Form 6-K

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Report of Foreign Private Issuer

 

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

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Dated January 27, 2003

 

VODAFONE GROUP

PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

THE COURTYARD, 2-4 LONDON ROAD, NEWBURY, BERKSHIRE, RG14 1JX, ENGLAND

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

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

 

Form 20-F  ý           Form 40-F  ¨

 

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

 

Yes  ¨                          No  ý

 

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

 

         This Report on Form 6-K contains a press release issued by Vodafone Group Plc on January 27, 2003, entitled “VODAFONE ANNOUNCES STRONG THIRD QUARTER PERFORMANCE”.

 

 

2002/006

 

27 January 2003

 

VODAFONE ANNOUNCES STRONG THIRD QUARTER PERFORMANCE

 

Vodafone Group Plc (“Vodafone”) announces today key performance indicators for the quarter ended 31 December 2002.  The main highlights are:

 

•                  Increase in customer base to 112.5 million, including over 4 million organic net additions in the quarter

 

•                  12 month rolling ARPU up in all key European markets

 

•                  Data revenue at 16.0% of service revenues in the month of December, up from 12.7% in the prior year

 

Sir Christopher Gent, Chief Executive of Vodafone, commented: “These KPI’s demonstrate continued strong operational performance with better than expected organic customer growth.  This is the third consecutive quarter that has seen an increase in Group organic customer growth and in annual ARPU in some of our key markets.  Our progress in data revenues is pleasing ahead of the additional benefits expected from our new data service environments.”

 

Customer Growth

 

In total, over 4.9 million registered proportionate customers were added in the quarter, including 0.9 million from stake changes.  The total base has increased to 112.5 million from 107.5 million.

 

Net additions in Germany of 922,000 and in Italy of 529,000 were the highest levels since March 2001 and December 2001 respectively.  In the UK, net additions were 267,000, reflecting the expected return to net growth following periods of disconnecting non-revenue earning handsets.

 

Growth in contract customers continued to be strong in controlled markets, even though this quarter is traditionally stronger for prepaid growth, with over 500,000 net contract additions in Germany and over 100,000 in the UK.

 

 

More/...

 

 

2002/006 - Page 2

 

 

Active customers in the Group’s controlled businesses remained at 94% of total customers.

 

Registered Blended ARPU

 

All key markets in Europe showed an increase this quarter in registered blended ARPU on a 12 month rolling basis.  This is the third consecutive quarter to show such an increase in Germany and the UK.  The trend in Japan continues to reflect the effect of increasing market penetration levels.

 

Data as a percentage of service revenues

 

For the Group’s controlled operations, data as a percentage of service revenues increased to 13.9% for the year to December 2002, up from 13.2% for the year to September.  Data in the month of December 2002 was 16.0%, up from 12.7% in December 2001.

 

 

- ends -

 

For further information contact:

 

Vodafone Group

Tim Brown, Group Corporate Affairs Director

Melissa Stimpson, Director of Group Investor Relations

Bobby Leach, Head of Group Financial Media Relations

Darren Jones, Senior Investor Relations Manager

Tel:  +44 (0) 1635 673310

 

Tavistock Communications

Lulu Bridges / John West

Tel:  +44 (0) 20 7600 2288

 

 

VODAFONE GROUP PLC — MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUSINESSES

 

PROPORTIONATE NET CUSTOMERS — 1 OCTOBER 2002 TO 31 DECEMBER 2002

 

				CUSTOMER BASE
COUNTRY		PERCENTAGE OWNERSHIP(1)		AT 1 OCT 2002		NET ADDITIONS		STAKE CHANGES(2)		AT 31 DEC 2002		PREPAID(4)
		(%)		(000s)		(000s)		(000s)		(000s)		(%)
NORTHERN EUROPE
UK		100.0		12,957		267		—		13,224		59
Ireland		100.0		1,705		24		—		1,729		71
Netherlands		77.6		2,290		*		*		*		*
Sweden		74.6		948		*		*		*		*
Others				5,141		138		—		5,279		52
TOTAL				23,041		469		247		23,757		56
CENTRAL EUROPE
Germany		100.0		21,810		922		—		22,732		54
Hungary		68.3		480		88		—		568		89
Others				1,687		106		—		1,793		44
TOTAL				23,977		1,116		—		25,093		53
SOUTHERN EUROPE
Greece		62.7		1,615		55		349		2,019		72
Italy		76.8		14,063		529		—		14,592		91
Malta		80.0		124		8		—		132		92
Portugal		61.4		1,827		*		—		*		*
Spain		93.8		7,715		406		—		8,121		56
Albania		81.7		207		59		19		285		98
Others				495		*		—		*		*
TOTAL				26,046		1,145		368		27,559		78
AMERICAS
United States(3)		44.3		13,953		430		3		14,386		7
Others				751		(32	)	—		719		83
TOTAL				14,704		398		3		15,105		11
ASIA PACIFIC
Japan		69.7		9,031		223		—		9,254		5
Australia		100.0		2,266		188		—		2,454		47
New Zealand		100.0		1,156		64		—		1,220		78
Others				3,712		213		—		3,925		58
TOTAL				16,165		688		—		16,853		53
MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA
Egypt		60.0		1,187		91		—		1,278		85
Others				2,420		157		262		2,839		85
TOTAL				3,607		248		262		4,117		85
GROUP TOTAL				107,540		4,064		880		112,484		53

 

(1)                    All ownership percentages are stated as at 31 December 2002 and exclude options, warrants or other rights or obligations of Vodafone Group Plc to increase or decrease ownership in any venture.  Ownership interests have been rounded to the nearest tenth of one percent.

