2003 Final Results - Part 1
Telefonica SA
26 February 2004
Quarterly Results
January - December 2003
Table of Contents
Telefonica Group
Financial Highlights
Results
Analysis of Results By Business Line
Fixed Line Business
Telefonica de Espana Group
Telefonica Latinoamerica Group
Telefonica Empresas
Mobile Business
Mobile Business
Other Business
Directories Business
Terra-Lycos Group
Atento Group
Content and Media Business.
Addendum
Companies included in each Financial Statement
Significant Events
Changes to the Perimeter and Accounting Criteria of Consolidation
NOTE:
The English language translation of the consolidated financial statements
originally issued in Spanish has been prepared solely for the convenience of
English speaking readers. Despite all the efforts devoted to this translation,
certain omissions or approximations may subsist. Telefonica, its representatives
and employees decline all responsibility in this regard. In the event of a
discrepancy, the Spanish-language version prevails.
These consolidated financial statements are presented on the basis of accounting
principles generally accepted in Spain. Certain accounting practices applied by
the Group that conform with generally accepted accounting principles in Spain
may not conform with generally accepted accounting principles in other
countries.
TELEFONICA GROUP
Financial Highlights
The most relevant factors of Telefonica Group results during the year 2003 are
the following:
• The sustained growth of all businesses together with a general improvement
in non-operating results have led to obtain a net income of 2,203.6 million
euros:
• Telefonica Group EBITDA grew by 7.5% and Operating Profit by 25.8% in
relation to the previous year.
• All non-operating items on the profit and loss account (associates,
financial expenses, extraordinary results and goodwill amortization)
improved significantly compared with 2002.
• Substantial growth of free cash flow generation and Group's profitability:
• Free cash flow generation (EBITDA-CapEx) increased by 11.8% to reach
8,875.0 million euros, with significant increases in the cellular business
(+14.5%) and in Telefonica de Espana Group (+12.8%).
• The consolidated EBITDA margin grew 3.1 percentage points over the past
twelve months to 44.4%, thanks to greater or similar profitability in all
business lines.
• Fourth quarter results confirm the trend of quarterly improvement seen
over the year, with a significant growth in revenues (+9.0%), EBITDA
(+18.3%) and Operating Profit (+41.6%) during the last quarter.
• Progressive improvement of Latin American operations over the year, which
continue to recover:
• The slow-down of the negative impact of exchange rates on revenues and
EBITDA continues (deducting 6.6 percentage points and 6.0 percentage points,
respectively, in December, compared with -9.1 percentage points and -9.0
percentage points in September, -13.5 percentage points and -13.7 percentage
points in June and -17.2 percentage points and -18.4 percentage points in
March).
• For the second consecutive quarter of the year, Telefonica Latinoamerica
showed a positive year on year performance in revenues (+13.6%) and EBITDA
(+17.2%).
• 2003 Financial commitments have been met and even surpass, based on the
solid organic performance of all business lines:
• Revenues, EBITDA and Operating Profit, excluding exchange rates effect and
changes in consolidation, improved by 6.0%, 12.5% and 29.7%, respectively.
• The performance of the cellular business over the year must be
highlighted, with annual growth rates of 10.4% in revenues and 19.6% in
EBITDA.
• Telefonica de Espana Group results recovered at the end of the year,
ending 2003 with a year on year EBITDA growth of 0.4% and limiting the fall
in revenues to 0.5%.
• Solid evolution of Telefonica Latinoamerica with respect to the previous
year, recording an 8.4% increase in revenues and an 8.6% growth in EBITDA,
without taking into account the effect of exchange rates.
• Acceleration in the rate of growth of the Group's total client base (99
million, 13.0% higher than in 2002) through strong commercial activity in
the cellular business and the expansion of broadband, setting the basis for
future revenue growth at the Group level:
• Cellular managed client base increased by over 10.6 million in 2003 to
reach 52.0 million. Fourth quarter net adds (4.2 million) was the highest in
the Company's history.
• The Group's ADSL connections reached 2.7 million, with net adds of 1.2
million connections over the year.
• Group's financial strength is reaffirmed:
• Net debt dropped by 14.6% in relation to December 2002, to reach 19,235.3
million euros.
• Net debt/EBITDA ratio stood at 1.5x in 2003 compared with 1.9x in 2002.
• During the year, a clear and ambitious long-term shareholder remuneration
policy has been established, at the forefront of the European
telecommunications sector:
• In 2003, a cash dividend of 0.25 euros per share and a dividend in kind
corresponding to a 30% stake in Antena3 TV has been paid, and a 2% capital
stock has been cancelled.
• Commitment to pay a minimum dividend on 0.4 euros per share for the period
2004-2006.
• Commitment to dedicate a minimum of 4,000 million euros to the acquisition
of treasury stock over the period 2003-2006.
Telefonica Group Results
The results obtained by Telefonica Group and the management report included in
this report are based on the actions carried out by the various business units
in the Group and which constitute the units over which management of these
businesses is conducted. This implies a presentation of results based on the
actual management of the various businesses in which Telefonica Group is
present, instead of adhering to the legal structure observed by the
participating companies.
In this sense, income statements are presented by business, which basically
implies that each line of activity participate in the companies that the Group
holds in the corresponding business, regardless of whether said holding has
already been transferred or not, even though it might be the final intent of
Telefonica, S.A. to do so in the future.
It should be emphasized that this presentation by businesses in no case alters
the total results obtained by Telefonica Group. These results are incorporated
from the date of effective acquisition of the holding.
Moreover, the results corresponding to Data, Solutions, and TIWS (wholesale
international IP traffic and Broadband Capacity Management business, integrating
Emergia within its assets) are published in the business line of Telefonica
Empresas.
The results obtained by the Telefonica Group during 2003 were characterized by
an improvement in the main operating and non-operating items of its income
statement, the growth of its client base, net income and free cash flow
generation, the increasing profitability of all business lines, and a reduction
in net debt. Thus, the company was able to meet and ever surpass its main
commitments adopted with the financial community for 2003.
Total client base exceeded 99 million compared with the almost 87 million of
2002, net income was in excess of 2,200 million euros, free cash flow generation
(EBITDA-CapEx) grew by 11.8% in relation to 2002 to reach 8,875.0 million euros,
EBITDA margin reached 44.4% (41.3% a year ago) and net debt amounted to 19,235.3
million euros at December 31, 3,297.8 million euros less than at the end of
2002.
Furthermore, there was a progressive improvement over the year in the economic
situation of Latin America, reflected in the solid performance of local currency
operations and allowing for the negative effect of local currency depreciation
against the euro to be reduced quarter by quarter in the Group's accounts.
The result obtained by the Telefonica Group was a consequence of a dual effort
to manage and implement the strategic priorities of Telefonica: On one hand,
focusing on the management of key businesses (fixed and cellular) and, on the
other hand, simplifying the Group's lines of activity and structure. This was
reflected in the organic growth of operations and in the strengthening of the
company's position on key markets and businesses, in line with the aim to turn
the company into a more flexible and efficient business model with a greater
client orientation.
Secondly, during 2003, the restructuring process of unprofitable businesses that
begun with the strategic decisions and agreements taken in 2002 was completed.
It is worth mentioning the closing of the merger of Via Digital with Sogecable,
the take-over bid of Terra Lycos as well as the sale of certain assets (Antena 3
TV, the data business in Italy, the Austrian third-generation mobile telephony
subsidiary, etc.).
The organic growth in operations was shown by the evolution of revenues, EBITDA
and Operating Profit in 2003 that, in comparable terms, that is excluding
exchange rates and changes in consolidation, recorded a significant year on year
growth (+6.0%, +12.5% and +29.7%, respectively). In turn, non-operating result
has improved line by line in 2003 compared with 2002: associates (-212.6 million
euros compared with -527.9 million euros), financial results (-1,060.7 million
euros compared with -2,221.6 million euros), amortization of goodwill (-442.5
million euros compared with -665.4 million euros) and extraordinary results
(-1,249.7 million euros compared with -16,217.9 million euros).
Likewise, it is worth noting that the Group's results in euros have improved
quarter by quarter in view of the better year on year exchange rate comparison
and the acceleration in the rhythm of underlying growth.
This performance has enabled the Telefonica Group to commit to a more explicit
and long-term policy of shareholder remuneration during 2003, this being one of
the most ambitious in the European telecommunications sector. Thus, during 2003,
a cash dividend of 0.25 euros per share and a dividend in kind corresponding to
a 30% stake were paid, and a 2% of capital stock has been amortized. For
2004-06, the Company has agreed to pay a minimum dividend of 0.4 euros per share
each year and to devote a minimum of 4,000 million euros (during the period
2003-2006) to share buy-backs.
Operating revenues amounted to 28,399.8 million euros over the entire year, a
similar level to that recorded in 2002 (28,411.3 million euros) and recovered
significantly over the year (-12.9% in March, -7.3% in June and - 3.0% in
September), primarily due to the lower negative effect of exchange rates (-17.2
percentage points during the first quarter, -13.5 percentage points in the first
half, -9.1 percentage points in January-September and -6.6 percentage points as
of December). Taking constant exchange rates into account and excluding changes
in consolidation, the year on year growth rate for operating revenues was placed
at 6.0%, supported by the contribution of the cellular business (+12.9%),
Telefonica Latinoamerica (+8.1%) and Telefonica Empresas (+8.7%). This 6.0%
adjusted growth in Group sales accelerated during the last quarter, as it had
grown by 5.5% as of September.
By operator, the solid performance in 2003 of Telefonica Moviles Espana
(+10.7%), Telesp (+18.2% in local currency), TASA (+14.5% in local currency) and
Telefonica Data Espana (+6.0%) must be underlined. In quarterly terms, revenues
during the last quarter of 2003 were the best of the year in absolute term
(7,566.7 million euros) and reached a year on year growth rate of 9.0% in
nominal euros (+6.4% in the third quarter).
This evolution of results is based on the growth of the Group's client base. The
Group's managed client base at December 31, 2003 rose to 93.4 million, 11.2
million more than at the end of 2002 and 4.5 million more than in September
2003. This growth came about by the cellular and broadband business. Thus, the
managed cellular client base reached 52.0 million, with a 25.7% growth compared
with December of the previous year, notably due to strong commercial activity in
all areas of operations. ADSL connections recorded a year on year growth of
81.8% to almost 2.7 million, 1.9 million corresponding to Europe and the
remainder to Latin America.
Telefonica Latinoamerica, which accounts for 22.5% of consolidated revenues,
reached sales of 6,377.1 million euros in 2003, limiting its year on year
decrease rate to 8.3% (-14.4% as of September). It is worth noting that, for the
second consecutive quarter, operating revenues had a positive year on year
variation (4Q03/4Q02 +13.6%). In constant euros and over the past twelve months,
sales grew by 8.4% (+9.1% to September).
Operating revenues for the cellular business, the first business line by sales
contribution (36.7% of the total, 3.4 percentage points higher than in December
2002), rose to 10,428.3 million euros, 10.4% above those of January-December
2002. This growth was mainly promoted by the expansion of the client base
(strong commercial activity during the last quarter) and the favorable
performance of Telefonica Moviles Espana (+10.7%, with service revenues higher
than in 2002 by 9.9%).
During the last quarter, the Telefonica de Espana Group changed the negative
trend recorded during previous quarters and, for the first time since the last
quarter 2002, operating revenues recorded an year on year increase (4Q03/4Q02
+1.4%). This evolution pushed 2003 revenues to 10,217.4 million euros (36.0% of
total revenues), 0.5% below the 2002 figure.
In terms of the geographical breakdown of Telefonica Group revenues and EBITDA,
Spain increased its contribution to 61.6% and 69.6% respectively at the end of
2003 (58.8% and 68.7% a year ago), while Latin American reduced its contribution
to revenues to 33.3% of total (35.2% at 31/12/02) and in EBITDA to 30.6% (33.7%
as of December 2002).
Operating costs decreased by 5.1% in 2003 compared with the previous year to
reach 16,617.8 million euros, proving the efficiency of operations within the
Group. This decrease was 2.9 percentage points lower than that cumulative as of
September due to the lesser negative effect of exchange rate variations (-6.8
percentage points in December and -9.0 percentage points in September). In
comparable terms, excluding this effect and changes in consolidation, operating
costs grew by 1.5% compared with the 0.7% in January-September, primarily due to
the cellular business (+7.4% versus +1.4% to September) because of higher
commercial costs in Spain, Brazil and Mexico associated to the Christmas
campaigns. In relation to December 2002, the adjusted year on year growth of
operating costs (+1.5%) is almost entirely due to the strong commercial activity
of Telefonica Moviles, together with the development of the long-distance
business in Brazil.
Bad debt continued to be managed efficiently in the Telefonica Group over the
entire year, as reflected in the ratio of bad debts over revenues that, at the
end of 2003, stood at 1.5% and had improved by 0.8 percentage points each
compared to December 2002. Telefonica Latinoamerica and the Telefonica de Espana
Group were the lines to have most reduced their bad debts to revenues ratio
(-0.6 percentage points each in relation to 2002, to 3.1% and 0.8%,
respectively). The drop of TASA's ratio to revenues must be underlined (around
1.2% in December 2003 versus 6.9% a year ago), due to the economic recovery of
Argentina and the effectiveness of the measures implemented over the past twelve
months (scoring procedures, control lines, etc.). Of the remaining Latin
American operators, Telesp maintained its bad debt ratio at 3.7%, while CTC
recorded a 0.8 percentage point increase over the past twelve months to 3.6% of
revenues, although it has launched a series of initiatives in order to reverse
this trend (ratio reduced by 0.1 percentage point over the past three months).
In relation to the first nine months of the year, the bad debt ratio to revenues
of the Telefonica Group remained almost unchanged (1.6% to revenues as of
September versus 1.5% as of December).
Consolidated EBITDA amounted to 12,602.1 million euros, having exceeded that
recorded in 2002 by 7.5%. The favourable evolution of operations and the
moderation in the negative effect of exchange rates, which subtracted 6.0
percentage points from this growth, were the determining factors in this
performance. In quarterly terms, the EBITDA for the last quarter grew by 18.3%
compared with the same quarter of the previous year, the highest level of the
year (+17.0% in 3Q03 and +3.5% in 2Q03). Excluding the fluctuations of exchange
rates and changes in consolidation, the EBITDA grew by 12.5%, 0.3 percentage
points higher than in September.
In 2003, the cellular business became the greatest contributor in absolute terms
to the Group's EBITDA (36.4% of the total compared to 32.7% twelve months ago),
reaching 4,581.9 million euros, 19.6% above 2002 level, supported by Telefonica
Moviles Espana (+12.9%). However, it must be noted that the strong commercial
activity of the last quarter (net adds being 5.2 times higher than 4Q02) was
reflected in a lower EBITDA margin during this period (39.1% compared with 43.9%
for the full year).
Telefonica Latinoamerica (24.3% of the total EBITDA) has registered an EBITDA of
3,065.3 million euros at the end of 2003, 8.4% less than at the end of 2002 due
to the depreciation of Latin American currencies against the euro. However, the
slowing down of this effect over the second half of the year was reflected in
the positive year on year performances of the third and fourth quarters of the
year (+15.8% and +17.2%, respectively). In constant euros, there was an 8.6%
increase in EBITDA for the year (8,4% as of September). Local currency growth
rates of Telesp (+9.7%) and TASA (+35.5%) explained this performance and
compensated for the decreases, also in local currency of CTC (-3.5% excluding
Sonda) and TdP (-3.8%).
