Telmex Press Release: Highlights Fourth Quarter 2008 February 9,2009

FORM 6-K

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

Report of Foreign Private Issuer

Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the month of February 2009

Commission File Number: 333-13580

TELÉFONOS DE MÉXICO, S.A.B. DE C.V.

(Exact Name of the Registrant as Specified in the Charter)

Telephones of Mexico

(Translation of Registrant's Name into English)

Parque Vía 190

Colonia Cuauhtémoc

México City 06599, México, D.F.

(Address of principal executive offices)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F. Form 20-F.... .....Form 40-F.........

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ____

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ____

Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in this Form, the registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Yes ..... No... ..

If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Highlights

Fourth Quarter 2008

 

 

 

(1) EBITDA: defined as operating income plus depreciation and amortization. Go to www.telmex.com in the Investor Relations section where you will find the reconciliation of EBITDA to operating income.

(2) One ADR represents 20 shares.

(3) Net debt is defined as total debt less cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities.

 

 

 

Operating Results

Lines in service and local traffic

At the end of the fourth quarter, including the effect of number portability that began in July 2008, the number of lines in service was 17.589 million, 83 thousand lower than third quarter 2008. The number of disconnections is occurring mainly as a result of the competition from fixed, mobile and Pay TV companies.

Of our lines in service, approximately 56.6% or 10.0 million are in areas that interest competitors and where they also have presence. However, 7.6 million lines are in areas that hold no interest to competitors. For the twelve months these lines generated revenues of approximately 19.823 billion pesos and an operating loss of 2.761 billion pesos.

Local traffic volume continues to be affected mainly by competition from local and cellular telephony and by managed networks, a trend that strengthens the data business although it adversely affects local traffic. During the fourth quarter, local traffic decreased 9.6% compared with the same period of 2007, with a total of 5.419 billion local calls.

Long distance

Form October to December, domestic long distance (DLD) traffic increased 7.6% compared with last year's fourth quarter, totaling 4.920 billion minutes, due to more package offerings that include DLD minutes and higher traffic from long distance operators, offset by the decrease in termination traffic with cellular operators.

In the fourth quarter, outgoing international long distance (ILD) traffic decreased 14.3% compared with last year's fourth quarter, totaling 420 million minutes. Incoming international long distance traffic increased 2.0% compared with the same period of the previous year, totaling 1.772 billion minutes. The incoming-outgoing ratio was 4.2x.

Interconnection

In the fourth quarter, interconnection traffic totaled 11.453 billion minutes, 0.2% lower than fourth quarter of 2007. Calling party pays traffic decreased 5.3% because of the increase of cellular services. Interconnection traffic with local, long distance and cellular telephony operators increased 1.4%.

Internet access

At TELMEX, we have the commitment of increasing broadband penetration to reduce the digital divide in the country. Between 2007 and 2008, the number of broadband Infinitum customers increased close to 175%, reaching 5.0 million broadband services, which has made Mexico one of the countries among the members of the OECD with the highest growth rates in this type of service (OECD-Broadband portal).

This growth has been mainly driven by the sale of more than 1.8 million computers since 1999 in instalments of up to 48 months. The main limitation for broadband growth is the lack of computers in Mexican homes since only 25.7% of them have a computer, significantly below the average of close to 66.3% of the countries that are members of the OECD. In 2009, TELMEX will continue with these initiatives.

TELMEX has driven penetration of multi-services packages in order to support the family economy for the different consumption profiles of our customers. At year-end 2008, there were 4.3 million packages. These packages offer access to broadband and different voice services with discounts of up to 42%. One example is the "Paquete Conectes" that for 389 pesos per month, VAT included ($338.3 pesos per month plus 15% VAT, equivalent to 24.2 dollars).

.

 

Financial Results

The following financial information for 2008 is presented in nominal pesos and the financial information for 2007 is expressed in constant pesos as of December 2007, according to Mexican Financial Reporting Standards.

