspengarna.

For the 2017 expect Telia with free cash flow exceeding sek 7 billion, against last year’s 5.5 billion.

“This operational free cash flow, along with dividends from associated companies, should cover a dividend around 2016 level. For 2018 and 2019, we aim to further improve operational cash flow,” writes Teliasonera’s ceo Johan Dennelind, in a comment.

When it comes to sales of Telia’s assets in Eurasia writes ceo Johan Dennelind, in a comment to the financial statements that Telia expects that it should be completed this year.

“We believe that it is very likely that the assets of Eurasia will be sold in 2017,” he writes.

The most difficult to predict when it comes to the company’s exit from the region is, according to Dennelind, when you should be able to sell Ucell in Uzbekistan. Telia are negotiating still with us and the Dutch authorities about the large fine of 1.45 billion dollars that was proposed to make up about suspected corruption in the country.

The underlying operating profit before non-recurring items decreased 2.7 percent to 6 380 million. It was in line with expectations and compares with an underlying profit of 6 556 million a year earlier.

net Sales totaled to 21 of 130 million kronor, compared with 22 638 million a year earlier.