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 15 November 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 SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN EACH OF THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM F-3 (FILE NO. 333-168347), THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8 (FILE NO. 333-81825) AND THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8 (FILE NO. 333-149634) OF VODAFONE GROUP PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY AND TO BE A PART THEREOF FROM THE DATE ON WHICH THIS REPORT IS FURNISHED, TO THE EXTENT NOT SUPERSEDED BY DOCUMENTS OR REPORTS SUBSEQUENTLY FILED OR FURNISHED.

 


 

This report on form 6-K contains the following items:

 

(a)                                 Chief Executive’s statement;

 

(b)                                 Business review; and

 

(c)                                 Half-year unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Vodafone Group Plc.

 

Certain information listed above is taken from the previously published results announcement of Vodafone for the six months ended 30 September 2011 (the ‘half-year financial report’). This document does not update or restate any of the financial information set forth in the half-year financial report.

 

This document should be read in conjunction with the Group’s annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended 31 March 2011, in particular the following sections:

 

·                  the information contained under “Key performance indicators” on page 13;

 

·                  the information contained under “Operating results” on pages 34 to 43;

 

·                  the information contained under “Liquidity and capital resources” on pages 48 to 51; and

 

·                  the consolidated financial statements on pages 80 to 124.

 

The terms “Vodafone”, the “Group”, “we”, “our” and “us” refer to Vodafone Group Plc (“the Company”), and as applicable, its subsidiaries and/or its interest in joint ventures and/or associates.

 

 

 

Exhibit 7

 

·                  Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges

 


 

CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S STATEMENT

 

 

Financial review

 

Group

Group revenue was up 4.1% to £23.5 billion, or 2.2%(*) on an organic basis. Organic service revenue growth was 1.4%(*) for the first half of the financial year, and 1.3%(*) in Q2. Excluding the impact of mobile termination rate (‘MTR’) cuts, service revenue growth was 3.8%(*). Our overall performance reflects continued strong demand for data services and further voice penetration growth in emerging markets, offset by regulatory changes and voice price deflation driven by ongoing competitive pressures.

 

Group adjusted EBITDA was up 2.3% to £7.5 billion. The adjusted EBITDA margin was down 0.6 percentage points year-on-year, as expected. The fall in the margin was primarily driven by our re-pricing in Spain and our performance in Australia, partially offset by good cost control.

 

Adjusted operating profit was £6.0 billion (H1 2010: £6.1 billion). On an organic basis, including adjusting for the disposal of SFR, adjusted operating profit was up 4.4%(*) year-on-year, driven by the growth in adjusted EBITDA and the continued strong performance from Verizon Wireless.

 

Reported earnings per share was 13.06 pence, boosted by the profit on disposal of our 44% stake in SFR. Adjusted earnings per share was 7.75 pence, a decline of 11.5% year-on-year, reflecting the loss of our share of SFR’s profits, the loss of interest income from investment disposals and mark-to-market items charged through finance costs.

 

Free cash flow for the first half of the financial year was £2.6 billion (H1 2010: £3.5 billion). The year-on-year decline is the result of timing differences on working capital and capex compared to the equivalent period last year. Capex for the period was £2.6 billion (H1 2010: £2.4 billion). Net debt at 30 September 2011 was £26.2 billion. The reduction in net debt since 31 March 2011 has been driven by underlying cash generation and the £6.8 billion consideration from the SFR disposal, offset by £1.8 billion of share buybacks as well as equity dividend payments.

 

The Board has agreed an interim dividend of 3.05 pence per share, an increase of 7.0% year-on-year, in line with our dividend per share growth target of at least 7% per annum until March 2013. In addition, in July the Group announced its intention to pay a special dividend of 4.0 pence per share, with the same timetable as the interim dividend, to reflect the receipt of a dividend from Verizon Wireless.

 

Europe

In Europe, service revenue was down 1.3%(*) in H1, with a marginally better performance in Q2 than in Q1.

 

In northern Europe, service revenue growth in Q2 improved in the UK (+2.5%(*)) and the Netherlands (+4.2%(*)), and remained steady in Germany (+0.1%(*)).

 

In southern Europe, Spain showed a sequential improvement in its service revenue trend to -9.3%(*) (Q1 -9.9%(*)), as our price reductions led to early signs of improvement in our commercial performance. Growth in Italy deteriorated from -1.5%(*) in Q1 to -3.0%(*) in Q2, reflecting a decline in consumer confidence and an incremental impact of 0.4 percentage points from MTR cuts. Turkey continued to grow strongly in Q2 (+24.0%(*)).

