UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form 6-K

 

Report of Foreign Private Issuer

 

Pursuant to Rules 13a-16 or 15d-16 under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Dated May 18, 2011

 

Commission File Number: 001-10086

 

VODAFONE GROUP

PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

 

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

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

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

 

 

Form 20-F      ü       

Form 40-F           

 

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

 

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

 

 

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): 82-        .

 


 

This Report on Form 6-K contains a news release issued by Vodafone Group Plc on 17 May 2011 entitled “Vodafone Announces Results for the year ended 31 March 2011”.

 


 

17 May 2011

 

 

VODAFONE ANNOUNCES RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2011

 

Improved results: sustained revenue growth and strong cash generation

 

·

Group revenue up 3.2% to £45.9 billion; full year organic service revenue growth +2.1%(*); Q4 +2.5%(*), driven by a strong AMAP performance (+11.8%(*))

 

 

·

EBITDA down 0.4% at £14.7 billion; EBITDA margin 1.1 percentage points lower at 32.0%, in line with expectations

 

·

Verizon Wireless service revenue up 5.8%(*); our share of profits up 8.5%(*) to £4.6 billion

 

 

·

Adjusted operating profit at guidance exchange rates(1) £12.2 billion, after Verizon Wireless iPhone launch costs

 

 

·

Other net income of £5.3(2) billion and goodwill impairment charges of £6.1 billion

 

 

·

Free cash flow £7.0 billion; consistent level of capital expenditure and strong working capital performance

 

 

·

Final dividend 6.05 pence, giving total dividends for the year of 8.90 pence per share, + 7.1%

 

Financial highlights

 

 

 

Year ended

 

Change year on year

 

Year on year
Q4 vs. Q4

 

 

 

31 March 2011

 

Reported

 

Organic

 

Organic

 

 

 

£m

 

%

 

%

 

%

 

Group revenue

 

45,884

 

+3.2

 

+2.8

 

+4.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Group service revenue

 

42,738

 

+2.4

 

+2.1

 

+2.5

 

Europe

 

30,097

 

(3.4

)

(0.4

)

(0.8

)

Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific

 

12,292

 

+20.0

 

+9.5

 

+11.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted operating profit

 

11,818

 

+3.1

 

+1.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Free cash flow

 

7,049

 

(2.7

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EPS

 

15.20

p

(7.5

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EPS

 

16.75

p

+4.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Final dividend per share

 

6.05

p

+7.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good progress on strategic delivery

 

·

Strong performance in key revenue growth areas: Data +26.4%(*), Emerging Markets +11.8%(3) (*), Fixed +5.2%(*), Europe Enterprise +0.5%(*)

 

 

·

Successful drive to increase smartphone penetration in Europe - up from 11.6% to 18.7% year-on-year

 

 

·

£14.2 billion expected to be raised from agreed disposals of interests in China Mobile, SoftBank and SFR; £6.8 billion committed to share buyback programmes

 

 

·

Continuing commercial relationship with Verizon to address the global enterprise market, target procurement savings and develop technology standardisation

 


 

Guidance for the 2012 financial year

 

·

Adjusted operating profit expected to be in the range of £11.0 billion to £11.8 billion, reflecting the loss of our £0.5 billion share of profits from SFR as the result of the disposal of our 44% interest

 

 

·

Free cash flow expected to be in the range of £6.0 billion to £6.5 billion, reflecting continued strong cash generation offset by the reduction of £0.3 billion in dividends from SFR and China Mobile, and the more limited working capital improvements available going forward

 

 

Vittorio Colao, Group Chief Executive, commented:

 

“The past year has seen further strong performances in our key revenue growth areas of data, emerging markets and enterprise, and we have gained or held market share in most of our key markets. Continuing network investment is an important differentiator for Vodafone, improving the customer experience and giving us leadership in smartphone penetration and in customer take up of data plans. We enter the new financial year well positioned to deliver further value to our shareholders.”

 

 

 

Notes:

(*)

All amounts in this document marked with an “(*)” represent organic growth which presents performance on a comparable basis, both in terms of merger and acquisition activity and foreign exchange rates.

(1)

See ‘Guidance’ on page 8

(2)

Other net income includes a £2.8 billion net gain on the sale of the Group’s interest in China Mobile Limited, £0.9 billion tax benefit and a £0.9 billion interest benefit relating to the settlement of a tax case and £0.5 billion from the disposal of investments in SoftBank.

(3)

Emerging markets include India, Vodacom, Egypt, Turkey, Ghana, Qatar and Fiji.

 

2


 

CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S STATEMENT

 

 

Financial review of the year

 

We have performed well this year, combining a better operational performance with good strategic progress. Organic service revenue growth improved during the year, with a strong result from emerging markets and signs of renewed growth in some parts of Europe.

 

Customers have adopted data services in increasing numbers, as smartphones proliferate and the tablet market begins to take off. Our network investment is becoming a key differentiator, as we are leading the migration to smartphones in most of our European operations. Through this and our continued stronger commercial focus, we are growing our market share again in most of our markets.

 

However, markets remain competitive and the economic environment, particularly across southern Europe, is challenging. We continue to keep a tight rein on costs and working capital, allowing us to maintain our levels of investment while again delivering a strong free cash flow performance.

 

Group revenue for the year was up 3.2% to £45.9 billion, with Group service revenue up 2.1%(*) on an organic basis and up 2.5%(*) in Q4. Group EBITDA margin fell 1.1 percentage points, reflecting continuing weakness across southern Europe, higher growth in lower margin markets, and the increased investment in migrating customers to higher value smartphones. As a result, EBITDA fell 0.4% year-on-year.

 

Group adjusted operating profit rose 3.1% to £11.8 billion, at the top end of our guidance range after allowing for currency movements and despite the additional costs incurred by Verizon Wireless’s iPhone launch. The main drivers were good growth in the Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific region (‘AMAP’) and a strong performance from Verizon Wireless.

 

During the year we recorded other net income of £5.3 billion, primarily in relation to a £2.8 billion net gain on the sale of the Group’s interests in China Mobile Limited, £1.8 billion on the settlement of a tax case and £0.5 billion from the disposal of investments in SoftBank Mobile Corp. We also recorded impairment charges of £6.1 billion relating to our businesses in Spain, Greece, Portugal, Italy and Ireland, which were primarily driven by higher discount rates given sharply increased interest rates. The impairment in Spain represented approximately half of the total.

 

Free cash flow was £7.0 billion, at the top end of our medium-term guidance, as a result of our continued financial discipline and a strong working capital performance. Capital expenditure was £6.2 billion, broadly flat on last year and in line with our target, as we focused on widening our data coverage and improving network performance.

 

Adjusted earnings per share was 16.75 pence, up 4.0% on last year, reflecting higher profitability and lower shares in issue as a result of the ongoing £2.8 billion buyback programme. The Board is recommending a final dividend per share of 6.05 pence, to give total dividends per share for the year of 8.90 pence, up 7.1% year-on-year.

 

Europe

Organic service revenue in Europe was down 0.4%(*) during the year and down 0.8%(*) in Q4. This represents a good recovery on last year (-3.8%(*)) and is the result of two different trends: the more stable economies of northern Europe (Germany, UK, Netherlands) were up 2.7%(*), while the rest of Europe was down 2.9%(*) as a result of the ongoing macroeconomic challenges. Data revenue growth continued to be strong, but was offset by continued voice price declines and cuts to mobile termination rates (‘MTRs’).

 

Organic EBITDA for Europe was down 3.7%(*) and the EBITDA margin fell 1.7 percentage points as a result of the decline in revenue, ongoing competitive activity and higher commercial costs as we accelerated smartphone adoption.

 

3


 

CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S STATEMENT

 

 

AMAP

Organic service revenue growth in AMAP was 9.5%(*), accelerating through the year to a level of 11.8%(*) in Q4. Our two major businesses, India and Vodacom, reported growth of 16.2%(*) and 5.8%(*) respectively.  Our performance in India has been driven by increasing voice penetration and a more stable pricing environment. In South Africa, Vodacom continues to be highly successful in promoting data services.

 

Organic EBITDA was up 7.5%(*), with EBITDA margin falling 0.6 percentage points(*). The two main factors behind the margin decline were the adverse impact from higher recurring licence fee costs in India and the change in regional mix from the strong growth in India.

 

Verizon Wireless

Our US associate, Verizon Wireless, has continued to perform strongly. Organic service revenue was up 5.8% (*) and EBITDA was up 6.7%(*), with good growth in customers and strong data take-up. In Q4, Verizon Wireless launched a CDMA version of the iPhone, ending the exclusivity of its main competitor. We are continuing to work closely with Verizon, putting together unified account teams to handle large multinational enterprise accounts, gaining efficiencies through procurement and aligning our technical roadmaps. Our share of profits from Verizon Wireless amounted to £4.6 billion, up 8.5%(*).

 

Delivering a more valuable Vodafone

 

In November 2010 we announced an updated strategy, designed to build on the progress made during my first two years as CEO. There are four main elements to the strategy to build a more valuable Vodafone:

 

1.            Focus on key areas of growth potential;

2.            Deliver value and efficiency from scale;

3.            Generate liquidity or free cash flow from non-controlled interests; and

4.            Apply rigorous capital discipline to investment decisions.

 

I am pleased to say that we are making good progress in each area.

 

1)           Focus on key areas of growth potential

 

Mobile data: data revenue was up 26.4%(*) year-on-year to £5.1 billion, and now represents 12.0% of Group service revenue. We have continued to increase the penetration of smartphones into our customer base as these are a key driver of data adoption. Mobile broadband, which still accounts for the majority of data traffic on our network, has significant further scope for growth as we are seeing the emergence of a new and incremental category – tablets – which we believe have the potential to become mass market devices in the medium-term.

 

We are successfully growing data revenue by moving away from “all-you-can-eat” packages to tiered data pricing. At the same time, we are increasing the penetration of data tariffs within our base, with 48% of our European smartphone customers now taking some form of data plan.

 

Network quality is absolutely central to our data strategy and we have made further significant investments over the last 12 months to improve the speed and reliability of our coverage. Based on third party tests performed in 16 of our main 3G markets, we rank first for overall data performance in 13 markets.

 

Enterprise: revenue in the overall European enterprise segment was up 0.5%(*) year-on-year and represented 29.5% of our European service revenue. Within this, Vodafone Global Enterprise, which serves our multinational customers, delivered revenue growth of around 8%(*) thanks to some important customer wins and increased penetration of existing customer accounts. This market offers attractive growth opportunities, as multinationals and smaller companies alike look not only to manage costs but also to move to converged platforms and improve mobile connectivity for their workforces. Vodafone One Net, our converged voice proposition targeted at the small-to-medium-sized enterprise market, has now

 

4


 

CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S STATEMENT

 

 

been introduced into six countries and is gaining traction in an attractive segment. Enterprise customer satisfaction scores are at record levels, with customers increasingly focusing not just on price but on network quality and value-added services too – playing directly to our strengths.

 

Emerging markets: the Group has an attractive level of exposure to emerging markets, where penetration is lower and GDP growth higher than in the more mature markets of western Europe. In addition, the lack of fixed line infrastructure in many of these markets means that mobile operators will be the primary providers of internet connectivity. Organic service revenue growth in our emerging markets was 11.8%(*), with our key operations in India, South Africa and Turkey up 16.2%(*), 5.0%(*) and 28.9%(*) respectively.

 

Total communications: we continue to develop our fixed line capabilities to meet our customers’ total communications needs beyond mobile connectivity. In the enterprise market we have made significant progress in the development of converged services, giving us an attractive opportunity to grow our share of companies’ total telecoms spend.

 

In residential, our focus has been on developing innovative new services such as the Vodafone DSL Router, which combines mobile and fixed broadband services, and Vodafone TV, which delivers free and premium video content through a range of connections using satellite DTT, broadband (either fixed or mobile), or cable. Revenue from our fixed line operations amounted to £3.4 billion, up 5.2%(*) year-on-year.

 

New services: machine-to-machine platforms (‘M2M’), mobile financial services and near-field communications, among other new services, all offer potential for incremental growth. During the year we made good progress in our M2M business and continued the growth and expansion of our mobile money transfer platform, which now has over 20 million customers and is currently being trialled in India.

 

2)           Deliver value and efficiency from scale

 

The current composition of the Group has enabled us to increase efficiency and achieve favourable comparable cost positions in many markets. We aim to continue to generate savings from technology standardisation, off-shoring, outsourcing, platform sharing and Group purchasing. During the year we also established a more formal relationship with Verizon to leverage our purchasing power across a wide range of suppliers.

 

3)           Generate liquidity or free cash flow from non-controlled interests

 

During the year we agreed disposals of our 3.2% stake in China Mobile Limited and our SoftBank interests for a total cash consideration of £7.4 billion. Subsequent to the year end, we announced the sale of our 44% holding in SFR, the number two mobile operator in France, to Vivendi, the majority shareholder, for £6.8 billion.  These three transactions crystallised significant value for shareholders, with £6.8 billion of proceeds being committed to share buyback programmes.

 

4)           Apply rigorous capital discipline to investment decisions

 

We continue to apply capital discipline to our investment decisions. We apply rigorous commercial analysis and demanding hurdle rates to ensure that any investment or corporate activity will enhance shareholder returns. Adhering to our target credit rating of low single A continues to provide the Group with a low cost of debt and good access to liquidity. We will continue to undertake regular reviews of Vodafone’s entire portfolio to ensure that we optimise value for shareholders.