Revenues: In the fourth quarter, revenues totaled 31 billion pesos, a decrease of 2.7% compared with the same period of the previous year. These results include decreases of 9.0% and 6.7% in local and long distance services, respectively, and 11.6% in interconnection revenues. The decrease in interconnection revenues reflected declines of 5.3% in traffic volume and 8.5% in the calling party pays rate. On the other hand, Internet access revenues were up 27.8%, corporate networks revenues increased 7.9%, and other revenues, which includes Tiendas TELMEX (TELMEX stores), were up 25.9%.

Costs and expenses: In the quarter, total costs and expenses were 21.715 billion pesos, a decrease of 3.0% compared with the fourth quarter of 2007. This decrease was mainly due to initiatives carried out to optimize resource use and the 9.7% decrease in the amount paid to cellular operators for calling party pays services, offset by higher charges related to the sale of computers and equipment for customers and cost increases for goods and services.

 

EBITDA (1) and operating income: EBITDA (1) totaled 13.776 billion pesos in the fourth quarter, a decrease of 2.7% compared with the same period of last year. The EBITDA margin was 44.5%. Operating income totaled 9.252 billion pesos in the fourth quarter and the operating margin was 29.9%.

Comprehensive financing cost: In the fourth quarter, comprehensive financing cost produced a charge of 3.808 billion pesos. This resulted from: i) a net interest charge of 2.171 billion pesos, 993 million pesos more than the charge registered in the same period of 2007, due to recognition of the market value of interest rate swaps; ii) a net exchange loss of 1.637 billion pesos from the fourth-quarter exchange rate depreciation of 2.7464 pesos per dollar, offset by 5.451 billion dollars in dollar-peso hedges, and iii) recognition of a decline in the monetary position of 1.037 billion pesos in 2007, an effect that is absent in 2008 under current accounting rules.

Majority income from continuing operations: In the fourth quarter, majority income from continuing operations totaled 2.978 billion pesos, 55.0% lower than the same period of the previous year. Earnings per share were 16 Mexican cents, a year-over-year decrease of 52.9%, and earnings per ADR (2) were 26 US cents, a decrease of 58.7% compared with the same period of 2007.

Investments: For 2008, capital expenditures (capex) were the equivalent of 879 million dollars, of which 76.1% was used for growth projects in the voice, data and transport infrastructure and 23.6% for operational support projects and operating needs.

Debt: Total debt at December 31 was the equivalent of 7.908 billion dollars, of which 78.6% is long-term. Of the total debt, 79.4% is in foreign currency, equal to 6.275 billion dollars. To minimize risks from variations in the exchange rate, we have dollar-peso hedges for 5.451 billion dollars with a weighted average exchange rate of approximately 11.0634 pesos per dollar. Of total debt, 36.5% has fixed rates. If 23.752 billion pesos and 100 million dollars of interest rate swaps at average interest rates of 8.19% and 4.47%, respectively, are included, the proportion of debt with fixed rates is 60.0%.

Total net debt (3) decreased during the last twelve months the equivalent of 464 million dollars, raising the total to 7.455 billion dollars. TELMEX has a solid and healthy financial structure that allows us to maintain state-of-the-art-technology and support the development of telecommunications in the country.

Repurchase of shares: During the fourth quarter, the company used 1.791 billion pesos to repurchase 146 million 860 thousand of its own shares.

 

 

 

 

Relevant Figures

(2008 in million of nominal pesos, 2007 in millions of Mexican pesos with purchasing power at December 31,

2007 unless otherwise indicated)

%

%

4Q2008

4Q2007

Inc.

12 months 08

12 months 07

Inc.

Revenues

Ps.

30.967

Ps.

31.833

(2,7)

Ps.

124.105

Ps.

