MOSCOW, March 9 (RIA Novosti) - A leading Russian telecom and Internet operator said Thursday its net profit had risen by 17.4% in 2005, year-on-year, to $76.1 million.
Golden Telecom, which provides integrated telecom and Internet services in major cities of Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States, a loose association of eleven former Soviet republics, said its fourth-quarter net profit had jumped by 4.7%, year-on-year, to $17.9 million.
The company's sales increased by 14.3% to $667.4 million in 2005 and by 10.2% to $175.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2005.
The company's operational profit in the fourth quarter grew by 13% to reach $26.5 million and grew overall in 2005 by 21% to $116 million. EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) grew in the fourth quarter by 15.7% to reach $50 million and increased overall in 2005 by 17% to $200 million.