 

Prospects for 2012 financial year

 

We enter the new financial year in a strong position. We are gaining or holding market share in most of our major markets, and are leading our competitors in the drive to migrate customers to smartphones and data packages. We will continue to focus on our key growth areas of data, enterprise and emerging markets, while maintaining investment in network quality and the development of new services.

 

5


 

CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S STATEMENT

 

 

However, we continue to face challenging macroeconomic conditions across our southern European footprint, and we expect further regulated cuts to mobile termination rates to have a negative impact of about 2.5 percentage points on service revenue growth in the 2012 financial year.

 

The Group EBITDA margin is expected to continue to decline, albeit at a lower rate than in the 2011 financial year. The main driver is the persistent revenue decline in some of our southern European operations.

 

Adjusted operating profit is expected to be in the range of £11.0 billion to £11.8 billion, reflecting the loss of our £0.5 billion share of profits from SFR as a result of the disposal of our 44% interest.

 

Free cash flow is expected to be in the range of £6.0 to £6.5 billion, reflecting continued strong cash generation offset by the £0.3 billion reduction in dividends from SFR and China Mobile Limited in the 2012 financial year, and the more limited working capital improvements available going forward. Capital expenditure is expected to be at a similar level to last year on a constant currency basis.

 

We are well positioned to continue to deliver value to shareholders through the achievement of our medium-term targets for revenue, free cash flow and dividend growth; our commitment to investment in profitable growth areas; and our clear capital discipline.

 

6


 

GROUP FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

% change

 

 

Page

 

£m

 

£m

 

Reported

 

Organic

 

Financial information(1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

25

 

45,884

 

44,472

 

3.2

 

2.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating profit

 

25

 

5,596

 

9,480

 

(41.0

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Profit before taxation 

 

25

 

9,498

 

8,674

 

9.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Profit for the financial year

 

25

 

7,870

 

8,618

 

(8.7

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share (pence)

 

25

 

15.20p

 

16.44p

 

(7.5

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditure

 

32

 

6,219

 

6,192

 

0.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash generated by operations

 

20

 

15,392

 

15,337

 

0.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Performance reporting(1)(2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Group EBITDA

 

9

 

14,670

 

14,735

 

(0.4

)

(0.7

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Group EBITDA margin

 

 

 

32.0%

 

33.1%

 

(1.1pp

)

(1.1pp

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted operating profit

 

9,34

 

11,818

 

11,466

 

3.1

 

1.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted profit before tax

 

11,34

 

11,003

 

10,564

 

4.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted effective tax rate

 

11

 

24.5%

 

24.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted profit attributable to equity shareholders

 

12

 

8,776

 

8,471

 

3.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted earnings per share (pence)

 

12

 

16.75p

 

16.11p

 

4.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Free cash flow(3)

 

20

 

7,049

 

7,241

 

(2.7

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net debt

 

20,21

 

29,858

 

33,316

 

(10.4

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes:

(1)

Amounts presented at 31 March or for the year then ended.

(2)

See page 31 for “Use of non-GAAP financial information” and page 36 for “Definitions of terms”.

(3)

All references to free cash flow are to amounts before licence and spectrum payments and for the year ended 31 March 2011 other items in respect of: a tax case settlement, tax relating to the disposal of China Mobile Limited, the SoftBank disposal and the court deposit made in respect of the India tax case, each of which are discussed elsewhere herein.

 

7


 

GUIDANCE

 

 

Please see page 31 for “Use of non-GAAP financial information”, page 36 for “Definitions of terms” and page 37 for “Forward-looking statements”.

 

Performance against 2011 financial year
guidance

 

 

Adjusted operating profit
£bn

 

 

Free cash flow
£bn

 

 

 

 

 

Guidance - November 2010(1)

 

11.8 – 12.2

 

In excess of 6.5

 

 

 

 

 

2011 performance on guidance basis(2)

 

12.2

 

7.2

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign exchange(1)

 

(0.3)

 

(0.2)

 

 

 

 

 

Verizon Wireless(3)

 

(0.1)

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

2011 reported performance(2)

 

11.8

 

7.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2012 financial year guidance

 

 

Adjusted operating profit
£bn

 

 

Free cash flow
£bn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11.0 - 11.8

 

6.0 - 6.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted operating profit is expected to be in the range of £11.0 billion to £11.8 billion, reflecting the loss of our £0.5 billion share of profits from SFR as a result of the disposal of our 44% stake.

 

Free cash flow is expected to be in the range of £6.0 billion to £6.5 billion, reflecting continued strong cash generation offset by the £0.3 billion reduction in dividends from China Mobile Limited and SFR in the 2012 financial year, and the more limited working capital improvements available going forward. Capital expenditure is expected to be at a similar level to last year on a constant currency basis.

 

Medium-term guidance

 

The execution of the updated strategy is targeted to achieve annual growth in organic service revenue of between 1% and 4% in the period to 31 March 2014. We expect that the Group EBITDA margin will stabilise by the end of this period.

 

As a result of the loss of £0.5 billion of cash dividends from our disposals of stakes in China Mobile Limited and SFR, we expect that annual free cash flow generation will now be in the £5.5 billion to £6.5 billion range in the period to March 2014, underpinning the three year 7% per annum dividend per share growth target issued in May 2010. We continue to expect that total dividends per share will be no less than 10.18 pence for the 2013 financial year.

 

The free cash flow target range excludes any incremental benefit that we derive from our strategy to generate liquidity or incremental cash flow from non-controlled interests of the Group, such as Verizon Wireless and Polkomtel.

 

Assumptions

 

Guidance for the 2012 financial year and the medium-term is based on our current assessment of the global economic outlook and assumes foreign exchange rates of £1:€1.15 and £1:US$1.60. It excludes the impact of licence and spectrum purchases, material one-off tax related payments and restructuring costs and assumes no material change to the current structure of the Group.

 

With respect to the 7% per annum dividend per share growth target, as the Group’s free cash flow is predominantly generated by companies operating within the euro currency zone, we have assumed that the euro to sterling exchange rate remains within 10% of the above guidance exchange rate.

 

Actual exchange rates may vary from the exchange rate assumptions used. A 1% change in the euro to sterling exchange rate would impact adjusted operating profit and free cash flow by approximately £50 million and a 1% change in the dollar to sterling exchange rate would impact adjusted operating profit by approximately £50 million.

 

Notes:

(1)

The Group’s guidance reflected assumptions for average exchange rates for the 2011 financial year of approximately £1:€1.15 and
£1:US$1.50. Actual exchange rates were £1:€1.18 and £1:US$1.56.

(2)

After Verizon Wireless iPhone launch costs.

(3)

The Group’s guidance did not include the impact of the revenue recognition and Alltel related adjustments in Verizon Wireless.

 

8


 

CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

Financial results

9

Liquidity and capital resources

20

Other significant developments

23

Consolidated financial statements

25

Use of non-GAAP financial information

31

Additional information

32

Other information (including forward-looking statements)

36

 

 

 

FINANCIAL RESULTS

 

Group(1)(2)

 

 

 

 

 

Africa,
Middle East
and Asia

 

Non-
Controlled
Interests and
Common

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe

 

Pacific

 

Functions(3)

 

Eliminations

 

2011

 

2010

 

% change

 

 

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£

 

Organic(4)

 

Voice revenue

 

17,884

 

9,036

 

293

 

 

27,213

 

28,009

 

 

 

 

 

Messaging revenue

 

4,106

 

904

 

72

 

 

5,082

 

4,795

 

 

 

 

 

Data revenue

 

3,871

 

1,216

 

35

 

 

5,122

 

4,051

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed line revenue

 

3,003

 

399

 

 

 

3,402

 

3,289

 

 

 

 

 

Other service revenue

 

1,233

 

737

 

12

 

(63

)

1,919

 

1,575

 

 

 

 

 

Service revenue

 

30,097

 

12,292

 

412

 

(63

)

42,738

 

41,719

 

2.4

 

2.1

 

Other revenue

 

1,918

 

1,012

 

247

 

(31

)

3,146

 

2,753

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

32,015

 

13,304

 

659

 

(94

)

45,884

 

44,472

 

3.2

 

2.8

 

Direct costs

 

(7,771

)

(3,483

)

(131

)

63

 

(11,322

)

(10,805

)

 

 

 

 

Customer costs

 

(9,672

)

(3,224

)

(393

)

 

(13,289

)

(12,249

)

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

 

(3,749

)

(2,598

)

(287

)

31

 

(6,603

)

(6,683

)

 

 

 

 

EBITDA

 

10,823

 

3,999

 

(152

)

 

14,670

 

14,735

 

(0.4

)

(0.7

)

Depreciation and amortisation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquired intangibles

 

(128

)

(966

)

(12

)

 

(1,106

)

(1,226

)

 

 

 

 

Purchased licences

 

(1,050

)

(122

)

(5

)

 

(1,177

)

(1,128

)

 

 

 

 

Other

 

(3,919

)

(1,690

)

(75

)

 

(5,684

)

(5,657

)

 

 

 

 

Share of result in associates

 

 

51

 

5,064

 

 

5,115

 

4,742

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted operating profit

 

5,726

 

1,272

 

4,820

 

 

11,818

 

11,466

 

3.1

 

1.8

 

Impairment loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(6,150

)

(2,100

)

 

 

 

 

Other income and expense(5)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(72

)

114

 

 

 

 

 

Operating profit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,596

 

9,480

 

 

 

 

 

Non-operating income and expense(6)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,022

 

(10

)

 

 

 

 

Net investment income/(financing costs)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

880

 

(796

)

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,628

)

(56

)

 

 

 

 

Profit for the year

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,870

 

8,618

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes:

(1)

The Group revised its segment structure on 1 October 2010. See “Change in segments” on page 29.

(2)

Current period results reflect average exchange rates of £1:€1.18 and £1:US$1.56.

(3)

Common Functions primarily represent the results of the partner markets and the net result of unallocated central Group costs.

(4)

Organic growth includes Vodacom at the current level of ownership but excludes Australia following the merger with Hutchison 3G Australia on 9 June 2009.

(5)

Other income and expense for the year ended 31 March 2011 included £56 million representing the net loss on disposal of certain Alltel investments by Verizon Wireless. This is included within the line item “Share of results in associates” in the consolidated income statement.

(6)

Non-operating income and expense for the year ended 31 March 2011 includes £3,019 million profit arising on the sale of the Group’s 3.2% interest in China Mobile Limited. For further details see page 24.

 

9


 

FINANCIAL RESULTS

 

 

Revenue

 

Group revenue increased by 3.2% to £45,884 million and Group service revenue increased by 2.4% to £42,738 million. On an organic basis Group service revenue increased by 2.1%(*), with a 0.8 percentage point improvement between the first and second half as both Europe and AMAP delivered improved organic service revenue trends.

 

In Europe service revenue fell by 0.4%(*) with a decline of 0.3%(*) in the second half of the year. Both the UK and Germany performed well delivering full year service revenue growth of 4.7%(*) and 0.8%(*) respectively. Spain continued to experience economic pressures which have intensified competition leading to a 6.9%(*) decline in service revenue. Service revenue also declined by 2.1%(*) in Italy driven by a challenging economic and competitive environment combined with the impact of termination rate cuts. Our improved commercial offers in Turkey have delivered service revenue growth of 28.9%(*), despite a 52% cut in termination rates which was effective from 1 April 2010. Challenging economic and competitive conditions continued in our other central European businesses where service revenue growth was also impacted by mobile termination rate cuts. European enterprise revenue increased by 0.5%(*) with improved roaming activity and important customer wins.

 

In AMAP service revenue grew by 9.5%(*). Vodacom continued to perform well, with strong data revenue growth from mobile broadband offsetting weaker voice revenue which was impacted by two termination rate cuts during the year. In India service revenue increased by 16.2%(*), driven by an increase in the mobile customer base and a more stable pricing environment towards the end of the year. In Qatar the customer base reached 757,000 by the end of the year, with 45% of the population now actively using Vodafone services less than two years after launch. On an organic basis, service revenue in Egypt declined by 0.8%(*) where performance was impacted by the socio-political unrest during the fourth quarter.

 

EBITDA and profit

 

EBITDA decreased by 0.4% to £14,670 million with a 1.1 percentage point decline in both the reported and organic EBITDA margin.

 

In Europe EBITDA decreased by 3.7%(*), with a decline in EBITDA margin of 1.7 percentage points, primarily driven by a reduction in service revenue in most markets and higher investment in acquisition and retention costs, partially offset by operating cost efficiencies.

 

In AMAP EBITDA increased by 7.5%(*), driven primarily by growth in India, together with improvements in Vodacom, Ghana, New Zealand and Qatar, partially offset by a slight decline in Egypt. The EBITDA margin fell 0.6 percentage

points(*), the two main factors behind the decline being higher recurring licence fee costs in India and the change in regional mix from the strong growth in India.

 

Adjusted operating profit grew by 3.1% as a result of an increase in the Group’s share of results of Verizon Wireless partially offset by the decline in Group EBITDA. The Group’s share of results in Verizon Wireless, the Group’s associate in the United States, increased by 8.5%(*) primarily due to the expanding customer base, robust data revenue, efficiencies in operating expenses and lower acquisition costs partially offset by higher customer retention costs reflecting the increased demand for smartphones in the United States.

 

The Group recorded other net income of £5,342 million, primarily in relation to a £2.8 billion net gain on the sale of the Group’s interests in China Mobile Limited, £1.8 billion on the settlement of a tax case and £0.5 billion from the disposal of investments in SoftBank Mobile Corp.