The EBITDA of the Telefonica de Espana Group, contributing with 36.0% of
consolidated EBITDA (38.5% a year ago), amounted to 4,534.2 million euros during
the year, 0.4% higher than that obtain during the same period of the previous
year. The highest growth rate posted in the last quarter in comparison with the
third quarter (+3.4% versus +2.0%), which is explained mostly by the savings
brought about in personnel expenses by the 2003-2007 Pre-retirement Program,
allowed for the downward trend recorded by the EBITDA over the year to be
reversed (-1.6% in March, -1.9% in June and -0.7% in September).
In terms of operating profitability, the Group's EBITDA margin rose to 44.4% at
the end of the year, 3.1 percentage points higher than that cumulative in 2002.
All business lines improved their margins, particularly the cellular business
(43.9% versus 40.5% in 2002) and Telefonica Empresas (17.1% compared to 7.3% at
the end of 2002) and with the exception of Telefonica Latinoamerica, where its
margin to revenues remained unchanged at 48.1%.
The operating profit reached 6,327.9 million euros at the end of the year, an
annual growth rate of 25.8%, 5.1 percentage points more than the
January-September figure. This performance is explained by the higher rhythm of
EBITDA growth (+7.5% versus +4.1% to September), which has compensated for the
drop in the amortization decrease rate (-6.2% as of December compared to -8.2%
in the first nine months of the year) due to the decrease in the exchange rate
effect. Thus, excluding this effect and the changes in consolidation,
amortizations continued with the improvement shown over the entire year and fell
by 0.4% in December (+3.8% in March, +2.1% in June and +0.2% in September). If
the operating profit is adjusted to reflect these two factors, its growth rate
would have risen to 29.7% (28.3% in January-September 2003).
The negative results for associates was reduced over 2003 by 59.7% to 212.6
million euros as a result of both the sale of certain subsidiaries (ETI Austria,
Data Uruguay, Azul TV in 2002, and Antena3 TV and Atlanet in 2003) and the
smaller losses related to IPSE-2000, Medi Telecom, Pearson and Via Digital
(Sogecable was included in the Consolidated Group's accounts in July 2003).
Total net financial costs reached 1,060.7 million euros as of December 2003,
including a positive impact from the appreciation of the Argentinean peso of
134.4 million euros. Excluding that effect, the financial results rose to
1,195.1 million euros, which meant a drop of 29.4% compared to the comparable
financial results for 2002 (1,692.8 million euros). Out of that percentage, 15.8
percentage points were due to the positive result of 267.5 million euros coming
from the cancellation of US dollars denominated debt. Excluding also this
positive result, 2003 financial results would have totaled 1,462.6 million
euros, falling 13.6% versus the above-mentioned comparable figure of 2002.
The free cash flow generated by the Telefonica Group in 2003 reached 6,312.4
million euros, of which 1,233.3 million euros were devoted to dividend payments,
1,715.9 million euros to financial investments (net of real state divestitures)
and 818.3 million euros to cancelation of commitments adquired by the Group,
derived basically from the headcount reduction plan. Finally, Free Cash Flow
after dividends, which corresponds to the one available for debt reduction,
reached 2,544.9 million euros.
Net debt of Telefonica Group reached 19,235.3 million euros as of December 2003.
The reduction of 3,297.8 million euros from 2002 consolidated net debt (22,533.1
million euros) arose mainly from the generation of 2,544.9 million euros of Free
Cash Flow after dividends. Also, out of the total net debt reduction in the
period, 859.4 million euros were related to the currencies movements effect on
the non-euro denominated debt, basically due to the euro apreciation versus
dollar, partially compensated by the increase of debt of 106.4 million euros due
to changes in consolidation and other effect on financial statements.
Goodwill amortization dropped by 33.5% compared to 2002 to 442.5 million euros,
following last year write-offs at Terra Lycos, Telefonica Deutschland, lobox and
Pearson carried out last year. The acquisitions of Pegaso in September 2002 and
TCO in May 2003 are the reasons behind the annual increase of the cellular
business goodwill amortization (+14.6%).
Extraordinary results as of December 2003 (-1,249.7 million euros) are not
comparable with those recorded during the previous year (-16,217.9 million
euros), because of the write-offs related to the assets and restructuring costs
of UMTS and those of Terra Lycos, Telefonica Deutschland and Pearson that were
accounted for last year. Two significant extraordinary items have been accrued
over the last quarter of 2003: 1) the provision related to the 5,489 employees
that joined to the first stage of the 2003-2007 Pre-retirement Program at
Telefonica de Espana, amounting to -1,372.3 million euros and 2) the capital
gain for the sale of Antena3 TV for 392.3 million euros. Of the remaining
extraordinary items to have occurred over the year, on a positive side it is
important to note: i) the net capital gain related to real estate disposals
(180.9 million euros), ii) the reversion of the provision for adapting to market
prices treasury stock amortized last June and treasury stock as of December 31
(0.8% of share capital), which rose to 160.0 million euros, and on the negative
side: i) the costs associated to the different contingencies and compensation
for workforce restructuring at Telesp and TdP and ii) updating the provision for
retirement and early retirement of Telefonica de Espana's previous
Pre-retirement Program.
The provision for tax over the year reached 913.4 million euros compared to the
fiscal credit that arose in 2002 due to the depreciation in value (provision for
investment valuation allowances, deductible) of European subsidiaries that were
awarded UMTS licences. This tax provision will mean a very reduced cash outflow
for the Group due to the application of deductions and the compensation of
negative tax bases incurred in previous years.
The result attributable minorities was negative in 245.5 million euros over the
period January-December 2003, compared to the 5,795.6 million euros in 2002,
mainly due to the write-off of UMTS assets in Europe -excluding Spain-, and to
the investment in Terra-Lycos. Excluding these effects, minorities for the
previous year would have been positive in 266.4 million euros. This change in
sign over 2003 was mostly due to: 1) lower losses in Terra Lycos and in the
cellular business due to the closing of activities in Germany, 2) higher net
income for operators of Telefonica Latinoamerica, 3) change in the consolidation
of Atlanet (consolidated by the equity method since July 2002) and 4)
remuneration of the preferred shares issued in December 2002.
Subsequent to the factors detailed in previous pages, Telefonica Group net
income reached 2,203.6 million euros in 2003, compared to the net loss of
5,576.8 million euros recorded over the previous year. This difference is
explained among other factors by the accounting for the writing off of assets
and UMTS business restructuring costs in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and
Italy. During the last quarter, net income amounted to 189.2 million euros, as
they included the provision related to the first phase of the 2003-07 Telefonica
de Espana Pre-retirement Program.
On the other hand, the CapEx of the Telefonica Group in 2003 rose to 3,727.1
million euros and recorded an year on year decrease of 1.6% compared to the
previous year (+1.9% in constant currency terms and excluding changes in
consolidation), representing a ratio to revenues of 13.1%, almost the same level
as that reached in 2002 (13.3%). In general, all business lines have continued
to reduce their level of investment from the previous year, with the exception
of the cellular business, which experienced a 34.0% growth due to the deployment
of GSM networks in Mexico and Chile.
The average workforce of the Telefonica Group was 149,465 employees in 2003,
5.1% lower than a year ago (-8,039 employees). This decrease is due to cuts in
personnel made by Telefonica de Espana following the implementation of the
2003-2007 Pre-retirement Program and by Telefonica Latinoamerica, where most
cuts are from the workforce restructuring programs carried out by Telesp in the
first and last quarters of the year.
With regard to the abovementioned impact of the updating of external debt in the
Group's companies in Argentina, the consolidated accounts for 2003 showed
positive impacts on the consolidated profit and loss account and in the heading
'Translation differences in consolidation' in the Shareholder Equity caption of
84.0 million euros and of 420.3 million euros respectively, as a result of the
appreciation of the Argentine peso from $US1 per 3.37 pesos at December 31, 2002
(1 euro per 3.53 pesos) to $US1 per 2.93 pesos at December 31, 2003 (1 euro per
3.70 pesos). In 2002, a negative impact of 354.7 million euros was recorded in
the profit and loss account.
At December 31, the exposure of the Telefonica Group in the different Argentine
companies was 1,095.3 million euros, this amount including goodwill, internal
financing and the equity value to be assigned in these investments.
Among the aspects pending completion as of today, is, among others, the
necessary renegotiation with the Government of its future tariffs due to the
effect of the provisions of Law 25.561.
ANALYSIS OF RESULTS BY BUSINESS LINE
FIXED LINE BUSINESS
Telefonica de Espana Group
Throughout 2003, efforts at Telefonica de Espana were focused on continuing the
transformation process being undertaken by the company in order to base its
business on a more agile, efficient and flexible model; on revitalizing voice
services, and on deploying mass broadband roll-out on a profitable basis, having
achieved a 73.5% growth on the whole ADSL plant. Within this process of company
transformation, it is noteworthy mentioning the workforce reduction scheme being
implemented through a Redundancy Program, covering the period 2003-2007, by
which the company intends to reduce its workforce by up to 15,000 employees. In
2003, 5,489 employees have joined the aforementioned program, being
approximately 2,000 the number of employees expected by the company to do so in
2004.
The market environment has been characterized by the following factors:
• The total number of direct accesses, including broadband, experienced an
annual growth close to 5%, after the consolidation of broadband lines as the
main driver of growth (more specifically, ADSL accesses).
• The market's voice traffic registered an estimated annual decline of 4.9%.
• The downturn of narrowband Internet switched traffic growing trend through
2003; while dial-up Internet traffic was growing by close to 3% during the
first quarter, it registered a 0.1% year-on-year decline at de end of
December 2003.
• The application of the Price Cap set for 2003 at CPI-4% led to a decrease
of nominal tariffs for fixed-to-mobile and DLD calls. The reduction,
accomplished in November 2003, was equivalent to a 2% average price
reduction of outgoing voice traffic. On January 2003 an increase in the
monthly fee of 8.0% (0.94 euros) for the PSTN lines came into force; the
monthly fee increase was excluded for the purpose of 2003 Price Cap
calculation. For year 2004, Price Cap has been set at CPI-4%, excluding
again from the Price Cap calculation the approved 4.35% increase in PSTN
monthly fee (0.55 euros).
• During third quarter of 2003, an increase of the capacity-based
interconnection tariffs and a decrease of time-based tariffs, both 7%, was
approved.
• The continuing heavy competitive pressure, both in traffic and access,
resulted in additional market share loss.
In this context, Telefonica de Espana Group succeeded in limiting the loss of
revenues (they were down by 0.5%), which together with the major efforts made in
rationalizing operating expenses, made it possible to show an EBITDA growth of
0.4%.
The estimated direct access market share of Telefonica's competitors stood at
9.6%, after a year-on-year loss of 2.6 percentage points, having lost 0.7
percentage points in the fourth quarter. This has resulted in a loss of 334,299
PSTN and ISDN basic access lines over the last twelve months, a significantly
better performance than that of 2002, when 492,793 lines were lost. It is also
noteworthy to highlight lines lost (PSTN and ISDN basic access ) during the
fourth quarter, which at 36,348 were 74.5% lower than those lost in the same
quarter 2002.
Preselected lines amounted to 2,279,022, 28.2% more than at the end of 2002,
being 91.4% of them globally preselected (81.4% in 2002). After the upturn in
the net gain in preselected lines registered in the second quarter of the year,
performance in the following quarters improved until in the period
October-December 2003 it stood at similar levels (down by 0.6%) as in the same
period of 2002.
The estimated total volume of minutes processed by the Telefonica de Espana
network amounted to 138,174 million at December 31, 2003, 3.6% less than in
December 2002, the same year-on-year figure as in September. Outgoing traffic
(voice + Internet) which accounted for 60.9% of total traffic, amounted to
84,180 million minutes, with an annual decrease of 12.6% (11.8% down in
September). Outgoing voice traffic amounted to 56,479 million minutes, down by
9.1% year-on-year due to the deterioration of the fixed telephony market and the
estimated voice traffic market share loss of 5.0 percentage points during the
year, which at the end of 2003 stood at 77%. At the end of the year, usage
continued to exhibit signs of weakness since only fixed-to-mobile and
Intelligent Network traffic recorded positive growth of 2.2% and 6.7%,
respectively, whilst the remaining types of outgoing voice traffic fell. Local
traffic fell by 13.7%, provincial traffic by 6.2%, DLD traffic by 9.1% and
international traffic by 1.4%. The number of outgoing minutes to the Internet
amounted to 27,701 million, presenting a year-on-year decrease of 18.9% and
declining more sharply in the last two quarters of the year due primarily to the
cannibalization of switched Internet traffic by the broadband ADSL services.
Finally, incoming traffic rose by 14.8% to 53,993 million minutes.
In November 2003, Telefonica de Espana launched new modular plans, named
'Combinados', an innovative offering which for the first time combines PSTN
monthly fee with flat and semi-flat rates for voice calls. This product, which
constitutes the main focus of Telefonica de Espana's efforts to revitalize the
voice business and increase client's loyalty, was extremely well received by the
market, with 173,474 'Combinados' sold in 9 weeks. This success, together with
the plans launched in June (Bonos Minuto Compacto 500 plus, Bononet 7-20, Bono
Americas 120, etc.) amounting to 64,564 plans, made it possible in the fourth
quarter to partially offset the drop in the total number of subscribers to
Telefonica de Espana plans and to continue renewing the commercial offer on
franchised plans. The total number of plans at the end of 2003 were 3,760,291.
Value Added Services on the Traditional Business have been consolidated
throughout the year, particularly as regards the number of mailboxes available,
which rose by 4.4% to 11,548,881, and the number of subscribers to the Caller ID
Service which in December stood at 6,816,593, with an annual growth of 27.9%.
The number of text messages managed continued to grow, reaching a total of
23,100,517, of which 13,532,521 were sent from fixed line telephones and
9,567,996 were sent from mobile telephones and received by fixed line
telephones. Within this category of services, in the last quarter of 2003
Telefonica de Espana launched its new 'SMS Web' service which enables text
messages to be sent from any PC to a fixed telephone line in the Telefonica de
Espana network or to any mobile telephone.
In addition, Telefonica de Espana continued to develop its Internet and
Broadband Services throughout 2003, with the emphasis placed on the mass rollout
of ADSL, as evidenced by the service's 1,660,450 customers at the end of the
year and the 100.7% year-on-year increase in total ADSL revenues (retail +
wholesale), which account for 7,4% of Telefonica de Espana's Parent Company
revenues. The number of ADSL accesses in service at the end of 2003 was 73.5%
higher than at the end of the previous year, with a net gain in the fourth
quarter of 239,992 accesses, which represent 34% of the total number of accesses
sold in the year. There were 1,070,330 retail ADSL accesses at year end, an
increase of 76.5% over the previous year's figure. 64.8% of the 463,913 net new
retail ADSL lines added in 2003 used the self-installation kit.
ADSL Value Added Services (VAS) advanced strongly in the fourth quarter reaching
a total of 418,002 services sold. There were a total of 101,727 Soluciones ADSL
(ADSL Solutions) fully operational, of which 89,982 were sold to business
customers, including 35,220 Net Lans (ADSL head-offices and remote accesses)
enabling businesses to set up their own virtual private networks. Noteworthy
success was achieved by the service 'Mantenimiento Integral ADSL' (ADSL
Comprehensive Maintenance: a maintenance service including labor and the
replacement of faulty equipment), which is expected to continue to make very
good progress (20,737 units at year end). Moreover, wireless (WiFi based) ADSL
VAS services marketing campaigns were also stepped up.
As a result, the equivalent number of lines in service at year end stood at
19,084,074, with a net gain in the year of 378,427 lines, which represents an
increase of 2.0% over the previous year.
