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 May 28, 2008

 

VODAFONE GROUP

PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

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

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

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

 

 

Form 20-F    ü     

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    ü    

 

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

 

 


 

This Report on Form 6-K contains a news release issued by Vodafone Group Plc on May 27, 2008 entitled “VODAFONE ANNOUNCES RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2008

 

 


 

VODAFONE GROUP PLC

 

VODAFONE ANNOUNCES RESULTS FOR

THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2008

Embargo:

Not for publication

before 07:00 hours

27 May 2008

 

Key highlights(1):

 

·      Group revenue of £35.5 billion, an increase of 14.1%, with organic growth of 4.2%

 

Europe: 2.0% revenue growth, with outgoing usage up 20.1% and data revenue up 35.7%, all on an organic basis

 

 

EMAPA: revenue growth of 45.1%, reflecting acquisitions in India and Turkey. Organic growth of 14.5%

 

 

Group data revenue up 52.7% to £2.2 billion, with organic growth of 40.6%

 

·      Group adjusted operating profit up by 5.7% to £10.1 billion

 

–   Group EBITDA up 10.2% to £13.2 billion

 

–   Verizon Wireless operating profit up 20.3%, driven by 14.5% revenue growth, both in local currency

 

·      Free cash flow of £5.5 billion, with European capital intensity of 9.9%(2). Net cash flow from operations of £10.5 billion

 

·      Adjusted earnings per share up by 11.0% to 12.50 pence.  Basic earnings per share of 12.56 pence

 

·      Full year adjusted effective tax rate lower than previously indicated at around 28%

 

·      Proportionate mobile customer base of 260 million at 31 March 2008

 

Increasing returns to shareholders

 

·      Total dividends per share up by 11.1% to 7.51 pence.  Final dividend per share of 5.02 pence

 

·      Dividend pay out ratio of 60%, in line with policy, and a total payout of £4.0 billion for the financial year

 

(1)  See page 4 for Group financial highlights, page 26 for definition of terms and page 28 for use of non-GAAP financial information.

(2)  Mobile capital intensity including common functions.

 

Arun Sarin, Chief Executive, commented:

 

“Our strategy is continuing to deliver strong results and is reinforcing our leadership position in the communications industry.  We have increased our customer franchise to 260 million, up 26%.  Adjusted earnings per share grew 11% and we met or exceeded guidance on every measure.  Free cash flow of £5.5 billion underpins our 11% increase in dividends per share.  We are driving our strategy across our diverse portfolio in order to continue to generate consistent, strong cash flow and superior returns for our shareholders.”

 

 


 

CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S STATEMENT

 

We have made strong progress over the past year with our strategy and met or exceeded our stated financial expectations in all areas.

 

Our cash flow generation remains strong, supporting our robust financial position and shareholders returns, with free cash flow of £5.5 billion.  Adjusted earnings per share increased by 11% to 12.5 pence, enabling dividends per share to increase by 11% to 7.51 pence.

 

Group revenue increased by 14.1% to £35.5 billion, or 4.2% on an organic basis.  In Europe, organic revenue growth was 2.0% with competitive and regulatory pressures continuing to impact on solid underlying growth. EMAPA delivered further strong growth with revenue increasing by 45.1%, or 14.5% on an organic basis, with double digit growth across many markets.  Group adjusted operating profit increased by 5.7% to £10.1 billion, with a continued strong contribution from Verizon Wireless in the US, which continues to be an important and attractive market.  We remain committed to our investment in Verizon Wireless, which continues to perform very well on all key metrics, with constant currency growth of 14.5% in revenue and 24.8% in adjusted operating profit and market leadership in contract customers, churn and profitability.

 

We invested £5.1 billion in capitalised fixed asset additions, including £1.0 billion in our operations in India, in line with our plans, to support the rapid growth.

 

Vodafone now has over 260 million proportionate mobile customers worldwide with strong growth during the year in our EMAPA region, in particular in our new business in India which has been successfully integrated into the Group and now has over 44 million customers, with over 50% pro forma revenue growth.

 

There have been a number of key achievements against our five strategic objectives in the last 12 months which are discussed below.

 

Revenue stimulation and cost reduction in Europe

Our core revenue initiatives continue to focus on offering innovative tariffs, larger minute bundles and targeted promotions to stimulate additional usage as well as improving customer lifetime value.  Overall, voice usage increased by 16.7% in the year, with good growth across our major markets.  We are particularly strong in the business segment where our unique footprint and innovative services have enabled us to create a market leading position, which we strengthened earlier in the year by establishing Vodafone Global Enterprise to service our largest multinational customers.

 

Pricing pressure from competition and regulation remains strong, with a 15.8% fall in the effective voice price per minute for our Europe region, offsetting the benefits from growth in usage.

 

Messaging revenue increased by 8.1% on an organic basis, with a 28.1% increase in the total number of text and picture messages sent.  This reflects strong performances in the year in Italy and the UK, primarily through targeted promotions and tariffs.

 

In 2006, we set out a number of core cost reduction programmes that are now delivering results and have contributed to the key cost targets we met this year, with savings of around £300 million during the year bringing the cumulative savings to date to around £550 million.  We have achieved mobile capital expenditure at 10% of mobile revenue for 2008, with important contributions from centralising key purchasing activities and consolidating our data centres, whilst having enhanced the speed and data capability of our mobile networks.  These programmes, together with the outsourcing of certain IT operations, have also contributed to maintaining broadly stable operating expenses for 2008 compared to 2006.  This has been achieved in a period when customers have increased on an organic basis by 19%, voice minutes by 36% and data volumes by over tenfold.

 

Innovate and deliver on our customers’ total communications needs

Our strategy is to expand beyond our core mobile services to offer a choice of communications, entertainment and internet services, with a focus on four key areas.  These areas generated around 13% of Group revenue this year and we expect this to increase to around 20% in 2010.

 

Over the year, data revenue has increased by 40.6% on an organic basis to £2.2 billion, principally driven by continued strong growth in business email and PC connectivity devices, which in total nearly doubled to 5.8 million. We have seen strong take up this year of USB modems, which provide easy to use mobile broadband access for PCs and laptops to consumers and small business customers.   For consumers, we also took the opportunity to refresh our mobile internet offerings during the year in eight markets, resulting in 2 million customers signing up to flat rate mobile internet access.

 

Our data revenue growth is being enabled by the investment in our 3G networks which now offer up to 3.6 Mbps and by the end of the year will begin to offer 14.4 Mbps which will provide a compelling alternative to fixed broadband for many customers.  In addition, some customers need the data speeds today of fixed broadband and during the year we have established fixed broadband capability in our European markets as part of our strategy to deliver total communications.  At the end of the year we had 3.6 million fixed broadband customers in 13 markets, principally in Germany and in our newly acquired businesses in Italy and Spain.

 

2


 

We are substituting fixed line voice services for mobile in the home or the office by offering fixed location pricing plans giving customers fixed line prices when they call from within or around their home or office. We have made good progress over the year and now have 4.4 million Vodafone At Home customers and over 3 million Vodafone Office customers, up from 3.3 million and 2.3 million, respectively, a year ago.

 

Mobile advertising is another focus area for us and we have recently been trialling various business models on an opt-in basis, including targeted demographic advertising through display and search advertising, and now have agreements with over 40 leading brands.  We believe mobile advertising represents a significant opportunity for us and, throughout the year, have put in place the right foundations to grow this business in the future.

 

Deliver strong growth in emerging markets

Our existing emerging market assets continue to perform well.  Vodafone Essar in India is delivering very strong growth and performing in line with our acquisition plan.  Revenue increased by over 50% during the year on a pro forma basis, driven by rapid expansion of the customer base with an average of 1.5 million net customer additions per month since acquisition. We have also established an independent tower company with two other operators to drive further strong, cost efficient growth.

 

Vodacom recorded constant currency revenue growth of 16.9% from its market leading position in South Africa and strong growth in its southern Africa operations.  We also saw constant currency revenue growth of 29.9% in Egypt and 20.3% in Romania as well as pro forma growth of 24% in Turkey.  The value of our investment in China Mobile has increased by over 60% since the beginning of the year to £4.8 billion currently with its customer base increasing 24% to 392.1 million and market penetration at 41%.

 

In addition to strong customer growth, we are differentiating ourselves through a number of initiatives.  Most significantly, we are leveraging the Group’s scale to provide very low cost handsets, which retail for as little as $20 and enable us to address developing economies without the need for subsidies.  We have already shipped 7 million handsets in the year, mostly to India, making us the second largest supplier of handsets there.

 

Actively manage our portfolio to maximise returns

We completed the acquisition of Vodafone Essar in India in May 2007.  We also strengthened our total communications offerings in Italy and Spain through the purchase of Tele2’s assets in those countries in December 2007 and in May 2008 acquired the minority interests in Arcor.  In December 2007, we won the auction for the second mobile licence in Qatar through a consortium with the Qatar Foundation, in which we are the controlling partner.  All our transactions are subject to strict financial criteria so as to deliver superior returns to our shareholders.

 

Our geographically diverse portfolio should provide some resilience in the current economic environment.

 

Align capital structure and shareholder returns policy to strategy

The Board remains committed to its policy of distributing 60% of adjusted earnings per share by way of dividend. Our robust financial and operating performance, together with a positive impact from foreign currency exchange rates, offset the dilution arising from the India acquisition and delivered 11% growth in adjusted earnings per share and therefore in dividends per share.  We have no current plans for share purchases or one-time returns.

 

Prospects for the year ahead

Operating conditions are expected to continue to be challenging in Europe given the current economic environment and ongoing pricing and regulatory pressures but with continued positive trends in messaging and data revenue and voice usage growth.  We expect increasing market penetration to continue to result in overall strong growth for the EMAPA region.  We also anticipate significant benefit from recent changes in foreign exchange rates compared to 2008, particularly in respect of the euro, which we have assumed to be on average at 1.30 to sterling for the year.

 

Revenue is expected to be in the range of £39.8 billion to £40.7 billion.  We continue to drive revenue growth, particularly in respect of our total communications strategy for data and fixed broadband services and in emerging markets.

 

Adjusted operating profit is expected to be in the range of £11.0 billion to £11.5 billion, with a greater proportion of lower margin fixed broadband services.  Verizon Wireless is expected to continue to perform strongly in the US.

 

Capital expenditure on fixed assets is expected to be in the range of £5.3 billion to £5.8 billion, including an increase in investment in India.  Capital intensity is expected to be maintained at around 10% of revenue for the total of our Europe region and common functions, with continued investment in growth.

 

Free cash flow is expected to be in the range of £5.1 billion to £5.6 billion, excluding spectrum and licence payments.  This is after taking into account £0.3 billion from payments for capital expenditure deferred from 2008.

 

Summary

Our strategy continues to position us well in a challenging and evolving environment to deliver value to both customers and shareholders.

 

 

Arun Sarin

 

3


 

GROUP FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

 

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

Change %

 

Continuing operations(1)(2):

 

Page

 

£m

 

£m

 

Reported

 

Organic   

 

Financial information

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

22

 

35,478

 

31,104

 

14.1

 

4.2   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating profit/(loss)

 

22

 

10,047

 

(1,564

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Profit/(loss) before taxation

 

22

 

9,001

 

(2,383

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Profit/(loss) for the financial year

 

22

 

6,756

 

(4,806

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings/(loss) per share (pence)

 

22

 

12.56p

 

(8.94)p

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capitalised fixed asset additions

 

29

 

5,075

 

4,208

 

20.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash flow from operating activities

 

19

 

10,474

 

10,193

 

2.8

 

 

 

 

Performance reporting(1)(2)(3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Group EBITDA

 

6

 

13,178

 

11,960

 

10.2

 

2.6   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted operating profit

 

6, 32

 

10,075

 

9,531

 

5.7

 

5.7   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted profit before tax

 

8, 32

 

8,925

 

8,747

 

2.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted effective tax rate

 

8

 

28.1%

 

30.5%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted profit for the year attributable to equity shareholders

 

8, 32

 

6,628

 

6,211

 

6.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted earnings per share (pence)

 

32

 

12.50p

 

11.26p

 

11.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Free cash flow

 

19

 

5,540

 

6,127

 

(9.6

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net debt

 

19

 

25,147

 

15,049

 

67.1

 

 

 

 

Notes:

(1)

See page 26 for definition of terms. Amounts presented as at 31 March or for the year then ended.

(2)

The results for the financial year ended 31 March 2007 exclude the results of the discontinued operations in Japan and include the results of the Group’s associated undertakings in Belgium and Switzerland until the announcement of their disposal in August 2006 and December 2006, respectively.

(3)

Where applicable, these measures are stated excluding non-operating income of associates, impairment losses and other income and expense, changes in the fair value of equity put rights and similar arrangements and certain foreign exchange differences. See page 28 for use of non-GAAP financial information.

 

Outlook for the 2008 financial year

 

Outlook(1)

 

Foreign exchange(2)

 

Adjusted Outlook(3)

 

2008 actual performance

 

 

 

£ billion

 

£ billion

 

£ billion

 

£ billion

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

34.5 to 35.1

 

0.7

 

35.2 to 35.8

 

35.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted operating profit

 

9.5 to 9.9

 

0.1

 

9.6 to 10.0

 

10.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capitalised fixed asset additions

 

4.7 to 5.1

 

0.1

 

4.8 to 5.2

 

5.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Free cash flow(4)

 

4.4 to 4.9

 

0.1

 

4.5 to 5.0

 

5.5

 

 

Notes:

(1)

As updated in November 2007.

(2)

The Group’s outlook for the 2008 financial year, updated in November 2007, reflected expectations for average foreign exchange rates for the 2008 financial year of approximately £1:€1.45 and £1:US$2.04.  These amounts represent the difference between the forecast exchange rates and rates used to translate actual results including £1:€1.42 and £1:US$2.01.

(3)

Outlook from November 2007 adjusted solely for exchange rate differences as discussed in note 2 above.

(4)

The amount for the 2008 financial year includes £0.4 billion benefit from deferred payments for capital expenditure but is stated after £0.7 billion of tax payments, including associated interest, in respect of a number of long standing tax issues.

 

This results announcement contains certain information on the Group’s results and cash flows that has been derived from amounts calculated in accordance with IFRS but are not themselves IFRS measures.  They should not be viewed in isolation as alternatives to the equivalent IFRS measure and should be read in conjunction with the equivalent IFRS measure.  Further disclosures are provided under “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information” on page 28.

 

4


 

OUTLOOK FOR THE 2009 FINANCIAL YEAR

 

Please see page 26 for definition of terms, page 27 for forward-looking statements and page 28 for use of non-GAAP financial information.

 

 

 

 

2009 financial year Outlook(1)(2)

 

2008 financial year
Actual performance

 

 

 

 

£ billion

 

£ billion

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

39.8 to 40.7

 

35.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted operating profit

 

11.0 to 11.5

 

10.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capitalised fixed asset additions

 

5.3 to 5.8

 

5.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Free cash flow

 

5.1 to 5.6(3)

 

5.5(4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes:

(1)

Includes assumption of average foreign exchange rates for the 2009 financial year of approximately £1:€1.30 (2008: 1.42) and £1:US$1.96 (2008: 2.01).  A substantial majority of the Group's revenue, adjusted operating profit, capitalised fixed asset additions and free cash flow is denominated in currencies other than sterling, the Group's reporting currency.  A 1% change in the euro to sterling exchange rate would impact revenue by approximately £250 million and adjusted operating profit by approximately £70 million.

(2)

The outlook does not include the impact of a change in the Group's effective interest in Neuf Cegetel.

(3)

Excludes spectrum and licence payments but includes estimated payments in respect of long standing tax issues.

(4)

The amount for the 2008 financial year includes £0.4 billion benefit from deferred payments for capital expenditure but is stated after £0.7 billion of tax payments, including associated interest, in respect of a number of long standing tax issues.

 

The outlook ranges reflect the Group’s assumptions for average foreign exchange rates for the 2009 financial year.  In respect of the euro to sterling exchange rate, this represents an approximate 10% change to the 2008 financial year, resulting in favourable year on year increases in revenue, adjusted operating profit and free cash flow and adverse changes in capitalised fixed asset additions.

 

Operating conditions are expected to continue to be challenging in Europe given the current economic environment and ongoing pricing and regulatory pressures but with continued positive trends in messaging and data revenue and voice usage growth.  Increasing market penetration is expected to continue to result in overall strong growth for the EMAPA region.  The Group considers that its geographically diverse portfolio should provide some resilience in the current economic environment.

 

Revenue is expected to be in the range of £39.8 billion to £40.7 billion.  The Group continues to drive revenue growth, particularly in respect of its total communications strategy for data and fixed broadband services and in emerging markets.  Revenue includes the first full year post acquisition of India and the Tele2 businesses in Italy and Spain.

 

Adjusted operating profit is expected to be in the range of £11.0 billion to £11.5 billion. The Group EBITDA margin is expected to decline by a similar amount as in the 2008 financial year but with a greater impact from lower margin fixed broadband services.  Verizon Wireless, the Group’s US associate, is expected to continue to perform strongly.

 

Total depreciation and amortisation charges are anticipated to be around £6.5 billion to £6.6 billion, higher than the 2008 financial year, primarily as a result of the ongoing investment in capital expenditure in India and the impact of changes in foreign exchange rates.

 

The Group expects capitalised fixed asset additions to be in the range of £5.3 billion to £5.8 billion, including an increase in investment in India.  Capitalised fixed asset additions are anticipated to be around 10% of revenue for the total of the Europe region and common functions, with continued investment in growth.

 

Free cash flow is expected to be in the range of £5.1 billion to £5.6 billion, excluding spectrum and licence payments.  This is after taking into account £0.3 billion from payments for capital expenditure deferred from the 2008 financial year.

 

The Group will invest £0.2 billion in Qatar in respect of the second mobile licence won in December 2007.  During the 2009 financial year, Vodafone Qatar is expected to pay £1.0 billion for the licence with the balance of the funding being provided by the other shareholders in Vodafone Qatar.

 

The Group continues to make significant cash payments for tax and associated interest in respect of long standing tax issues.  The Group does not expect resolution of the application of the UK Controlled Foreign Company legislation to the Group in the near term.

 

The adjusted effective tax rate percentage is expected to be in the high 20s for the 2009 financial year, with the Group targeting the high 20s in the medium term.