 

Operating profit decreased by 41.0% primarily due to higher impairment losses compared to the prior year. Impairment losses totalling £6,150 million were recorded relating to our businesses in Spain (£2,950 million), Italy (£1,050 million), Ireland (£1,000 million), Greece (£800 million) and Portugal (£350 million), primarily resulting from increased discount rates as a result of increases in government bond rates together with lower cash flows within business plans, reflecting weaker country-level macro economic environments. The impairment loss in the prior year was £2,100 million.

 

Profit for the year decreased by 8.7%.

 

10


 

FINANCIAL RESULTS

 

 

Net investment income/(financing costs)

 

 

 

2011

 

 

2010

 

 

 

£m

 

 

£m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment income

 

1,309

 

 

716

 

Financing costs

 

(429

)

 

(1,512

)

Net investment income/(financing costs)

 

880

 

 

(796

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Analysed as:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net financing costs before income from investments

 

(852

)

 

(1,024

)

Potential interest charges arising on settlement of outstanding tax issues(1)

 

(46

)

 

(23

)

Income from investments

 

83

 

 

145

 

 

 

(815

)

 

(902

)

Foreign exchange(2)

 

256

 

 

(1

)

Equity put rights and similar arrangements(3)

 

95

 

 

(94

)

Interest related to the settlement of tax cases(4)

 

872

 

 

201

 

Disposal of SoftBank financial instruments(5)

 

472

 

 

– 

 

 

 

880

 

 

(796

)

 

Notes:

(1)

Excluding interest credits related to a tax case settlement.

(2)

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

(3)

Includes foreign exchange rate movements, accretion expense and fair value charges. Further details of these options are provided on page 23.

(4)

The £872 million in the year ended 31 March 2011 relates to the settlement of a tax case and the £201 million in the year ended 31 March 2010 relates to the settlement of the German tax loss claim.

(5)

See “Other significant developments” on page 24.

 

Net financing costs before income from investments decreased from £1,024 million to £852 million primarily due to a reduction in net debt, partially offset by an increase in average interest rates for debt denominated in US dollars. At 31 March 2011 the provision for potential interest charges arising on settlement of outstanding tax issues was £398 million (31 March 2010: £1,312 million), with the reduction primarily reflecting the settlement of a tax case.

 

Taxation

 

 

 

2011

 

 

2010

 

 

 

£m

 

 

£m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense

 

1,628

 

 

56

 

Tax on adjustments to derive adjusted profit before tax

 

(232

)

 

(39

)

Tax benefit related to settlement of tax cases(1)

 

929

 

 

2,103

 

Adjusted income tax expense

 

2,325

 

 

2,120

 

Share of associates’ tax

 

519

 

 

572

 

Adjusted income tax expense for purposes of calculating adjusted tax rate

 

2,844

 

 

2,692

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Profit before tax

 

9,498

 

 

8,674

 

Adjustments to derive adjusted profit before tax(2)

 

1,505

 

 

1,890

 

Adjusted profit before tax

 

11,003

 

 

10,564

 

Add: Share of associates’ tax and non-controlling interest

 

604

 

 

652

 

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

 

11,607

 

 

11,216

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted effective tax rate

 

24.5%

 

 

24.0%

 

 

Notes:

(1)

The £929 million in the year ended 31 March 2011 relates to the settlement of a tax case and the £2,103 million in the year ended 31 March 2010 relates to the settlement of the German tax loss claim.

(2)

See “Earnings per share” on page 12.

 

The adjusted effective tax rate for the year ended 31 March 2011 was 24.5%. This is in line with the adjusted effective tax rate for the year ended 31 March 2010 of 24.0%. Tax on adjustments to derive adjusted profit before tax includes tax payable on the gain on the disposal of the Group’s 3.2% interest in China Mobile Limited.

 

Income tax expense includes a credit of £929 million arising as a result of the settlement of a tax case in July 2010. For further details see note 4 to the consolidated financial statements in the half-year financial report for the six months ended 30 September 2010.

 

11


 

FINANCIAL RESULTS

 

 

Earnings per share

 

Adjusted earnings per share increased by 4.0% to 16.75 pence for the year ended 31 March 2011 due to growth in adjusted earnings and a reduction in shares arising from the Group’s share buyback programme. Basic earnings per share decreased to 15.2 pence primarily due to the £6,150 million of impairment charges partially offset by a gain on disposal of the Group’s 3.2% interest in China Mobile Limited and the settlement of a tax case.

 

 

 

2011

 

 

2010

 

 

 

£m

 

 

£m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Profit attributable to equity shareholders

 

7,968

 

 

8,645

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pre-tax adjustments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Impairment loss

 

6,150

 

 

2,100

 

Other income and expense(1)(4)

 

72

 

 

(114

)

Non-operating income and expense(2)(4)

 

(3,022

)

 

10

 

Investment income and financing costs(3)(4)

 

(1,695

)

 

(106

)

 

 

1,505

 

 

1,890

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taxation(4)

 

(697

)

 

(2,064

)

Adjusted profit attributable to equity shareholders

 

8,776

 

 

8,471

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Million

 

 

Million

 

Weighted average number of shares outstanding – basic

 

52,408

 

 

52,595

 

Weighted average number of shares outstanding – diluted

 

52,748

 

 

52,849

 

 

Notes:

(1)

The year ended 31 March 2011 includes £56 million representing the net loss on disposal of certain Alltel investments by Verizon Wireless. This is included within the line item “Share of results in associates” in the consolidated income statement.

(2)

The year ended 31 March 2011 includes £3,019 million representing the profit arising on the sale of the Group’s 3.2% interest in China Mobile Limited.

(3)

See notes 2, 3, 4 and 5 in “Net investment income/(financing costs)” on page 11.

(4)

These amounts comprise “Other net income” of £5,342 million.

 

12


 

FINANCIAL RESULTS

 

Europe(1)

 

 

 

Germany

 

Italy

 

Spain

 

UK

 

Other

 

Eliminations

 

Europe

 

% change

 

 

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£

 

Organic

 

31 March 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Voice revenue

 

3,466

 

3,237

 

3,319

 

2,545

 

5,318

 

(1

)

17,884

 

 

 

 

 

Messaging revenue

 

790

 

849

 

345

 

1,148

 

974

 

 

4,106

 

 

 

 

 

Data revenue

 

1,250

 

602

 

537

 

762

 

720

 

 

3,871

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed line revenue

 

1,813

 

574

 

314

 

31

 

271

 

 

3,003

 

 

 

 

 

Other service revenue

 

152

 

170

 

220

 

445

 

504

 

(258

)

1,233

 

 

 

 

 

Service revenue

 

7,471

 

5,432

 

4,735

 

4,931

 

7,787

 

(259

)

30,097

 

(3.4

)

(0.4

)

Other revenue

 

429

 

290

 

398

 

340

 

466

 

(5

)

1,918

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

7,900

 

5,722

 

5,133

 

5,271

 

8,253

 

(264

)

32,015

 

(2.5

)

0.6

 

Direct costs

 

(1,729

)

(1,305

)

(1,050

)

(1,548

)

(2,398

)

259

 

(7,771

)

 

 

 

 

Customer costs

 

(2,399

)

(1,169

)

(1,990

)

(1,928

)

(2,191

)

5

 

(9,672

)

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

 

(820

)

(605

)

(531

)

(562

)

(1,231

)

 

(3,749

)

 

 

 

 

EBITDA

 

2,952

 

2,643

 

1,562

 

1,233

 

2,433

 

 

10,823

 

(7.1

)

(3.7

)

Depreciation and amortisation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquired intangibles

 

 

 

(1

)

 

(127

)

 

(128

)

 

 

 

 

Purchased licences

 

(472

)

(102

)

(7

)

(333

)

(136

)

 

(1,050

)

 

 

 

 

Other

 

(932

)

(638

)

(639

)

(552

)

(1,158

)

 

(3,919

)

 

 

 

 

Adjusted operating profit

 

1,548

 

1,903

 

915

 

348

 

1,012

 

 

5,726

 

(9.8

)

(6.1

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EBITDA margin

 

37.4%

 

46.2%

 

30.4%

 

23.4%

 

29.5%

 

 

 

33.8%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31 March 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Voice revenue

 

3,895

 

3,658

 

3,859

 

2,681

 

5,732

 

(1

)

19,824

 

 

 

 

 

Messaging revenue

 

778

 

894

 

400

 

1,020

 

926

 

 

4,018

 

 

 

 

 

Data revenue

 

1,018

 

516

 

488

 

593

 

630

 

 

3,245

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed line revenue

 

1,900

 

540

 

318

 

31

 

181

 

 

2,970

 

 

 

 

 

Other service revenue

 

131

 

172

 

233

 

386

 

474

 

(294

)

1,102

 

 

 

 

 

Service revenue

 

7,722

 

5,780

 

5,298

 

4,711

 

7,943

 

(295

)

31,159

 

 

 

 

 

Other revenue

 

286

 

247

 

415

 

314

 

414

 

(2

)

1,674

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

8,008

 

6,027

 

5,713

 

5,025

 

8,357

 

(297

)

32,833

 

 

 

 

 

Direct costs

 

(1,728

)

(1,359

)

(1,161

)

(1,521

)

(2,364

)

295

 

(7,838

)

 

 

 

 

Customer costs

 

(2,221

)

(1,150

)

(2,035

)

(1,813

)

(2,136

)

2

 

(9,353

)

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

 

(937

)

(675

)

(561

)

(550

)

(1,275

)

 

(3,998

)

 

 

 

 

EBITDA

 

3,122

 

2,843

 

1,956

 

1,141

 

2,582

 

 

11,644

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortisation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquired intangibles

 

 

(10

)

(2

)

(7

)

(179

)

 

(198

)

 

 

 

 

Purchased licences

 

(446

)

(104

)

(7

)

(333

)

(123

)

 

(1,013

)

 

 

 

 

Other

 

(981

)

(622

)

(637

)

(646

)

(1,196

)

 

(4,082

)

 

 

 

 

Adjusted operating profit

 

1,695

 

2,107

 

1,310

 

155

 

1,084

 

 

6,351

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EBITDA margin

 

39.0%

 

47.2%

 

34.2%

 

22.7%

 

30.9%

 

 

 

35.5%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change at constant exchange rates  

 

%

 

%

 

%

 

%

 

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Voice revenue

 

(7.3

)

(7.8

)

(10.4

)

(5.1

)

(4.5

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Messaging revenue

 

5.8

 

(1.0

)

(10.0

)

12.6

 

8.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Data revenue

 

27.9

 

21.5

 

14.8

 

28.5

 

18.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed line revenue

 

(0.5

)

10.7

 

2.8

 

1.9

 

55.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other service revenue

 

21.1

 

2.6

 

(1.4

)

15.3

 

9.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service revenue

 

0.8

 

(2.1

)

(6.9

)

4.7

 

1.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other revenue

 

56.2

 

21.8

 

(0.2

)

8.2

 

17.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

2.8

 

(1.1

)

(6.4

)

4.9

 

1.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct costs

 

4.2

 

 

(5.7

)

1.8

 

4.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Customer costs

 

12.7

 

6.0

 

1.9

 

6.4

 

5.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

 

(8.9

)

(6.8

)

(1.6

)

2.1

 

(0.9

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EBITDA

 

(1.5

)

(3.1

)

(16.8

)

8.0

 

(2.2

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortisation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquired intangibles

 

 

(100.0

)

(50.0

)

(100.0

)

(27.0

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchased licences

 

10.3

 

3.0

 

 

 

14.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

0.5

 

6.7

 

4.6

 

(14.6

)

(0.4

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted operating profit

 

(4.9

)

(5.9

)

(27.3

)

125.1

 

(1.7

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EBITDA margin movement (pps)

 

(1.6

)

(1.0

)

(3.9

)

0.7

 

(1.2

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note:

(1)     The Group revised its segment structure on 1 October 2010. See “Change in segments” on page 29.

 

13


 

FINANCIAL RESULTS

 

 

Revenue declined by 2.5% reflecting a 3.2 percentage point impact from unfavourable foreign exchange rate movements. On an organic basis service revenue declined by 0.4%(*) reflecting reductions in most markets offset by growth in Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Turkey. The decline was primarily driven by lower voice revenue resulting from continued market and regulatory pressure on pricing and the challenging economic climate, partially offset by growth in data and fixed line revenue.

 

EBITDA decreased by 7.1% including a 3.5 percentage point impact from unfavourable exchange rate movements. On an organic basis EBITDA decreased by 3.7%(*), with a 1.7 percentage point decline in EBITDA margin resulting from a reduction in service revenue in most markets and higher customer investment, partially offset by operating cost savings.

 

 

 

Organic

 

M&A

 

Foreign

 

Reported

 

 

 

change

 

activity

 

exchange

 

change

 

 

 

 %

 

pps

 

pps

 

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue - Europe

 

0.6

 

0.1

 

(3.2

)

(2.5

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service revenue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Germany

 

0.8

 

 

(4.1

)

(3.3

)

Italy

 

(2.1

)

 

(3.9

)

(6.0

)

Spain

 

(6.9

)

 

(3.7

)

(10.6

)

UK

 

4.7

 

 

 

4.7

 

Other Europe

 

0.5

 

0.5

 

(3.0

)

(2.0

)

Europe

 

(0.4

)

0.1

 

(3.1

)

(3.4

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EBITDA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Germany

 

(1.5

)

 

(3.9

)

(5.4

)

Italy

 

(3.1

)

 

(3.9

)

(7.0

)

Spain

 

(16.8

)

 

(3.3

)

(20.1

)

UK

 

8.0

 

 

 

8.0

 

Other Europe

 

(2.4

)

0.2

 

(3.6

)

(5.8

)

Europe

 

(3.7

)

0.1

 

(3.5

)

(7.1

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted operating profit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Germany

 

(4.9

)

 

(3.8

)

(8.7

)

Italy

 

(5.9

)

 

(3.8

)

(9.7

)

Spain

 

(27.3

)

 

(2.9

)

(30.2

)

UK

 

125.1

 

 

 

125.1

 

Other Europe

 

(2.0

)

0.3

 

(4.9

)

(6.6

)

Europe

 

(6.1

)

0.1

 

(3.8

)

(9.8

)

 

Germany

 

Service revenue increased by 0.8%(*) driven by strong data and messaging revenue growth. Data revenue grew by 27.9%(*) as a result of increased penetration of smartphones and Superflat Internet tariffs. Mobile revenue remained stable in the fourth quarter despite a termination rate cut effective from 1 December 2010. Enterprise revenue grew by 3.6%(*) driven by strong customer and data revenue growth.