Telefonica de Espana Group operating revenues fell by 0.5% to 10,217.4 million
euros at year end 2003. Revenues increased by 1.4% in the fourth quarter,
improving the quarterly year-on-year revenues growth due to a better behavior of
Telefonica de Espana parent company, and the positive contribution made by its
subsidiary Telyco after the latest mobile handset sales during the Christmas
campaign. Operating revenues at Parent Company showed a quarterly decline of
0.4%, 0.9 percentage points better than the cumulative figure as of September
2003.
Operating revenues obtained by Telefonica de Espana parent company totaled
9,798.0 million euros at the end of December, after achieving the highest
quarterly figure for 2003 in the fourth quarter, and thus improving the
quarterly trend: -1.5% in the first quarter, -1.9% in the second quarter, -0.6%
in the third quarter and -0.4% in the fourth quarter. The positive evolution
during the fourth quarter is mainly due to the improvement on the year-on-year
comparison of wholesale services revenues. In annual terms, operating revenues
were down by 1.1% compared to year 2002, due to the fall in revenues from
Traditional Services (down by 3.6%), which was not fully offset by the increase
in revenues from Internet and Broadband services (up by 32.3%). In addition,
revenues from wholesale services were down by 2.4% in December with respect to
2002. The percentage of total revenues accounted for by recurring fixed revenues
(monthly fees plus franchised plans and flat rates) amounted to 52.6%, an
increase of 4.5 percentage points since the beginning of the year.
Revenues from Traditional Services amounted to 7,510.7 million euros, 3.6% less
than that of 2002 as a result of the decrease in revenues from Voice Usage and
the loss of PSTN lines. In addition, the continued reduction of fixed telephony
prices according to the regulatory Price Cap system was partially offset by the
8% increase in the monthly fee, resulting in an annual increase of 2.9% in
revenues from Client network access.
Revenues from Internet and Broadband services rose by 32.3% and amounted to
849.7 million euros at the end of the year, representing 8.7% of total operating
revenues. This growth was due to the good performance of retail broadband
revenues which as a result of the momentum of the ADSL market allowed that
revenues were more than double those obtained in the previous year (+111.0%). On
the contrary, narrowband Internet revenues deteriorated significantly and fell
by 22.7% as a result of the lower volume of traffic and the reduction in the
average price per minute.
Revenues from Wholesale Services were down by 2.4% year-on-year at 1,437.6
million euros. This result was mainly due by the decrease in the revenues from
leased lines and interconnection, effects partially compensated by the increase
of wholesale broadband revenues.
Telefonica de Espana Group operating expenses for 2003 amounted to 5,795.6
million euros, representing a year-on-year decrease of 1.2%. The annual
evolution of supplies expenses, together with the reduction in personnel
expenses in the fourth quarter as a result of the Redundancy Program 2003-2007
at the Telefonica de Espana parent company, were the main reasons for the fall
in expenses recorded in the year. In the fourth quarter of 2003, Telefonica de
Espana Group operating expenses were virtually the same as those for the same
period of 2002.
Telefonica de Espana Group supplies expenses totaled 2,490.3 million euros and
were down by 6.5% year-on-year. These expenses fell by 6.2% at the Telefonica de
Espana parent company and reflected the effect of the reduction in prices of
fixed-to-mobile interconnection and lower expenses related to equipment
purchases.
Telefonica de Espana Group expenses for external services and others were up by
7.9% at the end of December and totaled 957 million euros. These expenses
increased by 14.2% in the fourth quarter 2003 compared to the same quarter 2002
as a result of the increased commercial activity at the parent company related
to ADSL services and the launching of the 'Combinados' modular plans.
Telefonica de Espana Group personnel expenses amounted to 2,174.9 million euros,
representing a year-on-year increase of 0.9%. Personnel expenses at Telefonica
de Espana parent company, which accounted for 97.8% of the Group figure, were 1%
higher as of December due to a double effect: the salaries increase under the
collective agreement for 2003, and the adjustment of 2002 salary increase to
bring pay into line with the real rate of inflation in 2002 (carried out in the
first quarter of 2003). Both effects were partially offset in the last quarter
by the launch of the Redundancy Program 2003-2007, pushing cumulative personnel
expenses at the parent company from a 3.7% increase as of September to the above
mentioned 1% increase as of December. As a result of the aforementioned
Redundancy Program, extraordinary expense amounting to 1,363.8 million euros was
booked in October. It is noteworthy to highlight that the Telefonica de Espana
parent company workforce consisted of 35,216 employees at year end, 13.4% less
than in December 2002.
Bad debt provisions performed favorably and were down by 42.7% at the Telefonica
de Espana Group at 2003 year end. This substantial improvement contributed to
the 55.4% reduction in 'Other Operating Expenses'.
As mentioned before, Telefonica de Espana Group EBITDA amounted to 4,534.2
million euros in December 2003, up 0.4% year-on-year. The Group's EBITDA margin
stood at 44.4% (0.4 percentage points more than that of 2002). At the parent
company level, the EBITDA margin was 46%, 0.3 percentage points higher than in
2002.
Operating profit at Telefonica de Espana Group amounted to 1,966.2 million
euros, showing growth of 8.3% as a result of the performance of the amortization
and depreciation of fixed assets, which were 5.0% lower at the end of December.
CapEx by Telefonica de Espana Group through December 2003 amounted to 1,406.5
million euros, representing a decrease of 19.4% from 2002 figure. 36.7% of the
total CapEx was devoted to investments generating Internet and Broadband
Business revenues, 49.3% to investments generating Traditional Business revenues
and the remaining 14% to Information Systems and Others.
FCF generation at Telefonica de Espana Group, defined as EBITDA minus CapEx,
amounted to 3,127.7 million euros, representing an increase of 12.8% over 2002.
Telefonica Latinoamerica Group
In 2003 the Latin American currencies appreciated against the dollar.
Nevertheless, the substantial depreciation of the dollar against the euro meant
that all the currencies, with the exception of the Chilean peso, depreciated
against the euro (exchange rates applied to the income statement: Brazilian real
-20.3%, Argentinean peso -10.3%, Chilean peso +0.7%, Peruvian new sol -15.3%).
Accordingly, the variation in exchange rates continued to have an adverse effect
on the performance of revenues and EBITDA at Telefonica Latinoamerica, although
keeping the downward trend of preceding quarters.
Thus, Telefonica Latinoamerica operating revenues totaled 6,377.1 million euros,
an increase of 8.4% in constant euros (-8.3% in current euros, as compared with
-14.4% in the first nine months of the year). Particularly noteworthy were:
• Telesp: Revenues were up by 18.2% year on year in local currency as a
result of the increases in tariffs and the expansion of long distance and
broadband services.
• TASA: Growth of 14.5% in revenues in local currency, as a result of the
increase in the plant generating traffic, the rise in total traffic per line
(+10.2%), and the application of the CER (inflation indexing of the
wholesale offering).
• CTC: Revenues were 3.5% down in local currency from those of 2002
(excluding the effect of the change in the consolidation method of Sonda
from September 2002) as a result of the drop in both traffic and lines in
service influenced by mobile substitution.
• TdP: A slight increase (+0.9% in local currency) on the previous year,
affected by the launch of the new tariff plans in March devoted to improve
the range of services available to customers.
The total operating expenses of Telefonica Latinoamerica stood at 3,449.2
million euros and were up year-on-year by 9.6% in constant euros (-7.2% in
current euros). Such evolution reflects mainly the greater commercial activity,
since the effort associated to project OPEX -framed in the set of
cross-sectional projects to increase efficiency- has been reflected in a
containment of the costs associated to network operations (provision, operation
and maintenance). By company, it should be noted the increases in expenses
recorded by Telesp (+26.3% in local currency as a result of the increase in
activity relating to long distance and ADSL services, as well as the indexing of
some operating expenses), and by TdP (+4.8% in local currency as a result of the
increase in activity relating to the new tariff plans and ADSL rollout). In
opposite sense, although they do not compensate these increases, a reduction in
expenses was recorded by TASA (-6.4% in local currency as a result of the strict
policy of cost control and the significant fall in the levels of bad debts), and
by CTC (-3.9% in local currency, excluding the Sonda effect, because of the
decrease in activity and the measures to control operating expenses).
As a result of the performance in revenues and expenses, EBITDA at the end of
2003 stood at 3,065.3 million euros, with a growth of 8.6% in constant euros.
This evolution reflects the good performance in local currency by Telesp (+9.7%)
and TASA (+35.5%), which offset the falls, also in local currency, at CTC (-3.5%
excluding Sonda effect) and TdP (-3.8%). In current euros, EBITDA at Telefonica
Latinoamerica fell by 8.4% as a result of the exchange rate effect mentioned
above (although the negative impact of exchange rates fell to -17.0 percentage
points as compared with -23.7 percentage points in the first nine months of
2003).
Depreciation and amortization (1,718.8 million euros) kept in line with the
previous year in constant terms. The good performance of EBITDA and the level of
amortization and depreciation lead the operating profit to reach 1,346.5 million
euros, which grew 21.6% in constant terms (a slightly higher increase than the
+20.3% recorded in September).
There were negative extraordinary results of 141.3 million euros (down year on
year by 55.5%) contributed by: Telesp that recorded expenses relating mainly to
severance payments and contingencies; CTC reflected the negative result from the
sale of the 35% stake in Sonda; in the case of TdP there was the expense
relating to compensation payments and legal contingencies. The consolidated
extraordinary results also include the write-off of TLD's investment in the
TCS-1 cable system due to the cancellation of its exploitation.
The financial results stood at -182.6 million euros at the end of December,
compared with the previous year's figure of -1,181.1 million euros, as a result,
on the one hand, of the change in sign of the exchange differences produced by
the foreign debt in dollars in Argentina (+114.3 million euros in 2003 as
opposed to -447.4 million euros in 2002), and to the profit of 248.7 million
euros obtained due to the cancellation of a debt at the holding company
denominated in dollars, as well as to the lower indebtedness of the operators.
These results, minus a tax provision of 168.8 million euros and minority
interests of 97.3 million euros (which underwent a marked increase due to the
improvement in the operators' net income), led to net income for the year of
677.2 million euros, compared with losses of 182.6 million euros in 2002.
The aggregate free cash flow (EBITDA-CapEx) generated by the operators amounted
to 2,474.5 million euros, which represented an increase in constant euros of
13.9% (a decrease of 6.9% in current euros) and reflected both the improvement
in EBITDA and the restrictive investment policy in place at the operators
(aggregate CapEx was down by 12.0% in constant euros and by 14.1% in current
euros).
At December 31, 2003, Telefonica Latinoamerica had equivalent lines in service
totaling 21,621,561, which was similar to the previous year's plant (-0.1%), of
which 3.6% were broadband connections (compared with 2.1% in 2002).
There were 20,851,881 traditional lines in service, 1.6% less than in 2002 and
reflected the fall in lines of 1.7% at Telesp, 0.3% at TASA, and 10.0% at CTC
due to the increase in the disconnection of lines with bad debt problems. On the
other hand, there was an increase at TdP of 8.5% due in part to the impact of
the new tariff plans.
The increased efforts focused on ADSL expansion meant that ADSL connections
stood at 769,680 at the end of December, an increase of 68.7% year on year,
thanks to the commercial efforts of all the operators.
The headcount at Telefonica Latinoamerica was 21,518 (23,112 including the
subsidiaries consolidated in TdP, which was 9.8% less than in December 2002).
Brazil
In 2003, Telesp consolidated its presence nationwide by beginning to provide
long distance services outside Sao Paulo on March 7, targeted mainly at the
corporate segment. Additionally, July saw the entry into force of the new SMP
ruling (Servico Movel Pessoal) for cellular operators, with two implications:
the enlargement of the local areas in calls to mobile telephones and the
possibility of mobile telephone customers choosing their long distance carrier.
Telesp has thereby added calls originating from mobile handsets to its potential
market.
The good evolution recorded by the long distance business from Sao Paulo, where
Telesp is the leader, was reflected in the upward trend in estimated market
shares, that at the end of December stood at 88% in intra-state long distance,
51% in inter-state long distance and 39% in international long distance, with
increases on the figures for December 2002 of 5, 15 and 7 percentage points,
respectively.
The number of lines in service, including both traditional and ADSL lines,
remained virtually unchanged during the year (-0.5%) thanks to the expansion of
broadband, which offset the 1.7% decrease in traditional lines.
In the fourth quarter Telesp stepped up its efforts directed at broadband
development and by the end of the year had reached a total of 484,393 ADSL
connections (up by 45.3% year on year), with a net gain in the year of 151,112
connections. It is important to highlight the sharp increase in the last quarter
(with net adds of 60,845 connections), following the launch of the new Speedy
product portfolio in September.
Regarding the narrowband business, Telesp began offering a free ISP service
(i-Telefonica) in July, becoming the second biggest free ISP, with an estimated
market share close to 25%, and more than one million users at the end of
December.
Telesp's operating revenues of 3,483.0 million euros registered year-on-year
growth of 18.2% in local currency, driven by both the increase in long distance
revenues (+51.9% as a result of the introduction of the new services in 2002 and
2003) and the higher revenues obtained in local telephony (+12.3%) as a result
of the increase in tariffs applied in July 2002 and 2003, together with the
higher fixed to mobile tariff applied in February 2003, which made it possible
to offset the 2.4% reduction in the company's billable plant. Although to a
lesser extent, the expansion of broadband services also contributed to revenue
growth, with an increase in sales of 76.2% in local currency.
Operating expenses rose by 26.3% in local currency in the year (+16.3% excluding
interconnection expenses), mainly as a result of the higher level of activity
due to the expansion of the long distance business, the acceleration of
broadband rollout, and the increase in prices of inflation-linked contracts.
There was also an increase in the provision for bad debts, partly as a result of
the increase in the average bill, although the ratio of bad debts to revenues
remained stable at 3.7% vs 2002.
Accordingly, Telesp obtained an EBITDA of 1,662.8 million euros (9.7% higher in
local currency than the figure for 2002). The operator achieved a margin of
47.7%, which was 3.7 percentage points less than in 2002, due mainly to the
increased proportion of long distance business, with a lower margin.
CapEx continued decreasing (-18.9% in local currency), although with an increase
in the investment relating to the broadband business (more than 20% of total
CapEx), placing CapEx to revenues ratio to 11.2% in local currency. This
reduction in CapEx, together with the increase in EBITDA in local currency, led
to a year-on-year increase in the free cash flow (EBITDA-CapEx) generated of
22.9% in local currency, amounted to 1,294.5 million euros.
Telesp ended the year with 7,134 employees, 25.0% less than in December 2002,
due to the restructuring and activity outsourcing programs that were carried out
in the first and fourth quarters affecting a total of 2,836 employees. In this
way the operator's productivity ratio rose to 1,792 lines per employee at the
end of the period.
Argentina
The recovery of the economic situation in Argentina was consolidated in 2003,
following the sharp deterioration suffered in 2002. The evolution of the main
macroeconomic parameters, particularly the 15% appreciation of the peso against
the dollar during the year, together with management efforts adapted to a
context of greater activity and increased consumer spending, led to the recovery
of plant and traffic operating indicators that had shown very negative
performance in 2002.
The plant of traditional lines, 4.2 million, remained virtually unchanged with
respect to 2002 (-0.3%), as a result of the recovery in demand which was
reflected in the number of gross adds (up by 56.3% year on year). The good
performance in plant was accompanied by the recovery in traffic per line, mainly
local traffic, which was 11.9% higher than in 2002, driven mainly by prepaid
traffic (+21.6%) and Internet (+18.5%). It is also important to note the good
performance of the Long Distance business, with a 28.4% rise in revenues with
respect to the previous year, due to the elimination of discounts. Finally, of
particular note in 2003 was the increased pace of broadband rollout, which
allowed a net gain of 34,926 connections in the year and led to a total of
69,336 ADSL connections at the end of December (twice the connections in
December 2002), giving TASA a 9 percentage point increase in its broadband
market share in the Southern region (68%).