 

5


 

CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

Page

 

 

Financial results

 

6

 

 

Liquidity and capital resources

 

19

 

 

Subsequent events

 

21

 

 

Financial statements

 

22

 

 

Other information

 

26

 

 

Use of non-GAAP financial information

 

28

 

 

Additional investor information and key performance indicators

 

29

 

 

FINANCIAL RESULTS

 

Group

 

 

 

Europe

 

EMAPA

 

Common Functions(2)

 

Eliminations

 

2008

 

2007

 

% change

 

 

 

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£

 

Organic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Voice revenue(1)

 

17,485

 

7,486

 

 

(92

)

24,879

 

22,268

 

 

 

 

 

 

Messaging revenue

 

3,262

 

824

 

 

(7

)

4,079

 

3,587

 

 

 

 

 

 

Data revenue

 

1,827

 

359

 

 

(6

)

2,180

 

1,428

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed line revenue(1)

 

1,827

 

48

 

 

(1

)

1,874

 

1,580

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other service revenue

 

29

 

1

 

 

 

30

 

8

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service revenue

 

24,430

 

8,718

 

 

(106

)

33,042

 

28,871

 

14.4

 

4.3

 

 

Acquisition revenue

 

1,039

 

450

 

 

(1

)

1,488

 

1,385

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retention revenue

 

355

 

34

 

 

 

389

 

375

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other revenue

 

257

 

143

 

170

 

(11

)

559

 

473

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

26,081

 

9,345

 

170

 

(118

)

35,478

 

31,104

 

14.1

 

4.2

 

 

Interconnect costs

 

(3,980

)

(1,391

)

 

106

 

(5,265

)

(4,628

)

 

 

 

 

 

Other direct costs

 

(2,064

)

(1,354

)

76

 

 

(3,342

)

(2,761

)

 

 

 

 

 

Acquisition costs

 

(2,872

)

(939

)

 

1

 

(3,810

)

(3,281

)

 

 

 

 

 

Retention costs

 

(1,756

)

(259

)

 

 

(2,015

)

(1,755

)

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

 

(5,719

)

(2,257

)

97

 

11

 

(7,868

)

(6,719

)

 

 

 

 

 

EBITDA

 

9,690

 

3,145

 

343

 

 

13,178

 

11,960

 

10.2

 

2.6

 

 

Acquired intangibles amortisation

 

(78

)

(648

)

 

 

(726

)

(414

)

 

 

 

 

 

Purchased licence amortisation

 

(846

)

(63

)

 

 

(909

)

(892

)

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and other amortisation

 

(2,985

)

(1,154

)

(205

)

 

(4,344

)

(3,848

)

 

 

 

 

 

Share of result in associates(3)

 

425

 

2,449

 

2

 

 

2,876

 

2,725

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted operating profit

 

6,206

 

3,729

 

140

 

 

10,075

 

9,531

 

5.7

 

5.7

 

 

Adjustments for:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Impairment losses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(11,600

)

 

 

 

 

 

Other income and expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(28

)

502

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-operating income of associates

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating profit/(loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10,047

 

(1,564

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes:

(1)

Revenue relating to fixed line activities provided by mobile operators, previously classified within voice revenue, is now presented as fixed line revenue, together with revenue from fixed line operators and fixed broadband. All prior periods have been adjusted accordingly.

(2)

Common functions represents the results of the partner markets and the net result of unallocated central Group costs and recharges to the Group’s operations, including royalty fees for use of the Vodafone brand.

(3)

During the year ended 31 March 2008, the Group changed its organisational structure and the Group’s associated undertaking in France, SFR, is now managed within the Europe region and reported within Other Europe. The results are presented in accordance with the new organisational structure.

 

Revenue

 

Revenue increased by 14.1% to £35,478 million for the year ended 31 March 2008, with organic growth of 4.2%.  The impact of acquisitions and disposals was 6.5 percentage points, primarily from acquisitions of subsidiaries in India in May 2007 and Turkey in May 2006 as well as the acquisition of Tele2’s fixed line communication and broadband operations in Italy and Spain in December 2007.  Favourable exchange rate movements increased revenue by 3.4 percentage points, principally due to the 4.2% change in the average euro/£ exchange rate, as 60% of the Group’s revenue for the 2008 financial year was denominated in euro.

 

Revenue grew in the Europe and EMAPA regions by 6.1% and 45.1%, respectively, with growth in the EMAPA region benefiting from a 27.5 percentage point impact from acquisitions and disposals.  On an organic basis, Europe recorded growth of 2.0%, whilst EMAPA delivered an increase of 14.5%.  EMAPA accounted for 62.1% of the organic growth for the Group.

 

Organic revenue growth was driven by the higher customer base and successful usage stimulation initiatives, partially offset by ongoing price reductions and the impact of regulatory driven reductions.  Growth in data revenue was particularly strong, up 40.6% on an organic basis to £2,180 million, reflecting an increasing penetration of mobile PC connectivity devices and improved service offerings.

 

6


 

Operating result

 

Operating profit increased to £10,047 million for the year ended 31 March 2008 from a loss of £1,564 million for the year ended 31 March 2007. The loss in the 2007 financial year was mainly the result of the £11,600 million impairment charges that occurred in the year, compared with none in the 2008 financial year.

 

Adjusted operating profit increased to £10,075 million, with 5.7% growth on both a reported and organic basis.  The net impact of acquisitions and disposals reduced reported growth by 0.8 percentage points.  The net impact of foreign exchange rates was to increase adjusted operating profit by 0.8 percentage points, as the impact of the 4.2% increase in the average euro/£ exchange rate was partially offset by 5.7% and 7.2% decreases in the average US$/£ and ZAR/£ exchange rates, respectively.  59%, 25% and 4% of the Group’s adjusted operating profit for the 2008 financial year was denominated in euro, US$ and ZAR, respectively.

 

On an organic basis, the EMAPA region generated all of the Group’s growth in adjusted operating profit, with the 20.9% increase in the region driven by a higher customer base and the resulting increase in service revenue.  Europe’s adjusted operating profit declined by 1.5% on an organic basis compared to the 2007 financial year, resulting from the continuing challenges of highly penetrated markets, regulatory activity and continued price reductions.

 

In Europe, the EBITDA margin fell by 1.0 percentage point to 37.2%, including a 0.5 percentage point benefit from the release of a provision following a revised agreement in Italy relating to the use of the Vodafone brand and related trademarks, which is offset in common functions.  Excluding this impact, the EBITDA margin would have fallen by 1.5 percentage points to 36.7%, mainly as a result of higher interconnect, acquisition and retention costs and the impact of the Group’s increasing focus on fixed line services, including the acquisition of Tele2 in Italy and Spain.

 

The EBITDA margin in the EMAPA region declined from 34.9% in the 2007 financial year to 33.7%, due to the investment in growing the customer base and the impact of the acquisition in India during the year and the inclusion of Turkey for a whole year. Both Vodafone Essar and Turkey have a lower EBITDA margin than the region’s average, partially as a result of the investment in rebranding the businesses to Vodafone, increasing the customer base and improving network quality in Turkey.

 

Business acquisitions led to the increase in acquired intangible asset amortisation and these acquisitions, combined with the continued investment in network infrastructure, resulted in higher depreciation charges.

 

The Group’s share of results from associates grew by 5.5%, or 15.1% on an organic basis.  The organic growth was partially offset by a 5.5 percentage point impact from the disposal of the Group’s interests in Belgacom Mobile S.A. and Swisscom Mobile A.G. during the 2007 financial year and a 4.1 percentage point impact from unfavourable exchange rate movements.  The organic growth was driven by 24.8% growth in Verizon Wireless.

 

Other income and expense for the year ended 31 March 2007 included the gains on disposal of Belgacom S.A. and Swisscom Mobile A.G., amounting to £441 million and £68 million, respectively.

 

Investment income and financing costs

 

 

 

2008

 

 

2007

 

 

 

£m

 

 

£m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment income

 

714

 

 

789

 

Financing costs

 

(2,014

)

 

(1,612

)

 

 

(1,300

)

 

(823

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Analysed as:

 

 

 

 

 

 

-  Net financing costs before dividends from investments

 

(823

)

 

(435

)

-  Potential interest charges arising on settlement of outstanding tax issues

 

(399

)

 

(406

)

-  Dividends from investments

 

72

 

 

57

 

 

 

(1,150

)

 

(784

)

-  Foreign exchange(1)

 

(7

)

 

(41

)

-  Changes in fair value of equity put rights and similar arrangements(2)

 

(143

)

 

2

 

 

 

(1,300

)

 

(823

)

 

Notes:

(1)

Comprises foreign exchange differences reflected in the income statement in relation to certain intercompany balances and the foreign exchange differences on financial instruments received as consideration in the disposal of Vodafone Japan to SoftBank in April 2006.

(2)

Includes the fair value movement in relation to put rights and similar arrangements held by minority interest holders in certain of the Group’s subsidiaries.  The valuation of these financial liabilities is inherently unpredictable and changes in the fair value could have a material impact on the future results and financial position of Vodafone.  Also includes a charge of £333 million representing the initial fair value of the put options granted over the Essar Group’s interest in Vodafone Essar, which has been recorded as an expense. Further details of these options are provided on page 21.

 

Net financing costs before dividends from investments increased by 89.2% to £823 million due to increased financing costs, reflecting higher average debt and effective interest rates.  After considering the impact of hedging, the net financing costs before dividends from investments are substantially denominated in euro.  At 31 March 2008, the provision for potential interest charges arising on settlement of outstanding tax issues was £1,577 million (2007: £1,213 million).

 

7


 

Taxation

 

 

 

2008

 

 

2007

 

 

 

£m

 

 

£m

 

Income tax expense

 

2,245

 

 

2,423

 

Recognition of pre-acquisition deferred tax asset

 

28

 

 

-

 

Tax on adjustments to derive adjusted profit before tax

 

(72

)

 

(13

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted income tax expense

 

2,201

 

 

2,410

 

Share of associated undertakings’ tax

 

448

 

 

398

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted income tax expense for purposes of calculating adjusted tax rate

 

2,649

 

 

2,808

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Profit /(loss) before tax

 

9,001

 

 

(2,383

)

Adjustments to derive adjusted profit before tax(1)

 

(76

)

 

11,130

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted profit before tax

 

8,925

 

 

8,747

 

Add: Share of associated undertakings’ tax and minority interest

 

504

 

 

459

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted profit before tax for the purpose of calculating adjusted effective tax rate

 

9,429

 

 

9,206

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted effective tax rate

 

28.1%

 

 

30.5%

 

 

Note:

(1) See earnings/(loss) per share below.

 

The adjusted effective tax rate for the year to 31 March 2008 was 28.1% compared to 30.5% for the 2007 financial year.  The rate is lower than the Group’s weighted average statutory tax rate due to the structural benefit from the ongoing enhancement of the Group’s internal capital structure and the resolution of historic issues with tax authorities.  The 2008 financial year tax rate benefits from the cessation of provisioning for UK CFC risk as highlighted in the 2007 financial year.  The 2007 financial year additionally benefited from one-off additional tax deductions in Italy and favourable tax settlements in that year.

 

Earnings/(loss) per share

 

Adjusted earnings per share increased by 11.0% from 11.26 pence to 12.50 pence for the year to 31 March 2008, primarily due to increased adjusted operating profit and the lower weighted average number of shares following the share consolidation which occurred in July 2006.  Basic earnings per share from continuing operations were 12.56 pence compared to a basic loss per share from continuing operations of 8.94 pence for the year to 31 March 2007.

 

 

 

2008

 

 

2007

 

 

 

 £m

 

 

 £m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Profit/(loss) from continuing operations attributable to equity shareholders

 

6,660

 

 

(4,932

)

Adjustments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Impairment losses

 

 

 

11,600

 

Other income and expense(1)

 

28

 

 

(502

)

Share of associated undertakings’ non-operating income and expense

 

 

 

(3

)

Non-operating income and expense(2)

 

(254

)

 

(4

)

Investment income and financing costs(3)

 

150

 

 

39

 

 

 

(76

)

 

11,130

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taxation

 

44

 

 

13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted profit from continuing operations attributable to equity shareholders

 

6,628

 

 

6,211

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding

 

53,019

 

 

55,144

 

 

Notes:

(1)

The amount for the 2008 financial year represents a pre-tax charge offsetting the tax benefit arising on recognition of a pre-acquisition deferred tax asset.

(2)

The amount for the 2008 financial year includes £250 million representing the profit on disposal of the Group’s 5.60% direct investment in Bharti Airtel.

(3)

See notes 1 and 2 in investment income and financing costs on page 7.

 

8


 

EUROPE

 

 

Germany

 

Italy

 

Spain

 

UK

 

Arcor

 

Other

 

Eliminations

 

Europe

 

% change

 

 

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

  £

 

Organic

 

Year ended 31 March 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Voice revenue(1)

 

3,791

 

3,169

 

3,792

 

3,601

 

10

 

3,408

 

(286

)

17,485

 

 

 

 

 

Messaging revenue

 

710

 

689

 

425

 

923

 

1

 

547

 

(33

)

3,262

 

 

 

 

 

Data revenue

 

583

 

274

 

341

 

383

 

 

291

 

(45

)

1,827

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed line revenue(1)

 

21

 

137

 

86

 

24

 

1,596

 

49

 

(86

)

1,827

 

 

 

 

 

Other service revenue

 

2

 

4

 

2

 

21

 

 

 

 

29

 

 

 

 

 

Service revenue

 

5,107

 

4,273

 

4,646

 

4,952

 

1,607

 

4,295

 

(450

)

24,430

 

6.3

 

2.1 

 

Acquisition revenue

 

178

 

129

 

268

 

300

 

25

 

142

 

(3

)

1,039

 

 

 

 

 

Retention revenue

 

43

 

27

 

143

 

46

 

 

96

 

 

355

 

 

 

 

 

Other revenue

 

69

 

6

 

6

 

126

 

 

50

 

 

257

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

5,397

 

4,435

 

5,063

 

5,424

 

1,632

 

4,583

 

(453

)

26,081

 

6.1

 

2.0 

 

Interconnect costs

 

(593

)

(725

)

(719

)

(1,121

)

(382

)

(854

)

414

 

(3,980

)

 

 

 

 

Other direct costs

 

(312

)

(238

)

(418

)

(484

)

(353

)

(283

)

24

 

(2,064

)

 

 

 

 

Acquisition costs

 

(627

)

(325

)

(620

)

(766

)

(166

)

(378

)

10

 

(2,872

)

 

 

 

 

Retention costs

 

(384

)

(106

)

(536

)

(389

)

 

(341

)

 

(1,756

)

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

 

(1,139

)

(883

)

(964

)

(1,233

)

(406

)

(1,099

)

5

 

(5,719

)

 

 

 

 

EBITDA

 

2,342

 

2,158

 

1,806

 

1,431

 

325

 

1,628

 

 

9,690

 

3.1

 

(0.1)

 

Acquired intangibles amortisation

 

 

(31

)

(14

)

(22

)

 

(11

)

 

(78

)

 

 

 

 

Purchased licence amortisation

 

(354

)

(80

)

(6

)

(333

)

 

(73

)

 

(846

)

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and other amortisation

 

(723

)

(474

)

(504

)

(645

)

(100

)

(539

)

 

(2,985

)

 

 

 

 

Share of result in associates(2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

425

 

 

425

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted operating profit

 

1,265

 

1,573

 

1,282

 

431

 

225

 

1,430

 

 

6,206

 

0.8

 

(1.5)

 

EBITDA margin

 

43.4%

 

48.7%

 

35.7%

 

26.4%

 

19.9%

 

35.5%

 

 

 

37.2%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year ended 31 March 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Voice revenue(1)

 

3,981

 

3,307

 

3,415

 

3,604

 

 

3,297

 

(343

)

17,261

 

 

 

 

 

Messaging revenue

 

746

 

563

 

380

 

760

 

 

501

 

(25

)

2,925

 

 

 

 

 

Data revenue

 

413

 

189

 

247

 

295

 

 

194

 

(38

)

1,300

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed line revenue(1)

 

15

 

22

 

20

 

17

 

1,419

 

26

 

(26

)

1,493

 

 

 

 

 

Other service revenue

 

1

 

2

 

 

5

 

 

 

 

8

 

 

 

 

 

Service revenue

 

5,156

 

4,083

 

4,062

 

4,681

 

1,419

 

4,018

 

(432

)

22,987

 

 

 

 

 

Acquisition revenue

 

172

 

124

 

307

 

274

 

22

 

108

 

(3

)

1,004

 

 

 

 

 

Retention revenue

 

40

 

36

 

124

 

52

 

 

102

 

 

354

 

 

 

 

 

Other revenue

 

75

 

2

 

7

 

117

 

 

47

 

(1

)

247

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

5,443

 

4,245

 

4,500

 

5,124

 

1,441

 

4,275

 

(436

)

24,592

 

 

 

 

 

Interconnect costs

 

(645

)

(628

)

(675

)

(1,001

)

(338

)

(813

)

432

 

(3,668

)

 

 

 

 

Other direct costs

 

(332

)

(242

)

(352

)

(452

)

(262

)

(275

)

1

 

(1,914

)

 

 

 

 

Acquisition costs

 

(560

)

(249

)

(642

)

(677

)

(178

)

(301

)

3

 

(2,604

)

 

 

 

 

Retention costs

 

(351

)

(107

)

(398

)

(372

)

 

(315

)

 

(1,543

)

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

 

(1,126

)

(870

)

(866

)

(1,163

)

(396

)

(1,041

)

 

(5,462

)

 

 

 

 

EBITDA

 

2,429

 

2,149

 

1,567

 

1,459

 

267

 

1,530

 

 

9,401

 

 

 

 

 

Acquired intangibles amortisation

 

 

 

 

(11

)

 

(11

)

 

(22

)

 

 

 

 

Purchased licence amortisation

 

(340

)

(75

)

(37

)

(333

)

 

(64

)

 

(849

)

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and other amortisation

 

(735

)

(499

)

(430

)

(604

)

(96

)

(524

)

 

(2,888

)

 

 

 

 

Share of result in associates(2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

517

 

 

517

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted operating profit

 

1,354

 

1,575

 

1,100

 

511

 

171

 

1,448

 

 

6,159

 

 

 

 

 

EBITDA margin

 

44.6%

 

50.6%

 

34.8%

 

28.5%

 

18.5%

 

35.8%

 

 

 

38.2%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change at constant exchange rates

 

%

 

%

 

%

 

%

 

%

 

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Voice revenue(1)

 

(8.3

)

(7.9

)

6.6

 

(0.1

)

 

(0.6

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Messaging revenue

 

(8.7

)

17.2

 

7.3

 

21.4

 

 

4.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Data revenue

 

34.7

 

38.8

 

32.2

 

29.8

 

 

44.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed line revenue(1)

 

38.6

 

489.7

 

318.5

 

41.2

 

7.7

 

73.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other service revenue

 

63.6

 

104.8

 

 

320.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service revenue

 

(4.8

)

0.6

 

9.7

 

5.8

 

8.5

 

2.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquisition revenue

 

(0.4

)

(0.5

)

(15.5

)

9.5

 

9.1

 

26.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retention revenue

 

0.9

 

(27.0

)

10.9

 

(11.5

)

 

(9.0

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other revenue

 

(10.2

)

250.0

 

(22.7

)

7.7

 

 

2.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

(4.7

)

0.4

 

8.0

 

5.9

 

8.5

 

3.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interconnect costs

 

(11.2

)

10.9

 

2.4

 

12.0

 

8.7

 

0.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other direct costs

 

(10.1

)

(6.1

)

13.6

 

7.1

 

27.2

 

(2.2

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquisition costs

 

7.6

 

24.5

 

(7.1

)

13.1

 

(10.0

)

21.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retention costs

 

5.1

 

(3.4

)

28.7

 

4.6

 

 

3.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

 

(2.7

)

(2.6

)

6.8

 

6.0

 

(1.1

)

1.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EBITDA

 

(7.4

)

(3.4

)

10.7

 

(1.9

)

16.0

 

2.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquired intangibles amortisation

 

 

 

 

100.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchased licence amortisation

 

 

2.6

 

(88.9

)

 

 

9.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and other amortisation

 

(6.0

)

(8.8

)

16.1

 

6.8

 

(1.0

)

(0.7

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Share of result in associates(2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(20.7

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted operating profit

 

(10.1

)

(3.8

)

12.2

 

(15.7

)

25.5

 

(4.7

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EBITDA margin movement

 

(1.3

)

(1.8

)

0.9

 

(2.1

)

1.3

 

(0.1

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes:

(1)

 

Revenue relating to fixed line activities provided by mobile operators, previously classified within voice revenue, is now presented as fixed line revenue, together with revenue from fixed line operators and fixed broadband. All prior periods have been adjusted accordingly.

