Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 


FORM 10-Q

 


QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES

EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2006

Commission file number 1-11484

 


HUNGARIAN TELEPHONE AND CABLE CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Delaware   13-3652685

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

1201 Third Avenue, Suite 3400 Seattle, WA 98101-3034

(Address of principal executive offices)

(206) 654-0204

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past ninety days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large Accelerated Filer  ¨   Accelerated Filer  x   Non-Accelerated Filer  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock as of the latest possible date:

 

Common Stock, $.001 par value

  

12,811,165 Shares

(Class)    (Outstanding at November 8, 2006)

 



Table of Contents

HUNGARIAN TELEPHONE AND CABLE CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Table of Contents

 

     Page No.

Part I. Financial Information:

  

     Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets

   3

     Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)

   4

     Consolidated Condensed Statements of Stockholders’ Equity

   5

     Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows

   6

     Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

   7

     Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

   23

     Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

   45

     Controls and Procedures

   46

Part II. Other Information

   47

Signatures

   49

 

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Table of Contents

Part I. Financial Information

HUNGARIAN TELEPHONE AND CABLE CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except share data)

 

     September 30, 2006     December 31, 2005  
     (unaudited)        

Assets

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 22,832     15,083  

Restricted cash

     11,916     10,650  

Accounts receivable, net

     37,629     33,527  

Current deferred tax asset

     994     1,034  

Other current assets

     7,244     9,335  
              

Total current assets

     80,615     69,629  

Property, plant and equipment, net

     158,511     164,248  

Goodwill

     8,348     8,461  

Other intangibles, net

     43,074     45,741  

Deferred costs

     861     1,237  

Deferred tax asset

     3,078     3,109  

Interest rate swaps

     2,080     —    

Other assets

     7,079     6,392  
              

Total assets

   $ 303,646     298,817  
              

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

    

Current liabilities:

    

Current installments of long-term debt

   $ 50,027     21,938  

Current obligations under capital leases

     412     388  

Accounts payable

     6,456     13,261  

Accruals and deferred revenue

     33,796     24,965  

Interest rate swaps

     —       254  

Advance customer payment

     2,461     —    

Other current liabilities

     3,338     4,475  

Due to related parties

     2,287     1,052  
              

Total current liabilities

     98,777     66,333  

Long-term debt, excluding current installments

     130,559     158,227  

Long-term obligations under capital leases, excluding current portion

     460     779  

Deferred credits and other liabilities

     2,217     2,597  
              

Total liabilities

     232,013     227,936  
              

Commitments and Contingencies

    

Stockholders’ equity:

    

Cumulative Convertible Preferred stock, $.01 par value; $70.00 liquidation value. Authorized 200,000 shares; issued and outstanding 30,000 shares in 2006 and 2005

     —       —    

Common stock, $.001 par value. Authorized 25,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 12,811,165 shares in 2006 and 12,796,461 shares in 2005

     14     14  

Additional paid-in capital

     156,857     156,406  

Accumulated deficit

     (99,661 )   (100,624 )

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     14,423     15,085  
              

Total stockholders’ equity

     71,633     70,881  
              

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 303,646     298,817  
              

See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

Part I. Financial Information

HUNGARIAN TELEPHONE AND CABLE CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)

For the Three and Nine Month Periods Ended September 30, 2006 and 2005

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

(unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2006     2005     2006     2005  

Telephone service revenues, net

   $ 26,744     $ 31,133     $ 80,964     $ 82,233  

Operating expenses:

        

Selling, general and administrative

     13,360       11,954       41,990       38,165  

Severance and benefit

     700       1,112       700       1,112  

Depreciation and amortization

     6,506       6,675       19,069       17,627  
                                

Total operating expenses

     20,566       19,741       61,759       56,904  
                                

Income from operations

     6,178       11,392       19,205       25,329  

Other income (expenses):

        

Foreign exchange gains (losses), net

     4,537       (1,775 )     (11,198 )     (6,274 )

Interest expense

     (3,281 )     (3,496 )     (10,399 )     (10,605 )

Interest income

     332       243       823       596  

Fair value changes on interest rate swaps

     (782 )     1,381       2,336       (2,406 )

Equity in earnings of affiliate

     —         —         —         934  

Other, net

     (70 )     (57 )     469       313  
                                

Net income before income taxes

     6,914       7,688       1,236       7,887  

Income tax expense

     (1,084 )     (1,149 )     (194 )     (1,178 )
                                

Net income

   $ 5,830     $ 6,539     $ 1,042     $ 6,709  

Cumulative convertible preferred stock dividends

     (27 )     (27 )     (79 )     (79 )
                                

Net income attributable to common stockholders

     5,803       6,512       963       6,630  

Comprehensive income (loss) adjustments

     2,048       (1,216 )     (662 )     (11,933 )
                                

Total comprehensive income (loss)

   $ 7,851     $ 5,296     $ 301     $ (5,303 )
                                

Earnings per common share:

        

Basic

   $ 0.45     $ 0.51     $ 0.08     $ 0.52  
                                

Diluted

   $ 0.41     $ 0.46     $ 0.07     $ 0.47  
                                

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:

        

Basic

     12,812,372       12,727,938       12,809,577       12,725,379  
                                

Diluted

     14,195,595       14,359,306       14,299,185       14,388,774  
                                

See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

Part I. Financial Information

HUNGARIAN TELEPHONE AND CABLE CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Consolidated Condensed Statements of Stockholders’ Equity

(In thousands, except share data)

(unaudited)

 

     Shares    Common
Stock
   Preferred
Stock
   Additional
Paid-in
Capital
    Accumulated
deficit
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income
   

Total

Stockholders’

Equity

 

Balances at December 31, 2005

   12,796,461    $ 14    —      156,406     (100,624 )   15,085     $ 70,881  

Net settlement of stock option exercise

   10,204      —      —      (109 )   —       —         (109 )

Common stock granted to Directors

   4,500          69           69  

Stock based compensation

   —        —      —      491     —       —         491  

Cumulative convertible preferred stock dividends

   —        —      —      —       (79 )   —         (79 )

Net income

   —        —      —      —       1,042     —         1,042  

Foreign currency translation adjustment

   —        —      —      —       —       (662 )     (662 )
                                           

Balances at September 30, 2006

   12,811,165    $ 14    —      156,857     (99,661 )   14,423     $ 71,633  
                                           

See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

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Part I. Financial Information

HUNGARIAN TELEPHONE AND CABLE CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows

For the Nine Month Periods Ended September 30, 2006 and 2005

(In thousands)

(unaudited)

 

     2006     2005  

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 32,221     37,969  
              

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Acquisition of telecommunications network equipment and other intangibles

     (13,490 )   (12,374 )

Acquisition of subsidiaries, net of cash acquired

     —       (7,125 )

Grant funding received

     157     —    

Proceeds from sale of assets

     652     329  
              

Net cash used in investing activities

     (12,681 )   (19,170 )
              

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Repayments of long-term debt

     (12,068 )   (85,347 )

Proceeds from new long-term debt borrowings

     —       109,720  

Deferred financing costs paid under long-term debt agreement

     —       (5,861 )

Principal payments under capital lease obligations

     (287 )   —    

Funding of debt service account

     —       (11,796 )
              

Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities

     (12,355 )   6,716  
              

Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash

     564     (4,176 )
              

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     7,749     21,339  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     15,083     8,376  
              

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 22,832     29,715  
              

Summary of non-cash transactions:

 

On February 28, 2005, the Company assumed debt of EUR 66M ($80.5 million at historical exchange rates) on acquisition of subsidiaries.

See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

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Part I. Financial Information

HUNGARIAN TELEPHONE AND CABLE CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

(unaudited)

 

(1) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

  (a) Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements of Hungarian Telephone and Cable Corp. (“HTCC”) with its directly owned consolidated subsidiaries, Hungarotel Tavkozlesi zRt. (“Hungarotel”), PanTel Tavkozlesi es Kommunikacios Kft. (“PanTel”) and PanTel Technocom Kft. (“PanTel Technocom”) (together the “Company”) include all adjustments, consisting mainly of normal recurring accruals, necessary for a fair statement of the results of the interim periods. PanTel owns and consolidates several minor non-Hungarian subsidiaries within the Central and Eastern European region. Results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results for a full year. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

The accompanying unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP). In preparing financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP, management is required to make estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions affect reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

The unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2005, including the notes thereto, set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

 

  (b) Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) is computed by dividing income attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. The computation of diluted EPS is similar to the computation of basic EPS, except that the weighted average shares outstanding are increased to include additional shares from the assumed exercise of stock options and warrants, and the conversion of the convertible preferred stock, where dilutive. The number of additional shares is calculated by assuming that preferred securities were converted and that outstanding stock options and warrants were exercised and the proceeds therefrom were used to acquire shares of the Company’s common stock at the average market price during the reporting period.

 

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Table of Contents

Part I. Financial Information

HUNGARIAN TELEPHONE AND CABLE CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

(unaudited)

The following is a reconciliation from basic earnings per share to diluted earnings per share for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005:

 

     3 months ended    9 months ended
     2006    2005    2006    2005
($ in thousands, except share and per share data)                    

Net income attributable to common stockholders (A)

   $ 5,803    $ 6,512    $ 963    $ 6,630

plus: preferred stock dividends

     27      27      79      79
                           

Net income (B)

   $ 5,830    $ 6,539    $ 1,042    $ 6,709
                           

Determination of shares:

           

Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic (C)

     12,812,372      12,727,938      12,809,577      12,725,379

Assumed conversion of dilutive stock options and cumulative convertible preferred stock

     1,383,223      1,631,368      1,489,608      1,663,395
                           

Weighted average common shares outstanding – diluted (D)

     14,195,595      14,359,306      14,299,185      14,388,774
                           

Net income per common share:

           

Basic (A/C)

   $ 0.45    $ 0.51    $ 0.08    $ 0.52

Diluted (B/D)

   $ 0.41    $ 0.46    $ 0.07    $ 0.47

For the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2006 55,000 stock options were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share since such options have an exercise price in excess of the average market value of the Company’s common stock during such periods.

 

  (c) Foreign Currency Translation

The Company uses the Hungarian forint (“HUF”) as the functional currency for its Hungarian subsidiaries. The Hungarian subsidiaries’ assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars using the exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date. Results of operations are translated using the average exchange rates prevailing

 

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Part I. Financial Information

HUNGARIAN TELEPHONE AND CABLE CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

(unaudited)

throughout the period. The effects of exchange rate fluctuations on translating HUF assets and liabilities into U.S. dollars are accumulated as part of other comprehensive income in stockholders’ equity.

The Company uses the HUF as the functional currency of PanTel’s non-Hungarian subsidiaries. Accordingly, foreign currency assets and liabilities of the non-Hungarian subsidiaries are translated into HUF using the exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date. Results of operations are translated using the average exchange rates prevailing throughout the period. The effects of exchange rate fluctuations on translating the local currency assets and liabilities of the non-Hungarian subsidiaries into HUF are accumulated as part of foreign exchange gains/(losses) in the consolidated statement of operations.

Foreign exchange fluctuations related to intercompany balances are included in equity if such balances are intended to be long-term in nature. At the time the Company settles such balances, the resulting gain or loss is reflected in the consolidated statement of operations. Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions and the marking to market of assets or liabilities not denominated in Hungarian forints are included in operations in the period in which they occur.

The translation of the subsidiaries’ forint denominated balance sheets into U.S. dollars, as of September 30, 2006, has been affected by the weakening of the Hungarian forint against the U.S. dollar from 213.58 as of December 31, 2005 to 215.74 as of September 30, 2006, an approximate 1% depreciation in value. The average Hungarian forint/U.S. dollar exchange rates used for the translation of the subsidiaries’ forint denominated statements of operations and statements of cash flows into U.S. dollars, for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, were 216.17 and 201.33, respectively. The average Hungarian forint/U.S. dollar exchange rates used for the translation of the subsidiaries’ forint denominated statements of operations and statements of cash flows into U.S. dollars, for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, were 213.31 and 195.51, respectively.