As a result of the good performance of the operating variables of plant, traffic
and long distance prices with respect to 2002, together with the impact of
establishing agreements with operators for mutual invoicing applying CER
(inflation indexing of wholesale offerings) retroactive 2002, TASA's operating
revenues rose by 14.5% in local currency year on year to 805.3 million euros,
despite the freezing of tariffs since January 2002 (excluding the CER effect,
the company's revenues rose by 8.2% in local currency year on year).
The good performance of revenues was accompanied by the aggressive cost
reduction and control policy applied by TASA, enabling the reduction of
operating expenses by 6.4% in local currency in relation to 2002. Of particular
note was the effective management of bad debts with the launch of specific
products into the market aimed at maximizing debt recovery and ensuring that
profitable customers are maintained. Thus, bad debt provision as a percentage of
revenues stood at around 1.2%, in comparison with 6.9% in 2002.
The positive evolution in operating variables, combined with the ongoing policy
of cost containment, enabled TASA to achieve EBITDA of 478.7 million euros in
the year, an increase in local currency of 35.5% on that of 2002 (25.6%
disregarding the CER effect). The EBITDA margin was 9.2 percentage points higher
than in 2002, reaching 59.4%. In addition, as part of its financial policy, TASA
took steps to restructure its debt in 2003, thereby extending its maturity
period.
With respect to investment, the 26.8% rise in CapEx in local currency reflects
the company's bet on Broadband, a business which is expected to grow strongly in
2004. The increase in EBITDA, assisted by a tight policy of investment enabled
the company to achieve a free cash flow (EBITDA-CapEx) of 433.8 million euros,
21.6% higher in local currency than that of 2002.
At the end of the year, TASA had 8,007 employees, and the resulting ratio of
lines to employee was 529 (a year-on-year increase of 4.0%).
Chile
For CTC, 2003 was marked by strong competition from the mobile business which
adversely affected both traffic, particularly long distance, and lines. In July
the regulator authorized the launch of prepaid plans by CTC and in October
granted tariff flexibility to the company, thereby enabling it to offer new
commercial products and plans providing an attractive alternative offer compared
to its competitors'.
The launch in July of the new prepaid products 'Linea Control' and 'Full
Variable' made it possible to partially offset the negative trend in traditional
lines (-10.0% to 2.4 million lines, due to the increased number of lines
disconnected because of bad debt problems), with 129,328 of those lines at the
end of December. These new products increased the proportion of 'Low Income'
products which at the end of the year accounted for 11.1% of the total plant in
service (2.5 percentage points more than in 2002).
Despite the squeeze in the long distance market, CTC succeeded in increasing its
share in the domestic long distance market by 2.6 percentage points to 41.6% at
the end of December, maintaining its position as market leader, thanks to the
launch of different products based on flat rates. The company's share of the
long distance international market was 29.1% at the end of 2003.
The ADSL business performed positively in 2003, with CTC as market leader since
September. By the end of December, the operator had achieved a market share of
36% (6 percentage points more than in 2002) with 125,262 connections, 71,099
more than in 2002. Regarding revenues, the broadband business contributed 2.0%
of total revenues, 1.3 percentage points more than in the previous year.
The operator ended the year with revenues of 1,029.1 million euros, 11.2% less
than in 2002 in local currency, that affected by the change in the consolidation
method of Sonda in September 2002. Excluding the Sonda effect, the drop in
revenues was only 3.5% in local currency, due primarily to the decrease in
billable plant (-6.4%), and to the fall in domestic and international long
distance traffic, which together with the lower average prices meant that long
distance revenues were down by 15.2%.
In order to counteract the negative trend in revenues, the company implemented a
strict cost control plan, the effects of which were observed in the last quarter
of the year. Overall, expenses were reduced by 3.9% in the year (as compared
with an increase of 2.0% as of September), favoured by the lower interconnection
expenses associated with the reduction in traffic, and the lower personnel
expenses resulting from the decrease in the average workforce due to the effect
of the October 2002 layoff program. In contrast, commercial expenses rose, in
line with the operator's aggressive objectives relating to ADSL and the new
prepaid products. The bad debt ratio for the year as a whole stood at 3.6%, 0.8
percentage points higher than in 2002. The introduction of a series of strict
bad debt control measures, as well as the launch of the new prepaid products
helped to contain bad debt levels (3.7% through September).
EBITDA was down by 3.5% from 2002 in local currency (excluding the Sonda
effect), reaching 448.7 million euros, and reflected the fall in revenues, which
was not offset by the containment of expenses. The last quarter also brought the
implementation of an extremely strict rationalization of investment, which was
restricted to revenue generating projects or to those of a very strategic
nature, and resulted in CapEx for the year of 80.3 million euros (down by 16.0%
in local currency, excluding the Sonda effect). This decision to limit
investment spending enabled the company to keep its free cash flow (EBITDA -
CapEx) constant in local currency at 368.4 million euros.
CTC's workforce remained virtually unchanged during the year and stood at 3,202
employees at the end of 2003.
Peru
With the aim of enhancing the range of services available to its customers,
since March 14, 2003, TdP has launched new tariff plans in basic telephony in
addition to the range of packages previously available (at the moment there are
12 new plans). Although, on the one hand, these plans had a negative effect on
the company's revenues due to the migration of 642,008 lines, leading to a fall
in the ARPU of these customers; on the other hand they also contributed to the
growth in lines. The operator's plant of traditional lines increased by 8.5%
year on year (44.0% of the traditional lines were associated with the new plans
at the end of the year).
Finally, it should be highlighted that TdP has significantly fostered the
expansion of the broadband business which, with net adds of 56,300 connections,
twice that of 2002. The number of connections achieve a total of 90,689 ADSL and
Cablemodem customers at the end of 2003, tripling the customer base at December
2002..
The operator's revenues for 2003 totaled 1,088.1 million euros, 0.9% more in
local currency than the figure for the previous year, affected by the marketing
of the tariff plans, by the reduction in revenues from public telephony and the
poorer performance of the long distance business. Revenues from local telephony
(down by 4.1%) were affected by the migrations to new plans, although this was
offset by the increases in operators services revenues (+12.9%) and broadband
revenues. Revenues from public telephony fell by 5.9% as a result of the
cannibalization by mobile telephony, the competition from prepaid cards and the
strategies of Indoor Public Telephony applied by the company's competitors. Long
distance revenues, which were down by 15.9%, were still suffering the effects of
competition, as a result of which TdP continued to launch commercial campaigns,
which explains the reduction of the average national long distance tariff by
6.2%. At the end of December, the company's shares of the domestic and
international long distance markets stood at 76.2% and 69.3%, respectively,
which represented an increase on the shares of the previous year by 3.5
percentage points and 1.8 percentage points, respectively.
In order to compensate for the behavior of revenues, TdP made strong efforts to
contain expenses, since the increase of 4.8% in operating expenses is basically
related to the commercial plans and the expansion of the ADSL business, as well
as the increase in interconnection expenses, primarily as a result of the growth
in traffic to mobile networks. As a result of this, the company's EBITDA fell by
3.8% in local currency to 480.9 million euros.
In the course of the year, 378 employees out of the 410 envisaged under
application of the judgment handed down by the Constitutional Court were
reinstated, which meant that at the end of 2003 TdP had 3,175 employees (4,769
employees including the workforce of the fully consolidated subsidiaries) and
the level of productivity was 649 lines per employee, 11.4% more than in 2002.
TdP focused its investment efforts on the development of projects considered to
be strategic or revenue-generating, leading to CapEx of 96.2 million euros,
which was 32.6% more than in 2002 in local currency (23.1% of CapEx was
allocated to broadband projects), and giving a ratio of CapEx to revenues of
9.9% in local currency. Accordingly, the free cash flow (EBITDA-CapEx) generated
at TdP amounted to 384.7 million euros, a decrease of 10.9% year on year in
local currency.
Telefonica Empresas
Throughout 2003 Telefonica Empresas has advanced in a new organizational model
in which the operations of Telefonica Empresas in Spain are integrated with
those of Telefonica de Espana and the operations of Telefonica Empresas in
America form a unit of management with the fixed telephony operators in this
region, in a process that culminates the reorientation of the company from a
product oriented organization to another one with a clear commercial vocation.
The final goal of this process is to fully develop the corporate segment
potential by means of an integrated management of the services catalogue, a
greater organizational coordination and by obtaining synergies in costs and
investments.
The operating revenues of the consolidated Telefonica Empresas Group (Telefonica
Data, Telefonica Soluciones and Telefonica International Wholesale Services),
amounted to 1,782.0 million euros in 2003, 1.3% higher than in 2002. Excluding
the effects caused by the variations in exchange rates and the consolidation
perimeter, revenue growth would have been approximately 11%.
The consolidation of Atlanet by the full consolidation method in the first half
of 2002 versus the consolidation by the equity method in 2003 until the
deconsolidation in october 2003, together with the effective inclusion of the
Telefonica Mobile Solutions results within the consolidation perimeter of
Telefonica Soluciones from April 2003, were the main factors contributing to the
change in the company's perimeter with respect to the previous year. Excluding
the variations in the consolidation perimeter, there would have been a 3.8%
increase in revenues.
As a result of the actions undertaken to improve operating efficiency by means
of strict control of CapEx and operating expenses, the Group's cumulative EBITDA
amounted to 304.4 million euros in 2003, compared with 128.6 million euros in
2002, due to the increase in revenues already mentioned and to the 8.6% decrease
in operating expenses. The EBITDA margin achieved of 17.1% means an improvement
of 9.8 percentage points on the previous year's figure. Taking into account the
same perimeter and if the effects of the variation in exchange rates were
eliminated, there would have been an 8.3 percentage point improvement in the
EBITDA margin.
Noteworthy was the fact that for the first time in the fourth quarter of 2003,
positive net income of 17.4 million euros was achieved, with an EBITDA margin of
22.1%. Likewise, with a cumulative CapEx figure for the year of 139.0 million
euros, the operating cash flow generated (EBITDA-CapEx) amounted to 165.4
million euros, as compared with the negative figure of 68.8 million euros in
2002.
TELEFONICA DATA GROUP
The operating revenues of the Telefonica Data Group amounted to 1,626.6 million
euros in 2003, 1.6% less than in the previous year. Excluding the changes in the
perimeter of consolidation and in exchange rates, revenues would have increased
by approximately 8.7%. Taking into account the same perimeter (excluding Atlanet
in 2002), the increase in revenues would have been 4.1%.
The cumulative EBITDA of the Telefonica Data Group for 2003 amounted to 294.4
million euros, compared with 192.9 million euros in 2002. The 18.1% EBITDA
margin achieved shows an improvement of 6.4 percentage points with respect to
the previous year's figure. If the effects of the variation in exchange rates
and perimeter of consolidation were eliminated, there would have been a 4.0
percentage point improvement in the EBITDA margin. The capacity to generate
operating cash flow was enhanced by the 30.1% year-on-year reduction in CapEx,
down to 125.2 million euros, thereby achieving a CapEx/Revenues ratio of 7.7%.
Spain
Operating revenues in Telefonica Data Espana for the full year 2003 amounted to
815.9 million euros, 6.0% more than in 2002. Following the trend observed in the
preceding quarters, the Business Communications and Internet business (94.6% of
the operating revenues) continued to be the main driver of growth (5.7%
year-on-year).
The top management priority of Telefonica Data Espana is to offer integrated
technological solutions that make it possible for the company's customers to
achieve a significant and sustainable improvement in their businesses' running.
In this respect, 40 integrated telecommunications management agreements were
obtained in 2003, worth a total of more than 95 million euros a year.
The Hosting, Network Application Services, Security Services and Content
Distribution business lines contributed 4.4% of Telefonica Data Espana's total
revenues, with year-on-year growth of 12.8%.
At the end of 2003, cumulative EBITDA stood at 238.8 million euros, up by 26.4%
year on year, with a margin over revenues of 29.3%, representing a year-on-year
improvement of 4.7 percentage points.
As a result of the year-on-year increase in EBITDA and the appropriate control
of CapEx, the generated operating cash flow (EBITDA-CapEx) was 27.1% higher than
in the previous year, reaching the figure of 171.7 million euros.
Latin America
In a greater macroeconomic environment stability, significant advances were
achieved in the incumbent Latin America markets, both in local currency
denominated revenues and in operating profitability. The operating cash flow
(EBITDA-CapEx) totaled 33.7 million euros in 2003, as compared with the 0.2
million euros figure achieved in 2002.
Operating revenues in Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Peru in 2003 amounted to
362.2 million euros, 5.1% more than in 2002. Without the exchange rate effect,
this revenue figure would have registered a year-on-year increase of 22.5%,
driven by Telefonica Empresas Brazil, which increased its operating revenues in
local currency by 33.3%, and achieved an EBITDA margin of 14.6%.
It is also important to highlight the positive progress made by Telefonica
Empresas Chile, whose revenues in local currency recorded year-on-year growth of
21.9%, thereby achieving an EBITDA margin of 25.2%, which is a reflection of the
company's efficient management and the quality of its customer portfolio.
EBITDA for the Telefonica Data Group in the aforementioned countries rose to
64.5 million euros, representing a year-on-year improvement in the EBITDA margin
of 1.9 percentage points, reaching 17.8%.
In the American countries in which the Telefonica Data Group is operating as a
new entrant (Mexico, USA and Colombia), operating revenues totaled 67.7 million
euros in 2003, 42.9% more than those obtained in 2002. The EBITDA generated
during the period was negative by 13.0 million euros, in comparison with the
negative figure of 30.3 million euros recorded in 2002, with an improvement in
the EBITDA margin of 44.7 percentage points.
Europe
In the German and British markets, Telefonica Empresas obtained revenues of
382.7 million euros in 2003, a decrease of 4.4% year on year, due primarily to
the reduction in revenues from narrowband services which has not yet been offset
by the increase in broadband business, which accounted for 10% of the total
revenues in Germany.
With respect to the broadband business, noteworthy was the addition of 193,000
new ADSL users within Telefonica Deutschland's wholesale (T-ZISP) offer in the
German market. As a result, the total number of the company's ADSL users
exceeded the figure of 220,000 and its customers include 4 out of the 5 leading
ISPs in Germany. Likewise, at the end of 2003, there were more than 5,000
broadband SDSL direct accesses and point-to-point circuits for business
customers. Major contracts have been gained in the field of RPV services for
corporations, most notably those of Lotto Niedersachsen and Hermes in Germany
and with NAAFI (the British Army's Logistics Organization) in the United
Kingdom. It is also important to highlight that 2003 saw the start of
voice-over-IP service provision, targeted at both the business and the
residential segments (via ISPs connected to Telefonica Deutschland's IP
network).
EBITDA reached a total of 22.3 million euros in 2003. Although the EBITDA margin
of 5.8% achieved is 0.4 percentage points lower than in 2002, there was a
substantial improvement in the operating cash flow (EBITDA-CapEx) generated,
which amounted to 9.3 million euros, as a result of the efforts made in CapEx
containing.
TELEFONICA SOLUCIONES
Following completion of this business line restructuring process in the first
quarter of 2003, the total revenues from this business unit amounted to 150.5
million euros in 2003, which was 9.8% higher than in 2002. EBITDA for the period
was negative in 6.4 million euros, which represented an improvement of 79% with
respect to the figure of 2002. It is important to highlight that in the fourth
quarter of 2003 this business line generated positive EBITDA of 5.7 million
euros.