(2)

 

During the year ended 31 March 2008, the Group changed its organisational structure and the Group’s associated undertaking in France, SFR, is now managed within the Europe region and reported within Other Europe. The results are presented in accordance with the new organisational structure.

 

9


 

 

 

 

 

Germany

 

Italy

 

Spain

 

UK

 

Other

 

Europe

 

Mobile telecommunication KPIs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Closing customers (‘000)

 

- 2008

 

34,412

 

23,068

 

16,039

 

18,537

 

18,515

 

110,571

 

 

 

- 2007

 

30,818

 

21,034

 

14,893

 

17,411

 

17,007

 

101,163

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Closing 3G devices (‘000)

 

- 2008

 

5,836

 

5,905

 

5,264

 

3,632

 

3,555

 

24,192

 

 

 

- 2007

 

3,720

 

3,762

 

2,890

 

1,938

 

2,353

 

14,663

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Voice usage (millions of minutes)

 

- 2008

 

42,010

 

37,447

 

35,031

 

37,017

 

31,108

 

182,613

 

 

 

- 2007

 

33,473

 

32,432

 

30,414

 

31,736

 

28,491

 

156,546

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See page 26 for definition of terms

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

Revenue growth of 6.1% was achieved for the year ended 31 March 2008, comprising 2.0% organic growth, a 0.7 percentage point benefit from the inclusion of acquired businesses, primarily Tele2, and 3.4 percentage points from favourable movements in exchange rates, largely due to the strengthening of the euro against sterling.  The impact of acquisitions and exchange rate movements on service revenue and revenue growth in Europe are shown below:

 

 

 

Organic
growth
%

 

Impact of
exchange rates
Percentage points

 

Impact of
acquisitions
Percentage points

 

Reported
growth
%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service revenue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Germany

 

(4.8

)

3.8

 

 

(1.0

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Italy

 

(2.0

)

4.1

 

2.6

 

4.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spain

 

8.1

 

4.7

 

1.6

 

14.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UK

 

5.8

 

 

 

5.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arcor

 

8.5

 

4.7

 

 

13.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Europe

 

2.4

 

4.2

 

0.3

 

6.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe

 

2.1

 

3.4

 

0.8

 

6.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue – Europe

 

2.0

 

3.4

 

0.7

 

6.1

 

 

Service revenue grew by 6.3%, or by 2.1% on an organic basis, with strong growth in data revenue being the main driver of organic growth.  Revenue was also positively impacted by the 9.3% rise in the total registered mobile customer base to 110.6 million at 31 March 2008.  These factors more than offset the negative effects of termination rate cuts, the cancellation of top up fees on prepaid cards in Italy resulting from new regulation issued in March 2007 and the Group’s ongoing reduction of European roaming rates.  Business segment service revenue, which represents 28% of European service revenue, grew by approximately 5% on an organic basis, driven by a 21% growth in the average business customer base, including strong growth in closing handheld business devices and mobile PC connectivity devices.

 

Voice revenue increased by 1.3%, but declined by 1.8% on an organic basis, with the difference being due to the effect of favourable movements in exchange rates.  The organic decrease was primarily due to the effect of lower prices resulting from Group initiatives and regulation driven reductions.

 

·               Outgoing voice revenue remained stable on an organic basis, as the 20.1% increase in outgoing call minutes, driven by the 9.0% higher outgoing usage per customer and the higher customer base, was offset by the fall in the effective rate per minute reflecting continued price reductions and the effect of the cancellation of top up fees in Italy.

 

·               Incoming voice revenue fell by 4.6% on an organic basis as a result of ongoing termination rate reductions throughout the region.  The effective annual rate of decline of 12%, driven by termination rate cuts in Germany, Italy and Spain, was partially mitigated by the 8.3% growth in incoming voice minutes.

 

·               Roaming and international visitor revenue declined by 8.0% on an organic basis, as expected, principally from the impact of the Group’s initiatives on retail and wholesale roaming and regulatory driven price reductions, which more than offset growth of 13.3% in voice minute volumes.

 

Messaging revenue grew by 11.5%, or by 8.1% on an organic basis, driven by good growth in usage, up 28.1%, particularly in Italy and the UK, resulting from the success of a number of promotions and the higher take up of tariff bundles and options.

 

Strong growth of 40.5%, or 35.7% on an organic basis, was achieved in data revenue, primarily from a 61.5% rise in the number of mobile PC connectivity devices, including the successful launch of the Vodafone Mobile Connect USB modem in the business and consumer segments, coupled with the strong promotion of data tariffs across many European markets.

 

Fixed line revenue increased by 22.4%, or by 4.7% on an organic basis, with 12.5 percentage points of this reported growth being contributed by the acquisition of Tele2’s operations in Italy and Spain in December 2007.  Organic growth was mainly due to the increase in Arcor’s service revenue.  At 31 March 2008, Europe had 3.5 million fixed broadband customers.

 

10


 

Germany

 

At constant exchange rates, service revenue declined by 4.8%, mainly due to an 8.3% decrease in voice revenue resulting from a reduction in termination rates, the full year impact of significant tariff cuts introduced in the second half of the 2007 financial year and reduced roaming rates.  This was partially offset by 32.1% growth in outgoing voice minutes, driven by a 9.1% increase in the average customer base and higher usage per customer.  Messaging revenue fell 8.7% at constant exchange rates due to lower usage by prepaid customers and new tariffs with inclusive messages sent within the Vodafone network, which stimulated an 8.8% growth in volumes but was more than offset by the resulting lower rate per message.  These falls were partially offset by 34.7% growth in data revenue at constant exchange rates, largely due to a 71.9% increase in the combined number of registered mobile PC connectivity devices and handheld business devices, particularly in the business segment, as well as increased Vodafone HappyLive! bundle penetration in the consumer segment.

 

Italy

 

Service revenue increased by 0.6%, as a 7.9% fall in voice revenue was offset by 17.2% and 38.8% increases in messaging and data revenue, respectively, all at constant exchange rates, as well as the contribution from the Tele2 acquisition in the second half of the year.  On an organic basis, service revenue fell by 2.0%.  The regulatory cancellation of top up fees and reduction in termination rates led to the fall in voice revenue but were partially mitigated by a 20.1% rise in outgoing voice usage, benefiting from a 23.2% increase in average consumer and business contract customers, successful promotions and initiatives driving usage within the Vodafone network, and elasticity arising from the top up fee removal. The success of targeted promotions and tariff options contributed to the 31.8% growth in messaging volumes, whilst the increase in data revenue was driven by a 108.0% growth in registered mobile PC connectivity devices.

 

Spain

 

Spain delivered service revenue growth of 9.7%, with 6.6% growth in voice revenue and 32.2% growth in data revenue, all at constant exchange rates, as well as the contribution from the Tele2 acquisition in the second half of the year.  Organic growth in service revenue was 8.1%, with lower organic growth of 5.8% in the second half of the year resulting from a slowing average customer base in an increasingly competitive market.  Outgoing voice and messaging revenue benefited from the 9.1% growth in the average customer base and an increase in usage volumes of 13.8% and 12.7%, respectively, driven by various usage stimulation initiatives.  A 101.1% increase in registered mobile PC connectivity devices led to the increase in data revenue.

 

UK

 

The UK recorded service revenue growth of 5.8%, with an 8.9% increase in the average customer base, following the success of the new tariff initiatives introduced in September 2006.  Sustained market performance and increased penetration of 18 month contracts, leading to lower contract churn for the year, contributed to the growth in the customer base.  Voice revenue remained stable as the lower prices were offset by a 16.6% increase in total usage.  Messaging revenue increased by 21.4% following a 36.7% rise in usage, driven by the higher take up of messaging bundles.  Growth of 29.8% was achieved in data revenue due to improved service offerings for business customers and the benefit of higher registered mobile PC connectivity devices.

 

Arcor

 

Arcor generated an 8.5% increase in service revenue at constant exchange rates, principally driven by the growth in fixed broadband customers. Arcor’s own customers increased from 2.1 million to 2.4 million in the financial year and an additional 0.2 million customers were acquired through Vodafone Germany, bringing the closing German fixed broadband customer base to 2.6 million. The volume increase more than offset pricing pressure in the market. Revenue also benefited from strong growth in Arcor’s carrier business, including that with Vodafone Germany, which lowered overall Group costs.

 

Other Europe

 

Other Europe had service revenue growth of 6.9%, or 2.4% on an organic basis, with strong organic growth in data revenue of 44.0%.  Portugal and the Netherlands delivered service revenue growth of 7.2% and 9.0%, respectively, at constant exchange rates, both benefiting from strong customer growth.  These were mostly offset by a 6.2% decline in service revenue in Greece at constant exchange rates, which arose from the impact of termination rate cuts in June 2007 and the cessation of a national roaming agreement in April 2007.

 

11


 

Adjusted operating profit

 

The impact of acquisitions and exchange rate movements on Europe’s EBITDA and adjusted operating profit is shown below:

 

 

 

Organic
growth
%

 

Impact of
exchange rates
Percentage points

 

Impact of
acquisitions
Percentage points

 

Reported
growth
 %

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EBITDA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Germany

 

(7.4

)

3.8

 

 

(3.6

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Italy

 

(3.2

)

3.8

 

(0.2

)

0.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spain

 

11.1

 

4.6

 

(0.4

)

15.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UK

 

(1.9

)

 

 

(1.9

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arcor

 

16.0

 

5.7

 

 

21.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Europe

 

2.9

 

3.8

 

(0.3

)

6.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe

 

(0.1

)

3.4

 

(0.2

)

3.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted operating profit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Germany

 

(10.1

)

3.5

 

 

(6.6

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Italy

 

(1.4

)

3.7

 

(2.4

)

(0.1

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spain

 

14.4

 

4.3

 

(2.2

)

16.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UK

 

(15.7

)

 

 

(15.7

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arcor

 

25.5

 

6.1

 

 

31.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Europe

 

(4.2

)

3.5

 

(0.5

)

(1.2

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe

 

(1.5

)

3.4

 

(1.1

)

0.8

 

 

Adjusted operating profit increased by 0.8% for the year ended 31 March 2008, with a decline of 1.5% on an organic basis, with the difference primarily due to favourable exchange rate movements.  The EBITDA margin fell by 1.0 percentage point to 37.2%, including a 0.5 percentage point benefit from the release of a provision following a revised agreement in Italy related to the use of the Vodafone brand and related trademarks, which is offset in common functions.  Excluding this impact, the EBITDA margin would have fallen by 1.5 percentage points to 36.7%, mainly as a result of higher interconnect, acquisition and retention costs and the impact of the Group’s increasing focus on fixed line services, including the acquisition of Tele2 in Italy and Spain.

 

Interconnect costs rose by 8.5%, or by 4.1% on an organic basis, as the higher volume of outgoing calls to other networks more than offset the cost benefit obtained from termination rate cuts throughout the region.  The main increases were recorded in the UK and Italy, partially offset by a decline in Germany.

 

Other direct costs grew by 7.8%, although only 1.3% on an organic basis, as increases in the UK and Arcor were partially offset by a reduction in Germany.

 

A 10.3%, or 6.0% organic, rise in acquisition costs resulted from increases across most of the region, reflecting the continued focus on attracting higher value contract and business customers, particularly in the UK and Italy. Acquisition costs per customer increased across the region, with the exception being Germany, due to a higher proportion of wholesale and prepaid connections.

 

Retention costs increased by 13.8%, or by 10.1% on an organic basis, largely driven by higher costs in Spain, with smaller increases occurring across the rest of the region.

 

Operating expenses were flat on an organic basis, as a result of the successful control of costs and the benefit from the release of the brand royalty provision.  Various initiatives were implemented at both central and local levels. Central initiatives included the consolidation and optimisation of data centres, restructuring within central functions, continued migration from leased lines to owned transmission and further renegotiation of contracts relating to various network operating expenses.  Locally there were restructuring programmes in Germany and Italy and, more recently, in the UK.

 

Depreciation and other amortisation was 3.4% higher, or broadly stable on an organic basis, as the additional charges resulting from the acquisition of Tele2 operations in Italy and Spain and unfavourable exchange rate movements were partially offset by savings from lower capital expenditure and the consolidation and optimisation of data centres.

 

12


 

Germany

 

Adjusted operating profit fell by 10.1% at constant exchange rates, primarily due to the reduction in voice revenue. Total costs decreased at constant exchange rates, mainly as a result of an 11.2% fall in interconnect costs, which benefited from the termination rate cuts, and a 10.1% reduction in other direct costs, mainly from fewer handset sales to third party distributors and lower content costs than the 2007 financial year.  Operating expenses fell by 2.7% at constant exchange rates, reflecting targeted cost saving initiatives, despite the growing customer base. Acquisition costs rose by 7.6% at constant exchange rates due to a higher volume of gross additions and the launch of a fixed broadband offer, while retention costs increased by 5.1% at constant exchange rates due to a higher cost per upgrade from an increased focus on higher value customers.

 

Italy

 

Adjusted operating profit decreased by 0.1%, or 1.4% on an organic basis, primarily as a result of the fall in voice revenue due to the regulatory cancellation of top up fees.  On an organic basis, total costs fell as higher interconnect and acquisition costs were offset by a 15.8% fall in other direct costs after achieving lower prepaid airtime commissions and a 7.4% reduction in operating expenses as a result of the release of the provision for brand royalty payments following agreement of revised terms.  Interconnect costs increased by 6.2% on an organic basis, reflecting the growth in outgoing voice minute volumes, partially offset by a higher proportion of calls and messages to Vodafone customers, whilst acquisition costs rose by 18.7% on an organic basis due to the investment in the business and higher value consumer contract segments.

 

Spain

 

Spain generated growth of 16.5% in adjusted operating profit, or 14.4% on an organic basis, due to the increase in service revenue, partially offset by a 28.3% rise on an organic basis in retention costs driven by the higher volume of upgrades and cost per contract upgrade.  The proportion of contract customers within the total closing customer base increased by 3.2 percentage points to 58.0%.  Acquisition costs decreased by 9.0% on an organic basis following the reduction in gross additions.  Interconnect costs were flat on an organic basis as the benefit from termination rate cuts was offset by the higher volumes of outgoing voice minutes.  Operating expenses increased by 4.0% on an organic basis but fell as a percentage of service revenue as a result of good cost control.

 

UK

 

Although service revenue grew by 5.8%, adjusted operating profit fell by 15.7% as a result of the rise in total costs, partially offset by a £30 million VAT refund.  The UK business continued to invest in acquiring new customers in a highly competitive market, leading to a 13.1% increase in acquisition costs.  Interconnect costs increased by 12.0% due to the 19.0% growth in outgoing mobile minutes, reflecting growth in the customer base and larger bundled offers. The 7.1% increase in other direct costs was due to cost of sales associated with the growing managed solutions business and investment in content based data services.  Operating expenses increased by 6.0%, although remained stable as a percentage of service revenue, with the increase due to a rise in commercial operating costs in support of sales channels and customer care activities and a £35 million charge for the restructuring programmes announced in March 2008, with savings anticipated for the 2009 financial year.

 

Arcor

 

Adjusted operating profit increased by 25.5% at constant exchange rates, due to the growth in service revenue, which exceeded increases in the cost base.  Other direct costs rose by 27.2% at constant exchange rates, largely driven by higher access line fees from the expanding customer base, which also resulted in an 8.7% increase at constant exchange rates in interconnect costs.  The residual cost base was relatively stable.

 

Other Europe

 

In Other Europe, adjusted operating profit fell by 1.2%, or 4.2% on an organic basis, largely driven by a 20.7% fall at constant exchange rates in the share of results of associates following increased acquisition and retention costs and higher interest and tax charges, which more than offset a 6.5% rise in revenue at constant exchange rates.  The growth in adjusted operating profit of subsidiaries was primarily driven by increases in Portugal and the Netherlands of 20.2% and 13.2%, respectively, at constant exchange rates, resulting from the growth in service revenue, as well as good cost control in Portugal.  These more than offset the 7.1% fall at constant exchange rates in Greece, where results were affected by a decline in service revenue, increased retention and marketing costs and a regulatory fine.