130.768

(5,1)

EBITDA (1)

13.776

14.164

(2,7)

57.708

62.309

(7,4)

EBITDA margin (%)

44,5

44,5

(0,0)

46,5

47,6

(1,1)

Operating income

9.252

9.437

(2,0)

39.743

43.884

(9,4)

Operating margin (%)

29,9

29,6

0,3

32,0

33,6

(1,6)

Majority income from continuing operations

2.978

6.617

(55,0)

20.177

28.889

(30,2)

Earnings per share (pesos)

0,16

0,34

(52,9)

1,09

1,49

(26,8)

Earnings per ADR (dollars) (2)

0,26

0,63

(58,7)

2,03

2,75

(26,2)

Outstanding shares (millions)

18.555

19.360

(4,2)

18.555

19.360

(4,2)

Equivalent ADRs (millions) (2)

928

968

(4,2)

928

968

(4,2)

(1) EBITDA: defined as operating income plus depreciation and amortization. Go to www.telmex.com in the Investor

Relations section where you will find the reconciliation of EBITDA to operating income.

(2) One ADR represents 20 shares.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income Statements

[ 2008 in million of nominal pesos, 2007 in millions of Mexican pesos with purchasing power at December 31, 2007 ]

%

%

4Q2008

4Q2007

Inc.

12 months 08

12 months 07

Inc.

Revenues

Local

Ps.

11.804

Ps.

12.969

(9,0)

Ps.

48.982

Ps.

54.398

(10,0)

Domestic long distance

3.570

4.155

(14,1)

15.742

17.349

(9,3)

International long distance

2.407

2.248

7,1

8.793

9.679

(9,2)

Interconnection

4.756

5.378

(11,6)

19.140

22.604

(15,3)

Corporate networks

3.249

3.011

7,9

12.219

11.340

7,8

Internet

3.670

2.872

27,8

13.168

10.940

20,4

Others

1.511

1.200

25,9

6.061

4.458

36,0

Total

30.967

31.833

(2,7)

124.105

130.768

(5,1)

Costs and Expenses

Cost of sales and services

8.742

8.581

1,9

32.806

32.364

1,4

Commercial, administrative and general

5.188

5.304

(2,2)

19.831

19.553

1,4

Transport and interconnection

3.261

3.784

(13,8)

13.760

16.542

(16,8)

Depreciation and amortization

4.524

4.727

(4,3)

17.965

18.425

(2,5)

Total

21.715

22.396

(3,0)

84.362

86.884

(2,9)

Operating income

9.252

9.437

(2,0)

39.743

43.884

(9,4)

Other (revenues) expenses, net

(212)

309

NA

679

44

*

Comprehensive financing cost

Interest, net

2.171

1.178

84,3

6.739

5.219

29,1

Exchange loss, net

1.637

104

*

2.494

643

287,9

Monetary gain, net

-

(1.037)

NA

-

(2.513)

NA

Total

3.808

245

*

9.233

3.349

175,7

Equity interest in net income (loss) of affiliates

(132)

31

NA

(62)

17

NA

Income before income tax

5.524

8.914

(38,0)

29.769

40.508

(26,5)

Income tax

2.544

2.294

10,9

9.592

11.619

(17,4)

Income before noncontrolling interest

2.980

6.620

(55,0)

20.177

28.889

(30,2)

Noncontrolling interest, net

(2)

(3)

(33,3)

0

0

NA

Majority income from continuing operations

Ps.

2.978

Ps.

6.617

(55,0)

Ps.

20.177

28.889

(30,2)

Majority income from discontunued operations, net of income tax

0

1.756

NA

0

6.596

NA

Majority net income

Ps.

2.978

Ps.

8.373

(64,4)

Ps.

20.177

35.485

(43,1)

EBITDA (1)

Ps.

13.776

Ps.

14.164

(2,7)

Ps.

57.708

62.309

(7,4)

EBITDA margin (%)

44,5

44,5

0,0

46,5

47,6

(1,1)

Operating margin (%)

29,9

29,6

0,3

32,0

33,6

(1,6)

Exchange rate at December 31, 2008: 13.5383 pesos vs dollar

(*) higher than 1000%

NA not applicable

 

 

Balance Sheets

[ 2008 in million of nominal pesos, 2007 in millions of Mexican pesos with purchasing power at December 31, 2007 ]

Dec 31,

Dec 31,

2008

2007

Assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Ps.

