Interim Results - Part 5
Vodafone Group Plc
16 November 2004
Vodafone Group Interim Results
For the six months ended 30 September 2004
PART 5
NOTES TO THE INTERIM RESULTS
FOR THE SIX MONTHS TO 30 SEPTEMBER 2004
7 Reconciliation of operating loss to net cash inflow from
operating activities
Six months to Six months to Year ended
30 September 30 September 31 March
2004 2003 2004
£m £m £m
Operating loss (2,245) (1,841) (4,776)
Exceptional operating items - (351) (228)
Depreciation 2,142 2,206 4,362
Goodwill amortisation 6,373 6,547 13,095
Amortisation of other intangible
fixed assets 204 22 98
Loss on disposal of tangible
fixed assets 31 35 89
------- ------- -------
Group EBITDA(1) 6,505 6,618 12,640
Working capital movements (94) (522) (238)
Payments in respect of
exceptional items (32) (15) (85)
------- ------- -------
Net cash inflow from operating
activities 6,379 6,081 12,317
======= ======= =======
(1) Group EBITDA is not a measure recognised under UK GAAP but is presented
in order to highlight operational performance of the Group.
8 Analysis of net debt
Other
non-cash
changes and At 30
At 1 April exchange September
2004 Cash flow movements 2004
£m £m £m £m
Liquid resources 4,381 (2,411) 28 1,998
------- ------- ------- -------
Cash at bank and in hand 1,409 1,215 28 2,652
Bank overdrafts (42) (79) (1) (122)
------- ------- ------- -------
1,367 1,136 27 2,530
------- ------- ------- -------
Debt due within one year
(other than bank overdrafts) (2,000) 788 (213) (1,425)
Debt due after one year (12,100) 161 246 (11,693)
Finance leases (136) 8 (3) (131)
------- ------- ------- -------
(14,236) 957 30 (13,249)
------- ------- ------- -------
Net debt (8,488) (318) 85 (8,721)
======= ======= ======= =======
Included within net debt at 30 September 2004 are bond issues maturing
as follows:
£m
One year or less 1,305
More than one year but not more than two years 525
More than two years but not more than five years 4,488
More than five years but not more than ten years 2,431
More than ten years but not more than twenty years 1,630
More than twenty years 1,366
-------
11,745
=======
9 Summary of differences between UK and US GAAP
The interim results have been prepared in accordance with UK Generally Accepted
Accounting Principles ('UK GAAP'), which differ in certain significant respects
from US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ('US GAAP'). A description of
the relevant accounting principles which differ materially has been provided
within Vodafone Group Plc's Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2004. The
effects of these differing accounting principles are as follows:
Six months to Six months to Year ended
30 September 30 September 31 March
2004 2003 2004
£m £m £m
Revenue from continuing operations in
accordance with UK GAAP 16,796 16,081 32,741
Items (decreasing)/increasing
revenue:
Non-consolidated entity (2,678) (2,612) (5,276)
Connection revenue 617 (536) 188
------- ------- -------
Revenue from continuing operations in
accordance with US GAAP 14,735 12,933 27,653
======= ======= =======
Net loss in accordance with UK
GAAP (3,195) (4,254) (9,015)
Items decreasing/(increasing)
net loss:
Investments accounted for under
the equity method 662 789 1,354
Connection revenue and costs 9 12 29
Goodwill and other intangible
assets (3,116) (3,116) (6,520)
Licence fee amortisation (193) (3) (76)
Exceptional items - (253) (351)
Capitalised interest (32) 223 406
Income taxes 2,612 3,426 6,183
Other (47) 15 (137)
------- ------- -------
Net loss in accordance with US GAAP (3,300) (3,161) (8,127)
======= ======= =======
US GAAP basic and diluted loss
per share (4.93)p (4.64)p (11.93)p
======= ======= =======
As at As at As at
30 September 30 September 31 March
2004 2003 2004
as restated
£m £m £m
Shareholders' equity in
accordance with UK GAAP 107,744 124,583 111,924
Items increasing/(decreasing)
shareholders' equity:
Investments accounted for under
the equity method 6,336 5,581 5,566
Connection revenue and costs (24) (72) (55)
Goodwill and other intangible
assets 44,162 49,156 45,320
Licence fee amortisation (306) (43) (109)
Capitalised interest 1,584 1,296 1,615
Income taxes (39,250) (42,988) (40,074)
Proposed dividends 1,263 650 728
Other 137 120 114
------- ------- -------
Shareholders' equity in
accordance with US GAAP 121,646 138,283 125,029
======== ======== ========
On 29 September 2004, the Staff of the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission ('SEC') announced new guidance in the interpretation of US GAAP in
relation to accounting for intangible assets.