 

13

 


 

EMAPA

 

 

Eastern

 

Middle East,

 

 

 

 

 

Associates

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe(2)

 

Africa & Asia

 

Pacific

 

US

 

Other

 

Eliminations

 

EMAPA

 

% change

 

 

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

     £

 

Organic(2)

 

Year ended 31 March 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Voice revenue(1)

 

2,584

 

3,818

 

1,085

 

 

 

 

 

(1

)

7,486

 

 

 

 

 

Messaging revenue

 

333

 

210

 

281

 

 

 

 

 

 

824

 

 

 

 

 

Data revenue

 

108

 

187

 

64

 

 

 

 

 

 

359

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed line revenue(1)

 

16

 

7

 

25

 

 

 

 

 

 

48

 

 

 

 

 

Other service revenue

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

Service revenue

 

3,041

 

4,222

 

1,456

 

 

 

 

 

(1

)

8,718

 

46.1

 

14.4

 

Acquisition revenue

 

61

 

261

 

128

 

 

 

 

 

 

450

 

 

 

 

 

Retention revenue

 

27

 

1

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

34

 

 

 

 

 

Other revenue

 

25

 

63

 

55

 

 

 

 

 

 

143

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

3,154

 

4,547

 

1,645

 

 

 

 

 

(1

)

9,345

 

45.1

 

14.5

 

Interconnect costs

 

(522

)

(623

)

(247

)

 

 

 

 

1

 

(1,391

)

 

 

 

 

Other direct costs

 

(445

)

(625

)

(284

)

 

 

 

 

 

(1,354

)

 

 

 

 

Acquisition costs

 

(322

)

(395

)

(222

)

 

 

 

 

 

(939

)

 

 

 

 

Retention costs

 

(97

)

(103

)

(59

)

 

 

 

 

 

(259

)

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

 

(769

)

(1,078

)

(410

)

 

 

 

 

 

(2,257

)

 

 

 

 

EBITDA

 

999

 

1,723

 

423

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,145

 

39.7

 

15.1

 

Acquired intangibles amortisation

 

(223

)

(425

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(648

)

 

 

 

 

Purchased licence amortisation

 

(19

)

(28

)

(16

)

 

 

 

 

 

(63

)

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and other amortisation

 

(425

)

(503

)

(226

)

 

 

 

 

 

(1,154

)

 

 

 

 

Share of result in associates(3)

 

 

2

 

 

2,447

 

 

 

2,449

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted operating profit

 

332

 

769

 

181

 

2,447

 

 

 

3,729

 

15.0

 

20.9

 

EBITDA margin

 

31.7%

 

37.9%

 

25.7%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

33.7%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year ended 31 March 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Voice revenue(1)

 

2,037

 

2,098

 

942

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,077

 

 

 

 

 

Messaging revenue

 

271

 

142

 

254

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

667

 

 

 

 

 

Data revenue

 

70

 

26

 

42

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

138

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed line revenue(1)

 

14

 

66

 

7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

87

 

 

 

 

 

Service revenue

 

2,392

 

2,332

 

1,245

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,969

 

 

 

 

 

Acquisition revenue

 

53

 

223

 

105

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

381

 

 

 

 

 

Retention revenue

 

19

 

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

21

 

 

 

 

 

Other revenue

 

13

 

10

 

47

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

70

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

2,477

 

2,565

 

1,399

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,441

 

 

 

 

 

Interconnect costs

 

(433

)

(364

)

(248

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,045

)

 

 

 

 

Other direct costs

 

(314

)

(246

)

(224

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(784

)

 

 

 

 

Acquisition costs

 

(219

)

(291

)

(167

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(677

)

 

 

 

 

Retention costs

 

(78

)

(84

)

(50

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(212

)

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

 

(614

)

(509

)

(349

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,472

)

 

 

 

 

EBITDA

 

819

 

1,071

 

361

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,251

 

 

 

 

 

Acquired intangibles amortisation

 

(285

)

(105

)

(2

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(392

)

 

 

 

 

Purchased licence amortisation

 

(19

)

(17

)

(7

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(43

)

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and other amortisation

 

(331

)

(255

)

(193

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(779

)

 

 

 

 

Share of result in associates(3)

 

 

 

 

2,077

 

130

 

 

 

2,207

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted operating profit

 

184

 

694

 

159

 

2,077

 

130

 

 

 

3,244

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EBITDA margin

 

33.1%

 

41.8%

 

25.8%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

34.9%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change at constant exchange rates

 

%

 

%

 

%

 

%

 

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Voice revenue(1)

 

20.3

 

90.3

 

7.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Messaging revenue

 

13.2

 

53.8

 

2.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Data revenue

 

48.1

 

646.0

 

43.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed line revenue(1)

 

16.4

 

(89.9

)

201.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service revenue

 

20.2

 

88.6

 

8.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquisition revenue

 

12.3

 

25.9

 

13.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retention revenue

 

34.0

 

 

195.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other revenue

 

80.3

 

569.1

 

7.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

20.5

 

85.2

 

9.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interconnect costs

 

13.5

 

78.1

 

(7.4

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other direct costs

 

29.8

 

163.1

 

17.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquisition costs

 

36.6

 

45.7

 

24.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retention costs

 

20.7

 

30.0

 

10.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

 

17.7

 

120.4

 

9.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EBITDA

 

18.1

 

67.5

 

8.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquired intangibles amortisation

 

(26.4

)

316.7

 

(100.0

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchased licence amortisation

 

(5.0

)

75.0

 

128.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and other amortisation

 

21.1

 

104.5

 

8.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Share of result in associates(3)

 

 

 

 

24.8

 

(100.0

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted operating profit

 

93.3

 

15.3

 

4.6

 

24.8

 

(100.0

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EBITDA margin movement

 

(0.6

)

(4.0

)

(0.3

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes:

(1)

 

Revenue relating to fixed line activities provided by mobile operators, previously classified within voice revenue, is now presented as fixed line revenue, together with revenue from fixed line operators and fixed broadband. All prior periods have been adjusted accordingly.

(2)

 

On 1 October 2007, Romania rebased all of its tariffs and changed its functional currency from US dollars to euros. In calculating all constant exchange rate and organic metrics which include Romania, previous US dollar amounts have been translated into euros at the 1 October 2007 US$/euro exchange rate.

(3)

 

During the year ended 31 March 2008, the Group changed its organisational structure and the Group’s associated undertaking in France, SFR, is now managed within the Europe region and reported within Other Europe.  The results are presented in accordance with the new organisational structure.

 

14


 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

Eastern
Europe

 

Middle East,
Africa & Asia

 

Pacific

 

EMAPA

 

Eastern
Europe

 

Middle East,
Africa & Asia

 

Pacific

 

EMAPA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mobile telecommunications KPIs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Closing customers (‘000)

 

33,547

 

79,289

 

6,279

 

119,115

 

28,975

 

27,160

 

5,750

 

61,885

 

Closing 3G devices (‘000)

 

686

 

885

 

1,297

 

2,868

 

347

 

367

 

778

 

1,492

 

Voice usage (millions of minutes)

 

48,431

 

189,747

 

12,845

 

251,023

 

39,658

 

37,449

 

11,371

 

88,478

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See page 26 for definition of terms

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vodafone has continued to execute on its strategy to deliver strong growth in emerging markets during the 2008 financial year, with the acquisition of Vodafone Essar (formerly Hutchison Essar) in India and with strong performances in Turkey, acquired in May 2006, Romania and Egypt.  The Group is beginning to differentiate itself in its emerging markets, with initiatives such as the introduction of Vodafone branded handsets and the Vodafone M-PESA/Vodafone Money Transfer service.

 

An initial public offering of 25% of Safaricom shares held by the Government of Kenya closed to applicants on 23 April 2008. Share allocations are expected to be announced on, or around, 30 May 2008, following which Safaricom will be accounted for as an associate, rather than as a joint venture. The Group’s effective equity interest will remain unchanged.

 

Revenue

 

Revenue growth for the year ended 31 March 2008 was 45.1% for the region, or 14.5% on an organic basis, with the key driver for organic growth being the increase in service revenue of 46.1%, or 14.4% on an organic basis.  The impact of acquisitions, disposal and foreign exchange movements on service revenue and revenue growth are shown below:

 

 

 

Organic
growth
%

 

Impact of
exchange rates
Percentage points

 

Impact of acquisitions
and disposal
(1)
Percentage points

 

Reported
growth
%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service revenue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eastern Europe

 

9.7

 

6.9

 

10.5

 

27.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Middle East, Africa and Asia

 

22.3

 

(7.6

)

66.3

 

81.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pacific

 

8.6

 

8.3

 

 

16.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EMAPA

 

14.4

 

3.4

 

28.3

 

46.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue – EMAPA

 

14.5

 

3.1

 

27.5

 

45.1

 

 

Note:

(1)   Impact of acquisitions and disposal includes the impact of the change in consolidation status of Bharti Airtel from a joint venture to an investment in February 2007.

 

On an organic basis, voice revenue grew by 12.8% and messaging revenue and data revenue rose by 6.5% and 87.9%, respectively, as a result of the 26.2% organic increase in the average customer base, driven primarily by increasing penetration in emerging markets.  Strong performances in Turkey, Egypt, Romania and India contributed to the growth in service revenue.

 

Eastern Europe

 

In Eastern Europe, service revenue increased by 27.1%, or 9.7% on an organic basis, driven by the acquisition of Turkey in the 2007 financial year and a good performance in Romania.

 

At constant exchange rates, Turkey delivered revenue growth of 24%, assuming the Group owned the business for the whole of both periods, with 25.2% growth in the average customer base compared to the 2007 financial year. Whilst growth rates remained high, they slowed in the last quarter of the year, but remained consistent with the overall growth rate for the market. In order to maintain momentum in an increasingly competitive environment, the business is concentrating on targeted promotional offers and focusing on developing distribution, as well as continued investment in the brand and completing the planned improvements to network coverage. The revenue performance year on year was principally as a result of the increase in voice revenue driven by the rise in average customers, but also benefited from the growth in messaging revenue, resulting from higher volumes.

 

In Romania, service revenue increased by 15.0%, or 19.6% at constant exchange rates, driven by an 18.3% rise in the average customer base following the impact of initiatives focusing on business and contract customers, as well as growth in roaming revenue and a strong performance in data revenue, which grew by 92.6%, or 97.7% at constant exchange rates, to £41 million following successful promotions and a growing base of mobile data customers.  However, service revenue growth slowed in the last quarter when compared to the same quarter in the 2007 financial year, in line with lower average customer growth, which is in turn driven by increased competition in the market, with five mobile operators now competing for market share.

 

 

15


 

Middle East, Africa and Asia

 

Service revenue growth in Middle East, Africa and Asia increased by 81.0%, or 22.3% on an organic basis, with the acquisition of Vodafone Essar being the main reason for the difference between reported and organic growth.  The growth in organic service revenue was as a result of strong performances in Egypt, Vodacom and Safaricom, the Group’s joint venture in Kenya.

 

At constant exchange rates, Vodafone Essar has performed well since acquisition, with growth in revenue of 55% assuming the Group owned the business for the whole of both periods.  Since acquisition, there have been 16.4 million net customer additions, bringing the total customer base to 44.1 million at 31 March 2008. Penetration in mobile telephony increased following falling prices of both handsets and tariffs and network coverage increases.  The market remains competitive with prepaid offerings moving to lifetime validity products, which allow the customer to stay connected to the network without requiring any top ups, following price reductions in the market.  Revenue continues to grow as the customer base increases, particularly in outgoing voice as service offerings drive greater usage.

 

In Egypt, service revenue growth was 27.1%, or 31.2% at constant exchange rates, benefiting from a 52.7% increase in the average customer base and an increase in voice revenue, with the fall in the effective rate per minute being offset by a 60.1% increase in usage. The success of recent prepaid customer offerings, such as the Vodafone Family tariff, contributed to the 45.8% growth in closing customers compared to the 2007 financial year.

 

Vodacom’s service revenue increased by 8.6%, or 16.5% at constant exchange rates, which was achieved largely through average customer growth of 23.1%.  The customer base was impacted by a change in the prepaid disconnection policy, which resulted in 1.45 million disconnections in September 2007 and a higher ongoing disconnection rate.  Vodacom’s data revenue growth remained very strong, driven by a rapid rise in mobile PC connectivity devices.

 

Pacific

 

In the Pacific, service revenue increased by 16.9%, or 8.6% at constant exchange rates.  Australia was a key driver of the increase, with service revenue growth of 15.1%, or 7.5% at constant exchange rates, which was achieved despite the sharp regulatory driven decline in termination rates during the year.  Revenue growth in Australia reflected an 8.0% increase in the average customer base and the mix of higher value contract customers.  New Zealand also saw strong growth in service revenue, which increased by 20.0%, or by 10.1% at constant exchange rates, driven primarily by a 16.7% increase in the average contract customer base and strong growth in data and fixed line revenue.

 

Adjusted operating profit

 

Adjusted operating profit increased by 15.0% for the year ended 31 March 2008, or 20.9% on an organic basis, due to strong performances in Romania, Vodacom, Egypt and Verizon Wireless.

 

The table below sets out the reconciliation between reported and organic growth, showing the effect of acquisitions, disposals and exchange rate movements on EBITDA and adjusted operating profit:

 

 

 

Organic
growth
%

 

Impact of
exchange rates
Percentage points

 

Impact of acquisitions
and disposals
(1)
Percentage points

 

Reported
growth
%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EBITDA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eastern Europe

 

14.3

 

3.9

 

3.8

 

22.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Middle East, Africa and Asia

 

18.5

 

(6.6

)

49.0

 

60.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pacific

 

8.2

 

9.0

 

 

17.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EMAPA

 

15.1

 

0.9

 

23.7

 

39.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted operating profit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eastern Europe

 

21.2

 

(12.9

)

72.1

 

80.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Middle East, Africa and Asia

 

13.3

 

(4.5

)

2.0

 

10.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pacific

 

4.6

 

9.2

 

 

13.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EMAPA

 

20.9

 

(5.4

)

(0.5

)

15.0

 

Note:

(1)

Impact of acquisitions and disposals includes the impact of the change in consolidation status of Bharti Airtel from a joint venture to an investment in February 2007.

 

The acquisitions in Turkey and India led to a rise in acquired intangible asset amortisation, which reduced the reported growth in adjusted operating profit, whilst the continued investment in network infrastructure in the region resulted in higher depreciation charges.  Reported growth in adjusted operating profit was also impacted by the disposals of Belgacom Mobile S.A. and Swisscom Mobile A.G. in the 2007 financial year.

 

16


 

Eastern Europe

 

Adjusted operating profit increased by 80.4%, or by 21.2% on an organic basis, with the main contributors being Turkey and Romania.  The organic increase in adjusted operating profit was driven by growth in service revenue, offsetting the impact of the higher cost base, particularly an organic increase in interconnect costs and operating expenses of 7.5% and 5.7%, respectively.  Depreciation and amortisation increased by 16.0% on an organic basis, primarily due to continued investment in network infrastructure, as well as network expansion into rural areas and increased 3G capacity to support data offerings in Romania.

 

Turkey generated strong growth in adjusted operating profit, assuming the Group owned the business for the whole of both periods, driven by the increase in revenue. The closing customer base grew by 21.8% following additional investment in customer acquisition activities, with the new connections in the year driving the higher acquisition costs. Other direct costs were up, mainly due to ongoing regulatory fees which equate to 15% of revenue.  Operating expenses remained constant as a percentage of service revenue but increased following continued investment in the brand and network in line with the acquisition plan. There was also a decrease in acquired intangible asset amortisation, following full amortisation of the acquired brand by March 2007 as a result of the rebranding to Vodafone.

 

Romania’s adjusted operating profit grew by 31.4%, or 37.7% at constant exchange rates, with increases in costs being mitigated by service revenue performance.  Interconnect costs grew by 24.7%, or 29.4% at constant exchange rates, reflecting the 18.3% rise in the average customer base.  As a percentage of service revenue, acquisition and retention costs increased by 0.7% to 13.3% as a result of the increased competition for customers.  Increases in the number of direct sales and distribution employees, following the market trend towards direct distribution channels, led to a 6.6% increase in operating expenses, or 11.0% at constant exchange rates, whilst depreciation charges rose by 23.0%, or 27.6% at constant exchange rates, due to network development to support 3G data offerings and to increase network coverage in the rural areas.

 

Middle East, Africa and Asia

 

Adjusted operating profit rose by 10.8%, or 13.3% on an organic basis, with the acquisition of Vodafone Essar and strong performances in Egypt and Vodacom being the main factors for the reported increase.  The main organic movements in the cost base were in relation to other direct costs and operating expenses, which increased by 38.0% and 23.4%, respectively.  Depreciation and amortisation increased by 36.3% on an organic basis, primarily due to enhancements in the network in Egypt in order to increase capacity and support 3G offerings.  In addition, the expansion of the network in India, where approximately 1,950 base stations have been constructed per month since acquisition, increased reported depreciation.

 

The Indian mobile market has continued to grow, with penetration reaching 23% by the end of March 2008.  Vodafone Essar, which successfully adopted the Vodafone brand in September 2007, has continued to perform well, with adjusted operating profit slightly ahead of the expectations held at the time of the completion of the acquisition.  This has been partially due to the Group’s rapid network expansion in this market together with improvements in operating expense efficiency, particularly in customer care.  The outsourcing of the IT function was implemented during January 2008 and is expected to lead to the faster roll out of more varied services to customers, while delivering greater cost efficiencies.

 

In December 2007, the Group announced, alongside Bharti Airtel and Idea Cellular Limited, the creation of an independent tower company, Indus Towers Limited, to accelerate the expansion of network infrastructure in India, to reduce overall costs and generate revenue from third party tenants.

 

In Egypt, adjusted operating profit increased by 6.3%, or 10.1% at constant exchange rates.  Interconnect costs grew by 41.8%, or 46.2% at constant exchange rates, in line with the growth in outgoing revenue, with other direct costs rising by 48.1%, or 52.4% at constant exchange rates, due to prepaid airtime commission increases and 3G licence costs, both of which were offset by the rise in revenue. Within operating expenses, staff investment programmes, higher publicity costs and leased line costs have increased during the year, although operating expenses remained stable as a percentage of service revenue.

 

Vodacom’s adjusted operating profit rose by 11.8%, or 19.1% at constant exchange rates.  The main cost drivers were operating expenses, which increased by 10.8%, or 19.2% at constant exchange rates, and other direct costs which grew by 13.9%, or 22.3% at constant exchange rates, primarily as a result of increased prepaid airtime commission following the growth of the business.  Growth at constant exchange rates was in excess of reported growth as Vodacom’s reported performance in the 2008 financial year has been impacted by the negative effect of exchange rates arising on the translation of its results into sterling.

 

Pacific

 

Adjusted operating profit in the Pacific has risen by 13.8%, or 4.6% at constant exchange rates.  A favourable performance in Australia was a result of the higher contract customer base, achieved through expansion of retail distribution, with higher contract revenue offsetting the increase in customer acquisition costs of 36.8%, or 27.6% at constant exchange rates.

 

17


 

Associates

 

 

 

2008

 

 

2007

 

 

Verizon Wireless change

 

 

 

 

Verizon
Wireless
£m

 

Other(1)
£m

 

Total
£m

 

 

Verizon
Wireless
£m

 

Other(1)
£m

 

Total
£m

 

 

£
%

 

Constant
currency
%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Share of result of associates

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Operating profit

 

2,771

 

 

2,771

 

 

2,442

 

167

 

2,609

 

 

13.5

 

20.3

 

 

  Interest

 

(102

)

 

(102

)

 

(179

)

2

 

(177

)

 

(43.0

)

(39.3

)

 

  Tax

 

(166

)

 

(166

)

 

(125

)

(39

)

(164

)

 

32.8

 

41.0

 

 

  Minority interest

 

(56

)

 

(56

)

 

(61

)

 

(61

)

 

(8.2

)

(1.8

)

 

 

 

2,447

 

 

2,447

 

 

2,077

 

130

 

2,207

 

 

17.8

 

24.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Verizon Wireless (100% basis)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Revenue (£m)

 

22,541

 

 

 

 

 

 

20,860

 

 

 

 

 

 

8.1

 

14.5

 

 

  EBITDA margin

 

38.8%

 

 

 

 

 

 

38.5%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Closing customers (‘000)

 

67,178

 

 

 

 

 

 

60,716

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Average monthly ARPU ($)

 

53.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

52.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Blended churn

 

14.7%

 

 

 

 

 

 

13.9%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Messaging and data as a
  percentage of service revenue

 

19.8%

 

 

 

 

 

 

14.4%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note:

(1)

 

Other associates in 2007 include the results of the Group’s associated undertakings in Belgium and Switzerland until the announcement of their disposal in August 2006 and December 2006, respectively.

 

Verizon Wireless increased its closing customer base by 10.6% in the year ended 31 March 2008, adding 6.5 million net additions to reach a total customer base of 67.2 million.  The performance was particularly robust in the higher value contract segment and was achieved in a market where the estimated mobile penetration reached 88% at 31 March 2008.

