Investor Relations

Salient features

• Continued revenue growth despite challenging environment
• 7.1% growth in Group service revenue to R52.0 billion
• Group traffic growth of 11.3% supported by tariff reductions
• RICA impacted negatively on South African customer numbers
• Strong international customer growth
• Pressure from economic climate and currency movements
• Excellent progress in mobile broadband
• 31.9% growth in Group data revenue to R4.5 billion
• 42.3% growth in data customers in South Africa to 1.1 million
• 7.6 million active data users across the Group
• Margins expanded through cost containment steps
• Group EBITDA margin expanded from 32.8% to 33.8%
• 14.5% increase in EBITDA from South African business
• R0.5 billion annual cost efficiency programme launched
• Procurement collaboration with Vodafone yields savings
• Strong growth in HEPS
• HEPS increased 22.3% to 510 cents per share
• Increased shareholder returns driven by robust free cash flow
• 55.2% growth in operating free cash flow to R13.5 billion
• Group capex of R6.6 billion, 11.3% of revenue
• Strong financial position – net debt to EBITDA of 0.6 times
• Final dividend of 175 cents per share

Pieter Uys, Vodacom Group CEO, commented:

“The environment in which Vodacom operates is very different to that seen a few years ago, and I’m pleased that the steps we have taken to reshape and reposition the Group are evident in these results. 
Customers in all of our markets have felt the effects of still fragile economic conditions and we have responded by increasing the value delivered to customers, made possible through cost containment measures taken across the Group. We reduced prices in all markets, expanded our data business and delivered strong growth in free cash flow.  Our strengthened financial position supports an increase in our dividend payout to shareholders.”