 

  (d) Stock Based Compensation

Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (“SFAS”) No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment,” (“SFAS 123R”). SFAS 123R requires the measurement and recognition of compensation expense based on the fair value of the employee stock based awards issued. Compensation expense for awards and related tax effects is recognized as these vest. Through December 31, 2005, the Company used the intrinsic value method to account for stock-based awards to its employees under APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and disclosed pro forma information as if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (“SFAS 123”). In addition, effective October 1, 2004, as a result of amendments made to the Company’s option plans, the

 

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Table of Contents

Part I. Financial Information

HUNGARIAN TELEPHONE AND CABLE CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

(unaudited)

Company accounted for all of its outstanding options under the variable method of accounting. The variable method of accounting required the Company to accrue an expense or benefit as the market price of the Company’s common stock changed during the period. The Company has ceased utilizing the variable method of accounting upon its adoption of SFAS 123R. The Company has adopted SFAS 123R using the modified prospective transition method. Under this transition method, compensation cost recognized effective January 1, 2006 includes: (1) compensation cost for all share based awards granted prior to, but not yet vested as of, January 1, 2006 based on the original measure of the grant date fair value method under the provisions of SFAS 123 for pro-forma disclosure, and (2) compensation cost for all share-based awards granted subsequent to January 1, 2006, based on the grant-date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of SFAS 123R. Results for prior periods have not been restated. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, the Company has recognized zero and $491,000, respectively, of compensation expense related to the adoption of SFAS 123R. For the three months ended September 30, 2005, the Company recognized $1,934,000 of compensation benefit related to the variable method of accounting. For the nine months ended September 30, 2005, the Company recognized $280,000 of compensation benefit related to the variable method of accounting.

As a result of adopting SFAS 123R on January 1, 2006, the Company’s income before income taxes and net income attributable to common stockholders for the quarter ended September 30, 2006, are $68,000 and $57,000 higher, respectively, than if it had continued to account for share-based compensation under APB Opinion No. 25 following the variable method of accounting. The Company’s income before income taxes and net income attributable to common stockholders for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, are $647,000 and $546,000 lower, respectively, than if it had continued to account for share-based compensation under APB Opinion No. 25 following the variable method of accounting. Basic and diluted earnings per common share would have been $0.45 and $0.41 for the three months ended September 30, 2006, and $0.12 and $0.11 for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 if the Company had not adopted SFAS 123R. Reported basic and diluted earnings per common share was $0.45 and $0.41 for the three months ended September 30, 2006, and $0.08 and $0.07 for the nine months ended September 30, 2006.

The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per common share if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS 123R to options granted under the Company’s stock option plans for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005. For purposes of this pro forma disclosure, the value of the options is estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and amortized to expense over the options’ vesting periods.

 

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Part I. Financial Information

HUNGARIAN TELEPHONE AND CABLE CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

(unaudited)

 

    

Three Months Ended
September 30

2005

   

Nine Months Ended
September 30

2005

 
     (in thousands, except per share data)  

Net Income As reported

   $ 6,512     $ 6,630  

Plus: stock-based compensation expense (benefit) included in reported earnings

     (1,908 )     (213 )*

Less: stock-based compensation expense determined under fair-value method

     (26 )     (1,296 )
                

Net Income Pro forma

   $ 4,578     $ 5,121  
                

Earnings per common share - Basic:

    

As reported

   $ 0.51     $ 0.52  

Pro forma

   $ 0.36     $ 0.42  

Earnings per common share - Diluted:

    

As reported

   $ 0.46     $ 0.47  

Pro forma

   $ 0.32     $ 0.38  

* Adjusted to correct previously reported amount of ($281)

 

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Part I. Financial Information

HUNGARIAN TELEPHONE AND CABLE CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

(unaudited)

The assumptions used in the Black-Scholes option-pricing model are as follows:

 

     For the three and nine months
ended September 30
 
     2006     2005  

Dividend yield

   0 %   0 %

Risk free rate

   4.46 %   4.47 %

Expected option life (years)

   10     10  

Volatility

   38.0 %   43.0 %

Upon the adoption of SFAS 123R, expected volatility was based on historical volatilities. The risk-free interest rate is based on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues with a remaining term equal to the expected option life assumed at the date of grant. The expected term was calculated based on historical experience and represents the time period options actually remain outstanding. The Company has estimated zero forfeitures based on historical experience and the limited number of option holders.

 

  (e) Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS Statement No. 155, “Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments an amendment of FASB Statements No. 133 and 140”. SFAS 155 amends SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” and SFAS No. 140, “Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishment of Liabilities.” SFAS No. 155 resolves issues addressed in SFAS No. 133 Implementation Issue No. D1, “Application of Statement 133 to Beneficial Interests in Securitized Financial Assets.” Among other provisions, the new rule (a) permits fair value remeasurement for any hybrid financial instrument that contains an embedded derivative that otherwise would require bifurcation, (b) clarifies which interest-only strips and principal-only strips are not subject to the requirements of SFAS No. 133, (c) establishes a requirement to evaluate interests in securitized financial assets to identify interests that are freestanding derivatives or that are hybrid financial instruments that contain an embedded derivative requiring bifurcation, (d) clarifies that concentrations of credit risk in the form of subordination are not embedded derivates, and (e) amends SFAS No. 140 to eliminate the prohibition on a qualifying special-purpose entity from holding a derivative financial instrument that pertains to a beneficial interest other than another derivative financial instrument. SFAS No. 155 is effective for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2006 and is required to be adopted by the Company in the first quarter of fiscal year 2007, beginning January 1, 2007. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that the adoption of SFAS No. 155 will have on its consolidated results of operations and financial position or cash flows, but does not expect it to have a material impact.

 

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Part I. Financial Information

HUNGARIAN TELEPHONE AND CABLE CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

(unaudited)

In March 2006, the FASB issued SFAS Statement No. 156, “Accounting for Servicing of Financial Assets – an amendment of FASB Statement No. 140”. SFAS No. 156 amends Statement No. 140, “Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities,” with respect to the accounting for separately recognized servicing assets and servicing liabilities. SFAS No. 156 is effective for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2006 and is required to be adopted by the Company in the first quarter of fiscal year 2007, beginning January 1, 2007. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that the adoption of SFAS No. 156 will have on its consolidated results of operations and financial position or cash flows, but does not expect it to have a material impact.

In June 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes-an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes” (“FIN 48”), which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes. FIN 48 establishes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. FIN 48 requires that the Company recognize in the financial statements, the impact of a tax position, if that position is more likely than not of being sustained on audit, based on the technical merits of the position. FIN 48 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods and disclosure. The provisions of FIN 48 are effective beginning January 1, 2007, with the cumulative effect of the change in accounting principle recorded as an adjustment to opening retained earnings. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that the adoption of FIN 48 will have on its consolidated results of operations and financial position or cash flows.

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS Statement No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in GAAP, and enhances disclosures about fair value measurements. This Statement applies when other accounting pronouncements require fair value measurements; it does not require new fair value measurements. This Statement is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those years. Earlier application is encouraged, provided the entity has not yet issued financial statements, including financial statements for any interim period for that fiscal year. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that the adoption of SFAS No. 157 will have on its consolidated results of operations and financial position or cash flows.

In September 2006, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108 (“SAB 108”), “Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements,” which provides interpretive guidance on the consideration of the effects of prior year misstatements in quantifying current year misstatements for the purpose of a materiality assessment. SAB 108 is effective for companies with fiscal years ending after November 15, 2006 and is required to be adopted by the Company in its fiscal year ending December 31, 2006. The Company is currently assessing the impact of the adoption of SAB 108.

 

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HUNGARIAN TELEPHONE AND CABLE CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

(unaudited)

 

(2) Cash and Restricted Cash

 

  (a) Cash

At September 30, 2006, cash of $22,832,000 comprised the following: $143,000 on deposit in the United States, the equivalent of $648,000 on deposit in Austria, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia, and $22,041,000 on deposit with banks in Hungary consisting of $429,000 denominated in U.S. dollars, the equivalent of $3,794,000 denominated in euros and the equivalent of $17,818,000 denominated in Hungarian forints.

 

  (b) Restricted Cash

Restricted cash of $11,916,000 at September 30, 2006, was primarily comprised of a EUR 9 million deposit in a debt service reserve account, which is required under the terms of the Company’s credit agreement. The Company is required to maintain this EUR 9 million deposit in the debt service reserve account until such time as the Company’s leverage ratio, defined as consolidated net borrowings to consolidated EBITDA (Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization as defined in the Credit Agreement), is below 2:1 for two consecutive quarters. The deposit earns interest at bank deposit rates.

In addition, the Company has EUR 0.4 million in a restricted cash account related to a performance bond guarantee given to a customer. Should the company fail to meet the requirements of the performance bond guarantee, the customer may have the right to take this EUR 0.4 million as a penalty payment.

 

(3) Related Parties

The amount due to related parties totalling $2,287,000 at September 30, 2006, represents cumulative preferred stock dividends in arrears, in the amount of $730,000, and an accrual of $1,557,000 as an estimate of the costs for various individuals employed by TDC A/S (“TDC”) who have performed work for the Company, including the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer and head of Corporate Business Development (see below), for 2005 and the first nine months of 2006. The total amount due to related parties was due to TDC, which held approximately 62% of the Company’s outstanding common stock and 100% of the Company’s preferred shares as of September 30, 2006.

Torben V. Holm has served as the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer since May 19, 2005. Alex Wurtz has served as the head of the Company’s Corporate Business Development department since June 9, 2005. Messrs. Holm and Wurtz are employees of TDC. The Company has reached an agreement in principle with TDC to reimburse TDC on a month to month basis for certain costs incurred by TDC in employing Messrs. Holm and Wurtz.

 

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HUNGARIAN TELEPHONE AND CABLE CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

(unaudited)

For Mr. Holm, the Company has agreed to pay TDC EUR 436,774 (approximately $554,000 at September 30, 2006 exchange rates) for the costs incurred by TDC in compensating Mr. Holm for the one-year period from May 2005 through April 2006. For such one-year period, the Company has also agreed to pay Mr. Holm’s housing costs in Budapest in the amount of $30,000 as well as certain travel expenses incurred by Mr. Holm in the amount $14,000 to enable Mr. Holm to commute back to his home in Denmark. The Company also agreed to pay TDC EUR 51,783 (approximately $66,000 at September 30, 2006) to reimburse TDC for the costs incurred by TDC for the payments to Mr. Holm of a start-up bonus and a performance bonus for 2005. For the period beginning May 1, 2006, the Company has agreed to pay TDC EUR 37,000 (approximately $47,000 at September 30, 2006 exchange rates) per month for the costs incurred by TDC in compensating Mr. Holm. The Company will remain responsible for the rental costs of Mr. Holm’s apartment in Budapest (approximately $3,000 per month at September 30, 2006 exchange rates).

For Mr. Wurtz, the Company has agreed to pay TDC EUR 208,815 (approximately $265,000 at September 30, 2006 exchange rates) for the costs incurred by TDC in compensating Mr. Wurtz for the 11 month period from June 2005 through April 2006. For such eleven-month period, the Company has also agreed to pay Mr. Wurtz’s housing costs in Budapest in the amount of $28,000. The Company also agreed to pay TDC EUR 34,409 (approximately $44,000 at September 30, 2006 exchange rates) to reimburse TDC for the costs incurred by TDC for the payments to Mr. Wurtz of a start-up bonus and a performance bonus for 2005. For the period beginning May 1, 2006, the Company has agreed to pay TDC EUR 18,000 (approximately $23,000 at September 30, 2006 exchange rates) per month for the costs incurred by TDC in compensating Mr. Wurtz. The Company will remain responsible for the rental costs of Mr. Wurtz’s apartment in Budapest (approximately $3,000 per month at September 30, 2006 exchange rates).