Historically, under US GAAP, Vodafone has assigned to mobile licences the
residual purchase price in business combinations in excess of the fair values of
all assets and liabilities other than mobile licences and goodwill. This
approach has been on the basis that mobile licences were indistinguishable from
goodwill. The adoption of the new SEC guidance will now require Vodafone to
distinguish between mobile licences and goodwill. However, the new guidance does
not permit the amount historically recorded as mobile licences to be
subsequently reallocated between mobile licences and goodwill.
The adoption of this new guidance is likely to result in a reduction in the
carrying value of Vodafone's equity accounted investment in Verizon Wireless
under US GAAP. Vodafone is currently assessing the impact of this change in
interpretation. Any resulting reduction in the carrying value of Vodafone's
investment in Verizon Wireless under US GAAP would not be as a result of a
change in Vodafone's view of the financial prospects of Verizon Wireless.
INDEPENDENT REVIEW REPORT BY DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
TO VODAFONE GROUP PLC
Introduction
We have been instructed by the Company to review the financial information for
the six months ended 30 September 2004 which comprises the Consolidated Profit
and Loss Account, Consolidated Balance Sheet, Consolidated Cash Flow,
Consolidated Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses, Movement in Equity
Shareholders' Funds and related notes 1 to 9. We have read the other information
contained in the interim results report and considered whether it contains any
apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the financial
information.
This report is made solely to the Company in accordance with Bulletin 1999/4
issued by the Auditing Practices Board. Our work has been undertaken so that we
might state to the Company those matters we are required to state to them in an
independent review report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent
permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than
the Company, for our review work, for this report, or for the conclusions we
have formed.
Directors' responsibilities
The interim results report, including the financial information contained
therein, is the responsibility of, and has been approved by, the directors. The
directors are responsible for preparing the interim results report in accordance
with the Listing Rules of the Financial Services Authority which require that
the accounting polices and presentation applied to the interim figures are
consistent with those applied in preparing the preceding annual accounts except
where any changes, and the reasons for them, are disclosed.
Review work performed
We conducted our review in accordance with the guidance contained in Bulletin
1999/4 issued by the Auditing Practices Board for use in the United Kingdom. A
review consists principally of making enquiries of Group management and applying
analytical procedures to the financial information and underlying financial data
and, based thereon, assessing whether the accounting policies and presentation
have been consistently applied unless otherwise disclosed. A review excludes
audit procedures such as tests of controls and verification of assets,
liabilities and transactions. It is substantially less in scope than an audit
performed in accordance with United Kingdom auditing standards and therefore
provides a lower level of assurance than an audit. Accordingly, we do not
express an audit opinion on the financial information.
Review conclusion
On the basis of our review we are not aware of any material modifications that
should be made to the financial information as presented for the six months
ended 30 September 2004.
Deloitte & Touche LLP
Chartered Accountants
London
16 November 2004
UNAUDITED PROPORTIONATE FINANCIAL INFORMATION
FOR THE SIX MONTHS TO 30 SEPTEMBER 2004
Basis of preparation
The tables of financial information below are presented on a proportionate
basis. Proportionate presentation is not a measure recognised under UK GAAP and
is not intended to replace the consolidated financial statements prepared in
accordance with UK GAAP. However, since significant entities in which the Group
has an interest are not consolidated, proportionate information is provided as
supplemental data to facilitate a more detailed understanding and assessment of
the consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with UK GAAP.