TELEFONICA INTERNATIONAL WHOLESALE SERVICES
This is the unit that serves telecom operators and is responsible for the
integrated management of the Group's international services and the network that
supports them.
Operating revenues amounted to 136.7 million euros in 2003, representing
year-on-year growth of 48.2%. This rise was mainly due to the 98% increase in IP
traffic managed in the markets in which Telefonica is making major efforts to
roll out broadband access infrastructures, particularly Spain, which accounts
for 52% of the total traffic managed, and Brazil, with 16%.
Cumulative EBITDA was positive in 2003, amounting to 17.8 million euros, as
compared with the negative figure of 42.7 million euros recorded in the previous
year.
MOBILE BUSINESS
Mobile Business
Telefonica Moviles has reported a net income in 2003 of 1.607,9 million euros
vs. the losses of 3.724,5 million euros registered in 2002. Excluding the impact
of the net extraordinary provisions booked in 2002, the Group would have
reported a year-over-year net income increase of 14.4%.
These results are the consequence of a solid operating performance in a year
shaped by strong commercial activity in main areas of operations, especially in
the second half of the year, reflecting Telefonica Moviles' high organic growth
profile.
Key aspects of these results are listed below:
• Sharp growth in operating revenues of 10.2% year-over-year, to 10.070,3
million euros for the year. We would highlight the acceleration in growth of
operating revenues since the beginning of the year, with an increase in the
fourth quarter 2003 of 19.7% vs. the same period last year compared with
year-over-year growth of 15.4% in the third quarter 2003. Assuming constant
exchange rates and excluding the impact of the acquisition of TCO, revenues
would have grown 14.1% in 2003 year-over-year.
Consolidated revenue growth was mainly driven by the increase in the
customer base. Telefonica Moviles increased its managed customer base by
more than 10.6 million in 2003, a year-over-year growth above 25% (15.8%
excluding TCO). Noteworthy was the strong commercial activity during the
Christmas campaign in all countries of operations, achieving net adds of
over 4.2 million customers in the fourth quarter 2003, marking the largest
quarterly organic growth in the Group's history. Telefonica Moviles ended
2003 with more than 52 million managed customers.
By geographical areas, operating revenues at Telefonica Moviles Espana show
a year-over-year increase of 10.7% in 2003 and 16.4% in the fourth quarter
2003, driven by the strong commercial activity in the last quarter.
Operating revenues from the Latin American operators accounted for 26% of
Group revenues in 2003, and showed a year-over-year increase of 12.1% in
euros. Excluding the impact of exchange rates and the incorporation of TCO
into the Group's consolidation perimeter, these revenues would have shown
growth of 27.7% vs. 2002.
• Group consolidated EBITDA in 2003 reached 4,462.9 million euros, 19.5%
higher than in 2002. Excluding the impact of exchange rates and the
incorporation of TCO into the Group's consolidation perimeter, EBITDA would
have shown growth of 20.6% vs. 2002. With EBITDA growing faster than
revenues, the consolidated EBITDA margin advanced 3.4 p.p. from 2002 to
44.3%.
On a quarterly basis, EBITDA in the fourth quarter 2003 was 22.0% higher
than in the same period last year, leading to an EBITDA margin of 39.6%, an
advance in nearly 1 p.p. vs. the fourth quarter 2002, despite registering
5.2 times more net adds in the last quarter 2003. The decline in the margin
in the fourth quarter 2003 vs. the third quarter was due to increased
commercial activity in the last quarter of the year.
EBITDA for TME for the year 2003 rose 12.9%, leaving an EBITDA margin of
52.6% (+1.p.p. in the last 12 months). EBITDA for the Group's consolidated
Latin American subsidiaries, assuming constant exchange rates and excluding
TCO's incorporation into the Group's consolidation perimeter, rose 4.7% vs.
2002, fuelled by higher EBITDA in Brazil and Argentina, which offset the
negative contribution from operations in Mexico after the heavy commercial
efforts made during the year -brand launch, increased distribution channel,
introduction of GSM service-. However, in euros they show a year-over-year
decline of 2.3% (-13.6% as of September 2003).
• In 2003, CapEx for Telefonica Moviles totalled 1,214 million euros, a 32%
year-over-year increase, mostly deriving from the rollout of the GSM network
in Mexico, which required CapEx of 483 million euros. CapEx in other
countries of operations was virtually unchanged from the year before.
Regarding the evolution of the Mobile Business of Telefonica Group (Telefonica
Moviles Group and Telefonica Movil Chile), the operating revenues totalled
10,428.3 million euros as of December 2003, a year-over-year increase of 10.4%
compared to the same period in 2002. On the other hand, EBITDA reached 4,581.9
million euros, a year-over-year increase of 19.6%.
SPAIN
In 2003, the Spanish cellular market grew by nearly 4 million new customers,
reaching more than 37.5 million customers by the end of 2003 (+12% vs. 2002).
This led to an estimated penetration rate of 88.1% at the end of 2003, 8.3 p.p.
higher than in 2002. Particularly noteworthy was the fact that approximately
one-third of the annual customer growth came in the fourth quarter 2003.
Against this backdrop, Telefonica Moviles Espana ended 2003 with more than 19.6
million customers, 7% more than in 2002, reinforcing its position as the
undisputed leader of the Spanish market, with an estimated market share of
52.4%. In the fourth quarter 2003, the Company stepped up its commercial
efforts, registering net adds of 553 thousand customers, leading the market
growth in the quarter.
As regards prepaid to contract migrations, the volume in the fourth quarter 2003
(more than 357 thousand) was the largest in the Company's history, with total
migrations for the year of nearly 1.2 million (+63% vs. 2002). As a result,
contract customers at the end of the year represented 40.3% of the total, 5.2
p.p. more than in 2002.
As for customer loyalty initiatives, the volume of handset upgrades in the
fourth quarter 2003 was slightly over 1 million, 11% more than in the fourth
quarter 2002, taking the total number for the year to 4 million (+71% vs. 2002).
Alongside this commercial performance was the consolidation of strong growth in
usage seen throughout the year. In the fourth quarter 2003, traffic carried on
Telefonica Moviles Espana's networks exceeded 9,800 million minutes (+17% vs. in
the fourth quarter 2002), taking total annual traffic to 37,700 million minutes,
18.2% more than in 2002.
As for customer usage ratios, 2003 saw the beginning of a clearly upward trend
in MOU. In the fourth quarter 2003, MOU continued to grow strongly, reaching 118
minutes, a year-over-year increase of 10% from the same period last year. MOU
for the whole year was 116 minutes, also a 10% higher than in 2002. The positive
performance of outgoing MOU must be highlighted, since it registered
double-digit growth in all four quarters and totalled 77 minutes for the full
year (+13% vs. 2002). By segments, prepaid MOU stabilised in 2003, despite the
sharp increase in the rhythm of migrations, whilst contract MOU increased by 3%
vs. 2002.
As for short messages, we must highlight the high level of usage registered in
December when, coinciding with the Christmas season, 52% of Telefonica Moviles
Espana's customers sent at least one short message, enabling the penetration
rate to improve by 4 p.p. from previous months. For the year, Telefonica Moviles
Espana's customers network carried a total of 9,302 million SMS (vs. 8,375
million in 2002).
We would also highlight the significant increase seen in other kinds of data
services in the last months of the year, which led to an increase of 5 p.p. in
the percentage of non-SMS revenues on total data revenues to 8.8% for 2003.
Meanwhile, from February 13th, 2004, Telefonica Moviles Espana offers its
corporate clients 'Oficin@ MoviStar UMTS', the first high speed (up to 384 Kbit/
s) third generation data transmission service to be provided by a wireless
operator in Spain.
As a result of these efforts, total data revenues in the fourth quarter 2003
increased by 17% vs. the same period last year to nearly 220 million euros. The
total for full year 2003 amounted to 844 million euros (+15% vs. 2002).
Therefore, data ARPU in the fourth quarter 2003 reached 3.8 euros, with growth
accelerating throughout the second half of the year. That implies a total data
ARPU for 2003 of 3.7 euros (+8.8% vs. 2002).
Overall, ARPU for Telefonica Moviles Espana reversed its annual trend in 2003,
registering year-over-year growth for the first time in the Company's history.
Total ARPU for 2003 was 29.7 euros (3.7% more than in 2002). ARPU in the fourth
quarter 2003 was 30.1 euros, 7% more than in the same period last year. The
decline with respect to the third quarter 2003 was due to seasonal factors of
the business and to the decline in termination fees.
Accordingly, and even despite the impact of the increased commercial activity
registered in the fourth quarter 2003, Telefonica Moviles Espana has delivered a
solid set of earnings:
• Operating revenues stood at 2,028 million euros in the fourth quarter 2003
(+16% vs. the fourth quarter 2002), taking the total for the year to nearly
7,500 million euros, 10.7% more than in 2002. Service revenues advanced
9.9%, accelerating its year-over-year growth in the last quarter vs. the
previous quarters, while handset sales, fuelled by the increased commercial
activity, rose 17%.
• As regards the key cost items, the weight of subscriber acquisition and
retention costs over operating revenues stood at 7.8% in the fourth quarter,
and at 7.1% for 2003 (a decline of 0.8 p.p. from 2002).
• EBITDA in the fourth quarter 2003 stood at 974 million euros, (+10% vs.
the fourth quarter 2002), whereas EBITDA for the year was 3,940.8 million
euros, a year-over-year increase of 12.9%. This led to an EBITDA margin for
2003 of 52.6%, 1 p.p. higher than in 2002, confirming Telefonica Moviles
Espana's position as one of the sector's most efficient wireless operators.
The quarterly reduction in the EBITDA margin in the fourth quarter vs. the
third one is a logical result of the underlying impact of the greater
commercial efforts made in the last quarter of the year for the Christmas
campaign and of the increase in handsets sales, with a reduced margin.
CapEx in 2003 totalled 521 million euros, in line with the figure for 2002 and
equivalent to 7.0% of operating revenues. It must be mentioned that despite the
strong advance in traffic, the Company follows an active management program in
order to guarantee adequate quality levels.
MOROCCO
Medi Telecom ended 2003 with 2.1 million customers, 28.7% more than in 2002.
This marks an acceleration in growth from previous quarters (+23.4% in the third
quarter 2003) and leads to an estimated market share of 43% (up from 41% in
2002).
We would highlight the improvement in the financial results, setting EBITDA
margin in the fourth quarter 2003 at 38.2% and at 35% in full year 2003. In
absolute terms, EBITDA amounted to 94 million euros in 2003, from 34.5 million
euros in 2002 (+173%). The year 2003 was also the first of positive operating
cash flow for Medi Telecom, with EBITDA-CapEx standing at 33 million euros,
thanks to both higher operating results and CapEx rationalization.
LATIN AMERICA
BRAZIL
In Brazil, Vivo surpassed 20.6 million customers in 2003, with net adds of
approximately 2.2 million in the fourth quarter 2003. The strong increase in net
adds in the last quarter of the year reflects the strong growth in the Brazilian
market in general, and in the regions where Vivo operates in particular. It also
shows the impact of the successful Christmas campaign carried out by the Group
operators, which started in November, and emphasized aspects of Innovation,
Community, Group and Family among Vivo customers.
In this context, Vivo has led growth in the market, with an average share of net
adds of 50% in the fourth quarter 2003, in spite of the increasing competitive
environment and the launching of operations by a new competitor in some of
Vivo's regions (Sao Paulo, through the acquisition of BCP by Claro, and
Bahia-Sergipe and Parana-Santa Catarina). Thus, in 2003 Vivo has consolidated
its position as the Brazilian market leader, with an average estimated market
share of over 56% in its areas of operations and 45% for Brazil as a whole.
Despite the sharp increase in the customer base (+11.8% vs. the third quarter
2003), total MOU in the fourth quarter 2003 was 103 minutes. This figure was
slightly higher than in the third quarter 2003 (101 minutes). Total MOU in 2003
was 101 minutes. On the other hand, total ARPU in the fourth quarter 2003
totalled 39 reais, vs. 40 reais in the third quarter 2003. In 2003 total ARPU
was 39.5 reais.
The 2003 figures are not comparable with 2002, due to the change in prepaid
revenues accounting methodology at TCP and the incorporation of TCO to the
consolidation perimeter.
As for data, the increasing trend in the usage of these services seen since the
beginning of the year, has continued in the fourth quarter, with data revenues
standing at 3.3% of service revenues (vs. 2.9% in the third quarter 2003 and
2.2% in the second quarter). The higher use of these services is driven by the
increased use of handsets with SMS and WAP capabilities. Vivo maintained its
position of leadership in the development and innovation of data services in
Brazil throughout 2003, taking advantage of the competitive advantages granted
by its CDMA 1XRTT network over other operators' offer. In the fourth quarter
2003 CDMA 1xRTT coverage increased substantially, reaching 101 cities.
As regards the Brazilian companies' contribution to Telefonica Moviles Group
consolidated results, it should be remembered that year-over-year comparison
between results is distorted because last year's figures include Brasilcel under
proportional consolidation -including TCO's results from 1 May, 2003- while in
2002 the consolidated results included those of the three companies controlled
by Telefonica Moviles in Brazil at that time.
In the fourth quarter 2003 operating revenues showed growth in local currency of
9.4% vs. the third quarter, fuelled by strong net adds in the last quarter of
the year. Regarding service revenues (+2.1% vs. third quarter 2003), we would
note that over 60% of net adds were recorded in December, and therefore, these
customers' usage revenues will be reflected in the next quarters.
EBITDA evolution (-10.1% vs. third quarter 2003 in reais) was heavily affected
by commercial activity in the fourth quarter, with net adds 130% higher than in
the third quarter. EBITDA margin, after management fees, stood at 33% in the
fourth quarter and 36.8% for the whole year.
Total CapEx in 2003 amounted to 153.2 million euros.
MEXICO
In Mexico, the efforts made in the fourth quarter have allowed Telefonica
Moviles Mexico to widely surpass the network and commercial targets initially
set by the Company. Thus, in addition to improvements in logistics, in the last
quarter there has been a significant increase in the coverage of the GSM
network, from 17 cities in September to 96 in December 2003, compared to the
initial target of 46 cities. Additionally, there have been further advances in
the distribution channel, practically tripling the number of points of sale
throughout the country since the beginning of the year to over 6,200, an
increase of 70% compared to the third quarter 2003.
Telefonica Moviles Mexico has clearly strengthened its competitive position,
which has allowed it to substantially increase commercial activity in the second
half of the year. The Christmas campaign was particularly successful -with over
half a million new customers in the month of December-. In the fourth quarter
2003 net adds stood at 725 thousand customers, with a sharp rise compared to the
previous quarter (191 thousand), and an estimated share of net adds of 33% in
the quarter. In all, the customer base increased by over one million customers
in 2003, leading to a customer base of 3.5 million at December 2003 (+43% vs.
2002). Thus, in 2003 Telefonica Moviles Mexico has increased its market share by
2.1 p.p. to 11%. It is worth noting that 26% of the customer base are already
GSM customers.
In the fourth quarter 2003, total MOU was 66 minutes, a decline of 4.7% vs. 3Q03
due to the strong growth in the customer base. Total MOU in 2003 was 74 minutes.
On the other hand, ARPU1 in the fourth quarter was 185 Mexican pesos, a fall of
4.8% vs. the third quarter 2003 (194 pesos), due to the strong advance in the
customer base. In 2003 ARPU was 202 Mexican pesos.
As for Telefonica Moviles Mexico's financial results, it must be remembered that
the year-over-year comparison of 2003 with 2002 is distorted by the
incorporation of Grupo Pegaso Telecomunicaciones from September 2002.
