1st Quarter Results

OTE GROUP REPORTS 2011 FIRST QUARTER RESULTS

UNDER IFRS

·; Results severely impacted by adverse economic environment, regulatory constraints, intense competition across all markets

·; Groupwide employee retirement and restructuring plans underway

o €40mn charge in Q1 for headcount reduction (ca. 1,600 employees across the Group)

·; Cost-cutting initiatives (€32mn) announced in Greek Fixed Line

·; Proposed €0.1179 per share dividend

ATHENS, Greece - May 6, 2011 - Hellenic Telecommunications Organization SA (ASE: HTO, OTC MARKET: HLTOY), the Greek full-service telecommunications provider, today announced unaudited consolidated results (prepared under IFRS) for the quarter ended March 31, 2011:

* Certain reclassifications have been made for presentation purposes (See Exhibit IX)

** See Exhibit VIII

*** Excluding impact of Voluntary Retirement Programs and Restructuring Plans

Commenting on OTE's performance in the first quarter, Michael Tsamaz, Chairman & CEO, said: "Confronted with the same set of challenges as in late 2010, chiefly further economic disruption and uncompetitive pricing in regulated segments, our top line this quarter showed a similar trend as in the fourth quarter of last year. In Greek mobile, the drop reflects comparison with a particularly strong base, before the onset of last year's price war, but we have started seeing signs of stabilization in recent months." 

Mr. Tsamaz added: "As I pointed out at the time of our full-year results, we are conscious of the urgent need for correction and have started taking decisive measures. These actions, that would not have been conceivable in the past, should not be expected to produce results overnight. In addition to further headcount reductions, which are impacting our results this quarter, we are eliminating a number of legacy cost items that the Group can no longer afford. With revenues showing some signs of stabilization and cost-cutting measures gradually beginning to kick in, we expect that OTE's performance will start improving in the latter part of the year."

Financial Highlights

BREAKDOWN OF GROUP REVENUES

*Starting Q2'10, this new line contains items that are not included in revenues and in operating expenses

The OTE Group experienced a revenue decline of 12.6% in Q1'11, reflecting continued unfavorable economic and consumer spending conditions in all its markets, the adverse regulatory environment in Greece, and intense competition. While the drop in Greek fixed-line revenues was slightly less pronounced than in the previous quarter, Greek mobile revenues were down sharply in the first two months of the year against a period in 2010 that was not yet affected by aggressive competitive moves. Outside of Greece, the trend in Romanian fixed-line was unchanged from the prior quarter, while international mobile revenues suffered a steeper decline.

Total Operating Expenses, excluding depreciation, amortization and charges related to voluntary retirement programs, amounted to €794.0mn in Q1'11, a drop of 11.2% compared to €894.6mn in Q1'10. The decrease reflects lower charges from domestic telephony operators, lower costs of telecommunications equipment as well as considerable cost-containment efforts in all operations, leading to lower personnel and other expenses. In the quarter, the Group took charges of €39.7mn related to headcount reduction and early retirement programs (€8mn covering around 250 employees in Greek fixed-line operations; €11mn for over 300 employees of mobile operations and Germanos in Greece; nearly €21mn for over 1,000 employees of RomTelecom). Some of these employees left the Group towards the end of Q1'11, with the balance departing in the current and coming quarters.

The Group posted net income of €30.2mn for the quarter, 54.1% lower than in the comparable 2010 quarter.

Capital expenditures decreased by 13.0% in Q1'11 compared to Q1'10, to €166.5mn. Total CAPEX as a percentage of Group revenues in Q1'11 was 13.6%, as compared to 13.7% in Q1'10. Capital expenditures in Greek fixed-line, Romanian fixed-line, and mobile operations amounted to €33.9mn, €29.8mn and €100.6mn, respectively.

During the quarter the Group generated €168.4mn in operating cash flow compared to €202.9mn for the comparable 2010 quarter. In addition to the fall in revenue, the decline is primarily due to higher working capital needs, chiefly restocking in mobile operations.

1. Fixed Line Operations, Greece

ACCESS LINES & TRAFFIC STATISTICS

Note: Starting Q1 2011, to harmonize access line data with those utilized by the Greek regulatory authorities, OTE reports data based on the total number of ISDN connections rather than on channel equivalents. The corresponding total is provided above under "Total connections".

In Q1'11, OTE fixed-line operations in Greece recorded further line losses, reflecting continuing pressure on businesses and consumers alike to reduce their spending, notably on telecommunications services. Nearly 99,000 OTE PSTN and ISDN connections were disconnected in the quarter, marking a slight improvement from prior quarters.