The Company and TDC have not reached any definitive agreements regarding the services of Messrs. Holm and Wurtz yet and the Company will not make any payment until definitive agreements have been executed.

In addition to the services of Messrs. Holm and Wurtz, three employees of TDC have performed financial budgeting and forecasting services for the Company and one TDC employee shall continue to do so through the end of 2006. The Company has reached an agreement in principle with TDC to pay TDC DKK 735,085 (approximately $125,000 at September 30, 2006 exchange rates) for such services, of which DKK 492,708 (approximately $84,000 at September 30, 2006 exchange rates) has been accrued for as of September 30, 2006 for services rendered through September 30, 2006. The Company and TDC have not reached any definitive agreement regarding such services yet and the Company will not make any payment until a definitive agreement has been executed.

Some employees of TDC have also provided services for the Company in connection with various strategic projects. The Company has reached an agreement in principle with

 

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HUNGARIAN TELEPHONE AND CABLE CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

(unaudited)

TDC to pay TDC DKK 1,093,050 (approximately $186,000 at September 30, 2006 exchange rates) for such services. The Company and TDC have not reached any definitive agreement regarding such services yet and the Company will not make any payment until a definitive agreement has been executed.

The Company has a bilateral agreement with TDC and a subsidiary of TDC (TDC Switzerland), through its subsidiary PanTel, to send and receive wholesale voice traffic. For the three months ended September 30, 2006 the Company had net revenues amounting to $0.4 million, and for the three months ended September 30, 2005, net costs of less than $0.1 million, related to the bilateral agreement. For the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, the Company had net revenues amounting to $0.9 million and $0.4 million, respectively, related to the bilateral agreement.

 

(4) Fair Value of Derivative Instruments

Under the terms of its credit agreement, the Company is required to enter into interest-rate hedges to manage its interest rate exposure on its debt. The Company does not enter into derivative instruments for any purpose other than hedging related to its debt obligations and Company policy prohibits holding or issuing derivative instruments for trading purposes.

By using derivative financial instruments to hedge exposures to changes in interest rates, the Company exposes itself to the credit risk of the counterparty. Credit risk is the failure of the counterparty to perform its obligations under the terms of the derivative contract. When the fair value of a derivative contract is positive, the counterparty owes the Company, which creates a credit risk for the Company. When the fair value of a derivative contract is negative, the Company owes the counterparty and, therefore, it does not have any credit risk. Company policy requires that counterparties to the Company’s hedging activities be large and creditworthy commercial banks. The risk of counterparty non-performance associated with the hedge contract is not considered by the Company to be significant.

The Company assesses interest rate cash flow risk by continually identifying and monitoring changes in interest rate exposures that may adversely impact the Company’s future interest payments and by evaluating hedging opportunities. The Company’s existing bank credit agreement exposes the Company to variability in interest payments due to changes in interest rates. To limit this variability, the Company has entered into interest rate swap agreements to manage fluctuations in cash flows resulting from interest rate risk. These interest rate swaps have changed 100% of the variable-rate cash flow exposure on the Company’s credit agreement into fixed cash flows. Under the terms of the interest rate swaps, the Company receives variable interest rate payments from the hedging counterparty and makes fixed interest rate payments, thereby creating the equivalent of fixed-rate debt.

 

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Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

(unaudited)

The Company’s interest rate swaps were re-valued at fair value on September 30, 2006 which resulted in a $2.1 million interest rate swap asset as of September 30, 2006. Since the Company’s interest rate swaps have not been designated as a hedge under the provisions of SFAS 133 and SFAS 138, the fair value change has been recorded in earnings.

The estimated fair values of the Company’s interest rate swaps are based on quoted market prices provided by the counterparty to the interest rate swaps and represent the estimated amounts that the Company would pay or receive to terminate the contracts.

 

(5) Stock Based Compensation

The Company adopted a stock option plan (the “Plan”) in April 1992 which provided for the issuance of options to purchase up to 90,000 shares of common stock in the aggregate which was increased, following stockholder approval, to 1,250,000 shares. Under the Plan, incentive and non-qualified options may be granted to officers, directors and consultants to the Company. Options granted under the Plan are exercisable for up to 10 years from the date of grant. As of September 30, 2006, 545,590 shares were issued upon option exercises and options to purchase 280,000 shares were still outstanding from the Plan. As a result of the approval of the 2004 Plan (see below), no additional options will be granted from the Plan and 424,410 reserved shares from the Plan have been transferred to the 2004 Plan.

In 1997, the Company adopted a director stock option plan (the “Directors’ Plan”) which provided for the issuance of options to purchase up to 250,000 shares of common stock in the aggregate. Options granted under the Directors’ Plan are exercisable for up to 10 years from the date of grant. As of September 30, 2006, 10,000 shares were issued upon option exercises and options to purchase 151,284 shares were still outstanding from the Directors’ Plan. As a result of the approval of the 2004 Plan (see below), no additional options will be granted from the Directors’ Plan and 88,716 reserved shares from the Directors’ Plan have been transferred to the 2004 Plan.

During January 2005, officers of the Company exercised options to purchase 105,000 shares of common stock at $5.93 per share. The officers exercised the options using the net share settlement feature (see below) of the Plan. As a result, the officers remitted 66,709 shares to the Company to settle the option exercise price and related taxes and the officers received 38,291 shares of common stock. During January 2006, officers of the Company exercised options to purchase 25,000 shares of common stock at $4.86 per share. The officers exercised the options using the net share settlement feature (see below) of the Plan. As a result, the officers remitted 14,796 shares to the Company to settle the option exercise price and related taxes and the officers received 10,204 shares of common stock.

 

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Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

(unaudited)

In May 2004 the Company’s stockholders approved the Company’s 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “2004 Plan”) which provided for the issuance of an aggregate 1,000,000 shares. Upon adoption of the 2004 Plan, the Company agreed not to issue any more options from either the Plan or the Directors’ Plan. The remaining 513,126 shares of the Company’s common stock which were reserved for issuance pursuant to the Plan and the Directors’ Plan were rolled over to the 2004 Plan.

Effective October 1, 2004, the Company’s Board of Directors amended the Plan and the Directors’ Plan to allow the remaining options outstanding under such plans to be governed by terms similar to those contained in the 2004 Plan with respect to the exercise of options, tax withholding and the period in which option holders no longer associated with the Company could exercise their options. Holders of options under the 2004 Plan may exercise their outstanding options and pay the exercise price, in whole or in part, pursuant to a net share settlement feature. This feature allows the option holder to elect to have shares of stock withheld upon exercise to pay the option exercise price. Option holders may also elect to have a portion of such shares issuable upon exercise withheld for the payment of taxes attributable to the option exercise. As a result of such amendments, effective October 1, 2004, the Company accounted for all of its outstanding options under the variable method of accounting. The variable method of accounting required the Company to accrue an expense or benefit as the market price of the Company’s common stock changed. Upon the adoption of SFAS 123R, the Company has ceased utilizing the variable method of accounting. For the three months ended September 30, 2005, the Company recognized a $1,934,000 benefit related to the variable method of accounting. For the nine months ended September 30, 2005, the Company recognized a $280,000 benefit related to the variable method of accounting.

The Company issued a total of 6,000 shares of common stock to the independent directors of the Board of Directors for their service for the 2006/2007 Board term under the terms of the 2004 Plan in May 2006. 1,500 of those shares were subsequently cancelled due to a resignation in September 2006.

For the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, the Company has recognized an expense of $19,000 and $26,000, respectively, as a result of certain stock grants from the 2004 Plan to members of the Board of Directors. For the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, expenses of $74,000 and $67,000, respectively, resulted from the stock grants from the 2004 Plan to members of the Board of Directors.

 

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Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

(unaudited)

The following is a summary of stock options under the Plans, referred to above, which were granted, were exercised and have expired for the nine months ended September 30, 2006:

 

    

Outstanding

Options

    Weighted Average
Exercise Price

December 31, 2005

   771,284     $ 8.41

Granted

   55,000     $ 15.62

Exercised

   (25,000 )   $ 4.86

Expired

   —         —  
            

September 30, 2006

   801,284     $ 9.01
            

All options granted during the period were fully vested upon issuance.

The following table summarizes information about shares subject to outstanding options as of September 30, 2006 which were issued to current or former employees, or directors pursuant to the Plan, Directors’ Plan or the 2004 Plan.

 

    Options Outstanding   Options Exercisable    
Number
Outstanding
 

Range of

Exercise Prices

  Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
  Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Life in Years
 

Number

Exercisable

 

Weighted-

Average

Exercise
Price

141,284   $ 4.56-$4.72   $ 4.72   5.21   141,284   $ 4.72
100,000   $ 5.78-$6.78   $ 6.19   3.54   100,000   $ 6.19
320,000   $ 7.46-$9.44   $ 8.55   6.40   320,000   $ 8.55
240,000   $ 10.89-$15.62   $ 13.34   8.06   240,000   $ 13.34
             
801,284   $ 4.56-$15.62   $ 9.01   6.33   801,284   $ 9.01
             

The aggregate intrinsic value, which represents the amount by which the fair value of the Company’s common stock exceeds the option exercise prices, was $5,508,000 and $5,397,000 as of December 31, 2005 and September 30, 2006, respectively.

The weighted-average estimated fair value of stock options granted during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 was zero and $8.93, respectively. The weighted-average estimated fair value of stock options granted during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 was zero and $7.93, respectively, for pro-forma disclosure purposes under SFAS 123. The total intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 was zero and $267,000, respectively. The total intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 was zero and $889,000, respectively. Compensation expense related to granted stock options has been recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses.

 

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Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

(unaudited)

 

(6) Segment Disclosures

The Company operates in a single segment, telecommunications. The acquisition of PanTel in 2005 enables the Company to now offer telecommunications services to a wider range of customers. The Company has three service categories: telephone services; network services; and other service and product revenues. The Company’s chief operating decision maker monitors the revenue streams of the various service categories and operations are managed and financial performance is evaluated based on the delivery of services to customers over an integrated network. Substantially all of the Company’s assets are located in Hungary and substantially all of its operating revenues are generated in Hungary. Therefore, although the Company has various revenue streams, it is managed as a single entity.

Products and Services

The Company groups its products and services into the following categories:

Telephone Services – local dial tone and switched products and services that provide incoming and outgoing calls both domestically and internationally for residential and business customers. Wholesale voice revenues are earned through carrying other operators’ traffic on the Company’s network. This category includes reciprocal compensation revenues and expenses (i.e. interconnect).

Network Services – point-to-point dedicated services that provide a private transmission channel for the Company’s customers’ exclusive use between two or more locations, both in local and long distance applications. Point to point dedicated services include data transmission, virtual private network (VPN), hosting and managed leased lines.

Other Service and Product Revenues – Internet services such as ADSL Internet access and dial-up Internet access. PBX hardware sales and service revenues, as well as miscellaneous other telephone service revenues are also included.

 

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Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

(unaudited)

The revenues generated by these products and services for the periods ended September 30 were as follows:

 

     3 months ended    9 months ended
($ in thousands)    2006    2005    2006    2005

Telephone services

   $ 12,078    $ 17,236    $ 38,200    $ 47,128

Network services

     10,926      11,318      32,708      28,734

Other service and product revenues

     3,740      2,579      10,056      6,371
                           
   $ 26,744    $ 31,133    $ 80,964    $ 82,233
                           

Major Customers

For the periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, none of the Company’s customers accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s total revenues.

 

(7) Goodwill, Intangible and Other Long-Lived Assets

Goodwill and intangible assets that have indefinite useful lives are not amortized but rather are tested at least annually for impairment. Intangible assets that have finite useful lives (whether or not acquired in a business combination) are amortized over their estimated useful lives. Intangible assets, all of which have finite lives, consist of concession rights, rights of use and rights of way. The rights of way allow the Company to operate its country-wide telecommunications network along the Hungarian National Railway (“MAV”). Rights of use refer to the rights to use networks owned by third parties.