 

The strong customer growth was achieved through a combination of higher gross additions and Verizon Wireless’ strong customer loyalty, with the latter evidenced through continuing low levels of churn.  The 12.3% growth in the average mobile customer base combined with a 2.7% increase in ARPU resulted in a 15.2% increase in service revenue.  ARPU growth was achieved through the continued success of non-voice services, driven predominantly by data cards, wireless      e-mail and messaging services.  Verizon Wireless improved its EBITDA margin due to efficiencies in other direct costs and operating expenses, partly offset by a higher level of customer acquisition and retention costs.

 

During the 2008 financial year, Verizon Wireless consolidated its spectrum position through the Federal Communications Commission’s Auction 73, winning the auction for a nationwide spectrum footprint plus licences for individual markets for $9.4 billion, which will be fully funded by debt.  This spectrum depth will allow Verizon Wireless to continue to grow revenue, to preserve its reputation as the nation’s most reliable wireless network, and to continue to lead in data services to satisfy the next wave of services and consumer electronics devices.

 

The Group’s share of the tax attributable to Verizon Wireless for the year ended 31 March 2008 relates only to the corporate entities held by the Verizon Wireless partnership.  The tax attributable to the Group’s share of the partnership’s pre-tax profit is included within the Group tax charge.

 

Investments

 

China Mobile, in which the Group has a 3.21% stake and which is accounted for as an investment, increased its closing customer base by 24.0% in the year to 392.1 million.  Dividends of £72 million were received by the Group in the 2008 financial year.

 

18


 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Cash flows and funding

 

During the year ended 31 March 2008, net cash inflow from operating activities increased by 1.4% to £10,474 million and the Group generated £5,540 million of free cash flow, as analysed in the following table:

 

 

 

2008

 

 

2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

£m

 

 

£m

 

 

% change

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Net cash inflow from operating activities

 

10,474

 

 

10,328

 

 

1.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  – Continuing operations

 

10,474

 

 

10,193

 

 

2.8

 

  – Discontinued operations

 

 

 

135

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Add: Taxation

 

2,815

 

 

2,243

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Purchase of intangible fixed assets

 

(846

)

 

(899

)

 

 

 

  Purchase of property, plant and equipment

 

(3,852

)

 

(3,633

)

 

 

 

  Disposal of property, plant and equipment

 

39

 

 

34

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Operating free cash flow

 

8,630

 

 

8,073

 

 

6.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  – Continuing operations

 

8,630

 

 

8,081

 

 

6.8

 

  – Discontinued operations

 

 

 

(8

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Taxation

 

(2,815

)

 

(2,243

)

 

 

 

  Dividends received from associated undertakings (1)

 

873

 

 

791

 

 

 

 

  Dividends paid to minority shareholders in subsidiary undertakings

 

(113

)

 

(34

)

 

 

 

  Dividends received from investments

 

72

 

 

57

 

 

 

 

  Interest received

 

438

 

 

526

 

 

 

 

  Interest paid

 

(1,545

)

 

(1,051

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Free cash flow

 

5,540

 

 

6,119

 

 

(9.5

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  – Continuing operations

 

5,540

 

 

6,127

 

 

(9.6

)

  – Discontinued operations

 

 

 

(8

)

 

 

 

 

Note:

(1)

Year to 31 March 2008 includes £450 million (2007: £450 million) from the Group’s interest in SFR and £414 million (2007: £328 million) from the Group’s interest in Verizon Wireless.

 

 

Free cash flow decreased primarily as a result of higher payments for taxation and interest, resulting from unfavourable exchange rate movements and an increase in average borrowings, and an increase in capital expenditure as the Group continued to expand its network infrastructure, particularly in India.

 

An analysis of net debt is as follows:

 

 

 

2008

 

 

2007

 

 

 

 

£m

 

 

£m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents (as presented in the consolidated balance sheet)

 

1,699

 

 

7,481

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trade and other receivables(1)

 

892

 

 

304

 

 

Trade and other payables(1)

 

(544

)

 

(219

)

 

Short term borrowings

 

(4,532

)

 

(4,817

)

 

Long term borrowings(2)

 

(22,662

)

 

(17,798

)

 

 

 

(26,846

)

 

(22,530

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net debt as extracted from the consolidated balance sheet

 

(25,147

)

 

(15,049

)

 

 

Notes:

(1)

Represents mark to market adjustments on derivative financial instruments, which are included as a component of trade and other receivables and trade and other payables.

(2)

The amount for the 2008 financial year includes £2,625 million related to put options over minority interests, including those in Vodafone Essar and Arcor, which are reported as financial liabilities.

 

At 31 March 2008, the Group had £1,699 million of cash and cash equivalents, with the decrease since 31 March 2007 being due to the holding of funds at 31 March 2007 prior to the completion of the Vodafone Essar transaction, which occurred on 8 May 2007.

 

Net debt increased to £25,147 million, from £15,049 million at 31 March 2007, as the impact of business acquisitions and disposals, movement in the liability related to written put options and equity dividend payments were partially offset by free cash flow. The impact of foreign exchange rates increased net debt by £3,238 million, primarily as approximately 80% of net debt is denominated in euro and the euro/£ exchange rate increased by 17.2% during the 2008 financial year.

 

19


 

Consistent with the development of its strategy, the Group targets low single A long term credit ratings, with its current credit ratings being P-2/F2/A-2 short term and Baa1 stable/A- stable/A- stable long term from Moody’s, Fitch Ratings and Standard & Poor’s, respectively. Credit ratings are not a recommendation to purchase, hold or sell securities, in as much as ratings do not comment on market price or suitability for a particular investor, and are subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating organisation.  Each rating should be evaluated independently.

 

SHAREHOLDER RETURNS

 

Dividends

 

The Board remains committed to its existing policy of distributing 60% of adjusted earnings per share by way of dividend.  The Group targets a low single A rating in line with the policy established by the Board in 2006. The Group has no current plans for share purchases or one-time returns.

 

The directors are proposing a final dividend of 5.02 pence per share, representing a 13.8% increase over last year’s final dividend.

 

The ex-dividend date is 4 June 2008 for ordinary shareholders, the record date for the final dividend is 6 June 2008 and the dividend is payable on 1 August 2008.

 

ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSALS

 

The Group invested a net £5,268 million(1) in acquisition and disposal activities, including the purchase and disposal of investments, in the year ended 31 March 2008.  An analysis of the transactions in the 2008 financial year, including the changes to the Group’s effective interest in the entities, is shown below.

 

 

 

£m

 

 

Acquisitions(1):

 

 

 

 

Acquisition of 100% of CGP, a company with interests in Vodafone Essar Limited

 

(5,429

)

 

Tele2 Spain and Tele2 Italy (from nil to 100%)

 

(451

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Disposals(1):

 

 

 

 

Partial disposal of Bharti Airtel (from 9.99% to 5.00%)

 

654

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other net acquisitions and disposals, including investments(1)

 

(42

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

(5,268

)

 

Note:

(1)

Amounts are shown net of cash and cash equivalents acquired or disposed.

 

On 8 May 2007, the Group completed the acquisition of 100% of CGP Investments (Holdings) Limited (“CGP”), a company with interests in Vodafone Essar, from Hutchison Telecommunications International Limited for cash consideration of £5,438 million, net of £51 million cash and cash equivalents acquired, of which £5,429 million was paid during the 2008 financial year.  Following this transaction, the Group has a controlling financial interest in Vodafone Essar.  As part of this transaction, the Group also assumed gross debt of £1,483 million, including £217 million related to written put options over minority interests, and issued a written put to the Essar Group for which the present value of the redemption price was £2,154 million.  See page 21 for further details on these options.  The Group also entered into a shareholders’ agreement with the Essar Group in relation to Vodafone Essar.

 

On 9 May 2007, and in conjunction with the acquisition of Vodafone Essar, the Group entered into a share sale and purchase agreement in which a Bharti group company irrevocably agreed to purchase the Group’s 5.60% direct shareholding in Bharti Airtel.  During the year ended 31 March 2008, the Group received £654 million in cash consideration for 4.99% of such shareholding.  The Group’s remaining 0.61% direct shareholding was transferred in April 2008 for cash consideration of £87 million.

 

On 3 December 2007, the Group completed the acquisition of Tele2 Italia SpA (“Tele2 Italy”) and Tele2 Telecommunication Services SLU (“Tele2 Spain”) from Tele2 AB Group for a cash consideration of £452 million, of which £451 million was paid during the 2008 financial year.

 

20


 

OPTION AGREEMENTS AND SIMILAR ARRANGEMENTS

 

On 8 August 2007, the Group announced that it had decided not to exercise its rights under its agreement with Verizon Communications (“Verizon”) to sell to Verizon up to US$10 billion of the Group’s interest in Verizon Wireless.  This was the final such option available to Vodafone.

 

As part of the Vodafone Essar acquisition, the Group acquired less than 50% equity interests in Telecom Investments India Private Limited (“TII”) and in Omega Telecom Holdings Private Limited (“Omega”), which in turn have a 19.54% and 5.11% indirect shareholding in Vodafone Essar.  The Group was granted call options to acquire 100% of the shares in two companies which together indirectly own the remaining shares of TII for, if the market equity of Vodafone Essar at the time of exercise is less than US$25 billion, an aggregate price of US$431 million plus interest or, if the market equity of Vodafone Essar at the time of exercise is greater than US$25 billion, the fair market value of the shares as agreed between the parties.  The Group also has an option to acquire 100% of the shares in a third company which owns the remaining shares in Omega.  In conjunction with the receipt of these options, the Group also granted a put option to each of the shareholders of these companies with identical pricing which, if exercised, would require Vodafone to purchase 100% of the equity in the respective company.  These options can only be exercised in accordance with Indian law prevailing at the time of exercise.

 

The Group granted put options exercisable between 8 May 2010 and 8 May 2011 to members of the Essar group of companies that, if exercised, would allow the Essar group to sell its 33% shareholding in Vodafone Essar to the Group for US$5 billion or to sell between US$1 billion and US$5 billion worth of Vodafone Essar shares to the Group at an independently appraised fair market value.

 

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

ZYB

 

On 16 May 2008, Vodafone acquired 100% of ZYB, a privately owned company based in Denmark, which operates a social networking and online management tool enabling mobile phone users to back-up and share their handsets’ contact and calendar information online, for cash consideration of €32 million (£25 million).

 

Arcor

 

On 19 May 2008, the Group acquired 26.4% of Arcor previously held by minority interests for cash consideration of €474 million (£377 million).  Following this transaction, Vodafone owns 100% of Arcor.

 

Qatar

 

In December 2007, a consortium comprising Vodafone and the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (the “Qatar Foundation”) was named as the successful applicant in the auction to become the second mobile operator in Qatar.  Subject to regulatory approvals, the licence is expected to be awarded by 30 June 2008.  The licence will be owned by Vodafone Qatar, of which 45% is expected to be owned by the joint venture formed between Vodafone (owning 51%) and the Qatar Foundation (owning 49%), 15% to be owned by Qatari government institutions and the remaining 40% to be made available to Qatari citizens through a public offering expected to be completed in the 2008 calendar year.  Following the public offering, the Group expects its effective equity interest in Vodafone Qatar to be 22.95%. The Group also currently expects that Vodafone Qatar will be accounted for as a subsidiary, as Vodafone expects to control management decisions.

 

By 30 June 2008, Vodafone Qatar expects to pay QAR 4,630 million (£626 million), representing 60% of the cost of the mobile licence, with the balance of the licence cost to be paid following completion of the public offering.  The Group could be required to fund up to a maximum of QAR 1,551 million (£210 million) of the total licence cost, with the precise amount dependent on the success of the public offering.  The remainder of the licence cost will be funded by the other shareholders of Vodafone Qatar.

 

21


 

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT

 

 

 

2008

 

 

2007

 

 

 

£m

 

 

£m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

35,478

 

 

31,104

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of sales

 

(21,890

)

 

(18,725

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross profit

 

13,588

 

 

12,379

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling and distribution expenses

 

(2,511

)

 

(2,136

)

Administrative expenses

 

(3,878

)

 

(3,437

)

Share of result in associated undertakings

 

2,876

 

 

2,728

 

Impairment losses

 

 

 

(11,600

)

Other income and expense

 

(28

)

 

502

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating profit/(loss)

 

10,047

 

 

(1,564

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-operating income and expense

 

254

 

 

4

 

Investment income

 

714

 

 

789

 

Financing costs

 

(2,014

)

 

(1,612

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Profit/(loss) before taxation

 

9,001

 

 

(2,383

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense

 

(2,245

)

 

(2,423

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Profit/(loss) for the financial year from continuing operations

 

6,756

 

 

(4,806

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from discontinued operations

 

 

 

(491

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Profit/(loss) for the financial year

 

6,756

 

 

(5,297

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attributable to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

– Equity shareholders

 

6,660

 

 

(5,426

)

– Minority interests

 

96

 

 

129

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings/(loss) per share

 

 

 

 

 

 

Profit/(loss) from continuing operations

 

12.56p

 

 

(8.94)

p

Loss from discontinued operations

 

 

 

(0.90)

p

Profit/(loss) for the financial year

 

12.56p

 

 

(9.84)

p

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted earnings/(loss) per share

 

 

 

 

 

 

Profit/(loss) from continuing operations

 

12.50p

 

 

(8.94)

p

Loss from discontinued operations

 

 

 

(0.90)

p

Profit/(loss) for the financial year

 

12.50p

 

 

(9.84)

p

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF RECOGNISED INCOME AND EXPENSE

 

 

 

2008

 

 

2007

 

 

 

£m

 

 

£m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gains on revaluation of available-for-sale investments, net of tax

 

1,949

 

 

2,108

 

Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations, net of tax

 

5,537

 

 

(3,804

)

Net actuarial (losses)/gains on defined benefit pension schemes, net of tax

 

(37

)

 

50

 

Foreign exchange (gains)/ losses transferred to the Consolidated Income Statement

 

(7

)

 

838

 

Fair value gains transferred to the Consolidated Income Statement

 

(570

)

 

 

Other

 

37

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net gain/(loss) recognised directly in equity

 

6,909

 

 

(808

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Profit/(loss) for the financial year

 

6,756

 

 

(5,297

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total recognised income and expense relating to the financial year

 

13,665

 

 

(6,105

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attributable to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

– Equity shareholders

 

13,912

 

 

(6,210

)

– Minority interests

 

(247

)

 

105

 

 

 

22


 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

 

 

 

2008

 

 

2007

 

 

 

£m

 

 

£m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-current assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goodwill

 

51,336

 

 

40,567

 

Other intangible assets

 

18,995

 

 

15,705

 

Property, plant and equipment

 

16,735

 

 

13,444

 

Investments in associated undertakings

 

22,545

 

 

20,227

 

Other investments

 

7,367

 

 

5,875

 

Deferred tax assets

 

436

 

 

410

 

Post employment benefits

 

65

 

 

82

 

Trade and other receivables

 

1,067

 

 

494

 

 

 

118,546

 

 

96,804

 

Current assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inventory

 

417

 

 

288

 

Taxation recoverable

 

57

 

 

21

 

Trade and other receivables

 

6,551

 

 

5,023

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

1,699

 

 

7,481

 

 

 

8,724

 

 

12,813

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

127,270

 

 

109,617

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

Called up share capital

 

4,182

 

 

4,172

 

Share premium account

 

42,934

 

 

43,572

 

Own shares held

 

(7,856

)

 

(8,047

)

Additional paid-in capital

 

100,151

 

 

100,185

 

Capital redemption reserve

 

10,054

 

 

9,132

 

Accumulated other recognised income and expense

 

10,558

 

 

3,306

 

Retained losses

 

(81,980

)

 

(85,253

)

Total equity shareholders’ funds

 

78,043

 

 

67,067

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minority interests

 

1,168

 

 

226

 

Written put options over minority interests

 

(2,740

)

 

 

Total minority interests

 

(1,572

)

 

226

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total equity

 

76,471

 

 

67,293

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long term borrowings

 

22,662

 

 

17,798

 

Deferred tax liabilities

 

5,109

 

 

4,626

 

Post employment benefits

 

104

 

 

123

 

Provisions

 

306

 

 

296

 

Trade and other payables

 

645

 

 

535

 

 

 

28,826

 

 

23,378

 

Current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short term borrowings

 

4,532

 

 

4,817

 

Current taxation liabilities

 

5,123

 

 

5,088

 

Provisions

 

356

 

 

267

 

Trade and other payables

 

11,962

 

 

8,774

 

 

 

21,973

 

 

18,946

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total equity and liabilities

 

127,270

 

 

109,617

 

 

23


 

CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT

 

 

 

2008

 

 

2007

 

 

 

£m

 

 

£m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash flows from operating activities

 

10,474

 

 

10,328

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchase of interests in subsidiary undertakings and joint ventures, net of cash acquired

 

(5,957

)

 

(2,805

)

Disposal of interests in subsidiary undertakings, net of cash disposed

 

 

 

6,767

 

Disposals of interests in associated undertakings

 

 

 

3,119

 

Purchase of intangible assets

 

(846

)

 

(899

)

Purchase of property, plant and equipment

 

(3,852

)

 

(3,633

)

Purchase of investments

 

(96

)

 

(172

)

Disposal of property, plant and equipment

 

39

 

 

34

 

Disposal of investments

 

785

 

 

80

 

Dividends received from associated undertakings

 

873

 

 

791

 

Dividends received from investments

 

72

 

 

57

 

Interest received

 

438

 

 

526

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash flows from investing activities

 

(8,544

)

 

3,865

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issue of ordinary share capital and reissue of treasury shares

 

310

 

 

193

 

Net movement in short term borrowings

 

(716

)

 

953

 

Proceeds from issue of long term borrowings

 

1,711

 

 

5,150

 

Repayment of borrowings

 

(3,847

)

 

(1,961

)

Purchase of treasury shares

 

 

 

(43

)

B share capital redemption

 

(7

)

 

(5,713

)

B share preference dividends paid

 

 

 

(3,291

)

Equity dividends paid

 

(3,658

)

 

(3,555

)

Dividends paid to minority shareholders in subsidiary undertakings

 

(113

)

 

(34

)

Interest paid

 

(1,545

)

 

(1,051

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash flows from financing activities

 

(7,865

)

 

(9,352

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash flows

 

(5,935

)

 

4,841

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the financial year

 

7,458

 

 

2,932

 

Exchange gain/(loss) on cash and cash equivalents

 

129

 

 

(315

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of the financial year

 

1,652

 

 

7,458

 

 

24


 

NOTES TO THE PRELIMINARY RESULTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2008

 

1               Basis of preparation

The preliminary results for the year ended 31 March 2008 are an abridged statement of the full Annual Report, which was approved by the Board of Directors on 27 May 2008.  The Auditors’ Report on these accounts was unqualified and did not contain statements under section 237(2) or 237(3) of the Companies Act 1985.  The preliminary results do not comprise statutory accounts within the meaning of section 240 of the Companies Act 1985.  The Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2008 will be delivered to the Registrar of Companies following the Company’s Annual General Meeting, to be held on 29 July 2008.