The total Greek ADSL market exceeded 2.6 million subscribers as of end March 2011, compared to 2.3 million at the end of Q1'10. During the quarter, total market net additions amounted to nearly 82,000, reflecting a significant slowdown in total market growth rate. Against this backdrop OTE recorded a net increase of over 5,000 ADSL subscribers, as the Company's ability to compete was once again impacted by regulatory delays in the approval of its products, while its competitors have launched intense pricing campaigns. The Greek regulator estimates that voice-only service accounts for approximately 20% of all LLU subscriptions in the country.

OTE signed up an additional 6,400 IPTV subscribers during the quarter, bringing the total to over 56,000, and is working on the launch of its Satellite TV platform.

SUMMARY FINANCIAL DATA

* Excluding impact of Voluntary Retirement Programs

In the business segment, line cancellations resulted from the public sector's rationalization of its telecommunications infrastructure, as well as from business failures and downsizing. After a six-month delay due to regulatory reviews, OTE recently launched a flexible double-play package, targeting the needs of small and medium businesses, which is well received by its target clientele.

The measures adopted in the quarter to reduce employee costs and other expenses had limited impact in the period but should yield favorable results in the latter part of the year.

2. Fixed Line Operations, Romania 

SUMMARY FINANCIAL & ACCESS LINE DATA

* Excluding impact of Restructuring Plans ** The amount was previously reported in revenues

Despite some signs of macro-economic stabilization in Romania in Q1'11, mainly from exports and infrastructure projects, consumer spending remains sluggish.

The telecommunications market was once again dominated by highly aggressive offers. In this context, RomTelecom's revenues dropped by 10.9% in Q1'11 compared to the previous year, but showed only a moderate decline (-2.3%) compared to Q4'10.

The revenue decline in the quarter primarily reflected a 16.7% decrease in PSTN services, as a combined result of an average 11.2% ARPU drop and an average 6.2% line loss compared to Q1'10.

RomTelecom further pursued its strategy of diversifying its revenues sources. New broadband and TV promotions were launched in the period to stimulate growth. Compared to the end of Q1'10, the total number of broadband customers rose by nearly 25%, while the number of TV subscribers increased by nearly 15% to pass the one million mark. As a result, penetration of all RomTelecom voice clients reached 41% in both broadband and television services. As of March 31, 2011, the total number of revenue-generating units (RGUs, defined as voice, broadband and TV subscriptions) had risen by 4.7% compared to the prior year, to nearly 4.7 million.

The CDMA network enabled the company to capture wireless broadband market share, with nearly 70,000 users at the end of Q1'11.

To deal with a slowdown in demand for its main products, RomTelecom pursued the implementation of its dual-brand strategy, targeting customers with special broadband requirements through a highly cost-effective solution offered by a subsidiary under the NextGen brand name (Q-o-Q revenues increased by 103% and RGUs by 312%).

As of March 31, 2011, RomTelecom's IPTV platform with interactive Video-on-Demand capability, had attracted over 33,000 triple-play subscribers (VoIP, High-speed Internet and IPTV).

RomTelecom also pursued its efforts in the very-high-speed internet market (20-30 Mbps), launching VDSL Internet service (FTTC) and a cost-effective solution (FTTB) providing speeds of up to 100 Mbps. Very-high-speed internet reached nearly 70,000 customers by the end of Q1'11, an increase of over 36% in the quarter.

RomTelecom continued downsizing and migrating to a new operating model, more flexible and cost effective. This resulted in a 3.0% decline in operating expenses (excluding depreciation) in Q1'11, despite higher CPE cost of goods sold and increased TV content, notably football broadcasting rights for its dedicated sports program. Payroll and benefits were down 17%, reflecting the Company's initiatives to secure a long-term reduction in personnel expenses through improvements in its operations' efficiency and voluntary leave programs. Starting April 1, 2011, headcount dropped to 8,200 employees from 9,520 at March 31, 2010, reflecting the implementation of restructuring plans. The increase in productivity is generated by the combined effort of dramatically decreasing employee number (-14.0%) while increasing the number of RGU's (+4.7%). A well-structured transformation program is underway, aimed at concentrating the Company's efforts on decreasing its cost base.

3. Mobile Operations

SUMMARY FINANCIAL DATA

*Excluding impact of Restructuring Plan at Mobile Operations in Greece & Voluntary Exit Scheme in Romania

At the end of Q1'11, the mobile operations of the OTE Group counted approximately 20 million customers, down by 7.4% from Q1'10 mainly due to prepaid registration clean up in Greece. In markets deeply affected by the economic environment, Cosmote further improved its revenue market share in Greece and maintained its positions in Romania, Bulgaria and Albania.

Mobile Operations, Greece

As of the end of Q1'11, Cosmote provided mobile telephony services to 7.6 million customers. The 14% drop in subscriber numbers compared to March 31, 2010 is largely due to industry-wide attrition in prepaid customer numbers, reflecting the mandatory registration process introduced in late 2009.