The Company completed its annual impairment test of goodwill as of January 1, 2006. Based upon the results, the Company concluded that there is no impairment to the carrying value of goodwill reported in its financial statements.

 

(8) Commitments and Contingencies

 

  (a) Annual Concession Fees

Under the historical regulatory structure in which Hungarotel received its operating licenses it paid a one-time concession fee and was required to pay annual concession fees based on net telephone service revenues that varied between 0.1% and 2.3% of net telephone service revenues depending on the concession area. In 2001, the Hungarian government made changes to the Communications Act, whereby the concession system was replaced with a notification system. Under the notification system, other telecommunications providers can enter the Company’s markets by

 

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Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

(unaudited)

paying a nominal fee. The Company believes that this change violated the terms upon which it received its concessions which would have required competitors entering the Company’s markets to pay fees similar to the fees paid by the Company. Therefore, the Company has accrued but withheld the payment of concession fees for 2001 in the amount of HUF 157 million (approximately $0.7 million at September 30, 2006 exchange rates) and believes that it does not owe any more concession fees for 2002 and future periods. The Company is currently in discussions with the Informatics and Communications Ministry regarding the mutual termination or amendment of its concession agreements.

 

  (b) Commitments and Contingencies

The Company has entered into three separate contracts with a telecommunications service provider (“TSP”) in Hungary. Under the first contract, the Company sold optical fiber from its existing network to the TSP. The second contract requires the Company to construct an additional optical fiber network and, once complete, sell certain optical fiber constructed under this second contract to the TSP. The construction of the network under the second contract is expected to be completed by the end of 2006. The third contract requires the Company to provide an optical cable network to the TSP, under a rental type arrangement, which will connect the network components under the first and second contracts. The three contracts collectively will allow the TSP to have an optical cable network.

The third contract includes a provision which would require the Company to pay HUF 300 million as a penalty (approximately $1.4 million at September 30, 2006 exchange rates) if the Company is late by more than six months in providing the required service. In addition to this penalty provision, the first and second contracts provide that in the event the Company is late by more than six months regarding its required performance, then the TSP has the right to force the Company to buy back the previously sold optical fibers that were sold under the first and second contracts at the original selling prices plus 9.5% interest. This buy-back commitment will be cancelled if the Company meets the deadline stipulated in the third contract.

During June 2006, based on the first of the three contracts, the Company invoiced the TSP in the amount of HUF 545 million (approximately $2.5 million at September 30, 2006 exchange rates), which was paid in full by the TSP as of June 30, 2006. The Company has deferred the revenue associated with this contract due to the buy-back commitment noted above.

Also in June 2006, the Company received an advance payment from the TSP in the amount of HUF 530 million (approximately $2.5 million at September 30, 2006 exchange rates), for construction work to be performed under the second contract.

 

  (c) Legal Proceedings

The Company is involved in various claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, the ultimate disposition of these matters and the issue described in (a) above will not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

 

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This quarterly report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements. Statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on our estimates and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the statements. Words such as “believes,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “expects” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements (including oral representations) are only predictions or statements of current plans, which we review continuously. For all forward-looking statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

The following important factors, along with those factors discussed elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in our other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, could affect future results and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements:

 

    Changes in the growth rate of the overall Hungarian, European Union and Central and Eastern European economies such that inflation, interest rates, currency exchange rates, business investment and consumer spending are impacted;

 

    Materially adverse changes in economic conditions in Hungary and Central Europe;

 

    Changes in the currency exchange markets particularly in the Hungarian forint-euro exchange rate, the Hungarian forint-U.S. dollar exchange rate and the euro-U.S. dollar exchange rate which affect our financial statements and our ability to repay our debt;

 

    Our ability to effectively manage and otherwise monitor our operations, costs, regulatory compliance and service quality;

 

    Our ability to effectively manage our operating expenses, capital expenses and reduce or refinance our debt;

 

    Our dependence on cash flow from Hungarotel and PanTel and certain restrictions on their ability to pay dividends to the parent company;

 

    The overall effect of competition from wireless service providers, other wireline carriers, cable television operators, Internet Service Providers and others in the markets that we currently compete in and in the markets that we may enter into;

 

    The effects of greater than anticipated competition requiring new pricing, marketing strategies or new product offerings and the risk that we will not respond on a timely or profitable basis;

 

    The timing and profitability of our entry into new markets;

 

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    Our ability to successfully introduce new product offerings including our ability to offer bundled service packages on terms that are both profitable to us and appealing to our customers, and our ability to sell enhanced and data services in order to offset declines in revenue from local wireline service;

 

    Material changes in available technology and the effects of such changes including product substitutions and deployment costs;

 

    Our ability to retain key employees;

 

    The effect of Hungarian regulatory and legislative initiatives and proceedings including those relating to the terms of interconnection, access charges, universal service, unbundled networks, resale rates and the continued liberalization of the Hungarian telecommunications marketplace;

 

    Changes in European Union laws and regulations, which may require Hungary and other countries to revise their telecommunications laws;

 

    Political changes in Hungary;

 

    The final outcome of certain legal proceedings affecting us;

 

    Our ability to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which requires management to assess its internal control systems and disclose whether the internal control systems are effective, and the identification of any material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting;

 

    Changes in our accounting assumptions that regulatory agencies, including the SEC, may require or that result from changes in the accounting rules or their application, which could result in an impact on our financial results;

 

    The performance of our IT Systems;

 

    Our ability to successfully complete the integration of any businesses or companies that we may acquire into our operations; and

 

    Our relationship with our controlling stockholder.

You should consider these important factors in evaluating any statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or otherwise made by us or on our behalf. We have no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements.

 

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Overview

We provide telecommunications services in Hungary through our three Hungarian operating subsidiaries: Hungarotel, PanTel, and PanTel Technocom. Hungarotel principally provides fixed line voice, data and Internet services to residential customers and small and medium size enterprises within 3 defined regions of Hungary (the “Hungarotel Operating Areas”). PanTel owns a nation-wide fiber optic network in Hungary and competes primarily with Magyar Telekom, the former national monopoly, in the provision of voice, data and Internet services primarily to businesses throughout Hungary. PanTel also uses its network capacity to transport voice, data, and Internet traffic on a wholesale basis for other telecommunications service providers, Internet Service Providers, and cable television operators in Hungary. PanTel’s network also extends into other countries in the Central and Eastern European region. PanTel has interconnection arrangements in place with several major international telecommunications service operators which provide for interconnection at international telecommunications hubs in Frankfurt and Vienna. PanTel Technocom provides telecommunications service to MOL (the Hungarian oil company) and operates and maintains various parts of MOL’s telecommunications network.

As of September 30, 2006, the Company had approximately 142,000 access lines in service within the Hungarotel Operating Areas and PanTel had 38,000 access lines outside of the Hungarotel Operating Areas, which we service through PanTel’s country-wide fiber optic backbone network. Thus, as of September 30, 2006, we had a total of approximately 180,000 access lines in service. In addition, the Company provides carrier selection and carrier pre-selection calling services to 73,000 customers (of which 21,000 are active) outside the Hungarotel Operating Areas. The Company began servicing these 73,000 carrier selection and carrier pre-selection customers as part of our expansion beyond the Hungarotel Operating Areas. In order to take advantage of PanTel’s experience in competing throughout Hungary, these Non-Hungarotel Operating Area customers have been transferred from Hungarotel to PanTel during the nine months ended September 30, 2006. During the past six months the Company has focused on the acquisition of carrier pre-selection customers which represent approximately 98% of new customers signed up during the quarter in non-Hungarotel areas. These carrier pre-selection customers generate less average revenue per user (“ARPU”) than our customers in the Hungarotel Operating Areas but generate higher ARPU than carrier selection customers.

Our goal is to provide a broad array of telecommunications services with exceptional quality and service at reasonable prices by becoming a highly efficient full service telecommunications provider in Central and Eastern Europe. Our primary risk is our ability to retain existing customers and attract new customers in a highly competitive market that is constantly in flux due to a challenging regulatory environment, new competitive fixed line telephony entrants, high wireless telephony penetration and macroeconomic factors. Our success depends upon our operating and marketing strategies, as well as market acceptance of telecommunications services within Hungary and the Central and Eastern European region. We plan to continue building on the reputation of PanTel as the competitive alternative in the business customer market within Hungary while using PanTel as our expansion vehicle in the residential and small business market outside the Hungarotel Operating Areas. We are seeking to further solidify and expand our presence in the Hungarian and Central and Eastern European telecommunications markets through strategic merger, acquisition or alliance opportunities. We are also continuing to explore wireless service solutions and possibilities so that we can be a full service provider in Hungary, providing both wireline and wireless voice, data and Internet services for residential and business customers.

 

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Comparison of Three Months Ended September 30, 2006 and Three Months Ended September 30, 2005

The functional currency of our Hungarian subsidiaries is the Hungarian forint. The average Hungarian forint/U.S. dollar exchange rate for the three months ended September 30, 2006 was 216.17, as compared to an average Hungarian forint/U.S. dollar exchange rate for the three months ended September 30, 2005 of 201.33. When comparing the three months ended September 30, 2006 to the three months ended September 30, 2005, you should note that all U.S. dollar reported amounts have been affected by this 7% depreciation in the Hungarian forint against the U.S. dollar.

Our analysis has been provided primarily in terms of our reporting currency (U.S. dollar). This is supplemented by our analysis in terms of the functional currency of our Hungarian subsidiaries (Hungarian forints) in certain instances due to the change in average Hungarian forint/U.S. dollar exchange rates between the periods.

Net Revenues

 

     Quarter ended
September 30,
       
(dollars in millions)    2006     2005     % change  

Measured service revenues

   8.1     12.2     (34 )

Subscription revenues

   5.9     6.1     (3 )

Interconnect charges:

      

Incoming

   0.4     0.5     (20 )

Outgoing (including access cost)

   (3.3 )   (3.6 )   8  
              

Net

   (2.9 )   (3.1 )   6  
              

Net measured service and subscription revenues

   11.1     15.2     (27 )

Connection fees

   0.1     0.2     (50 )

Wholesale voice revenues, net

   0.9     1.8     (50 )

Other operating revenues, net :

      

Provision of direct lines

   9.0     8.8     2  

VPN services

   1.5     2.1     (29 )

Internet services (including ADSL access)

   2.6     1.8     44  

Other

   1.5     1.2     25  
              

Other operating revenues, net total

   14.6     13.9     5  
              

Telephone Service Revenues, Net

   26.7     31.1     (14 )
              

 

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Measured Service Revenues

Our measured service revenues decreased in US dollar terms by $4.1 million, or 34%, between the periods. This decrease is attributable to the following:

Hungarotel Operating Areas

In reporting currency terms, measured service revenues within the Hungarotel Operating Areas for the three months ended September 30, 2006 were $2.6 million compared to measured service revenues of $6.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005. This $3.5 million, or 57%, decrease in measured service revenues reflects:

 

    A decrease in call minute volumes of 35% compared to the prior year. The decrease in the number of access lines serviced over the same period in the prior year contributed to 21% of the decrease (see below). Beyond that, 10% of the decrease is due to reduced volume of Internet dial-up calls. However this decrease has been offset by an increase in broadband DSL Internet usage versus traditional dial-up Internet. Broadband DSL Internet revenues are accounted for within “Other Operating Revenues”. Increased competition from other telecommunications service providers offering carrier selection and carrier pre-selection services within the Hungarotel Operating Areas contributed another 7% of the decrease compared to the same period in 2005. Other items resulted in a 3% increase.

 

    The 7% depreciation of the Hungarian forint against the U.S. dollar between the two periods.