 

EBITDA declined by 1.5%(*), with a 1.6 percentage point reduction in the EBITDA margin. This decline was driven by increased customer acquisition and retention, contributed to by the launch of the iPhone in the third quarter, partially offset by operating cost efficiencies.

 

During the year we acquired LTE spectrum in Germany and launched LTE services towards the end of the year, initially targeting rural areas underserved by fixed broadband.

 

Italy

 

Service revenue declined by 2.1%(*) primarily driven by the challenging economic and competitive environment, the impact of termination rate cuts and customer tariff optimisation. The average contract customer base grew by 12.6% enabling the partial offset of these pressures. Data revenue growth remained strong at 21.5%(*) driven by the high level of customers migrating to smartphones and taking advantage of data plans. There was continued investment to improve quality and coverage of the network. Fixed line revenue continued to grow with the broadband customer base reaching 1.7 million at 31 March 2011 on a 100% basis.

 

14


 

FINANCIAL RESULTS

 

 

EBITDA decreased by 3.1%(*), with a fall in the EBITDA margin of 1.0 percentage point, as a result of the decline in service revenue and higher investment in acquisition and retention costs partially offset by a reduction in operating expenses.

 

Spain

 

Service revenue declined by 6.9%(*) impacted by continued intense competition, general economic weakness and the penetration of lower priced tariffs into the customer base. New integrated plans were introduced in the third quarter in response to the demand for combined voice and data tariffs driven by the increase in smartphones. Data revenue grew by 14.8%(*) driven by mobile broadband and mobile internet. One-off items contributed to a 1.8 percentage point(*) improvement to service revenue growth for the fourth quarter.

 

EBITDA declined 16.8%(*), with a 3.8 percentage point fall in the EBITDA margin, due to lower service revenue and proportionately higher acquisition and retention costs, partially offset by a reduction in operating expenses.

 

UK

 

Service revenue increased by 4.7%(*) driven by data revenue growth due to increasing penetration of smartphones and mobile internet bundles, and strong net contract customer additions, which more than offset continued competitive pressures and weaker prepaid revenue. The termination rate cuts announced in March 2011 are expected to have a significant negative impact on revenue growth during the 2012 financial year.

 

EBITDA increased by 8.0%(*) with the EBITDA margin increasing by 0.7 percentage points, reflecting higher service revenue partially offset by higher customer acquisition and retention costs.

 

Other Europe

 

Service revenue increased by 0.5%(*) with growth in Turkey and the Netherlands being partially offset by declines in  other markets due to the challenging economic environment and intense competitive factors. In Turkey service revenue grew by 28.9%(*) driven by strong growth in both data and voice revenue, despite a 52% cut in termination rates effective from 1 April 2010. In Greece service revenue declined by 19.4%(*) with intense competition driving a reduction in prepaid revenue and economic factors leading to customer tariff optimisation.

 

EBITDA declined by 2.4%(*), with declines in all markets except Turkey and the Netherlands, due primarily to lower service revenue and higher acquisition and retention costs partially offset by operating cost efficiencies.

 

15


 

FINANCIAL RESULTS

 

Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific(1)

 

 

India

 

Vodacom

 

Other Africa,
Middle East
and

Asia Pacific

 

Eliminations

 

Africa,
Middle East
and

Asia Pacific

 

% change

 

 

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£

 

Organic(2)

 

31 March 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Voice revenue

 

3,041

 

3,528

 

2,467

 

 

9,036

 

 

 

 

 

Messaging revenue

 

171

 

285

 

448

 

 

904

 

 

 

 

 

Data revenue

 

247

 

577

 

392

 

 

1,216

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed line revenue

 

7

 

216

 

176

 

 

399

 

 

 

 

 

Other service revenue

 

338

 

233

 

167

 

(1

)

737

 

 

 

 

 

Service revenue

 

3,804

 

4,839

 

3,650

 

(1

)

12,292

 

20.0

 

9.5

 

Other revenue

 

51

 

640

 

321

 

 

1,012

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

3,855

 

5,479

 

3,971

 

(1

)

13,304

 

20.0

 

9.5

 

Direct costs

 

(1,114

)

(1,168

)

(1,202

)

1

 

(3,483

)

 

 

 

 

Customer costs

 

(534

)

(1,652

)

(1,038

)

 

(3,224

)

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

 

(1,222

)

(815

)

(561

)

 

(2,598

)

 

 

 

 

EBITDA

 

985

 

1,844

 

1,170

 

 

3,999

 

20.8

 

7.5

 

Depreciation and amortisation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquired intangibles

 

(357

)

(554

)

(55

)

 

(966

)

 

 

 

 

Purchased licences

 

(5

)

 

(117

)

 

(122

)

 

 

 

 

Other

 

(608

)

(463

)

(619

)

 

(1,690

)

 

 

 

 

Share of result in associates

 

 

 

51

 

 

51

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted operating profit

 

15

 

827

 

430

 

 

1,272

 

55.5

 

8.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EBITDA margin

 

25.6%

 

33.7%

 

29.5%

 

 

 

30.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31 March 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Voice revenue

 

2,547

 

3,043

 

2,268

 

 

7,858

 

 

 

 

 

Messaging revenue

 

108

 

243

 

391

 

 

742

 

 

 

 

 

Data revenue

 

169

 

342

 

268

 

 

779

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed line revenue

 

2

 

172

 

145

 

 

319

 

 

 

 

 

Other service revenue

 

243

 

154

 

152

 

(1

)

548

 

 

 

 

 

Service revenue

 

3,069

 

3,954

 

3,224

 

(1

)

10,246

 

 

 

 

 

Other revenue

 

45

 

496

 

302

 

 

843

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

3,114

 

4,450

 

3,526

 

(1

)

11,089

 

 

 

 

 

Direct costs

 

(880

)

(1,034

)

(1,031

)

1

 

(2,944

)

 

 

 

 

Customer costs

 

(424

)

(1,134

)

(940

)

 

(2,498

)

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

 

(1,003

)

(754

)

(578

)

 

(2,335

)

 

 

 

 

EBITDA

 

807

 

1,528

 

977

 

 

3,312

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortisation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquired intangibles

 

(340

)

(611

)

(61

)

 

(1,012

)

 

 

 

 

Purchased licences

 

 

 

(110

)

 

(110

)

 

 

 

 

Other

 

(504

)

(395

)

(527

)

 

(1,426

)

 

 

 

 

Share of result in associates

 

 

(2

)

56

 

 

54

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted operating (loss)/profit

 

(37

)

520

 

335

 

 

818

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EBITDA margin

 

25.9%

 

34.3%

 

27.7%

 

 

 

29.9%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change at constant exchange rates

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

%

 

%

 

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Voice revenue

 

11.9

 

6.2

 

3.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Messaging revenue

 

49.3

 

7.1

 

3.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Data revenue

 

36.8

 

53.5

 

34.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed line revenue

 

185.3

 

23.3

 

14.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other service revenue

 

31.0

 

43.1

 

3.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service revenue

 

16.2

 

12.5

 

6.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other revenue

 

7.3

 

16.8

 

(2.9

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

16.1

 

13.0

 

5.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct costs

 

18.5

 

4.6

 

9.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Customer costs

 

17.7

 

33.0

 

0.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

 

14.0

 

0.5

 

(9.4

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EBITDA

 

15.1

 

9.8

 

15.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortisation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquired intangibles

 

(1.7

)

(18.3

)

(17.9

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchased licences

 

 

 

4.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

13.0

 

9.2

 

10.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Share of result in associates

 

 

 

(8.2

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted operating profit

 

(134.0

)

43.9

 

31.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EBITDA margin movement (pps)

 

(0.2

)

(0.9

)

2.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1)             The Group revised its segment structure on 1 October 2010. See “Change in segments” on page 29.

(2)             Organic growth includes Vodacom at the current level of ownership and excludes Australia following the merger with Hutchison 3G Australia on 9 June 2009.

 

16


 

FINANCIAL RESULTS

 

 

Revenue grew by 20.0% with an 8.5 percentage point benefit from foreign exchange rate movements and the full year impact of the consolidation of Vodacom results from 18 May 2009 partially offset by the impact of the creation of the Vodafone Hutchison Australia (‘VHA’) joint venture on 9 June 2009. On an organic basis service revenue grew by 9.5%(*) despite the impact of MTR reductions and difficult economic environments. The growth was driven by a strong performance in India and continued growth from Vodacom and the rest of the region, other than Egypt where performance was impacted by the socio-political unrest during the fourth quarter.

 

EBITDA grew by 20.8% with foreign exchange rate movements contributing 8.0 percentage points of growth. On an organic basis EBITDA grew by 7.5%(*) driven primarily by growth in India, together with improvements in Vodacom, Ghana, Qatar and New Zealand, partially offset by a decline in Egypt following pricing pressure and socio-political unrest.

 

 

 

Organic

 

M&A

 

Foreign

 

Reported

 

 

 

change

 

activity

 

exchange

 

change

 

 

 

%

 

pps

 

pps

 

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue – Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific

 

9.5

 

2.0

 

8.5

 

20.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service revenue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

India

 

16.2

 

 

7.7

 

23.9

 

Vodacom

 

5.8

 

6.7

 

9.9

 

22.4

 

Other Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific

 

7.2

 

(0.9

)

6.9

 

13.2

 

Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific

 

9.5

 

2.2

 

8.3

 

20.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EBITDA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

India

 

15.1

 

 

7.0

 

22.1

 

Vodacom

 

4.9

 

4.9

 

10.9

 

20.7

 

Other Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific

 

5.1

 

10.6

 

4.1

 

19.8

 

Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific

 

7.5

 

5.3

 

8.0

 

20.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted operating profit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

India

 

134.0

 

 

6.5

 

140.5

 

Vodacom

 

5.7

 

38.2

 

15.1

 

59.0

 

Other Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific

 

2.2

 

29.2

 

(3.0

)

28.4

 

Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific

 

8.6

 

39.9

 

7.0

 

55.5

 

 

India

 

Service revenue grew by 16.2%(*) including a 1.7 percentage point(*) benefit from Indus Towers, the Group’s network sharing joint venture. Growth was driven by a 39.0% increase in the average mobile customer base and stable usage per customer trends, partially offset by a fall in the effective rate per minute due to an increase in the penetration of lower priced tariffs into the customer base and strong competition in the market.

 

February 2011 saw the launch of commercial 3G services following the purchase of 3G spectrum in May 2010 and subsequent network build. By the end of the year 1.5 million customers had activated their 3G access.

 

EBITDA grew by 15.1%(*) driven by the increase in the customer base and economies of scale, which absorbed pricing and cost pressures.

 

Vodacom

 

Service revenue grew by 5.8%(*) driven by South Africa where growth in data revenue of 35.9%(*)(1) offset a decline in voice revenue caused by termination rate cuts effective from 1 March 2010 and 1 March 2011.

 

In South Africa data revenue growth was driven by a 48.9%(*) increase in data usage due to strong growth in mobile connect cards and smartphones. In addition, successful commercial activity, particularly in off-peak periods, drove higher voice usage during the year which partially offset the impact of termination rate cuts. Net customer additions returned to pre-registration levels for the first time in the third quarter, with the trend continuing during the fourth quarter with net additions of 1.2 million.

 

In Vodacom’s operations outside South Africa service revenue growth continued with strong performances from Tanzania and Mozambique. Trading conditions remain challenging in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Gateway operations.

 

17


 

FINANCIAL RESULTS

 

 

EBITDA grew by 4.9%(*) driven by the increase in service revenue, strong handset sales and lower interconnection costs, partially offset by higher operating expenses.

 

On 1 April 2011 Vodacom refreshed its branding to more closely align with that of the Group.

 

Other Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific

 

Service revenue grew by 7.2%(*) with growth across all markets except Egypt. In Qatar the customer base reached 757,000 by the end of the year, with 45% of the population now actively using Vodafone services. The decline in Egypt service revenue was driven by a combination of termination rate reductions, competitive pressure on pricing and socio-political unrest during the fourth quarter, offset in part by strong customer and data revenue growth during the year. In Ghana service revenue growth of 21.0%(*) was supported by competitive tariffs and improved brand awareness.

 

VHA integration remains on track and a number of important initiatives were completed during the financial year to begin realising the benefits of the merger. Contact centre operations were consolidated into two major centres in Hobart and Mumbai India, substantial progress was made in the consolidation of the retail footprint and a major refit of retail stores is underway. VHA appointed new suppliers for network managed services, core, transmission and IT managed services.

 

EBITDA increased by 5.1%(*) driven by growth in Ghana, New Zealand and Qatar partially offset by a decline in Egypt resulting primarily from the lower effective price per minute but also impacted by the socio-political unrest during the fourth quarter.

