UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form 6-K

 

Report of Foreign Private Issuer

 

Pursuant to Rules 13a-16 or 15d-16 under

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Dated November 14, 2017

 

Commission File Number: 001-10086

 

VODAFONE GROUP

PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

 

VODAFONE HOUSE, THE CONNECTION, NEWBURY, BERKSHIRE, RG14 2FN, ENGLAND

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

 

Form 20-F  x

 

Form 40-F  o

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): o

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

Yes  o

 

No  x

 

If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-    .

 

 


 

This Report on Form 6-K contains a Stock Exchange Announcement dated 14 November 2017 entitled ‘Vodafone announces results for the six months ended 30 September 2017’.


 

14 November 2017

RNS: 3828W

 

Vodafone announces results for the six months ended 30 September 2017

14 November 2017

 

Highlights

 

·            Group total revenue down 4.1% to €23.1 billion, primarily due to the deconsolidation of Vodafone Netherlands and FX movements; operating profit up 32.5% to €2.0 billion; profit for the financial period of €1.2 billion

·            Organic service revenue up 1.7%*; Q2 up 1.3%* (Europe 0.8%*, AMAP 6.2%*)

·            Organic adjusted EBITDA up 13.0%* to €7.4 billion (9.3%* ex roaming, UK handset financing and regulatory settlements1)

·            Free cash flow (pre-spectrum) improved to €1.3 billion vs. a €0.1 billion outflow in the prior year. Free cash flow was €0.4 billion vs. a €0.4 billion outflow in the prior year

·            Raising full-year guidance for organic adjusted EBITDA growth to around 10% (previously 4-8%), implying a range of €14.75-€14.95 billion at guidance FX rates; FCF pre-spectrum to exceed €5 billion (previously ‘around €5 billion’)

·            Vodafone India service revenues down 15.8%*, adjusted EBITDA down 39.2%*; merger with Idea Cellular progressing well

·            Interim dividend per share of 4.84 eurocents, up 2.1%

 

 

 

 

 

Six months ended 30 September

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restated2

 

Growth

 

 

 

 

 

2017 

 

2016 

 

Reported 

 

Organic*

 

 

 

Page

 

€m 

 

€m 

 

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Group revenue

 

24

 

23,075

 

24,051

 

(4.1

)

 

 

Operating profit

 

24

 

2,008

 

1,515

 

+32.5

 

 

 

Profit/(loss) for the financial period

 

24

 

1,235

 

(5,003

)

NM

 

 

 

Basic earnings/(loss) per share

 

24

 

4.03

c

(18.38

)c

NM

 

 

 

Interim dividend per share

 

34

 

4.84

c

4.74

c

+2.1

 

 

 

Net debt

 

20

 

(32,055

)

(37,884

)

(15.4

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alternative performance measures5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Group service revenue

 

7

 

20,592

 

21,811

 

(5.6

)

+1.7

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

7

 

7,385

 

7,090

 

+4.2

 

+13.0

 

Adjusted EBIT

 

7

 

2,457

 

2,050

 

+19.9

 

+51.9

 

Adjusted earnings per share

 

18

 

6.32

c

4.08

c

+54.9

 

 

 

Free cash flow pre-spectrum (guidance basis)

 

19

 

1,289

 

(148

)

NM

 

 

 

Free cash flow

 

19

 

415

 

(428

)

NM

 

 

 

 

Vittorio Colao, Group Chief Executive, commented:

 

“In the first half of the year we have maintained good commercial momentum. Revenue grew organically in the majority of our markets driven by mobile data and our continued success as Europe’s fastest growing broadband provider. Enterprise revenues continue to grow, led by our Internet of Things (‘IoT’), Cloud and Fixed services, and for the second year running we achieved an absolute reduction in our operating costs. As a result, we are able to report a strong financial performance, with substantial EBITDA margin expansion and profit growth, and we are raising our financial outlook for the year.

 

In India competition remains intense. There are however signs of positive developments in the Indian market, with consolidation of smaller operators and recent price increases from the new entrant. We are making good progress in securing regulatory approvals for our merger with Idea Cellular and in monetising our tower assets.

 

In the second half of the year we will continue to implement our strategic initiatives, including fibre infrastructure expansion in Germany, Portugal and the UK; our entry into the consumer IoT market with the launch of “V by Vodafone”; and the ‘Digital Vodafone’ programme designed to enhance our customers’ experience, increasing revenues and cost efficiency.”

 

Vodafone Group Plc

Vodafone House, The Connection, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2FN, England

vodafone.com

 

Investor Relations

Media Relations

Telephone: +44 7919 990230

www.vodafone.com/media/contact

 

Registered Office: Vodafone House, The Connection, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2FN, England. Registered in England No. 1833679

 


 

CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S STATEMENT

 

Financial review of the half year

 

On 20 March 2017 we announced an agreement to merge Vodafone India with Idea Cellular (‘Idea’) in India. As a result, Vodafone India is now excluded from Group figures, unless stated otherwise.

 

Financial results: Statutory performance measures

 

Group revenue for the first half of the year declined 4.1% to €23.1 billion, primarily due to the deconsolidation of Vodafone Netherlands following the creation of our joint-venture ‘VodafoneZiggo’, and foreign exchange movements. Operating profit rose to €2.0 billion compared to €1.5 billion in the prior year, reflecting operational leverage and the benefit of cost efficiency initiatives. Profit for the period was €1.2 billion, a substantial improvement compared to a loss of €5.0 billion in the prior half-year, which was impacted by a €5.0 billion net impairment of the Group’s operations in India.

 

Financial results: Alternative performance measures

 

Group organic service revenue grew 1.7%* (Q1: 2.2%*, Q2: 1.3%*). The slowdown in Q2 was driven by Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific (‘AMAP’) (Q1: 7.9%*, Q2: 6.2%*) reflecting strong prior year comparatives, as well as by a lower contribution from carrier services. In Europe (Q1: 0.8%*, Q2: 0.8%*) the increased drag from roaming regulation in Q2 was offset by an improved underlying performance in mobile.

 

Group adjusted EBITDA was up 4.2% at €7.4 billion despite the drag from the deconsolidation of Vodafone Netherlands and adverse foreign exchange movements. Organic adjusted EBITDA grew 13.0%*, a significantly faster pace than service revenue. Excluding the negative impact of net roaming declines in Europe and the benefits in the UK from the introduction of handset financing and regulatory settlements in the period, organic adjusted EBITDA grew by 9.3%*1, with broad based EBITDA improvement in nine out of our ten largest markets. This growth reflected higher revenues and a decline in absolute operating costs on an organic basis as a result of the ‘Fit for Growth’ programme. Consequently, the Group’s adjusted EBITDA margin improved by 2.5 percentage points to 32.0%, or 2.8* percentage points on an organic basis (1.9* percentage points excluding roaming and UK handset financing/regulatory settlements).

 

Adjusted EBIT increased by 19.9% to €2.5 billion, with organic adjusted EBIT increasing by 51.9%*, driven by strong adjusted EBITDA growth and broadly stable depreciation and amortisation expenses.

 

The Group’s adjusted effective tax rate for the first half was 22.2% compared to 25.0% for the same period last year. This lower rate is primarily due to a change in the country mix of the Group’s profits and a reduction in the corporate tax rate in Italy.

 

Adjusted earnings per share from continued operations increased 54.9% to 6.32 eurocents, reflecting higher adjusted operating profit and lower net financing costs.

 

Losses continued in India as service revenue declined 15.8%* (Q1: -13.9%*, Q2: -17.8%*) as a result of intense price competition from the new entrant and aggressive competitor responses. Adjusted EBITDA declined 39.2%*, with an 8.3 percentage point deterioration in adjusted EBITDA margin to 21.3%. The impact of lower revenues was partially offset by significant actions to lower our operating cost base, which have delivered broadly stable EBITDA margins for the past three quarters.

 

Liquidity and capital resources

 

Free cash flow (pre-spectrum) was €1.3 billion, compared to a decline of €0.1 billion in the prior year. The improvement was driven by higher organic adjusted EBITDA, lower capital creditor outflows reflecting the final payments for Project Spring in the prior year, higher dividends received from associates and joint ventures (primarily from VodafoneZiggo) and lower dividends paid to minorities (primarily in Egypt). Capital expenditure declined by 7.5% to €3.3 billion, representing 14.1% of revenues.

 

Free cash flow post spectrum and restructuring payments was €0.4 billion, compared to an outflow of €0.4 billion in the prior year. Spectrum payments rose to €0.75 billion, mainly driven by 2G licence renewal fees in Italy. Cash restructuring costs of €0.1 billion were broadly unchanged compared to the prior year.

 

Net debt at 30 September 2017 rose to €32.1 billion compared to €31.2 billion as at 31 March 2017, as free cash flow generation in the period of €0.4 billion and the €1.0 billion net proceeds from the sale of 90 million shares in Vodacom were offset by the payment of last year’s final dividend of €2.6 billion. Net debt in India was €8.0 billion at the end of the period, down from €8.7 billion at the end of the prior financial year due to the positive translation impact of closing foreign exchange rates on the debt balance of €0.9 billion and positive cash flow of €0.1 billion, partially offset by accrued interest expense of €0.3 billion.

 

In August the Group announced the commencement of an irrevocable and non-discretionary share buyback programme (the ‘Programme’). The sole purpose of the Programme is to reduce the issued share capital of Vodafone thereby avoiding any change in Vodafone’s issued share capital following the maturing of a mandatory convertible bond (‘MCB’) in August 2017. As of 30 September 2017, 262.4 million shares had been purchased out of the total of 729.1 million shares required at a cost of €0.5 billion. Through an accompanying option structure, the total share buyback amount will be broadly equivalent to the £1.44 billion (€1.7 billion) raised on issuing the MCB. The buyback is now largely complete and will end in November 2017.

 

The Board is recommending an interim dividend per share of 4.84 eurocents, up 2.1% year-on-year, consistent with the Board’s intention to grow the full year dividend per share annually.

 

2


 

CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S STATEMENT

 

Strategic review of the half year

 

Vodafone’s progress as a data communications leader accelerated during the first half of the financial year. We announced significant new fixed investments and strategic partnerships in Germany, the UK and Portugal; we introduced the innovative new ‘Vodafone Pass’ mobile proposition in 9 markets; we launched our new ‘V by Vodafone’ consumer Internet of Things (‘IoT’) solutions; and we repositioned the Vodafone brand with a new visual identity and strapline: ‘The future is exciting. Ready?’ This positioning underlines our belief that new technologies and digital services will play a positive role in transforming society and enhancing individual quality of life over the years ahead.

 

We continued to invest in network quality post Project Spring and in our Customer eXperience eXcellence (CXX) programme. We are now the leader or co-leader for voice in 18 out of 21 markets, and in 14 out of 21 markets for data. Our Net Promoter Scores improved, and we now have a lead or co-leadership position in 19 out of 21 markets for consumer, while we are the leader or co-leader in 19 out of 20 markets for Enterprise.

 

Our ‘growth engines’ of mobile data, fixed/convergence and Enterprise contributed to profitable total communications revenue market share gains in a majority of our European markets during the period. As a result, our organic service revenues continued to grow despite increased regulatory headwinds.

 

This strategic and financial progress creates a strong platform for the next phase of the Group’s strategic development as we pursue the multiple opportunities arising from the digitalisation of our industry. We have recently launched a new ‘Digital Vodafone’ programme, which aims to deliver the most engaging digital experience to our customers. Using advanced digital technologies, our ambition is to generate incremental revenues while reducing net operating costs.

 

At the same time, our ‘Fit for Growth’ programme delivered a net reduction in our operating costs on an organic basis for the second year in a row, supporting strong EBITDA margin expansion.

 

Mobile data

 

Including India and our joint ventures, data traffic grew 88% during the first half of the year (Europe +63%, AMAP +116%). Quarterly growth trends accelerated (Q1: 76%, Q2: 98%) led by India, where data traffic more than tripled following a sharp decline in data prices, and also in Europe as customers embraced our ‘more-for-more’ propositions.

 

Roaming traffic also increased sharply following the introduction of ‘Roam-like-at-home’ in June, with the number of active EU roaming customers up 24% in Q2 and average usage per roamer up 138% to 0.6GB/month. Visitor traffic from third-party customers increased at an even faster pace of 365% in Q2, supporting a 28% rise in European visitor revenues in H1. Given that our customers had already widely adopted worry-free roaming propositions, the growth of our roaming costs (onto other third-party networks) was modest. This positive contribution from visitor revenues net of third party roaming costs provided a partial offset to the loss of out of bundle roaming revenues within the European Union.

 

Average smartphone usage continued to grow rapidly, with customers in both Europe and AMAP using 2.1GB on average each month. In our major European markets, customers are increasingly using mobile networks rather than WiFi given the improving quality of our 4G and 4G+ networks as well as more generous data allowances; mobile’s share of data usage on smartphones increased by between three and eight percentage points compared to one year ago. We see further opportunity as 4G+ and over time 5G technologies will continue to improve mobile network performance, and mobile networks’ share of data usage on smartphones is still low at 15-28% of total usage (including WiFi), depending on the market.

 

In Europe we are monetising this growth in data usage through ‘more-for-more’ propositions as well as personalised offers utilising advanced data analytics. Contract ARPU is stabilising in most of our markets despite regulatory pressures and the drag from the trend towards SIM-only contracts, which now represent around 25% of our contract customer base in Germany and the UK, up around five percentage points year-on-year. In AMAP data revenues are growing strongly, supported by the relative scarcity of fixed Internet access and low data penetration.

 

We see additional opportunities to monetise data through the ‘Vodafone Pass’, an innovative new proposition which allows customers to buy passes that give ‘worry-free’ access to social, media and video applications without using their data allowance. These easy to understand offers, which are tailored to local market circumstances, are intended to stimulate data usage and, on average, are expected to increase ARPU. Vodafone Passes are now available in 9 markets, and take-up has been encouraging with 7.8 million active passes by the end of H1.

 

In November, we launched our new ‘V by Vodafone’ consumer IoT business. Our new dedicated IoT ‘V-Sim by Vodafone’ will enable consumers to connect both Vodafone branded and third party electronics products to Vodafone’s leading international IoT network. These products can be easily managed using the ‘V by Vodafone’ smartphone app, which provides customers with a single overview of all IoT-enabled products registered to their account. Customers will pay a low-cost fixed monthly subscription for each ‘V-Sim’; initial products include the V-Auto, V-Camera, V-Pet and V-Bag connected devices.

 

3


 

CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S STATEMENT

 

Fixed & Convergence

 

During the next five years around 50 million additional households are expected to adopt NGN broadband within Vodafone’s European footprint. We view this shift to NGN as a window of opportunity to capture substantial profitable market share. Gaining scale in fixed allows us to drive convergence across our combined fixed and mobile customer base, lowering churn. We have created Europe’s largest NGN footprint covering 99 million households, with 36 million households ‘on-net’ (including VodafoneZiggo), using a flexible and capital efficient strategy which combines build/co-build, strategic partnering, wholesale and acquisition options. This approach allows us to continually improve our fixed access position, as highlighted by several strategically important new fixed line agreements:

 

·            In September we announced our ‘Gigabit Investment Plan’ for Germany. We intend to invest approximately €2 billion of incremental capital expenditure on ultrafast broadband services by the end of calendar 2021. We expect this success-based plan to drive incremental growth and attractive returns, with limited impact on near-term cash generation thanks to our partnering approach. We aim to deploy fibre to around 2,000 business parks across Germany, working with partners and independently; partner with local municipalities to reach around 1 million rural consumer homes with FTTH; and upgrade our existing cable infrastructure to deliver 1Gbps speeds to 12.6 million households.

 

·            In October we announced a reciprocal FTTH network sharing agreement in Portugal with NOS, providing us with access to an additional 1.3 million homes and businesses on attractive commercial terms. This takes our total coverage to 4.0 million, representing 80% of households in the country.

 

·            In November we announced a long-term strategic partnership with CityFibre in the UK. This framework agreement will provide us with the ability to market FTTH services to up to 5.0 million UK households by 2025 at attractive commercial terms. We have identified the first 1 million households to be built across 12 towns and cities, and have committed to an initial exclusivity period in exchange for a ten-year 20% minimum volume commitment on these households.

 

In H1 we maintained our good commercial momentum, and we were once again Europe’s fastest growing broadband provider, adding 499,000 new broadband customers. Our NGN customer base grew by 826,000. This supported fixed service revenue growth of 4.5%* in H1.

 

In total, across the Group we now have 15.4 million broadband customers (18.6 million including VodafoneZiggo), of which 8.8 million take a high speed service over fibre and cable (12.0 million including VodafoneZiggo). We have 9.8 million TV customers (13.7 million including VodafoneZiggo). Our momentum in convergence also continued, with 310,000 customers added in H1, reaching a total base of 4.1 million (4.9 million including VodafoneZiggo). Overall, fixed now contributes 24.6% of Group service revenues (28.1% in Europe), up from 20.4% three years ago.

 

Enterprise

 

Services to business comprise 29.0% of our Group service revenue, and 30.6% in Europe. Our relationships with business customers are expanding from traditional mobile voice and data services to embrace total communications, IoT, Cloud & Hosting and IP-VPN provision. These new areas offer both market growth and market share opportunities for us.

 

Our Enterprise business continued to outperform peers with service revenue growth of 1.0%* (Q1: 1.5%*, Q2: 0.5%*), supported by our unique global network and product set, the contribution from emerging market growth and our low exposure to legacy fixed line. Excluding the impact of regulation, we grew 2.5%* (Q1: 2.5%*, Q2: 2.5%*). In Europe, service revenue declined 0.2%*, while AMAP grew 6.8%*. Growth in IoT continued (H1: 12.7%*), primarily driven by the increase in SIM connections (+36% year-on year).

 

‘Digital Vodafone’

 

The ‘Digital Vodafone’ programme develops and strengthens our existing Customer eXperience eXcellence (CXX) initiative and enables us to build upon our ‘Fit4Growth’ achievements. We aim to deliver the most engaging digital experience in the industry for our customers, blending the digital and physical assets of Vodafone to provide personal, instant and easy interactions. By using advanced data analytics to improve all commercial and technology investment decisions, while at the same time automating our operations, we also plan to generate incremental revenues and to continue to reduce net operating costs on an organic basis.

 

The programme builds on the introduction of a Digital eXperience Layer (DXL) for quicker and cheaper IT development, on the experience of our Data Analytics Units — now rolled out across the Group — and on the high penetration of the ‘My Vodafone’ App (now at 58% in Europe). By year-end we will have established dedicated ‘Digital Accelerator’ teams in our largest European markets, and intend to expand the programme to all markets in calendar 2018.

 

The cross-functional ‘Digital Accelerator’ teams will utilise the so-called ‘agile’ approach to evolve services and innovate rapidly with quick release cycles. Their objective is to transform our operations in three main areas:

 

4


 

CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S STATEMENT

 

1. Digital customer management

 

We intend to increase the use of data analytics to provide predictive, proactive and personalised offers to our customers, optimising the efficiency of our marketing spend, enhancing ARPU and improving our direct channel mix. MyVodafone and our digital marketing channels will over time become our main customer acquisition and management platform. We will also be able to meet any customer request through automated, digital support — for example, by using chatbots and digital agents that utilise rapidly developing artificial intelligence technologies, developed and shared on a Group-wide basis.

 

2. Digital technology management

 

We will rapidly install new ‘middleware’ on top of our legacy IT systems. This ‘Digital eXperience Layer’ will accelerate the deployment of new digital capabilities, de-coupling them from the longer and financially costly upgrade cycles for our legacy billing and other systems. In addition, real-time data analytics will enable even smarter network planning and deployment, as well as more precise ROI-based investment decisions. Together with the ongoing effort to migrate 65% of our IT applications to the cloud, we aim to achieve significant capex and opex efficiencies, allowing us to re-invest based on customers’ actual and predicted profitability.

 

3. Digital operations

 

We see substantial scope for digitalisation to accelerate the simplification and automation of standard processes, in both operational and support areas. These include IT and network operations, customer management back office functions and all other administrative activities. We have already established an automation unit in our shared service centres.

 

‘Fit for Growth’

 

Fit for Growth is our comprehensive cost efficiency programme designed to drive operating leverage and margin expansion, enabling us to invest in enhancing customer experience. We have continued to make good progress in H1, delivering an absolute reduction in our operating cost base on an organic basis for the second year in succession. Areas of significant cost savings include procurement, shared service centres, improved sales channel efficiency, standardised network design as well as zero based budgeting initiatives. Fit4Growth has greatly contributed to improving our cost structure. Across the Group, 19 out of 26 markets grew adjusted EBITDA faster than service revenue in H1, driving a 2.5 percentage point improvement in the Group’s adjusted EBITDA margin to 32.0%.

 


Notes:

 

*     All amounts in this document marked with an “*” represent organic growth which presents performance on a comparable basis, both in terms of merger and acquisition activity and movements in foreign exchange rates. “Change at constant exchange rates” presents performance on a comparable basis in terms of foreign exchange rates only. Organic growth and change at constant exchange rates are alternative performance measures. See “Alternative performance measures” on page 42 for further details and reconciliations to the respective closest equivalent GAAP measure.

 

1.  The year-over-year change in organic adjusted EBITDA excluding the impact of European roaming (defined as the increase in visitor revenues less the increase in roaming costs and the decline in out-of-bundle roaming revenues), the effect of introduction of handset financing in the UK and the benefit of regulatory settlements in the UK.

 

2. The results for the half year ended 30 September 2016 have been restated to exclude the results of Vodafone India which has been classified as discontinued operations for Group reporting purposes following the agreement to combine with Idea Cellular. In addition, free cash flow has been redefined to include restructuring and licence and spectrum payments to ensure greater comparability with similarly titled measures and disclosures by other companies.

 

3. Group revenue and service revenue include the regional results of Europe, AMAP, Other (which includes the results of partner market activities) and eliminations.

 

4. Half year ended 30 September 2016 includes a gross impairment charge €6,375 million recorded in respect of the Group’s investment in India, which together with the recognition of an associated €1,375 million deferred tax asset, led to an overall €5.0 billion reduction in the carrying value of Vodafone India.

 

5. Alternative performance measures are non-GAAP measures that are presented to provide readers with additional financial information that is regularly reviewed by management and should not be viewed in isolation or as an alternative to the equivalent GAAP measure. See “Alternative performance measures” on page 42 for reconciliations to the closest respective equivalent GAAP measure and “Definition of terms” on page 52 for further details.

 

5


 

GUIDANCE

 

Please see page 42 for “Alternative performance measures”, page 52 for “Definition of terms” and page 54 for “Forward-looking statements”.

 

2018 financial year guidance1

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA
€bn

 

Free cash flow
(pre-spectrum)
€bn

 

 

 

 

 

Original guidance (excluding Vodafone India)

 

‘Organic growth of 4-8%’, (implying €14.0 — €14.5 billion at guidance exchange rates)2

 

‘Around €5 billion’

 

 

 

 

 

Updated guidance

 

‘Organic growth of around 10%, (implying €14.75-€14.95 billion at guidance exchange rates)2

 

‘To exceed €5 billion’

 

We now expect adjusted EBITDA to grow organically by around 10%; this implies a range of €14.75 billion to €14.95 billion at guidance exchange rates. We now expect free cash flow (pre-spectrum) to exceed €5 billion, before the impact of M&A, spectrum payments and restructuring costs.

 

The improvement to the outlook primarily reflects stronger than expected underlying European revenue growth and a later than anticipated commercial launch by the new entrant in Italy.

 

In addition, regulatory headwinds from roaming have been partially mitigated by the strong growth of visitor revenues; the benefit from the introduction of handset financing in the UK is likely to be larger than originally anticipated, reflecting an improved mix of high value contract customers; and in H1, the Group benefited from non-recurring regulatory settlements in the UK of €0.1 billion. In aggregate, these three factors are now expected to contribute approximately €0.3 billion to EBITDA in FY2018, compared to a net contribution of zero previously (as we originally expected the benefit from UK handset financing to be offset by the drag from roaming). We continue to expect the benefit from handset financing in the UK to largely reverse during the next financial year.

 

We expect our capital expenditure expressed as a percentage of our revenues to remain in the ‘mid-teens’, both in the current fiscal year and over the medium term, excluding capital expenditure associated with our recently announced ‘Gigabit Investment Plan’ for Germany. The Plan is expected to ramp up from FY2018/19 and anticipates incremental capital expenditure of around €2 billion over a four-year period.

 

Assumptions

 

Please note that the Group’s definition of ‘free cash flow’ has been updated and now includes spectrum payments and restructuring payments. The Group will continue to provide annual guidance on the basis of free cash flow pre-spectrum and restructuring (‘free cash flow pre-spectrum’), given that it is inappropriate to provide guidance ahead of spectrum auctions, and both spectrum and restructuring payments tend to be highly variable from year to year.