Management estimates that the decline in the Greek market's total mobile service revenues continued in the quarter, once again impacted by a combination of unfavorable economic, regulatory and competitive factors. For its part, Cosmote recorded a service revenue decline of approximately 17.0% in the quarter, reflecting a nearly 27.0% drop in incoming revenues, primarily from termination rate cuts, while outgoing service revenues were down by approximately 15.5%, chiefly due to a shift of subscribers to more economic solutions, as a result of economic downturn and intense competition.

Cosmote's strategy to fully exploit growth opportunities offered by mobile internet data - driving smart phone penetration and leveraging on successful data propositions - led to a significant handset based data revenues growth of +19% YoY.

In Q1'11, blended AMOU increased by approximately 30.0% to 299.1 minutes, mostly driven by prepaid AMOU, up 38.7% as a result of attractive on-net offers. Blended ARPU for the quarter was €14.5, down approximately 9% from Q1'10, mainly reflecting lower ARPU in the postpaid segment.

Mobile Operations, Albania

In Q1'11, AMC's total customer base reached approximately 2.0 million, an increase of nearly 1.0% compared to Q1'10.

AMC's revenues and EBITDA margin in the quarter were negatively impacted by regulation affecting both wholesale and retail tariffs. Other unfavorable factors included the lower interconnection traffic and roaming revenues, as well as price erosion due to intense competition and the difficult economic circumstances. 

Mobile Operations, Bulgaria

Globul's postpaid customer base increased by approximately 8% from Q1'10 to a total of 2.3 million, or 58.6% of its total customer base. Mirroring general trends in the country, Globul has continued migrating prepaid customers to postpaid through innovative offers and this, together with mandatory registration of prepaid subscriptions, has led to a decrease in the prepaid customer base. As a result, Globul's total customer base at the end of Q1'11 exceeded 3.9 million up 2.3%. Globul's fixed telephony proposition over the mobile network pursued its strong growth in Q1'2011, with the subscriber base exceeding 150,000 customers. Mobile data services also recorded a significant increase from the previous year, as the subscriber base grew by more than 40.0%.

Service revenues declined by 8.4% in Q1'11, mainly as a result of tough economic conditions, intense competition in the business postpaid segment, as well as lower interconnection rates imposed by the regulator. EBITDA decreased by 9.9%, while operating expenses were down by 5.6%.

Mobile Operations, Romania

As of the end of Q1'11, Cosmote's total customer base in Romania reached 6.6 million (including Zapp), of which 22.4% was postpaid. Service revenues were down 1.5% mainly due to the adverse economic conditions combined with very aggressive offers in the prepaid segment.

Excluding voluntary exit scheme charges in Q1'10, EBITDA doubled compared to the same quarter last year, reflecting significant operating improvements following the successful integration of Zapp.

4. Events of the Quarter

OTE takes an additional charge of €129.8 mn related to its 2005-06 VRS

On January 31, OTE announced that it had been notified by the Ministry of Labor and Social Insurance of the results of actuarial studies estimating additional financial burden of the Pension Funds incurred as a result of OTE's voluntary retirement programs of 2005-06. Pursuant to these actuarial studies, a charge of €129.8mn was taken in the OTE income statements of the year 2010. In May 2010 OTE had filed an appeal for the annulment of the Ministerial Decision. The procedure is pending before the competent administrative courts.

OTE signs €900mn syndicated revolving credit facility and completes refinancing

On February 10, OTE announced that it had signed an agreement for a €900mn Revolving Credit Ordinary Bond Loan facility with a consortium of 16 Greek and international banks. OTE has drawn an amount of €600mn, the balance of €300mn being maintained as available undrawn backstop line. On February 14, OTE used the above mentioned €600mn, a backstop facility of €332mn together with available cash, to repay a maturing bond issue which had an outstanding balance of approximately €1.4bn.

Management changes

On February 16, OTE announced a series of wide ranging management changes aimed at strengthening its organization and enhancing its functioning as an integrated Group.

5. Subsequent Events

EMPLOYEE EXIT PLAN WITH INCENTIVES  

On March 31, 2011, OTE announced that it had reached an agreement with the unions, regarding an employee exit program with incentives. Under this program, employees, who are eligible to retire, will get exit bonuses of up to €25,000. Approximately 250 OTE employees are eligible for this employee exit program, in accordance with the time of service recognition that a recent regulation allows for. Restructuring plans were also implemented at RomTelecom and Cosmote. In total, these plans will lead to a Groupwide reduction of approximately 1,600 employees.

Successful completion of euro 500 mn bond issuance

On April 4, 2011, OTE successfully completed the bookbuilding process for the issue of €500 mn, 3-year Fixed Rate Notes with an annual coupon of 7.250%. The Notes were issued by OTE Plc and are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by OTE SA under its €6.5bn Global Medium Term Note Programme.