The preliminary results are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.  The preliminary results are also prepared in accordance with IFRS adopted by the European Union (“EU”), the Companies Act 1985 and Article 4 of the EU IAS Regulations.  However, the financial information included in this preliminary announcement does not itself contain sufficient information to comply with IFRS.  The Company will publish full financial statements that comply with IFRS in June 2008.

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

 

2     Dividends

 

 

 

2008

 

 

2007

 

 

 

£m

 

 

£m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity dividends on ordinary shares:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Declared during the financial year:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Final dividend for the year ended 31 March 2007: 4.41 pence per share (2006: 3.87 pence per share)

 

2,331

 

 

2,328

 

Interim dividend for the year ended 31 March 2008: 2.49 pence per share (2007: 2.35 pence per share)

 

1,322

 

 

1,238

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,653

 

 

3,566

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proposed after the balance sheet date and not recognised as a liability:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Final dividend for the year ended 31 March 2008: 5.02 pence per share (2007: 4.41 pence per share)

 

2,667

 

 

2,331

 

 

25


 

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 preliminary results will be available on the Vodafone Group Plc website, www.vodafone.com, from 27 May 2008.

 

For further information:

 

Vodafone Group

 

Investor Relations

Media Relations

Telephone: +44 (0) 1635 664447

Telephone: +44 (0) 1635 664444

 

 

Vodafone, the Vodafone logos, Vodafone At Home, Vodafone Office, Vodafone Mobile Connect, Vodafone M-PESA, Vodafone Money Transfer, Vodafone HappyLive!, Vodafone Family, Vodacom and Vodafone live! are trademarks of the Vodafone Group.  Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trade marks of their respective owners.

Copyright © Vodafone Group Plc 2008

 

 

DEFINITION OF TERMS

 

 

Term

 

Definition

Change at constant exchange rates

 

Growth or change calculated by restating the prior period’s results as if they had been generated at the current period’s exchange rates. Also referred to as “constant currency”.

Handheld business devices

 

A wireless connection device which allows access to business applications and to push and pull email.

Mobile customer

 

A mobile customer is defined as a Subscriber Identity Module (“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 and billing functionality, e.g. vending machines and meter readings, and include voice enabled customers whose usage is limited to a central service operation, e.g. emergency response applications in vehicles.

Mobile PC connectivity devices

 

A wireless connection device which provides access to 3G services to users with an active PC or laptop connection. This includes Vodafone Mobile Connect Cards with 3G broadband, Vodafone Mobile Connect 3G/GPRS data cards and Vodafone Mobile Connect USB modems.

Total communications revenue

 

Comprises all fixed location services revenue, data revenue, fixed line revenue and other service revenue.

 

 

For definitions of other terms please refer to page 159 of the Group’s Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2007.

 

26


 

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 statements with respect to Vodafone’s expectations as to launch and roll out dates for products, services or technologies offered by Vodafone; expectations regarding the operating environment and market conditions; intentions regarding the development of products, services and initiatives introduced by Vodafone or by Vodafone in conjunction with third parties; revenue and growth expected from our Total Communications strategy; the development and impact of new mobile technology, including the development of 4G technology and the launch of faster data speeds; anticipated benefits to the Group from cost efficiency programmes, outsourcing of IT functions and network sharing agreements; growth in customers and usage; expected growth prospects in Europe and the EMAPA region; expectations regarding the performance of investments, associates, joint ventures and newly acquired businesses, including the expected performance of Verizon Wireless; the Group’s expectations for revenue, adjusted operating profit, average foreign exchange rates, depreciation and amortisation charges, capitalised fixed asset additions, capital intensity, free cash flow, cash payments for tax and associated interest, payments of deferred capital expenditures, adjusted effective tax rates and foreign exchange rate changes contained within the Chief Executive’s statement on pages 2 and 3 and outlook statement on page 5 of this document, and expectations for the Group’s future performance generally, including average revenue per user, costs, capital expenditures, operating expenditures and margins; the expected contribution to the Group’s revenue of voice services, messaging services, data services, broadband services, fixed location pricing, internet services and mobile advertising; the rate of dividend growth by the Group or its existing investments; possible future acquisitions, including increases in ownership in existing investments; the timely completion of pending acquisition transactions and pending offers for investments, including licence acquisitions, and the expected funding required to complete such acquisitions or investments; mobile penetration and coverage rates and the Group’s ability to acquire spectrum; the impact of regulatory and legal proceedings involving Vodafone and of scheduled or potential regulatory changes; expectations with respect to long term shareholder value growth; overall market trends and other trend projections.

 

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. 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, from both existing competitors and new market entrants, including Mobile Virtual Network Operators, which could require changes to the Group’s pricing models, lead to customer churn and make it more difficult to acquire new customers, and reduce profitability; the impact of investment in network capacity and the deployment of new technologies, or the rapid obsolescence of existing technology; slower than expected customer growth and reduced customer retention; changes in the spending patterns of new and existing customers; the possibility that new products and services will not be commercially accepted or perform according to expectations or that vendors’ performance in marketing these technologies will not meet the Group’s requirements; the Group’s ability to win 3G licence allocations; the Group’s ability to realise expected synergies and benefits associated with 3G technologies; the Group’s ability to expand its spectrum position; a lower than expected impact of new or existing products, services or technologies on the Group’s future revenue, cost structure and capital expenditure outlays; the ability of the Group to harmonise mobile platforms and delays, impediments or other problems associated with the roll out and scope of and other new or existing products, services or technologies in new markets; the ability of the Group to offer new services and secure the timely delivery of high quality, reliable handsets, network equipment and other key products from suppliers; the Group’s ability to develop competitive data content and services that will attract new customers and increase average usage; future revenue contributions of both voice and non-voice services; greater than anticipated prices of new mobile handsets; changes in the costs to the Group of or the rates the Group may charge for terminations and roaming minutes; the Group’s ability to achieve meaningful cost savings and revenue improvements as a result of its cost reduction programmes; 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 the Group’s financial performance; developments in the Group’s financial condition, earnings and distributable funds and other factors that the Board of Directors takes into account in determining the level of dividends; any unfavourable conditions, regulatory or otherwise, imposed in connection with pending or future acquisitions or dispositions and the integration of acquired companies in the Group’s existing operations; 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 the regulatory framework in which the Group operates, including possible action by regulators in markets in which the Group operates or by the EU regulating rates the Group is permitted to charge; the impact of legal or other proceedings against the Group or other companies in the mobile communications industry; the possibility that new marketing or usage stimulation campaigns or efforts and customer retention schemes are not an effective expenditure; the possibility that the Group’s integration efforts do not reduce the time to market for new products or improve the Group’s cost position; loss of suppliers or disruption of supply chains; the Group’s ability to satisfy working capital requirements through borrowing in capital markets, bank facilities and operations; changes in exchange rates, including particularly the exchange rate of pounds sterling to the euro and the US dollar; 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; and final resolution of open issues which might impact the effective tax rate; timing of tax payments relating to the resolution of open issues.

 

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, Seasonality and Outlook – Risk Factors” in Vodafone Group Plc’s Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2007. All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or any member of the Group or any persons acting on their behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the factors referred to above. No assurances can be given that the forward-looking statements in this document will be realised. Neither Vodafone nor any of its affiliates intends to update these forward-looking statements.

 

27


 

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 IFRS 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 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 measure

 

Location in this results announcement of
reconciliation and further information

EBITDA

 

Operating profit/(loss)

 

Financial results beginning on page 6

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted operating profit

 

Operating profit/(loss)

 

Financial results beginning on page 6

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted profit before tax

 

Profit/(loss) before taxation

 

Taxation on page 8

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted profit from continuing operations attributable to equity shareholders

 

Profit/(loss) from continuing operations attributable to equity shareholders

 

Earnings/(loss) per share on page 8

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted effective tax rate

 

Income tax expense as a percentage of profit/(loss) before taxation

 

Taxation on page 8

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted earnings per share

 

Basic earnings/(loss) per share

 

Earnings/(loss) per share on page 8

 

 

 

 

 

Operating free cash flow

 

Net cash flows from operating activities

 

Cash flows and funding beginning on page 19

 

 

 

 

 

Free cash flow

 

Net cash flows from operating activities

 

Cash flows and funding beginning on Page 19

 

28


 

ADDITIONAL INVESTOR INFORMATION AND KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

REGIONAL ANALYSIS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH

 

 

 

Revenue

 

EBITDA

 

Adjusted operating profit/(loss)

 

Capitalised fixed asset additions

 

Operating free cash flow

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

 

£m

 

£m

 

 

£m

 

£m

 

 

£m

 

£m

 

 

£m

 

£m

 

 

£m

 

£m

 

EUROPE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Germany

 

 

5,397

 

5,443

 

 

2,342

 

2,429

 

 

1,265

 

1,354

 

 

392

 

425

 

 

2,059

 

1,971

 

Italy

 

 

4,435

 

4,245

 

 

2,158

 

2,149

 

 

1,573

 

1,575

 

 

411

 

421

 

 

1,764

 

1,823

 

Spain

 

 

5,063

 

4,500

 

 

1,806

 

1,567

 

 

1,282

 

1,100

 

 

533

 

547

 

 

1,383

 

1,091

 

UK

 

 

5,424

 

5,124

 

 

1,431

 

1,459

 

 

431

 

511

 

 

465

 

661

 

 

936

 

794

 

Arcor

 

 

1,632

 

1,441

 

 

325

 

267

 

 

225

 

171

 

 

221

 

189

 

 

117

 

71

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Europe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greece

 

 

1,177

 

1,202

 

 

409

 

416

 

 

234

 

243

 

 

127

 

110

 

 

312

 

269

 

Netherlands

 

 

1,300

 

1,137

 

 

403

 

357

 

 

246

 

208

 

 

123

 

163

 

 

251

 

254

 

Portugal

 

 

1,040

 

926

 

 

373

 

323

 

 

239

 

195

 

 

123

 

120

 

 

240

 

225

 

Other(1)

 

 

1,066

 

1,010

 

 

443

 

434

 

 

286

 

285

 

 

96

 

96

 

 

346

 

329

 

Associates(2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

425

 

517

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,583

 

4,275

 

 

1,628

 

1,530

 

 

1,430

 

1,448

 

 

469

 

489

 

 

1,149

 

1,077

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Intra-region revenue

 

 

(453

)

(436

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Europe(2)

 

 

26,081

 

24,592

 

 

9,690

 

9,401

 

 

6,206

 

6,159

 

 

2,491

 

2,732

 

 

7,408

 

6,827

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EMAPA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eastern Europe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Romania

 

 

836

 

722

 

 

394

 

340

 

 

169

 

129

 

 

146

 

134

 

 

280

 

250

 

Turkey(3)

 

 

1,127

 

698

 

 

216

 

151

 

 

21

 

(68

)

 

285

 

143

 

 

(11

)

102

 

Other(4)

 

 

1,191

 

1,057

 

 

389

 

328

 

 

142

 

123

 

 

202

 

158

 

 

213

 

157

 

 

 

 

3,154

 

2,477

 

 

999

 

819

 

 

332

 

184

 

 

633

 

435

 

 

482

 

509

 

Middle East, Africa and Asia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Egypt

 

 

933

 

741

 

 

455

 

391

 

 

312

 

295

 

 

251

 

192

 

 

240

 

(2

)

India(5)

 

 

1,822

 

 

 

598

 

 

 

35

 

 

 

1,030

 

 

 

(180

)

 

Vodacom

 

 

1,609

 

1,478

 

 

586

 

532

 

 

365

 

327

 

 

204

 

221

 

 

343

 

324

 

Other(6)

 

 

183

 

346

 

 

84

 

148

 

 

57

 

72

 

 

69

 

161

 

 

38

 

25

 

 

 

 

4,547

 

2,565

 

 

1,723

 

1,071

 

 

769

 

694

 

 

1,554

 

574

 

 

441

 

347

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pacific

 

 

1,645

 

1,399

 

 

423

 

361

 

 

181

 

159

 

 

212

 

251

 

 

180

 

167

 

Associates - US

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,447

 

2,077

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Associates - other(2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

130

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Intra-region revenue

 

 

(1

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total EMAPA(2)

 

 

9,345

 

6,441

 

 

3,145

 

2,251

 

 

3,729

 

3,244

 

 

2,399

 

1,260

 

 

1,103

 

1,023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common functions

 

 

170

 

168

 

 

343

 

308

 

 

140

 

128

 

 

185

 

216

 

 

119

 

231

 

Inter-region revenue

 

 

(118

)

(97

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Group

 

 

35,478

 

31,104

 

 

13,178

 

11,960

 

 

10,075

 

9,531

 

 

5,075

 

4,208

 

 

8,630

 

8,081

 

 

Notes:

(1) Includes elimination of £10 million (2007: £10 million) of intercompany revenue between operating companies within the Other Europe segment.

(2) During the year ended 31 March 2008, the Group changed the organisational structure of its operations and the Group’s associated undertaking in France, SFR, is now managed within the Europe region and reported within Other Europe.

(3) Presents the results from 24 May 2006, being the acquisition date.

(4) Includes elimination of £2 million (2007: £2 million) of intercompany revenue between operating companies within the Eastern Europe segment.

(5) Presents the results of Vodafone Essar from 8 May 2007, being the acquisition date.

(6) Includes the results of Bharti Airtel up to February 2007.

 

See page 26 for definition of terms and page 28 for use of non-GAAP financial information.

 

29


 

REGIONAL RESULTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH

 

Group

 

 

 

Quarter ended

 

Quarter ended

 

Quarter ended

 

 

30 June

 

30 September

 

31 December

 

31 March

 

 

30 June

 

30 September

 

31 December

 

31 March

 

 

 

 

30 June

 

 

 

30 September

 

 

 

31 December

 

 

 

31 March

 

 

 

2007

 

2007

 

2007

 

2008

 

 

2006

 

2006

 

2006

 

2007

 

 

 

 

% change

 

 

 

% change

 

 

 

% change

 

 

 

% change

 

 

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

 

£

 

Organic(2)

 

£

 

Organic(2)

 

£

 

Organic(2)

 

£

 

Organic(2)(3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

8,253

 

8,741

 

9,163

 

9,321

 

 

7,679

 

7,915

 

7,915

 

7,595

 

 

7.5

 

4.0

 

10.4

 

4.8

 

15.8

 

4.4

 

22.7

 

3.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Voice revenue(1)

 

5,904

 

6,256

 

6,303

 

6,416

 

 

5,574

 

5,743

 

5,534

 

5,417

 

 

5.9

 

1.1

 

8.9

 

1.1

 

13.9

 

0.7

 

18.4

 

1.5

 

Messaging revenue

 

950

 

998

 

1,045

 

1,086

 

 

851

 

935

 

933

 

868

 

 

11.6

 

9.5

 

6.7

 

7.5

 

12.0

 

7.7

 

25.1

 

6.8

 

Data revenue

 

452

 

515

 

558

 

655

 

 

334

 

316

 

368

 

410

 

 

35.3

 

32.2

 

63.0

 

58.5

 

51.6

 

41.5

 

59.8

 

33.1

 

Fixed line revenue(1)

 

402

 

400

 

474

 

598

 

 

383

 

387

 

398

 

412

 

 

5.0

 

11.5

 

3.4

 

8.3

 

19.1

 

6.7

 

45.1

 

(0.2

)

Other service revenue

 

5

 

5

 

10

 

10

 

 

 

 

 

8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

25.0

 

2.9

 

Service revenue

 

7,713

 

8,174

 

8,390

 

8,765

 

 

7,142

 

7,381

 

7,233

 

7,115

 

 

8.0

 

4.2

 

10.7

 

4.9

 

16.0

 

4.2

 

23.2

 

3.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quarter ended

 

 

Quarter ended

 

Quarter ended

 

 

 

30 June

 

30 September

 

31 December

 

31 March

 

 

30 June

 

30 September

 

31 December

 

31 March

 

 

 

 

30 June

 

 

 

30 September

 

 

 

31 December

 

 

 

31 March

 

 

 

2007

 

2007

 

2007

 

2008

 

 

2006

 

2006

 

2006

 

2007 

 

 

 

 

% change

 

 

 

% change

 

 

 

% change

 

 

 

% change

 

 

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

 

£

 

Organic(2)

 

£

 

Organic(2)

 

£

 

Organic(2)

 

£

 

Organic(2)(3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

6,219

 

6,450

 

6,652

 

6,760

 

 

6,220

 

6,264

 

6,200

 

5,908

 

 

 

1.1

 

3.0

 

3.0

 

7.3

 

2.2

 

14.4

 

1.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Voice revenue(1)

 

4,292

 

4,412

 

4,332

 

4,449

 

 

4,445

 

4,475

 

4,250

 

4,091

 

 

(3.4

)

(2.4

)

(1.4

)

(1.4

)

1.9

 

(2.2

)

8.8

 

(1.2

)

Messaging revenue

 

764

 

811

 

825

 

862

 

 

711

 

747

 

733

 

734

 

 

7.5

 

8.5

 

8.6

 

8.7

 

12.6

 

8.1

 

17.4

 

7.3

 

Data revenue

 

398

 

445

 

472

 

512

 

 

312

 

291

 

335

 

362

 

 

27.6

 

28.9

 

52.9

 

53.0

 

40.9

 

35.5

 

41.4

 

28.3

 

Fixed line revenue(1)

 

391

 

389

 

462

 

585

 

 

364

 

367

 

373

 

389

 

 

7.4

 

8.7

 

6.0

 

6.4

 

23.9

 

5.5

 

50.4

 

(0.9

)

Other service revenue

 

5

 

6

 

8

 

10

 

 

 

 

 

8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

25.0

 

 

Service revenue

 

5,850

 

6,063

 

6,099

 

6,418

 

 

5,832

 

5,880

 

5,691

 

5,584

 

 

0.3

 

1.4

 

3.1

 

3.1

 

7.2

 

2.0

 

14.9

 

1.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quarter ended

 

Quarter ended

 

Quarter ended

 

 

30 June

 

30 September

 

31 December

 

31 March

 

 

30 June

 

30 September

 

31 December

 

31 March

 

 

 

 

30 June

 

 

 

30 September

 

 

 

31 December

 

 

 

31 March

 

 

 

2007

 

2007

 

2007

 

2008

 

 

2006

 

2006

 

2006

 

2007

 

 

 

 

% change

 

 

 

% change

 

 

 

% change

 

 

 

% change

 

 

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

 

£

 

Organic(2)

 

£

 

Organic(2)

 

£

 

Organic(2)

 

£

 

Organic(2)(3)

 

Service revenue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Germany

 

1,238

 

1,277

 

1,266

 

1,326

 

 

1,339

 

1,351

 

1,269

 

1,197

 

 

(7.5

)

(6.3

)

(5.5

)

(5.5

)

(0.2

)

(5.2

)

10.8

 

(2.0

)

Italy

 

1,005

 

1,020

 

1,072

 

1,176

 

 

1,051

 

1,045

 

1,021

 

966

 

 

(4.4

)

(3.1

)

(2.4

)

(2.3

)

5.0

 

(3.1

)

21.7

 

0.2

 

Spain

 

1,110

 

1,141

 

1,155

 

1,240

 

 

1,001

 

1,049

 

1,013

 

999

 

 

10.9

 

12.5

 

8.8

 

8.9

 

14.0

 

6.6

 

24.1

 

5.1

 

UK

 

1,209

 

1,294

 

1,235

 

1,214

 

 

1,153

 

1,192

 

1,166

 

1,170

 

 

4.9

 

4.9

 

8.6

 

8.5

 

5.9

 

5.9

 

3.8

 

3.8

 

Arcor

 

375

 

383

 

411

 

438

 

 

346

 

351

 

355

 

367

 

 

8.4

 

9.9

 

9.1

 

9.3

 

15.8

 

9.5

 

19.3

 

5.9

 

Other

 

1,028

 

1,076

 

1,059

 

1,132

 

 

1,036

 

1,054

 

958

 

970

 

 

(0.8

)

0.6

 

2.1

 

2.1

 

10.5

 

5.0

 

16.7

 

1.9

 

Eliminations

 

(115

)

(128

)

(99

)

(108

)

 

(94

)

(162

)

(91

)

(85

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,850

 

6,063

 

6,099

 

6,418

 

 

5,832

 

5,880

 

5,691

 

5,584

 

 

0.3

 

1.4

 

3.1

 

3.1

 

7.2

 

2.0

 

14.9

 

1.8

 

 

Notes:

(1)    Revenue relating to fixed line activities provided by mobile operators, previously classified within voice revenue, is now presented as fixed line revenue, together with revenue from fixed line operators and fixed broadband.  All prior periods have been adjusted accordingly.

