"Results speak louder than words," says CLEAR CEO

Tuesday, 30 January 2001

"Results speak louder than words," says CLEAR CEO

CLEAR Chief Executive Peter Kaliaropolous said today that recent public speculation about the possible purchase of CLEAR reflected the company's accelerated growth.

"You only get speculation of the sort we have seen in recent weeks when your company has something substantial to offer," he said.

"CLEAR's ownership is always a matter for our shareholder and not management to comment on. What I can tell you, however, is that CLEAR has now squarely focused on winning customers, investing in local access fixed and wireless services, is the second largest ISP operator and is positioning itself as the leading eBusiness and Internet solutions provider. The company is profitable and is now growing at 15 percent, more than three times the industry average in its contestable market. And the prospects for even healthier growth were underpinned when we secured 3G and 2G spectrum in the recent auction.

"CLEAR is also tracking towards its first year of $300million-plus revenues. Operating costs have improved by 20 percent as a proportion of revenues and customer numbers are well in excess of 500,000. Obviously, such solid results can always attract the attention of competitors."

CLEAR is also part of the BT Ignite global group of companies. On 9 November 2000, BT announced that by the end of this calendar year BT Ignite will be in a position from which it could be listed alongside BT Wireless and Yell. [http://www.bt.com/World/mediacentre/releases/2000/nr87.htm]. Work is now underway to determine what CLEAR's role in such a future global listing could be.

"We're flattered about public expressions of interest in CLEAR but we will not be distracted from our commercial goals. What's important is the fundamentals: continuing to invest in innovative services, in our people and in NZ. We remain dedicated to accelerating the growth of our company, establishing leadership in internet and e-business services and giving consumers better choice, innovative service and value for their money".

ENDS

For further information contact

Ross Inglis Public Affairs Manager CLEAR Communications DDI: 09 912 4400 Mob: 021 636 228 ringlis@clear.co.nz

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