UK GAAP requires consolidation of entities controlled by the Group and the
equity method of accounting for entities in which the Group has significant
influence but not a controlling interest. Proportionate presentation is a pro
rata consolidation, which reflects the Group's share of turnover and expenses in
both its consolidated and unconsolidated entities. Proportionate results are
calculated by multiplying the Group's ownership interest in each entity by each
entity's results.
Proportionate information includes results from the Group's equity accounted
investments and investments held at cost. The Group does not have control over
the turnover, expenses or cash flows of these investments and is only entitled
to cash from dividends received from these entities. The Group does not own the
underlying assets of these investments.
Proportionate turnover is stated net of intercompany turnover. Proportionate
EBITDA is defined as operating profit before exceptional items and depreciation
and amortisation of subsidiary undertakings, associated undertakings and
investments, proportionate to equity stakes. Proportionate EBITDA represents the
Group's ownership interests in the respective entities' EBITDA. As such,
proportionate EBITDA does not represent EBITDA available to the Group.
Proportionate EBITDA margin before exceptional items is proportionate EBITDA
before exceptional items, as a percentage of proportionate turnover.
Six months to Six months to Year ended
30 September 30 September 31 March
2004 2003 2004
£m £m £m
Reconciliation of proportionate
turnover to statutory turnover
Proportionate turnover 21,179 19,692 39,446
Minority share of turnover in
subsidiary undertakings 1,395 2,452 4,521
Group share of turnover in
associated undertakings and
trade investments (5,778) (5,245) (10,408)
------- ------- -------
Statutory turnover 16,796 16,899 33,559
======= ======= =======
Reconciliation of proportionate
EBITDA, before exceptional items
to loss for the period
Proportionate EBITDA, before
exceptional items 8,295 7,792 15,114
Minority share of EBITDA in
subsidiary undertakings 552 899 1,602
Group's share of EBITDA in
associated undertakings and
trade investments (2,342) (2,073) (4,076)
------- ------- -------
Group EBITDA 6,505 6,618 12,640
Charges for depreciation (2,142) (2,206) (4,362)
Exceptional operating items - 351 228
Goodwill amortisation (6,373) (6,547) (13,095)
Amortisation of other
intangibles (204) (22) (98)
Loss on disposal of tangible
fixed assets (31) (35) (89)
------- ------- -------
Operating loss (2,245) (1,841) (4,776)
Share of operating profit in
associated undertakings 630 263 546
Exceptional non-operating items 22 (58) (103)
Net interest payable and similar items (291) (356) (714)
Tax on loss on ordinary activities (987) (1,792) (3,154)
Minority interests (including
non-equity minority interests) (324) (470) (814)
------- ------- -------
Loss for the period (3,195) (4,254) (9,015)
======= ======= =======
OTHER INFORMATION
1) Copies of this document are available from the Company's registered
office:
Vodafone House
The Connection
Newbury
Berkshire
RG14 2FN
2) These interim results will be available on the Vodafone Group Plc
website, www.vodafone.com, from 16 November 2004.
For further information:
Vodafone Group
Investor Relations
Melissa Stimpson
Darren Jones
Tel: +44 (0) 1635 673310
Media Relations
Bobby Leach
Ben Padovan
Tel: +44 (0) 1635 673310
Tavistock Communications
Lulu Bridges
John West
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7920 3150
High resolution photographs are available to the media free of charge at
www.newscast.co.uk.