 

    The remainder of the decrease (approximately 15%) relates to the introduction of free call minutes included in our recently introduced packages (see below), as well as slightly lower retail prices introduced with the new packages and different call traffic patterns between the two periods.

We had an approximate 21% decrease in average access lines in service from approximately 182,900 for the three months ended September 30, 2005, to approximately 144,100 during the three months ended September 30, 2006. Approximately 20% of the total average access line decrease occurred in the residential customer base. This significant decrease is due to: a significant number of disconnections due to rate changes (see details below) during the fourth quarter of 2005; continued wireless telephone penetration; competition from other service providers, such as cable television operators providing voice services; and economic conditions that resulted in some customers not being able to afford telephone services in general or choosing to receive voice services from just their wireless service provider, and not us, in order to reduce their monthly telecommunication expenses. The remaining 1% of the total decrease occurred in business customer access lines.

We are focusing on retaining our historic fixed line business customer base by offering discounts to our listed call tariffs in exchange for fixed term contracts. We are also promoting higher margin products such as DSL connections to customers, which have continued to grow significantly in 2006. This growth is evidenced by the fact that we added approximately 1,500 DSL connections during the three months ended September 30, 2006, compared to the approximately 300 DSL connections which were added during the three months ended September 30, 2005. The rate of DSL connections during the quarter has doubled compared to the connection rate at the beginning of the year. We expect the number of DSL connections to continue to grow in the future.

 

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In response to regulatory and competitive pressures in the Hungarotel Operating Areas, we introduced new monthly tariff packages to our customers as of October 1, 2005. The newly introduced packages provide for a re-balancing between monthly subscription fees and calling tariffs, whereby monthly subscription fees were increased and calling tariffs were reduced. The newly introduced packages also include, as a part of the package, a certain number of “free” minutes per month for each customer, which have been built into the prices of the packages. Between October 1, 2005, when the new monthly packages were introduced, and September 30, 2006, we have lost 38,000 net residential access lines, or 20% of the residential access lines in the Hungarotel Operating Areas as of September 30, 2005. This disconnection rate is due to the package re-balancing, increased competition from cable television operators, who began offering telephone services in some of the Hungarotel Operating Areas during the second half of 2005, as well as continued competition from wireless operators. The package re-balancing has caused us to lose customers from the lower end of our customer segment base, while at the same time allowing us to have a more competitive offering towards customers within higher market segments. Prior to this package re-balancing, we experienced the opposite in that the disconnecting customers were primarily from the higher customer market segments. During the second and third quarters, the disconnection rate has returned to levels similar to the months when the Hungarotel Operating Areas were open to outside competition, but before the package re-balancing.

Non-Hungarotel Operating Areas

Our non-Hungarotel Operating Area revenues, in reporting currency terms, decreased by 8% from $6.0 million during the three months ended September 30, 2005, to $5.5 million during the three months ended September 30, 2006. This decrease is due primarily to the 7% depreciation of the Hungarian forint against the U.S. dollar between the two periods. The Company experienced an increase in the carrier select and carrier pre-select activities that was launched during the second quarter of 2005 to challenge the incumbent local telephone operators on service and price in these markets. During April 2006, we introduced additional carrier select and carrier pre-select packages which should provide us with higher revenue than the original packages introduced last year. Since April 2006, the Company has focused on the acquisition of carrier pre-selection customers which represent approximately 98% of new customers signed up during the quarter in non-Hungarotel areas. These carrier pre-selection customers generate less average revenue per user (“ARPU”) than our customers in the Hungarotel Operating Areas but generate higher ARPU than carrier selection customers. The sales results of these newly introduced packages have thus far been quite good. As of September 30, 2006, we had 73,000 carrier selection and pre-selection customers, of which 21,000 customers were active. These carrier selection and carrier pre-selection customers generate significantly less average revenue per user (“ARPU”) than our customers in the Hungarotel Operating Areas. Corporate business revenues from services provided on our own telecommunications network did not change significantly between the two periods. Although there was a 20% increase in average access lines in service from approximately 31,700 for the three months ended September 30, 2005 to approximately 37,900 for the three months ended September 30, 2006, the benefit of this was offset by the negative effect of continuing price erosion due to competitive pressures within the market.

 

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Subscription Revenues

Our subscription revenues decreased by $0.2 million primarily as a result of: (i) a decrease in the number of average access lines in the Hungarotel Operating Areas between the three months ended September 30, 2006 and September 30, 2005; and (ii) customer transfers from higher monthly fee subscription packages to lower monthly fee subscription packages during the period within the Hungarotel Operating Areas. These two negative factors have been offset by the tariff re-balancing introduced as of October 1, 2005, which increased the monthly subscription fees in the Hungarotel Operating Areas.

Interconnect Charges

Our net measured service and subscription revenues have been reduced by net interconnect charges which totalled $2.9 million and $3.1 million during the three month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Included in the $3.1 million of net interconnect charges recorded for the three months ended September 30, 2005 is an approximate $0.7 million reduction in amounts previously accrued related to fixed to mobile interconnect fees between June 2004 and September 2005. We are paid a per minute interconnection fee for completing long distance wireline and mobile calls over our network to our customers (incoming). We pay interconnection fees to other wireline and mobile operators to terminate calls from our customers (outgoing). As a percentage of measured service and subscription revenues, our net interconnect charges have remained consistent at approximately 21% for each of the three month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, if the effects of the $0.7 million discussed above are excluded. There is an imbalance between our incoming interconnection revenue and our outgoing interconnection expenses. For example, the amount that we paid the wireless carriers for completing calls placed by our wireline customers to the wireless carriers’ customers are eight times the amount that the wireless carriers paid us to complete calls placed by their wireless customers to our wireline customers.

Wholesale Voice Revenues, Net

Our net wholesale voice revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2006 were $0.9 million, compared to $1.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005, a decrease of 50%. This decrease is primarily the result of a reduction in amounts previously accrued during the three months ended September 30, 2005 related to the reduction of mobile operators’ access costs, since June 2004, which amounted to $1.0 million during the third quarter of 2005. Wholesale voice is a relatively low margin service but remains an attractive service to the Company’s customers. Because of the high volume nature of the business, it provides a regular revenue stream. In addition, it complements other business products such as leased lines and Internet bandwidth when bundling services for business customers.

Other Operating Revenues

Our other operating revenues, which include revenues generated from the provision of direct lines, DSL Internet services, VPN services, operator services, dial-up Internet services and other miscellaneous telephone service revenues, increased 5% to $14.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006, as compared to $13.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005. This 5% increase is primarily due to growth in the Company’s broadband

 

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DSL Internet activity. The significant products driving other operating revenues are leased line services, the provision of dark fiber (leasing unused fiber optic cable), VPN services and Internet services. As a result of promoting DSL broadband Internet Services, we have experienced a shift with Internet dial-up service revenues, recorded within “Measured Service Revenues” decreasing, and Broadband DSL Internet revenues recorded within “Other Operating Revenues” increasing.

Selling, General and Administrative

 

     Quarter ended September 30,
(dollars in millions)    2006    2005

Selling, general and administrative

   $ 13.4    $ 12.0

Our selling, general and administrative expenses increased 12%, in reporting currency terms, for the three months ended September 30, 2006, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2005. In functional currency terms, the Hungarian entities’ operating expenses decreased by 2%, or $0.2 million, due to the cost savings effect of the workforce reduction plan which took place during the fourth quarter of 2005. This decrease has been further impacted by the 7% depreciation of the Hungarian forint against the U.S. dollar between the two periods. These two factors combined resulted in a $1.2 million decrease, in reporting currency terms, in the Hungarian entities’ expenses between the two periods. However, the U.S. parent company’s operating expenses have increased $2.6 million between the two periods due to: (i) a $1.9 million non-cash compensation benefit related to variable option accounting of the Company’s stock option plans recognized during the three months ended September 30, 2005, with no such similar benefit recorded during the three months ended September 30, 2006; (ii) a $0.1 million increase on personnel type expenses due to costs related to secondment arrangements for two of the Company’s officers and one-time consulting costs; (iii) $0.4 million higher auditing and accounting advisory costs during the three months ended September 30, 2006, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2005, due to the increased scope of the Company’s Sarbanes-Oxley compliance efforts; and (iv) other individually insignificant items.

Severance and benefit

 

     Quarter ended September 30,
(dollars in millions)    2006    2005

Severance and benefit

   $ 0.7    $ 1.1

Our severance and benefit expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2006, of $0.7 million, are due primarily to the termination costs related to an officer of the Company, as well as other individually insignificant severance costs related to the workforce of our Hungarian subsidiaries. The $1.1 million expense recorded during the three month period ended September 30, 2005 represents the severance and related costs concerning 80 voluntary terminations.

Depreciation and Amortization

 

     Quarter ended September 30,
(dollars in millions)    2006    2005

Depreciation and amortization

   $ 6.5    $ 6.7

 

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Our depreciation and amortization charges decreased $0.2 million, or 3% for the three months ended September 30, 2006, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2005. Depreciation and amortization charges in functional currency terms increased by 4%, between the two periods, due to a higher level of capitalizations during the three month period ended September 30, 2006 as compared to the three month period ended September 30, 2005. This increase in functional currency terms has been offset by the 7% depreciation of the Hungarian forint against the US dollar between the periods.

Income from Operations

 

     Quarter ended September 30,
(dollars in millions)    2006    2005

Income from operations

   $ 6.2    $ 11.4

Our income from operations decreased by 46% in reporting currency terms for the three months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2005. Contributing to this decrease were lower net telephone service revenues and higher selling, general and administrative expenses partially offset by lower depreciation and amortization expenses, as well as lower severance and benefit expenses.

Foreign Exchange Gains (Losses), Net

 

     Quarter ended September 30,  
(dollars in millions)    2006    2005  

Foreign exchange gains (losses), net

   $ 4.5    $ (1.8 )

Our net foreign exchange gains for the three months ended September 30, 2006 resulted primarily from the strengthening of the Hungarian forint against the euro on the Company’s average EUR 123.3 million denominated debt outstanding during the period. At September 30, 2006, the Hungarian forint had strengthened by approximately 3% against the euro as compared to June 30, 2006 levels. Net foreign exchange losses for the three months ended September 30, 2005 resulted primarily from the weakening of the Hungarian forint against the euro on the Company’s average EUR 141 million denominated debt outstanding during the period. At September 30, 2005, the Hungarian forint had weakened by approximately 0.9% against the euro as compared to June 30, 2005 levels. When non-Hungarian forint debt is re-measured into Hungarian forints, we report foreign exchange gains/losses in our consolidated financial statements as the Hungarian forint appreciates/devalues against such non-forint currencies. See the “Inflation and Foreign Currency” and “Market Risk Exposure” sections below.

 

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Interest Expense

 

     Quarter ended September 30,
(dollars in millions)    2006    2005

Interest expense

   $ 3.3    $ 3.5

Our interest expense decreased 6% for the three months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2005. This 6% decrease is the result of the lower average debt levels during the quarter ended September 30, 2006 compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2005, partially offset by the higher average interest rates paid on the Company’s borrowings between the two periods, as well as a 4% depreciation of the U.S. dollar versus the euro between the two periods. As a result of the higher interest rates on our borrowings, our weighted average interest rate on our debt obligations increased from 5.45% for the three months ended September 30, 2005, to 5.84% for the three months ended September 30, 2006, a 7% increase.

Fair Value Changes on Interest Rate Swaps

 

     Quarter ended September 30,
(dollars in millions)    2006     2005

Fair value changes on interest rate swaps

   $ (0.8 )   $ 1.4

Fair value changes on interest rate swaps amounted to a $0.8 million loss for the three months ended September 30, 2006, as compared to a $1.4 million gain for the three months ended September 30, 2005. The loss recorded for the period is the result of a downward movement in the market value of the interest rate swaps between June 30, 2006 and September 30, 2006. The gain recorded for the three months ended September 30, 2005 was the result of upward movement in the market value of the interest rate swaps between June 30, 2005 and September 30, 2005.