(2)    Group, Europe, Italy, Spain and Other Europe organic growth, where relevant, are stated excluding the contribution from the acquisition of Tele2 in Italy and Spain and Perlico in Ireland.  Group amounts also exclude Turkey and India (see note 2 on page 31).

(3)    On 1 January 2008, Vodafone Malta rebased all of its tariffs and changed its functional currency from maltese lira to euros.  In calculating all constant exchange rate and organic metrics including Malta, previous maltese lira amounts have been translated into euros at the 1 January 2008 maltese lira/euro exchange rate.

 

30

 


 

REGIONAL RESULTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH

EMAPA

 

 

 

Quarter ended

 

Quarter ended

 

 

 

Quarter ended

 

 

30 June

 

30 September

 

31 December

 

31 March

 

 

30 June

 

30 September

 

31 December

 

31 March

 

 

 

 

30 June

 

 

 

30 September

 

 

 

31 December

 

 

 

31 March

 

 

 

2007

 

2007

 

2007

 

2008

 

 

2006

 

2006

 

2006

 

2007

 

 

 

 

% change

 

 

 

% change

 

 

 

% change

 

 

 

% change

 

 

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

 

£

 

Organic(2)

 

£

 

Organic(2)

 

£

 

Organic(2)

 

£

 

Organic(2)(3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

2,021

 

2,280

 

2,496

 

2,548

 

 

1,436

 

1,639

 

1,700

 

1,666

 

 

40.7

 

18.7

 

39.1

 

13.5

 

46.8

 

13.8

 

52.9

 

12.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Voice revenue(1)

 

1,631

 

1,868

 

1,990

 

1,997

 

 

1,143

 

1,288

 

1,302

 

1,344

 

 

42.7

 

16.4

 

45.0

 

11.7

 

52.8

 

11.9

 

48.6

 

11.8

 

Messaging revenue

 

189

 

188

 

222

 

225

 

 

142

 

189

 

201

 

135

 

 

33.1

 

15.6

 

(0.5)

 

1.3

 

10.4

 

5.7

 

66.7

 

4.6

 

Data revenue

 

55

 

72

 

87

 

145

 

 

25

 

31

 

32

 

50

 

 

120.0

 

64.5

 

132.3

 

101.7

 

171.9

 

97.0

 

190.0

 

85.0

 

Fixed line revenue(1)

 

11

 

11

 

12

 

14

 

 

19

 

20

 

26

 

22

 

 

(42.1

)

740.7

 

(45.0

)

232.3

 

(53.8

)

72.0

 

(36.4

)

29.9

 

Other service revenue

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service revenue

 

1,886

 

2,139

 

2,312

 

2,381

 

 

1,329

 

1,528

 

1,561

 

1,551

 

 

41.9

 

18.2

 

40.0

 

13.2

 

48.1

 

13.7

 

53.5

 

13.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quarter ended

 

Quarter ended

 

Quarter ended

 

 

30 June

 

30 September

 

31 December

 

31 March

 

 

30 June

 

30 September

 

31 December

 

31 March

 

 

 

 

30 June

 

 

 

30 September

 

 

 

31 December

 

 

 

31 March

 

 

 

2007

 

2007

 

2007

 

2008

 

 

2006

 

2006

 

2006

 

2007

 

 

 

 

% change

 

 

 

% change

 

 

 

% change

 

 

 

% change

 

 

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

 

£

 

Organic(2)

 

£

 

Organic(2)

 

£

 

Organic(2)

 

£

 

Organic(2)(3)

 

Service revenue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eastern Europe

 

714

 

759

 

786

 

782

 

 

477

 

646

 

629

 

640

 

 

49.7

 

12.9

 

17.5

 

9.2

 

25.0

 

9.9

 

22.2

 

7.8

 

Middle East, Africa & Asia

 

837

 

1,044

 

1,150

 

1,191

 

 

559

 

579

 

606

 

588

 

 

49.7

 

28.9

 

80.3

 

21.6

 

89.8

 

20.9

 

102.6

 

18.7

 

Pacific

 

335

 

336

 

377

 

408

 

 

293

 

303

 

326

 

323

 

 

14.3

 

9.5

 

10.9

 

5.5

 

15.6

 

7.5

 

26.3

 

11.6

 

Eliminations

 

 

 

(1

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,886

 

2,139

 

2,312

 

2,381

 

 

1,329

 

1,528

 

1,561

 

1,551

 

 

41.9

 

18.2

 

40.0

 

13.2

 

48.1

 

13.7

 

53.5

 

13.1

 

 

Notes:

(1)  Revenue relating to fixed line activities provided by mobile operators, previously classified within voice revenue, is now presented as fixed line revenue, together with revenue from fixed line operators and fixed broadband.  All prior periods have been adjusted accordingly.

(2)  Group, EMAPA, Eastern Europe and Middle East, Africa & Asia organic growth, where relevant, exclude Turkey and India as these were not part of the Group for all of the year to 31 March 2007 and 31 March 2008, respectively.

(3)  On 1 October 2007, Vodafone Romania rebased all of its tariffs and changed its functional currency from US dollars to euros.  In calculating all constant exchange rate and organic metrics which include Romania, previous US dollar amounts have been translated into euros at the 1 October 2007 US$/euro exchange rate.

 

31


 

RECONCILATION OF ADJUSTED EARNINGS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH

 

 

 

Reported
£m

 

Adjustments £m

 

Adjusted
£m

 

31 March 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating profit

 

10,047

 

28

(1)

10,075

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-operating income and expense

 

254

 

(254

)(2)

 

Investment income and financing costs

 

(1,300

)

150

(3)

(1,150

)

Profit before taxation

 

9,001

 

(76

)

8,925

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense

 

(2,245

)

44

(4)

(2,201

)

Profit for the year

 

6,756

 

(32

)

6,724

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attributable to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

– Equity shareholders

 

6,660

 

(32

)

6,628

 

– Minority interests

 

96

 

 

96

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share from continuing operations

 

12.56p

 

 

 

12.50p

 

 

Notes:

(1)

 

Consists of a £28 million adjustment relating to other income and expense, which is comprised of a pretax charge offsetting the tax benefit arising on recognition of a pre-acquisition deferred tax asset (see note 4 below).

(2)

 

Includes £250 million representing the profit on the disposal of the Group’s 5.60% direct investment in Bharti Airtel.

(3)

 

Includes a £143 million adjustment in relation to the change in fair value of equity put rights and similar arrangements (see note 2 in investment income and financing costs on page 7) and a £7 million adjustment in relation to foreign exchange on certain intercompany balances and the foreign exchange on financial instruments received as consideration in the disposal of Vodafone Japan to SoftBank in April 2006.

(4)

 

Represents a £72 million adjustment relating to tax on the adjustments used to derive adjusted profit before taxation offset by a £28 million adjustment relating to the recognition of a pre-acquisition deferred tax asset.

 

 

 

Reported
£m

 

Adjustments £m

 

Adjusted
£m

 

31 March 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating (loss)/profit

 

(1,564

)

11,095

(1)

9,531

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-operating income and expense

 

4

 

(4

)

 

Investment income and financing costs

 

(823

)

39

(2)

(784

)

(Loss)/profit before taxation

 

(2,383

)

11,130

 

8,747

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense

 

(2,423

)

13

(3)

(2,410

)

(Loss)/profit for the year from continuing operations

 

(4,806

)

11,143

 

6,337

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attributable to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

– Equity shareholders

 

(4,932

)

11,143

 

6,211

 

– Minority interests

 

126

 

 

126

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic (loss)/earnings per share from continuing operations

 

(8.94)

p

 

 

11.26p

 

 

Notes:

(1)

 

Adjustments relate to impairment losses of £11,600 million (Germany: £6,700 million and Italy: £4,900 million), less a £502 million adjustment relating to other income and expense and less a £3 million adjustment related to the share of associated undertakings’ non-operating income.

(2)

 

Comprises a £41 million adjustment in relation to foreign exchange differences in relation to certain intercompany balances and on financial instruments received as consideration in the disposal of Vodafone Japan to SoftBank, which completed in April 2006, less a £2 million adjustment in relation to the change in fair value of equity put rights and similar arrangements.

(3)

 

Represents tax on the adjustments used to derive adjusted profit before tax.

 

32


 

  SUPPLEMENTARY CASH FLOW INFORMATION
  FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH

 

  Operating free cash flow to net debt reconciliation

 

 

 

31 March
2008
£m

 

31 March
2007
£m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Operating free cash flow

 

8,630

 

8,073

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  – from continuing operations

 

8,630

 

8,081

 

  – from discontinued operations

 

 

(8

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Taxation

 

(2,815

)

(2,243

)

  Dividends received from associated undertakings

 

873

 

791

 

  Dividends paid to minority shareholders in subsidiary undertakings

 

(113

)

(34

)

  Dividends received from investments

 

72

 

57

 

  Interest received

 

438

 

526

 

  Interest paid

 

(1,545

)

(1,051

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Free cash flow

 

5,540

 

6,119

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  – from continuing operations

 

5,540

 

6,127

 

  – from discontinued operations

 

 

(8

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Acquisitions and disposals(1)

 

(6,541

)

7,723

 

  Written put options over minority interests

 

(2,521

)

496

 

  Equity dividends paid

 

(3,658

)

(3,555

)

  Purchase of treasury shares

 

 

(43

)

  B share scheme

 

(1

)

(9,027

)

  Foreign exchange

 

(3,238

)

1,024

 

  Other

 

321

 

47

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Net debt increase

 

(10,098

)

2,784

 

  Opening net debt(2)

 

(15,049

)

(17,833

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Closing net debt

 

(25,147

)

(15,049

)

 

Notes:

(1)          Includes net cash and cash equivalents paid of £5,268 million (2007: £6,989•million) and assumed debt of £1,273 million (2007: £734•million), but excludes liabilities related to written put options over minority interests, which are shown separately.

(2)          Opening net debt as of 1 April 2006 includes £515 million in relation to Vodafone Japan, which was disposed in April 2006.

 

33


 

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS - MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUSINESSES

 

MOBILE CUSTOMERS(1) – 1 APRIL 2007 TO 31 MARCH 2008

 

 

 

NINE MONTHS TO 31 DECEMBER 2007

QUARTER TO 31 MARCH 2008

 

COUNTRY (in thousands)

 

AT 1 APR
2007

 

NET ADDITIONS

 

OTHER MOVEMENTS(2)

 

AT 31 DEC 2007

 

NET ADDITIONS

 

OTHER MOVEMENTS

 

AT 31 MAR 2008

 

PREPAID(3)

 

Europe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Germany

 

30,818

 

3,102

 

 

33,920

 

492

 

 

34,412

 

55.9%

 

Italy

 

21,034

 

1,757

 

 

22,791

 

277

 

 

23,068

 

90.5%

 

Spain

 

14,893

 

917

 

 

15,810

 

229

 

 

16,039

 

42.0%

 

UK

 

17,411

 

1,036

 

 

18,447

 

90

 

 

18,537

 

60.0%

 

 

 

84,156

 

6,812

 

 

90,968

 

1,088

 

 

92,056

 

64.9%

 

Other Europe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Albania

 

956

 

171

 

 

1,127

 

3

 

 

1,130

 

94.1%

 

Greece

 

5,057

 

381

 

 

5,438

 

22

 

 

5,460

 

68.3%

 

Ireland

 

2,177

 

88

 

 

2,265

 

(1

)

 

2,264

 

71.4%

 

Malta

 

186

 

15

 

 

201

 

(1

)

 

200

 

89.1%

 

Netherlands

 

3,880

 

133

 

25

 

4,038

 

214

 

 

4,252

 

42.8%

 

Portugal

 

4,751

 

360

 

 

5,111

 

98

 

 

5,209

 

78.3%

 

 

 

17,007

 

1,148

 

25

 

18,180

 

335

 

 

18,515

 

67.4%

 

Europe

 

101,163

 

7,960

 

25

 

109,148

 

1,423

 

 

110,571

 

65.3%

 

EMAPA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eastern Europe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Czech Republic

 

2,475

 

183

 

 

2,658

 

40

 

 

2,698

 

48.1%

 

Romania

 

7,954

 

854

 

 

8,808

 

113

 

 

8,921

 

64.1%

 

Hungary

 

2,163

 

141

 

 

2,304

 

36

 

 

2,340

 

55.4%

 

Turkey

 

13,900

 

2,744

 

(528

)

16,116

 

819

 

 

16,935

 

88.6%

 

Poland

 

2,483

 

155

 

 

2,638

 

15

 

 

2,653

 

55.2%

 

 

 

28,975

 

4,077

 

(528

)

32,524

 

1,023

 

 

33,547

 

69.3%

 

Middle East, Africa & Asia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Egypt

 

9,652

 

3,325

 

356

 

13,333

 

740

 

 

14,073

 

95.5%

 

Kenya

 

2,433

 

1,265

 

 

3,698

 

394

 

 

4,092

 

98.8%

 

South Africa(4)

 

15,075

 

2,893

 

(1,447

)

16,521

 

477

 

 

16,998

 

88.8%

 

India

 

 

12,162

 

27,703

 

39,865

 

4,261

 

 

44,126

 

90.2%

 

 

 

27,160

 

19,645

 

26,612

 

73,417

 

5,872

 

 

79,289

 

91.3%

 

Pacific

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Australia

 

3,367

 

206

 

 

3,573

 

117

 

 

3,690

 

70.4%

 

New Zealand

 

2,244

 

65

 

 

2,309

 

57

 

 

2,366

 

73.8%

 

Fiji

 

139

 

47

 

 

186

 

37

 

 

223

 

96.1%

 

 

 

5,750

 

318

 

 

6,068

 

211

 

 

6,279

 

73.4%

 

EMAPA

 

61,885

 

24,040

 

26,084

 

112,009

 

7,106

 

 

119,115

 

84.2%

 

Group

 

163,048

 

32,000

 

26,109

 

221,157

 

8,529

 

 

229,686

 

76.0%

 

Reconciliation to proportionate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minority interests in above

 

(5,904

)

(5,968

)

(9,336

)

(21,208

)

(1,842

)

 

(23,050

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Associates and investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

United States

 

27,322

 

2,245

 

1

 

29,568

 

662

 

 

30,230

 

5.6%

 

Other

 

21,927

 

3,042

 

(2,185

)

22,784

 

836

 

 

23,620

 

81.7%

 

 

 

49,249

 

5,287

 

(2,184

)

52,352

 

1,498

 

 

53,850

 

 

 

Proportionate(5)

 

206,393

 

31,319

 

14,589

 

252,301

 

8,185

 

 

260,486

 

73.5%

 

Europe

 

109,032

 

8,352

 

25

 

117,409

 

1,434

 

 

118,843

 

65.3%

 

EMAPA

 

97,361

 

22,967

 

14,564

 

134,892

 

6,751

 

 

141,643

 

74.9%

 

 

Notes:

(1)

 

Group customers are presented on a controlled (fully consolidated) and jointly controlled (proportionately consolidated) basis in accordance with the Group’s current segments.

(2)

 

Other movements relate to the acquisition of Vodafone Essar, the disconnection of inactive SIM cards in Turkey, a share repurchase in Egypt, a change in disconnection policies in Egypt, the Netherlands, Turkey and South Africa as well as the acquisition of a customer base in the United States.

(3)

 

Prepaid customer percentages are calculated on a venture basis. At 31 March 2008, there were 811.5 million venture customers.

(4)

 

South Africa refers to the Group’s interests in Vodacom Group (Pty) Limited and its subsidiaries, including those located outside of South Africa.

(5)

 

Proportionate customers are based on equity interests as at 31 March 2008. The calculation of proportionate customers for Vodafone Essar also assumes the exercise of call options that could increase the Group's equity interest from 51.58% to 66.98%.  These call options can only be exercised in accordance with Indian law prevailing at the time of exercise.

 

34


 

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS - MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUSINESSES

 

MOBILE CUSTOMER CHURN

 

 

 

 

 

ANNUALISED CHURN INFORMATION IN THE QUARTER TO

COUNTRY

 

 

 

30 JUN
2006

 

30 SEP
2006

 

31 DEC
2006

 

31 MAR
2007

 

30 JUN
2007

 

30 SEP
2007

 

31 DEC
2007

 

31 MAR
2008

 

Germany(1)

 

Total

 

20.7%

 

22.1%

 

20.1%

 

24.2%

 

20.7%

 

20.8%

 

20.1%

 

22.6%

 

 

 

Contract

 

14.6%

 

13.5%

 

15.7%

 

14.9%

 

14.0%

 

14.7%

 

14.5%

 

15.1%

 

 

 

Prepaid

 

26.0%

 

29.5%

 

23.9%

 

31.9%

 

26.4%

 

26.0%

 

24.7%

 

28.5%

 

Italy

 

Total

 

20.8%

 

21.7%

 

19.4%

 

20.6%

 

18.1%

 

25.0%

 

24.1%

 

27.5%

 

 

 

Contract

 

17.2%

 

13.6%

 

14.8%

 

14.1%

 

15.9%

 

14.7%

 

17.5%

 

18.1%

 

 

 

Prepaid

 

21.1%

 

22.4%

 

19.8%

 

21.2%

 

18.3%

 

25.9%

 

24.8%

 

28.4%

 

Spain(2)

 

Total

 

20.5%

 

37.0%

 

23.4%

 

24.7%

 

22.4%

 

24.5%

 

23.6%

 

24.1%

 

 

 

Contract

 

12.3%

 

13.4%

 

15.3%

 

16.6%

 

14.8%

 

14.6%

 

15.2%

 

16.6%

 

 

 

Prepaid

 

28.9%

 

62.5%

 

32.8%

 

34.5%

 

31.7%

 

37.2%

 

34.6%

 

34.3%

 

UK

 

Total

 

32.8%

 

37.6%

 

35.4%

 

29.8%

 

34.1%

 

35.5%

 

34.7%

 

35.7%

 

 

 

Contract

 

20.1%

 

18.8%

 

17.9%

 

17.4%

 

15.9%

 

15.3%

 

15.6%

 

17.3%

 

 

 

Prepaid

 

40.9%

 

49.9%

 

47.0%

 

37.9%

 

46.0%

 

48.8%

 

47.4%

 

47.8%

 

 

Notes:

(1)   The customer churn for Germany in the quarter ended 31 December 2006 benefited from a regulatory driven change in the prepaid disconnection policy, which reduced disconnections by 291,000 in the quarter. The underlying prepaid customer churn, excluding this change, was 31.1% and total churn was 24.0%.