Vodafone, Vodafone live!, Vodafone Mobile Connect and Vodafone Wireless Office
are trademarks of the Vodafone Group. Other product and company names mentioned
herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
Forward-Looking Statements
This document contains 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the US
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to the Group's
financial condition, results of operations and businesses and certain of the
Group's plans and objectives. In particular, such forward-looking statements
include the statements under 'Chief Executive's Statement' regarding returns to
shareholders, free cash flow in this and future financial years and the impact
thereof on future financial performance, organic growth in average proportionate
customers, number of Vodafone live! with 3G customers, share purchases,
proportionate mobile revenue and the level of proportionate mobile margins; the
statements under 'Outlook' regarding Vodafone's expectations for the years
ending 31 March 2005 and 2006 as to average proportionate mobile customer
growth, number of Vodafone live! with 3G customers, full year proportionate
organic mobile revenue, proportionate mobile EBITDA margins, depreciation and
licence amortisation, capitalised fixed asset additions, free cash flow, cash
expenditure on fixed assets, tax payments, share purchases and guidance under
IFRS; the statements under 'United Kingdom' regarding Vodafone UK's
restructuring programme and its impact on support costs and operations; the
statements under 'Americas' regarding expansion of certain Verizon Wireless
services; the statements under 'Japan' with respect to expected availability of
3G handsets, the expected impact on margins and market position once the
handsets are available and the expected outcome of the plans announced to
improve Vodafone Japan's performance and competitive position; the statements
under 'Taxation' with respect to the expected effective tax rates; the
statements under 'Dividends' with respect to dividend payments and increases in
the level of dividends; and the statements under 'One Vodafone' regarding
anticipated benefits to the Group of the One Vodafone programme, including
statements related to revenue generation, speed to market for new services and
the Group's strategic cost position, free cash flow, cost savings and revenue
enhancements and combined mobile operating expenses. These forward-looking
statements are made on the basis of certain assumptions which Vodafone believes
to be reasonable in light of Vodafone's operating experience in recent years.
The principal assumptions on which these statements are based relate to exchange
rates, customer numbers, usage and pricing, take-up of new services, termination
and interconnect rates, customer acquisition and retention costs, network
opening and operating costs and the availability of handsets.
The document also contains other forward-looking statements including statements
with respect to Vodafone's expectations as to launch and roll-out dates for
products and services, including, for example, 3G services and handsets,
Vodafone live! and Vodafone's business services; intentions regarding the
development of products and services; 3G penetration rates; acquisitions and
disposals; expectations with respect to shareholder value growth; share
purchases; our ability to be a mobile market leader; mobile call termination
rates; the Group's adoption and implementation of IFRS and the impact thereof on
the Group's effective tax rate; dividend payments by Vodafone Italy; the impact
of recent US GAAP pronouncements; maintenance of credit ratings and overall
market trends. Forward-looking statements are sometimes, but not always,
identified by their use of a date in the future or such words as 'anticipates',
'aims', 'could', 'may', 'should', 'expects', 'believes', 'intends', 'plans' or
'targets'.
