Highlights:
Strong financial performance
• | Group service revenue up 7.8% (7.1%*) |
• | Group EBITDA up 10.5% (11.4%*) |
• | operating free cash flow up 14.1% to R16 934 million |
• | Headline earnings per share (‘HEPS’) up 8.1% to 709 cents |
• | 54.3% increase in total dividend per share to 710 cents |
Targeted activity underpins commercial success
• | Customers1 increased 29.9% to 47.8 million adding 11.0 million |
• | 48.6% increase in Group active data customers to 15.1 million |
• | Number one in net promoter score (‘NPS’) in South Africa |
Investment sustains network leadership advantage
• | Group capex increased 37.3% to R8 662 million |
• | 22.0% increase in number of 3G base stations |
• | Radio equipment renewals underway in all operations |
Demand for data services remains high in South Africa
• | Active data customers increased 35.4% to 12.2 million |
• | 55.4% increase in active smartphones on the network to 5.1 million |
• | Data revenue growth of 23.6% to R7 639 million |
International growth momentum continues
• | Service revenue up 27.5% (22.4%*) |
• | EBITDA up 73.9% (71.7%*) |
• | Active M-Pesa customers up 1.8 million to 3.1 million in Tanzania |
• | Positive contribution to free cash flow |
*Represents normalised growth excluding foreign exchange gains/losses and at a constant currency
1. Refer to note 3 for change in the basis of reporting customers
Pieter Uys, Vodacom Group CEO commented:
“Our first year of trading as the new red Vodacom has been a big success. Our customer base has expanded 30% to 48 million, we’ve invested R8.7 billion in our networks and we’ve achieved the number one net promoter score in South Africa and in two out of our three measured International markets. From a financial perspective, thanks to building the top line and also managing costs, EBITDA is up 11% and HEPS is up 8%.
Perhaps more importantly, we’ve seen strong delivery in the areas driving growth into the future – data and the International businesses. Combined, these accounted for 87% of the growth in Group service revenue. We added five million active data customers, taking the total to 15 million and supporting data revenue growth of 27%. The International customer base has now reached 19 million, an increase of 36%, and this segment has passed the important milestone of generating positive free cash flow.
Overall, the team delivered a very solid performance and the platforms for growth are well established. The 24% growth in Group free cash flow supported a higher dividend of 710 cents and helped us deliver a 45% total shareholder return.”