 

 

Note:

(1)

Data revenue in South Africa grew by 41.8%(*). Excluding the impact of reclassifications between messaging and data revenue during the year, data revenue grew by 35.9%(*).

 

18


 

FINANCIAL RESULTS

 

 

Verizon Wireless(1)(2)

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

% change

 

 

 

£m

 

£m

 

£

 

Organic(3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service revenue

 

17,238

 

15,898

 

8.4

 

5.8

 

Revenue

 

18,711

 

17,222

 

8.6

 

6.0

 

EBITDA

 

7,313

 

6,689

 

9.3

 

6.7

 

Interest

 

(261

)

(298

)

(12.4

)

 

 

Tax(2)

 

(235

)

(205

)

14.6

 

 

 

Group’s share of result in Verizon Wireless

 

4,569

 

4,112

 

11.1

 

8.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KPIs (100% basis)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Customers ('000)(4)

 

88,414

 

85,715

 

 

 

 

 

Average monthly ARPU (US$)

 

57.2

 

55.8

 

 

 

 

 

Churn

 

16.3%

 

16.9%

 

 

 

 

 

Messaging and data as a percentage of service revenue

 

32.9%

 

28.7%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes:

(1)          All amounts represent the Group’s share unless otherwise stated.

(2)          The Group’s share of the tax attributable to Verizon Wireless relates only to the corporate entities held by the Verizon Wireless partnership and certain state taxes which are levied on the partnership. The tax attributable to the Group’s share of the partnership’s pre-tax profit is included within the Group tax charge.

(3)          Organic growth rates include the impact of a non-cash revenue adjustment which was recorded by Verizon Wireless to defer previously recognised data revenue that will be earned and recognised in future periods. Excluding this the equivalent organic growth rates for service revenue, revenue, EBITDA and the Group’s share of result in Verizon Wireless would have been 6.4%, 6.6%, 8.2% and 10.8% respectively.

(4)          In order to align with the customer numbers reported externally by Verizon Wireless, customers were restated to reflect retail customers only. Comparatives are presented on the revised basis.

 

In the United States Verizon Wireless reported 2.6 million net mobile customer additions bringing its closing mobile customer base to 88.4 million, a 3.1% increase. Customer growth improved in the fourth quarter of the year following the launch of the iPhone on the Verizon Wireless network in February 2011.

 

Service revenue growth of 5.8%(*) was driven by the expanding customer base and robust data revenue primarily derived from growth in the penetration of smartphones.

 

The EBITDA margin remained strong despite the competitive challenges and economic environment. Efficiencies in operating expenses and lower customer acquisition costs resulting from lower volumes have been partly offset by a higher level of customer retention costs reflecting the increased demand for smartphones.

 

As part of the regulatory approval for the Alltel acquisition, Verizon Wireless was required to divest overlapping properties in 105 markets. On 26 April 2010 Verizon Wireless completed the sale of network and licence assets in 26 markets, encompassing 0.9 million customers, to Atlantic Tele-Network for US$0.2 billion. On 22 June 2010 Verizon Wireless completed the sale of network assets and mobile licences in the remaining 79 markets to AT&T Mobility for US$2.4 billion. As a result the Verizon Wireless customer base reduced by approximately 2.1 million net customers on a 100% basis, partially offset by certain adjustments in relation to the Alltel acquisition.

 

On 23 August 2010 Verizon Wireless acquired a spectrum licence, network assets and related customers in southwest Mississippi and in Louisiana, formerly owned by Centennial Communications Corporation, from AT&T Inc. for cash consideration of US$0.2 billion. This acquisition was made to enhance Verizon Wireless’ network coverage in these two locations.

 

Verizon Wireless’ net debt at 31 March 2011 totalled US$9.6 billion (31 March 2010: US$22.4 billion).

 

19


 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

 

Cash flows and funding

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

£m

 

£m

 

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash generated by operations

 

15,392

 

15,337

 

0.4

 

Cash capital expenditure(1)

 

(5,658

)

(5,986

)

 

 

Disposal of property, plant and equipment

 

51

 

48

 

 

 

Operating free cash flow

 

9,785

 

9,399

 

4.1

 

Taxation

 

(2,597

)

(2,273

)

 

 

Dividends received from associates and investments(2)

 

1,509

 

1,577

 

 

 

Dividends paid to non-controlling shareholders in subsidiaries

 

(320

)

(56

)

 

 

Interest received and paid

 

(1,328

)

(1,406

)

 

 

Free cash flow

 

7,049

 

7,241

 

(2.7

)

Other amounts(3)

 

45

 

 

 

 

Licence and spectrum payments

 

(2,982

)

(989

)

 

 

Acquisitions and disposals(4)

 

(183

)

(2,683

)

 

 

Contributions from non-controlling shareholders in subsidiaries(5)

 

 

613

 

 

 

Equity dividends paid

 

(4,468

)

(4,139

)

 

 

Purchase of treasury shares

 

(2,087

)

 

 

 

Foreign exchange

 

834

 

1,038

 

 

 

Other(6)

 

5,250

 

(174

)

 

 

Net debt decrease

 

3,458

 

907

 

 

 

Opening net debt

 

(33,316

)

(34,223

)

 

 

Closing net debt

 

(29,858

)

(33,316

)

(10.4

)

 

Notes:

(1)     Cash paid for purchase of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets, other than licence and spectrum payments.

(2)     The year ended 31 March 2011 includes £1,024 million (2010: £1,034 million) from the Group’s interest in Verizon Wireless.

(3)     Comprises items in respect of: a tax case settlement (£800 million), tax relating to the disposal of China Mobile (£208 million), the SoftBank disposal (£1,409 million) and the court deposit made in respect of the India tax case (£356 million). The latter is included within the line item “Purchase of interests in subsidiaries and joint ventures, net of cash acquired” in the consolidated statement of cash flows.

(4)     The year ended 31 March 2011 includes net cash and cash equivalents paid of £183 million (2010: £1,777 million) and assumed debt of £nil (2010: £906 million).

(5)     The year ended 31 March 2010 includes £613 million in relation to Qatar.

(6)     The year ended 31 March 2011 includes £4,264 million in relation to the disposal of the Group’s 3.2% interest in China Mobile Limited.

 

Free cash flow decreased by 2.7% to £7,049 million primarily due to higher taxation payments and dividends to non-controlling shareholders in subsidiaries partially offset by improved cash generated from operations and lower payments for capital expenditure.

 

Cash generated by operations increased by 0.4% to £15,392 million primarily driven by foreign exchange rate movements and working capital improvements. Cash capital expenditure decreased by £328 million primarily due to lower expenditure in India. The Group invested £2,982 million in licences and spectrum including £1,725 million in India and £1,210 million in Germany.

 

Payments for taxation increased by 14.3% to £2,597 million primarily due to the absence of the one-time benefit of additional tax deductions which were available in Italy in the prior financial year.

 

Dividends received from associates and investments were stable at £1,509 million.

 

Net interest payments decreased by 5.5% to £1,328 million primarily due to lower average net debt.

 

20


 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

 

An analysis of net debt is as follows:

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

£m

 

£m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents(1)

 

6,252

 

4,423

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term borrowings

 

 

 

 

 

Bonds

 

(2,470

)

(1,174

)

Commercial paper(2)

 

(1,660

)

(2,563

)

Put options over non-controlling interests

 

(3,113

)

(3,274

)

Bank loans

 

(2,070

)

(3,460

)

Other short-term borrowings(1)

 

(593

)

(692

)

 

 

(9,906

)

(11,163

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term borrowings

 

 

 

 

 

Put options over non-controlling interests

 

(78

)

(131

)

Bonds, loans and other long-term borrowings

 

(28,297

)

(28,501

)

 

 

(28,375

)

(28,632

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other financial instruments(3)

 

2,171

 

2,056

 

Net debt  

 

(29,858

)

(33,316

)

 

Notes:

(1)     At 31 March 2011 the amount includes £531 million (2010: £604 million) in relation to cash received under collateral support agreements.

(2)     At 31 March 2011 US$551 million was drawn under the US commercial paper programme and €1,490 million was drawn under the euro commercial paper programme.

(3)     Comprises i) mark-to-market adjustments on derivative financial instruments which are included as a component of trade and other receivables (31 March 2011: £2,045 million; 2010: £2,128 million) and trade and other payables (31 March 2011: £548 million; 2010: £460 million); and ii) short-term investments primarily in index linked government bonds included as a component of other investments (31 March 2011: £674 million; 2010: £388 million).

 

Net debt decreased by £3,458 million to £29,858 million primarily due to the sale of the Group’s interests in SoftBank and the element of the proceeds from the sale of the 3.2% interest in China Mobile Limited which was not committed to the share buyback programme. The £7,049 million free cash flow generated during the year was primarily used to fund £4,468 million of dividend payments to shareholders as well as spectrum purchases totalling £2,935 million in Germany and India.

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

31 March

 

 

 

 

 

2011

 

 

 

Maturity

 

£m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

US$4.2 billion committed revolving credit facility provided by 30 banks(1)

 

March 2016

 

2,596

 

€4.2 billion committed revolving credit facility provided by 31 banks(1)

 

July 2015

 

3,666

 

Other committed credit facilities

 

Various

 

985

 

Undrawn committed facilities

 

 

 

7,247

 

 

Note:

(1)     Both facilities support US and euro commercial paper programmes of up to US$15 billion and £5 billion respectively.

 

The Group’s £1,660 million of commercial paper maturing within one year is covered 4.3 times by the £7.2 billion of undrawn credit facilities. In addition, the Group has historically generated significant amounts of free cash flow which can be allocated to pay dividends, repay maturing borrowings and pay for discretionary spending. The Group currently expects to continue generating significant amounts of free cash flow.

 

The Group has a €30 billion euro medium-term note (“EMTN”) programme and a US shelf programme which are used to meet medium to long-term funding requirements. At 31 March 2011 the total amounts in issue under these programmes split by currency were US$14.3 billion, £2.6 billion, €10.6 billion and £0.2 billion sterling equivalent of other currencies.

 

21


 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

 

At 31 March 2011 the Group had bonds outstanding with a nominal value of £20,987 million (31 March 2010: £21,963 million). Details of bonds issued between 1 April 2010 and 30 September 2010 are included in the Group’s half-year financial report for the six months ended 30 September 2010. Between 1 October 2010 and 31 March 2011 the following bonds were issued:

 

Date issued

 

Maturity

 

Currency

 

Amount
million

 

Sterling
equivalent
million

 

US shelf programme or EMTN
programme

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 2011

 

March 2016

 

US$

 

600

 

374

 

US shelf programme

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 2011

 

March 2021

 

US$

 

500

 

311

 

US shelf programme

 

Dividends

 

In May 2010 the directors issued a dividend per share growth target of at least 7% per annum for each of the financial years in the period ending 31 March 2013.

 

Accordingly, the directors have announced a final dividend of 6.05 pence per share representing a 7.1% increase over last year’s final dividend. Total dividends for the year increased by 7.1% to 8.90 pence per share.

 

The ex-dividend date for the final dividend is 1 June 2011 for ordinary shareholders, the record date is 3 June 2011 and the dividend is payable on 5 August 2011. Dividend payments on ordinary shares will be paid by direct credit into a nominated bank or building society account or, alternatively, into the Company’s dividend reinvestment plan. The Company no longer pays dividends by cheque. Ordinary shareholders who have not already done so should provide appropriate bank account details to us. Please refer to www.vodafone.com/investor for further information.

 

Share buyback programme

 

Following the disposal of the Group’s 3.2% interest in China Mobile Limited on 10 September 2010, the Group initiated a £2.8 billion share buyback programme under the authority granted by the shareholders at the 2010 AGM. In addition to ordinary market purchases the Group placed irrevocable purchase instructions with a number of banks to enable the banks to buy back shares on our behalf when we may otherwise have been prohibited from buying in the market.

 

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

 

 

 

Number of shares
purchased
(1)

 

Average price paid
per share inclusive
of transaction costs

 

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

 

Maximum value of
shares that may yet
be purchased under
the programme
(3)

 

Date of share purchase 

 

000

 

Pence

 

000

 

£m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 2010

 

115,400

 

161.78

 

115,400

 

2,613

 

October 2010

 

187,500

 

165.50

 

302,900

 

2,303

 

November 2010

 

209,400

 

170.21

 

512,300

 

1,947

 

December 2010

 

162,900

 

167.44

 

675,200

 

1,674

 

January 2011

 

177,090

 

176.67

 

852,290

 

1,361

 

February 2011

 

134,700

 

179.23

 

986,990

 

1,120

 

March 2011

 

250,900

 

177.26

 

1,237,890

 

675

 

April 2011

 

135,100

 

176.81

 

1,372,990

 

436

 

May 2011

 

127,000

 

170.14

 

1,499,990

 

220

 

Total

 

1,499,990 (4)

 

172.01

 

1,499,990

 

220

 

 

Notes:

(1)        The nominal value of shares purchased is 113/7 US cents each.

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

(3)        In accordance with shareholder authority granted at the 2010 AGM.

(4)        The total number of shares purchased represents 2.9% of our issued share capital, excluding treasury shares, at 16 May 2011.

 

22


 

OTHER SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS

 

 

On 3 April 2011 the Group announced an agreement to sell its entire 44% shareholding in SFR to Vivendi. The Group intends to return £4 billion of the net proceeds from the sale to shareholders by way of a share buyback programme. The share buyback will be carried out after the completion of the existing programme which is expected to be completed in June 2011.

 

Option agreements and similar arrangements

 

The Group is party to a number of option agreements which could result in it being required to pay cash to maintain or increase its equity interests in its operations in India and the United States.