 6. Outlook

For the balance of 2011, OTE expects that its revenues will continue to be affected by difficult economic conditions in all countries and further regulatory obstacles in Greece. However, in Greek mobile, Cosmote should start seeing signs of market stabilization. Mobile operations should also show more resilience in other countries, notably Romania, where it will benefit from greater integration with fixed-line activities. The headcount-reduction and cost cutting measures adopted in the first quarter should start positively impacting the Group's performance in the latter part of the year.

OTE Group is Greece's leading telecommunications organization and one of the pre-eminent players in Southeastern Europe, providing top-quality products and services to its customers.

Apart from serving as a full service telecommunications group in the Greek telecoms market, OTE Group has also expanded during the last decade its geographical footprint throughout South East Europe, acquiring stakes in the incumbent telecommunications companies of Romania and Serbia, and establishing mobile operations in Albania, Bulgaria, and Romania. At present, companies in which OTE Group has an equity interest employ about 32,000 people in four countries, and our portfolio of solutions ranges from fixed and mobile telephony to Internet applications, satellite, maritime communications and consultancy services.

OTE shares are listed on the Athens Stock Exchange, and the London Stock Exchange (in the form of GDRs). Following their delisting from NYSE in September 2010, the company's ADRs trade in the US OTC market. OTE's American Depositary Receipts (ADR's) represent ½ ordinary share.

Additional Information is also available on http://www.ote.gr.

Contacts:

Dimitris Tzelepis - Head of Investor Relations

Tel: +30 210 611 1574, Email: [email protected] 

Maria Kountouri - Assistant to the Head of Investor Relations

Tel: +30 210 611 5381, Email: [email protected]

Kostas Maselis - Senior Financial Analyst, Investor Relations

Tel: + 30 210 611 7593, Email: [email protected]

Christina Hadjigeorgiou - Financial Analyst, Investor Relations

Tel: +30 210 611 1428, Email: [email protected]

Dimitris Tsatsanis - Financial Analyst, Investor Relations

Tel: +30 210 611 6071, Email: [email protected]

Forward-looking statement

Exhibits to follow:

I. Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010

II. Consolidated Income Statements for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010

III. Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the first quarter of 2011 and 2010

IV. Group Revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010

V. Segment Reporting based on the Company's legal structure

VI. Mobile Operations

VII. Operational Highlights

VIII. EBITDA and Pro Forma EBITDA calculation

IX. Reclassifications

EXHIBIT I - CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

EXHIBIT II - CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT

EXHIBIT III - CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

EXHIBIT IV - GROUP REVENUES

EXHIBIT V - SEGMENT REPORTING (3M 2011)

*Excluding impact of Voluntary Retirement Programs and Restructuring Plans

EXHIBIT V - SEGMENT REPORTING (3M 2010)

* Excluding impact of Voluntary Retirement Programs and Restructuring Plans

EXHIBIT VI- MOBILE OPERATIONS

 *Excluding impact of Voluntary Retirement Programs and Restructuring Plans

EXHIBIT VII -OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

*As of Q1'11 RomTelecom excludes from its employees' base suspended/inactive employees (long term medical or maternity leaves). Therefore the comparable figure for 2010 has changed.

EXHIBIT VIII -EBITDA AND PRO-FORMA EBITDA CALCULATION

EBITDA and pro forma EBITDA, as defined by OTE, are financial measures that help OTE to evaluate its core business operating results, before investing and financing activities, and before the effect of depreciation, amortization and impairment and to compare the performance of OTE and its subsidiaries with that of its peer group, which mainly consists of other European incumbent telecommunications operators. The following table provides a reconciliation of profit/loss for the period attributable to shareholders of the parent to EBITDA and pro forma EBITDA. Please note that according to the OTE structure of accounts, EBITDA and pro forma EBITDA as defined above are equivalent to items previously reported by OTE as OIBDA and pro forma OIBDA.

EXHIBIT IX - RECLASSIFICATIONS

In the consolidated income statement for the first three months of 2010, an amount of Euro 8.2 which was included in "Other revenue" and an amount of Euro 1.2 which was included in "Other operating expenses" were reclassified to the new line "Other income/ (expense), net".

In the consolidated income statements and in the consolidated statements of cash flows for the first three months of 2010, the amount reflected in "Interest income" has been analyzed and reflected in "Interest income" and in "Gains/ (losses) from investments and financial assets".

In the consolidated income statements and in the consolidated statements of cash flows for the first three months of 2010, the amount reflected in "Provision for staff retirement indemnities and youth account" has been analyzed and reflected in "Provision for staff retirement indemnities" and in "Provision youth account".