 

We have based guidance for the financial year ending 31 March 2018 on our current assessment of the global macroeconomic outlook and assume foreign exchange rates of €1:ZAR 14.6, €1:£0.85, €1:TRY 4.0 and €1:EGP 19.1. Guidance excludes the impact of licence and spectrum payments, material one-off tax-related payments, restructuring payments, and any fundamental structural change to the Eurozone. It also assumes no material change to the current structure of the Group.

 

Actual foreign exchange rates may vary from the foreign exchange rate assumptions used.

 


Notes:

 

1.  Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow (pre-spectrum) are alternative performance measures. Alternative performance measures are non-GAAP measures that are presented to provide readers with additional financial information that is regularly reviewed by management and should not be viewed in isolation or as an alternative to the equivalent GAAP measure. The adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow (pre-spectrum) measures are forward-looking alternative performance measures which at this time cannot be quantitatively reconciled to comparative GAAP financial information. See “Alternative performance measures” on page 42 for more information and reconciliations to the guidance basis.

 

2.  The baseline for 2017/18 adjusted EBITDA has been adjusted to exclude Vodafone Netherlands (€463 million in the first nine months of 2016/17) and approximately €200 million of FX headwinds (based on guidance FX rates). Organic adjusted EBITDA growth excludes shareholder recharges received from Vodafone Netherlands, VodafoneZiggo and Vodafone India.

 

6


 

CONTENTS

 

 

Page

Financial results

7

Liquidity and capital resources

19

Risk factors

22

Responsibility statement

23

Unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

24

Alternative performance measurements

42

Additional information

49

Other information (including forward-looking statements)

52

 

FINANCIAL RESULTS

 

Group1, 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six months ended 30
September

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restated

 

Growth

 

 

 

Europe

 

AMAP

 

Other

 

Eliminations

 

2017 

 

2016 

 

Reported

 

Organic*

 

 

 

€m 

 

€m 

 

€m 

 

€m 

 

€m 

 

€m 

 

 

 

Continuing operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mobile customer revenue

 

9,635

 

3,757

 

19

 

(3

)

13,408

 

14,390

 

 

 

 

 

Mobile incoming revenue

 

697

 

342

 

 

(3

)

1,036

 

1,238

 

 

 

 

 

Other service revenue

 

714

 

209

 

180

 

(17

)

1,086

 

1,155

 

 

 

 

 

Mobile service revenue

 

11,046

 

4,308

 

199

 

(23

)

15,530

 

16,783

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed service revenue

 

4,327

 

495

 

291

 

(51

)

5,062

 

5,028

 

 

 

 

 

Service revenue

 

15,373

 

4,803

 

490

 

(74

)

20,592

 

21,811

 

(5.6

)

1.7

 

Other revenue

 

1,402

 

896

 

185

 

 

2,483

 

2,240

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

16,775

 

5,699

 

675

 

(74

)

23,075

 

24,051

 

(4.1

)

3.1

 

Direct costs

 

(3,570

)

(1,298

)

(486

)

73

 

(5,281

)

(5,796

)

 

 

 

 

Customer costs

 

(3,559

)

(1,230

)

17

 

 

(4,772

)

(4,980

)

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

 

(4,063

)

(1,318

)

(257

)

1

 

(5,637

)

(6,185

)

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

5,583

 

1,853

 

(51

)

 

7,385

 

7,090

 

4.2

 

13.0

 

Depreciation and amortisation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquired intangibles

 

(63

)

(59

)

 

 

(122

)

(123

)

 

 

 

 

Purchased licences

 

(674

)

(89

)

 

 

(763

)

(774

)

 

 

 

 

Other

 

(3,291

)

(703

)

(49

)

 

(4,043

)

(4,143

)

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBIT

 

1,555

 

1,002

 

(100

)

 

2,457

 

2,050

 

19.9

 

51.9

 

Share of adjusted results in associates and joint ventures

 

17

 

155

 

(1)

 

 

171

 

73

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted operating profit/(loss)

 

1,572

 

1,157

 

(101

)

 

2,628

 

2,123

 

23.8

 

54.7

 

Restructuring costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(33

)

(37

)

 

 

 

 

Amortisation of acquired customer base and brand intangible assets

 

(543

)

(515

)

 

 

 

 

Other income and expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(44

)

(56

)

 

 

 

 

Operating profit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,008

 

1,515

 

 

 

 

 

Non-operating income and expense

 

 

 

(1

)

 

 

 

 

 

Net investment income/(financing costs)

 

 

 

152

 

(123

)

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(579

)

(1,114

)

 

 

 

 

Profit for the financial period from continuing operations

 

 

 

1,580

 

278

 

 

 

 

 

Loss for the financial period from discontinuing operations

 

 

 

(345

)

(5,281

)

 

 

 

 

Profit/(loss) for the financial period

 

 

 

1,235

 

(5,003

)

 

 

 

 

Attributable to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- Owners of the parent

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,131

 

(5,129

)

 

 

 

 

- Non-controlling interests

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

104

 

126

 

 

 

 

 

 


Notes:

 

*       All amounts in this document marked with an “*” represent organic growth which presents performance on a comparable basis, both in terms of merger and acquisition activity and movements in foreign exchange rates. “Change at constant exchange rates” presents performance on a comparable basis in terms of foreign exchange rates only. Organic growth and change at constant exchange rates are alternative performance measures. See “Alternative performance measures” on page 42 for further details and reconciliations to the respective closest equivalent GAAP measure.

 

1. The results for the half year ended 30 September 2016 have been restated to exclude the results of Vodafone India which has been classified as discontinued operations for Group reporting purposes following the agreement to combine with Idea Cellular. Group revenue and service revenue include the regional results of Europe, AMAP, Other (which includes the results of partner market activities) and eliminations. Current period reflects average foreign exchange rates of €1:£0.88, €1:INR 73.25, €1:ZAR 15.01, €1:TKL 4.03 and €1: EGP 20.38.

 

2.  Service revenue, adjusted EBIT, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted operating profit are alternative performance measures. Alternative performance measures are non-GAAP measures that are presented to provide readers with additional financial information that is regularly reviewed by management and should not be viewed in isolation or as an alternative to the equivalent GAAP measure. See “Alternative performance measures” on page 42 for more information and reconciliations to the closest respective equivalent GAAP measure and “Definition of terms” on page 52 for further details.

 

3.  The “Other” segment primarily represents the results of shareholder recharges received from VodafoneZiggo and Vodafone India, partner markets and the net result of unallocated central Group costs.

 

4.  Refer to page 17 for further details.

 

7


 

FINANCIAL RESULTS

 

Europe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

Growth

 

 

 

Germany 

 

Italy

 

UK 

 

Spain

 

Europe

 

Eliminations 

 

Europe

 

Reported

 

Organic*

 

 

 

€m 

 

€m

 

€m 

 

€m 

 

€m 

 

€m 

 

€m 

 

%

 

%

 

30 September 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mobile customer revenue

 

2,683

 

1,889

 

2,070

 

1,369

 

1,624

 

 

9,635

 

 

 

 

 

Mobile incoming revenue

 

106

 

172

 

152

 

83

 

197

 

(13

)

697

 

 

 

 

 

Other service revenue

 

257

 

127

 

155

 

106

 

138

 

(69

)

714

 

 

 

 

 

Mobile service revenue

 

3,046

 

2,188

 

2,377

 

1,558

 

1,959

 

(82

)

11,046

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed service revenue

 

2,016

 

485

 

697

 

768

 

365

 

(4

)

4,327

 

 

 

 

 

Service revenue

 

5,062

 

2,673

 

3,074

 

2,326

 

2,324

 

(86

)

15,373

 

(5.8

)

0.8

 

Other revenue

 

215

 

434

 

441

 

186

 

128

 

(2

)

1,402

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

5,277

 

3,107

 

3,515

 

2,512

 

2,452

 

(88

)

16,775

 

(4.4

)

2.5

 

Direct costs

 

(969

)

(607

)

(736

)

(683

)

(663

)

88

 

(3,570

)

 

 

 

 

Customer costs

 

(1,102

)

(661

)

(889

)

(502

)

(405

)

 

(3,559

)

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

 

(1,277

)

(639

)

(960

)

(576

)

(611

)

 

(4,063

)

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

1,929

 

1,200

 

930

 

751

 

773

 

 

5,583

 

5.4

 

13.0

 

Depreciation and amortisation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquired intangibles

 

 

(61

)

 

 

(2

)

 

(63

)

 

 

 

 

Purchased licences

 

(350

)

(22

)

(214

)

(33

)

(55

)

 

(674

)

 

 

 

 

Other

 

(1,081

)

(553

)

(595

)

(586

)

(476

)

 

(3,291

)

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBIT

 

498

 

564

 

121

 

132

 

240

 

 

1,555

 

27.8

 

66.5

 

Share of adjusted results in associates and joint ventures

 

2

 

 

 

 

15

 

 

17

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted operating profit

 

500

 

564

 

121

 

132

 

255

 

 

1,572

 

29.7

 

66.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA margin

 

36.6

%

38.6

%

26.5

%

29.9

%

31.5

%

 

 

33.3

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30 September 2016 restated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mobile customer revenue

 

2,652

 

1,869

 

2,299

 

1,360

 

2,284

 

 

10,464

 

 

 

 

 

Mobile incoming revenue

 

143

 

181

 

174

 

80

 

252

 

(14

)

816

 

 

 

 

 

Other service revenue

 

260

 

141

 

161

 

114

 

177

 

(81

)

772

 

 

 

 

 

Mobile service revenue

 

3,055

 

2,191

 

2,634

 

1,554

 

2,713

 

(95

)

12,052

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed service revenue

 

1,954

 

428

 

767

 

719

 

404

 

(5

)

4,267

 

 

 

 

 

Service revenue

 

5,009

 

2,619

 

3,401

 

2,273

 

3,117

 

(100

)

16,319

 

 

 

 

 

Other revenue

 

256

 

387

 

174

 

223

 

187

 

(3

)

1,224

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

5,265

 

3,006

 

3,575

 

2,496

 

3,304

 

(103

)

17,543

 

 

 

 

 

Direct costs

 

(1,050

)

(627

)

(888

)

(636

)

(799

)

102

 

(3,898

)

 

 

 

 

Customer costs

 

(1,132

)

(598

)

(912

)

(563

)

(599

)

1

 

(3,803

)

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

 

(1,295

)

(677

)

(1,101

)

(605

)

(866

)

 

(4,544

)

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

1,788

 

1,104

 

674

 

692

 

1,040

 

 

5,298

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortisation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquired intangibles

 

 

(61

)

 

 

(2

)

 

(63

)

 

 

 

 

Purchased licences

 

(331

)

(18

)

(230

)

(33

)

(50

)

 

(662

)

 

 

 

 

Other

 

(1,161

)

(550

)

(614

)

(551

)

(480

)

 

(3,356

)

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBIT

 

296

 

475

 

(170

)

108

 

508

 

 

1,217

 

 

 

 

 

Share of adjusted results in associates and joint ventures

 

2

 

(1

)

 

 

(6

)

 

(5

)

 

 

 

 

Adjusted operating profit/(loss)

 

298

 

474

 

(170

)

108

 

502

 

 

1,212

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA margin

 

34.0

%

36.7

%

18.9

%

27.7

%

31.5

%

 

 

30.2

%

 

 

 

 

Change at constant exchange rates (%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mobile customer revenue

 

1.2

 

1.0

 

(3.3

)

0.7

 

(29.2

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mobile incoming revenue

 

(25.5

)

(4.6

)

(6.3

)

3.2

 

(22.5

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other service revenue

 

(2.0

)

(10.1

)

2.8

 

(6.7

)

(21.4

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mobile service revenue

 

(0.3

)

(0.1

)

(3.1

)

0.3

 

(28.0

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed service revenue

 

3.2

 

13.4

 

(2.3

)

6.8

 

(9.8

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service revenue

 

1.0

 

2.1

 

(2.9

)

2.3

 

(25.7

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other revenue

 

(15.7

)

12.2

 

171.0

 

(16.6

)

(32.5

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

0.2

 

3.4

 

5.6

 

0.6

 

(26.1

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct costs

 

(7.7

)

(3.0

)

(11.1

)

7.3

 

(17.5

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Customer costs

 

(2.7

)

10.5

 

4.6

 

(10.7

)

(32.6

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

 

(1.4

)

(5.7

)

(6.3

)

(4.9

)

(29.5

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

7.9

 

8.7

 

48.2

 

8.6

 

(26.1

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortisation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquired intangibles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchased licences

 

5.8

 

26.2

 

 

(0.7

)

8.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

(6.9

)

0.5

 

4.0

 

6.5

 

(1.5

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBIT

 

68.5

 

18.6

 

NM

 

22.2

 

(52.9

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Share of adjusted results in associates and joint ventures

 

(12.7

)

(86.6

)

 

 

(357.1

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted operating profit/(loss)

 

67.9

 

18.9

 

NM

 

22.2

 

(49.4

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA margin (pps)

 

2.6

 

1.9

 

7.6

 

2.2

 

0.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8


 

FINANCIAL RESULTS

 

Revenue decreased by 4.4%. Foreign exchange movements contributed a 1.3 percentage point negative impact, and the deconsolidation of Vodafone Netherlands contributed a 5.6 percentage point negative impact. On an organic basis, service revenue increased by 0.8%*, driven by customer growth in mobile and fixed and stabilising contract ARPU across all of our major markets despite increased regulatory headwinds following the implementation of the EU’s ‘Roam Like At Home’ policy in June. The drag from roaming was lower than originally anticipated given strong growth of visitor revenues in Q2. Excluding regulation (the impact of EU roaming and MTR cuts), service revenue growth was 1.9%* (Q1: 1.7%*, Q2: 2.1%*).

 

Adjusted EBITDA increased 5.4%, including a 6.8 percentage point negative impact from the deconsolidation of Vodafone Netherlands, and a 0.8 percentage point negative impact from foreign exchange movements. On an organic basis, adjusted EBITDA increased 13.0%*, supported by the introduction of handset financing in the UK and regulatory settlements in the UK. Excluding these items, as well as the net impact of roaming, EBITDA grew 8.2%* reflecting operating leverage and tight cost control through our ‘Fit for Growth’ programme.

 

Adjusted EBIT increased by 66.5%*, reflecting strong adjusted EBITDA growth and stable depreciation and amortisation expenses.

 

 

 

 

 

Other
activity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reported 

 

(including

 

Foreign 

 

Organic*

 

 

 

change 

 

M&A)

 

exchange 

 

change 

 

 

 

 

pps 

 

pps 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe revenue

 

(4.4

)

5.6

 

1.3

 

2.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service revenue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Germany

 

1.1

 

0.1

 

(0.1

)

1.1

 

Italy

 

2.1

 

0.2

 

 

2.3

 

UK

 

(9.6

)

0.1

 

6.7

 

(2.8

)

Spain

 

2.3

 

0.5

 

 

2.8

 

Other Europe

 

(25.4

)

28.4

 

(0.3

)

2.7

 

Europe service revenue

 

(5.8

)

5.3

 

1.3

 

0.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Germany

 

7.9

 

(0.2

)

 

7.7

 

Italy

 

8.7

 

0.1

 

 

8.8

 

UK

 

38.0

 

(1.6

)

10.2

 

46.6

 

Spain

 

8.5

 

1.0

 

0.1

 

9.6

 

Other Europe

 

(25.7

)

32.6

 

(0.4

)

6.5

 

Europe adjusted EBITDA

 

5.4

 

6.8

 

0.8

 

13.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe adjusted EBIT

 

27.8

 

40.0

 

(1.3

)

66.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe adjusted operating profit

 

29.7

 

38.6

 

(1.4

)

66.9

 

 


Note:

*       All amounts in this document marked with an “*” represent organic growth which presents performance on a comparable basis, both in terms of merger and acquisition activity and movements in foreign exchange rates. “Change at constant exchange rates” presents performance on a comparable basis in terms of foreign exchange rates only. Organic growth and change at constant exchange rates are alternative performance measures. See “Alternative performance measures” on page 42 for further details and reconciliations to the respective closest equivalent GAAP measure.

 

Germany

 

Service revenue grew 1.1%* (Q1: 0.6%*, Q2: 1.6%*), or 2.5%* (Q1: 2.0%*, Q2: 3.0%*) excluding the impact of regulation. The acceleration in Q2 reflects improved mobile contract customer base growth, which more than offset the drag from roaming.

 

Mobile service revenue declined 0.2%* (Q1: -1.1%*, Q2: 0.7%*) as a higher customer base was offset by regulatory headwinds and lower wholesale revenue. Excluding regulation, mobile service revenue grew 1.9%* (Q1: 1.0%*, Q2: 2.8%*) driven by a higher contract customer base. Contract customer additions grew 301,000 in the first half of the year (+273,000 year-on-year) driven by the seasonal success of our new GigaCube fixed-wireless proposition, higher activity in direct channels and lower consumer churn. In Enterprise the market remained competitive, however ARPU declines continued to moderate. We now have 4G population coverage of 91% with the ability to offer 500Mbps in 20 cities, and we are currently piloting 1Gbps services in 2 cities.

 

Fixed service revenue grew 3.2%* (Q1: 3.4%*, Q2: 3.0%*) driven by good customer growth, with 194,000 broadband customers added during H1, of which 136,000 were on cable with the rest on DSL. Our TV base remained stable at 7.7 million. Supported by our GigaKombi propositions, we added 110,000 converged customers to reach a total converged consumer customer base of 0.5 million.

 

In September we announced our ‘Gigabit Investment Plan’ with approximately €2 billion of incremental capital expenditure on ultrafast broadband services by the end of calendar year 2021. We expect this success-based plan to drive incremental growth and attractive returns as we deploy fibre to Enterprises in up to 2,000 business parks across Germany, partner with local municipalities to reach around 1 million rural consumer homes with fibre, and upgrade our existing cable infrastructure to deliver 1Gbps speeds to 12.6 million households.

 

Adjusted EBITDA grew 7.7%*, driven by service revenue growth and strong cost control. As a result, our adjusted EBITDA margin improved by 2.6 percentage points to 36.6%.

 

9


 

FINANCIAL RESULTS

 

Italy

 

Service revenue grew by 2.3%* (Q1: 3.2%*, Q2: 1.5%*). This performance was supported by higher mobile and fixed ARPU and strong fixed customer base growth. In Q2, the impact of EU roaming declines was partially offset by increased visitor revenues.

 

Mobile service revenue grew 0.1%* (Q1: 0.9%*, Q2: -0.7%). The prepaid pricing environment remained highly competitive during the first half of the year, particularly in promotional below-the-line offers. As a result, total market mobile number portability (‘MNP’) volumes grew 26% year-on-year. Despite these pressures, the decline in our prepaid customer base was mitigated by our advanced data analytics capability, which delivers personalised offers to customers, and by our market leading mobile network quality with 4G population coverage now at 98%.

 

Fixed service revenue was up 13.4%* (Q1: 14.4%*, Q2: 12.3%*) driven by continued strong customer base growth and higher ARPU. We added 112,000 broadband households in H1, and in total our broadband customer base is now 2.3 million. At the end of the period we reached 5.2 million marketable households through our owned NGN footprint and our strategic partnership with Open Fiber. In October, we launched our new converged proposition ‘Vodafone One’, providing customers with a single fibre and 4.5G offer that can be enriched with market-leading entertainment via Vodafone TV as well as exclusive advantages for family members. We have 583,000 converged consumer households.

 

Adjusted EBITDA grew 8.8%*, with a 1.9 percentage point improvement in adjusted EBITDA margin to 38.6%. This was driven by a strong revenue performance and continued tight cost control.

 

UK

 

Service revenue declined 2.8%* (Q1: -2.7%*, Q2: -3.0%*). Excluding the impact of regulation and handset financing, service revenue growth almost stabilised in H1 and returned to growth in Q2 (Q1: -1.2%*, Q2: 0.6%*), supported by higher ARPU in consumer mobile together with a lower decline in Enterprise fixed and carrier services. NPS has fully recovered from the billing system challenges experienced in the prior financial year, reflecting ongoing improvements in customer care and network quality, and we regained our market leading NPS position in Enterprise.

 

Mobile service revenue declined 3.0%* (Q1: -2.3%*, Q2: -3.7%*), but grew by 0.3%* (Q1: -0.4%*, Q2: 1.0%*) excluding the impact of regulation and handset financing. This underlying improvement in quarterly trends was supported by the launch of our new segment led propositions, RPI-linked consumer price increases and a better inflow mix of higher-value customers. Enterprise continued to decline in a competitive market environment. Total contract customers declined 5,000 in H1, impacted by our strategic decision to phase out our low-end mobile brand Talkmobile. Excluding this effect our contract base grew by 59,000. In August, we launched a new sub-brand ‘VOXI’, targeting the youth segment with a proposition focused on worry-free social media usage. Our network performance continued to improve and is at an all-time high with 4G population coverage of 97%, supported by our decision to deploy our own active radio network equipment in London.

 

Fixed service revenue declined 2.3%* (Q1: -3.9%*, Q2: -0.6%*), reflecting competitive pricing pressure and a lower customer base in Enterprise. The lower pace of decline in Q2 was supported by our best ever quarter of consumer broadband net adds (35,000 households). In total we now serve 278,000 customers.

 

In November, we announced a long-term strategic partnership agreement with CityFibre. This wholesale agreement will provide us with the ability to market FTTH services to up to 5.0 million UK households by 2025, at attractive commercial terms. We have identified the first 1.0 million households to be built across 12 towns and cities, and have committed to an initial exclusivity period in exchange for a ten-year 20% minimum volume commitment for these households.

 

Adjusted EBITDA grew by 46.6%*, and the adjusted EBITDA margin was 26.5%. Excluding the impact of handset financing and regulatory settlements in the period, and the reallocation of central costs, adjusted EBITDA declined by 1.9%* as out-of-bundle roaming declines offset the benefit of lower operating costs delivered through our Fit for Growth cost programme.

 

10


 

FINANCIAL RESULTS

 

Spain

 

Service revenue grew by 2.8%* (Q1: 1.6%*, Q2: 3.9%*). This growth was driven by our ‘more-for-more’ tariff refresh in April and a higher customer base across both mobile and fixed. The acceleration in Q2 reflects the end of the drag from handset financing (excluding handset financing, Q1 grew 3.0%*), together with the benefit of a full quarter following our tariff changes, and strong visitor revenues over the summer.

 

We maintained our good commercial momentum, adding 94,000 mobile contract customers and 57,000 fixed broadband customers despite changes to our tariff plans and increased price competition in the value segment of the market. Our TV customer base grew at a slower pace, up 23,000, reflecting a delay during Q1 in our ability to offer TV to new households in our wholesale footprint following a new agreement with the incumbent, as well as a greater focus on premium packages.

 

Vodafone One, our fully integrated fixed, mobile and TV service, reached 2.5 million households at the end of the period, up 459,000 year-on-year. In May we launched a basic convergent proposition through our secondary brand Lowi, which is focused on the value segment. Consumer converged revenues grew by 17.0% in H1 and now represent 58% of total consumer revenue.

 

Our market leading 4G population coverage reached 94% at the end of the period. Following our commercial wholesale agreement with Telefonica in March to access its fibre network in both regulated and deregulated areas, our NGN footprint increased to 19.5 million households, of which 10.3 million are on-net.

 

Adjusted EBITDA growth was strong at 9.6%*, with a 2.2 percentage point improvement in adjusted EBITDA margin to 29.9%. This was driven by service revenue growth and lower commercial and operating costs; these more than offset higher content and wholesale fixed access costs.

 

Other Europe

 

Service revenue grew 2.7%* (Q1: 2.7%*, Q2: 2.8%*) with all of the larger markets growing in the first half of the year (after excluding the MTR impact in Ireland), supported by strong visitor revenue growth in southern Europe. Adjusted organic EBITDA grew 6.5%* and adjusted EBITDA margin remained stable at 31.5%, reflecting continued good cost control.

 

In Ireland service revenue declined 2.7%*, but grew 2.0%* excluding the impact of regulation, supported by fixed customer growth. Portugal service revenue grew 5.7%* driven by a return to growth in mobile, and continued strong customer growth in fixed. In October, we announced a reciprocal network sharing agreement with NOS, providing us with access to an additional 1.3 million homes and businesses on attractive commercial terms. This will take our total coverage to 4.0 million, representing 80% of households in the country. In Greece, service revenue grew by 3.9%*, driven by ARPU growth in consumer mobile following ‘more-for-more’ tariff changes made in the first half.

 

VodafoneZiggo Joint Venture

 

The joint venture between Vodafone Netherlands and Ziggo (VodafoneZiggo, in which Vodafone owns a 50% stake) was formed on 31 December 2016.