 

On 30 March 2011 the Essar Group exercised its underwritten put option over 22.0% of Vodafone Essar Limited (‘VEL’) following which, on 31 March 2011, the Group exercised its call option over the remaining 11.0% of VEL owned by the Essar Group. The total consideration due under these two options is US$5 billion (£3.1 billion).

 

Details of other call and put option agreements, including those in relation to the United States, are available on page 44 of the Group’s annual report for the year ended 31 March 2010.

 

OTHER SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS

 

Indian tax case

 

Vodafone Essar Limited (‘VEL’) and Vodafone International Holdings B.V. (‘VIHBV’) each received notices in August 2007 and September 2007 respectively, from the Indian tax authority alleging potential liability in connection with alleged failure by VIHBV to deduct withholding tax from consideration paid to the Hutchison Telecommunications International Limited group (‘HTIL’) in respect of HTIL’s gain on its disposal to VIHBV of its interests in a wholly-owned subsidiary that indirectly holds interests in VEL. Following the receipt of such notices, VEL and VIHBV each filed writs seeking orders that their respective notices be quashed and that the tax authority take no further steps under the notices. Initial hearings were held before the Bombay High Court and in the case of VIHBV the High Court admitted the writ for final hearing in June 2008. In December 2008 the High Court dismissed VIHBV’s writ. VIHBV subsequently filed a special leave petition to the Supreme Court to appeal the High Court’s dismissal of the writ. On 23 January 2009 the Supreme Court referred the question of the tax authority’s jurisdiction to seek to pursue tax back to the tax authority for adjudication on the facts with permission granted to VIHBV to appeal that decision back to the High Court should VIHBV disagree with the tax authority’s findings. On 30 October 2009 VIHBV received a notice from the tax authority requiring VIHBV to show cause as to why it believed that the tax authority did not have competent jurisdiction to proceed against VIHBV for the default of non-deduction of withholding tax from consideration paid to HTIL. VIHBV provided a response on 29 January 2010. On 31 May 2010, VIHBV received an order from the Indian tax authority confirming their view that they did have jurisdiction to proceed against VIHBV as well as a further notice alleging that VIHBV should be treated as the agent of HTIL for the purpose of recovering tax on the transaction. VIHBV appealed this ruling to the Bombay High Court. On 8 September, 2010, the Bombay High Court ruled that the tax authority had jurisdiction to decide whether the transaction or some part of the transaction could be taxable in India. VIHBV appealed this decision to the Supreme Court on 14 September 2010. A hearing before the Supreme Court took place on 27 September 2010 at which the Supreme Court noted the appeal and asked the tax authority to quantify any liability. On 22 October 2010 the Indian tax authority quantified the alleged tax liability and issued a demand for payment of INR 112.2 billion (£1.6 billion) of tax and interest. VIHBV has contested the amount of such demand both on the basis of the calculation and on the basis that no tax was due in any event. On 15 November 2010 VIHBV was asked to make a deposit with the Supreme Court of INR 25 billion (£356 million) and provide a guarantee for INR 85 billion (£1,188 million) pending final adjudication of the case, which request it duly complied with. The Supreme Court will now hear the appeal on the issue of jurisdiction as well as on the challenge to quantification on 19 July 2011. On 23 March 2011 VIHBV received a notice requesting it to explain why it should not be liable for penalties of up to 100% of any tax found due, for alleged failure to withhold. On 15 April 2011 the Supreme Court, in response to an application made by VIHBV, allowed the Indian tax authority to continue its investigations into the application of penalties but stayed the Indian tax authorities from enforcing any liability until after the outcome of the Supreme Court hearing scheduled for 19 July 2011. After investigations, on 29 April 2011, the Indian tax authority raised an order alleging penalties were due, but noting that these will not be enforced in line with the Supreme Court stay. In addition the separate proceedings taken against VIHBV to seek to treat it as an agent of HTIL in respect of its alleged tax on the same transaction have been deferred until the outcome in the first matter is known. VEL’s case also continues to be stayed pending the outcome of the VIHBV Supreme Court hearing. VIHBV believes that neither it nor any other member of the Group is liable for such withholding tax, or is liable to be made an agent of HTIL; however, the outcome of the proceedings remains uncertain and such proceedings may or may not dispose of the matter in its entirety and there can be no assurance that any outcome will be favourable to VIHBV or the Group.

 

23


 

OTHER SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS

 

 

In light of the uncertainty created by the Indian tax authority’s actions as set out above, VIHBV, through its indirect wholly owned subsidiary Euro Pacific Securities Ltd, has sought confirmation from the Authority for Advanced Rulings (‘AAR’) in India on whether withholding tax is due in respect of consideration payable on the acquisition of Essar Group’s (‘Essar’) offshore holding in VEL. A ruling from the AAR is expected by the end of May 2011. The Group does not believe that there is any legal requirement to withhold tax in respect of these transactions but if, contrary to expectations, the AAR directs tax to be withheld, this amount is anticipated to be approximately an additional US$1.0 billion.

 

SFR

 

On 3 April 2011 the Group announced an agreement to sell its entire 44% shareholding in Société Française du Radiotéléphone S.A. (‘SFR’) to Vivendi for a cash consideration of €7.75 billion (£6.8 billion). Vodafone will also receive a final dividend from SFR of €200 million (£176 million) on completion of the transaction.

 

Subject to customary competition authority and regulatory approvals, the transaction is expected to complete during the second calendar quarter of 2011.

 

At 31 March 2011 the SFR investment had a carrying value of €4.7 billion (£4.2 billion) and was reported within the Non-Controlled Interests and Common Functions segment.

 

SoftBank

 

On 9 November 2010 Vodafone agreed to sell to SoftBank Corp. of Japan its interests in loan notes issued by SoftBank Mobile Corp. and preferred stock and share acquisition rights issued by BB Mobile Corp. (both subsidiaries of SoftBank Corp.), which were originally received as part of the proceeds from the sale of Vodafone Japan in 2006, for a total consideration of ¥412.5 billion (£3.1 billion).

 

The consideration is receivable in two tranches: ¥212.5 billion (£1.6 billion) was received in December 2010 and the remaining ¥200 billion (£1.5 billion) is expected to be received in April 2012.

 

China Mobile

 

On 10 September 2010 Vodafone sold its entire 3.2% interest in China Mobile Limited. The cash consideration was £4.3 billion before tax and transaction costs and resulted in a pre-tax gain of £3.0 billion which has been recorded in non-operating income and expense in the consolidated income statement.

 

24


 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

Consolidated income statement

 

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

£m

 

£m

 

 

Revenue

 

45,884

 

44,472

 

Cost of sales

 

(30,814

)

(29,439

)

Gross profit

 

15,070

 

15,033

 

Selling and distribution expenses

 

(3,067

)

(2,981

)

Administrative expenses

 

(5,300

)

(5,328

)

Share of result in associates

 

5,059

 

4,742

 

Impairment losses

 

(6,150

)

(2,100

)

Other income and expense

 

(16

)

114

 

Operating profit

 

5,596

 

9,480

 

Non-operating income and expense

 

3,022

 

(10

)

Investment income

 

1,309

 

716

 

Financing costs

 

(429

)

(1,512

)

Profit before taxation

 

9,498

 

8,674

 

Income tax expense

 

(1,628

)

(56

)

Profit for the financial year

 

7,870

 

8,618

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attributable to:

 

 

 

 

 

– Equity shareholders

 

7,968

 

8,645

 

– Non-controlling interests

 

(98

)

(27

)

 

 

7,870

 

8,618

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per share

 

 

 

 

 

– Basic

 

15.20

p

16.44

p

– Diluted

 

15.11

p

16.36

p

 

 

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

£m

 

£m

 

 

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

 

310

 

206

 

Foreign exchange translation differences, net of tax

 

(2,132

)

(1,021

)

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

 

136

 

(104

)

Revaluation gain

 

– 

 

860

 

Foreign exchange gains transferred to the income statement

 

(630

)

(84

)

Fair value (gains)/losses transferred to the income statement

 

(2,192

)

3

 

Other, net of tax

 

19

 

67

 

Other comprehensive loss

 

(4,489

)

(73

)

 

Profit for the financial year

 

7,870

 

8,618

 

Total comprehensive income for the year

 

3,381

 

8,545

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attributable to:

 

 

 

 

 

– Equity shareholders

 

3,567

 

8,312

 

– Non-controlling interests

 

(186

)

233

 

 

 

3,381

 

8,545

 

 

25


 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

Consolidated statement of financial position

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

£m

 

£m

 

 

Non-current assets

 

 

 

 

 

Goodwill

 

45,236

 

51,838

 

Other intangible assets

 

23,322

 

22,420

 

Property, plant and equipment

 

20,181

 

20,642

 

Investments in associates

 

38,105

 

36,377

 

Other investments

 

1,381

 

7,591

 

Deferred tax assets

 

2,018

 

1,033

 

Post employment benefits

 

97

 

34

 

Trade and other receivables

 

3,877

 

2,831

 

 

 

134,217

 

142,766

 

Current assets

 

 

 

 

 

Inventory

 

537

 

433

 

Taxation recoverable

 

281

 

191

 

Trade and other receivables

 

9,259

 

8,784

 

Other investments

 

674

 

388

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

6,252

 

4,423

 

 

 

17,003

 

14,219

 

Total assets

 

151,220

 

156,985

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity

 

 

 

 

 

Called up share capital

 

4,082

 

4,153

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

153,760

 

153,509

 

Treasury shares

 

(8,171

)

(7,810

)

Retained losses

 

(77,661

)

(79,655

)

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

15,545

 

20,184

 

Total equity shareholders’ funds

 

87,555

 

90,381

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-controlling interests

 

2,880

 

3,379

 

Put options over non-controlling interests

 

(2,874

)

(2,950

)

Total non-controlling interests

 

6

 

429

 

Total equity

 

87,561

 

90,810

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term borrowings

 

28,375

 

28,632

 

Taxation liabilities

 

350

 

– 

 

Deferred tax liabilities

 

6,486

 

7,377

 

Post employment benefits

 

87

 

237

 

Provisions

 

482

 

497

 

Trade and other payables

 

804

 

816

 

 

 

36,584

 

37,559

 

Current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term borrowings

 

9,906

 

11,163

 

Taxation liabilities

 

1,912

 

2,874

 

Provisions

 

559

 

497

 

Trade and other payables

 

14,698

 

14,082

 

 

 

27,075

 

28,616

 

Total equity and liabilities

 

151,220

 

156,985

 

 

26


 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

Consolidated statement of changes in equity

 

 

 

 

Share
capital

 

Additional
paid-in

capital

 

Treasury
shares

 

Accumulated
comprehensive
income

 

Equity
shareholders’
funds

 

 

Non-
controlling
interests

 

Total equity

 

 

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

 

£m

 

£m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 April 2009

 

4,153

 

153,348

 

(8,036

)

(63,303

)

86,162

 

 

(1,385

)

84,777

 

Issue or reissue of shares

 

– 

 

– 

 

189

 

(119

)

70

 

 

– 

 

70

 

Share-based payment

 

– 

 

161

 

– 

 

– 

 

161

 

 

– 

 

161

 

Acquisition of subsidiaries

 

– 

 

– 

 

– 

 

(133

)

(133

)

 

1,636

 

1,503

 

Comprehensive income

 

– 

 

– 

 

– 

 

8,312

 

8,312

 

 

233

 

8,545

 

Dividends

 

– 

 

– 

 

– 

 

(4,131

)

(4,131

)

 

(56

)

(4,187

)

Other

 

– 

 

– 

 

37

 

(97

)

(60

)

 

1

 

(59

)

31 March 2010

 

4,153

 

153,509

 

(7,810

)

(59,471

)

90,381

 

 

429

 

90,810

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issue or reissue of shares

 

– 

 

– 

 

232

 

(125

)

107

 

 

– 

 

107

 

Redemption or cancellation of shares

 

(71

)

71

 

1,532

 

(1,532

)

– 

 

 

– 

 

– 

 

Purchase of own shares

 

– 

 

– 

 

(2,125

)

– 

 

(2,125

)

 

– 

 

(2,125

)

Share-based payment

 

– 

 

180

 

– 

 

– 

 

180

 

 

– 

 

180

 

Acquisition of subsidiaries

 

– 

 

– 

 

– 

 

(120

)

(120

)

 

35

 

(85

)

Comprehensive income

 

– 

 

– 

 

– 

 

3,567

 

3,567

 

 

(186

)

3,381

 

Dividends

 

– 

 

– 

 

– 

 

(4,468

)

(4,468

)

 

(328

)

(4,796

)

Other

 

– 

 

– 

 

– 

 

33

 

33

 

 

56

 

89

 

31 March 2011

 

4,082

 

153,760

 

(8,171

)

(62,116

)

87,555

 

 

6

 

87,561

 

 

27


 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

Consolidated statement of cash flows

 

 

 

2011

 

 

2010

 

 

 

£m

 

 

£m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash flow from operating activities

 

11,995

 

 

13,064

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchase of interests in subsidiaries and joint ventures, net of cash acquired

 

(402

)

 

(1,777

)

Purchase of intangible assets

 

(4,290

)

 

(2,134

)

Purchase of property, plant and equipment

 

(4,350

)

 

(4,841

)

Purchase of investments

 

(318

)

 

(522

)

Disposal of property, plant and equipment

 

51

 

 

48

 

Disposal of investments

 

4,467

 

 

17

 

Dividends received from associates

 

1,424

 

 

1,436

 

Dividends received from investments

 

85

 

 

141

 

Interest received

 

1,659

 

 

195

 

Taxation on investing activities

 

(208

)

 

– 

 

Net cash flow from investing activities

 

(1,882

)

 

(7,437

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issue of ordinary share capital and reissue of treasury shares

 

107

 

 

70

 

Net movement in short-term borrowings

 

(573

)

 

227

 

Proceeds from issue of long-term borrowings

 

4,861

 

 

4,217

 

Repayment of borrowings

 

(4,064

)

 

(5,184

)

Purchase of treasury shares

 

(2,087

)

 

– 

 

Equity dividends paid

 

(4,468

)

 

(4,139

)

Dividends paid to non-controlling shareholders in subsidiaries

 

(320

)

 

(56

)

Contributions from non-controlling shareholders in subsidiaries

 

– 

 

 

613

 

Other transactions with non-controlling shareholders in subsidiaries

 

(137

)

 

– 

 

Interest paid

 

(1,578

)

 

(1,601

)

Net cash flow from financing activities

 

(8,259

)

 

(5,853

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash flow

 

1,854

 

 

(226

)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year

 

4,363

 

 

4,846

 

Exchange loss on cash and cash equivalents

 

(12

)

 

(257

)

Cash and cash equivalents at end of the financial year

 

6,205

 

 

4,363

 

 

28


 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

1. Basis of preparation

 

The preliminary results for the year ended 31 March 2011 are an abridged statement of the full annual report which was approved by the Board of directors on 17 May 2011. The consolidated financial statements within the full annual report are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (‘IFRS’) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. They are also prepared in accordance with IFRS adopted by the European Union (‘EU’), the Companies Act 2006 and Article 4 of the EU IAS Regulations.