(2)   The customer churn for Spain in the quarter ended 30 September 2006 includes the effect of 584,000 disconnections following a change in the application of disconnection policies.  The underlying customer churn, excluding these disconnections, was 20.1%.

 

3G DEVICES(1)

 

NINE MONTHS TO 31 DECEMBER 2007

QUARTER TO 31 MARCH 2008

COUNTRY (in thousands)

 

AT 1 APR
2007

 

NET
ADDITIONS

 

AT 31 DEC
2007

 

NET
ADDITIONS

 

AT 31 MAR
2008

 

Germany

 

3,720

 

1,595

 

5,315

 

521

 

5,836

 

Italy

 

3,762

 

1,678

 

5,440

 

465

 

5,905

 

Spain

 

2,890

 

1,954

 

4,844

 

420

 

5,264

 

UK

 

1,938

 

1,323

 

3,261

 

371

 

3,632

 

Other Europe

 

2,353

 

883

 

3,236

 

319

 

3,555

 

Europe

 

14,663

 

7,433

 

22,096

 

2,096

 

24,192

 

EMAPA(2)

 

1,492

 

1,093

 

2,585

 

283

 

2,868

 

Group

 

16,155

 

8,526

 

24,681

 

2,379

 

27,060

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consumer devices

 

14,458

 

7,232

 

21,690

 

1,783

 

23,473

 

Business devices

 

1,697

 

1,294

 

2,991

 

596

 

3,587

 

Group

 

16,155

 

8,526

 

24,681

 

2,379

 

27,060

 

 

Notes:

(1)          3G devices only include those in the Group’s subsidiary and joint venture undertakings. At 31 March 2008, there were an additional 4.0 million (31 December 2007: 3.7 million, 30 September 2007: 3.2 million, 30 June 2007: 3.3 million, 31 March 2007: 3.0 million) registered Vodafone live! with 3G and Vodafone Mobile Connect data card venture customers in the Group’s associated undertakings.

(2)          During the quarter ended 31 December 2007, the number of 3G devices in the EMAPA region was revised upwards by 287,000, 379,000 and 473,000 at 1 April 2007, 30 June 2007 and 30 September 2007, respectively, to align with Group policies.

 

35


 

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS - MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUSINESSES

 

MOBILE VOICE USAGE VOLUMES

 

 

 

TOTAL VOICE MINUTES(1) IN THE QUARTER TO

 

COUNTRY (in millions)

 

3O JUN
2006

 

30 SEP
2006

 

31 DEC
2006

 

31 MAR
2007

 

30 JUN
2007

 

30 SEP
2007

 

31 DEC
2007

 

31 MAR
2008

 

 

Europe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Germany

 

7,614

 

7,979

 

8,650

 

9,230

 

9,897

 

10,263

 

10,827

 

11,023

 

 

Italy

 

7,687

 

8,050

 

8,256

 

8,439

 

8,932

 

9,051

 

9,651

 

9,813

 

 

Spain

 

6,978

 

7,533

 

7,655

 

8,248

 

8,530

 

8,886

 

8,800

 

8,815

 

 

UK

 

7,207

 

7,579

 

8,160

 

8,790

 

8,963

 

9,112

 

9,434

 

9,508

 

 

Albania

 

148

 

166

 

160

 

167

 

196

 

215

 

188

 

179

 

 

Greece

 

2,075

 

2,216

 

2,113

 

1,985

 

2,168

 

2,282

 

2,244

 

2,262

 

 

Ireland

 

1,380

 

1,422

 

1,462

 

1,420

 

1,490

 

1,517

 

1,543

 

1,551

 

 

Malta

 

49

 

55

 

50

 

48

 

55

 

64

 

59

 

57

 

 

Netherlands

 

1,820

 

1,711

 

1,868

 

1,900

 

2,006

 

1,899

 

2,036

 

2,077

 

 

Portugal

 

1,472

 

1,606

 

1,586

 

1,612

 

1,657

 

1,836

 

1,764

 

1,763

 

 

Europe

 

36,430

 

38,317

 

39,960

 

41,839

 

43,894

 

45,125

 

46,546

 

47,048

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EMAPA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eastern Europe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Czech Republic

 

901

 

868

 

919

 

916

 

985

 

998

 

1,075

 

1,067

 

 

Hungary

 

948

 

980

 

1,030

 

1,030

 

1,110

 

1,149

 

1,206

 

1,224

 

 

Romania(2)

 

1,873

 

2,059

 

2,231

 

2,339

 

2,540

 

2,726

 

2,778

 

2,754

 

 

Turkey(3)

 

2,494

 

6,451

 

5,781

 

6,224

 

6,583

 

6,551

 

6,157

 

6,155

 

 

Joint Venture

 

575

 

641

 

717

 

681

 

769

 

819

 

855

 

930

 

 

 

 

6,791

 

10,999

 

10,678

 

11,190

 

11,987

 

12,243

 

12,071

 

12,130

 

 

Middle East, Africa & Asia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Egypt

 

2,869

 

3,462

 

3,670

 

4,156

 

4,794

 

5,591

 

5,878

 

6,398

 

 

India(4)

 

 

 

 

 

22,277

 

37,337

 

41,571

 

48,766

 

 

Joint Ventures(5)

 

5,160

 

5,713

 

6,638

 

5,781

 

3,016

 

4,854

 

4,613

 

4,652

 

 

 

 

8,029

 

9,175

 

10,308

 

9,937

 

30,087

 

47,782

 

52,062

 

59,816

 

 

Pacific

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Australia

 

2,006

 

2,141

 

2,238

 

2,222

 

2,179

 

2,252

 

2,422

 

2,402

 

 

New Zealand

 

597

 

597

 

672

 

771

 

793

 

834

 

888

 

904

 

 

Joint Venture

 

28

 

33

 

34

 

32

 

38

 

42

 

47

 

44

 

 

 

 

2,631

 

2,771

 

2,944

 

3,025

 

3,010

 

3,128

 

3,357

 

3,350

 

 

EMAPA

 

17,451

 

22,945

 

23,930

 

24,152

 

45,084

 

63,153

 

67,490

 

75,296

 

 

Group

 

53,881

 

61,262

 

63,890

 

65,991

 

88,978

 

108,278

 

114,036

 

122,344

 

 

Notes:

(1)

The total voice minute information presented in the table above represents network minutes, or the volume of minutes handled by each local network, and includes incoming, outgoing and visitor calls. The voice minute information in respect of Germany and New Zealand reflects billed minutes, under which calls are rounded up to the nearest minute under certain tariffs.

(2)

During the quarter ended 31 December 2006, Vodafone Romania restated usage volumes for all quarters in the prior year. Previous volumes were billed minutes and this has now been restated to network minutes.

(3)

On 24 May 2006, the Group acquired substantially all the assets and business of Telsim Mobil Telekomunikasyon Hizmetleri in Turkey. The quarter ended 30 June 2006 has been restated to include voice minutes from the acquisition date.

(4)

Vodafone Essar is included from 8 May 2007 and usage for the year has been rephased following the further integration of its operations into the Group.

(5)

With effect from the quarter ended 30 September 2007, joint venture minutes within the Middle East, Africa & Asia area include the Group’s share of minutes for Vodacom Group (Pty) Limited and its subsidiaries, including those located outside of South Africa.

 

36


 

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS - MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUSINESSES

 

 

MESSAGING AND DATA AS A PERCENTAGE OF SERVICE REVENUE(1)

 

 

 

QUARTER TO 31 MARCH 2008

 

 

  COUNTRY

 

MESSAGING

 

DATA

 

TOTAL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Germany

 

13.4%

 

12.9%

 

26.3%

 

 

  Italy

 

16.2%

 

6.9%

 

23.1%

 

 

  Spain

 

9.0%

 

7.1%

 

16.1%

 

 

  UK

 

20.1%

 

8.3%

 

28.4%

 

 

  Europe

 

13.4%

 

8.0%

 

21.4%

 

 

  EMAPA

 

9.4%

 

6.1%

 

15.5%

 

 

  Group

 

12.4%

 

7.5%

 

19.9%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HISTORIC MESSAGING AND DATA INFORMATION

 

 

 

MESSAGING AND DATA AS A PERCENTAGE OF SERVICE REVENUE(1) IN THE QUARTER TO

 

  COUNTRY

 

30 JUN
2006

 

30 SEP
2006

 

31 DEC
2006

 

31 MAR
2007

 

30 JUN
2007

 

30 SEP
2007

 

31 DEC
2007

 

31 MAR
2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Germany

 

21.2%

 

21.6%

 

22.9%

 

24.4%

 

24.3%

 

24.9%

 

25.6%

 

26.3%

 

  Italy

 

17.3%

 

17.5%

 

18.7%

 

20.4%

 

21.2%

 

22.5%

 

23.2%

 

23.1%

 

  Spain

 

15.7%

 

14.7%

 

15.3%

 

16.0%

 

16.1%

 

17.3%

 

16.5%

 

16.1%

 

  UK

 

20.9%

 

21.7%

 

23.2%

 

24.3%

 

24.9%

 

25.3%

 

27.1%

 

28.4%

 

  Europe

 

17.5%

 

17.7%

 

18.7%

 

19.6%

 

19.9%

 

20.7%

 

21.2%

 

21.4%

 

  EMAPA

 

12.6%

 

14.4%

 

15.0%

 

11.8%

 

12.9%

 

12.2%

 

13.3%

 

15.5%

 

 Group

 

16.6%

 

16.9%

 

17.9%

 

18.0%

 

18.2%

 

18.5%

 

19.1%

 

19.9%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note:

(1)          Messaging and data percentages are calculated using service revenue from all businesses within the Group and include fixed line revenue. At 30 September 2007, historical data was revised to provide comparative information. Calculations are based on service revenue rounded to the nearest 0.1 million using local currency for individual countries and sterling for regional and Group numbers.

 

37


 

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS - MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUSINESSES

 

AVERAGE MONTHLY REVENUE PER USER IN THE QUARTER

 

COUNTRY

 

 

 

30 JUN
2006

 

30 SEP
2006

 

31 DEC
2006

 

31 MAR
2007

 

30 JUN
2007

 

30 SEP
2007

 

31 DEC
2007

 

31 MAR
2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Europe:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Germany

 

Total

 

22.1

 

22.4

 

20.9

 

19.3

 

19.5

 

19.5

 

18.0

 

17.0

 

 (EUR)

 

Contract

 

38.4

 

39.0

 

36.7

 

34.7

 

34.9

 

35.3

 

33.1

 

32.0

 

 

 

Prepaid

 

7.6

 

7.6

 

7.0

 

6.1

 

6.2

 

6.1

 

5.5

 

5.0

 

 Italy

 

Total

 

27.6

 

27.1

 

25.8

 

23.4

 

23.2

 

22.7

 

22.3

 

22.5

 

 (EUR)

 

Contract

 

72.6

 

68.0

 

71.1

 

69.5

 

69.8

 

65.2

 

65.4

 

62.1

 

 

 

Prepaid

 

23.3

 

23.2

 

21.5

 

19.1

 

18.8

 

18.6

 

17.2

 

16.4

 

 Spain

 

Total

 

35.3

 

36.4

 

35.3

 

33.8

 

36.3

 

36.5

 

34.7

 

34.2

 

 (EUR)

 

Contract

 

54.8

 

55.2

 

51.3

 

48.9

 

52.0

 

51.7

 

48.0

 

45.4

 

 

 

Prepaid

 

15.0

 

15.4

 

16.0

 

15.0

 

16.4

 

16.5

 

15.5

 

14.9

 

 UK

 

Total

 

23.7

 

24.5

 

23.6

 

22.7

 

23.1

 

24.1

 

22.7

 

21.8

 

 (GBP)

 

Contract

 

45.2

 

46.5

 

43.7

 

43.4

 

43.5

 

45.8

 

42.2

 

41.2

 

 

 

Prepaid

 

8.9

 

9.4

 

9.5

 

8.6

 

8.9

 

9.0

 

9.0

 

8.4

 

 Albania

 

Total

 

2,122

 

2,311

 

2,086

 

1,868

 

1,844

 

2,016

 

1,780

 

1,707

 

 (ALL)

 

Contract

 

17,240

 

17,941

 

16,329

 

14,612

 

14,403

 

14,733

 

11,781

 

9,049

 

 

 

Prepaid

 

1,606

 

1,782

 

1,605

 

1,419

 

1,366

 

1,497

 

1,308

 

1,258

 

 Greece

 

Total

 

31.1

 

31.0

 

27.6

 

24.7

 

25.5

 

26.2

 

22.9

 

21.6

 

 (EUR)

 

Contract

 

65.6

 

66.8

 

61.6

 

56.5

 

60.0

 

62.0

 

53.4

 

49.7

 

 

 

Prepaid

 

13.7

 

13.4

 

11.4

 

10.1

 

10.2

 

10.4

 

8.9

 

8.4

 

 Ireland

 

Total

 

48.8

 

46.9

 

45.6

 

44.6

 

45.4

 

45.1

 

43.9

 

44.0

 

 (EUR)

 

Contract

 

102.8

 

99.4

 

94.5

 

92.5

 

94.3

 

94.1

 

89.4

 

85.8

 

 

 

Prepaid

 

29.3

 

28.0

 

27.9

 

27.2

 

27.1

 

26.6

 

26.3

 

24.1

 

 Malta(1)

 

Total

 

37.4

 

42.7

 

32.8

 

31.4

 

36.1

 

39.9

 

31.9

 

28.5

 

 (EUR)

 

Contract

 

99.8

 

98.4

 

93.7

 

90.7

 

93.8

 

95.9

 

87.2

 

74.2

 

 

 

Prepaid

 

28.6

 

34.6

 

23.9

 

22.3

 

27.0

 

31.0

 

23.1

 

20.4

 

 Netherlands

 

Total

 

35.7

 

36.9

 

31.7

 

36.1

 

37.9

 

38.8

 

36.3

 

35.8

 

 (EUR)

 

Contract

 

63.5

 

64.6

 

52.0

 

57.8

 

59.7

 

59.6

 

55.8

 

55.0

 

 

 

Prepaid

 

10.1

 

10.4

 

9.8

 

9.8

 

10.6

 

10.8

 

9.4

 

9.4

 

 Portugal

 

Total

 

23.5

 

24.4

 

22.8

 

22.1

 

22.4

 

23.7

 

22.4

 

21.5

 

 (EUR)

 

Contract

 

62.2

 

62.8

 

57.8

 

54.2

 

54.9

 

59.0

 

54.2

 

50.9

 

 

 

Prepaid

 

13.0

 

13.9

 

13.2

 

13.2

 

13.2

 

14.0

 

13.4

 

13.0

 

 

 EMAPA Subsidiaries:

 Australia

 

Total

 

49.4

 

52.4

 

54.0

 

51.3

 

50.5

 

49.5

 

53.2

 

52.5

 

 (AUD)

 

Contract

 

92.7

 

96.4

 

98.8

 

97.1

 

96.2

 

93.6

 

96.8

 

90.7

 

 

 

Prepaid

 

33.9

 

36.2

 

37.2

 

34.1

 

33.0

 

32.0

 

35.2

 

35.7

 

 Czech Republic

 

Total

 

674

 

670

 

658

 

613

 

635

 

619

 

618

 

581

 

 (CZK)

 

Contract

 

978

 

966

 

946

 

897

 

916

 

889

 

891

 

844

 

 

 

Prepaid

 

331

 

334

 

331

 

295

 

320

 

320

 

319

 

296

 

 Egypt

 

Total

 

79.4

 

88.1

 

79.4

 

75.0

 

75.6

 

71.6

 

66.7

 

63.6

 

 (EGP)

 

Contract

 

292.1

 

309.7

 

289.9

 

295.8

 

308.8

 

304.5

 

281.2

 

286.7

 

 

 

Prepaid

 

57.1

 

66.7

 

61.4

 

59.1

 

60.4

 

58.2

 

55.6

 

52.6

 

 Hungary

 

Total

 

5,066

 

5,339

 

5,171

 

4,749

 

4,935

 

4,994

 

4,846

 

4,270

 

 (HUF)

 

Contract

 

9,129

 

9,097

 

8,529

 

7,847

 

8,010

 

7,832

 

7,484

 

6,639

 

 

 

Prepaid

 

3,125

 

3,359

 

3,250

 

2,839

 

2,873

 

2,930

 

2,801

 

2,362

 

 India

 

Total

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

361

 

349

 

350

 

 (INR)

 

Contract

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

995

 

1,059

 

1,067

 

 

 

Prepaid

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

277

 

264

 

269

 

 New Zealand

 

Total

 

46.6

 

46.6

 

50.7

 

49.3

 

47.1

 

48.8

 

52.1

 

51.1

 

 (NZD)

 

Contract

 

126.1

 

125.3

 

128.9

 

122.8

 

117.2

 

118.7

 

120.3

 

115.7

 

 

 

Prepaid

 

23.2

 

22.5

 

23.7

 

23.4

 

21.4

 

22.0

 

23.7

 

23.3

 

 Turkey

 

Total

 

N/A

 

16.5

 

14.4

 

14.4

 

15.7

 

16.3

 

14.6

 

13.2

 

 (TRY)

 

Contract

 

N/A

 

31.4

 

28.2

 

28.7

 

29.2

 

29.8

 

28.7

 

27.4

 

 

 

Prepaid

 

N/A

 

14.8

 

12.9

 

12.9

 

14.1

 

14.7

 

12.9

 

11.4

 

 Romania(2)

 

Total

 

10.7

 

11.2

 

11.0

 

9.8

 

11.0

 

11.1

 

11.1

 

9.9

 

 (EUR)

 

Contract

 

20.7

 

21.7

 

21.5

 

19.1

 

21.9

 

22.4

 

22.3

 

19.6

 

 

 

Prepaid

 

4.7

 

5.1

 

5.0

 

4.3

 

4.7

 

4.6

 

4.5

 

4.0

 

 

Notes:

(1)         Vodafone Malta adopted the euro from 1 January 2008. Historical ARPU numbers have been translated at the 1 January 2008 maltese lira/euro exchange rate.

(2)         Romania adopted the euro from 1 October 2007. Historical ARPU numbers have been translated at the 1 October 2007 US$/euro exchange rate.

 

38


 

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: May 28, 2008

By:

 

Name:

Stephen R. Scott

 

Title:

Group General Counsel and Company

 

 

 

Secretary