Cairo - Mubasher: Orascom Telecom Media and Technology Holding (OTMT) announced Monday that it has adopted a revised accounting treatment regarding its 75% owned subsidiary Cheo Technology JV (koryolink) in its Q3, 2015 financial statements.
The adopted accounting treatment entails the de-consolidation of koryolink from the consolidated Financial statements to remain as an Associate instead of being a Subsidiary, said a press statement.
This came in line with the Egyptian Accounting Standards (EAS) and the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
As disclosed in OTMT’s H1, 2015 financial statements, OTMT and the Korea Post and Telecommunications Corporation (KPTC) have been in discussions regarding the merger of Koryolink with the state-owned mobile operator, and while the negotiations are not terminated, it is clear from the current discussions that consolidating the asset will be difficult as per the IFRS and EAS regulations.
Accordingly, and in light of the current sanctions in DPRK that are affecting OTMT’s ability to impose control over koryolink, the convertibility of cash and the repatriation of dividends in addition to the negotiations outcome, OTMT adopted the de-consolidation of Koryolink’s Financial Statements from its Consolidated Financial statements and notified KPTC of this position.
Naguib Sawiris, Chairman and CEO of OTMT, commented on these developments saying: “We are very proud of the success of our operation “koryolink”. We have around 3 Million people today carrying our phones in DPRK. We are still hopeful that we will be able to resolve all pending issues to continue this successful journey. We are, however, forced for the above-mentioned accounting reasons to deconsolidate this activity from our consolidated financial statements.
On other hand, OTMT also announced that a majority of Beltone Financial Holding shareholders representing 97.4% have responded positively to the Tender Offer submitted on October 25, 2015.
This developments confirms OTMT’s new direction to diversify its portfolio from a solely Telecom and Technology based firm to an Investment Holding company with a special focus on the Financial Services sector, the Energy sector and the Transportation and Logistics sector among other business lines that would create value for its shareholders.