 

The auditor’s report on those consolidated financial statements was unqualified, did not draw attention to any matters by way of emphasis without qualifying their report, and did not contain statements under section 498(2) or 498(3) of the Companies Act 2006. The preliminary results do not comprise statutory accounts within the meaning of section 434(3) of the Companies Act 2006. The annual report for the year ended 31 March 2011 will be delivered to the Registrar of Companies following the Company’s annual general meeting to be held on 26 July 2011.

 

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 2011.

 

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

 

IFRS 3 (Revised) - “Business Combinations”

 

The Group adopted IFRS 3 (Revised) on 1 April 2010. The revised standard introduces a number of changes in the accounting for business combinations that impacts the amount of goodwill recognised, the reported results in the period in which a business combination occurs and future reported results. Whilst this standard does not have a material impact on the Groups results or financial position for the periods presented, it may impact the Group’s accounting for any future business combinations.

 

IAS 27 - “Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements”

 

The Group adopted an amendment to IAS 27 “Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements” on 1 April 2010. This requires that when a transaction occurs with non-controlling interests in Group entities that do not result in a change in control, the difference between the consideration paid or received and the recorded non-controlling interest should be recognised in equity. Cash flows related to such transactions should be reported within financing activities in the statement of cash flows. In cases where control is lost, any retained interest should be remeasured to fair value, with the difference between fair value and the previous carrying value being recognised immediately in the income statement.

 

The adoption of this standard has resulted in a change in presentation within the statement of cash flows of amounts paid to acquire non-controlling interests in Group entities that do not result in a change in control. In the year ended 31 March 2011, £137 million related to such transactions was classified as “Other transactions with non-controlling shareholders in subsidiaries” within “Net cash flows from financing activities”, whereas these amounts would have previously been recorded in “Purchase of interests in subsidiaries and joint ventures, net of cash acquired” within “Cash flows from investing activities”. There is no material impact in the comparative period.

 

Change in segments

 

During the year ended 31 March 2011 the Group changed its organisational structure to enable continued improvement in the delivery of the Group’s strategic goals. The Europe region now consists of all existing controlled businesses in Europe plus the Group’s interests in Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Turkey. The Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific region includes the Group’s interests in Egypt, India, Ghana, Kenya, Qatar and Vodacom as well as Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. Non-Controlled Interests and Common Functions includes Verizon Wireless, SFR and Polkomtel as well as central Group functions. Both current year and comparative financial information has been restated to reflect the new organisational structure.

 

29


 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

2. Equity dividends

 

 

 

2011

 

 

2010

 

 

 

£m

 

 

£m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Declared during the financial year:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Final dividend for the year ended 31 March 2010: 5.65 pence per share
(2009: 5.20 pence per share)

 

2,976

 

 

2,731

 

Interim dividend for the year ended 31 March 2011: 2.85 pence per share
(2010: 2.66 pence per share)

 

1,492

 

 

1,400

 

 

 

4,468

 

 

4,131

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Final dividend for the year ended 31 March 2011: 6.05 pence per share
(2010: 5.65 pence per share)

 

3,106

 

 

2,976

 

 

30


 

USE OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

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

 

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

 

Non-GAAP measure

 

Equivalent GAAP measure

 

Location in this results announcement
of reconciliation and further
information

EBITDA

 

Operating profit

 

Group results on page 9

Adjusted operating profit

 

Operating profit

 

Group results on page 9

Adjusted operating profit on guidance basis

 

Operating profit

 

Group results on page 9 and performance against 2011 financial year guidance on page 8

Adjusted profit before tax

 

Profit before taxation

 

Taxation on page 11

Adjusted effective tax rate

 

Income tax expense as a percentage of profit before taxation

 

Taxation on page 11

Adjusted profit attributable to equity shareholders

 

Profit attributable to equity shareholders

 

Earnings per share on page 12

Operating free cash flow

 

Cash generated by operations

 

Cash flows and funding beginning on page 20

Free cash flow

 

Cash generated by operations

 

Cash flows and funding beginning on page 20

Free cash flow on guidance basis

 

Cash generated by operations

 

Cash flows and funding beginning on page 20 and performance against 2011 financial year guidance on page 8

 

31


 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

 

Regional results(1)

 

 

 

Revenue

 

 

EBITDA

 

 

Adjusted operating
profit/(loss)

 

 

Capital expenditure

 

 

Operating free
cash flow

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

£m

 

 

£m

 

 

£m

 

£m

 

 

£m

 

£m

 

 

£m

 

£m

 

 

£m

 

£m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Germany

 

7,900

 

8,008

 

 

2,952

 

3,122

 

 

1,548

 

1,695

 

 

824

 

766

 

 

2,297

 

2,355

 

Italy

 

5,722

 

6,027

 

 

2,643

 

2,843

 

 

1,903

 

2,107

 

 

590

 

610

 

 

2,067

 

2,254

 

Spain

 

5,133

 

5,713

 

 

1,562

 

1,956

 

 

915

 

1,310

 

 

517

 

543

 

 

885

 

1,481

 

UK

 

5,271

 

5,025

 

 

1,233

 

1,141

 

 

348

 

155

 

 

516

 

494

 

 

950

 

662

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Europe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greece

 

927

 

1,158

 

 

233

 

311

 

 

39

 

99

 

 

108

 

164

 

 

122

 

177

 

Netherlands

 

1,672

 

1,807

 

 

568

 

612

 

 

342

 

400

 

 

173

 

162

 

 

435

 

498

 

Portugal

 

1,101

 

1,227

 

 

455

 

506

 

 

282

 

329

 

 

150

 

169

 

 

332

 

365

 

Romania

 

710

 

816

 

 

259

 

350

 

 

69

 

99

 

 

98

 

122

 

 

156

 

228

 

Turkey

 

1,566

 

1,148

 

 

189

 

(8

)

 

(72

)

(198

)

 

435

 

385

 

 

(138

)

(350

)

Other(2)

 

 

2,277

 

2,201

 

 

729

 

811

 

 

352

 

355

 

 

266

 

280

 

 

379

 

571

 

 

 

8,253

 

8,357

 

 

2,433

 

2,582

 

 

1,012

 

1,084

 

 

1,230

 

1,282

 

 

1,286

 

1,489

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Intra-region eliminations

 

 

(264

)

(297

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe

 

32,015

 

32,833

 

 

10,823

 

11,644

 

 

5,726

 

6,351

 

 

3,677

 

3,695

 

 

7,485

 

8,241

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

India

 

3,855

 

3,114

 

 

985

 

807

 

 

15

 

(37

)

 

870

 

853

 

 

433

 

(7

)

Vodacom

 

5,479

 

4,450

 

 

1,844

 

1,528

 

 

827

 

520

 

 

572

 

520

 

 

1,339

 

1,092

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Egypt

 

1,329

 

1,351

 

 

607

 

673

 

 

360

 

430

 

 

292

 

228

 

 

409

 

488

 

Other

 

 

2,642

 

2,175

 

 

563

 

304

 

 

70

 

(95

)

 

462

 

466

 

 

221

 

(10

)

 

 

3,971

 

3,526

 

 

1,170

 

977

 

 

430

 

335

 

 

754

 

694

 

 

630

 

478

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Intra-region eliminations

 

 

(1

)

(1

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific

 

13,304

 

11,089

 

 

3,999

 

3,312

 

 

1,272

 

818

 

 

2,196

 

2,067

 

 

2,402

 

1,563

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-Controlled Interests and Common Functions

 

659

 

667

 

 

(152

)

(221

)

 

4,820

 

4,297

 

 

346

 

430

 

 

(102

)

(405

)

Inter-region eliminations

 

 

(94

)

(117

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Group

 

 

 

45,884

 

 

44,472

 

 

 

14,670

 

 

14,735

 

 

 

11,818

 

 

11,466

 

 

 

6,219

 

 

6,192

 

 

 

9,785

 

 

9,399

 

 

Notes:

 

(1)       The Group revised its segment structure on 1 October 2010. See “Change in segments” on page 29.

(2)       Includes elimination of £24 million (2010: £31 million) and £3 million (2010: £4 million) of intercompany revenue between operating companies within the Other Europe and Other Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific segments respectively.

See page 31 for “Use of non-GAAP financial information” and page 36 for “Definitions of terms”.

 

32


 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

 

Service revenue – quarter ended 31 March

 

 

 

 

 

Group(1)

 

 

 

Europe

 

Africa, Middle East
and Asia Pacific

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Voice revenue

 

6,482

 

6,891

 

4,161

 

4,705

 

2,250

 

2,112

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Messaging revenue

 

1,281

 

1,221

 

1,036

 

1,002

 

229

 

211

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Data revenue

 

1,384

 

1,118

 

1,043

 

873

 

329

 

236

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed line revenue

 

877

 

844

 

773

 

761

 

105

 

83

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other service revenue

 

525

 

438

 

337

 

301

 

200

 

157

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service revenue

 

10,549

 

10,512

 

7,350

 

7,642

 

3,113

 

2,799

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

% change

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Group

 

 

 

Europe

 

Africa, Middle East

and Asia Pacific

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reported

 

Organic

 

Reported

 

Organic

 

Reported

 

Organic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Voice revenue

 

(5.9

)

(3.9

)

(11.6

)

(8.5

)

6.5

 

7.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Messaging revenue

 

4.9

 

6.8

 

3.4

 

6.4

 

8.5

 

4.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Data revenue

 

23.8

 

26.9

 

19.5

 

23.2

 

39.4

 

42.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed line revenue

 

3.9

 

6.5

 

1.6

 

4.0

 

26.5

 

29.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other service revenue

 

19.9

 

22.5

 

12.0

 

14.6

 

27.4

 

31.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service revenue

 

0.4

 

2.5

 

(3.8

)

(0.8

)

11.2

 

11.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Germany

 

 

 

Italy

 

 

 

Spain

 

 

 

UK

 

 

 

India

 

 

 

Vodacom

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Voice revenue

 

803

 

937

 

734

 

859

 

756

 

898

 

621

 

635

 

781

 

692

 

884

 

833

 

Messaging revenue

 

200

 

193

 

212

 

216

 

79

 

90

 

296

 

274

 

45

 

35

 

71

 

71

 

Data revenue

 

344

 

284

 

160

 

138

 

142

 

127

 

208

 

161

 

72

 

44

 

157

 

109

 

Fixed line revenue

 

455

 

478

 

158

 

144

 

80

 

80

 

7

 

8

 

2

 

1

 

58

 

47

 

Other service revenue

 

44

 

29

 

63

 

65

 

68

 

48

 

114

 

100

 

88

 

71

 

66

 

45

 

Service revenue

 

1,846

 

1,921

 

1,327

 

1,422

 

1,125

 

1,243

 

1,246

 

1,178

 

988

 

843

 

1,236

 

1,105

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

% change

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Germany

 

 

 

Italy

 

 

 

Spain

 

 

 

UK

 

 

 

India

 

 

 

Vodacom

 

 

 

Reported

 

Organic

 

Reported

 

Organic

 

Reported

 

Organic

 

Reported

 

Organic

 

Reported

 

Organic

 

Reported

 

Organic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service revenue

 

(3.9

)

(0.2

)

(6.7

)

(3.0

)

(9.5

)

(5.9

)

5.8

 

5.8

 

17.2

 

18.7

 

11.9

 

8.4

 

 

Note:

(1)    The sum of the regional amounts may not be equal to Group totals due to Non-Controlled Interests and Common Functions and intercompany eliminations.

 

33


 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

 

Reconciliation of adjusted earnings

 

 

 

Note

 

Reported

 

Adjustments

 

Adjusted

 

Year ended 31 March 2011

 

 

 

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating profit

 

1

 

5,596

 

6,222

 

11,818

 

Non-operating income and expense

 

2

 

3,022

 

(3,022

)

 

Net investment income/(financing costs)

 

 

3

 

880

 

(1,695

)

(815

)

Profit before taxation

 

 

 

9,498

 

1,505

 

11,003

 

Income tax expense

 

 

4

 

(1,628

)

(697

)

(2,325

)

Profit for the financial year

 

 

 

 

7,870

 

808

 

8,678

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attributable to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

– Equity shareholders

 

 

 

7,968

 

808

 

8,776

 

– Non-controlling interests

 

 

 

 

(98

)

 

(98

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share

 

 

 

 

15.20p

 

 

 

16.75p

 

 

Notes:

(1)

 

Adjustment primarily relates to the £6,150 million of goodwill impairment charges and the £56 million net loss arising on the disposal by Verizon Wireless of certain markets related to the Alltel acquisition.