 

VodafoneZiggo, which reports quarterly for credit investors on a US GAAP basis, reported a decline in revenue of 4.3% (Q1: -3.4%, Q2: -5.2%), or a 2.7% decline (Q1: -2.8%, Q2: -2.7%) excluding the impact of regulation. This reflected continued intense price competition in mobile, particularly in the SoHo segment, partially offset by a return to growth in fixed in Q2 driven by improved RGU additions and ARPU. Mobile service revenue declined 11.7% (Q1: -9.3%, Q2: -14.0%), equivalent to a 7.6% decline (Q1: -7.7%, Q2: -7.6%) excluding the impact of regulation, and fixed grew 0.2% (Q1: -0.1%, Q2: 0.5%).

 

Our new converged offers are helping to drive higher consumer mobile sales, with net contract additions in H1 of 25,000 excluding the impact of discontinued non-revenue generating secondary SIMs as part of the migration of former Ziggo mobile subscribers to Vodafone. In fixed, we added 29,000 net broadband RGUs in H1 driven by our converged offers and the Ziggo Power Promise campaign. Our momentum in convergence continues. 780,000 households are now converged, with these households using a total of 1.2 million mobile SIMs. 24% of the VodafoneZiggo broadband base and 58% of Vodafone branded consumer customers are now enjoying the benefits of converged offers.

 

VodafoneZiggo reported an adjusted EBITDA decline of 2.4% in H1, as lower revenues were partly offset by lower equipment expenses, as a result of new consumer credit regulations which increased the proportion of SIM-only sales during the period.

 

Since the start of the calendar year, Vodafone has received €221 million in dividends from the joint venture and €42 million in interest payments on the €1 billion shareholder loan. During the current financial year, Vodafone has received €145 million in dividends and €28 million in interest payments. Following an upgrade to VodafoneZiggo’s 2017 financial outlook, we now expect to receive total cash returns (including dividends, interest payments and shareholder loan repayments) of at least €375 million (previously ‘at least €250 million’) during the 2017 calendar year.

 

11

 


 

FINANCIAL RESULTS

 

Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Growth

 

 

 

Vodacom 

 

Other AMAP

 

Eliminations

 

AMAP

 

Reported

 

Organic*

 

 

 

€m 

 

€m 

 

€m 

 

€m 

 

%

 

%

 

30 September 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mobile customer revenue

 

1,996

 

1,761

 

 

3,757

 

 

 

 

 

Mobile incoming revenue

 

80

 

262

 

 

342

 

 

 

 

 

Other service revenue

 

121

 

88

 

 

209

 

 

 

 

 

Mobile service revenue

 

2,197

 

2,111

 

 

4,308

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed service revenue

 

113

 

382

 

 

495

 

 

 

 

 

Service revenue

 

2,310

 

2,493

 

 

4,803

 

(3.8

)

7.0

 

Other revenue

 

489

 

407

 

 

896

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

2,799

 

2,900

 

 

5,699

 

(3.2

)

7.1

 

Direct costs

 

(361

)

(937

)

 

(1,298

)

 

 

 

 

Customer costs

 

(737

)

(493

)

 

(1,230

)

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

 

(638

)

(680

)

 

(1,318

)

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

1,063

 

790

 

 

1,853

 

(2.1

)

8.5

 

Depreciation and amortisation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquired intangibles

 

(43

)

(16

)

 

(59

)

 

 

 

 

Purchased licences

 

(2

)

(87

)

 

(89

)

 

 

 

 

Other

 

(325

)

(378

)

 

(703

)

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBIT

 

693

 

309

 

 

1,002

 

2.0

 

11.1

 

Share of adjusted results in associates and joint ventures

 

29

 

126

 

 

155

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted operating profit

 

722

 

435

 

 

1,157

 

9.2

 

18.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA margin

 

38.0

%

27.2

%

 

 

32.5

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30 September 2016 restated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mobile customer revenue

 

1,805

 

2,117

 

 

3,922

 

 

 

 

 

Mobile incoming revenue

 

100

 

322

 

 

422

 

 

 

 

 

Other service revenue

 

99

 

79

 

 

178

 

 

 

 

 

Mobile service revenue

 

2,004

 

2,518

 

 

4,522

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed service revenue

 

80

 

389

 

 

469

 

 

 

 

 

Service revenue

 

2,084

 

2,907

 

 

4,991

 

 

 

 

 

Other revenue

 

380

 

515

 

 

895

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

2,464

 

3,422

 

 

5,886

 

 

 

 

 

Direct costs

 

(321

)

(1,084

)

 

(1,405

)

 

 

 

 

Customer costs

 

(600

)

(586

)

 

(1,186

)

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

 

(591

)

(812

)

 

(1,403

)

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

952

 

940

 

 

1,892

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortisation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquired intangibles

 

(39

)

(21

)

 

(60

)

 

 

 

 

Purchased licences

 

(3

)

(109

)

 

(112

)

 

 

 

 

Other

 

(268

)

(470

)

 

(738

)

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBIT

 

642

 

340

 

 

982

 

 

 

 

 

Share of adjusted results in associates and joint ventures

 

 

78

 

 

78

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted operating profit

 

642

 

418

 

 

1,060

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA margin

 

38.6

%

27.5

%

 

 

32.1

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change at constant exchange rates (%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mobile customer revenue

 

4.2

 

8.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mobile incoming revenue

 

(23.1

)

11.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other service revenue

 

13.4

 

41.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mobile service revenue

 

3.3

 

10.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other service revenue

 

36.1

 

5.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service revenue

 

4.5

 

9.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other revenue

 

19.3

 

(4.2

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

6.8

 

7.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct costs

 

8.7

 

8.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Customer costs

 

13.2

 

1.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

 

3.1

 

3.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

4.4

 

14.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortisation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquired intangibles

 

0.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchased licences

 

(10.8

)

(6.0

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

14.4

 

2.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBIT

 

0.6

 

44.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Share of adjusted results in associates and joint ventures

 

NM

 

69.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted operating profit

 

4.7

 

51.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA margin (pps)

 

(0.9

)

1.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12

 


 

FINANCIAL RESULTS

 

Revenue decreased 3.2%, with strong organic growth offset by a 10.3 percentage point adverse impact from foreign exchange movements, particularly with regards to the Turkish lira and Egyptian pound. On an organic basis service revenue was up 7.0%* driven by strong commercial momentum in South Africa, Turkey and Egypt.

 

Adjusted EBITDA decreased 2.1%, including a 10.6 percentage point adverse impact from foreign exchange movements. On an organic basis, adjusted EBITDA grew 8.5%*, driven by service revenue growth and a continued focus on cost control and efficiencies to offset inflationary pressures. Adjusted EBIT increased 11.1%*.

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

activity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reported

 

(including

 

Foreign 

 

Organic*

 

 

 

change

 

M&A)

 

exchange 

 

change 

 

 

 

%

 

pps 

 

pps 

 

 

AMAP revenue

 

(3.2

)

 

10.3

 

7.1

 

Service revenue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vodacom

 

10.8

 

 

(6.3

)

4.5

 

Other AMAP

 

(14.2

)

0.1

 

23.6

 

9.5

 

AMAP service revenue

 

(3.8

)

 

10.8

 

7.0

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vodacom

 

11.7

 

 

(7.3

)

4.4

 

Other AMAP

 

(16.0

)

0.1

 

30.4

 

14.5

 

AMAP adjusted EBITDA

 

(2.1

)

 

10.6

 

8.5

 

AMAP adjusted EBIT

 

2.0

 

0.1

 

9.0

 

11.1

 

AMAP adjusted operating profit

 

9.2

 

0.1

 

9.2

 

18.5

 

 


Note:

*       All amounts in this document marked with an “*” represent organic growth which presents performance on a comparable basis, both in terms of merger and acquisition activity and movements in foreign exchange rates. “Change at constant exchange rates” presents performance on a comparable basis in terms of foreign exchange rates only. Organic growth and change at constant exchange rates are alternative performance measures. See “Alternative performance measures” on page 42 for further details and reconciliations to the respective closest equivalent GAAP measure.

 

Vodacom

 

Vodacom Group service revenue grew 4.5%* (Q1: 5.6%*, Q2: 3.4%*), supported by strong customer additions and growth in data and enterprise services in South Africa, and improved growth in Vodacom’s International operations as we lapped the impact from the change in customer registration requirements in the prior year. The slowdown in Q2 reflects a stronger comparator from the prior year in South Africa and the impact of larger data bundles, combined with a decline in DRC revenues.

 

In South Africa, service revenue grew 4.8%* (Q1: 5.6%*, Q2: 3.9%*). This was supported by continued strong customer growth resulting from our effective segmentation and bundle strategy. We added 4.1 million prepaid customers in the first half to 45.7 million, up 13.7% year-on-year. Data revenue growth remained strong at 15.0%*. This growth was supported by an increased number of data users (up 9.6% to 19.9 million), greater average usage per customer (smart device usage up 19.5% to 776Mb per month), and higher data bundle sales (up 56% year-on-year to 347 million). In Q2 data revenue growth slowed, reflecting a strong comparative quarter and the impact of promotional initiatives to drive data take-up, including larger data bundles. Effective from 1 October, out-of-bundle data rates were reduced in order to further improve customer experience. We expect this to stimulate higher data take-up and usage over time. Voice revenue declined 4.8%*, broadly in line with prior quarters, reflecting the success of our personalised voice bundle strategy through our ‘Just 4 You’ platform. Our market leading network has now reached 77% 4G population coverage.

 

Vodacom’s International operations outside of South Africa, which represent 22.3% of Vodacom Group service revenue, grew 6.0%* (Q1: 7.9%*, Q2: 4.1%*). This growth was supported by a better performance in Tanzania, and sustained growth in Mozambique and Lesotho. In the DRC, economic weakness and the devaluation of the Congolese Franc has impacted consumer spending, resulting in a weaker performance.

 

Vodacom Group adjusted EBITDA grew by 4.4%*, and adjusted EBITDA margin declined by 0.6 points to 38.0%. This reflected a greater contribution from low margin equipment sales, a new roaming agreement with WBS in South Africa, and earlier phasing of publicity costs for our global brand refresh. This was partially offset by continued cost discipline.

 

In May 2017, we announced that Vodafone Group would exchange a 35% indirect interest in Safaricom for 233.5 million new ordinary Vodacom shares, enabling us to streamline and simplify the management of our sub-Saharan African holdings. The transaction completed in August. Following a placing of Vodacom ordinary shares by Vodafone Group in September, in which 5.2% of Vodacom’s share capital was sold for €955 million, Vodafone Group now indirectly owns a 64.5% stake in Vodacom. Safaricom achieved local currency service revenue growth of 12.0% during H1, driven by the expansion of their customer base and strong growth in data and M-Pesa revenue. Local currency adjusted EBITDA at Safaricom grew by 6.9%, impacted by a one-off adjustment in the prior year.

 

13


 

FINANCIAL RESULTS

 

Other AMAP

 

Service revenue grew by 9.5%* (Q1: 10.0%*, Q2: 8.9%*), with strong local currency growth in Turkey and Egypt. The slowdown in quarterly trends reflects tougher prior year comparisons and the impact of a network outage in Qatar during Q2. Organic adjusted EBITDA grew 14.5%* and adjusted EBITDA margin improved by 0.3 percentage points to 27.2%, driven by good cost control.

 

In Turkey, service revenue grew 14.3%* (Q1: 13.9%*, Q2: 14.7%*) supported by good growth in consumer contract and strong visitor revenue in Q2. Organic adjusted EBITDA grew 20.4%* and adjusted EBITDA margin improved by 2.0 percentage points to 22.8%, driven by revenue growth and improved cost control.

 

Egypt service revenue grew by 22.8%* (Q1: 24.6%*, Q2: 21.0%*), as rising data penetration drove higher ARPU and we maintained good customer base growth. Organic adjusted EBITDA grew 23.0%* and adjusted EBITDA margin improved by 0.4 percentage points to 45.1% as revenue growth and cost discipline more than offset high inflationary pressures.

 

In New Zealand, service revenue grew 0.3%* (Q1: -0.3%*, Q2: 0.9%*), with growth in mobile partially offset by pressure in fixed. We intend to explore a potential IPO of Vodafone New Zealand during calendar 2018.

 

Associates and joint ventures

 

Vodafone Hutchison Australia (‘VHA’) continued to perform solidly in a competitive environment, with local currency service revenue growth of 2.5% during the first half of the year. This was driven by growth in our mobile contract customer base. Local currency adjusted EBITDA excluding changes in pricing structure for new mobile phone plans grew 8.4%, supported by revenue growth and strong commercial cost discipline.

 

Our stake in Indus Towers, the Indian towers company in which Vodafone has a 42% interest, is excluded from the perimeter of the merger of Vodafone India and Idea. Indus Towers achieved local currency revenue growth of 11.5% and adjusted EBITDA growth of 11.6% during the first half of the year. Indus owned 123,075 towers as at 30 September 2017, with a tenancy ratio of 2.45. During the period, Indus Towers paid dividends of €141 million to the Group. We continue to explore potential monetisation options for our own and Idea’s interests in this asset.

 

14


 

FINANCIAL RESULTS

 

India1

 

On 20 March 2017, Vodafone announced an agreement to combine its subsidiary, Vodafone India (excluding its 42% stake in Indus Towers), with Idea Cellular. The combined company will be jointly controlled by Vodafone and the Aditya Birla Group. Vodafone India has been classified as discontinued operations for Group reporting purposes. From an operational perspective, the Group remains highly focused on the management of the business and committed to its success, both prior to the completion of the merger and thereafter. The results of Vodafone India are detailed below.

 

 

 

Six months ended 30 September

 

Growth

 

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

Reported

 

Organic*

 

 

 

€m 

 

€m 

 

%

 

%

 

Mobile customer revenue

 

1,914

 

2,433

 

 

 

 

 

Mobile incoming revenue

 

435

 

328

 

 

 

 

 

Other service revenue

 

88

 

105

 

 

 

 

 

Mobile service revenue

 

2,437

 

2,866

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed service revenue

 

164

 

139

 

 

 

 

 

Service revenue

 

2,601

 

3,005

 

(13.4

)

(15.8

)

Other revenue

 

9

 

10

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

2,610

 

3,015

 

(13.4

)

(15.8

)

Direct costs

 

(758

)

(836

)

 

 

 

 

Customer costs

 

(142

)

(148

)

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

 

(1,153

)

(1,139

)

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

557

 

892

 

(37.6

)

(39.2

)

Depreciation and amortisation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquired intangibles

 

 

(37

)

 

 

 

 

Purchased licences

 

 

(210

)

 

 

 

 

Other

 

(13

)

(422

)

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBIT and operating profit

 

544

 

223

 

143.9

 

136.5

 

Impairment loss

 

 

(6,375

)

 

 

 

 

Other

 

(54

)

(65

)

 

 

 

 

Operating profit/(loss)

 

490

 

(6,217

)

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA margin

 

21.3

%

29.6

%

 

 

 

 

Capital additions

 

394

 

447

 

 

 

 

 

Closing net debt

 

(8,022

)

(4,736

)

 

 

 

 

 


Notes:

*           All amounts in this document marked with an “*” represent organic growth which presents performance on a comparable basis, both in terms of merger and acquisition activity and movements in foreign exchange rates. “Change at constant exchange rates” presents performance on a comparable basis in terms of foreign exchange rates only. Organic growth and change at constant exchange rates are alternative performance measures. See “Alternative performance measures” on page 42 for further details and reconciliations to the respective closest equivalent GAAP measure.

1.     In accordance with IFRS, the results of Vodafone India were classified as discontinued operations with effect from 20 March 2017, after which depreciation and amortisation of assets ceased.

2.     Half year ended 30 September 2016 includes a gross impairment charge €6,375 million recorded in respect of the Group’s investment in India, which together with the recognition of an associated €1,375 million deferred tax asset, led to an overall €5.0 billion reduction in the carrying value of Vodafone India.

3.     Closing net debt at 30 September 2016 comprised €2,784 million of external net debt and €1,952 million of internal financing.

 

Service revenue declined 15.8%* (Q1: -13.9%*, Q2: -17.8%*) as a result of intense price competition from the new entrant and aggressive incumbent responses. Competitive intensity in the market continued to rise throughout the period, with the extension of data validity periods on prepaid top-ups as well as price reductions in the postpaid segment. As a result, ARPU fell sharply, while our customer base declined in Q2 as customers consolidated their usage with a single operator. However, we continued to retain our mid and high value customers, while our focused investment strategy ensured that our revenue market share continued to rise in our leadership circles during Q1. The sequential deterioration in Q2 revenue trends following a period of stability in Q1 reflects intensified price competition, seasonal weakness as a result of the monsoon, and the impact of the new ‘Goods and Services Tax’ (‘GST’), which increased the tax burden on our gross revenues to 18% (previously 15%).

 

Starting from 1 October 2017, the regulator lowered mobile termination rates from 14 paise to 6 paise per minute; this is expected to weigh on our revenues in H2. There are however signs of positive developments in the Indian market, with consolidation of smaller operators and recent price increases from the new entrant.

 

Our active data customer base remained stable at 68 million, with strong growth in 4G customers (up 11.9 million to 14.1 million at the end of the period) offsetting the decline in 2G. Our total customer base as at the end of H1 was 207 million. Prepaid ARPU declined by 23% in H1, as the benefit of customers’ consolidating their spend on a single-SIM post the introduction of unlimited calling plans was offset by the trend in the market towards longer validity periods of up to three months in promotional offers. Postpaid ARPU declined by 16%, dragged lower by the significant price declines in the prepaid segment.

 

15


 

FINANCIAL RESULTS

 

Adjusted EBITDA declined 39.2%*, with an 8.3 percentage point deterioration in adjusted EBITDA margin to 21.3%. This reflected lower revenues, partially offset by significant cost actions. These cost initiatives included active network site sharing, the renegotiation of tower maintenance contracts and the closure of sites with low utilisation. Adjusted EBITDA margins have remained broadly stable for the past three quarters, despite significant revenue pressures.

 

Net debt in India was €8.0 billion at the end of the period (including €6.7 billion of spectrum-related debt), down from €8.7 billion at the end of the prior financial year due to the positive translation impact of closing foreign exchange rates on the debt balance of €0.9 billion and positive cash flow of €0.1 billion, partially offset by accrued interest expense of €0.3 billion.

 

The merger of Vodafone India and Idea Cellular has received clearance from the Competition Commission and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI); further approvals are required from the National Company Law Tribunal and the Department of Telecommunications.

 

On 13 November 2017, the Group announced the sale of Vodafone India’s and Idea’s standalone towers to American Tower for INR78.5 billion (€1.0 billion), with the proceeds intended to reduce debt at the combined company. This transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the first half of calendar 2018.

 

The Group continues to explore potential monetisation options for our own and Idea’s interests in Indus Towers.

 

Group results

 

Revenue

 

Group revenue decreased 4.1% to €23.1 billion and service revenue decreased 5.6% to €20.6 billion.

 

Operating profit

 

The Group’s operating profit rose to €2.0 billion, compared to an operating profit of €1.5 billion in the prior period, primarily reflecting higher adjusted EBIT.

 

Group adjusted EBITDA increased 4.2% to €7.4 billion, with organic growth in Europe and AMAP partly offset by foreign exchange movements and the deconsolidation of Vodafone Netherlands. The Group’s adjusted EBITDA margin improved by 2.5 percentage points to 32.0%. On an organic basis, adjusted EBITDA rose 13.0%* and the Group’s adjusted EBITDA margin increased by 2.8* percentage points driven by organic margin improvements in both Europe and AMAP.

 

Adjusted EBIT increased by 19.9% to €2.5 billion as a result of strong adjusted EBITDA growth and broadly stable organic depreciation and amortisation expenses. On an organic basis, adjusted EBIT increased by 51.9%* for the period.

 

The Group’s share of associates and joint ventures was €0.2 billion, up from €0.1 billion in the prior period due to higher contributions from Indus Towers and Australia. Amortisation charges for acquired customer bases and brand intangible assets were €0.5 billion, largely unchanged compared to the prior period. Restructuring costs and other income and expense were minimal during the period.

 

Net investment income/(net financing costs)

 

 

 

Six months ended 30 September

 

 

 

 

 

Restated

 

 

 

2017 

 

2016 

 

 

 

€m 

 

€m 

 

Investment income

 

333

 

552

 

Financing costs

 

(181

)

(675

)

Net investment income/(net financing costs)

 

152

 

(123

)

Analysed as:

 

 

 

 

 

Net financing costs before interest on settlement of tax issues

 

(312

)

(355

)

Interest expense arising on settlement of outstanding tax issues

 

(33

)

(31

)

 

 

(345

)

(386

)

Mark to market gains

 

195

 

24

 

Foreign exchange1

 

302

 

239

 

 

 

152

 

(123

)

 


Note:

1. Primarily comprises foreign exchange rate differences reflected in the income statement in relation to certain sterling and US dollar balances.

 

Net financing costs decreased by €275 million primarily driven by an increase in mark to market gains (including economic hedges of the mandatory convertible bond) and favourable foreign exchange rate movements. Net financing costs before interest on settlement of tax issues remained stable, reflecting consistent average net debt balances and weighted average borrowing costs for both periods.

 

16


 

FINANCIAL RESULTS

 

Taxation

 

 

 

Six months ended 30 September

 

 

 

 

 

Restated1

 

 

 

2017 

 

2016 

 

 

 

€m 

 

€m 

 

Income tax expense:

 

(579

)

(1,114

)

Tax on adjustments to derive adjusted profit before tax

 

(29

)

(104

)

Deferred tax following revaluation of investments in Luxembourg

 

 

588

 

Additional deferred tax asset recognised in the period

 

(159

)

 

Deferred tax on use of Luxembourg losses in the period

 

168

 

230

 

Tax on the Safaricom transaction

 

110

 

 

Adjusted income tax expense for calculating adjusted tax rate

 

(489

)

(400

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Profit before tax

 

2,159

 

1,392

 

Adjustments to derive adjusted profit before tax2

 

214

 

280

 

Adjusted profit before tax3

 

2,373

 

1,672

 

Share of adjusted results in associates and joint ventures

 

(171

)

(73

)

Adjusted profit before tax for calculating adjusted effective tax rate

 

2,202

 

1,599

 

Adjusted effective tax rate3

 

22.2

%

25.0

%

 


Notes:

1.    The Group has changed the basis of calculation of the adjusted effective tax rate to focus on the Group’s controlled businesses, more closely aligning the adjusted effective rate to the cash taxes reported by the Group.

2.    See “Earnings per share” on page 18.

3.     Adjusted profit before tax and adjusted effective tax are alternative performance measures. Alternative performance measures are non-GAAP measures that are presented to provide readers with additional financial information that is regularly reviewed by management and should not be viewed in isolation or as an alternative to the equivalent GAAP measure. See “Alternative performance measures” on page 42 for further details.

 

The Group’s adjusted effective tax rate for its controlled businesses for the six months ended 30 September 2017 was 22.2% compared to 25.0% for the same period during the last financial year. The lower rate in the current year is primarily due to a change in the country mix of the Group’s profits, and a reduction in the corporate tax rate in Italy. We expect the adjusted effective tax rate to remain in the mid-twenties over the medium term.

 

The Group’s adjusted effective tax rate for both periods does not include the following items: deferred tax on the use of Luxembourg losses of €168 million (2016: €230 million); additional deferred tax recognition in Luxembourg of €159 million (2016: €nil), reflecting additional losses expected to be utilised, and a tax charge in respect of capital gains on the transfer of shares in Vodafone Kenya Limited to the Vodacom Group of €110m (2016: €nil). The prior year also included a decrease in the deferred tax asset of €588 million arising from a revaluation of investments based upon the local GAAP financial statements and tax returns, partially offset by a reduction in the deferred tax asset as a result of lower interest rates. These items change the total losses we have available for future use against our profits in Luxembourg and do not affect the amount of tax we pay in other countries.

 

17


 

FINANCIAL RESULTS

 

Adjusted earnings per share

 

Adjusted earnings per share, which excludes the results of Vodafone India which are now included in discontinued operations, were 6.32 eurocents, an increase of 54.9% year-on-year, as higher adjusted operating profit and lower net financing costs more than offset the increase in income tax expense.

 

Basic earnings per share were 4.03 eurocents, compared to a loss per share of 18.38 eurocents for the period ended 30 September 2016, with the increase largely due to the prior period including a non-cash impairment charge of €5.0 billion, net of tax, recognised in discontinued operations in respect of the Group’s investment in India.

 

 

 

Six months ended 30 September

 

 

 

 

 

Restated

 

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

 

 

€m

 

€m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Profit/(loss) attributable to owners of the parent

 

1,131

 

(5,129

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjustments:

 

 

 

 

 

Amortisation of acquired customer base and brand intangible assets

 

543

 

515

 

Restructuring costs

 

33

 

37

 

Other income and expense

 

44

 

56

 

Non-operating income and expense

 

1

 

 

Investment income and financing costs

 

(407

)

(328

)

 

 

214

 

280

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taxation

 

90

 

714

 

India

 

345

 

5,281

 

Non-controlling interests

 

(7

)

(8

)

Adjusted profit attributable to owners of the parent

 

1,773

 

1,138

 

 

 

 

Million

 

Million

 

Weighted average number of shares outstanding — basic

 

28,067

 

27,912

 

 

Earnings per share

 

 

 

eurocents

 

eurocents

 

Basic earnings/(loss) per share

 

4.03

c

(18.38

)c

Adjusted earnings per share

 

6.32

c

4.08

c

 


Notes:

1.