Income Tax Expense

 

     Quarter ended September 30,
(dollars in millions)    2006    2005

Income tax expense

   $ 1.1    $ 1.1

The income tax expense for the quarters ended September 30, 2006 and September 30, 2005 has been calculated based upon the estimated effective tax rate for the full year.

Net Income

 

     Quarter ended September 30,
(dollars in millions)    2006    2005

Net income

   $ 5.8    $ 6.5

As a result of the factors discussed above, we recorded net income attributable to common stockholders of $5.8 million, or $0.45 per share, or $0.41 per share on a diluted basis, for the three months ended September 30, 2006, as compared to $6.5 million, or $0.51 per share, or $0.46 per share on a diluted basis, for the three months ended September 30, 2005.

 

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Comparison of Nine Months Ended September 30, 2006 to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2005

The functional currency of our Hungarian subsidiaries is the Hungarian forint. The average Hungarian forint/U.S. dollar exchange rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was 213.31, as compared to an average Hungarian forint/U.S. dollar exchange rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 of 195.51. When comparing the nine months ended September 30, 2006 to the nine months ended September 30, 2005, it should be noted that all U.S. dollar reported amounts have been affected by this 8% depreciation in the Hungarian subsidiaries’ functional currency. You should also note, when comparing the nine month periods, that the 2005 nine month results only reflect the inclusion of PanTel for seven months.

Our analysis has been provided primarily in terms of our reporting currency (U.S. dollar). This is supplemented by our analysis in terms of the functional currency of our Hungarian subsidiaries (Hungarian forints) in certain instances due to the change in average Hungarian forint/U.S. dollar exchange rates between the periods.

Net Revenues

 

     Year-to-date
September 30,
       
(dollars in millions)    2006     2005     % change  

Measured service revenues

   26.0     33.5     (22 )

Subscription revenues

   18.2     18.8     (3 )

Interconnect charges:

      

Incoming

   1.6     1.6     0  

Outgoing

   (10.5 )   (10.8 )   (3 )
              

Net

   (8.9 )   (9.2 )   3  
              

Net measured service and subscription revenues

   35.3     43.1     (18 )

Connection fees

   0.5     0.7     (29 )

Wholesale revenues, net

   2.5     3.3     (24 )

Other operating revenues, net :

      

Provision of direct lines

   26.7     22.2     20  

VPN services

   4.8     5.2     (8 )

Internet services (including ADSL access)

   7.3     4.3     70  

Other

   3.9     3.4     15  
              

Other operating revenues, net total

   42.7     35.1     22  
              

Telephone Service Revenues, Net

   81.0     82.2     (1 )
              

Measured Service Revenues

Our measured service revenues decreased in US dollar terms by $7.5 million, or 22%, between the periods. This decrease is attributable to the following:

 

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Hungarotel Operating Areas

In reporting currency terms, our measured service revenues within the Hungarotel Operating Areas for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 were $8.6 million compared to measured service revenues of $19.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. This $11.2 million, or 57%, decrease in measured service revenues reflects:

 

    A decrease in call minute volumes of 37% compared to the prior year. The decrease in the number of access lines serviced over the same period in the prior year contributed to 20% of the decrease (see below). Beyond that, 11% of the decrease is due to reduced volume of Internet dial-up calls. However this decrease has been offset by an increase in broadband DSL Internet usage versus traditional dial-up Internet. Broadband DSL Internet revenues are accounted for within “Other Operating Revenues”. Increased competition from other telecommunications service providers offering carrier selection and carrier pre-selection services within the Hungarotel Operating Areas contributed to a further 7% decrease compared to the same period in 2005. Other items resulted in an additional 1% increase.

 

    The 8% depreciation of the Hungarian forint against the U.S. dollar between the two periods

 

    The remainder of the decrease (approximately 12%) relates to the introduction of free call minutes included in the recently introduced packages (see below), as well as slightly lower retail prices introduced with the new packages and different call traffic patterns between the two periods.

We had an approximate 20% decrease in average access lines in service from approximately 185,600 for the nine months ended September 30, 2005, to approximately 148,700 during the nine months ended September 30, 2006. Approximately 18% of the total average access line decrease occurred in the residential customer base. This significant decrease is due to a number of factors including: a significant number of disconnections due to rate changes (see details below) during the fourth quarter of 2005; continued wireless telephone penetration; competition from other service providers, such as cable television operators providing voice services; and economic conditions that resulted in some customers not being able to afford telephone services in general or choosing to receive voice services from just their wireless service provider, and not us, in order to reduce their monthly telecommunication expenses. The remaining 2% of the total decrease occurred in business customer access lines.

We are focusing on retaining our historic fixed line business customer base by offering discounts to our listed call tariffs in exchange for fixed term contracts. We are also promoting higher margin products such as DSL connections to customers, which have continued to grow significantly in 2006. This growth is evidenced by the fact that we added approximately 4,900 DSL connections during the nine months ended September 30, 2006, compared to the approximately 1,100 DSL connections which were added during the nine months ended September 30, 2005. The rate of DSL connections during the quarter has doubled compared to the connection rate at the beginning of the year. We expect the number of DSL connections to continue to grow in the future.

In response to regulatory and competitive pressures in the Hungarotel Operating Areas, we introduced new monthly tariff packages to our customers as of October 1, 2005. The newly introduced packages provide for a re-balancing between monthly subscription fees and calling

 

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tariffs, whereby monthly subscription fees were increased and calling tariffs were reduced. The newly introduced packages also include, as a part of the package, a certain number of “free” minutes per month for each customer, which have been built into the prices of the packages. Between October 1, 2005, when the new monthly packages were introduced, and September 30, 2006, we have lost 38,000 net residential access lines, or 18% of the residential access lines in the Hungarotel Operating Areas as of September 30, 2005. This disconnection rate is due to the package re-balancing, increased competition from cable television operators, who began offering telephone services in some of the Hungarotel Operating Areas during the second half of 2005, as well as continued competition from wireless operators. The package re-balancing has caused us to lose customers from the lower end of our customer segment base, while at the same time allowing us to have a more competitive offering towards customers within higher market segments. Prior to this package re-balancing, we experienced the opposite in that the disconnecting customers were primarily from the higher customer market segments. During the second and third quarters, the disconnection rate has returned to levels similar to the months when the Hungarotel Operating Areas were open to outside competition, but before the package re-balancing.

Non-Hungarotel Operating Areas

Our non-Hungarotel Operating Area revenues, in reporting currency terms increased by 27% from $13.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 to $17.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006. This increase is primarily due to the inclusion of nine months of PanTel revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to seven months of PanTel revenue being included for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. In addition to the additional two months of Pantel revenues between the periods, another factor contributing to the increase is the carrier select and carrier pre-select activities we launched during the second quarter of 2005 to challenge the incumbent local telephone operators on service and price in these markets. During April 2006, we introduced additional carrier select and carrier pre-select packages which should provide us with higher revenue than the original packages introduced last year. Since April 2006, the Company has focused on the acquisition of carrier pre-selection customers which represent approximately 98% of new customers signed up during the quarter in non-Hungarotel areas. These carrier pre-selection customers generate less average revenue per user (“ARPU”) than our customers in the Hungarotel Operating Areas but generate higher ARPU than carrier selection customers. The sales results of these newly introduced packages have thus far been quite good. As of September 30, 2006, we had 73,000 carrier selection and pre-selection customers, of which 21,000 customers were active. These carrier selection and carrier pre-selection customers generate significantly less average revenue per user (“ARPU”) than our customers in the Hungarotel Operating Areas. Corporate business revenues from services provided on our own telecommunications network did not change significantly between the two periods. Although there was a 26% increase in average access lines in service from approximately 28,800 for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 to approximately 36,400 for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, the benefit of this was offset by the negative effect of continuing price erosion due to competitive pressures within the market.

Subscription Revenues

Our subscription revenues decreased by $0.6 million primarily as a result of: (i) a decrease in the number of average access lines in the Hungarotel Operating Areas between the

 

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nine month periods ended September 30, 2005 and September 30, 2006; and (ii) customer transfers from higher monthly fee subscription packages to lower monthly fee subscription packages during the period within the Hungarotel Operating Areas. These two negative factors have been offset by the tariff re-balancing introduced as of October 1, 2005, which increased the monthly subscription fees in the Hungarotel Operating Areas.

Interconnect Charges

Our net measured service and subscription revenues have been reduced by net interconnect charges which totalled $8.9 million and $9.2 million during the nine month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Included in the $9.2 million of net interconnect charges recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 is an approximate $0.7 million reduction in amounts previously accrued related to fixed to mobile interconnect fees between June 2004 and September 2005. We are paid a per minute interconnection fee for completing long distance wireline and mobile calls over our network to our customers (incoming). We pay interconnection fees to other wireline and mobile operators to terminate calls from our customers (outgoing). As a percentage of measured service and subscription revenues, net interconnect charges have increased from 19%, if the effects of the $0.7 million discussed above are excluded, for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 to 20% for the nine months ended September 30, 2006. The slight increase in the percentage is due to the reduction of call tariffs, which exceeded the reduction of interconnect tariffs. There is an imbalance between our incoming interconnection revenue and our outgoing interconnection expenses. For example, the amount that we paid the wireless carriers for completing calls placed by our wireline customers to the wireless carriers’ customers are eight times the amount that the wireless carriers paid us to complete calls placed by their wireless customers to our wireline customers.

Wholesale Voice Revenues, Net

Our net wholesale voice revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 were $2.5 million, compared to $3.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005, a decrease of 24%. The period ended September 30, 2005 included seven months of wholesale voice activity, while the same period in 2006 includes nine months. This decrease is primarily the result of a reduction in amounts previously accrued during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 related to the reduction of mobile operators’ access costs since June 2004, which amounted to $1.0 million. Wholesale voice is a relatively low margin service but remains an attractive service to our customers. Because of the high volume nature of the business, it provides a regular revenue stream. In addition, it complements other business products such as leased lines and Internet bandwidth when bundling services for business customers.

Other Operating Revenues

Our other operating revenues, which include revenues generated from the provision of direct lines, DSL Internet services, VPN services, operator services, dial-up Internet services and other miscellaneous telephone service revenues, increased to $42.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, as compared to $35.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005, a 22% increase. This increase is largely attributable to the fact that the amounts for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 include Pantel for only seven months, whereas for the

 

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2006 year-to-date amounts, Pantel is included for nine months. The significant products driving other operating revenues are leased line services, the provision of dark fiber (leasing unused fiber optic cable), VPN services and Internet services. As a result of promoting DSL broadband Internet Services, we have experienced a shift with Internet dial-up service revenues, recorded within “Measured Service Revenues” decreasing, and Broadband DSL Internet revenues recorded within “Other Operating Revenues” increasing.

Selling, General and Administrative

 

     Year-to-date
(dollars in millions)    2006    2005

Selling, general and administrative

   $ 42.0    $ 38.2

Our selling, general and administrative expenses increased 10% for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2005. This 10% increase is attributable to (i) a $1.4 million increase in the U.S. parent company’s operating expenses and (ii) the inclusion of an extra two months of PanTel’s selling, general and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2005, which results in an extra $5.5 million of expenses between the two periods, partially offset by the 8% depreciation of the Hungarian forint against the US dollar between the periods, which effects the Hungarian entities’ operating expenses. The $1.4 million increase in the U.S. parent company’s operating expenses is the result of (i) a $0.3 million non-cash compensation benefit related to variable option accounting of the Company’s stock option plans recognized during the nine months ended September 30, 2005, with no such similar benefit recorded during 2006, (ii) $0.5 million stock option based charge recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, and (iii) $0.7 million higher auditing and accounting advisory costs during the three months ended September 30, 2006, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2005, due to the increased scope of the Company’s Sarbanes-Oxley compliance efforts.

