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Our origins date back to 1876 when Alexander Graham Bell filed a patent application in the United States for the telephone. The same year, Lars Magnus Ericsson opened a small workshop in Stockholm to repair telegraph instruments and sell his own telephone equipment.

Today, Ericsson is a leading provider of communications equipment, telecom services and support solutions. Our customers, in over 180 countries, are mainly operators of communications networks worldwide. We manage networks, or parts of networks, for one billion subscribers.

During 2015, Ericsson sold telecommunications infrastructure related products and services in Iran to telecommunications companies operating in the country; MTNIrancell, Mobile Communication Company of Iran (“MCCI”) and Dadeh Gostare Asre Novin (“Hiweb”), and contracted with Sherkate Khadamate Ertebati Rightel (“Rightel”) for such sales. During 2015, Ericsson’s gross revenue (reported as net sales) related to sales to Hiweb, MTNIrancell and MCCI in Iran was approximately SEK 2,600 million. Ericsson does not normally allocate net profit (reported as net income) on a country-by-country or activity-by-activity basis, other than as set forth in Ericsson’s consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS as issued by the IASB. However, Ericsson has estimated that its operating income (income before taxes and financial net) from such sales, after internal cost allocation was less than SEK 639 million during 2015. Ericsson intends to continue to engage with existing customers and explore opportunities with new customers in Iran while continuously monitoring international developments as they relate to Iran and its government.

In some instances, Ericsson has had to arrange performance bonds or similar financial guarantees to secure Ericsson’s performance of obligations under the commercial agreements Ericsson has entered into relating to the business in Iran. In such instances, Ericsson usually engages its banks outside Iran, who in turn engage local banks in the country. These local banks include Tejarat Bank, Melli Bank and Saderat Bank. Although some bonds and guarantees are still in place, no new performance bonds or similar guarantees involving these three banks with respect to Ericsson’s business activities in Iran were issued during 2015, nor were payments made to beneficiaries under any such existing bond or guarantee.

Some payments made to Ericsson’s local subsidiary and payments required to be made by the local subsidiary to suppliers involve banks controlled by the government of Iran, such as Bank Mellat, Tejarat Bank, Bank Melli, Saderat Bank, Keshavarzi Bank, Eghtesad Novin Bank, Refah Bank and Bank Sepah. Ericsson also received payments from customers to Ericsson’s accounts outside Iran.