Half year ended 30 September 2017 includes a tax charge of €110m relating to a tax charge in respect of capital gains on the transfer of shares in Vodafone Kenya Limited to the Vodacom Group. Half year ended 30 September 2016 includes a reduction in the deferred tax asset of €588 million arising from the tax treatment of the revaluation of investments based upon the local GAAP financial statements and tax returns, partially offset by a reduction in the deferred tax asset as a result of lower interest rates.

2.

India is classified as discontinued operations and includes the operating results, financing, tax and other gains and losses of Vodafone India recognised during the period.

3.

Adjusted profit attributable to owners of the parent and adjusted earnings per share are alternative performance measures. Alternative performance measures are non-GAAP measures that are presented to provide readers with additional financial information that is regularly reviewed by management and should not be viewed in isolation or as an alternative to the equivalent GAAP measure. See “Alternative performance measures” on page 42 for further details.

4.

Weighted average number of shares outstanding includes a dilution of 1,292 million shares (2016: 1,325 million shares) following the issue of £2.9 billion of mandatory convertible bonds in February 2016 which are classified as equity after taking into account the cost of future coupon payments.

 

18


 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Cash flows and funding

 

 

 

Six months ended 30 September

 

 

 

 

 

Restated1

 

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

 

 

€m

 

€m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

7,385

 

7,090

 

Capital additions2

 

(3,263

)

(3,526

)

Working capital

 

(2,294

)

(2,925

)

Disposal of property, plant and equipment

 

9

 

7

 

Other

 

65

 

50

 

Operating free cash flow3

 

1,902

 

696

 

Taxation

 

(400

)

(468

)

Dividends received from associates and investments

 

284

 

129

 

Dividends paid to non-controlling shareholders in subsidiaries

 

(154

)

(274

)

Interest received and paid

 

(343

)

(231

)

Free cash flow (pre-spectrum)3

 

1,289

 

(148

)

Licence and spectrum payments

 

(747

)

(138

)

Restructuring payments

 

(127

)

(142

)

Free cash flow3

 

415

 

(428

)

Acquisitions and disposals

 

1,079

 

(61

)

Equity dividends paid

 

(2,637

)

(2,449

)

Share buybacks

 

(549

)

 

Foreign exchange

 

693

 

(413

)

Other4

 

113

 

(5,732

)

Net debt increase

 

(886

)

(9,083

)

Opening net debt

 

(31,169

)

(28,801

)

Closing net debt

 

(32,055

)

(37,884

)

 


Notes:

1.

Cash flows and funding for the half year ended 30 September 2016 excludes the cash flows, funding and net debt of Vodafone India.

2.

Capital additions include the purchase of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets, other than licence and spectrum, during the period.

3.

Operating free cash flow, free cash flow (pre-spectrum) and free cash flow are alternative performance measures which are non-GAAP measures that are presented to provide readers with additional financial information that is regularly reviewed by management and should not be viewed in isolation or as an alternative to the equivalent GAAP measure. See “Alternative performance measures” on page 42 for more information and reconciliations to the closest respective equivalent GAAP measure and “Definition of terms” on page 52 for further details.

4.

Other cash flows for the period ended 30 September 2017 includes €nil (2016: €5,416 million) capital injection into Vodafone India.

 

Operating free cash flow increased €1.2 billion mainly due to higher organic EBITDA and lower working capital cash outflows, predominately relating to the final payments for Project Spring in the prior year.

 

Free cash flow (pre-spectrum) was €1.3 billion, an increase of €1.4 billion, largely driven by the €1.2 billion increase in operating free cash flow (see above) and €0.2 billion higher dividends, primarily from VodafoneZiggo.

 

Licence and spectrum payments include amounts relating to the purchase of spectrum in Italy of €0.6 billion and Germany of €0.1 billion (2016: €0.1 billion).

 

Acquisitions and disposals include €1.0 billion of proceeds from the placing of Vodacom shares following the transfer of the Group’s interests in Safaricom to Vodacom and €0.2 billion from the Tanzanian initial public offering.

 

A foreign exchange gain of €0.7 billion was recognised on net debt as a result of the translation impact of closing foreign exchange rates, mainly due to movements in the US Dollar and Sterling against the euro.

 

Closing net debt at 30 September 2017 was €32.1 billion (31 March 2017: €31.2 billion) and excludes €8.0 billion of net debt for Vodafone India, which is instead included in assets and liabilities held for sale on the consolidated statement of financial position; the remaining £1.4 billion mandatory convertible bond issued in February 2016, which will be settled in equity shares; £1.0 billion of accruals for the new irrevocable and non-discretionary share buyback programme; US$2.5 billion of loan notes receivable from Verizon Communications Inc.; and €1.0 billion of shareholder loans receivable from VodafoneZiggo.

 

Closing net debt also continues to include liabilities of €1.9 billion (31 March 2017: €1.8 billion) relating to minority holdings in KDG and certain bonds which are reported at an amount €1.8 billion (31 March 2017: €2.0 billion) higher than their euro-equivalent cash redemption value as a result of hedge accounting under IFRS. In addition, where bonds are issued in currencies other than euros, the Group has entered into foreign currency swaps to fix the euro cash outflows on redemption. The impact of these swaps are not reflected in gross debt and would increase the euro equivalent redemption value of the bonds by €0.2 billion (31 March 2017: reduction €0.9 billion).

 

19


 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Analysis of net debt:

 

 

 

30 September

 

31 March

 

 

 

2017

 

2017

 

 

 

€m

 

€m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bonds

 

(33,056

)

(34,381

)

Commercial paper1

 

(3,859

)

(3,648

)

Put options over non-controlling interests2

 

(1,876

)

(1,837

)

Bank loans

 

(3,010

)

(3,608

)

Cash collateral liabilities

 

(2,004

)

(2,654

)

Other borrowings3

 

(376

)

(444

)

Gross borrowings

 

(44,181

)

(46,572

)

Derivative financial instruments4

 

(2,312

)

(2,077

)

Gross debts

 

(46,493

)

(48,649

)

Cash and cash equivalents5

 

5,365

 

8,835

 

Other financial instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

Mark to market derivative financial instruments6

 

3,730

 

4,282

 

Short term investments7

 

4,867

 

3,979

 

Cash collateral8

 

476

 

384

 

Total cash and cash equivalents and other financial instruments

 

14,438

 

17,480

 

Net debt

 

(32,055

)

(31,169

)

 


Notes:

1.

At 30 September 2017 US$406 million (31 March 2017: US$1,484 million) was drawn under the US commercial paper programme and €3,515 million (31 March 2017: €2,262 million) was drawn under the euro commercial paper programme.

2.

Includes a €1.9 billion (31 March 2017: €1.8 billion) liability for payments due to holders of the equity shares in Kabel Deutschland AG under the terms of a domination and profit and loss transfer agreement.

3.

At 30 September 2017 the amount includes €46 million (31 March 2017: €80 million) in relation to the debt component of the mandatory convertible bonds.

4.

Comprises mark-to-market adjustments on derivative financial instruments which are included as a component of trade and other payables (30 September 2017: €2,312 million, 31 March 2017: €2,077 million).

5.

Includes cash and cash equivalents of €7 million (31 March 2017: €nil) in respect of assets held for sale.

6.

Comprises mark-to-market adjustments on derivative financial instruments which are included as a component of trade and other receivables (30 September 2017: €3,730 million; 31 March 2017: €4,282 million).

7.

At 30 September 2017 the amount primarily includes €2,495 million (31 March 2017: €2,039 million) in managed investment funds, €1,130 million (31 March 2017: €1,172 million) of gilts used as collateral primarily passed in relation to put options issued with regards to the mandatory convertible bonds with maturities 2017 and 2019, €452 million (31 March 2017: €466 million) in index-linked government bonds and €670 million (31 March 2017: €182 million) short-term investments in a fund where the underlying assets are supply chain receivables.

8.

At 30 September 2017 the amount includes €476 million (31 March 2017: €384 million) in relation to cash paid under collateral support agreements.

 

The following table sets out the Group’s undrawn committed bank facilities:

 

 

 

 

 

30 September

 

 

 

 

 

2017

 

 

 

Maturity

 

€m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

US$4.1 billion committed revolving credit facility1

 

February 2022

 

3,465

 

€4.0 billion committed revolving credit facility1

 

March 2021

 

4,010

 

Other committed credit facilities

 

Various

 

193

 

Undrawn committed facilities

 

 

 

7,668

 

 


Note:

1.

Both facilities support US and euro commercial paper programmes of up to US$15 billion and €8 billion respectively. US$155 million and €150 million of the US$and €facilities mature in February 2020 and March 2020 respectively.

 

20


 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Share buyback programme

 

On 25 August 2017, Vodafone announced the commencement of a new irrevocable and non-discretionary share buyback programme (the ‘Programme’). The sole purpose of the Programme is to reduce the issued share capital of Vodafone and thereby avoid any change in Vodafone’s issued share capital as a result of the maturing of the first tranche of the mandatory convertible bond (‘MCB’) in August 2017. In order to satisfy the first tranche of the MCB, 729.1 million shares were reissued from treasury shares on 25 August 2017 at a conversion price of £1.9751. This reflected the conversion price at issue (£2.1730) adjusted for the pound sterling equivalent of aggregate dividends paid in August 2016, February 2017 and August 2017.

 

Details of the shares purchased under the Programme, including those purchased under irrevocable instructions, are shown below:

 

 

 

Number of shares
purchased
1

 

Average price paid
per share inclusive
of transaction costs

 

Total number of
shares purchased
under publicly
announced share
buyback
programme
2

 

Maximum number
of shares that may
yet be purchased
under the
programme
3

 

Date of share purchase

 

000

 

Pence

 

000

 

000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

August 2017

 

9,562

 

221.77

 

9,562

 

719,515

 

September 2017

 

252,851

 

212.07

 

262,413

 

466,664

 

October 2017

 

320,849

 

215.15

 

583,262

 

145,815

 

November 2017 (to date)

 

119,303

 

219.75

 

702,565

 

26,512

 

Total4

 

702,565

 

214.91

 

702,565

 

26,512

 

 


Notes:

1.

The nominal value of shares purchased is 2020/21 US cents each.

2.

No shares were purchased outside the publicly announced share buyback programme.

3.

In accordance with shareholder authority granted at the 2017 Annual general meeting.

4.

The total number of shares purchased represents 2.6% of our issued share capital, excluding treasury shares, at 13 November 2017.

 

Post employment benefits

 

During the six months ended 30 September 2017, the net deficit arising from the Group’s obligations in respect of its defined benefit schemes increased to €0.8 billion compared to €0.6 billion at 31 March 2017 primarily due to a €0.1 billion reduction in the value of plan assets during the period and €0.1 billion of actuarial losses arising from changes in financial assumptions, principally due to a decrease in the discount rates in the UK and Eurozone.

 

On 19 October 2017, the triennial actuarial valuation for the Vodafone Section and Cable & Wireless Section of the Vodafone UK Group Pension Scheme (‘Vodafone UK plan’) was completed by independent actuaries appointed by the plan Trustees, with an effective date of 31 March 2016. These valuations showed a net deficit of £279 million (€317 million) on the schemes’ funding basis, comprising of a £339 million (€385 million) deficit for the Vodafone Section offset by a £60 million (€68 million) surplus for the Cable & Wireless Section. The Group and Trustees of the schemes have agreed a funding plan to address the valuation deficit over the period to 31 March 2025. This funding plan will utilise existing Group assets and will not require material near term cash outflows from the Group.

 

Dividends

 

Dividends will continue to be declared in euros and paid in euros, pounds sterling and US dollars, aligning the Group’s shareholder returns with the primary currency in which we generate free cash flow. The foreign exchange rate at which future dividends declared in euros will be converted into pounds sterling and US dollars will be calculated based on the average exchange rate over the five business days during the week prior to the payment of the dividend.

 

The directors have announced an interim dividend per share of 4.84 eurocents, representing a 2.1% increase over the prior financial year’s interim dividend. The ex-dividend date for the interim dividend is 23 November 2017 for ordinary shareholders, the record date is 24 November 2017 and the dividend is payable on 2 February 2018. Dividend payments on ordinary shares will be paid directly into a nominated bank or building society account.

 

21


 

RISK FACTORS

 

There are a number of key factors and uncertainties that could have a significant effect on the Group’s financial performance, including the following:

 

1.             Cyber threat and information security

 

A successful cyber attack or internal event could result in us not being able to deliver services to our customers and/or failing to protect their data.

 

2.             Market disruption

 

We face increased competition from a variety of new technology providers, new market entrants, evolving customer needs and competitor consolidation. We must be able to keep pace with new technology and to compete in changing markets.

 

3.             Adverse political and regulatory measures

 

We operate under licence in most markets and encounter frequent changes in regulation, law and operating environments. Significant adverse changes, for example to tax laws, spectrum pricing or an unfavourable regulatory landscape for multi-national companies, could impact our ability to do business in our preferred manner.

 

4.             Failure to converge and integrate acquisitions

 

We face competition in key markets from providers who have the ability to sell converged services on their existing infrastructure, with regulation that often fails to deliver a level playing field across fixed and content markets.

 

5.             IT transformation failure

 

As we undertake major IT change programmes in a number of markets, there is a risk that these projects could disrupt services or do not provide the benefits that they should in a timely manner.

 

6.             Unstable economic conditions / inadequate liquidity

 

As a multinational business, we operate in many countries and currencies so changes to global economic conditions could impact us. A global crisis could result in reduced spending power for customers or the strengthening or weakening of the major currencies in which we transact could impact our profitability and cash flow.

 

7.             Technology failure

 

If our network or IT systems fail, voice, video or data transmissions may be significantly interrupted. We need to ensure that our critical assets are protected and our systems are resilient so that the impact on our customers is avoided or minimised.

 

8.             Failure to deliver on digital transformation and customer experience

 

Failure to deliver a digital, differentiated and superior experience to our customers in store, online and by phone, could diminish our brand and reputation. To do this we need to be agile with strong digital capabilities.

 

9.             Non-compliance with legal and regulatory requirements

 

Vodafone must comply with a multitude of local and international laws as well as more specific regulations. These include licence requirements, customer registration, data privacy, anti-money laundering, competition law, anti-bribery law and economic sanctions.

 

10.      Failure to deliver major Enterprise contracts profitably

 

If we do not understand the needs of our Enterprise customers and contract on the correct basis to account for the complexity of requirements, we will not be able to deliver services profitably.

 

11.      Electro-magnetic fields related health risks

 

Concerns have been expressed that electromagnetic signals emitted by mobile telephone handsets and base stations may pose health risks. Authorities, including the World Health Organization (‘WHO’) agree there is no evidence that convinces experts that exposure to radio frequency fields from mobile devices and base stations operated within guideline limits has any adverse health effects. A change to this view could result in a range of impacts from a change to national legislation, to a major reduction in mobile phone usage or to major litigation.

 

Further information in relation to these risk factors and uncertainties, which have not changed significantly since 31 March 2017, can be found on pages 28 to 34 of the Group’s annual report for the financial year ended 31 March 2017, which is available at http://www.vodafone.com/investor.

 

Brexit implications

 

We continue to monitor the possible implication of Brexit on our operations. A cross-functional team is in place to identify potential impacts and corresponding mitigations to address these.

 

As each of our operating companies is a standalone business incorporated and licenced in local jurisdictions, our ability to provide services is unlikely to be significantly impacted by Brexit. There remains a possibility of operational impacts, such as the creation of a data frontier or restrictions on the movement of people. Economic instability in any of our major markets could also impact our financial performance.

 

At this time, the outcome of Brexit negotiations and post-Brexit arrangements remains unclear and as such, we continue to monitor the situation.

 

22


 

RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT

 

We confirm that to the best of our knowledge:

 

·                  the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IAS 34, “Interim Financial Reporting”, as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board and as adopted by the European Union; and

 

·                  the interim management report includes a fair review of the information required by Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules sourcebook 4.2.7 and Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules sourcebook 4.2.8.

 

Neither the Company nor the directors accept any liability to any person in relation to the half-year financial report except to the extent that such liability could arise under English law. Accordingly, any liability to a person who has demonstrated reliance on any untrue or misleading statement or omission shall be determined in accordance with section 90A and schedule 10A of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.

 

The names and functions of the Vodafone Group Plc board can be found at: http://www.vodafone.com/board

 

By Order of the Board

Rosemary Martin

Group General Counsel and Company Secretary

14 November 2017

 

23


 

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Consolidated income statement

 

 

 

 

 

Six months ended 30 September

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restated

 

 

 

 

 

2017 

 

2016 

 

 

 

Note

 

€m 

 

€m 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

2

 

23,075

 

24,051

 

Cost of sales

 

 

 

(16,208

)

(17,530

)

Gross profit

 

 

 

6,867

 

6,521

 

Selling and distribution expenses

 

 

 

(1,987

)

(2,193

)

Administrative expenses

 

 

 

(2,770

)

(2,830

)

Share of results of equity accounted associates and joint ventures

 

 

 

(58

)

73

 

Other income and expense

 

 

 

(44

)

(56

)

Operating profit

 

2

 

2,008

 

1,515

 

Non-operating income and expense

 

 

 

(1

)

 

Investment income

 

 

 

333

 

552

 

Financing costs

 

 

 

(181

)

(675

)

Profit before taxation

 

 

 

2,159

 

1,392

 

Income tax expense

 

4

 

(579

)

(1,114

)

Profit for the financial period from continuing operations

 

 

 

1,580

 

278

 

Loss for the financial period from discontinued operations

 

5

 

(345

)

(5,281

)

Profit/(loss) for the financial period

 

 

 

1,235

 

(5,003

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attributable to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

— Owners of the parent

 

 

 

1,131

 

(5,129

)

— Non-controlling interests

 

 

 

104

 

126

 

Profit/(loss) for the financial period

 

 

 

1,235

 

(5,003

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings/(loss) per share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From continuing operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

— Basic

 

6

 

5.26

c

0.54

c

— Diluted

 

6

 

5.25

c

0.54

c

Total Group:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

— Basic

 

6

 

4.03

c

(18.38

)c

— Diluted

 

6

 

4.02

c

(18.32

)c

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income

 

 

 

Six months ended 30 September

 

 

 

2017 

 

2016 

 

 

 

€m 

 

€m 

 

Profit/(loss) for the financial period

 

1,235

 

(5,003

)

Other comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

Items that may be reclassified to the income statement in subsequent periods

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign exchange translation differences, net of tax

 

(1,716

)

(1,326

)

Fair value losses transferred to the income statement

 

 

4

 

Other, net of tax

 

(7

)

229

 

Total items that may be reclassified to the income statement in subsequent periods

 

(1,723

)

(1,093

)

Items that will not be reclassified to the income statement in subsequent periods

 

 

 

 

 

Net actuarial losses on defined benefit pension schemes, net of tax

 

(182

)

(869

)

Total items that will not be reclassified to the income statement in subsequent periods

 

(182

)

(869

)

Other comprehensive expense

 

(1,905

)

(1,962

)

Total comprehensive expense for the financial period

 

(670

)

(6,965

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attributable to:

 

 

 

 

 

— Owners of the parent

 

(649

)

(7,127

)

— Non-controlling interests

 

(21

)

162

 

 

 

(670

)

(6,965

)

 


Note:

1.        The amounts presented for the six months ended 30 September 2016 have been restated to exclude the results of Vodafone India which are now included in discontinued operations.

 

24


 

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Consolidated statement of financial position

 

 

 

 

 

30
September

 

31 March

 

 

 

 

 

2017 

 

2017 

 

 

 

Note

 

€m 

 

€m 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-current assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goodwill

 

 

 

26,534

 

26,808

 

Other intangible assets

 

 

 

18,355

 

19,412

 

Property, plant and equipment

 

 

 

28,813

 

30,204

 

Investments in associates and joint ventures

 

9

 

2,611

 

3,138

 

Other investments

 

 

 

3,231

 

3,459

 

Deferred tax assets

 

 

 

24,202

 

24,300

 

Post employment benefits

 

 

 

3

 

57

 

Trade and other receivables

 

 

 

4,117

 

4,569

 

 

 

 

 

107,866

 

111,947

 

Current assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inventory

 

 

 

639

 

576

 

Taxation recoverable

 

 

 

92

 

150

 

Trade and other receivables

 

 

 

10,573

 

9,861

 

Other investments

 

 

 

6,868

 

6,120

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

 

5,358

 

8,835

 

 

 

 

 

23,530

 

25,542

 

Assets held for sale

 

5

 

15,681

 

17,195

 

Total assets

 

 

 

147,077

 

154,684

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Called up share capital

 

 

 

4,797

 

4,796

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

 

150,136

 

151,808

 

Treasury shares

 

 

 

(8,475

)

(8,610

)

Accumulated losses

 

 

 

(106,692

)

(105,851

)

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

 

 

28,277

 

30,057

 

Total attributable to owners of the parent

 

 

 

68,043

 

72,200

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-controlling interests

 

 

 

1,647

 

1,525

 

Put options over non-controlling interests

 

 

 

(4

)

(6

)

Total non-controlling interests

 

 

 

1,643

 

1,519

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total equity

 

 

 

69,686

 

73,719

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term borrowings

 

 

 

32,221

 

34,523

 

Deferred tax liabilities

 

 

 

466

 

535

 

Post employment benefits

 

 

 

817

 

651

 

Provisions

 

 

 

1,062

 

1,130

 

Trade and other payables

 

 

 

2,054

 

1,737

 

 

 

 

 

36,620

 

38,576

 

Current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term borrowings

 

 

 

11,961

 

12,051

 

Taxation liabilities

 

 

 

677

 

661

 

Provisions

 

 

 

957

 

1,049

 

Trade and other payables

 

 

 

16,179

 

16,834

 

 

 

 

 

29,774

 

30,595

 

Liabilities held for sale

 

5

 

10,997

 

11,794

 

Total equity and liabilities

 

 

 

147,077

 

154,684

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

25

 


 

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Consolidated statement of changes in equity

 

 

 

Share
capital

 

Additional
paid-in
capital1

 

Treasury
shares

 

Accumulated
comprehensive
losses2

 

Equity
attributable to
the owners

 

Non-
controlling
interests

 

Total
equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 April 2016

 

4,796

 

151,694

 

(8,777

)

(64,388

)

83,325

 

1,811

 

85,136

 

Issue or reissue of shares

 

 

2

 

149

 

(132

)

19

 

 

19

 

Share-based payments

 

 

53

 

 

 

53

 

 

53

 

Transactions with non-controlling interests in subsidiaries

 

 

 

 

(7

)

(7

)

18

 

11

 

Comprehensive expense

 

 

 

 

(7,127

)

(7,127

)

162

 

(6,965

)

Dividends

 

 

 

 

(2,447

)

(2,447

)

(272

)

(2,719

)

30 September 2016

 

4,796

 

151,749

 

(8,628

)

(74,101

)

73,816

 

1,719

 

75,535

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 April 2017

 

4,796

 

151,808

 

(8,610

)

(75,794

)

72,200

 

1,519

 

73,719

 

Issue or reissue of shares

 

1

 

(1,741

)

1,870

 

(116

)

14

 

 

14

 

Share-based payments

 

 

69

 

 

 

69

 

 

69

 

Transactions with non-controlling interests in subsidiaries

 

 

 

 

814

 

814

 

302

 

1,116

 

Comprehensive (expense)/income

 

 

 

 

(649

)

(649

)

(21

)

(670

)

Dividends

 

 

 

 

(2,670

)

(2,670

)

(157

)

(2,827

)

Repurchase of treasury shares

 

 

 

(1,735

)

 

(1,735

)

 

(1,735

)

30 September 2017

 

4,797

 

150,136

 

(8,475

)

(78,415

)

68,043

 

1,643

 

69,686

 

 


Notes:

1. Includes share premium, capital redemption reserve, merger reserve and share-based payment reserve. The merger reserve was derived from acquisitions made prior to 31 March 2004 and subsequently allocated to additional paid-in capital on adoption of IFRS.

2. Includes accumulated losses and accumulated other comprehensive income.

3. Includes the reissue of 729.1 million of shares (€1,742 million) in August 2017 in order to satisfy the first tranche of the Mandatory Convertible Bond.