6.137

Ps.

4.698

Other current assets

46.043

26.313

Plant, property and equipment, net

112.865

120.649

Other assets

6.319

5.113

Goodwill

276

432

Net prepaid benefit obligation

15.485

15.621

Total assets

Ps.

187.125

Ps.

172.826

Liabilities and stockholders' equity

Current portion of long-term debt

Ps.

22.883

Ps.

12.282

Other current liabilities

18.482

20.395

Long-term debt

84.172

79.180

Employee benefits

148

208

Deferred taxes

21.658

18.317

Deferred credits

411

285

Total liabilities

147.754

130.667

Stockholders' equity

Majority stockholders' equity

39.330

42.120

Noncontrolling interest

41

39

Total stockholders' equity

39.371

42.159

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

Ps.

187.125

Ps.

172.826

Exchange rate at December 31, 2008: 13.5383 pesos vs dollar

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Results

% Inc. vs.

4Q 2008

3Q 2008

2Q 2008

1Q 2008

4Q 2007

4Q 2007

Lines in service (thousand units)

17.589

17.673

17.660

17.795

17.800

(1,2)

Local traffic (million units)

Local calls

5.419

5.699

5.644

5.820

5.995

(9,6)

Interconnection minutes (A) (B)

11.453

11.704

11.482

11.364

11.476

(0,2)

Long distance traffic (million minutes)

Domestic long distance (A)

4.920

4.946

5.119

4.702

4.574

7,6

International long distance

(incoming and outgoing) (B)

2.192

2.260

2.188

2.093

2.228

(1,6)

Billed line equivalents 64kbps (thousands)

4.016

3.552

3.388

3.093

2.715

47,9

Internet (thousands)

5.217

4.600

4.075

3.648

3.320

57,1

Prodigy (Dial-up)

207

238

271

332

396

(47,8)

Infinitum (ADSL)

5.010

4.362

3.804

3.316

2.924

71,3

(A) Includes domestic long distance calling party pays traffic

(B) Includes international long distance calling party pays traffic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mexico Local and Long Distance Accounting Separation

Based on Condition 7-5 of the Amendments of the Concession Title of Teléfonos de México, the

commitment to present the accounting of the local and long distance services is presented

below for the fourth quarter of 2008 and 2007.

Mexico Local Service Business

Income Statements

[ 2008 in million of nominal pesos, 2007 in millions of Mexican pesos with purchasing power at December 31, 2007 ]

%

%

4Q2008

4Q2007

Inc.

12 months 08

12 months 07

Inc.

Revenues

Access, rent and measured service

Ps.

11.693

Ps.

12.704

(8,0)

Ps.

48.363

53.314

(9,3)

LADA interconnection

1.250

972

28,6

4.145

3.964

4,6

Interconnection with operators

437

426

2,6

1.560

1.636

(4,6)

Interconnection with cellular operators

3.022

3.493

(13,5)

12.397

14.560

(14,9)

Other

3.811

3.310

15,1

14.936

13.115

13,9

Total

20.213

20.905

(3,3)

81.401

86.589

(6,0)

Costs and expenses

Cost of sales and services

6.191

6.160

0,5

23.444

23.053

1,7

Commercial, administrative and general

4.940

4.792

3,1

18.605

18.059

3,0

Interconnection

1.979

2.431

(18,6)

8.540

10.343

(17,4)

Depreciation and amortization

2.740

2.939

(6,8)

11.260

11.901

(5,4)

Total

15.850

16.322

(2,9)

61.849

63.356

(2,4)

Operating income

Ps.

4.363

Ps.

4.583

(4,8)

Ps.

19.552

23.233

(15,8)

EBITDA (1)

Ps.

7.103

Ps.

7.522

(5,6)

Ps.

