TIGO Lends You: An Improved Balance Sheet

Mikael Grahne, President and CEO of Millicom International Cellular, is pleased with the company’s growth in Central America. Below are excerpts from the Millicom Press Release today, highlighting some of his comments:

“We have produced double digit top line growth in all four quarters of 2010 with an evolving distribution of growth by region in the latter part of the year. “

“In Central America revenue growth has improved quarter on quarter and is now reverting to positive.”

“We focus on higher value customers and on ARPU (Average revenue per user) stabilization as part of our broader strategy of value creation and we are achieving better quality growth as a result. Half of all new customers in Latin America in 2010 were 3G customers delivering higher ARPU.”

“We aim to maintain top line growth of around 10% in local currency in the medium term as we continue to invest in our brand and in our innovative and affordable products and services which are tailored to meet customers needs. Value-added services (VAS) already contribute almost a quarter of our recurring revenue and collectively make up our fastest growing service. The rapid take-up of “Tigo Lends You”, with a 39% penetration, is a good illustration of the power of simple value added services targeted towards specific customer groups.

“During 2010 we returned close to $1 billion to our shareholders through a combination of dividends and a share buy back program. The Board is proposing an ordinary dividend of $1.80 per share for 2010, which represents a year-on-year increase of 29%. We also intend to resume the share buy back program in 2011 and the Board has authorized a new share buy back program of up to $300 million of shares that could be executed before the next AGM in May.”


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