Analysing the evolution of results in the last quarter of the year in local
currency, operating revenues increased 44% in the fourth quarter 2003 vs. the
third quarter, boosted by the strong growth in service revenues (+7.6%) -
underpinned by the increase in prepaid recharges at the end of the year- and the
rise in handset sales during the Christmas campaign. On the other hand, as a
result of the strong increase in commercial activity, Telefonica Moviles Mexico
has recorded larger operating losses this quarter. In 2003, EBITDA stood at -
108.7 million euros, slightly higher than the original forecast, due to the
larger than expected increase in the customer base.
Total CapEx in 2003 totalled 483 million euros, with a positive impact from
exchange rates. Therefore, in 2003 the sum of operating losses and CapEx stood
at 592 million euros, better than the Company's expectations (700 million euros)
despite the increase in commercial activity and the rollout of the network and
distribution channel.
ARGENTINA
In an environment of stability and economic growth, the Argentine mobile market
has ended 2003 surpassing the original targets and consolidating a new growth
phase.
Unifon's customer base increased by 12.8% in 2003 and 8.0% in the fourth quarter
2003 vs. the third quarter, and now stands at 1.8 million, maintaining its
position as Argentina's second largest operator. Thus, in the fourth quarter net
adds surpassed 134 thousand new customers (81 thousand in the third quarter
2003), boosted by the successful commercial activities, particularly the
Christmas and Mother's Day (October) campaigns.
Total traffic in minutes increased by 13% in 2003, boosted by the larger
customer base and growth in MOU. We would highlight the strong increase in usage
in the fourth quarter vs. the previous one (+10%). In year-over-year terms, MOU
increased 16% vs. 2002, whilst ARPU in pesos registered a year-over-year growth
of 30%, fuelled by the increased MOU and higher prices vs. 2002.
Unifon recorded a year-over-year increase in operating revenues of 37% in pesos
in 2003, boosted by higher service revenues. Quarter-over-quarter, growth was
15% vs. the third quarter 2003. Despite the increase in commercial activity vs.
2002, EBITDA in pesos rose 49%, with a margin of 26.8%, 2 p.p. higher than in
2002. The smaller margin in the fourth quarter 2003 vs. the third one was due to
the increase in commercial costs.
We would highlight the good performance of revenues and EBITDA in euros (+23.2%
and +33.3% vs. 2002, respectively), despite the peso's strong depreciation in
the past 12 months.
PERU
As of December 2003 Telefonica Moviles Peru's customer base was 1.5 million, an
advance of 21.6% vs. 2002. The acceleration in growth during the last quarter
(11.3% as of September 2003 vs. September 2002) was due to the successful
Christmas campaign, which allowed Telefonica Moviles Peru to lead the growth in
the market, with net adds of over 139 thousand customers, bringing its estimated
share of net adds to 52% for the fourth quarter 2003 and 45% for the full year.
Regarding financial results, operating revenues rose 3.4% in 2003 in local
currency, on the back of the larger customer base. Moreover, EBITDA growth in
local currency has picked up in the past few months to 8.7% for full year 2003
(vs. 6.5% as of September 2003).
Despite the increase in commercial activity in 2003, and reflecting the
company's rationalisation and cost control policies, EBITDA margin advanced 1.7
p.p. to 35.3%. We would also highlight the launch of the CDMA 2000 1xRTT network
on November 27, with the first phase concluded in December 2003.
CHILE
Telefonica Movil ended the fourth quarter 2003 with 2.3 million customers, 22.7%
higher than in December 2002. The company is market leader in terms of customer
acquisition, with total net adds of 239 thousand in the fourth quarter 2003, vs.
181 thousand as of September 2003, boosted by the good acceptance of the GSM
commercial offer. These services were launched last April and the operator
already has 422 thousand customers using this technology, almost 19% of its
total customer base.
The increase in the customer base has prompted an improvement in financial
results, with increases in both revenues and EBITDA. The EBITDA margin in 2003
stood at 32.0%, 0.7 p.p. higher than in 2002.
GUATEMALA and EL SALVADOR
At the end of December 2003, the total customer base managed by Telefonica
Moviles' operators in Guatemala and El Salvador stood at 405 thousand customers
(157 thousand in Guatemala and 248 thousand in El Salvador), with a
year-over-year increase of 23.5%, reversing the declining trend seen at the
beginning of the year. As a result of the advance in commercial activity, net
adds in the fourth quarter 2003 stood at 33 thousand new customers, vs. 12
thousand in the third quarter.
OTHER BUSINESSES
Directories Business
In spite of the slight growth experienced in the advertising market in Spain, as
well as the weak exchange rates in Peru and Brazil, full year 2003 TPI's
operating revenues increased by 7.1% up to 570.8 million euros. The group's
EBITDA amounted to 179.6 million euros, 19.6% higher than the figure accounted
in 2002. Net income rose 19.4% to 90.1 million euros. These results are
explained by:
• Good performance of TPI Espana whose advertising revenues rose by 5.5% to
394.5 million euros, despite the still poor advertising market in Spain.
• Good behaviour in Chile (Publiguias); in local currency operating revenues
grew by 5.8% and EBITDA soared by 10.1%. Not only EBITDA margin in Chile
continues to be the highest within the group but it also improves 1.4
percentage points compared to 2002, reaching 36.5%.
• TPI Brasil's revenues declined 6.2% in local currency, mainly due to
discontinuation of Curitiba's directory and the lower revenues stemming from
the new contract with Telesp. However, thanks to the implementation of a
cost-cutting plan, negative EBITDA margin improved from -12.9 million euros
in 2002 to -5.3 million euros in 2003 (+48.0% in local currency).
• In TPI Peru, it must be highlighted the good EBITDA performance in local
currency, which grew by 65.4%, together with the increase of 9.6% in
revenues also in local currency. EBITDA margin improved 6.7 percentage
points during the year up to 19.7%.
With these results, TPI met the upper part of the guidance provided to the
market last may 2003 of between 7-9% growth in revenues in constant euros terms,
with a final growth of 8.9%. In addition, TPI also exceeded the 14-17% EBITDA
growth guidance in 2.3 percentage points, reaching a 19.3% growth in constant
euros terms.
During 2003, TPI Espana (including Goodman Business Press) contributed 78% of
the Group's revenues, and 84% of Group's EBITDA. TPI Espana revenues (excluding
Goodman Business Press) rose by 10.7% up to 445.3 million euros, due to:
• The 4.0% growth in advertising revenues in the editorial product, helped
by the recent launch of the building directory, which has already generated,
revenues amounting 3.1 million euros in its first edition;
• The good performance of the internet product, where revenues increased by
17.0% vs. 2002;
• The successfully take off of telephony traffic revenues after the launch
of 11888, which multiplied by almost 12 times up to 23.9 million euros.
Latin America represents the remaining 22% of revenues and contributed 27.9
million euros to the Group's consolidated EBITDA (16%), compared to an EBITDA of
16.0 million euros in 2002 (11%).
Finally, the directories business of the Telefonica Group, which includes the
Argentinean company Telinver, recorded an increase in revenues of 7.1% compared
with 2002, due to a better performance in the fourth quarter 2003, driven by a
more stable situation in the country and the improvement of exchange rates.
Revenues amounted to 589.3 million euros. EBITDA totaled 184.0 million euros,
representing a year-on-year growth rate of 22.0%.
Terra Lycos Group
In 2003, the operating revenues obtained by Terra Lycos totaled 545.1 million
euros, 9.1% less than in the same period of the previous year. Without the
exchange rate effect, and excluding the revenues from the Bertelsmann agreement
and the Alliance with Telefonica, Terra Lycos would have achieved a 16% increase
in revenues in 2003 as a whole.
As a result of the Alliance there were significant changes both in the revenues
from the different business lines and in the geographical origin of those
revenues. In this respect, we should take into account that the revenues arising
from the agreement with Bertelsmann related mainly to the online advertising
line (26% of the total in 2003, compared with 45% in 2002) and were almost
wholly obtained in the United States. After establishing the Strategic Alliance
with Telefonica, the revenues came from other business lines, mainly
Communication Services (22% in 2003, compared with 11% in 2002) and were
generated in Spain and the Latin American countries in which Telefonica
operates. Spain and Brazil were the countries with the highest contributions, of
37.2% and 26.1%, respectively, whilst the USA contribution to the company's
total sales fell to 17.3% (19.8 percentage points lower than in 2002), for the
reasons already mentioned and disregarding One Travel. The rest of the company's
revenues came from the other countries in which Terra Lycos operates, with
noteworthy contributions of 6.6% from Mexico and 5.0% from Chile.
Terra Lycos has maintained during this year the objective to obtain a greater
efficiency and control of the operating expenses. This policy led to a
significant decrease in communication costs (-21.1%) and to the containment of
marketing, content and personnel expenses, with an average reduction of 31.6%.
EBITDA for the year as a whole stood at -39.5 million euros, representing an
EBITDA margin of -7.2%, which was an improvement of 16.4 percentage points on
the same period of 2002. In the fourth quarter, the company obtained positive
EBITDA for the first time ever amounting to 7.6 million euros. The Alliance with
Telefonica registered 100% coverage of the value committed, reaching a total of
78.5 million euros in the year.
Terra Lycos ended the year with a total of more than 5 million subscribers,
representing a significant increase of 60.9% on the figure for the same period
of the previous year. The number of paying access customers was close to 1.7
million by the end of the year, and of these a significant 643,567 were ADSL
access subscribers (up by 70.0% year on year).
It should be mentioned that 66.8% of the company's total paying customers had
signed up for OBP products, consisting of either communication or portal
products (CSPs or OBPs). The trend noted during the rest of the year continued:
customers for CSP (Communication Service Provider) products registered the
highest growth (+113.0% vs. 2002) and totaled 2,156,636 users, largely due to
the new Alliance entered into with Telefonica (up by 286.6% vs. 2002).
At December 31, 2003, Terra Lycos had a cash position of 1,594 million euros,
placing it in a privileged position of liquidity within the sector.
During the last quarter of the year the company continued to pursue its policy
of launching new products and services and establishing strategic alliances with
a view to strengthening its competitive position. Among the initiatives for the
last quarter, we can highlight the following: the launch by Terra Espana of
wireless Internet access using the new WIFI technology; the agreement with
MovieLink LLC to launch a new co-branded site providing Lycos users with access
to Movielink's movie download service; the launch of the new multimedia health
channel, Lycos Health, in partnership with Healthology, Inc., and the launch by
Terra Espana of the 'Terra Bono Libre', an Internet access product that allows
users to connect a set number of minutes a day during their chosen time band,
for both narrow band and ADSL access.
Atento Group
Atento Group obtained operating revenues during 2003 of 493.0 million euros,
13.7% below that of the previous year. This variation was primarily caused by
the negative impact of exchange rates (-2.4% in constant euros) and the
liberalization of the telephone information service in Spain. During the fourth
quarter of the year, revenues increased in current euros by 0.6%, mostly due to
the higher volume of telesales campaigns, particularly in Spain.
Regarding 2003 revenues breakdown, the contribution of customers outside the
Telefonica Group continued to increase, representing 37% of total revenues in
comparison with the 35% of the previous year. It is important to note that this
percentage rose to 38% during the fourth quarter of 2003, 2 percentage points
higher than in the third quarter of 2003. Among the clients outside the
Telefonica Group, it should be highlighted: Mexico with BBVA-Bancomer, Colombia
with Technion and Microsoft, Chile with Seguros Interamericana and Venezuela
with Movilnet. In the fourth quarter, the global agreement has been closed with
BBVA, a contract with Post office in Spain for next the three years and the
extension of services with existing clients (Technion in Colombia, AT&T in
Puerto Rico, CANTV in Venezuela, etc.).
With respect to the evolution by countries, Spain and Brazil continue to be the
highest contributors in revenues (71% of total), although this percentage has
fallen by 3 percentage points over the last year due to the increased revenues
contribution of Mexico, Chile, Colombia and Venezuela, as well as to the 4
percentage point drop in the revenues contribution of Spain (37% at end of
2003).
Operating expenses amounted to 429.0 million euros in 2003, 16.5% less than in
the same period of 2002, due to the optimization of installed capacity, the
centers adjustments, mostly in Spain, Brazil and Argentina, and the negative
impact of the depreciation of the Latin American currencies (-7.3% excluding
this effect). This evolution in expenses reflected the cost-cutting plan carries
out by the company for second consecutive year.
As a result of the good behavior in terms of revenues and cost control,
cumulative EBITDA for the year rose to 66.5 million euros, 22.4% higher than in
2002 (+46.7% excluding the currency effect). In quarterly terms, fourth quarter
EBITDA 2003 obtained a year over year growth of 7.3%. The cumulative EBITDA
margin in the year was 13.5%, 4.0 percentage points above that registered in
2002 and 2.0 percentage points above that of the first nine months of 2003. The
18.7% EBITDA margin reached during the fourth quarter in comparison with the
17.6% during the same period of the previous year must be underlined, confirming
the Atento Group as one of the most profitable companies in the 'Contact Center'
sector.
The operating profit for 2003 recorded a positive result of 14.3 million euros
against a loss of 21.1 million euros in 2002, mainly explained by the growth in
EBITDA and the decrease in depreciation (-30.7% in current euros, -19.1% in
constant euros) as a result of the higher degree of maturity achieved in
operations and the decrease in CapEx.
For the first time ever, the net income for the quarter was positive (3.0
million euros against the net loss of 16.0 million euros in fourth quarter
2002), allowing for a reduction in the annual net loss to 16.2 million euros
(-99.1 million euros in 2002).
At operating level, the Atento Group had 25,700 positions in place at December
31, 2003, 1,065 more than in September 2003 due to the higher volume of business
in Brazil and to the extension of the contract with Technion in Colombia. As
compared with 2002, a drop of 1,444 positions was produced due to the closure of
centers in Spain and to the exit of Japan.
The average number of occupied positions during 2003 was 18,052 (20,696 in
2002), representing a level of occupation of 74%, a decrease of 4 percentage
points from last year, largely as a result of the decline in traffic in Spain
due to the liberalization of the telephone information service. The revenue per
occupied position remained almost stable in relation to 2002 (2,292 euros).
Finally, CapEx during the year totaled 12.9 million euros, 29.8% less than in
2002, in line with the Group's policy of platform optimization in the centers.
Content and Media Business
The Content and Media business obtained operating revenues of 1,378.5 million
euros at 2003 year end, 28.1% more than in 2002. This performance was mainly due
to the fact that Antena 3 and its subsidiary Onda Cero were consolidated by the
full integration method during the first six months of 2003, whereas in 2002
both companies were consolidated using the equity method. The contribution made
by the two companies to the consolidated revenues in 2003 amounted to 303.8
million euros.
The business's consolidated EBITDA amounted to 210.3 million euros, compared
with 114.5 million euros in 2002. The positive evolution of EBITDA was due
primarily to the contribution of 51 million euros from Antena 3 in the first
half of the year, as well as to the positive performance at ATCO and Endemol vs
2002 and the savings achieved in the Content and Media holding's general
expenses and those of other business units.
Antena 3 has been fully consolidated by Telefonica Group during the first half
of 2003. After that it has been removed from Telefonica's consolidation
perimeter.
ATCO
In a year in which the advertising market in Argentina registered year-on-year
growth of approximately 72%, Telefe became the leading television channel with a
market share of 34.3%, followed by Canal 13, its main competitor, with a share
of 29.8%. The good performance in audience share made it possible to achieve an
aggregate advertising market share of 41.2% (in the Capital and Gran Buenos
Aires areas) at year end, 4.0 percentage points more than the company's main
competitor, and 6.4 percentage points higher than in the same period of the
previous year.