Severance and benefit

 

     Year-to-date
(dollars in millions)    2006    2005

Severance and benefit

   $ 0.7    $ 1.1

Our severance and benefit expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, of $0.7 million, are due primarily to the termination costs related to an officer of the Company, as well as other individually insignificant severance costs related to the workforce of the Hungarian entities. The $1.1 million expense during the period ended September 30, 2005 represents the severance and related costs concerning 80 voluntary terminations.

Depreciation and Amortization

 

     Year-to-date
(dollars in millions)    2006    2005

Depreciation and amortization

   $ 19.0    $ 17.6

 

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Our depreciation and amortization charges increased $1.4 million, or 8%. This increase is due primarily to the inclusion of an extra two months of Pantel’s depreciation and amortization charges for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2005, which resulted in an extra $2.0 million of depreciation and amortization charges between the two periods. This $2.0 million increase, due to the inclusion of depreciation from PanTel, has been partially offset by the 8% depreciation of the Hungarian forint against the U.S. dollar between the periods.

Income from Operations

 

     Year-to-date
(dollars in millions)    2006    2005

Income from operations

   $ 19.2    $ 25.3

Our income from operations decreased by 24% in reporting currency terms for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2005. Contributing to this decrease were lower net telephone service revenues and higher selling, general and administrative expenses and higher depreciation and amortization expenses, slightly offset by lower severance and benefit expenses.

Foreign Exchange Losses, Net

 

     Year-to-date
(dollars in millions)    2006    2005

Foreign exchange losses, net

   $ 11.2    $ 6.3

 

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Our net foreign exchange losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 resulted primarily from the weakening of the Hungarian forint against the euro on the Company’s average EUR 129.4 million denominated debt outstanding during the period. At September 30, 2006, the Hungarian forint had weakened by approximately 8% against the euro as compared to December 31, 2005 levels. Net foreign exchange losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 resulted primarily from (i) the weakening of the Hungarian forint against the euro on Hungarotel’s average EUR 81 million denominated debt outstanding between February 21, 2005 (refinancing date) and September 30, 2005; (ii) the weakening of the Hungarian forint against the euro on PanTel’s average EUR 64 million denominated debt outstanding between February 28, 2005 and September 30, 2005; and (iii) the realized foreign exchange losses on Hungarotel’s U.S. dollar denominated invoices and debt paid off during the period; partially offset by (iv) a realized foreign exchange gain of $0.5 million on the repayment of Hungarotel’s previous loan on February 21, 2005. At September 30, 2005, the Hungarian forint had weakened by approximately (i) 2.4% against the euro as compared to the February 21, 2005 level; (ii) 3% against the euro as compared to the February 28, 2005 level; and (iii) 13% against the U.S. dollar, as compared to December 31, 2004 levels. When non-Hungarian forint debt is re-measured into Hungarian forints, the Company reports foreign exchange gains/losses in its consolidated financial statements as the Hungarian forint appreciates/devalues against such non-forint currencies. See the “Inflation and Foreign Currency” and “Market Risk Exposure” sections below.

Interest Expense

 

     Year-to-date
(dollars in millions)    2006    2005

Interest expense

   $ 10.4    $ 10.6

Our interest expense decreased 2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2005. Included in interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 was a $1.5 million write-off of deferred financing costs related to Hungarotel’s previous syndicated loan. Excluding this write-off, interest expense increased from $9.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 to $10.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, an increase of 14%. This is 14% increase is the result of (i) the inclusion of PanTel’s $3.8 million interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, as compared to the inclusion of $2.9 million of interest expense related to Pantel for the seven months ended September 30, 2005; and (ii) higher average interest rates paid on the Company’s borrowings during the nine months ended September 30, 2006, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2005. This was partially offset by lower average debt levels outstanding between the periods. As a result of the higher interest rates on the Company’s borrowings, the Company’s weighted average interest rate on its debt obligations increased from 5.17% for the nine months ended September 30, 2005, to 5.78% for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, a 12% increase.

Interest Income

 

     Year-to-date
(dollars in millions)    2006    2005

Interest income

   $ 0.8    $ 0.6

 

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Our interest income increased 33% for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2005, due to higher average deposit balances between the periods.

Fair Value Changes on Interest Rate Swaps

 

     Year-to-date  
(dollars in millions)    2006    2005  

Fair value changes on interest rate swaps

   $ 2.3    $ (2.4 )

Fair value changes on interest rate swaps amounted to a $2.3 million gain for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, as compared to a $2.4 million loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. The gain recorded for the period is the result of an upward movement in the market value of the interest rate swaps between December 31, 2005 and September 30, 2006. The loss recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 was the result of significant downward movements in the market value of the interest rate swaps between March 31, 2005 (the swap contract date) and September 30, 2005.

Equity in Earnings of Affiliate

 

     Year-to-date
(dollars in millions)    2006    2005

Equity in earnings of affiliate

   $ —      $ 0.9

Equity in earnings of affiliate for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 represents the 25% equity ownership of PanTel in January and February 2005, prior to the our obtaining 100% ownership of PanTel on February 28, 2005.

Income Tax Expense

 

     Year-to-date
(dollars in millions)    2006    2005

Income tax expense

   $ 0.2    $ 1.2

The income tax expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and September 30, 2005 has been calculated based upon the estimated effective tax rate for the full year.

Net Income

 

     Year-to-date
(dollars in millions)    2006    2005

Net (loss) income

   $ 1.0    $ 6.7

As a result of the factors discussed above, we recorded net income attributable to common stockholders of $1.0 million, or $0.08 per share, or $0.07 per share on a diluted basis, for the three months ended September 30, 2006, as compared to $6.7 million, or $0.52 per share, or $0.47 per share on a diluted basis, for the nine months ended September 30, 2005.

 

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

Net cash provided by operating activities totalled $32.2 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2006, compared to $38.0 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2005. This $5.8 million decrease is due to (i) the 8% depreciation of the Hungarian forint against the U.S. dollar between the two periods, (ii) $6.1 million lower operating income during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2005, (iii) interest payments on the Company’s senior credit agreement being made on a monthly basis during the period, whereas for 2005, interest payments had been made on a semi-annual basis and $1.2 million of interest was accrued as of September 30, 2005, and (iv) a $0.9 million negative movement in other net working capital during the period. This decrease has been partially offset by the inclusion of PanTel’s nine months operating cash flow of $22.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 compared to the seven months operating cash flow of $16.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. The $22.2 million operating cash flow of PanTel for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 includes a $2.5 million advance payment and $2.5 million of deferred sales revenue received from a telecommunication service provider (see Note 8(b) of Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements). For the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, the Company used $12.7 million and $19.2 million, respectively, in investing activities. The $12.7 million used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 is due primarily to additions to the Company’s telecommunications networks. The $19.2 million used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 is due to (i) $12.4 million to fund additions to the Company’s telecommunications networks, and (ii) $7.1 million for the acquisition of the PanTel business net of cash acquired. Financing activities used net cash of $12.4 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 compared to $6.7 million provided by financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. Cash flows used in financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 reflect (i) the $12.1 million scheduled repayment under the credit agreement, and (ii) $0.3 million principal payments made under our capital lease obligations. Cash flows from financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 were the result of (i) the drawing down of $110 million under the new credit agreement, (ii) the $74.3 million repayment of the Company’s previous loans, (iii) the scheduled repayment of $11.0 million from the new credit facility, (iv) the $5.9 million payment of financing related costs and (v) an $11.8 million principal and interest payment on the new credit agreement to fund the debt service reserve account that is stipulated by the credit agreement.

Our major contractual cash obligations, including interest, as of September 30, 2006 (at September 30, 2006 exchange rates) are as follows:

Cash Payments Due by Period

(in thousands)

 

Obligation

   Total    1 Year
or Less
   2–3
Years
   4-5
Years
  

After 5

Years

Long Term Debt

   $ 201,047    59,331    75,152    66,564    —  

Operating Leases

     2,960    1,798    715    146    301

Capital Leases

     872    412    460    —      —  

Construction and Other Commitments

     6,829    3,683    3,146    —      —  
                          

Total

   $ 211,708    65,225    79,473    66,710    301
                          

 

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Our ability to generate sufficient cash flow from operations to meet our contractual cash obligations is subject to many factors, including regulatory developments, macroeconomic factors, competition and customer behavior and acceptance of additional fixed line telecommunications services. Under our credit agreement, the ratio of our total net borrowings to EBITDA (Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization per the terms of the new credit agreement) is a measurement of financial performance and becomes the basis for determining the Applicable Margin of the credit agreement. We must also maintain a minimum ratio of debt service cover. The ratios are calculated based on our U.S. dollar consolidated financial statements translated into euros. This exposes us to the possible risk of not meeting our debt covenant ratios, as measured in euro terms, due to the effect of currency movements on translation of our Hungarian forint denominated assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses into euros. While we seek to manage the business to be in compliance with our credit agreement and related covenants, we operate in a competitive and regulated environment which is subject to many factors outside of our control (i.e. the government’s political, social and public policy agenda). We attempt to reduce this exchange rate risk, when deemed cost effective, through the use of forward hedging contracts or other hedging products.

Inflation and Foreign Currency

During the first nine months of 2005, the Hungarian forint weakened against the euro and the U.S. dollar due to a decrease in Hungarian interest rates and, more generally, an increase in U.S. interest rates that resulted in investors divesting from emerging markets and investing in U.S. government securities. Given our debt structure, these macroeconomic factors resulted in a net foreign exchange loss of $6.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. During the first nine months of 2006, the Hungarian forint continued to weaken, as compared to year-end 2005 levels, against the euro and the U.S. dollar due to 2006 being an election year in Hungary combined with uncertainty about the Hungarian government’s response to Hungary’s budget deficit problems, and, more generally, an increase in U.S. interest rates that resulted in investors divesting from emerging markets and investing in U.S. government securities, all of which contributed to a net foreign exchange loss of $11.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006. See Item 3 “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” (Market Risk Exposure below).

Approximately 95% of our net revenues are denominated in Hungarian forints and our operating and other expenses, including capital expenditures, are predominantly in Hungarian forints but also in U.S. dollars and euros. In addition, certain items in the balance sheet accounts are denominated in currencies other than the functional currencies of the operating subsidiaries. Accordingly, when such accounts are translated into the functional currency, we are subject to foreign exchange gains and losses which are reflected as a component of earnings. When the subsidiaries financial statements are translated into U.S. dollars for financial reporting purposes, we are subject to translation adjustments, the effect of which is reflected as a component of stockholders’ equity.

 

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While we have the ability to increase some of the prices we charge for our services generally commensurate with increases in the Hungarian Consumer Price Index (“CPI”) pursuant to our licenses from the Hungarian government, and as regulated by the government, we may choose not to implement the full amount of the increase permitted due to competitive and other concerns. In addition, the rate of increase in the Hungarian CPI may not be sufficient to offset potential negative exchange rate movements and, as a result, we may be unable to generate cash flows to the degree necessary to meet our obligations in currencies other than the Hungarian forint. See Item 3 “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” (Market Risk Exposure below).

Related Party Transactions

The amount due to related parties totalling $2,287,000 at September 30, 2006, represents cumulative preferred stock dividends in arrears, in the amount of $730,000, and an accrual of $1,557,000 as an estimate of the costs for various individuals employed by TDC A/S (“TDC”) who have performed work for the Company, including the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer and head of Corporate Business Development (see below), for 2005 and the first nine months of 2006. The total amount due to related parties was due to TDC, which held approximately 62% of the Company’s outstanding common stock and 100% of the Company’s preferred shares as of September 30, 2006.

Torben V. Holm has served as the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer since May 19, 2005. Alex Wurtz has served as the head of the Company’s Corporate Business Development department since June 9, 2005. Messrs. Holm and Wurtz are employees of TDC. The Company has reached an agreement in principle with TDC to reimburse TDC on a month to month basis for certain costs incurred by TDC in employing Messrs. Holm and Wurtz.

