Core Viewpoint - VEON Ltd. announces the acquisition of Uklon group, a leading Ukrainian ride-hailing and delivery platform, by its subsidiary Kyivstar, marking an expansion into digital consumer services and reinforcing confidence in Ukraine's digital growth potential [1][4][7]. Company Overview - VEON is a global digital operator serving nearly 160 million customers across six countries, focusing on technology-driven services that empower individuals and drive economic growth [9]. - Kyivstar is Ukraine's largest digital operator, with over 23 million mobile subscribers and more than 1.1 million Home Internet fixed line customers as of December 2024 [10]. - Uklon, founded 15 years ago, is the largest ride-hailing player in Ukraine, operating in 27 cities and uniting over 100,000 driver-partners [2][11]. Acquisition Details - Kyivstar will acquire 97% of Uklon shares for a total consideration of USD 155.2 million, with Uklon CEO Serhii Hryshkov expected to remain in his position [3]. - The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and approvals [3]. Strategic Importance - The acquisition is seen as a strategic investment in Ukraine's digital economy, complementing Kyivstar's existing digital services such as Helsi and KyivstarTV [4]. - Uklon has facilitated over 100 million rides and more than 3 million deliveries in 2024, indicating its significant market presence [2]. Future Prospects - VEON plans to explore the expansion of Uklon's capabilities beyond Ukraine and Uzbekistan, leveraging its digital operators in Kazakhstan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh [4]. - VEON has committed to investing USD 1 billion in Ukraine's digital future between 2023 and 2027, including partnerships to enhance connectivity [7]. Market Position - Uklon is recognized as a technology pioneer in ride-hailing and has successfully entered the delivery business, showcasing rapid organic development [6]. - The acquisition is expected to enhance Kyivstar's ability to offer digital experiences to millions of Ukrainians [5].

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of nurturing and expanding emerging industries and future industries, focusing on strategic integration and innovation to drive economic growth. Group 1: Development of Emerging Industries - Deepen the integration and cluster development of strategic emerging industries [3] - Launch large-scale application demonstration actions for new technologies, products, and scenarios to promote the safe and healthy development of emerging industries such as commercial aerospace and low-altitude economy [3] - Establish a growth mechanism for future industry investments, nurturing sectors like biomanufacturing, quantum technology, embodied intelligence, and 6G [3] Group 2: Traditional Industry Transformation - Accelerate the high-quality development of key manufacturing industry chains, reinforcing industrial foundation reconstruction and major technological equipment breakthroughs [6] - Expand the scope and lower the thresholds for major technological transformation and large-scale equipment renewal projects in manufacturing [6] - Implement actions to enhance standards and optimize the upgrade of traditional industries, focusing on increasing product variety, improving quality, and creating brands [9] Group 3: Digital Economy Innovation - Continuously promote the "Artificial Intelligence +" initiative, integrating digital technology with manufacturing and market advantages to support the widespread application of large models [11] - Actively develop new generation intelligent connected vehicles, AI smartphones and computers, and intelligent robots [11]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Operating revenue reached ¥354.9 billion, an increase of 8.3% year-on-year, marking the highest growth rate since September [7] - Total profit was ¥20.6 billion, with a net profit of ¥16.7 billion, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 16.5% [8] - EBITDA reached ¥99.2 billion, a new high since the company went public [8] - Capital expenditure for the year was ¥74.2 billion, with a declining percentage of capital expenditure relative to revenue [10] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The proportion of Industrial Internet and service revenue exceeded 20% for the first time, with digital business revenue reaching a record high [8] - Revenue from the Internet of Things increased by 42%, with 860 million users for large-scale connectivity [17] - Unicom Cloud revenue reached ¥36.1 billion, up 121% year-on-year [18] - Big Data revenue grew by 58%, achieving more than 50% market share in the industry [20] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company has built a total of 1.17 million 5G base stations, accounting for about 30% of the world's total [11] - The penetration rate of gigabit broadband users reached 15%, with over 100 million broadband users [17] - Coverage of Unicom Cloud increased by 300% to 170 cities [12] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is transforming from a traditional pipeline operator to a digital technology leader, focusing on five major business areas: big connection, big computing, big data, big application, and big security [9] - The strategy emphasizes the integration of digital technologies with the real economy, enhancing service capabilities for digital government and society [9][15] - The company aims to strengthen its digital infrastructure and improve network quality, with a focus on 5G and broadband networks [10][11] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management highlighted the importance of adapting to the digital economy and the opportunities presented by modernization and digital revolution [15] - The company plans to increase capital expenditure to ¥76.9 billion in 2023, with a focus on computing networks and innovation-driven capacity [33] - The company is committed to enhancing its core competitiveness and maintaining sustainable growth while sharing dividends with shareholders [31][32] Other Important Information - The company has achieved significant milestones in technological innovation, with R&D spending increasing by 43% and a 50% increase in patents granted [26] - The company has established strategic collaborations with 27 provinces and 109 major enterprises, enhancing its service capabilities [28] - A final dividend of RMB0.109 per share was recommended, reflecting a 26.9% increase in total dividends for the year [32] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are the future growth prospects for China Unicom? - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to adapt to the digital economy and emphasized the importance of innovation and transformation in driving future growth [15][33] Question: How does the company plan to enhance its competitive edge? - The company plans to increase investment in technology and strengthen its digital infrastructure to better serve the evolving needs of the market [33] Question: What are the key areas of focus for the company moving forward? - Key areas include enhancing service capabilities, expanding digital transformation efforts, and improving customer satisfaction through innovative solutions [34]