By their nature, forward-looking statements are inherently predictive,
speculative and involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and
depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. There are a number of
factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially
from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements particularly
the statements under 'Chief Executive's Statement', 'Outlook', 'One Vodafone',
'Dividends' and 'Taxation' referred to above. These factors include, but are not
limited to, the following: changes in economic or political conditions in
markets served by operations of the Group that would adversely affect the level
of demand for mobile services; greater than anticipated competitive activity
requiring changes in pricing models and/or new product offerings or resulting in
higher costs of acquiring new customers or providing new services; the impact on
capital spending from investment in network capacity and the deployment of new
technologies, or the rapid obsolescence of existing technology; slower customer
growth or reduced customer retention; the possibility that technologies,
including mobile internet platforms, and services, including 3G services, will
not perform according to expectations or that vendors' performance will not meet
the Group's requirements; changes in the projected growth rates of the mobile
telecommunications industry; the Group's ability to realise expected synergies
and benefits associated with 3G technologies and the integration of our
operations and those of acquired companies; future revenue contributions of both
voice and non-voice services offered by the Group; lower than expected impact of
GPRS, 3G and Vodafone live! and the Group's business offerings on the Group's
future revenue, cost structure and capital expenditure outlays; the ability of
the Group to harmonise mobile platforms and any delays, impediments or other
problems associated with the roll-out and scope of 3G technology and services
and Vodafone live! and the Group's business or service offerings in new markets;
the ability of the Group to offer new services and secure the timely delivery of
high-quality, reliable GPRS and 3G handsets, network equipment and other key
products from suppliers; greater than anticipated prices of new mobile handsets;
the ability to realise benefits from entering into partnerships for developing
data and internet services and entering into service franchising and brand
licensing; the possibility that the pursuit of new, unexpected strategic
opportunities may have a negative impact on one or more of the measurements of
our financial performance or the level of dividends; any unfavourable
conditions, regulatory or otherwise, imposed in connection with pending or
future acquisitions or dispositions; changes in the regulatory framework in
which the Group operates, including possible action by regulators in markets in
which the Group operates or by the European Commission regulating rates the
Group is permitted to charge; the Group's ability to develop competitive data
content and services which will attract new customers and increase average
usage; the impact of legal or other proceedings against the Group or other
companies in the mobile telecommunications industry; the possibility that new
marketing campaigns or efforts are not an effective expenditure; the possibility
that the Group's integration efforts do not increase the speed-to-market of new
products or improve the Group's cost position; changes in exchange rates,
including particularly the exchange rate of pound sterling to the euro, US
dollar and the Japanese yen; the risk that, upon obtaining control of certain
investments, the Group discovers additional information relating to the
businesses of that investment leading to restructuring charges or write-offs or
with other negative implications; changes in statutory tax rates and profit mix
which would impact the weighted average tax rate; changes in tax legislation in
the jurisdictions in which the Group operates; final resolution of open issues
which might impact the effective tax rate; timing of any tax payments relating
to the resolution of open issues; and loss of suppliers or disruption of supply
chains.
Furthermore, a review of the reasons why actual results and developments may
differ materially from the expectations disclosed or implied within
forward-looking statements can be found under 'Risk Factors' contained in our
Annual Report on Form 20-F with respect to the financial year ended 31 March
2004. All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to
the Company or any member of the Group or any persons acting on their behalf are
expressly qualified in their entirety by the factors referred to above.
No assurance can be given that the forward-looking statements in this document
will be realised. Neither Vodafone Group nor any of its affiliates intends to
update these forward-looking statements.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information
In presenting and discussing the Group's reported financial position, operating
results and cash flows, certain information is derived from amounts calculated
in accordance with UK GAAP, but this information is not itself an expressly
permitted GAAP measure. Such non-GAAP measures should not be viewed in isolation
as alternatives to the equivalent GAAP measure.
A summary of certain of the non-GAAP measures included in this results
announcement, together with details where additional information and
reconciliation to the nearest equivalent GAAP measure can be found, is shown
below.
Non-GAAP measure Equivalent GAAP Location in this results
measure announcement of reconciliation
and further information
--------------------- --------------------- ------------------------------
Group EBITDA, before Operating loss Note 7 on page 30
exceptional items
Mobile EBITDA before Total Group Business review on page 6
exceptional items operating loss
Total Group operating Total Group operating Note 2 on page 28
profit (before goodwill loss
amortisation and
exceptional items)
Profit on ordinary Loss on ordinary Group Financial Highlights on
activities before activities before page 3
taxation (before taxation
goodwill amortisation
and exceptional items)
Operating free cash Net cash inflow from Cash flows and funding on page
flow operating activities 20
Free cash flow Net cash inflow from Cash flows and funding on page
operating activities 20
Adjusted earnings per Earnings per share Note 6 on page 29
share
Proportionate turnover Statutory turnover Proportionate financial
information on page 33
Proportionate EBITDA, Loss for the financial Proportionate financial
before exceptional year information on page 33
items
Effective rate of Tax on loss on Profit on ordinary activities
taxation before goodwill ordinary activities before taxation (before
amortisation and as a percentage of goodwill amortisation and
exceptional items loss on ordinary exceptional items) is shown in
activities before Group Financial Highlights on
taxation page 3
Tax on loss on ordinary Tax on loss on Note 5 on page 29
activities before ordinary activities
exceptional items
In addition the trading results of the Group and key markets present certain
GAAP financial information, being revenue and cost of sales related to
acquisition and retention activity, on a net basis. The Group belives that this
basis of presentation provides useful information for investors regarding trends
in net subsidies with respect to the acquisition and retention of customers
and facilitates comparability of results with other companies operating in the
mobile telecommunications business. 'Other revenue', 'Net acquisition costs' and
'Net retention costs', as used in the trading results, are defined on page 37.