 

(2)                    Represents the acquisition of stake increases in Vodafone Netherlands from approximately 70.0% to 77.6%, Vodafone Greece from approximately 51.9% to 62.7%, Vodafone Albania from approximately 76.4% to 81.7%, Vodacom Group (Pty) Limited in South Africa from approximately 31.5% to 35.0%, a minor acquisition in the US by Verizon Wireless and a stake dilution in Vodafone Sweden from approximately 74.7% to 74.6%.

 

(3)                    The Group’s proportionate customer base has been adjusted for Verizon Wireless’s proportionate ownership of its customer base across all its network interests of approximately 98.4% at 31 December 2002.  In the absence of acquired interests, this proportionate ownership will vary slightly from quarter to quarter dependent on the underlying mix of net additions across each of these networks.

 

(4)                    Prepaid customer percentages are calculated on a venture basis.

 

*                           Listed subsidiary still to report.

 

 

VODAFONE GROUP PLC — MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUSINESSES

 

CONTROLLED ACTIVE CUSTOMER INFORMATION AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2002

 

		CONTROLLED ACTIVE(1)						CONTROLLED
COUNTRY		PREPAID		CONTRACT		TOTAL		INACTIVE
		(%)		(%)		(%)		(%)
NORTHERN EUROPE
UK		90		96		92		8
Ireland		100		99		100		0
Netherlands		*		*		*		*
Sweden		*		*		*		*
TOTAL		91		96		93		7
CENTRAL EUROPE
Germany		90		94		92		8
Hungary†		90		97		91		9
TOTAL		90		94		92		8
SOUTHERN EUROPE
Greece		71		93		77		23
Italy		95		92		95		5
Malta		94		97		94		6
Portugal		*		*		*		*
Spain		93		97		95		5
Albania†		*		*		*		*
TOTAL		92		96		93		7
ASIA PACIFIC
Japan(2)		N/A		N/A		99		1
Australia		94		93		93		7
New Zealand		93		100		95		5
TOTAL		94		94		98		2
MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA
Egypt†		96		100		96		4
TOTAL		96		100		96		4
CONTROLLED GROUP TOTAL		91		95		94		6

 

 

CONTROLLED ACTIVE CUSTOMER INFORMATION — HISTORY

 

		CONTROLLED INACTIVE CUSTOMERS AS AT
COUNTRY		DECEMBER 2001		MARCH 2002		JUNE 2002		SEPTEMBER 2002		DECEMBER 2002
		(%)		(%)		(%)		(%)		(%)
Germany		9		9		8		8		8
Italy		7		7		7		6		5
Japan		N/A		1		1		1		1
United Kingdom		16	†	11		9		7		8
Controlled Total		10		8		7		6		6

 

(1)                    Active customers are defined as customers who have made or received a chargeable event in the last three months or, where information is not available, defined as customers who have made a chargeable event in the last three months (indicated by †).

 

(2)                    Customer activity information for Japan is only available on a total customer basis.

 

*                           Listed subsidiary still to report.

 

VODAFONE GROUP PLC — MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUSINESSES

 

MONTHLY REGISTERED BLENDED ARPU FOR THE 15 MONTHS TO 31 DECEMBER 2002

 

Country				Oct		Nov		Dec		Jan		Feb		Mar		Apr		May		Jun		Jul		Aug		Sep		Oct		Nov		Dec
Germany		EUR		25.6		24.3		24.1		25.1		22.7		25.4		25.2		26.5		26.5		27.9		27.7		26.8		27.4		25.4		25.4
Italy		EUR		29.4		27.3		28.4		28.8		25.6		29.6		27.9		29.4		28.9		31.9		28.6		29.0		29.3		28.0		29.5
Japan		JPY		7,410		7,770		7,640		7,470		7,200		7,630		7,310		7,400		7,160		7,670		7,410		7,180		7,350		7,120		7,360
United Kingdom		GBP		23.8		23.2		21.8		22.9		22.0		23.8		22.9		24.6		22.7		24.9		24.7		24.9		25.5		24.3		23.5

 

 

ARPU INFORMATION FOR THE 12 MONTH PERIOD TO 31 DECEMBER 2002

 