30.812

35.134

(12,3)

EBITDA margin (%)

35,1

36,0

(0,9)

37,9

40,6

(2,7)

Operating margin (%)

21,6

21,9

(0,3)

24,0

26,8

(2,8)

Mexico Long Distance Service Business

Income Statements

[ 2008 in million of nominal pesos, 2007 in millions of Mexican pesos with purchasing power at December 31, 2007 ]

%

%

4Q2008

4Q2007

Inc.

12 months 08

12 months 07

Inc.

Revenues

Domestic long distance

Ps.

4.161

Ps.

4.914

(15,3)

Ps.

18.316

Ps.

20.461

(10,5)

International long distance

2.539

Ps.

2.384

6,5

9.138

10.571

(13,6)

Total

6.700

Ps.

7.298

(8,2)

27.454

31.032

(11,5)

Costs and expenses

Cost of sales and services

1.465

1.381

6,1

5.391

5.353

0,7

Commercial, administrative and general

1.420

1.501

(5,4)

5.783

5.984

(3,4)

Interconnection to the local network

2.101

1.985

5,8

7.900

8.669

(8,9)

Depreciation and amortization

553

601

(8,0)

2.211

2.331

(5,1)

Total

5.539

5.468

1,3

21.285

22.337

(4,7)

Operating income

Ps.

1.161

Ps.

1.830

(36,6)

Ps.

6.169

Ps.

8.695

(29,1)

EBITDA (1)

Ps.

1.714

Ps.

2.431

(29,5)

Ps.

8.380

Ps.

11.026

(24,0)

EBITDA margin (%)

25,6

33,3

(7,7)

30,5

35,5

(5,0)

Operating margin (%)

17,3

25,1

(7,8)

22,5

28,0

(5,5)

 

 

 

 

 

Statement of cash flows

[ millions of nominal mexican pesos )

Twelve months

ended

December 31, 2008

Operating activities

Income before income tax:

Ps

29.769

Depreciation and amortization

17.965

Interest expense

7.319

Other items not requiring the use of cash

9.013

Total

64.066

Cash flows used by operating activities

(18.506)

Net cash flows provided by operating activities

45.560

Investing activities

investement in telephone plant

(10.081)

Other investments

(906)

Net cash flows used in investing activities

(10.987)

Excess of cash flows before financing activities

34.573

Financing activities

New loans

11.863

Repayment of loansAmortizaciones de financiamientos

(15.781)

Acquisition of own shares

(12.872)

Dividen paid

(7.609)

Interest paid

(4.873)

Other items

(3.897)

Net cash flows used in financing activities

(33.169)

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

1.404

Exchange difference of cash and cash equivalents

35

Cash and cash equivalents at begining of periord

4.698

Cash and cash equivalents at end of periord

$

6.137

 

 

 

 

 

Financial Statements Mexico

Income Statements of Communities with and without Presence

of the Competition at December 31, 2008.

[ million of nominal Mexican pesos ]

Communities

Communities

with presence of

without presence of

competition *

competition *

Total

Revenues

Local

$

34.021

$

14.961

$

48.982

Domestic long distance

14.719

1.023

15.742

International long distance

7.442

1.351

8.793

Interconnection

17.403

1.737

19.140

Corporate networks

12.219

0

12.219

Internet

12.641

527

13.168

Other

5.837

224

6.061

Total revenues

104.282

19.823

124.105

Costs and expenses

37.227

15.410

52.637

Interconnection

12.376

1.384

13.760

Depreciation and amortization

12.175

5.790

17.965

Total

61.778

22.584

84.362

Operating income

$

42.504

$

(2.761)

$

39.743

EBITDA (1)

$

54.679

$

3.029

$

57.708

EBITDA margin (%)

52,4

15,3

46,5

Operating margin (%)

40,8

(13,9)

32,0

* Figures are estimated

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

Date: February 9, 2009.

TELÉFONOS DE MÉXICO, S.A.B. DE C.V.

By: /s/__________________          

Name: Adolfo Cerezo Pérez
Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

Ref: TELÉFONOS DE MÉXICO, S.A.B. DE C.V. - Telmex Press Release: Highlights Fourth Quarter 2008.