Definition of terms
Term Definition
------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------
Organic growth The percentage movements in organic growth are presented to
at constant reflect operating performance on a comparable basis. Where a
exchange subsidiary or associated undertaking was newly acquired or
rates disposed of in the current or prior period, the Group adjusts,
under organic growth calculations, the results for the current
and prior period to remove the amount the Group earned in both
periods as a result of the acquisition or disposal of subsidiary
or associated undertakings. Where the Group increases, or
decreases, its ownership interest in an associated undertaking in
the current or prior period, the Group's share of results for the
prior period are restated at the current period's ownership
level. A further adjustment in organic calculations excludes the
effect of exchange rate movements by restating the current
period's results as if they had been generated at the prior
period's exchange rates.
Customer A customer is defined as a SIM, or in territories where SIMs do
not exist, a unique mobile telephone number, which has access to
the network for any purpose (including data only usage) except
telemetric applications. Telemetric applications include, but are
not limited to, asset and equipment tracking, mobile payment/
billing functionality (for example, vending machines and meter
readings) and includes voice enabled customers whose usage is
limited to a central service operation (for example, emergency
response applications in vehicles).
Active A customer who has made or received a chargeable event in the
customer last three months.
ARPU Total revenue excluding handset revenue and connection fees
divided by the weighted average number of customers during the
period.
Average Total ARPU in an accounting period divided by the number of
monthly ARPU months in the period.
Depreciation This measure includes the profit or loss on disposal of fixed
and assets but excludes goodwill amortisation.
amortisation
Intra-segment Turnover between operating companies of the same business (mobile
turnover or non-mobile) within the same reporting segment.
Inter-segment Turnover between operating companies of the same business (mobile
turnover or non-mobile) in different reporting segments.
Non-voice Comprises all service revenue that is not related to voice
service services including, but not limited to messaging, downloads,
revenue Internet browsing and other data services.
Messaging Messaging revenue includes all SMS and MMS revenue including
revenue wholesale messaging revenue, revenue from the use of messaging
services by Vodafone customers roaming away from their home
network and customers visiting the local network.
Data revenue Data revenue includes all non-voice service revenue excluding
messaging.
Other Comprises all non-service revenue. In the trading results,
revenue presented for the mobile telecommunications business and the
Group's key markets, other revenue excludes revenue relating to
acquisition and retention activities as such revenue is deducted
from acquisition and retention costs. The Group believes that
this basis of presentation provides useful information for
investors regarding trends in net subsidies with respect to the
acquisition and retention of customers and facilitates
comparability of results with other companies operating in the
mobile telecommunications business.
Net The total of connection fees, trade commissions and equipment
acquisition costs, net of related revenue, relating to new customer
costs connections.
Net retention The total of trade commissions, loyalty scheme and equipment
costs costs, net of related revenue, relating to customer retention and
upgrade.
Churn Total gross customer disconnections in the period divided by the
average total customers in the period.
EBITDA Operating profit before depreciation, amortisation, profit or
margin loss on disposal of fixed assets and exceptional items as a
percentage of total turnover
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