		ARPU(1)
COUNTRY		CURRENCY		REGISTERED PREPAID		REGISTERED CONTRACT		REGISTERED TOTAL
NORTHERN EUROPE
UK		GBP		123		533		287
Ireland		EUR		328		1,075		542
CENTRAL EUROPE
Germany		EUR		126		530		312
Hungary		HUF		43,788		177,275		56,754
SOUTHERN EUROPE
Italy		EUR		298		800		347
Malta		MTL		87		906		152
Spain		EUR		154		641		377
ASIA PACIFIC
Japan		JPY		N/A		N/A		88,238
Australia		AUD		312		869		648
New Zealand		NZD		307		1,861		658
MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA
Egypt		EGP		694		2,861		1,001

 

 

ARPU — HISTORY

 

				REGISTERED TOTAL ARPU FOR THE 12 MONTH PERIOD TO
COUNTRY		CURRENCY		DECEMBER 2001		MARCH 2002		JUNE 2002		SEPTEMBER 2002		DECEMBER 2002
Germany		EUR		303		298		302		308		312
Italy		EUR		345		345		345		345		347
Japan		JPY		93,550		91,903		90,302		89,193		88,238
UK		GBP		278		276		278		282		287

 

(1)                    ARPU is calculated as total revenues excluding handset revenues and connection fees divided by the weighted average number of customers during the period.

 

 

VODAFONE GROUP PLC — MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUSINESSES

 

NON-VOICE SERVICES AS A PERCENTAGE OF SERVICE REVENUES

 

PROPORTIONATE BASIS
		12 MONTHS TO 31 DECEMBER 2002								DECEMBER 2002 (MONTH ONLY)
COUNTRY		MESSAGING DATA		INTERNET DATA		TOTAL DATA				MESSAGING DATA		INTERNET DATA		TOTAL DATA
NORTHERN EUROPE
UK		12.9	%	1.0	%	13.9		%		15.2	%	0.8	%	16.0		%
Others		8.7	%	0.4	%	9.1		%		10.2	%	0.5	%	10.7		%
TOTAL		11.1	%	0.7	%	11.8		%		12.9	%	0.7	%	13.6		%
CENTRAL EUROPE
Germany		15.3	%	0.8	%	16.1		%		18.4	%	0.8	%	19.2		%
Others		7.7	%	0.8	%	8.5		%		9.6	%	1.1	%	10.7		%
TOTAL		14.3	%	0.8	%	15.1		%		17.3	%	0.9	%	18.2		%
SOUTHERN EUROPE
Italy		10.3	%	0.4	%	10.7		%		12.3	%	0.6	%	12.9		%
Others		8.6	%	0.2	%	8.8		%		10.2	%	0.5	%	10.7		%
TOTAL		9.5	%	0.3	%	9.8		%		11.3	%	0.5	%	11.8		%
AMERICAS
United States		0.3	%	0.6	%	0.9		%		0.6	%	0.7	%	1.3		%
Others		—		—		—				—		—		—
TOTAL		0.3	%	0.6	%	0.9		%		0.5	%	0.7	%	1.2		%
ASIA PACIFIC
Japan		7.1	%	12.2	%	19.3		%		7.4	%	13.2	%	20.6		%
Others		8.0	%	0.4	%	8.4		%		9.7	%	0.4	%	10.1		%
TOTAL		7.3	%	9.8	%	17.1		%		7.9	%	10.4	%	18.3		%
MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA		3.5	%	—		3.5		%		4.5	%	—		4.5		%
PROPORTIONATE GROUP TOTAL		8.4	%	2.3	%	10.7		%		10.0	%	2.5	%	12.5		%
STATUTORY BASIS
CONTROLLED GROUP TOTAL		10.5	%	3.4	%	13.9		%		12.3	%	3.7	%	16.0		%

 

 

NON-VOICE SERVICES AS A PERCENTAGE OF SERVICE REVENUES - HISTORY

 

		12 MONTHS TO										MONTH ONLY
COUNTRY		DEC 2001		MAR 2002		JUN 2002		SEP 2002		DEC 2002		DEC 2001		MAR 2002		JUN 2002		SEP 2002		DEC 2002
Germany		14.3	%	14.4	%	14.8	%	15.4	%	16.1	%	14.6	%	15.2	%	15.6	%	16.2	%	19.2	%
Italy		7.9	%	8.7	%	9.4	%	10.1	%	10.7	%	10.7	%	9.8	%	10.4	%	10.4	%	12.9	%
Japan		13.4	%	15.1	%	16.6	%	18.1	%	19.3	%	16.0	%	19.8	%	19.9	%	20.2	%	20.6	%
UK		10.1	%	11.8	%	12.6	%	13.2	%	13.9	%	12.7	%	13.4	%	14.3	%	13.8	%	16.0	%
Proportionate Total		8.0	%	8.7	%	9.5	%	10.1	%	10.7	%	9.7	%	10.3	%	10.9	%	10.9	%	12.5	%
Statutory Total		10.2	%	11.1	%	12.1	%	13.2	%	13.9	%	12.7	%	13.5	%	14.0	%	14.3	%	16.0	%

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

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

 

	VODAFONE GROUP
	PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY
	(Registrant)
Dated: January 27, 2003	By:	/s/  S R SCOTT
		Name:	Stephen R. Scott
		Title:	Company Secretary