4. See note 14 “Other matters” for further details.

5. This represents the irrevocable and non-discretionary share buyback programme announced on 25 August 2017.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

26


 

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Consolidated statement of cash flows

 

 

 

 

 

Six months ended 30 September

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restated

 

 

 

 

 

2017 

 

2016 

 

 

 

Note

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash flow from operating activities

 

10

 

5,821 

 

5,820 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchase of interests in subsidiaries, net of cash acquired

 

8

 

(6

)

(18

)

Purchase of interests in associates and joint ventures

 

 

 

(5

)

(27

)

Purchase of intangible assets

 

 

 

(1,681

)

(1,080

)

Purchase of property, plant and equipment

 

 

 

(2,795

)

(3,976

)

Purchase of investments

 

 

 

(1,155

)

(1,344

)

Disposal of property, plant and equipment

 

 

 

9

 

6

 

Disposal of investments

 

 

 

205

 

1,116

 

Dividends received from associates and joint ventures

 

 

 

284

 

3

 

Interest received

 

 

 

241

 

206

 

Cash flow from discontinued operations

 

 

 

(366

)

(425

)

Net cash flow from investing activities

 

 

 

(5,269

)

(5,539

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issue of ordinary share capital and reissue of treasury shares

 

 

 

18

 

25

 

Net movement in short term borrowings

 

 

 

558

 

962

 

Proceeds from issue of long term borrowings

 

 

 

974

 

4,643

 

Repayment of borrowings

 

 

 

(1,879

)

(4,715

)

Purchase of treasury shares

 

 

 

(549

)

 

Equity dividends paid

 

7

 

(2,637

)

(2,449

)

Dividends paid to minority shareholders in subsidiaries

 

 

 

(154

)

(274

)

Other transactions with non-controlling shareholders in subsidiaries

 

 

 

1,091

 

4

 

Other movements in loans with associates and joint ventures

 

 

 

(147

)

32

 

Interest paid

 

 

 

(539

)

(437

)

Cash flow from discontinued operations

 

 

 

(402

)

(2,059

)

Tax on financing activities

 

 

 

(110

)

 

Net cash flow from financing activities

 

 

 

(3,776

)

(4,268

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash flow

 

 

 

(3,224

)

(3,987

)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the financial period

 

12

 

9,302

 

12,911

 

Exchange loss on cash and cash equivalents

 

 

 

(457

)

(325

)

Cash and cash equivalents at end of the financial period

 

12

 

5,621

 

8,599

 

 


Note:

1. The amounts presented for the six months ended 30 September 2016 have been restated to include the cash flows of Vodafone India as discontinued operations, separately under investing and financing activities.

2. Includes cash and cash equivalents as presented in the statement of financial position of €5,358m (31 March 17: €8,835m) and cash and cash equivalents presented in assets held for sale of 287m (31 March 2017: 467m), together with overdrafts of 24m (31 March 2017: nil).

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

27

 


 

Notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

For the six months ended 30 September 2017

 

1                 Basis of preparation

 

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the six months ended 30 September 2017:

 

·            were prepared in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34 “Interim Financial Reporting” (‘IAS 34’) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board and as adopted by the European Union;

 

·            are presented on a condensed basis as permitted by IAS 34 and therefore do not include all disclosures that would otherwise be required in a full set of financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the Group’s annual report for the year ended 31 March 2017;

 

·            apply the same accounting policies, presentation and methods of calculation as those followed in the preparation of the Group’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2017, which were prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (‘IFRS’) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board and were also prepared in accordance with IFRS adopted by the European Union (‘EU’), the Companies Act 2006 and Article 4 of the EU IAS Regulations. Income taxes are accrued using the tax rate that is expected to be applicable for the full financial year, adjusted for certain discrete items which occurred in the interim period in accordance with IAS 34;

 

·            include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the periods presented;

 

·            do not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of section 434(3) of the Companies Act 2006; and

 

·            were approved by the Board of directors on 14 November 2017.

 

The information relating to the year ended 31 March 2017 is an extract from the Group’s published annual report for that year, which has been delivered to the Registrar of Companies, and on which the auditors’ report was unqualified and did not contain any emphasis of matter or statements under section 498(2) or 498(3) of the UK Companies Act 2006.

 

The results for the six months ended 30 September 2016 have been restated to exclude the results of Vodafone India which has been classified as discontinued operations following the agreement to combine with Idea Cellular.

 

After reviewing the Group’s budget for the remainder of the financial year, and longer term plans, the directors are satisfied that, at the time of approving the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, it is appropriate to continue to adopt a going concern basis of accounting.

 

The preparation of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the end of the reporting period, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could vary from these estimates. The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period or in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods.

 

On 1 April 2017, the Group adopted certain new accounting policies where necessary to comply with amendments to IFRS, none of which had a material impact on the consolidated results, financial position or cash flows of the Group; further details are provided in the Group’s annual report for the year ended 31 March 2017.

 

28


 

Notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

For the six months ended 30 September 2017

 

1                 Basis of preparation (continued)

 

New accounting pronouncements to be adopted on or after 1 April 2018

 

IFRS 9 “Financial Instruments” and IFRS 15 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” will be adopted by the Group on 1 April 2018. IFRS 16 “Leases” will be adopted by the Group on 1 April 2019. Information on the Group’s implementation process in respect of these new accounting pronouncements was provided in the Group’s annual report for the year ended 31 March 2017; all of the standards will be applied with the cumulative effect of applying the standard recorded as an adjustment to retained earnings on the initial application date. An update on the implementation of these accounting standards, which should be used in conjunction with that disclosed in the Group’s annual report for the year ended 31 March 2017, is provided below; further information will be provided in the Group’s annual financial statements for the year ending 31 March 2018.

 

IFRS 9 “Financial Instruments”

 

IFRS 9 will impact the classification and measurement of the Group’s financial instruments and will require certain additional disclosures. The primary changes relate to the assessment of hedging arrangements and the measurement of financial assets, including the potentially earlier recognition of provisions and costs relating to potential future credit losses. The Group is continuing to analyse the impact of these changes, which are not considered likely to have a significant impact on the Group’s current accounting treatments or hedging activities.

 

IFRS 15 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”

 

IFRS 15 will have a material impact on the consolidated income statement and consolidated statement of financial position when adopted by the Group retrospectively with the cumulative impact of initially applying the standard recognised on 1 April 2018.

 

The Group’s approach to the assessment of the impact and ongoing implementation of IFRS 15, which is ongoing, has not changed during the period and the Group expects to be in a position to estimate and communicate the impact of IFRS 15 before the publication in July 2018 of the Group’s Trading Update for the quarter ending 30 June 2018. In addition, all of the Group’s financial reports for the year ending 31 March 2019 are expected to include reporting on both an existing IAS 18 and IFRS 15 basis, to ensure an effective transition for users to the new standard whilst meeting all necessary compliance requirements.

 

IFRS 16 “Leases”

 

IFRS 16 will have a material impact on the consolidated income statement, consolidated statement of financial position and consolidated statement of cash flows when adopted by the Group retrospectively with the cumulative effect on initially applying the standard recognised on 1 April 2019.

 

The Group’s approach to the assessment of the impact and ongoing implementation of IFRS 16, which is ongoing, has not changed during the period and the Group expects to be in a position to estimate and communicate the impact of IFRS 16 in the first quarter of the year commencing 1 April 2019, including the provision of proforma financial information for the year ending 31 March 2019, to ensure an effective transition for users to the new standard whilst meeting all necessary compliance requirements.

 

29


 

Notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

For the six months ended 30 September 2017

 

2                 Segmental analysis

 

The Group has a single group of related services and products being the supply of communications services and products. Revenue is attributed to a country or region based on the location of the Group company reporting the revenue. The segmental revenue and profit of India are included in discontinued operations for all periods reported. See note 5 “Discontinued operations and assets held for sale” for details.

 

 

 

Segment
revenue

 

Intra-region
revenue

 

Regional
revenue

 

Inter-region
revenue

 

Group
revenue

 

Adjusted
EBITDA

 

 

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

 

Six months ended 30 September 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Germany

 

5,277

 

(13

)

5,264

 

(10

)

5,254

 

1,929

 

Italy

 

3,107

 

(17

)

3,090

 

(1

)

3,089

 

1,200

 

UK

 

3,515

 

(10

)

3,505

 

(1

)

3,504

 

930

 

Spain

 

2,512

 

(21

)

2,491

 

(1

)

2,490

 

751

 

Other Europe

 

2,452

 

(27

)

2,425

 

(5

)

2,420

 

773

 

Europe

 

16,863

 

(88

)

16,775

 

(18

)

16,757

 

5,583

 

Vodacom

 

2,799

 

 

2,799

 

 

2,799

 

1,063

 

Other AMAP

 

2,900

 

 

2,900

 

(14

)

2,886

 

790

 

AMAP

 

5,699

 

 

5,699

 

(14

)

5,685

 

1,853

 

Other

 

675

 

 

675

 

(42

)

633

 

(51

)

Group

 

23,237

 

(88

)

23,149

 

(74

)

23,075

 

7,385

 

 

Six months ended 30 September 2016 restated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Germany

 

5,265

 

(18

)

5,247

 

(10

)

5,237

 

1,788

 

Italy

 

3,006

 

(17

)

2,989

 

(1

)

2,988

 

1,104

 

UK

 

3,575

 

(11

)

3,564

 

(2

)

3,562

 

674

 

Spain

 

2,496

 

(23

)

2,473

 

 

2,473

 

692

 

Other Europe

 

3,304

 

(34

)

3,270

 

(2

)

3,268

 

1,040

 

Europe

 

17,646

 

(103

)

17,543

 

(15

)

17,528

 

5,298

 

Vodacom

 

2,464

 

 

2,464

 

 

2,464

 

952

 

Other AMAP

 

3,422

 

 

3,422

 

(8

)

3,414

 

940

 

AMAP

 

5,886

 

 

5,886

 

(8

)

5,878

 

1,892

 

Other

 

664

 

 

664

 

(19

)

645

 

(100

)

Group

 

24,196

 

(103

)

24,093

 

(42

)

24,051

 

7,090

 

 


Note:

1.       The “Other” segment primarily represents the results of partner markets and the net result of unallocated central Group costs.

 

The Group’s measure of segment profit and adjusted EBITDA, excludes depreciation and amortisation, gains/losses on disposal of fixed assets, impairment losses, restructuring costs arising from discrete restructuring plans, the Group’s share of adjusted results in associates and joint ventures and other income and expense. A reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to operating profit is shown below. For a reconciliation of operating profit to profit/(loss) for the financial period, see the consolidated income statement on page 24.

 

 

 

Six months ended 30 September

 

 

 

 

 

Restated

 

 

 

2017 

 

2016 

 

 

 

€m

 

€m

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

7,385

 

7,090

 

Depreciation, amortisation and loss on disposal of fixed assets

 

(4,928

)

(5,040

)

Share of adjusted results in equity accounted associates and joint ventures

 

171

 

73

 

Adjusted operating profit

 

2,628

 

2,123 

 

Impairment loss

 

 

 

Restructuring costs

 

(33

)

(37

)

Amortisation of acquired customer bases and brand intangible assets

 

(543

)

(515

)

Other income and expense

 

(44

)

(56

)

Operating profit

 

2,008

 

1,515

 

 

30

 


 

Notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

For the six months ended 30 September 2017

 

3                 Impairment review

 

Impairment testing was performed as at 30 September 2017 and 30 September 2016. The methodology adopted for impairment testing for the six months ended 30 September 2017 was consistent with that disclosed on page 105 and pages 113 to 116 of the Group’s annual report for the year ended 31 March 2017.

 

For the six months ended 30 September 2017, the Group recorded a non-cash charge of €555 million (€395 million net of tax) to reduce the carrying value of Vodafone India to fair value less costs to sell, primarily as a result of its assets no longer being depreciated following its reclassification as an asset held for resale under IFRS 5 “Non-current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations”. For the six months ended 30 September 2016, the Group recorded a non-cash impairment charge of €6,375 million in respect of the Group’s investment in India which, together with the recognition of an associated €1,375 million deferred tax asset, led to an overall €5.0 billion reduction in the carrying value of Vodafone India, the results of which are included in discontinued operations (see note 5 ‘Discontinued operations and assets held for sale’).

 

For the six months ended 30 September 2017, as a discontinued operation, Vodafone India has been valued at fair value less costs to sell. Vodafone India’s fair value less costs to sell is not observable in a quoted market and accordingly it has been determined with reference to the outcomes from the application of a number of potential valuation techniques, which are considered to result in a “level 2” valuation as per IFRS 13. As such significant judgement is required and involves the use of estimates. The two bases of valuation which were given the strongest weighting in the overall assessment of fair value are set out below. Fair value less costs to sell excluding net debt has been assessed to be INR 971 billion at both 30 September 2017 and 31 March 2017, equivalent to €12.6 billion and €14.0 billion respectively at the foreign exchange rates prevailing at those dates.

 

·                  The contracted cash price for the sale of a portion of the entity to the Aditya Birla Group as part of the planned merger of Vodafone India with Idea Cellular, adjusted for the expected level of debt being transferred to the merged entity, which is an observable price relating to Vodafone India; and

 

·                  The share price of Idea Cellular prior to the announcement of the planned merger of Vodafone India with Idea Cellular, adjusted for transaction specific factors. Idea Cellular equity shares are the primary component of the consideration for Vodafone India to be received by the Group, and the value of the Idea Cellular shares has been adjusted to reflect 50% of the estimated cost synergies that management expects to be realised by the jointly controlled entity. A 10% increase or reduction in the expected cost synergies included in this determination of fair value would result in a €220 million increase or reduction, respectively, in the fair value less costs to sell of Vodafone India calculated using this approach.

 

The table below shows key assumptions used in the value in use calculations at 30 September 2017:

 

 

 

Assumptions used in value in use calculation

 

 

 

Germany

 

Spain

 

Italy

 

Romania

 

 

 

%

 

%

 

%

 

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pre-tax risk adjusted discount rate

 

8.5

 

9.7

 

10.5

 

9.2

 

Long-term growth rate

 

0.5

 

1.5

 

1.0

 

1.0

 

Projected adjusted EBITDA1

 

3.0

 

7.9

 

(0.8

)

0.1

 

Projected capital expenditure2

 

15.4-16.5

 

14.3-16.0

 

11.4-14.2

 

12.6-15.9

 

 

Sensitivity analysis

 

Other than as disclosed below, management believes that no reasonably possible change in any of the above key assumptions would cause the carrying value of any cash-generating unit to materially exceed its recoverable amount.

 

The estimated recoverable amount of the Group’s operations in Germany, Spain and Romania exceed their carrying values by €3.8 billion, €1.3 billion and €0.2 billion respectively. The changes in the following table to assumptions used in the impairment review would, in isolation, lead to an impairment loss being recognised for the six months ended 30 September 2017:

 

 

 

Change required for carrying value to equal the recoverable amount

 

 

 

Germany

 

Spain

 

Romania

 

 

 

pps

 

pps

 

pps

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pre-tax risk adjusted discount rate

 

1.1

 

0.8

 

1.4

 

Long-term growth rate

 

(1.1

)

(0.9

)

(1.6

)

Projected adjusted EBITDA1

 

(1.7

)

(1.5

)

(1.8

)

Projected capital expenditure2

 

9.1

 

6.6

 

7.1

 

 

31


 

Notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

For the six months ended 30 September 2017

 

3                 Impairment review (continued)

 

The carrying values for Vodafone UK, Ireland, Portugal and Czech Republic include goodwill arising from their acquisition by the Group and/or the purchase of operating licences or spectrum rights. While the recoverable amounts for these operating companies are not materially greater than their carrying value, each has a lower risk of giving rise to impairment that would be material to the Group given their relative size or the composition of their carrying value. The changes in the following table to assumptions used in the impairment review would have, in isolation, led to an impairment loss being recognised in the six months ended 30 September 2017.

 

 

 

Change required for carrying value to equal the recoverable amount

 

 

 

UK

 

Ireland

 

Portugal

 

Czech Republic

 

 

 

pps

 

pps

 

pps

 

pps

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pre-tax risk adjusted discount rate

 

0.5

 

0.5

 

1.2

 

2.2

 

Long-term growth rate

 

(0.5

)

(0.6

)

(1.2

)

(2.4

)

Projected adjusted EBITDA1

 

(0.7

)

(0.8

)

(1.7

)

(2.9

)

Projected capital expenditure2

 

3.0

 

3.3

 

7.5

 

13.2

 

 


Notes:

1.             Projected adjusted EBITDA is expressed as the compound annual growth rates in the initial five years of the plans used for impairment testing.

2.             Projected capital expenditure, which excludes licences and spectrum, is expressed as the range of capital expenditure as a percentage of revenue in the initial five years for all cash generating units of the plans used for impairment testing.

 

4                 Taxation

 

 

 

Six months ended 30 September

 

 

 

 

 

Restated

 

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

 

 

€m

 

€m

 

United Kingdom corporation tax (expense)/income1:

 

 

 

 

 

Current year

 

(71

)

 

Adjustments in respect of prior years

 

3

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overseas current tax (expense)/income:

 

 

 

 

 

Current year

 

(628

)

(398

)

Adjustments in respect of prior years

 

87

 

38

 

Total current tax expense

 

(609

)

(356

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred tax on origination and reversal of temporary differences:

 

 

 

 

 

United Kingdom deferred tax

 

(86

)

(57

)

Overseas deferred tax

 

116

 

(701

)

Total deferred tax expense

 

30

 

(758

)

Total income tax expense

 

(579

)

(1,114

)

 


Note:

1.             UK operating profits are largely offset by statutory allowances for capital investment in the UK network and systems plus ongoing interest costs including those arising from the €10.3 billion of spectrum payments to the UK government in 2000 and 2013.

 

Overseas deferred tax expense for the six months ended 30 September 2017 included the recognition of €159 million (2016: write off of €907million) in relation to losses in Luxembourg expected to be used within 60 years. The write off in the six months ended 30 September 2016 was due to lower interest rates increasing the length of time over which these losses would be utilised.

 

The six months ended 30 September 2016 also included an increase in the deferred tax assets in Luxembourg of €319 million resulting from the tax treatment of the revaluation of investments following completion and approval of the Luxembourg statutory accounts and tax returns. The Group expects to use its losses in Luxembourg over a period of 60 years and the losses in Germany over a period of between 9 and 11 years; the actual use of these losses, and the period over which they may be used, is dependent on many factors which may change. These factors include the level of profitability in both Luxembourg and Germany, changes in tax law and changes to the structure of the Group. Further details about the Group’s tax losses can be found in note 6 of the Group’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2017.

 

32


 

Notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

For the six months ended 30 September 2017

 

5                 Discontinued operations and assets held for sale

 

On 20 March 2017, Vodafone announced the agreement to combine its subsidiary, Vodafone India (excluding its 42% stake in Indus Towers), with Idea Cellular, which is listed on the Indian Stock Exchanges, with the combined company to be jointly controlled by Vodafone and the Aditya Birla Group. Consequently, Vodafone India is now accounted for as a discontinued operation, the results of which are detailed below.

 

Income statement and segment analysis of discontinued operations

 

 

 

Six months ended 30 September

 

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

 

 

€m

 

€m

 

Revenue

 

2,604

 

3,003

 

Cost of sales

 

(1,721

)

(2,395

)

Gross profit

 

883

 

608

 

Selling and distribution expenses

 

(121

)

(124

)

Administrative expenses

 

(272

)

(326

)

Impairment losses

 

 

(6,375

)

Operating profit/( loss)

 

490

 

(6,217

)

Financing costs

 

(386

)

(562

)

Profit/(loss) before taxation

 

104

 

(6,779

)

Income tax (charge)/credit

 

(54

)

1,498

 

Profit/(loss) after tax of discontinued operations

 

50

 

(5,281

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pre-tax loss on the re-measurement of disposal group1

 

(555

)

 

Income tax credit

 

160

 

 

After tax loss on the re-measurement of disposal group

 

(395

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss for the period from discontinued operations

 

(345

)

(5,281

)

 

Loss per share from discontinued operations

 

 

 

Six months ended 30 September

 

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

 

 

eurocents

 

eurocents

 

- Basic

 

(1.23

)c

(18.92

)c

- Diluted

 

(1.23

)c

(18.86

)c

 

Total comprehensive expense for the period from discontinued operations

 

 

 

Six months ended 30 September

 

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

 

 

€m

 

€m

 

Attributable to owners of the parent

 

(345

)

(5,281

)

 


Note:

1.             Comprises a non-cash charge of €555 million (€395 million net of tax) to reduce the carrying value of Vodafone India to fair value less costs to sell. See note 3 “Impairment review” for further details.

 

Assets and liabilities held for sale

 

Assets and liabilities relating to our operations in India have been classed as held for sale on the Consolidated statement of financial position at 30 September 2017 and 31 March 2017. In addition, assets and liabilities held for sale at 30 September 2017 also include the assets and liabilities of our operations in Malta. The relevant assets and liabilities are detailed in the table below.

 

Assets held for sale

 

 

 

30
September
2017

 

31 March
2017

 

 

 

€m

 

€m

 

Non-current assets

 

13,148

 

14,572

 

Current assets

 

2,533

 

2,623

 

Total assets held for sale

 

15,681

 

17,195

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-current liabilities

 

(7,585

)

(8,862

)

Current liabilities

 

(3,412

)

(2,932

)

Total liabilities held for sale

 

(10,997

)

(11,794

)

 

33


 

Notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

For the six months ended 30 September 2017

 

6                 Earnings per share

 

 

 

Six months ended 30 September

 

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

 

 

Millions

 

Millions

 

Weighted average number of shares for basic earnings per share

 

28,067

 

27,912

 

Effect of dilutive potential shares: restricted shares and share options

 

74

 

82

 

Weighted average number of shares for diluted earnings per share

 

28,141

 

27,994

 

 

 

 

Six months ended 30 September

 

 

 

 

 

Restated

 

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

Earnings per share attributable to owners of the parent during the period

 

€m

 

€m

 

Profit for earnings per share from continuing operations

 

1,476

 

152

 

Loss for earnings per share from discontinued operations

 

(345

)

(5,281

)

Profit/(loss) for basic and diluted earnings per share

 

1,131

 

(5,129

)

 

 

 

eurocents

 

eurocents

 

Basic earnings per share from continuing operations

 

5.26

c

0.54

c

Basic loss per share from discontinued operations

 

(1.23

)c

(18.92

)c

Basic earnings/(loss) per share

 

4.03

c

(18.38

)c

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations

 

5.25

c

0.54

c

Diluted loss per share from discontinued operations

 

(1.23

)c

(18.86

)c

Diluted earnings/(loss) per share

 

4.02

c

(18.32

)c

 

7                 Equity dividends

 

 

 

Six months ended 30 September

 

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

 

 

€m

 

€m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Declared during the financial period:

 

 

 

 

 

Final dividend for the year ended 31 March 2017: 10.03 eurocents per share (2016: 7.77 pence per share)

 

2,670

 

2,447

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proposed after the end of the reporting period and not recognised as a liability:

 

 

 

 

 

Interim dividend for the year ending 31 March 2018: 4.84 eurocents per share (2017: 4.74 eurocents per share)

 

1,291

 

1,262

 

 

8                 Acquisitions

 

The aggregate cash consideration in respect of purchases in subsidiaries, net of cash acquired, is as follows:

 

 

 

Six months ended 30 September

 

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

 

 

€m

 

€m

 

Cash consideration paid:

 

 

 

 

 

Acquisitions during the year

 

6

 

9

 

Acquisitions completed in previous years

 

 

9

 

 

 

6

 

18

 

Net cash acquired

 

 

 

 

 

6

 

18

 

 

During the six month period ended 30 September 2017 the Group completed certain acquisitions for an aggregate net cash consideration of €6 million. The aggregate fair values of goodwill, identifiable assets, and liabilities of the acquired operations were €4 million, €5 million and €3 million respectively.

 

9                 Investment in associates and joint arrangements

 

 

 

30
September

 

31 March

 

 

 

2017

 

2017

 

 

 

€m

 

€m

 

Investment in joint ventures

 

2,239

 

2,689

 

Investment in associates

 

372

 

449

 

 

 

2,611

 

3,138

 

 

34


 

Notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

For the six months ended 30 September 2017

 

10          Reconciliation of net cash flow from operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

Six months ended 30 September

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restated

 

 

 

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

 

 

Note

 

€m

 

€m

 

Profit/(loss) for the financial period

 

 

 

1,235

 

(5,003

)

Loss from discontinued operations

 

 

 

345

 

5,281

 

Profit for the financial period from continuing operations

 

 

 

1,580

 

278

 

Non-operating income and expense

 

 

 

1

 

 

Investment income

 

 

 

(333

)

(552

)

Financing costs

 

 

 

181

 

675

 

Income tax expense

 

4

 

579

 

1,114

 

Operating profit

 

 

 

2,008

 

1,515

 

Adjustments for:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Share based payments

 

 

 

65

 

50

 

Depreciation and amortisation

 

 

 

5,230

 

5,550

 

Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets

 

 

 

14

 

5

 

Share of results of equity accounted associates and joint ventures

 

 

 

58

 

(73

)

Other income and expense

 

 

 

44

 

56

 

(Increase)/decrease in inventory

 

 

 

(85

)

9

 

Increase in trade and other receivables

 

 

 

(858

)

(415

)

Decrease in trade and other payables

 

 

 

(871

)

(1,232

)

Cash generated by operations

 

 

 

5,605

 

5,465

 

Net tax paid

 

 

 

(400

)

(468

)

Cash flow from discontinued operations

 

 

 

616

 

823

 

Net cash flow from operating activities

 

 

 

5,821

 

5,820

 

 

11          Related party transactions

 

The Group has a number of related parties including joint arrangements and associates, pension schemes, directors and Executive Committee members. Related party transactions with the Group’s joint arrangements and associates primarily comprise fees for the use of products and services including network airtime and access charges, and cash pooling arrangements. No related party transactions have been entered into during the period which might reasonably affect any decisions made by the users of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements except as disclosed below.