As a result of the significant improvement in the economic and competitive
environment, ATCO obtained operating revenues of 239.3 million pesos in 2003,
47.2.% more than in 2002. In turn, positive EBITDA of 16.3 million pesos was
achieved, as compared with the loss of 38.1 million pesos recorded at the end of
2002.
Telefonica DE Contenidos
Endemol
The cumulative revenues of the Endemol Group for 2003 amounted to 913.8 million
euros, which was 5.2% more than in the previous year. Endemol obtained EBITDA of
164.6 million euros, up by 8.9% year on year, and achieved an EBITDA margin of
18%, which was 0.6 percentage points more than in 2002.
This positive progress in revenues occurred primarily in the United Kingdom and
the USA, where there is strong competition in the field of audiovisual
production, although the results in both cases were affected by the negative
performance of exchange rates. Thus, in the United Kingdom, Endemol strengthened
its position as the leading independent television producer by launching
numerous successful formats in the course of the year, leading to revenue growth
of 27%. In the North American market Endemol obtained year-on-year revenue
growth of 16%. As regards the Endemol Group's traditional markets, France
continues to be the most important, with an increase in revenues of 11%, ahead
of Italy and Gestmusic Endemol in Spain.
The Endemol Group continued to pursue its policy of revenue diversification both
in relation to geographical markets and new formats. In 2003 operations began in
Russia with a new fully owned company. Also, in the United States, Endemol
purchased the True Entertainment company in order to strengthen the Group's
drama production in the US market. At the same time, Endemol continued to invest
significant resources in the development of formats by fully exploiting the
scope of the multiplatform concept (merchandising, telephone calls, text
messaging, content marketing through the Internet, etc...).
ADDENDUM
Companies included in each Financial Statement
Based on what was indicated at the start of this report, the results breakdown
of Telefonica Group are detailed according to the business in which the Group
has a presence. The main differences between this view and the one that would
apply to what had been made clear adhering to the legal structure, are the
following:
• Telefonica, S.A. directly participates in the share capital of Endemol
Entertainment Holding, N.V., which have been included in Telefonica de
Contenidos Group. Furthermore, the results from the participation, and
following divestiture, in Antena 3 de Television, S.A., have been integrated
within the Telefonica de Contenidos Group results, although it has been
participated directly by Telefonica S.A. through a part of the year. The
results from the Sogecable stake have been also assigned to Telefonica de
Contenidos Group, even though a part of the investment is legally dependent
upon Telefonica, S.A.
• The investment in Telefonica Deutschland (previously Mediaways),
participated through a part of the year 2002 by Telefonica S.A., has been
included in that fiscal year results of Telefonica Data for the maintenance
of the presentation of the Group results according to a vision of business
lines.
• Telefonica Holding Argentina, S.A. holds 26.82% of Atlantida de
Comunicaciones, S.A. (ATCO) and 26.82% of AC Inversora, S.A. which, for
those purposes, are considered to be part of Telefonica de Contenidos Group,
consolidating 100% share capital of both companies.
• In the case of Compania de Telecomunicaciones de Chile, S.A. (CTC),
participated by Telefonica Latinoamerica, the activities of the mobile
telephony business in Chile has already been assigned to the mobile
business, and the activity of data transmission to Telefonica Data.
• The activities of the data business in Brazil, participated by
Telecomunicaciones Sao Paulo, S.A. -Telesp-, (dependent to Telefonica
Latinoamerica), and by Telefonica Data, have been assigned to Telefonica
Data in this presentation by business lines.
• In the case of Telefonica de Argentina (TASA), participated by Telefonica
Latinoamerica, Telinver has been assigned to the directories business, in
line with our vision for the total Telefonica's directories business.
• Telefonica International Wholesale Services, S.L. directly participated by
Telefonica Datacorp S.A., has been consolidated within the Emergia Group.
Additionally, the combined results from Emergia Group and Data Group are
presented under Telefonica Empresas Group denomination.
• Following the agreement during the months of December 2001 and February
2002 with Iberdrola S.A., Telefonica S.A. acquired several participations in
both fixed and cellular companies in Brazil. These participations were
included in the year 2002 in the fixed line business in Latin America and
cellular business until its definitive contribution to them, according to
the presentation of Telefonica results by global business lines.
Significant Events
• On February 19, 2004, the Telefonica Moviles Board of Directors agreed to
propose to the Annual General Shareholders' Meeting the payment of a gross
dividend of 0.1838 euros per share charged to 2003 earnings. The proposed
dividend, which has a total value of 796 million euros, represents an
increase of 5% over the previous year's dividend.
• On February 11, 2004, the TPI Board of Directors agreed to bring for
approval at the General Meeting, the distribution of the dividend payment
proposal. The dividend will amount to 92.06 million euros, or 0.25 euros per
share, representing a 129.3% increase over 2002, and equivalent to 102.2% of
the Group's net profit, and 147.2% of TPI Spain's net profit.
• On December 17, 2003, the Telefonica, S.A. Board of Directors agreed to
bring before the shareholders for approval at the 2004 Annual General
Meeting, the distribution of the dividend of 0.40 euros in two payments of
identical amounts (0.20 euros per share in each), the first on May 14th,
2004 and the second on November 12th, 2004.
• On December 16, 2003, the Board of Directors of Terra approved the
acquisition by Terra of 26,525,732 shares of Terra held by Citibank N.A. as
agent in the options schemes undertaken by the company due to the
integration of Lycos, Inc. These shares represent 4.41% of the stock
capital.
The objective of the acquisition of the said shares is to realize the new
tax credit arising in the year 2004 and, if appropriate, in later years.
That realization is achieved through integration of Terra in the
consolidated tax regime of the Telefonica Group in the year 2004, as once
the acquisition is performed, the percentage of Telefonica, S.A. amounts to
75.29% of the effective capital of Terra (stock capital minus treasury
stock).
The definitive inclusion of Terra Group companies within the tax
consolidation regime of the Telefonica Group, must be approved by the
respective Shareholders General Meetings of the companies that will become
part of the Telefonica, S.A. Consolidated Group.
• On December 4, 2003, Telefonica's Board of Directors Commitee for
Appointments and Compensation agreed to put forward Joaquin Agut Bonfills as
CEO of Endemol and Joaquin Faura Batlle as CEO of Terra. Both appointments
were later confirmed by each respective Board of Directors.
Alberto Horcajo Aguirre was named head of Resources -he remains CEO of
Atento.
This concluded the restructuring of Telefonica Group's organisational
structure which now looks like this: 1/ Three core businesses: Telefonica
Moviles, Telefonica de Espana, Telefonica Latinoamerica; 2/ A new
Subsidiaries area, which encompasses TPI, Endemol and Telefonica Contenidos,
which will be overseen by Guillermo Fernandez-Vidal; 3/ A simple and lean
Corporate Centre, comprising just five areas: Finance and Shared Resources;
Development, Planning and Regulation; General Secretariat; Corporate
Communications; and Audit and Management Resources.
• On November 28, 2003, for the purpose of fulfilling the obligation of
disposing of one of the equity stakes held in television public service
concessionaire companies, laid down in the November 29th, 2002 Resolution of
the Spanish Council of Ministers, Telefonica sold on the market some
2,317,891 shares of the company 'Antena 3 de Television, S.A.', representing
4.17% of the said company's share capital. The sale was executed by means of
the block trading system at a price of € 34.00 per share.
Changes to the Perimeter and Accounting Criteria of Consolidation
In the year 2003, the following changes have occurred in the consolidation
perimeter:
Telefonica GROUP
• On January 7, 2003, Telefonica, S.A. and its subsidiary Telefonica de
Contenidos exercised their call option rights to acquire 19,532,625 shares
of Antena 3 de Television, S.A. from Banco Santander Central Hispano, S.A.,
representing 11.719% of the share capital and purchased by the Group
company, Corporacion Admira Media. After this transaction, Grupo Telefonica
reached a 59.24% stake in the capital of Antena 3 de Television.
Subsequently during 2003, Telefonica Group undertook a process of
divestiture in this company, beginning on April 30, 2003 with the acceptance
of an offer presented by Grupo Planeta for a 25.1% holding in the capital of
Antena 3 de Television for 364 million euros. This sale was subject to the
resolutory condition, already met, of the shares of Antena 3 de Television
being admitted to listing on the Spanish stock market.
On the other hand, the General Meeting of shareholders of Telefonica of
April 11, 2003 approved the distribution of shares representing 30% of
Antena 3 de Television, S.A. equity capital as a dividend in kind to
shareholders. This distribution took place in October after being quoted on
the Spanish stock market.
Lastly, during October and November, Telefonica, S.A. completed the sale in
the stock market of all the 2,928,893 shares remaining in its portfolio,
amounting 95.72 million euros.
These transactions carried out during 2003, leading to the divestiture of
Telefonica Group's stake in Antena 3 de Television, S.A. have resulted in a
recorded profit of 392.29 million euros. The company, accounted in 2002
using the equity method, was included using the full integration method in
the first six months of 2003 and was then removed from the consolidation
perimeter.
• In January, the Mexican company Fisatel Mexico, S.A. de C.V. was
incorporated with an initial share capital of 5 million Mexican pesos,
comprising 500 shares of 100 mexican pesos each. Later, the company
increased capital by 4.95 million mexican pesos. Telefonica Group subscribed
all of the shares that made up the capital of the new company. The company
was incorporated to the perimeter of consolidation of Telefonica Group using
the full integration method.
• In January, Telefonica, S.A., acquired 376,000 shares in its subsidiary
Telefonica Moviles, S.A. for the sum of 2.43 million euros. Following this
purchase, the new stake of Telefonica Group in its subsidiary is 92.44%. The
company continues to be included in the consolidation perimeter of
Telefonica Group using the full integration method.
• In February, Telefonica, S.A. acquired 9,669 shares of the Dutch
subsidiary Endemol Entertainment Holding, N.V. for the sum of 0.34 million
euros. Following this transaction, Telefonica Group reached a 99.49% stake
in the capital of the Dutch company, which continues to be included in the
consolidation perimeter of Telefonica Group using the full integration
method.
• In April and May, respectively, Telefonica Capital, S.A., a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Telefonica, S.A., set up a collective investment institution
management company called Fonditel Gestion, Sociedad Gestora de
Instituciones de Inversion Colectiva, S.A. and a brokerage company called
Fonditel Valores, Agencia de Valores, S.A., subscribing the total number of
shares that make up the capital share of both companies and paying in 1.5
million euros and 3 million euros, respectively. Both companies have been
included in the consolidation perimeter of Telefonica Group using the full
integration method.
• All the capital share of Playa de Madrid, S.A., participated by
Telefonica, S.A. has been sold. This company, which in 2002 was integrated
in the Telefonica Group financial statements using the full integration
method, has been removed from the consolidation perimeter.
• The companies Pleyade Argentina, S.A., Pleyade Peru Corredores de Seguros,
S.A.C., TGP Brasil Corretora de Seguros e Resseguros, Ltda. and Pleyade
Mexico, Agente de Seguros y de Fianzas, S.A. de C.V., which are all
subsidiaries of Pleyade Peninsular, Correduria de Seguros y Reaseguros of
Telefonica Group, S.A. have all been incorporated in the Telefonica Group
financial statements using the full integration method.
• Telefonica Ingenieria de Seguridad, S.A., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the
Telefonica Group, took part in setting up the company Telefonica Ingenieria
de Seguridad Mexico, S.A. de C.V., by subscribing to and paying in 0.34
million euros relating to 65% of the new company's capital stock. The
company has been included in the financial statements of Telefonica Group
using the full integration method.
• In July, Telefonica, S.A. settled the Public Offer for the Acquisition of
Shares in Terra Networks, S.A., acquiring 202,092,043 shares in the company
at a price of 5.25 euros each, which is 33.6% of the total capital.
Following this operation, Telefonica holds 71.97% of Terra's equity capital.
In the month of December the effective participation of the Telefonica Group
in the Terra Group has risen to 75.29%, as it is indicated in the section
corresponding to the Terra Group. The company continues to be included in
the consolidation perimeter of the Telefonica Group using the full
integration method.
• In virtue of the Strategic Alliance Framework Agreement signed on February
11, 2000 between Telefonica and Banco Bilbao Vizcaya, S.A. (BBVA), the
Dutch-based subsidiary of Grupo Telefonica, Atento NV, undertook several
capital increases in November to provide entry to the BBVA Group as a new
partner through the subsidiary General de Participaciones Empresariales,
S.L. Following these transactions, the share capital and paid-in capital of
the Dutch company have been increased by 20.76 million euros. Of this,
Telefonica, S.A. subscribed to and made a cash payment of 20 million euros.
In turn, BBVA Group subscribed to and made a cash payment of 4,000 euros and
the remainder, 0.76 million euros, was subscribed by means of a non-cash
contribution of a 100% shareholding in Procesos Operativos, S.A. Following
the entry of the new partner, Telefonica, S.A. decreased its share capital
in the Dutch company from 100% to the 91.35% currently held. Atento NV
continues to be included in the consolidation perimeter of Grupo Telefonica
using the full integration method and Procesos Operativos, S.A. has been
included in the consolidation perimeter of Grupo Telefonica using the full
integration method.
• In December, the 100% subsidiary Telefonica Consultora y Servicios, S.A.
was taken over by its parent company Telefonica Consultora de Proyectos,
S.A. Subsequently during the same month, Telefonica Consultora de Proyectos,
S.A., in turn a 100% subsidiary of Telefonica, S.A., was dissolved and
liquidated. As a result, both companies have been removed from the
consolidation perimeter of Telefonica Group, where they were included using
the full integration method.
• Also in December, the 100% subsidiaries of Telefonica Group, Urbana
Iberica, S.A., Telefonica North America, Inc. and the Dutch company Emergia
Holding, N.V. were dissolved and liquidated. All of these companies were
included in the consolidation perimeter of Telefonica Group using the full
integration method, have been removed from the consolidated perimeter.
Telefonica de Espana Group
• In line with the restructuring process of its group of companies,
Telefonica Cable, S.A., a wholly owned subsidiary of Telefonica de Espana,
S.A., has taken over the following local operator companies: Telefonica
Cable Madrid, S.A., Telefonica Cable Ceuta, S.A., Telefonica Cable Melilla,
S.A., Telefonica Cable Aragon, S.A., Telefonica Cable Catalunya, S.A.,
Telefonica Cable Castilla y Leon, S.A., Telefonica Cable Euskadi, S.A.,
Telefonica Cable Cantabria, S.A., Telefonica Cable Murcia, S.A., Telefonica
Cable Andalucia, S.A., Telefonica Cable La Rioja, S.A. and Telefonica Cable
Navarra, S.A. All of these companies were included in the consolidation
perimeter of Grupo Telefonica using the full integration method and were
removed during the year.
• It has also acquired 17% of the capital share of Telefonica Cable
Extremadura, S.A. for 0.10 million euros. With this purchase, the Telefonica
Group becomes the owner of 100% of the capital share of the aforementioned
company, which continues to be included in the consolidation perimeter of
Telefonica Group using the full integration method.
• Moreover, within the entry 'Other participations', the disposal of a 1.18%
holding in the share capital of Inmarsat Venture, plc. took place for 14.12
million euros.
Telefonica Internacional Group
• As a result of the cancellation by US-based Infonet Services Corporation
of its treasury stock in the current fiscal year, Telefonica International
Group has increased its stake in the company from 14.32% to 14.53%. The
company continues to be included in the financial statements of Telefonica
Group using the equity method.