(2)

 

Adjustment primarily consists of the gain arising from the disposal of the Group’s 3.2% interest in China Mobile Limited.

(3)

 

Includes a £268 million adjustment in relation to foreign exchange rate movements on certain intercompany balances and on financial instruments received as consideration in the disposal of Vodafone Japan to SoftBank which completed in April 2006, a £472 million gain arising from the disposal of these financial instruments to SoftBank in November 2010 and an £872 million release of interest accrual on the settlement of a tax case in July 2010.

(4)

 

Represents £215 million tax arising on the disposal of the Group’s 3.2% interest in China Mobile Limited and £17 million relating to tax on the adjustments used to derive adjusted profit before tax offset by £929 million arising on the settlement of a tax case in July 2010.

 

 

 

Note

 

Reported

 

Adjustments

 

Adjusted

 

Year ended 31 March 2010

 

 

 

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating profit

 

1

 

9,480

 

1,986

 

11,466

 

Non-operating income and expense

 

 

 

(10

)

10

 

 

Net financing costs

 

 

2

 

(796

)

(106

)

(902

)

Profit before taxation

 

 

 

8,674

 

1,890

 

10,564

 

Income tax expense

 

 

3

 

(56

)

(2,064

)

(2,120

)

Profit for the financial year

 

 

 

 

8,618

 

(174

)

8,444

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attributable to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

– Equity shareholders

 

 

 

8,645

 

(174

)

8,471

 

– Non-controlling interests

 

 

 

 

(27

)

 

(27

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share

 

 

 

 

16.44p

 

 

 

16.11p

 

 

Notes:

(1)

 

Adjustment consists of the impairment losses in relation to Vodafone India, the gain on disposal arising from the merger of Vodafone Australia with Hutchison 3G Australia and the reversal of the licence impairment charge in relation to Vodafone Turkey.

(2)

 

Includes a £201 million adjustment in relation to interest on settlement of German tax claim partially offset by a £1 million adjustment in relation to foreign exchange rate movements on certain intercompany balances and on financial instruments received as consideration in the disposal of Vodafone Japan to SoftBank which completed in April 2006 and a £94 million adjustment in relation to equity put rights and similar arrangements.

(3)

 

Includes £2,103 million relating to the conclusion of the 2001 tax audit in respect of write down in Germany and a £39 million adjustment relating to tax on the adjustments used to derive adjusted profit before tax.

 

34


 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

 

Mobile customers(1)(2)

 

(in thousands)

 

Country

 

1 January
2011

 

Net
additions

 

Other
movements

 

31 March
2011

 

Prepaid

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Germany(3)

 

36,676

 

330

 

(300

)

36,706

 

55.9%

 

Italy

 

23,513

 

(93

)

 

23,420

 

84.6%

 

Spain(3)

 

17,484

 

143

 

(400

)

17,227

 

37.9%

 

UK

 

 

19,171

 

(26

)

 

19,145

 

49.6%

 

 

 

96,844

 

354

 

(700

)

96,498

 

60.2%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Europe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Albania

 

1,675

 

(57

)

 

1,618

 

93.5%

 

Czech Republic

 

3,174

 

20

 

 

3,194

 

45.6%

 

Greece

 

4,135

 

(259

)

 

3,876

 

58.5%

 

Hungary

 

2,686

 

(10

)

 

2,676

 

53.4%

 

Ireland

 

2,217

 

(4

)

 

2,213

 

67.2%

 

Malta

 

256

 

(8

)

 

248

 

83.0%

 

Netherlands

 

4,936

 

99

 

 

5,035

 

38.2%

 

Portugal

 

6,124

 

(64

)

 

6,060

 

80.9%

 

Romania(3)

 

9,804

 

(388

)

(219

)

9,197

 

63.1%

 

Turkey

 

 

16,675

 

148

 

 

16,823

 

72.2%

 

 

 

51,682

 

(523

)

(219

)

50,940

 

65.0%

 

Europe

 

 

148,526

 

(169

)

(919

)

147,438

 

61.8%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

India(4)

 

124,255

 

10,315

 

 

134,570

 

95.3%

 

Vodacom(5)

 

 

41,590

 

1,902

 

 

43,492

 

87.9%

 

 

 

165,845

 

12,217

 

 

178,062

 

93.5%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Australia

 

3,617

 

(9

)

 

3,608

 

43.0%

 

Egypt

 

31,271

 

561

 

 

31,832

 

96.2%

 

Fiji

 

297

 

 

 

297

 

95.4%

 

Ghana

 

2,780

 

260

 

 

3,040

 

99.3%

 

New Zealand

 

2,465

 

19

 

 

2,484

 

68.0%

 

Qatar

 

 

711

 

46

 

 

757

 

95.3%

 

 

 

41,141

 

877

 

 

42,018

 

86.5%

 

Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific

 

 

206,986

 

13,094

 

 

220,080

 

92.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-Controlled Interests and Common Functions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poland

 

3,351

 

15

 

 

3,366

 

47.7%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Group

 

 

358,863

 

12,940

 

(919

)

370,884

 

78.6%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reconciliation to proportionate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Group

 

358,863

 

12,940

 

(919

)

370,884

 

78.6%

 

Non-controlling interests subsidiaries

 

(74,512

)

(4,590

)

 

(79,102

)

 

Associates (6)

 

 

55,637

 

289

 

 

55,926

 

23.2%

 

Proportionate(4)

 

 

339,988

 

8,639

 

(919

)

347,708

 

65.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe

 

148,520

 

(169

)

(919

)

147,432

 

61.8%

 

Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific

 

139,461

 

8,396

 

 

147,857

 

92.6%

 

Non-Controlled Interests and Common Functions

 

52,007

 

412

 

 

52,419

 

15.4%

 

 

Notes:

(1)

The Group revised its segment structure on 1 October 2010. See “Change in segments” on page 29.

(2)

Group customers represent subsidiaries on a 100% basis and joint ventures (being Italy, Poland, Australia and Fiji) based on the Group’s equity interests. Proportionate customers are based on the Group’s equity interests in subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates. Further details of the Group’s equity interests are provided in notes 12 to 14 of the consolidated financial statements included within the Group’s annual report for the year ended 31 March 2010.

(3)

Other movements primarily relate to disconnections resulting from a review of inactive customers.

(4)

Proportionate customers are based on equity interests at 31 March 2011. However, the calculation of proportionate customers for India also assumes the exercise of call options that could increase the Group’s aggregate direct and indirect equity interest from 59.9% to 67.0%. These call options can only be exercised in accordance with Indian law prevailing at the time of exercise.

(5)

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

(6)

In the quarter ended 31 March 2011 Verizon Wireless customers were restated to reflect retail customers only, as reported externally by Verizon Wireless. All periods are presented on the revised basis.

 

35


 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

 

Annualised mobile customer churn – quarter ended 31 March 2011

 

Country

 

 

Contract

 

Prepaid

 

Total

 

Germany

 

14.1%

 

40.7%

 

29.1%

 

Italy

 

22.9%

 

28.7%

 

27.8%

 

Spain

 

25.4%

 

59.4%

 

38.5%

 

UK

 

15.8%

 

59.1%

 

37.6%

 

India

 

28.0%

 

52.1%

 

50.9%

 

Vodacom(1)

 

 

9.5%

 

39.2%

 

35.6%

 

 

Note:

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

 

OTHER INFORMATION

 

1)

Copies of this document are available from the Company’s registered office at Vodafone House, The Connection, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 2FN.

 

 

2)

The preliminary results will be available on the Vodafone Group Plc website, www.vodafone.com/investor, from 17 May 2011.

 

For further information:

 

 

Vodafone Group Plc

 

 

Investor Relations

 

Media Relations

Telephone: +44 7919 990230

 

Telephone: +44 1635 664 444

 

Notes:

 

1.

Vodafone and the Vodafone logo, Vodacom and Vodafone One Net are trademarks of the Vodafone Group. iPhone is a trademark of Apple Inc, registered in the United States and other countries. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

2.

All growth rates reflect a comparison to the year ended 31 March 2010 unless otherwise stated.

3.

References to the “third quarter”, “previous quarter” or “Q3” are to the quarter ended 31 December 2010 unless otherwise stated.

4.

References to the “fourth quarter” or “Q4” are to the quarter ended 31 March 2011 unless otherwise stated.

5.

References to “H2” are to the six months ended 31 March 2011 unless otherwise stated.

6.

All amounts marked with an “(*)” represent organic growth which presents performance on a comparable basis, both in terms of merger and acquisition activity and foreign exchange rates. All relevant calculations of organic growth include Vodacom at the current level of ownership and exclude all results of the Group’s business in Australia.

7.

Reported growth is based on amounts in pounds sterling as determined under IFRS.

8.

Quarterly historical information including service revenue, customers, churn, voice usage and ARPU is provided in a spreadsheet available at www.vodafone.com/investor.

 

Copyright © Vodafone Group 2011

 

Definitions of terms

 

Term

 

 

Definition

Proportionate mobile customers

 

The proportionate mobile customer number represents the number of mobile customers in the Group’s subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates, based on the Group’s ownership in such ventures.

 

CDMA

 

CDMA means code division multiple access.

DTT

 

DTT means digital terrestrial television.

 

For definitions of other terms please refer to page 141 of the Group’s annual report for the year ended 31 March 2010.

 

36


 

OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

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, but are not limited to, statements with respect to expectations regarding the Group’s financial condition or results of operations contained within the Chief Executive’s statement on pages 3 to 6 of this document, including the Group’s 7% per annum dividend per share growth target, and within the guidance for adjusted operating profit and free cash flow for the 2012 financial year and the medium-term guidance for organic service revenue and free cash flow for the three financial years ending 31 March 2014 on pages 2 and 8 of this document; expectations of renewed growth in Europe and expectations for the Group’s future performance generally; expectations regarding the operating environment and market conditions and trends, including customer mix and usage, competitive pressures and price trends; intentions and expectations regarding the development and launch of products, services and technologies either introduced by Vodafone or by Vodafone in conjunction with third parties, including the Vodafone M-Pesa money transfer platform, or by third parties independently, including the emergence of tablet devices; anticipated benefits to the Group from cost reduction or efficiency programmes; growth in customers and usage; growth in mobile data, enterprise and broadband; expectations regarding adjusted operating profit, revenue, service revenue, capitalised fixed asset additions, EBITDA margins, depreciation and amortisation charges, capital expenditure, free cash flow, foreign exchange rates and tax rates, including the Group’s adjusted effective tax rate for the 2012 financial year; expectations regarding capital expenditures; expectations regarding the integration or performance of current and future investments, associates, joint ventures, non-controlled interests and newly acquired businesses, including Vodafone Hutchison Australia and its integration with the 3 network; expectations regarding the Group’s share buyback programme and the outcome and impact of regulatory and legal proceedings involving Vodafone and of scheduled or potential regulatory changes.

 

Forward-looking statements are sometimes, but not always, identified by their use of a date in the future or such words as “will”, “anticipates”, “aims”, “could”, “may”, “should”, “expects”, “believes”, “intends”, “plans” 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, which could require changes to the Group’s pricing models, lead to customer churn or make it more difficult to acquire new customers; the impact of investment in network capacity and the deployment of new technologies, or the rapid obsolescence of existing technology; higher than expected costs or capital expenditures; slower than expected customer growth and reduced customer retention; changes in the spending patterns of new and existing customers and the possibility that new products and services will not be commercially accepted or perform according to expectations; the Group’s ability to renew or obtain necessary licences; the Group’s ability to achieve cost savings; the Group’s ability to execute its strategy in mobile data, enterprise and broadband and in emerging markets; changes in foreign exchange rates or interest rates; the ability to realise benefits from entering into partnerships for developing data and internet services and entering into service franchising and brand licensing; unfavourable consequences of acquisitions or disposals; 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 to regulate rates the Group is permitted to charge; the impact of legal or other proceedings against the Group or other companies in the mobile telecommunications industry; loss of suppliers or disruption of supply chains; the Group’s ability to satisfy working capital and other requirements through access to bank facilities, funding in the capital markets and operations; changes in statutory tax rates or profit mix which might impact the weighted average tax rate; changes in tax legislation or final resolution of open tax issues which might impact the Group’s tax payments or effective tax rate; and changes in exchange rates, including, particularly, the exchange rate of sterling to the euro and the US dollar.

 

Furthermore, a review of the reasons why actual results and developments may differ materially from the expectations disclosed or implied within forward-looking statements can be found under “Forward-looking statements” and “Principal risk factors and uncertainties” in Vodafone Group Plc’s 2010 annual report. The annual report can be found on the Group’s website, www.vodafone.com/investor. All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or any member of the Group or any persons acting on their behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the factors referred to above. No assurances can be given that the forward-looking statements in this document will be realised. Subject to compliance with applicable law and regulations, Vodafone does not intend to update these forward-looking statements and does not undertake any obligation to do so.

 

37


 

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 18, 2011

By:

/s/ R E S MARTIN

 

 

Name: Rosemary E S Martin

 

 

Title: Group General Counsel and Company

 

 

Secretary