 

 

 

Six months ended 30 September

 

 

 

 

 

Restated

 

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

 

 

€m

 

€m

 

Sales of goods and services to associates

 

14

 

17

 

Purchase of goods and services from associates

 

1

 

54

 

Sales of goods and services to joint arrangements

 

10

 

2

 

Purchase of goods and services from joint arrangements

 

102

 

48

 

Net interest income receivable from joint arrangements

 

60

 

39

 

 

 

 

30
September

 

31 March

 

 

 

2017

 

2017

 

 

 

€m

 

€m

 

Trade balances owed:

 

 

 

 

 

by associates

 

5

 

 

to associates

 

2

 

1

 

by joint arrangements

 

129

 

158

 

to joint arrangements

 

34

 

15

 

Other balances owed by joint arrangements

 

1,369

 

1,209

 

Other balances owed to joint arrangements

 

138

 

127

 

 

In the six months ended 30 September 2017 the Group made contributions to defined benefit pension schemes of €32 million (six months ended 30 September 2016: €27 million).

 

In addition, €2.2 million of dividends were paid to Board members and executive committee members (six months ended 30 September 2016: €2.2 million). Dividends received from associates are disclosed in the consolidated statement of cash flows.

 

35

 


 

Notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

For the six months ended 30 September 2017

 

12          Fair value of financial instruments

 

The table below sets out the valuation basis1 of the financial instruments held at fair value by the Group.

 

 

 

Level 12

 

Level 23

 

Total

 

 

 

30

 

 

 

30

 

 

 

30

 

 

 

 

 

September

 

31 March

 

September

 

31 March

 

September

 

31 March

 

 

 

2017

 

2017

 

2017

 

2017

 

2017

 

2017

 

 

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

 

Financial assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value through the income statement

 

 

 

4,536

 

4,323

 

4,536

 

4,323

 

Derivative financial instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate swaps

 

 

 

2,380

 

2,460

 

2,380

 

2,460

 

Cross currency interest rate swaps

 

 

 

1,183

 

1,707

 

1,183

 

1,707

 

Options

 

 

 

134

 

12

 

134

 

12

 

Foreign exchange contracts

 

 

 

33

 

103

 

33

 

103

 

Interest rate futures

 

 

 

 

3

 

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

8,266

 

8,608

 

8,266

 

8,608

 

Financial investments available for sale:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Listed equity securities

 

3

 

3

 

 

 

3

 

3

 

Unlisted equity securities

 

 

 

74

 

82

 

74

 

82

 

 

 

3

 

3

 

74

 

82

 

77

 

85

 

 

 

3

 

3

 

8,340

 

8,690

 

8,343

 

8,693

 

Financial liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivative financial instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate swaps

 

 

 

644

 

614

 

644

 

614

 

Cross currency interest rate swaps

 

 

 

1,576

 

1,324

 

1,576

 

1,324

 

Options

 

 

 

25

 

63

 

25

 

63

 

Foreign exchange contracts

 

 

 

67

 

76

 

67

 

76

 

 

 

 

 

2,312

 

2,077

 

2,312

 

2,077

 

 


Notes:

1.        There were no changes made during the year to valuation methods or the processes to determine classification and no transfers were made between the levels in the fair value hierarchy.

2.        Level 1 classification comprises financial instruments where fair value is determined by unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

3.        Level 2 classification comprises items where fair value is determined from inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Derivative financial instrument fair values are present values determined from future cash flows discounted at rates derived from market sourced data.

4.        Listed and unlisted securities are classified as held for sale financial assets and fair values are derived from observable quoted market prices or observable quoted market prices for similar items respectively.

 

The fair value and carrying value1 of the Group’s financial assets and financial liabilities held at amortised cost are set out in the table below:

 

 

 

Fair value

 

Carrying value

 

 

 

30 September

 

31 March

 

30 September

 

31 March

 

 

 

2017

 

2017

 

2017

 

2017

 

 

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

 

Cash and cash equivalents2

 

5,358

 

8,835

 

5,358

 

8,835

 

Cash and other investment held in restricted deposits

 

1,071

 

1,109

 

1,071

 

1,109

 

Other debt and bonds

 

4,415

 

4,062

 

4,415

 

4,062

 

 

 

10,844

 

14,006

 

10,844

 

14,006

 

Short-term borrowings:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bonds

 

(3,026

)

(2,908

)

(3,043

)

(2,904

)

Commercial paper

 

(3,859

)

(3,648

)

(3,859

)

(3,648

)

Bank loans and other short-term borrowings3

 

(5,062

)

(5,532

)

(5,059

)

(5,499

)

 

 

(11,947

)

(12,088

)

(11,961

)

(12,051

)

Long-term borrowings:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bonds

 

(29,720

)

(30,635

)

(30,015

)

(31,477

)

Bank loans and other long-term borrowings

 

(2,232

)

(3,074

)

(2,206

)

(3,046

)

 

 

(31,952

)

(33,709

)

(32,221

)

(34,523

)

 

 

(33,055

)

(31,791

)

(33,338

)

(32,568

)

 


Notes:

1.        The Group’s trade and other receivables and trade and other payables are not shown in the table above. The carrying amounts of both categories approximate their fair values.

2.        Cash and cash equivalents are held by the Group on a short term basis with all having a maturity of three months or less. The carrying value approximates their fair value.

3.        Includes a liability for payment to holders of equity shares in Kabel Deutschland AG under the terms of a domination and profit and loss transfer agreement of 1.9 billion (March 2017: 1.8 billion). The carrying value approximates the fair value.

 

36


 

Notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

For the six months ended 30 September 2017

 

13          Commitments, contingent liabilities and legal proceedings

 

There have been no material changes to the Group’s commitments, contingent liabilities or legal proceedings during the period, except as disclosed below.

 

Indian tax cases

 

In August 2007 and September 2007, Vodafone India Limited (‘VIL’) and Vodafone International Holdings BV (‘VIHBV’) respectively received notices from the Indian tax authority alleging potential liability in connection with an alleged failure by VIHBV to deduct withholding tax from consideration paid to the Hutchison Telecommunications International Limited group (‘HTIL’) in respect of HTIL’s gain on its disposal to VIHBV of its interests in a wholly-owned Cayman Island incorporated subsidiary that indirectly holds interests in VIL. Following approximately five years of litigation in the Indian courts in which VIHBV sought to set aside the tax demand issued by the Indian tax authority, in January 2012 the Supreme Court of India handed down its judgement, holding that VIHBV’s interpretation of the Income Tax Act 1961 was correct, that the HTIL transaction in 2007 was not taxable in India, and that consequently, VIHBV had no obligation to withhold tax from consideration paid to HTIL in respect of the transaction. The Supreme Court of India quashed the relevant notices and demands issued to VIHBV in respect of withholding tax and interest.

 

On 28 May 2012 the Finance Act 2012 became law. The Finance Act 2012, which amended various provisions of the Income Tax Act 1961 with retrospective effect, contained provisions intended to tax any gain on transfer of shares in a non-Indian company, which derives substantial value from underlying Indian assets, such as VIHBV’s transaction with HTIL in 2007. Further, it seeks to subject a purchaser, such as VIHBV, to a retrospective obligation to withhold tax. VIHBV received a letter on 3 January 2013 from the Indian tax authority reminding it of the tax demand raised prior to the Supreme Court of India’s judgement and purporting to update the interest element of that demand to a total amount of INR142 billion, which amount includes principal and interest as calculated by the Indian tax authority but does not include penalties.

 

On 10 January 2014, VIHBV served an amended trigger notice on the Indian Government under the Netherlands-India Bilateral Investment Treaty (‘Dutch BIT’), supplementing a trigger notice filed on 17 April 2012, immediately prior to the Finance Act 2012 becoming effective, to add claims relating to an attempt by the Indian Government to tax aspects of the transaction with HTIL under transfer pricing rules. A trigger notice announces a party’s intention to submit a claim to arbitration and triggers a cooling off period during which both parties may seek to resolve the dispute amicably. Notwithstanding their attempts, the parties were unable to amicably resolve the dispute within the cooling off period stipulated in the Dutch BIT. On 17 April 2014, VIHBV served its notice of arbitration under the Dutch BIT, formally commencing the Dutch BIT arbitration proceedings.

 

In June 2016, the tribunal was fully constituted with Sir Franklin Berman KCMG QC appointed as presiding arbitrator. The Indian Government has raised objections to the application of the treaty to VIHBV’s claims and to the jurisdiction of the tribunal under the Dutch BIT. On 19 June 2017, the tribunal decided to try both these jurisdictional objections along with the merits of VIHBV’s claim in a trial now scheduled for February 2019.

 

Separately, on 15 June 2015, Vodafone Group Plc and Vodafone Consolidated Holdings Limited served a trigger notice on the Indian Government under the United Kingdom-India Bilateral Investment Treaty (‘UK BIT’) in respect of retrospective tax claims under the Income Tax Act 1961 (as amended by the Finance Act 2012). Although relating to the same underlying facts as the claim under the Dutch BIT, the claim brought by Vodafone Group Plc and Vodafone Consolidated Holdings Limited is a separate and distinct claim under a different treaty. On 24 January 2017, Vodafone Group Plc and Vodafone Consolidated Holdings Limited served a Notice of Arbitration on the Indian Government formally commencing the arbitration. The Indian Government has appointed a second arbitrator as required under the UK BIT under protest.

 

The Indian Government has indicated that it considers the arbitration under the UK BIT to be an abuse of process but this is strongly denied by Vodafone. On 22 August 2017, the Indian Government obtained an injunction from the Delhi High Court preventing Vodafone from progressing the UK BIT arbitration. Vodafone was not present when India obtained this injunction. On 26 October 2017, the Delhi High Court varied its order to permit Vodafone to participate in the formation of the UK BIT tribunal. A hearing is scheduled for 17 November 2017 in the Delhi High Court.

 

On 12 February 2016, VIHBV received a notice dated 4 February 2016 of an outstanding tax demand of INR221 billion (which included interest accruing since the date of the original demand) along with a statement that enforcement action, including against VIHBV’s indirectly held assets in India would be taken if the demand was not satisfied. On 29 September 2017, VIHBV received an electronically generated demand in respect of alleged principal, interest and penalties in the amount of INR190.7 billion. This demand does not appear to have included any element for alleged accrued interest liability.

 

37


 

Notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

For the six months ended 30 September 2017

 

13          Commitments, contingent liabilities and legal proceedings (continued)

 

Separate proceedings in the Bombay High Court taken against VIHBV to seek to treat it as an agent of HTIL in respect of its alleged tax on the same transaction, as well as penalties of up to 100% of the assessed withholding tax for the alleged failure to have withheld such taxes, were listed for hearing at the request of the Indian Government on 21 April 2016 despite the issue having been ruled upon by the Supreme Court of India. The hearing has since been periodically listed and then adjourned or not reached hearing. VIHBV and Vodafone Group Plc will continue to defend vigorously any allegation that VIHBV or VIL is liable to pay tax in connection with the transaction with HTIL and will continue to exercise all rights to seek redress including pursuant to the Dutch BIT and the UK BIT (subject to the Delhi High Court injunction). We have not recorded a provision in respect of the retrospective provisions of the Income Tax Act 1961 (as amended by the Finance Act 2012) and any tax demands based upon such provisions.

 

Other Indian tax cases

 

VIL and Vodafone India Services Private Limited (‘VISPL’) (formerly 3GSPL) are involved in a number of tax cases with total claims exceeding €2.4 billion plus interest, and penalties of up to 300% of the principal.

 

VISPL tax claims

 

VISPL has been assessed as owing tax of approximately €276 million (plus interest of €412 million) in respect of (i) a transfer pricing margin charged for the international call centre of HTIL prior to the 2007 transaction with Vodafone for HTIL assets in India; (ii) the sale of the international call centre by VISPL to HTIL; and (iii) the acquisition of and/or the alleged transfer of options held by VISPL for VIL. The first two of the three heads of tax are subject to an indemnity by HTIL. The larger part of the potential claim is not subject to any indemnity. VISPL unsuccessfully challenged the merits of the tax demand in the statutory tax tribunal and the jurisdiction of the tax office to make the demand in the High Court. The Tax Appeal Tribunal heard the appeal and ruled in the Tax Office’s favour. VISPL lodged an appeal (and stay application) in the Bombay High Court which was concluded in early May 2015. On 13 July 2015 the tax authorities issued a revised tax assessment reducing the tax VISPL had previously been assessed as owing in respect of (i) and (ii) above. In the meantime, (i) a stay of the tax demand on a deposit of £20 million and (ii) a corporate guarantee by VIHBV for the balance of tax assessed remain in place. On 8 October 2015, the Bombay High Court ruled in favour of Vodafone in relation to the options and the call centre sale. The Tax Office has appealed to the Supreme Court of India. A hearing has been adjourned with no specified date.

 

Indian regulatory cases

 

Adjusted Gross Revenue (‘AGR’) dispute before the Supreme Court of India: VIL and others v Union of India

 

VIL has challenged the tribunal’s judgement dated 23 April 2015 to the extent that it dealt with the calculation of AGR, upon which licence fees and spectrum usage charges are based. The cumulative impact of the inclusion of these components is approximately €1.2 billion. The DoT also moved cross appeals challenging the tribunal’s judgement. In the hearing before the Supreme Court of India, the Court orally directed the DoT (Department of Telecommunications) not to take any coercive steps in the matter, which was adjourned. On 29 February 2016, the Supreme Court of India ordered that the DoT may continue to raise demands for fees and charges, but may not enforce them until a final decision on the matter.

 

Other cases in the Group

 

Germany: Mannesmann and Kabel Deutschland takeover — class actions

 

The German courts are determining the adequacy of the mandatory cash offer made to minority shareholders in Vodafone’s takeover of Mannesmann. This matter has been ongoing since 2001. The German courts are also determining whether “squeeze out” compensation is payable to affected Mannesmann shareholders in a similar proceeding. In September 2014, the German courts awarded compensation to minority shareholders of Mannesmann in the amount of €229.58 per share, which would result in a pay-out of €19 million (plus €13 million of accrued interest). The German courts also ruled that the “squeeze out” compensation should amount to €251.31 per share, which would result in a pay-out of €43.8 million (plus interest of €23 million of accrued interest). Vodafone has appealed these decisions. Similar proceedings were initiated by 80 Kabel Deutschland shareholders. These proceeding are in their early stages, and, accordingly, Vodafone believes that it is too early to assess the likely quantum of any claim.

 

In a hearing on 6 October 2016, the Court examined the Kabel Deutschland business plan which formed the main basis for the calculation of the offer per share. The next hearings are scheduled for 15 and 16 November 2017.

 

38


 

Notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

For the six months ended 30 September 2017

 

13          Commitments, contingent liabilities and legal proceedings (continued)

 

Spain: Patent litigation

 

Vodafone Group Plc has been sued in Spain by TOT Power Control (‘TOT’), an affiliate of Top Optimized Technologies. The claim makes a number of allegations including patent infringement, with TOT seeking over €500 million from Vodafone Group Plc as well as an injunction against using the technology in question. Vodafone’s initial challenge of the appropriateness of Spain as a venue for this dispute was denied. Vodafone Group Plc appealed the denial and was partially successful. In a decision dated 30 October 2017, the court ruled that while it did have jurisdiction to hear the infringement case relating to the Spanish patent, it was not competent to hear TOT’s contractual and competition law claims. This decision is subject to appeal. TOT’s application for an injunction was unsuccessful and TOT is appealing. A trial date has now been set to commence on 10 September 2018.

 

Italy: British Telecom (Italy) v Vodafone Italy

 

The Italian Competition Authority concluded an investigation in 2007 when Vodafone Italy gave certain undertakings in relation to allegations that it had abused its dominant position in the wholesale market for mobile termination. In 2010, British Telecom (Italy) brought a civil damages claim against Vodafone Italy on the basis of the Competition Authority’s investigation and Vodafone Italy’s undertakings. British Telecom (Italy) seeks damages in the amount of €280 million for abuse of dominant position by Vodafone Italy in the wholesale fixed to mobile termination market for the period from 1999 to 2007. A court appointed expert delivered an opinion to the Court that the range of damages in the case should be in the region of €10 million to €25 million which was reduced in a further supplementary report published in September 2014 to a range of €8 million to €11 million. Judgement was handed down by the court in August 2015, awarding €12 million (including interest) to British Telecom (Italy).

 

British Telecom (Italy) has appealed the amount of the damages to the Court of Appeal of Milan. In addition, British Telecom (Italy) has asked again for a reference to the European Court of Justice for an interpretation of the European community law on antitrust damages. Vodafone Italy also filed an appeal which was heard on 13 September 2017 and a decision is awaited.

 

South Africa: GH Investments (‘GHI’) v Vodacom Congo

 

Vodacom Congo contracted with GHI to install ultra-low cost base stations on a revenue share basis. After rolling out three sites, GHI stopped and sought to renegotiate the terms. Vodacom Congo refused. GHI accused it of bad faith and infringement of intellectual property rights. In April 2015, GHI issued a formal notice for a claim of US$1.16 billion, although there does not seem to be a proper basis nor any substantiation for the compensation claimed. The dispute was submitted to mediation under the International Chamber of Commerce. A mediator was appointed in September 2015 who convened a first meeting which took place in early November 2015. A follow-up mediation meeting was scheduled for December 2015 but was postponed without a new date having been fixed. In July 2016, Vodacom filed a request for arbitration with the International Chamber of Commerce’s International Court of Arbitration. In their response GHI revised their claim down to €237 million. Each party has appointed an arbitrator and the arbitrators have appointed a third arbitrator to act as chairman of the tribunal. A trial is scheduled for March 2018. GHI has failed to pay its share of the arbitration fees and has written to the ICC demanding that Vodacom Congo carry all the costs of the arbitration proceedings.

 

14          Other matters

 

Vodacom and Safaricom

 

On 15 May 2017, the Group announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Vodafone International Holdings B.V. (‘VIHBV’), had agreed to transfer part of its indirect shareholding in Safaricom Limited (‘Safaricom’) to Vodacom Group Limited (‘Vodacom’), its sub-Saharan African subsidiary. On 18 July 2017, Vodacom shareholders voted in favour of the transaction. The transaction completed on 7 August 2017, with the Group being issued with 233.5 million new shares in Vodacom, increasing Vodafone Group’s shareholding in Vodacom from 65.0% to 69.7%. Vodafone retains an indirect stake of 5% in Safaricom.

 

On 5 September 2017, the Group announced that VIHBV intended to sell approximately 90 million ordinary shares in Vodacom (the ‘Placing Shares’) to institutional investors by way of an accelerated bookbuild process (the ‘Placing’). The Placing Shares represented 5.2% of Vodacom’s ordinary share capital. The objective of the Placing was to ensure that Vodacom meets the free float requirement and to restore Vodafone’s shareholding in Vodacom to a percentage that is broadly similar to that which it held prior to implementation of the Safaricom Transaction.

 

It was further announced on 6 September 2017 that VIHBV had sold an aggregate of 90 million ordinary shares in Vodacom raising gross proceeds of approximately €955 million. Following the completion of the Placing, Vodafone Group indirectly owns 64.5% of Vodacom’s ordinary share capital. Vodafone remains committed to Vodacom and intends to retain a controlling majority shareholding in Vodacom for the long-term.

 

39


 

Notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

For the six months ended 30 September 2017

 

14          Other matters (continued)

 

Vodafone Malta

 

On 24 May 2017 Vodafone announced an agreement to combine Melita Ltd (‘Melita’) and Vodafone Malta Ltd (‘Vodafone Malta’) to create a new fully integrated communications company in Malta (together, the ‘Combined Company’).

 

At completion, the current shareholders of Melita will own 51% of the Combined Company and Vodafone Europe B.V. (“VEBV”), the current shareholder of Vodafone Malta, will own the remaining 49% (excluding the dilutive effect of management incentivisation plans for the Combined Company). In addition, on completion, Vodafone will receive an estimated cash payment of €120 million which will be used for general corporate purposes. Melita’s shareholders will receive an estimated cash payment of €33 million.

 

The transaction is conditional on approval from the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority and a decision is expected before the end of the 2017 calendar year.

 

Mandatory Convertible Bonds (‘MCB’)

 

In order to satisfy the first tranche of the MCB, 729.1 million shares were reissued from treasury shares on 25 August 2017 at a conversion price of £1.9751. This reflected the conversion price at issue (£2.1730) adjusted for the pound sterling equivalent of aggregate dividends paid in August 2016, February 2017, and August 2017.

 

On 25 August 2017, Vodafone announced the commencement of a new irrevocable and non-discretionary share buy-back programme (the ‘Programme’). The sole purpose of the Programme is to reduce the issued share capital of Vodafone and thereby avoid any change in Vodafone’s issued share capital as a result of the maturing of the first tranche of the MCB.

 

As announced on 19 February 2016, when the MCB was issued, the Group also entered into an accompanying option structure. This option structure ensured that the total cash outflow to execute the Programme will be broadly equivalent to the £1.44 billion raised on issuing the MCB, regardless of any differential between the conversion price and the ordinary share price during the execution of the Programme. Therefore, the maximum pecuniary amount allocated to the Programme is £1.5 billion (taking into account money received or paid under this accompanying option structure).

 

The Programme is financed out of the proceeds from Vodafone’s Verizon loan notes, which Vodafone received in two tranches as partial consideration for the sale of its 45% stake in Verizon Wireless in 2014. Vodafone received US$2.5 billion in cash in December 2016 following the redemption of the first tranche of these loan notes.

 

Vodacom Tanzania

 

On 8 August 2017, Vodacom Tanzania Public Limited Company (“Vodacom Tanzania”), a subsidiary of Vodacom Group, completed an initial public offering to list 560 million shares (equating to 25% of the post offering issued share capital) at a fixed price of 850 Tanzanian Shillings (TZS) to raise TZS 476 billion (US$213 million) (€178 million).

 

15          Subsequent events

 

Vodafone India

 

On 13 November 2017, the Group announced that Vodafone India and Idea Cellular Limited (“Idea”) have separately agreed to sell their respective standalone tower businesses in India to ATC Telecom Infrastructure Private Limited for an aggregate enterprise value of INR78.5 billion (US$1.2 billion, €1.0 billion)

 

In the event that the completion of the sale of the standalone tower businesses precedes the completion of the proposed merger of Vodafone India and Idea, Vodafone India will receive INR38.5 billion (US$592 million, €505 million) and Idea will receive INR40.0 billion (US$615 million, €525 million). The receipt of these proceeds prior to completion was anticipated and provided for in the merger agreement and hence would not affect the agreed terms of the Vodafone India and Idea merger, including the amount of debt which Vodafone will contribute to the combined company at completion.

 

Completion of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and receipt of necessary regulatory approvals, and is expected to take place during the first half of calendar year 2018.

 

40

 


 

INDEPENDENT REVIEW REPORT TO VODAFONE GROUP PLC

 

Report on the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

 

Our conclusion

 

We have reviewed Vodafone Group Plc’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements (the “interim financial statements”) in the half-year financial report of Vodafone Group Plc for the six month period ended 30 September 2017. Based on our review, nothing has come to our attention that causes us to believe that the interim financial statements are not prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34, ‘Interim Financial Reporting’, as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board and as adopted by the European Union, and the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules sourcebook of the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority.

 

What we have reviewed

 

The interim financial statements comprise:

 

·            the Consolidated statement of financial position as at 30 September 2017;

 

·            the Consolidated income statement and consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the period then ended;

 

·            the Consolidated statement of cash flows for the period then ended;

 

·            the Consolidated statement of changes in equity for the period then ended; and

 

·            the explanatory notes to the interim financial statements.

 

The interim financial statements included in the half-year financial report have been prepared in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34, ‘Interim Financial Reporting’, as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board and as adopted by the European Union and the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules sourcebook of the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority.

 

As disclosed in note 1 to the interim financial statements, the financial reporting framework that has been applied in the preparation of the full annual financial statements of the Group is applicable law and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board and as adopted by the European Union.

 

Responsibilities for the interim financial statements and the review

 

Our responsibilities and those of the directors

 

The half-year financial report, including the interim financial statements, is the responsibility of, and has been approved by, the directors. The directors are responsible for preparing the half-year financial report in accordance with the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules sourcebook of the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority.

