The electronic structures of CuTe2 and Cu7Te4 Were determined from first principles. The band structures, densities of states and projected contributions of atomic states were calculated with DFT ASW- and FP-LAPW codes. Both compounds stabilize by establishing metallic instead of ionic systems. This behaviour is explained in terms of partly occupied valence bands that result from a range of Cu-Te, Cu-Cu and Te-Te bonding. As a consequence the Cu-d states show contributions to the valence states, while their maxima lie at -2 eV below the Fermi energy. In CuTe2 the bonding of Te-Te-pi* and Cu-d states leads to an overlap of valence and conduction bands. Thus the character of the valence band is of Cu-e(g) and Te-p character. (C) 2003 Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.