For Mr. Holm, the Company has agreed to pay TDC EUR 436,774 (approximately $554,000 at September 30, 2006 exchange rates) for the costs incurred by TDC in compensating Mr. Holm for the one-year period from May 2005 through April 2006. For such one-year period, the Company has also agreed to pay Mr. Holm’s housing costs in Budapest in the amount of $30,000 as well as certain travel expenses incurred by Mr. Holm in the amount $14,000 to enable Mr. Holm to commute back to his home in Denmark. The Company also agreed to pay TDC EUR 51,783 (approximately $66,000 at September 30, 2006) to reimburse TDC for the costs incurred by TDC for the payments to Mr. Holm of a start-up bonus and a performance bonus for 2005. For the period beginning May 1, 2006, the Company has agreed to pay TDC EUR 37,000 (approximately $47,000 at September 30, 2006 exchange rates) per month for the costs incurred by TDC in compensating Mr. Holm. The Company will remain responsible for the rental costs of Mr. Holm’s apartment in Budapest (approximately $3,000 per month at September 30, 2006 exchange rates). Beginning with 2006, the Company will reimburse TDC for bonus compensation paid to Mr. Holm only if the bonus is calculated based on performance criteria established by the Company’s Board of Directors and the bonus amount is approved by the Company’s Board of Directors prior to payment based on its evaluation of Mr. Holm’s performance against such criteria.

For Mr. Wurtz, the Company has agreed to pay TDC EUR 208,815 (approximately $265,000 at September 30, 2006 exchange rates) for the costs incurred by TDC in compensating Mr. Wurtz for the 11 month period from June 2005 through April 2006. For such eleven-month period, the Company has also agreed to pay Mr. Wurtz’s housing costs in Budapest in the amount of $28,000. The Company also agreed to pay TDC EUR 34,409 (approximately $44,000

 

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at September 30, 2006 exchange rates) to reimburse TDC for the costs incurred by TDC for the payments to Mr. Wurtz of a start-up bonus and a performance bonus for 2005. For the period beginning May 1, 2006, the Company has agreed to pay TDC EUR 18,000 (approximately $23,000 at September 30, 2006 exchange rates) per month for the costs incurred by TDC in compensating Mr. Wurtz. The Company will remain responsible for the rental costs of Mr. Wurtz’s apartment in Budapest (approximately $3,000 per month at September 30, 2006 exchange rates). Beginning with 2006, the Company will reimburse TDC for bonus compensation paid to Mr. Wurtz only if the bonus is calculated based on performance criteria established by the Company’s Board of Directors and the bonus amount is approved by the Company’s Board of Directors prior to payment based on its evaluation of Mr. Wurtz’s performance against such criteria.

The Company and TDC have not reached any definitive agreements regarding the services of Messrs. Holm and Wurtz yet and the Company will not make any payment until definitive agreements have been executed.

In addition to the services of Messrs. Holm and Wurtz, three employees of TDC have performed financial budgeting and forecasting services for the Company and one TDC employee shall continue to do so through the end of 2006. The Company has reached an agreement in principle with TDC to pay TDC DKK 735,085 (approximately $125,000 at September 30, 2006 exchange rates) for such services, of which DKK 492,708 (approximately $84,000 at September 30, 2006 exchange rates) has been accrued for as of September 30, 2006 for services rendered through September 30, 2006. The Company and TDC have not reached any definitive agreement regarding such services yet and the Company will not make any payment until a definitive agreement has been executed.

Some employees of TDC have also provided services for the Company in connection with various strategic projects. The Company has reached an agreement in principle with TDC to pay TDC DKK 1,093,050 (approximately $186,000 at September 30, 2006 exchange rates) for such services. The Company and TDC have not reached any definitive agreement regarding such services yet and the Company will not make any payment until a definitive agreement has been executed.

The Company has a bilateral agreement with TDC and a subsidiary of TDC (TDC Switzerland), through its subsidiary PanTel, to send and receive wholesale voice traffic. For the three months ended September 30, 2006 the Company had net revenues amounting to $0.4 million, and for the three months ended September 30, 2005, net costs of less than $0.1 million, related to the bilateral agreement. For the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, the Company had net revenues amounting to $0.9 million and $0.4 million, respectively, related to the bilateral agreement.

 

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Market Risk Exposure

Currency Exchange Rate Risks

We are exposed to various types of risk in the normal course of our business, including the risk from foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. Our operations, including approximately 95% of net revenues and approximately 80% of operating expenses, are Hungarian forint based. Therefore, we are subject to exchange rate risk with respect to our non-Hungarian forint denominated expenses, primarily euros and U.S. dollars, due to the variability between the Hungarian forint and the euro and U.S. dollar. Due to our limited exposure with respect to non-Hungarian forint denominated expenses, we have not entered into any agreements to manage our foreign currency risks related to such expenses but we continue to monitor the exchange rate risk related to such expenses.

We are also exposed to exchange rate risk since we have debt obligations in euros and U.S. dollars. If the Hungarian forint weakens in the currency exchange markets versus the U.S. dollar or euro, we would have to generate more revenue in Hungarian forints to settle such debt obligations. The Hungarian forint/euro exchange rate changed from 252.73 as of December 31, 2005 to 273.49 as of September 30, 2006, an approximate 8% depreciation in the value of the Hungarian forint versus the euro. At the same time, the Hungarian forint/U.S. dollar exchange rate changed from 213.58 as of December 31, 2005 to 215.74 as of September 30, 2006, an approximate 1% depreciation in the value of the Hungarian forint versus the U.S. dollar.

Our policy is to consider utilizing foreign exchange rate hedging instruments or purchases of euros and U.S. dollars in advance in order to reduce our exposure to exchange rate risks associated with cash payments in euros and dollars under our debt obligations. We did not have any open foreign currency hedging instruments at September 30, 2006 or 2005. Our policy requires that counterparties to any hedging instrument be large and creditworthy multinational commercial banks, which are recognized market makers.

Given our euro and U.S. dollar denominated debt obligations, exchange rate fluctuations can have a significant impact on our financial statements in connection with foreign exchange gains/losses and the resulting debt balances.

For example, if a 5% change in Hungarian forint/euro exchange rates were to occur, the Company’s euro denominated debt, in U.S. dollar terms, would increase or decrease by $7.8 million assuming that the U.S. dollar/forint rate did not change. A 5% change in the Hungarian forint/U.S. dollar rate along with a 5% change in Hungarian forint/euro rates would result in a $7.4 million to $8.2 million increase in the debt balance or a decrease of $7.4 million to $8.2 million.

Interest Rate Risks

We are exposed to interest rate risks because our outstanding U.S. dollar denominated debt obligation accrues interest at a variable rate tied to market interest rates. The interest rate on the U.S. dollar denominated obligation is based on USD LIBOR. If a 1% change in USD

 

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LIBOR interest rates were to occur, the Company’s interest expense would increase or decrease by approximately $0.3 million annually based upon our September 30, 2006 U.S. dollar denominated debt level. We evaluate market interest rates and the costs of interest rate hedging instruments by reviewing historical variances between market rates and rates offered by lending institutions on hedging instruments, as well as market expectations of future interest rates.

As required by our credit agreement, we have entered into interest rate swap agreements whereby we have exchanged 100% of the variable interest rate on our euro denominated debt for a fixed rate. The swap agreements are valid until December 31, 2010.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officers, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon and as of the date of that evaluation, our Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officers concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

It should be noted that any system of disclosure controls and procedures, however well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, and not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the system are met. In addition, the design of any system of disclosure controls and procedures is based in part upon assumptions about the likelihood of future events. Due to these and other inherent limitations of any such system, there can be no assurance that any design will always succeed in achieving its stated goals under all conditions.

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended September 30, 2006 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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Item 1. Legal Proceedings

In our 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K we reported that we had initiated legal proceedings in March 2005 against Fazis, a Hungarian contractor, in the Budapest, Hungary Metropolitan Court seeking HUF 3.5 billion (approximately $16.2 million at September 30, 2006 exchange rates) for a debt that Fazis owed us. In October 2006, the court ruled in our favor and Fazis has been ordered to pay us HUF 3.5 billion (approximately $16.2 million at September 30, 2006 exchange rates) plus interest from 1999. However, we do not expect to collect anything from Fazis given their financial condition. We initiated these legal proceedings as part of a contractual dispute with Fazis in which Fazis initiated legal proceedings against us. As previously reported, we have prevailed in those legal proceedings as well.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

In our Report on Form 10-K for 2005, we disclosed a risk factor (“Our future operating expenses may be adversely affected by changes in our stock price.”) regarding compensation expenses or benefits in our statements of operations attributable to our utilization of variable accounting treatment with respect to our outstanding stock options. The use of variable accounting with respect to our outstanding stock options resulted in either a compensation benefit or compensation expense as the market value of our common stock changed. Due to our required adoption in the first quarter of 2006 of FASB Statement No. 123, Share-Based Payment Statement 123R, which requires us to measure compensation expense for employee stock options using the fair value method, we will no longer be using variable accounting.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

None

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

 

  (a) None.

 

  (b) In 1999 we issued 30,000 shares of Preferred Stock Series A with a liquidation value of $70 per share. At the end of the third quarter 2006, the preferred shares were held by TDC A/S. Any holder of such Preferred Shares is entitled to receive cumulative cash dividends payable in arrears at the annual rate of 5%, compounded annually, on the liquidation value. As of September 30, 2006, the total arrearage on the Preferred Shares was $730,000.

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

None

Item 5. Other Information

None

 

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Item 6. Exhibits

 

Exhibit
Number
 

Description

2   Plan of acquisition, reorganization, arrangement, liquidation or succession (none)
3(i)   Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, as amended, filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed on May 26, 2004 (File #333-115871) and incorporated herein by reference
3(ii)   By-laws of the Registrant, as amended, filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed on May 26, 2004 (File #333-115871) and incorporated herein by reference
4.1   Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws of the Registrant (see exhibits 3(i) and 3(ii))
4.2   Certificate of Designation of Series A – Preferred Stock of Hungarian Telephone and Cable Corp., filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999 and incorporated herein by reference
10. 1   Separation Agreement dated September 14, 2006 between Hungarian Telephone and Cable Corp. and William T. McGann
11   Statement re computation of per Share Earnings (not required)
15   Letter re unaudited interim financial information (not required)
18   Letter re change in accounting principles (none)
19   Report furnished to security holders (none)
22   Published report regarding matters submitted to vote of security holders (none)
24   Power of Attorney (none)
31.1   Certification of Torben V. Holm, President and Chief Executive Officer, required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
31.2   Certification of William T. McGann, Chief Financial Officer, required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
32.1   Certification of Torben V. Holm, President and Chief Executive Officer, required by Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. 1350
32.2   Certification of William T. McGann, Chief Financial Officer, required by Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. 1350

 

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Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

  Hungarian Telephone and Cable Corp.
November 8, 2006   By:  

/s/ Torben V. Holm

    Torben V. Holm
    President and Chief Executive Officer
November 8, 2006   By:  

/s/ William McGann

    William McGann
    Chief Financial Officer (Principal Accounting Officer,
    Principal Financial Officer)

 

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HUNGARIAN TELEPHONE AND CABLE CORP.

Index to Exhibits*

 

Exhibit No.  

Description

10.1   Separation Agreement dated September 14, 2006 between Hungarian Telephone and Cable Corp. and William T. McGann
31.1   Certification of Torben V. Holm, President and Chief Executive Officer, required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
31.2   Certification of William T. McGann, Chief Financial Officer, required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
32.1   Certification of Torben V. Holm, President and Chief Executive Officer, required by Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. 1350
32.2   Certification of William T. McGann, Chief Financial Officer, required by Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. 1350

* The other exhibits listed in the List of Exhibits in the Report on Form 10-Q have been incorporated by reference into such Report.