 

Our responsibility is to express a conclusion on the interim financial statements in the half-year financial report based on our review. This report, including the conclusion, has been prepared for and only for the company for the purpose of complying with the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules sourcebook of the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority and for no other purpose. We do not, in giving this conclusion, accept or assume responsibility for any other purpose or to any other person to whom this report is shown or into whose hands it may come save where expressly agreed by our prior consent in writing.

 

What a review of interim financial statements involves

 

We conducted our review in accordance with International Standard on Review Engagements (UK and Ireland) 2410, ‘Review of Interim Financial Information Performed by the Independent Auditor of the Entity’ issued by the Auditing Practices Board for use in the United Kingdom. A review of interim financial information consists of making enquiries, primarily of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters, and applying analytical and other review procedures.

 

A review is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) and, consequently, does not enable us to obtain assurance that we would become aware of all significant matters that might be identified in an audit. Accordingly, we do not express an audit opinion.

 

We have read the other information contained in the half-year financial report and considered whether it contains any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the information in the interim financial statements.

 

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Chartered Accountants

14 November 2017

London

 


Notes:

 

1.      The maintenance and integrity of the Vodafone Group Plc website is the responsibility of the directors; the work carried out by the auditors does not involve consideration of these matters and, accordingly, the auditors accept no responsibility for any changes that may have occurred to the interim financial statements since they were initially presented on the website.

2.      Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

 

41


 

ALTERNATIVE PERFORMANCE MEASURES

 

In the discussion of the Group’s reported operating results, alternative performance measures are presented to provide readers with additional financial information that is regularly reviewed by management. However, this additional information presented is not uniformly defined by all companies including those in the Group’s industry. Accordingly, it may not be comparable with similarly titled measures and disclosures by other companies. Additionally, certain information presented is derived from amounts calculated in accordance with IFRS but is not itself an expressly permitted GAAP measure. Such measures should not be viewed in isolation or as an alternative to the equivalent GAAP measure.

 

Further information on the use of alternative performance measures is outlined on pages 205 to 213 of the Group’s annual report for the financial year ended 31 March 2017.

 

Service revenue

 

Service revenue comprises all revenue related to the provision of ongoing services including, but not limited to, monthly access charges, airtime usage, roaming, incoming and outgoing network usage by non-Vodafone customers and interconnect charges for incoming calls. We believe that it is both useful and necessary to report this measure for the following reasons:

 

·      it is used for internal performance reporting;

 

·      it is used in setting director and management remuneration; and

 

·      it is useful in connection with discussion with the investment analyst community.

 

A reconciliation of reported service revenue to the respective closest equivalent GAAP measure, revenue, are provided in the section “Financial results” beginning on page 7.

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

Adjusted EBITDA is operating profit excluding share of results in associates and joint ventures, depreciation and amortisation, gains/losses on the disposal of fixed assets, impairment losses, restructuring costs arising from discrete restructuring plans, other operating income and expense and significant items that are not considered by management to be reflective of the underlying performance of the Group. We use adjusted EBITDA, in conjunction with other GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures such as adjusted EBIT, adjusted operating profit, operating profit and net profit, to assess our operating performance. We believe that adjusted EBITDA is an operating performance measure, not a liquidity measure, as it includes non-cash changes in working capital and is reviewed by the Chief Executive to assess internal performance in conjunction with adjusted EBITDA margin, which is an alternative sales margin figure. We believe it is both useful and necessary to report adjusted EBITDA as a performance measure as it enhances the comparability of profit across segments.

 

Because adjusted EBITDA does not take into account certain items that affect operations and performance, adjusted EBITDA has inherent limitations as a performance measure. To compensate for these limitations, we analyse adjusted EBITDA in conjunction with other GAAP and non-GAAP operating performance measures. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for a GAAP measure of operating performance.

 

A reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to the closest equivalent GAAP measure, operating profit, is provided in note 2 “Segmental analysis” to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Group adjusted EBIT, adjusted operating profit and adjusted earnings per share

 

Group adjusted EBIT and adjusted operating profit exclude impairment losses, restructuring costs arising from discrete restructuring plans, amortisation of customer bases and brand intangible assets, other operating income and expense and other significant one-off items. Adjusted EBIT also excludes the share of results in associates and joint ventures. Adjusted earnings per share also excludes certain foreign exchange rate differences, together with related tax effects.

 

We believe that it is both useful and necessary to report these measures for the following reasons:

 

·      These measures are used for internal performance reporting;

 

·      These measures are used in setting director and management remuneration; and

 

·      They are useful in connection with discussion with the investment analyst community and debt rating agencies.

 

Reconciliations of adjusted EBIT, adjusted operating profit and adjusted earnings per share to the respective closest equivalent GAAP measures, operating profit and basic earnings per share, respectively, are provided in the “Financial results” section beginning on page 7.

 

42


 

ALTERNATIVE PERFORMANCE MEASURES

 

Cash flow measures and capital additions

 

In presenting and discussing our reported results, free cash flow (pre-spectrum), free cash flow, capital additions and operating free cash flow are calculated and presented even though these measures are not recognised within IFRS. We believe that it is both useful and necessary to communicate free cash flow to investors and other interested parties, for the following reasons:

 

·      Free cash flow (pre-spectrum) and free cash flow allows us and external parties to evaluate our liquidity and the cash generated by our operations. Free cash flow (pre-spectrum) and capital additions do not include payments for licences and spectrum included within intangible assets, items determined independently of the ongoing business, such as the level of dividends, and items which are deemed discretionary, such as cash flows relating to acquisitions and disposals or financing activities. In addition, it does not necessarily reflect the amounts which we have an obligation to incur. However, it does reflect the cash available for such discretionary activities, to strengthen the consolidated statement of financial position or to provide returns to shareholders in the form of dividends or share purchases;

 

·      Free cash flow facilitates comparability of results with other companies, although our measure of free cash flow may not be directly comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies;

 

·      These measures are used by management for planning, reporting and incentive purposes; and

 

·      These measures are useful in connection with discussion with the investment analyst community and debt rating agencies.

 

A reconciliation of cash generated by operations, the closest equivalent GAAP measure, to operating free cash flow, free cash flow (pre-spectrum) and free cash flow, is provided below.

 

 

 

 

 

Restated

 

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

 

 

€m

 

€m

 

Net cash flow from operating activities

 

5,821

 

5,820

 

Net tax paid

 

400

 

468

 

Cash flow from discontinued operations

 

(616

)

(823

)

Cash generated by operations (refer to note 10)

 

5,605

 

5,465

 

Capital additions

 

(3,263

)

(3,526

)

Working capital movement in respect of capital additions

 

(576

)

(1,392

)

Disposal of property, plant and equipment

 

9

 

7

 

Restructuring payments

 

127

 

142

 

Operating free cash flow

 

1,902

 

696

 

Taxation

 

(400

)

(468

)

Dividends received from associates and investments

 

284

 

129

 

Dividends paid to non-controlling shareholders in subsidiaries

 

(154

)

(274

)

Interest received and paid

 

(343

)

(231

)

Free cash flow (pre-spectrum)

 

1,289

 

(148

)

Licence and spectrum payments

 

(747

)

(138

)

Restructuring payments

 

(127

)

(142

)

Free cash flow

 

415

 

(428

)

 

Other

 

A summary of certain other alternative performance measures included in this results announcement, together with details of where additional information and reconciliation to the nearest equivalent GAAP measure can be found, is shown below.

 

Alternative performance
measure

 

Closest equivalent GAAP measure

 

Location in this results announcement of
reconciliation and further information

Adjusted profit before tax

 

Profit before taxation

 

Taxation on page 17

Adjusted effective tax rate

 

Income tax expense as a percentage of profit before taxation

 

Taxation on page 17

Adjusted income tax expense

 

Income tax expense

 

Taxation on page 17

Adjusted profit attributable to owners of the parent

 

Profit attributable to owners of the parent

 

Earnings per share on page 18

 

Certain of the statements within the section titled “Chief Executive’s Statement” on pages 2 to 5 contain forward-looking alternative performance measures for which at this time there is no comparable GAAP measure and which at this time cannot be quantitatively reconciled to comparable GAAP financial information. Certain of the statements within the section titled “Guidance” on page 6 contain forward-looking alternative performance measures which at this time cannot be quantitatively reconciled to comparable GAAP financial information.

 

43

 


 

ALTERNATIVE PERFORMANCE MEASURES

 

Organic growth and change at constant exchange rates

 

All amounts in this document marked with an “*” represent “organic growth”, which presents performance on a comparable basis in terms of merger and acquisition activity and foreign exchange rates. Whilst organic growth is neither intended to be a substitute for reported growth, nor is it superior to reported growth, we believe that these measures provide useful and necessary information to investors and other interested parties for the following reasons:

 

·            it provides additional information on underlying growth of the business without the effect of certain factors unrelated to its operating performance;

 

·            it is used for internal performance analysis; and

 

·            it facilitates comparability of underlying growth with other companies (although the term “organic” is not a defined term under IFRS and may not, therefore, be comparable with similarly titled measures reported by other companies).

 

The Group’s organic growth rates for all periods exclude the results of Vodafone India (excluding its 42% stake in Indus Towers), which are now reported in discontinued operations, and exclude the results of Vodafone Netherlands following the disposal of its consumer fixed business and subsequent merger into VodafoneZiggo, as well as the results of VodafoneZiggo after the merger. In addition, operating segment organic service revenue growth rates for the quarter ended 30 June 2017 and the quarter and half year ended 30 September 2017 have been amended to exclude the adverse impact of changes to intercompany interconnect rates.

 

We have not provided a comparative in respect of organic growth rates as the current rates describe the change between the beginning and end of the current period, with such changes being explained by the commentary in this news release. If comparatives were provided, significant sections of the commentary from the news release for prior periods would also need to be included, reducing the usefulness and transparency of this document.

 

Reconciliations of organic growth to reported growth are shown where used or in the tables below.

 

 

 

 

 

Restated

 

 

 

Other
activity
(including

 

Foreign

 

 

 

 

 

2017 

 

2016 

 

Reported

 

M&A)

 

exchange

 

Organic*

 

 

 

€m

 

€m

 

%

 

pps

 

pps

 

%

 

Six months ended 30 September 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Germany

 

5,277

 

5,265

 

0.2

 

0.1

 

 

0.3

 

Italy

 

3,107

 

3,006

 

3.4

 

0.2

 

 

3.6

 

UK

 

3,515

 

3,575

 

(1.7

)

1.5

 

7.3

 

7.1

 

Spain

 

2,512

 

2,496

 

0.6

 

0.4

 

 

1.0

 

Other Europe

 

2,452

 

3,304

 

(25.8

)

28.2

 

(0.3

)

2.1

 

Eliminations

 

(88

)

(103

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe

 

16,775

 

17,543

 

(4.4

)

5.6

 

1.3

 

2.5

 

Vodacom

 

2,799

 

2,464

 

13.6

 

 

(6.8

)

6.8

 

Other AMAP

 

2,900

 

3,422

 

(15.3

)

 

22.6

 

7.3

 

AMAP

 

5,699

 

5,886

 

(3.2

)

 

10.3

 

7.1

 

Other

 

675

 

664

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eliminations

 

(74

)

(42

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

23,075

 

24,051

 

(4.1

)

3.8

 

3.4

 

3.1

 

India

 

2,610

 

3,015

 

(13.4

)

 

(2.4

)

(15.8

)

 

44


 

ALTERNATIVE PERFORMANCE MEASURES

 

 

 

 

 

Restated

 

 

 

Other
activity
(including

 

Foreign

 

 

 

 

 

2017 

 

2016 

 

Reported

 

M&A)

 

exchange

 

Organic*

 

 

 

€m

 

€m

 

%

 

pps

 

pps

 

%

 

Six months ended 30 September 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Germany

 

1,929

 

1,788

 

7.9

 

(0.2

)

 

7.7

 

Italy

 

1,200

 

1,104

 

8.7

 

0.1

 

 

8.8

 

UK

 

930

 

674

 

38.0

 

(1.6

)

10.2

 

46.6

 

Spain

 

751

 

692

 

8.5

 

1.0

 

0.1

 

9.6

 

Other Europe

 

773

 

1,040

 

(25.7

)

32.6

 

(0.4

)

6.5

 

Europe

 

5,583

 

5,298

 

5.4

 

6.8

 

0.8

 

13.0

 

Vodacom

 

1,063

 

952

 

11.7

 

 

(7.3

)

4.4

 

Other AMAP

 

790

 

940

 

(16.0

)

0.1

 

30.4

 

14.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turkey

 

327

 

335

 

(2.4

)

0.3

 

22.5

 

20.4

 

 

Egypt

 

214

 

356

 

(39.9

)

 

62.9

 

23.0

 

AMAP

 

1,853

 

1,892

 

(2.1

)

 

10.6

 

8.5

 

Other

 

(51

)

(100

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

7,385

 

7,090

 

4.2

 

5.1

 

3.7

 

13.0

 

India

 

557

 

892

 

(37.6

)

 

(1.6

)

(39.2

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Group - Adjusted EBITDA excluding the impact of roaming, UK handset financing and regulatory settlements

 

7,385

 

7,090

 

4.2

 

1.4

 

3.7

 

9.3

 

Europe - Adjusted EBITDA excluding the impact of roaming, UK handset financing and regulatory settlements

 

5,583

 

5,298

 

5.4

 

2.0

 

0.8

 

8.2

 

UK- Adjusted EBITDA excluding the impact of handset financing, regulatory settlements and the reallocation of central costs

 

930

 

674

 

38.0

 

(50.1

)

10.2

 

(1.9

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percentage point change in adjusted EBITDA margin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe

 

33.3

%

30.2

%

3.1

 

0.2

 

(0.2

)

3.1

 

AMAP

 

32.5

%

32.1

%

0.4

 

 

 

0.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turkey

 

22.8

%

20.8

%

2.0

 

0.0

 

0.1

 

2.1

 

 

Egypt

 

45.1

%

44.7

%

0.4

 

0.0

 

(0.1

)

0.3

 

Group

 

32.0

%

29.5

%

2.5

 

0.2

 

0.1

 

2.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Group adjusted EBITDA margin excluding the impact of roaming, UK handset financing and regulatory settlements

 

32.0

%

29.5

%

2.5

 

(0.7

)

0.1

 

1.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBIT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe

 

1,555

 

1,217

 

27.8

 

40.0

 

(1.3

)

66.5

 

AMAP

 

1,002

 

982

 

2.0

 

0.1

 

9.0

 

11.1

 

Other

 

(100

)

(149

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

2,457

 

2,050

 

19.9

 

27.0

 

5.0

 

51.9

 

India

 

544

 

223

 

143.9

 

0.1

 

(7.5

)

136.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted operating profit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe

 

1,572

 

1,212

 

29.7

 

38.6

 

(1.4

)

66.9

 

AMAP

 

1,157

 

1,060

 

9.2

 

0.1

 

9.2

 

18.5

 

Other

 

(101

)

(149

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

2,628

 

2,123

 

23.8

 

25.7

 

5.2

 

54.7

 

India

 

544

 

223

 

143.9

 

0.1

 

(7.5

)

136.5

 

 

45


 

ALTERNATIVE PERFORMANCE MEASURES

 

 

 

 

 

Restated

 

 

 

Other
activity
(including

 

Foreign

 

 

 

 

 

2017 

 

2016 

 

Reported

 

M&A)

 

exchange

 

Organic*

 

 

 

€m

 

€m

 

%

 

pps

 

pps

 

%

 

Six months ended 30 September 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service revenue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Germany

 

5,062

 

5,009

 

1.1

 

0.1

 

(0.1

)

1.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mobile service revenue

 

3,046

 

3,055

 

(0.3

)

0.1

 

 

(0.2

)

 

Fixed service revenue

 

2,016

 

1,954

 

3.2

 

 

 

3.2

 

Italy

 

2,673

 

2,619

 

2.1

 

0.2

 

 

2.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mobile service revenue

 

2,188

 

2,191

 

(0.1

)

0.2

 

 

0.1

 

 

Fixed service revenue

 

485

 

428

 

13.3

 

 

0.1

 

13.4

 

UK

 

3,074

 

3,401

 

(9.6

)

0.1

 

6.7

 

(2.8

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mobile service revenue

 

2,377

 

2,634

 

(9.8

)

0.1

 

6.7

 

(3.0

)

 

Fixed service revenue

 

697

 

767

 

(9.1

)

 

6.8

 

(2.3

)

Spain

 

2,326

 

2,273

 

2.3

 

0.5

 

 

2.8

 

Other Europe

 

2,324

 

3,117

 

(25.4

)

28.4

 

(0.3

)

2.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of which: Ireland

 

469

 

484

 

(3.1

)

0.3

 

0.1

 

(2.7

)

 

Of which: Portugal

 

482

 

458

 

5.2

 

0.5

 

 

5.7

 

 

Of which: Greece

 

419

 

405

 

3.5

 

0.6

 

(0.2

)

3.9

 

Eliminations

 

(86

)

(100

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe

 

15,373

 

16,319

 

(5.8

)

5.3

 

1.3

 

0.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mobile service revenue

 

11,046

 

12,052

 

(8.3

)

6.4

 

1.3

 

(0.6

)

 

Fixed service revenue

 

4,327

 

4,267

 

1.4

 

1.8

 

1.3

 

4.5

 

Vodacom

 

2,310

 

2,084

 

10.8

 

 

(6.3

)

4.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of which: South Africa

 

1,778

 

1,563

 

13.8

 

 

(9.0

)

4.8

 

 

Of which: International operations

 

516

 

493

 

4.7

 

 

1.3

 

6.0

 

Other AMAP

 

2,493

 

2,907

 

(14.2

)

0.1

 

23.6

 

9.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of which: Turkey

 

1,121

 

1,203

 

(6.8

)

 

21.1

 

14.3

 

 

Of which: Egypt

 

460

 

766

 

(39.9

)

 

62.7

 

22.8

 

 

Of which: New Zealand

 

570

 

567

 

0.5

 

 

(0.2

)

0.3

 

Eliminations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AMAP

 

4,803

 

4,991

 

(3.8

)

 

10.8

 

7.0

 

Other

 

490

 

542

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eliminations

 

(74

)

(41

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total service revenue

 

20,592

 

21,811

 

(5.6

)

4.0

 

3.3

 

1.7

 

Other revenue

 

2,483

 

2,240

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

23,075

 

24,051

 

(4.1

)

3.8

 

3.4

 

3.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other growth metrics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Group - Enterprise service revenue

 

5,965

 

6,426

 

(7.2

)

5.8

 

2.4

 

1.0

 

Group - Enterprise service revenue excluding the impact of regulation

 

5,965

 

6,426

 

(7.2

)

7.3

 

2.4

 

2.5

 

Europe - Enterprise service revenue

 

4,701

 

5,171

 

(9.1

)

7.1

 

1.8

 

(0.2

)

AMAP - Enterprise service revenue

 

1,031

 

1,024

 

0.7

 

 

6.1

 

6.8

 

Group - IoT revenue

 

367

 

352

 

4.3

 

7.2

 

1.2

 

12.7

 

Europe - Service revenue excluding the impact of regulation and MTR cuts

 

15,373

 

16,319

 

(5.8

)

6.4

 

1.3

 

1.9

 

Germany - Service revenue excluding the impact of regulation

 

5,062

 

5,009

 

1.1

 

1.5

 

(0.1

)

2.5

 

Germany - Mobile service revenue excluding the impact of regulation

 

3,046

 

3,055

 

(0.3

)

2.2

 

 

1.9

 

UK - Mobile service revenue the impact of regulation and handset financing

 

2,377

 

2,634

 

(9.8

)

3.4

 

6.7

 

0.3

 

Ireland - Service revenue excluding the impact of regulation

 

469

 

484

 

(3.1

)

5.0

 

0.1

 

2.0

 

South Africa - Data revenue

 

757

 

605

 

25.1

 

 

(10.1

)

15.0

 

South Africa - Voice revenue

 

737

 

712

 

3.5

 

 

(8.3

)

(4.8

)

India - Revenue

 

2,610

 

3,015

 

(13.4

)

 

(2.4

)

(15.8

)

India - Service revenue

 

2,601

 

3,005

 

(13.4

)

 

(2.4

)

(15.8

)

 

46


 

ALTERNATIVE PERFORMANCE MEASURES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

activity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restated

 

 

 

(including

 

Foreign

 

 

 

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

Reported

 

M&A)

 

exchange

 

Organic*

 

 

 

€m

 

€m

 

%

 

pps

 

pps

 

%

 

Quarter ended 30 September

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service revenue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Germany

 

2,569

 

2,530

 

1.5

 

0.1

 

 

1.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mobile service revenue

 

1,554

 

1,545

 

0.6

 

0.1

 

 

0.7

 

 

Fixed service revenue

 

1,015

 

985

 

3.0

 

 

 

3.0

 

Italy

 

1,354

 

1,338

 

1.2

 

0.3

 

 

1.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mobile service revenue

 

1,109

 

1,120

 

(1.0

)

0.3

 

 

(0.7

)

 

Fixed service revenue

 

245

 

218

 

12.4

 

 

(0.1

)

12.3

 

UK

 

1,510

 

1,643

 

(8.1

)

0.1

 

5.0

 

(3.0

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mobile service revenue

 

1,170

 

1,281

 

(8.7

)

0.1

 

4.9

 

(3.7

)

 

Fixed service revenue

 

340

 

362

 

(6.1

)

 

5.5

 

(0.6

)

Spain

 

1,183

 

1,145

 

3.3

 

0.6

 

 

3.9

 

Other Europe

 

1,189

 

1,589

 

(25.2

)

28.2

 

(0.2

)

2.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of which: Ireland

 

234

 

242

 

(3.3

)

0.4

 

0.1

 

(2.8

)

 

Of which: Portugal

 

250

 

237

 

5.5

 

0.7

 

(0.1

)

6.1

 

 

Of which: Greece

 

219

 

211

 

3.8

 

0.9

 

(0.1

)

4.6

 

Eliminations

 

(56

)

(55

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe

 

7,749

 

8,190

 

(5.4

)

5.3

 

0.9

 

0.8

 

Vodacom

 

1,133

 

1,092

 

3.8

 

 

(0.4

)

3.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of which: South Africa

 

875

 

829

 

5.5

 

 

(1.6

)

3.9

 

 

Of which: International operations

 

253

 

250

 

1.2

 

 

2.9

 

4.1

 

Other AMAP

 

1,240

 

1,501

 

(17.4

)

 

26.3

 

8.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of which: Turkey

 

567

 

618

 

(8.3

)

 

23.0

 

14.7

 

 

Of which: Egypt

 

232

 

404

 

(42.6

)

 

63.6

 

21.0

 

 

Of which: New Zealand

 

284

 

293

 

(3.1

)

 

4.0

 

0.9

 

Eliminations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AMAP

 

2,373

 

2,593

 

(8.5

)

 

14.7

 

6.2

 

Other

 

243

 

280

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eliminations

 

(55

)

(26

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total service revenue

 

10,310

 

11,037

 

(6.6

)

4.0

 

3.9

 

1.3

 

Other revenue

 

1,291

 

1,149

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

11,601

 

12,186

 

(4.8

)

3.5

 

4.0

 

2.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other growth metrics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Group - Enterprise service revenue

 

2,961

 

3,214

 

(7.9

)

5.8

 

2.6

 

0.5

 

Group - Enterprise service revenue excluding the impact of regulation

 

2,961

 

3,214

 

(7.9

)

7.8

 

2.6

 

2.5

 

Europe - Service revenue excluding the impact of regulation

 

7,749

 

8,190

 

(5.4

)

6.6

 

0.9

 

2.1

 

Germany - Service revenue excluding the impact of regulation

 

2,569

 

2,530

 

1.5

 

1.5

 

 

3.0

 

Germany - Mobile service revenue excluding the impact of regulation

 

1,554

 

1,545

 

0.6

 

2.2

 

 

2.8

 

UK - Service revenue excluding the impact of regulation and handset financing

 

1,510

 

1,643

 

(8.1

)

3.7

 

5.0

 

0.6

 

UK - Mobile service revenue excluding the impact of regulation and handset financing

 

1,170

 

1,281

 

(8.7

)

4.8

 

4.9

 

1.0

 

India - Revenue

 

1,223

 

1,496

 

(18.2

)

 

0.8

 

(17.4

)

India - Service revenue

 

1,216

 

1,495

 

(18.7

)

 

0.9

 

(17.8

)

 

47


 

ALTERNATIVE PERFORMANCE MEASURES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

activity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restated

 

 

 

(including

 

Foreign

 

 

 

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

Reported

 

M&A)

 

exchange

 

Organic*

 

 

 

€m

 

€m

 

%

 

pps

 

pps

 

%

 

Quarter ended 30 June 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service revenue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Germany

 

2,493

 

2,479

 

0.6

 

 

 

0.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mobile service revenue

 