• On July 29, 2003, Telefonica Empresas CTC Chile, S.A. recognized the
decision of Inversiones Santa Isabel Limitada to exercise its anticipated
call option on the remaining 35% of Sonda, S.A. This transaction has led to
a capital loss for Telefonica Group of 11.14 million euros. The company,
which was included in the financial statements of the Telefonica Group using
the equity method, has been removed from the consolidation perimeter.
• On September 1, 2003, Compania de Telecomunicaciones de Chile S.A., a
43.64%-owned subsidiary of Telefonica Internacional, S.A., sold 100% of the
shares it owned in Compania de Telecomunicaciones de Chile S.A - Isapre,
S.A., generating a capital loss for the Telefonica Group of 0.29 million
euros. The company, which was included in the financial statements of the
Telefonica Group using the full integration method, has been removed from
the consolidation perimeter.
Telefonica EMPRESAS
• The U.S. companies Katalyx Food Service, Llc; Katalyx Sip, Llc; Katalyx
Cataloguing, Inc; and Katalyx Construction, Inc; all of them 100%
subsidiaries of the company Katalyx, Inc, were liquidated. These companies,
which in 2002 were integrated into the consolidation perimeter of Telefonica
Group using the full integration method, have been removed from the
consolidation perimeter.
• Telefonica Data Colombia, S.A. increased its capital share in May in order
to admit a new shareholder. As a result, the Telefonica Group percentage
fell from 100% to 65%. The company continues to be included in the
consolidation perimeter of the Telefonica Group using the full integration
method.
• Telefonica Soluciones de Informatica and Comunicaciones de Espana, S.A.
(formerly Telefonica Sistemas, S.A.), a wholly owned subsidiary of
Telefonica Datacorp, S.A., the Group's parent company, purchased 100% of the
Spanish company Telefonica Mobile Solutions, S.A. from Telefonica Moviles,
S.A. in June for 1.13 million euros. As a result of this transaction, the
Telefonica Group's effective shareholding rose from 92.43% to 100%. The
company continues to be included in the consolidation perimeter of the
Telefonica Group using the full integration method.
• The subsidiary Telefonica Data Argentina, S.A., in which Telefonica
Datacorp, S.A. owns a 97.92% shareholding, bought 20% of the Argentinean
company Tyssa, Telecomunicaciones y Sistemas, S.A., which was owned by the
Telefonica Internacional Group in the month of June. As a result, Telefonica
Data Argentina now controls 100% of Tyssa's shares. Following this
transaction, the Telefonica Group's effective shareholding in this company
fell from 98.34% to 97.92%. Subsequently, in the month of September Tyssa
has been absorbed by its parent company.
• In October, Telefonica DataCorp, S.A. acquired all of the shares held by
Telefonica, S.A. in the American company Katalyx, Inc., representing 99.9%
of its share capital. The company continues to be included in the
consolidation perimeter of Telefonica Group using the full integration
method.
• Also in October, the 34% stake of Telefonica DataCorp, S.A. in Atlanet was
disposed of for 24.79 million euros, leading to a capital loss on the sale
of 25.78 million euros. The company has been removed from the consolidation
perimeter of Grupo Telefonica, in which it was included in 2002 using the
equity method.
Telefonica MOVILES Group
• On April 25, 2003, Telesp Celular Participacoes, S.A. (TCP), 65.12%-owned
by Brasilcel, N.V., acquired 61.10% of common voting shares in the Brazilian
company Tele Centro Oeste Participacoes, S.A. (TCO) from the Brazilian
company Fixel (controlled by the Splice Group), representing 20.37% of its
share capital, for 1,505.5 million Brazilian reais.
• In application of Brazilian legislation, in October 2003 TCP requested a
public tender offer for the remaining common voting shares in TCO in hands
of minority shareholders. The acceptance period for this tender offer ended
on November 18, 2003 and resulted in TCP's acquisition of a 74.23% stake out
of the shares at which the offer was launched. Together with its current
stake TCP reached 86.58% of ordinary shares in TCO (90.73% without including
the treasury stock owned by TCO), representing 28.87 of total share capital
(29.31% without treasury stock). The amount paid for this additional
percentage rose to 538.8 million Brazilian reais. This company is included
in the consolidated financial statements of Brasilcel that, in turn, is
included in Telefonica Group using the proportional integration method.
Although TCP had announced their intention to make an exchange (or
incorporation) of TCO shares by means of which it would become his unique
shareholder, this exchange was canceled the 12 of January of 2004 as a
result of the opinion expressed by the Comision del Mercado de Valores
Brasilena (CVM) what, in opinion of the Board of Directors of TCP and TCO,
it advised to lapse the previous proposal.
• Telefonica Moviles, S.A. has purchased 20% of the Spanish company
Telefonica Moviles Interacciona, S.A. (formerly Terra Mobile, S.A.), from
Terra Networks, S.A., bringing its shareholding in the company to 100% of
the capital stock. The percentage effectively held by the Telefonica Group
in this company has increased from 81.66% to 92.44%. The company continues
to be included in the consolidation perimeter of the Telefonica Group using
the full integration method. Subsequently, on June 24, 2003, Telefonica
Moviles Interacciona, S.A. took over Termespa, S.A..
• The Moroccan company Medi Telecom, S.A. increased its capital in July, 29,
2003. Telefonica Moviles Group increased its stake in the company from
31.34% to the present 32.18% paying 21.23 million euros. The company
continues to be included in the consolidation perimeter of the Telefonica
Group using the equity method.
• In September, Telefonica Moviles, S.A. constituted Telefonica Moviles
Puerto Rico, Inc. with an initial capital share of 40,000. The company has
been included in the consolidation perimeter of the Telefonica Group using
the full integration method.
• On December 23, 2003 Telefonica Moviles Espana, S.A. and Mobilkom Austria
Aktiengesellschaft & Co KG (Mobilkom) reached an agreement for the latter to
acquire 100% of the capital stock of 3G Mobile Telecommunications GmbH, the
Austrian subsidiary of Telefonica Moviles Espana and holder of the
third-generation (UMTS) mobile telephony licence. The sale price of the
company rose to 13.65 million euros. The company, which was included in the
financial statements of Grupo Telefonica during the previous year using the
full integration method, has been removed from the consolidation perimeter.
TPI Group
• In January, TPI Group constituted the Spanish company 11888 Servicio
Consulta Telefonica, S.A. with an initial share capital of 60,200 euros. The
company was included in the Telefonica Group consolidated financial
statements using the full integration method.
• In July, the Brazilian company Telefonica Publicidade e Informacao,
Ltda. owned by Telefonica Publicidad e Informacion, S.A. and Telefonica
Internacional, S.A., simultaneously reduced and increased capital, in which
Telefonica Publicidad e Informacion, S.A. subscribed and paid in the entire
capital share, becoming the sole company shareholder. Telefonica Group
decreased its stake in the company from 79.55% to 59.90%. The company
continues to be included in the consolidation perimeter of the Telefonica
Group using the full integration method.
• In September, Buildnet, S.A. simultaneously reduced and increased capital
to 61,000 euros, which was subscribed and fully paid in by the subsidiary of
Telefonica Publicidad e Informacion, S.A., Goodman Business Press, S.A.
Following this operation, Telefonica Group has increased its share in this
company from 58.46% to the present 59.90%. The company continues to be
included in the consolidation perimeter of the Telefonica Group using the
full integration method.
TERRA LYCOS GRoup
• In January 2003, an agreement was reached with BBVA for the integration of
Uno-e Bank, S.A. in the branch of activity of consumer business of Finanzia,
Banco de Credito, S.A. Subsequently, at an extraordinary shareholders'
meeting of Uno-e Bank, S.A. (held on April 23, 2003), Terra Networks, S.A.
and BBVA approved a capital increase at Uno-e Bank, S.A., which was fully
subscribed by Finanzia Banco de Credito, S.A. (wholly-owned by BBVA) by
means of the non-cash contribution of the branch of activity of its consumer
business. As a result of this transaction, Terra Networks, S.A. now owns a
33% shareholding in Uno-e Bank, S.A., instead of the 49% that it owned at
the end of 2002, being removed from the consolidation perimeter of the
Telefonica Group.
• The subsidiaries Terra Networks Uruguay, S.A., Terra Global Management,
Inc., Bumeran Participaciones, S.L. and Emplaza, S.A., the first two
wholly-owned, the third 84.2%-owned and the fourth 80%-owned by Terra Group,
which in 2002 were consolidated using the full integration method, have been
removed from the consolidation perimeter of the Telefonica Group. These
societies are being eliminated or they are in dissolution process.
• The Terra Group has increased by 15.08% its holding in the capital share
of the US company One Travel.com, Inc. to 54.15%, in a transaction involving
the disbursement of 3.3 million euros. The company, which in 2002 was
integrated in the Telefonica Group financial statements using the equity
method, is now incorporated using the full integration method since April
2003.
• In December, Terra Networks, S.A. acquired 26,525,732 shares in Citibank
N.A. as an agent of the share option plan in the company after the purchase
of Lycos, Inc. Terra Networks, S.A. continued to guarantee coverage of the
option plan for employees through shares that are now in treasury stock.
Following this transaction, Grupo Telefonica increased its 71.97% effective
stake to the 75.29% held at December 31, 2003. The company continues to be
included in the consolidation perimeter of Grupo Telefonica using the full
integration method.
Atento Group
• On May 23, 2003, Atento Teleservicios Espana, S.A. subscribed and paid in
the entire capital share of the newly formed company Atento Servicios
Tecnicos y Consultoria, S.L., consisting of 3,006 shares of 1-euro face
value each. The company has been included in the consolidation perimeter of
the Telefonica Group using the full integration method.
• On July,3, 2003, Atento Teleservicios Espana, S.A. subscribed and paid in
the entire capital share of the newly formed company Servicios Integrales de
Asistencia y Atencion, S.L., consisting of 3,006 shares of 1-euro face value
each. The company has been included in the consolidation perimeter of the
Telefonica Group using the full integration method.
• Atento North America, Inc., a company wholly owned by Atento Holding,
Inc., is no longer included in the consolidation perimeter of the Telefonica
Group because it has been liquidated on January, 1, 2003.
• Atento Teleservicios Espana, S.A. has taken over its wholly owned
subsidiary, Gestion de Servicios de Emergencia y Atencion al Ciudadano,
S.A., on April 14,2003 was absorbed by that which has therefore been removed
from the consolidation perimeter.
• In June, Atento Group's, disposed of 70% of the shares it owned in Atento
Pasona, Inc. This company, which in 2002 was consolidated using the full
integration method, has been removed from the consolidation perimeter.
• Atento Asia Pacific, Inc., which was included in the consolidation
perimeter of Telefonica Group in 2002 using the full integration method, was
removed due to liquidation on October 21, 2003.
• On December 1, 2003, Atento Teleservicios Espana, S.A. acquired a 100%
share capital in Leader Line, S.A. The company was included in the
consolidation perimeter of Grupo Telefonica using the full integration
method.
TELEFONICA DE CONTENIDOS Group
• Telefonica de Contenidos, S.A. sold 100% of the Spanish company Famosos,
Artistas, Musicos y Actores, S.A.U. (FAMA), which caused a negative result
for Telefonica Group of 1.06 million euros. The company, which in 2002 was
shown in the consolidated financial statements of Telefonica Group using the
full integration method, has been removed from the consolidation perimeter.
• The Dutch company Fieldy, B.V. and the American company Lideres
Entertainment Group, Inc, in which Telefonica de Contenidos holds 51% and
49% of the capital, respectively, based on management criteria, went on to
be recorded in the accounts of Telefonica Group by the equity method.
• As part of the process of integration of DTS Distribuidora de Television
Digital, S.A. (Via Digital) and Sogecable, S.A., in the first half of 2003,
Telefonica de Contenidos, S.A. acquired shares representing 12.63% of the
capital share of Distribuidora de Television Digital, S.A. (Via Digital),
amounting 165.6 million euros. Likewise, there was a process to convert
obligations into shares for the sum of 164.3 million euros and a subsequent
capital increase for the sum of 949.84 million euros. As a result of these
transactions, Telefonica de Contenidos' shareholding in Via Digital prior to
its merger with Sogecable amounted to 96.64%.
On July 2, 2003, Telefonica de Contenidos, S.A. subscribed the capital
increase of Sogecable, S.A., contributing the shares it owned in Via
Digital. As a result of the operation, Telefonica Group acquired 28,008,149
shares in the capital increase, which is a 22.228% share in Sogecable's
equity capital. The company Via Digital, which was consolidated during
financial year 2002 using the equity method, has been removed from the
consolidation perimeter. S In October, Telefonica, S.A. acquired 2,020,000
shares in Sogecable, S.A. for 41.91 million euros, reaching 23.83% stake
Telefonica Group in the company. These transactions led to a consolidation
goodwill amortization of 607.23 million euros. Sogecable, S.A. has been
included in the consolidation perimeter of the Telefonica Group using the
equity method.
Likewise, as a result of the financing granted to Sogecable S.A. during 2003
by means of a subordinated loan suscription, Telefonica de Contenidos
received, through its stake in the before-mentioned loan, 1,241,990
call-options rights (warrants) on Sogecable shares, valued at 11,22 million
euros.
• On July 16, 2003 and within the framework of the integration process of
digital platforms, Gestora de Medios Audiovisuales Futbol, S.L. sold its 40%
share in the capital share of Audiovisual Sport, S.L. to Gestion de Derechos
Audiovisuales y Deportivos, S.A., a company belonging to the Sogecable
Group. The company, which was included in the consolidation perimeter of the
Telefonica Group using the equity method, has been removed from the
consolidated financial statements of the Group.
• On 21 July, 2003 Telefonica de Contenidos, S.A. sold its share in Tick,
Tack, Ticket, S.A. The 47.5% stake in its capital share was transferred in
the same operation together with another participation of the same amount in
this company by Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. This disposal has
generated a negative accounting result for the Telefonica Group of 0.13
million euros.
• On November 13, 2003, Telefonica de Contenidos, S.A. sold its stake in
Euroleague Marketing, S.L. to Sogecable, S.A.
• On December 22, 2003, liquidation of Interocio Games, S.A. 50% owned by
Telefonica de Contenidos, was completed. The company, which was included in
the financial statements of Telefonica Group during the previous year using
the equity method, has been removed from the consolidation perimeter.
DISCLAIMER
This document contains statements that constitute forward looking statements in
its general meaning and within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. These statements appear in a number of places in this
document and include statements regarding the intent, belief or current
expectations of the customer base, estimates regarding future growth in the
different business lines and the global business, market share, financial
results and other aspects of the activity and situation relating to the Company.
The forward-looking statements in this document can be identified, in some
instances, by the use of words such as 'expects', 'anticipates', 'intends',
'believes', and similar language or the negative thereof or by forward-looking
nature of discussions of strategy, plans or intentions.
Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and
involve risks and uncertainties and actual results may differ materially from
those in the forward looking statements as a result of various factors.
Analysts and investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on those
forward looking statements which speak only as of the date of this presentation.
Telefonica undertakes no obligation to release publicly the results of any
revisions to these forward looking statements which may be made to reflect
events and circumstances after the date of this presentation, including, without
limitation, changes in Telefonica's business or acquisition strategy or to
reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Analysts and investors are
encouraged to consult the Company's Annual Report as well as periodic filings
filed with the relevant Securities Markets Regulators, and in particular with
the Spanish Market Regulator
For additional information, please contact.
Investor Relations
Gran Via, 28 Tel: +34 91 584 4700
28013 Madrid (Spain) Fax: +37 91 531 9975
Email:
ezequiel.nieto@telefonica.es www.telefonica.com/ir
dmaus@telefonica.es
dgarcia@telefonica.es
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