1,492

 

1,510

 

(1.2

)

0.1

 

 

(1.1

)

 

Fixed service revenue

 

1,001

 

969

 

3.3

 

 

0.1

 

3.4

 

Italy

 

1,319

 

1,281

 

3.0

 

0.2

 

 

3.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mobile service revenue

 

1,079

 

1,071

 

0.7

 

0.1

 

0.1

 

0.9

 

 

Fixed service revenue

 

240

 

210

 

14.3

 

 

0.1

 

14.4

 

UK

 

1,564

 

1,758

 

(11.0

)

0.1

 

8.2

 

(2.7

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mobile service revenue

 

1,207

 

1,353

 

(10.8

)

0.1

 

8.4

 

(2.3

)

 

Fixed service revenue

 

357

 

405

 

(11.9

)

 

8.0

 

(3.9

)

Spain

 

1,143

 

1,128

 

1.3

 

0.3

 

 

1.6

 

Other Europe

 

1,135

 

1,528

 

(25.7

)

28.7

 

(0.3

)

2.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of which: Ireland

 

235

 

242

 

(2.9

)

0.2

 

0.2

 

(2.5

)

 

Of which: Portugal

 

232

 

221

 

5.0

 

0.3

 

0.1

 

5.4

 

 

Of which: Greece

 

200

 

194

 

3.1

 

0.3

 

(0.1

)

3.3

 

Eliminations

 

(30

)

(45

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe

 

7,624

 

8,129

 

(6.2

)

5.3

 

1.7

 

0.8

 

Vodacom

 

1,177

 

992

 

18.6

 

 

(13.0

)

5.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of which: South Africa

 

903

 

734

 

23.0

 

 

(17.4

)

5.6

 

 

Of which: International operations

 

263

 

243

 

8.2

 

 

(0.3

)

7.9

 

Other AMAP

 

1,253

 

1,406

 

(10.9

)

 

20.9

 

10.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of which: Turkey

 

554

 

585

 

(5.3

)

 

19.2

 

13.9

 

 

Of which: Egypt

 

228

 

362

 

(37.0

)

 

61.6

 

24.6

 

 

Of which: New Zealand

 

286

 

274

 

4.4

 

 

(4.7

)

(0.3

)

Eliminations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AMAP

 

2,430

 

2,398

 

1.3

 

0.1

 

6.5

 

7.9

 

Other

 

247

 

262

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eliminations

 

(19

)

(15

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total service revenue

 

10,282

 

10,774

 

(4.6

)

4.1

 

2.7

 

2.2

 

Other revenue

 

1,192

 

1,091

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

11,474

 

11,865

 

(3.3

)

4.2

 

2.6

 

3.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other growth metrics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Group - Enterprise service revenue

 

3,004

 

3,212

 

(6.5

)

5.9

 

2.1

 

1.5

 

Group - Enterprise service revenue excluding the impact of regulation

 

3,004

 

3,212

 

(6.5

)

6.9

 

2.1

 

2.5

 

Europe - Service revenue excluding the impact of regulation

 

7,624

 

8,129

 

(6.2

)

6.2

 

1.7

 

1.7

 

Germany - Service revenue excluding the impact of regulation

 

2,493

 

2,479

 

0.6

 

1.4

 

 

2.0

 

Germany - Mobile service revenue excluding the impact of regulation

 

1,492

 

1,510

 

(1.2

)

2.2

 

 

1.0

 

UK - Service revenue excluding the impact of regulation and handset financing

 

1,564

 

1,758

 

(11.0

)

1.6

 

8.2

 

(1.2

)

UK - Mobile service revenue excluding the impact of regulation and handset financing

 

1,207

 

1,353

 

(10.8

)

2.0

 

8.4

 

(0.4

)

Spain - Service revenue excluding the impact of handset financing

 

1,143

 

1,128

 

1.3

 

1.7

 

 

3.0

 

India - Revenue

 

1,387

 

1,519

 

(8.7

)

 

(5.6

)

(14.3

)

India - Service revenue

 

1,385

 

1,510

 

(8.3

)

0.1

 

(5.7

)

(13.9

)

 

48

 


 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

Regional results for the six months ended 30 September1

 

 

 

Revenue

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

Adjusted operating
profit

 

Capital additions

 

Operating free
cash flow

 

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

2017

 

2016

 

2017

 

2016

 

2017

 

2016

 

2017

 

2016

 

 

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

 

Europe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Germany

 

5,277

 

5,265

 

1,929

 

1,788

 

500

 

298

 

768

 

880

 

799

 

445

 

Italy

 

3,107

 

3,006

 

1,200

 

1,104

 

564

 

474

 

315

 

307

 

833

 

385

 

UK

 

3,515

 

3,575

 

930

 

674

 

121

 

(170

)

366

 

438

 

134

 

(73

)

Spain

 

2,512

 

2,496

 

751

 

692

 

132

 

108

 

427

 

322

 

310

 

14

 

Other Europe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Netherlands2

 

 

909

 

 

316

 

21

 

295

 

 

121

 

 

47

 

Portugal

 

513

 

494

 

188

 

172

 

39

 

28

 

81

 

113

 

100

 

6

 

Greece

 

440

 

432

 

145

 

130

 

56

 

48

 

62

 

59

 

7

 

24

 

Other

 

1,506

 

1,477

 

440

 

422

 

139

 

131

 

150

 

227

 

161

 

53

 

Eliminations

 

(7

)

(8

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Europe

 

2,452

 

3,304

 

773

 

1,040

 

255

 

502

 

293

 

520

 

268

 

130

 

Eliminations

 

(88

)

(103

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe

 

16,775

 

17,543

 

5,583

 

5,298

 

1,572

 

1,212

 

2,169

 

2,467

 

2,344

 

901

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AMAP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vodacom

 

2,799

 

2,464

 

1,063

 

952

 

722

 

642

 

356

 

350

 

439

 

478

 

Other AMAP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turkey

 

1,437

 

1,611

 

327

 

335

 

131

 

113

 

154

 

184

 

(362

)

(438

)

Egypt

 

475

 

796

 

214

 

356

 

145

 

205

 

98

 

104

 

146

 

223

 

Other

 

989

 

1,016

 

249

 

249

 

159

 

100

 

115

 

114

 

121

 

99

 

Eliminations

 

(1

)

(1

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other AMAP

 

2,900

 

3,422

 

790

 

940

 

435

 

418

 

367

 

402

 

(95

)

(116

)

Eliminations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AMAP

 

5,699

 

5,886

 

1,853

 

1,892

 

1,157

 

1,060

 

723

 

752

 

344

 

362

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

675

 

664

 

(51

)

(100

)

(101

)

(149

)

371

 

307

 

(786

)

(567

)

Eliminations

 

(74

)

(42

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Group

 

23,075

 

24,051

 

7,385

 

7,090

 

2,628

 

2,123

 

3,263

 

3,526

 

1,902

 

696

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

India

 

2,610

 

3,015

 

557

 

892

 

544

 

223

 

394

 

447

 

214

 

438

 

 


Notes:

1.        The results for the half year ended 30 September 2016 have been restated to exclude the results of Vodafone India which has been classified as discontinued operations for Group reporting purposes following the agreement to combine with Idea Cellular.

2.        Vodafone Netherlands results up to 31 December 2016, after which it was merged with Ziggo to form VodafoneZiggo, a 50:50 joint venture, the results of which are included in Other Europe.

 

49

 


 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

Service revenue – quarter ended 30 September1

 

Group and Regions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Group

 

Europe

 

AMAP

 

 

Restated

 

 

Restated

 

 

Restated

 

2017

2016

 

2017

2016

 

2017

2016

 

€m

€m

 

€m

€m

 

€m

€m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mobile customer revenue

6,709

7,307

 

4,847

5,264

 

1,851

2,043

Mobile incoming revenue

511

611

 

344

395

 

169

215

Other service revenue

582

603

 

392

406

 

112

95

Mobile service revenue

7,802

8,521

 

5,583

6,065

 

2,132

2,353

Fixed service revenue

2,508

2,516

 

2,166

2,125

 

241

240

Service revenue

10,310

11,037

 

7,749

8,190

 

2,373

2,593

Other revenue

1,291

1,149

 

727

638

 

445

445

Revenue

11,601

12,186

 

8,476

8,828

 

2,818

3,038

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Growth

 

Reported

Organic*

 

Reported

Organic*

 

Reported

Organic*

 

%

%

 

%

%

 

%

%

Revenue

(4.8)

2.7

 

(4.0)

2.4

 

(7.2)

7.0

Service revenue

(6.6)

1.3

 

(5.4)

0.8

 

(8.5)

6.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Companies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Germany

 

Italy

 

UK

 

 

Restated

 

 

Restated

 

 

Restated

 

2017

2016

 

2017

2016

 

2017

2016

 

€m

€m

 

€m

€m

 

€m

€m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mobile customer revenue

1,361

1,338

 

952

955

 

1,016

1,117

Mobile incoming revenue

53

71

 

84

89

 

75

83

Other service revenue

140

136

 

73

76

 

79

81

Mobile service revenue

1,554

1,545

 

1,109

1,120

 

1,170

1,281

Fixed service revenue

1,015

985

 

245

218

 

340

362

Service revenue

2,569

2,530

 

1,354

1,338

 

1,510

1,643

Other revenue

114

150

 

207

195

 

246

90

Revenue

2,683

2,680

 

1,561

1,533

 

1,756

1,733

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Growth

 

Reported

Organic*

 

Reported

Organic*

 

Reported

Organic*

 

%

%

 

%

%

 

%

%

Revenue

0.1

0.2

 

1.8

2.1

 

1.3

8.4

Service revenue

1.5

1.6

 

1.2

1.5

 

(8.1)

(3.0)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spain

 

Vodacom

 

Discontinued operations:
India

 

 

Restated

 

 

Restated

 

 

Restated

 

2017

2016

 

2017

2016

 

2017

2016

 

€m

€m

 

€m

€m

 

€m

€m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mobile customer revenue

694

691

 

978

948

 

879

1,208

Mobile incoming revenue

41

37

 

40

53

 

216

164

Other service revenue

63

63

 

62

52

 

39

53

Mobile service revenue

798

791

 

1,080

1,053

 

1,134

1,425

Fixed service revenue

385

354

 

53

39

 

82

70

Service revenue

1,183

1,145

 

1,133

1,092

 

1,216

1,495

Other revenue

93

106

 

242

197

 

7

1

Revenue

1,276

1,251

 

1,375

1,289

 

1,223

1,496

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Growth

 

Reported

Organic*

 

Reported

Organic*

 

Reported

Organic*

 

%

%

 

%

%

 

%

%

Revenue

2.0

2.5

 

6.7

6.2

 

(18.2)

(17.4)

Service revenue

3.3

3.9

 

3.8

3.4

 

(18.7)

(17.8)

 


Notes:

*              All amounts in this document marked with an “*” represent organic growth which presents performance on a comparable basis, both in terms of merger and acquisition activity and movements in foreign exchange rates. Organic growth is an alternative performance measures. See “Alternative performance measures” on page 42 for further details and reconciliations to the respective closest equivalent GAAP measure.

1.  The results for the half year ended 30 September 2016 have been restated to exclude the results of Vodafone India which has been classified as discontinued operations for Group reporting purposes following the agreement to combine with Idea Cellular.

 

50


 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

Reconciliation of adjusted earnings

 

 

 

Reported

 

Discontinued
operations

 

Adjustments1

 

Adjusted

 

Six months ended 30 September 2017

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating profit

 

2,008

 

 

77

 

2,085

 

Amortisation of acquired customer base and brand intangible assets

 

 

 

543

 

543

 

Non-operating income and expense

 

(1

)

 

1

 

 

Net financing costs

 

152

 

 

(407

)

(255

)

Profit before taxation

 

2,159

 

 

214

 

2,373

 

Income tax expense

 

(579

)

 

90

 

(489

)

Profit for the financial period continuing operations

 

1,580

 

 

304

 

1,884

 

Loss for the financial period from discontinued operations

 

(345

)

345

 

 

 

Profit for the financial period

 

1,235

 

345

 

304

 

1,884

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attributable to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

– Owners of the parent

 

1,131

 

345

 

297

 

1,773

 

– Non-controlling interests

 

104

 

 

7

 

111

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share

 

4.03

c

 

 

 

 

6.32

c

 


Note:

1.        See page 18 for further details.

 

 

 

Reported

 

Discontinued
operations

 

Adjustments2

 

Adjusted

 

Six months ended 30 September 2016 restated1

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating profit

 

1,515

 

 

93

 

1,608

 

Amortisation of acquired customer base and brand intangible assets

 

 

 

515

 

515

 

Non-operating income and expense

 

 

 

 

 

Net financing costs

 

(123

)

 

(328

)

(451

)

Profit before taxation

 

1,392

 

 

280

 

1,672

 

Income tax expense

 

(1,114

)

 

714

 

(400

)

Profit for the financial period continuing operations

 

278

 

 

994

 

1,272

 

Loss for the financial period from discontinued operations

 

(5,281

)

5,281

 

 

 

Loss/(profit) for the financial period

 

(5,003

)

5,281

 

994

 

1,272

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attributable to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

– Owners of the parent

 

(5,129

)

5,281

 

986

 

1,138

 

– Non-controlling interests

 

126

 

 

8

 

134

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic (loss)/earnings per share

 

(18.38

)c

 

 

 

 

4.08

c

 


Notes:

1.       The results for the half year ended 30 September 2016 have been restated to exclude the results of Vodafone India which has been classified as discontinued operations for Group reporting purposes following the agreement to combine with Idea Cellular.

2.        See page 18 for further details.

 

51


 

OTHER INFORMATION

 

Definition of terms

 

Term

 

Definition

Adjusted EBIT

 

Operating profit excluding share of results in associates and joint ventures, impairment losses, amortisation of customer bases and brand intangible assets restructuring costs arising from discrete restructuring plans and other income and expense. The Group’s definition of adjusted EBIT may not be comparable with similarly titled measures and disclosures by other companies.

Adjusted EBITDA

 

Operating profit excluding share of results in associates and joint ventures, depreciation and amortisation, gains/losses on the disposal of fixed assets, impairment losses, restructuring costs arising from discrete restructuring plans and other income and expense. The Group’s definition of adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable with similarly titled measures and disclosures by other companies.

Adjusted operating profit

 

Group adjusted operating profit excludes impairment losses, restructuring costs, amortisation of customer bases and brand intangible assets and other income and expense.

ARPU

 

Average revenue per user, defined as customer revenue and incoming revenue divided by average customers.

Capital additions

 

Comprises the purchase of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets, other than licence and spectrum payments.

Converged customer

 

A customer who receives both fixed and mobile services (also known as unified communications) on a single bill or who receives a discount across both bills.

Customer costs

 

Includes acquisition costs, retention costs and expenses related to ongoing commissions.

Depreciation and other amortisation

 

The accounting charge that allocates the cost of a tangible or intangible asset to the income statement over its useful life. This measure includes the profit or loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment and computer software.

Direct costs

 

Direct costs include interconnect costs and other direct costs of providing services.

Enterprise

 

The Group’s customer segment for businesses.

Fixed service revenue

 

Service revenue relating to provision of fixed line (‘fixed’) and carrier services.

Free cash flow (pre-spectrum)

 

Operating free cash flow after cash flows in relation to taxation, interest, dividends received from associates and investments and dividends paid to non-controlling shareholders in subsidiaries, but before restructuring and licence and spectrum payments.

Free cash flow

 

Operating free cash flow after cash flows in relation to taxation, interest, dividends received from associates and investments, dividends paid to non-controlling shareholders in subsidiaries, restructuring payments and licence and spectrum payments. Free cash flow has been redefined during the period to include restructuring and licence and spectrum payments to ensure greater comparability with similarly titled measures and disclosures by other companies.

Incoming revenue

 

Comprises revenue from termination rates for voice and messaging to Vodafone customers.

Internet of Things (‘IoT’)

 

The network of physical objects embedded with electronics, software, sensors, and network connectivity, including built-in mobile SIM cards, that enables these objects to collect data and exchange communications with one another or a database.

Mobile customer revenue

 

Represents revenue from mobile customers from bundles that include a specified number of minutes, messages or megabytes of data that can be used for no additional charge (‘in-bundle’) and revenues from minutes, messages or megabytes of data which are in excess of the amount included in customer bundles (‘out-of-bundle’). Mobile in-bundle and out-of-bundle revenues, previously disclosed separately, are now combined to simplify the presentation of the Group’s results.

Mobile service revenue

 

Service revenue relating to the provision of mobile services.

Net debt

 

Long-term borrowings, short-term borrowings and mark-to-market adjustments on financing instruments less cash and cash equivalents.

Next generation networks (‘NGN’)

 

Fibre or cable networks typically providing high-speed broadband over 30Mbps.

Operating expenses

 

Operating expenses comprise primarily sales and distribution costs, network and IT related expenditure and business support costs.

Operating free cash flow

 

Cash generated from operations after cash payments for capital additions (excludes capital licence and spectrum payments) and cash receipts from the disposal of intangible assets and

 

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OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

 

property, plant and equipment, but before restructuring costs.

Organic growth

 

An alternative performance measure which presents performance on a comparable basis, both in terms of merger and acquisition activity and movements in foreign exchange rates. See “Alternative performance measures” on page 42 for further details.

Other revenue

 

Other revenue includes revenue from connection fees and equipment sales.

 

Definition of terms (continued)

 

Term

 

Definition

Regulation

 

Impact of industry specific law and regulations covering telecommunication services. The impact of regulation on service revenue in European markets comprises the effect of changes in European mobile termination rates and changes in out-of-bundle roaming revenues less the increase in visitor revenues.

Reported growth

 

Reported growth is based on amounts reported in euros as determined under IFRS.

Restructuring costs

 

Costs incurred by the Group following the implementation of discrete restructuring plans to improve overall efficiency.

RGUs

 

Revenue Generating Units describes number of fixed line services taken by subscribers.

Roaming

 

Impact of European roaming, defined as the increase in visitor revenues less the increase in roaming costs and the decline in out-of-bundle roaming revenues.

Service revenue

 

Service revenue comprises all revenue related to the provision of ongoing services including, but not limited to, monthly access charges, airtime usage, roaming, incoming and outgoing network usage by non-Vodafone customers and interconnect charges for incoming calls. See “Alternative performance measures” on page 42 for further details.

VGE

 

Vodafone Global Enterprise (VGE), which serves the Group’s biggest multi-national customers.

 

For definitions of other terms please refer to pages 218 to 220 of the Group’s annual report for the financial year ended 31 March 2017.

 

Copies of this document are available from the Company’s registered office at Vodafone House, The Connection, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 2FN. The half-year results will be available on the Vodafone Group Plc website, vodafone.com/investor, from 14 November 2017.

 

Notes:

1.        References to Vodafone are to Vodafone Group Plc and references to Vodafone Group are to Vodafone Group Plc and its subsidiaries unless otherwise stated. Vodafone, the Vodafone Portrait, the Vodafone Speechmark, Vodacom, Vodafone One and M-Pesa, are trademarks of the Vodafone Group. The Vodafone Rhombus is a registered design of the Vodafone Group. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

2.        All growth rates reflect a comparison to the six months ended 30 September 2016 unless otherwise stated.

3.        References to “Q1” and “Q2” are to the quarters ended 30 June 2017 and 30 September 2017, respectively, unless otherwise stated. References to “half year”, “first half” or “H1” are to the six months ended 30 September 2017 unless otherwise stated. References to the “year”, “financial year” or “2018 financial year” are to the financial year ending 31 March 2018 and references to the “last year” or “last financial year” are to the financial year ended 31 March 2017 unless otherwise stated.

4.        All amounts marked with an “*” represent “organic growth”, which presents performance on a comparable basis, both in terms of merger and acquisition activity as well as in terms of movements in foreign exchange rates.

5.        Vodacom refers to the Group’s interest in Vodacom Group Limited (‘Vodacom’) in South Africa as well as its subsidiaries, including its operations in the DRC, Lesotho, Mozambique and Tanzania.

6.        The financial results for India have been derived from our consolidated financial results and this may differ from Vodafone India’s financial statements prepared under Indian GAAP, Indian Accounting Standards or IFRS.

7.        Quarterly historical information, including information for service revenue, mobile customers, mobile churn, mobile data usage, mobile ARPU and certain fixed line and convergence metrics, is provided in a spread sheet available at vodafone.com/investor.

8.        This trading update contains references to our website. Information on our website is not incorporated into this update and should not be considered part of this update. We have included any website as an inactive textual reference only.

 

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OTHER INFORMATION

 

Forward-looking statements

 

This report contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to the Group’s financial condition, results of operations and businesses and certain of the Group’s plans and objectives.

 

In particular, such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: expectations regarding the Group’s financial condition or results of operations, including the Group Chief Executive’s statement and financial review of the half year on pages 2 to 5 of this report and the guidance for adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow for the 2018 financial year (and the related underlying assumptions) on page 6; expectations for the Group’s future performance generally, including growth and capital expenditure; expectations regarding the operating environment and market conditions and trends, including customer usage, competitive position and macroeconomic pressures, spectrum auctions and awards, price trends and opportunities in specific geographic markets; intentions and expectations regarding the development, launch and expansion of products, services and technologies, either introduced by Vodafone or by Vodafone in conjunction with third parties or by third parties independently including the rollout of TV in the United Kingdom; expectations regarding free cash flow, foreign exchange rate movements and tax rates; expectations regarding the integration or performance of current and future investments, associates, joint ventures, non-controlled interests and newly acquired businesses; expectations regarding MTR rates in the jurisdictions in which Vodafone operates; expectations regarding Vodafone India, the outcome and impact of regulatory and legal proceedings involving Vodafone and of scheduled or potential legislative and regulatory changes, including approvals, reviews and consultations.

 

Forward-looking statements are sometimes, but not always, identified by their use of a date in the future or such words as “will”, “anticipates”, “aims”, “could”, “may”, “should”, “expects”, “believes”, “intends”, “plans” ,”prepares” or “targets” (including in their negative form or other variations). By their nature, forward-looking statements are inherently predictive, speculative and involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following: general economic and political conditions of the jurisdictions in which the Group operates and changes to the associated legal, regulatory and tax environments; increased competition; levels of investment in network capacity and the Group’s ability to deploy new technologies, products and services; rapid changes to existing products and services and the inability of new products and services to perform in accordance with expectations; the ability of the Group to integrate new technologies, products and services with existing networks, technologies, products and services; the Group’s ability to generate and grow revenue; a lower than expected impact of new or existing products, services or technologies on the Group’s future revenue, cost structure and capital expenditure outlays; slower than expected customer growth, reduced customer retention, reductions or changes in customer spending and increased pricing pressure; the Group’s ability to expand its spectrum position, win 3G and 4G allocations and realise expected synergies and benefits associated with 3G and 4G; the Group’s ability to secure the timely delivery of high-quality products from suppliers; loss of suppliers, disruption of supply chains and greater than anticipated prices of new mobile handsets; changes in the costs to the Group of, or the rates the Group my charge for, terminations and roaming minutes; the impact of a failure or significant interruption to the Group’s telecommunications, networks, IT systems or data protection systems; the Group’s ability to realise expected benefits from acquisitions, partnerships, joint ventures, franchises, brand licences, platform sharing or other arrangements with third parties; acquisitions and divestments of Group businesses and assets and the pursuit of new, unexpected strategic opportunities; the Group’s ability to integrate acquired business or assets; the extent of any future write-downs or impairment charges on the Group’s assets, or restructuring charges incurred as a result of an acquisition or disposition; a developments in the Group’s financial condition, earnings and distributable funds and other factors that the Board takes into account in determining the level of dividends; the Group’s ability to satisfy working capital requirements; changes in foreign exchange rates; changes in the regulatory framework in which the Group operates; the impact of legal or other proceedings against the Group or other companies in the communications industry and changes in statutory tax rates and profit mix.

 

Furthermore, a review of the reasons why actual results and developments may differ materially from the expectations disclosed or implied within forward-looking statements can be found under “Forward-looking statements” and “Principal risk factors and uncertainties” in the Group’s annual report for the financial year ended 31 March 2017. The annual report can be found on the Group’s website (vodafone.com/investor). All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or any member of the Group or any persons acting on their behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the factors referred to above. No assurances can be given that the forward-looking statements in this document will be realised. Subject to compliance with applicable law and regulations, Vodafone does not intend to update these forward-looking statements and does not undertake any obligation to do so.

 

For further information:

 

Vodafone Group Plc

 

Investor Relations

Media Relations

Telephone: +44 7919 990 230

www.vodafone.com/media/contact

 

Copyright © Vodafone Group 2017

 

-ends-

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorised.

 

 

VODAFONE GROUP

 

PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY

 

(Registrant)

 

 

 

 

Dated: November 14, 2017

By:

/s/ R E S MARTIN

 

Name:

Rosemary E S Martin

 

Title:

Group General Counsel and Company Secretary