 

Europe adjusted EBITDA was flat year-on-year at £5.6 billion, with the adjusted EBITDA margin down 1.0 percentage point. This decline was almost entirely driven by a 6.1 percentage point margin decline in Spain as a result of price reductions and the macroeconomic environment.

 

Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific (‘AMAP’)

AMAP service revenue was up 8.4%(*) in H1, with a slight slowdown in Q2 compared to Q1. In India, service revenue growth was 20.1%(*) in Q2, reflecting improving underlying growth boosted by new SMS termination charges in the Indian market. Growth at Vodacom slowed slightly to +6.7%(*) in Q2. In Australia, service revenue fell by 8.1%(*) in Q2 (Q1 -3.6%(*)), as the network and customer service issues experienced in the Group’s prior financial year had a negative impact on customer perception.

 


 

CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S STATEMENT

 

 

AMAP adjusted EBITDA was up 3.6%, with the adjusted EBITDA margin falling 1.0 percentage point. The biggest impact came in Australia (down 5.1 percentage points). The margin in India fell slightly despite strong top line growth as a result of rising commercial costs and the dilutive impact of SMS termination.

 

Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless, our US associate, achieved organic service revenue growth of 7.1%(*) in H1 and 6.4%(*) in Q2. Our share of profits from Verizon Wireless totalled £2.5 billion, up 11.1%(*) year-on-year. Verizon Wireless’ net debt fell from US$9.6 billion at 31 March 2011 to US$3.1 billion at 30 September 2011. In July, Verizon Wireless announced its intention to pay a dividend of US$10.0 billion to its shareholders in January 2012. Vodafone’s share of this dividend is US$4.5 billion (£2.8 billion).

 

Strategy progress

 

There are four main elements to the strategy to build a more valuable Vodafone announced in November 2010:

 

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.

 

We have made further progress on each of these over the course of the first half of the financial year.

 

1)           Focus on key areas of growth potential

 

Mobile data: data revenue was up 23.8%(*) year-on-year to £3.1 billion, and now represents 14% of Group service revenue. Data represents the single biggest opportunity to Vodafone and the industry over the next few years, and we intend to continue to be at the forefront of stimulating data adoption among our customers.

 

We have increased smartphone penetration in our European customer base to 21.7%, by broadening our range of handsets and marketing attractive commercial propositions. 58.7% of these customers now have a data allowance included within their tariff plan. Pricing is becoming increasingly important in preventing the substitution of voice and SMS usage with data usage and ensuring that increased data traffic is properly reflected in our revenue. To this end, we have focused on migrating customers to integrated voice, SMS and data bundles that insulate our revenue from changing customer behaviour and capture future growth in data usage. At the end of H1, 24% of consumer contract customers in our five largest European markets were on integrated tariffs.

 

We have also continued to make significant network investments to improve data coverage, speed and reliability. Our launch of LTE services in Germany has been an early success, with over 50,000 customers using the service and giving very positive feedback. During the period we acquired spectrum in Spain and were awarded spectrum in Italy to ensure we have the best possible portfolio of spectrum across a range of frequencies to deliver the ongoing enhancement in performance that customers will expect.

 

Enterprise: enterprise revenue across the Group was up 2.6%(*) year-on-year in H1. In Europe, enterprise represents 30% of service revenue. We are seeing a number of trends in the enterprise business – such as the increasing focus on mobility, the move towards converged services, the growth in the tablet market and companies’ desire to consolidate their supplier bases – that play to our strengths. We are successfully addressing the full breadth of the market: within Vodafone Global Enterprise, which manages the largest multi-national accounts, revenue was up 7%(*); and at the SME and SoHo level, Vodafone One Net continues to be rolled out across our footprint offering customers a cost effective and simple converged mobile and fixed service.

 

Emerging markets: the Group has an attractive level of exposure to emerging markets, where mobile voice penetration is lower and GDP growth is higher than in the more mature markets of western Europe. In addition, the lack of fixed line infrastructure in many emerging markets means that mobile operators are likely to be the primary providers of internet connectivity. Our key emerging markets operations all continued to achieve strong service revenue growth, with India +18.4%(*), Vodacom +7.3%(*) and Turkey +27.9%(*).

 


 

CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S STATEMENT

 

 

In addition, we see the potential for data adoption to accelerate. The number of customers using Opera Mini, a web browser that significantly improves the experience for customers using data over 2G networks, has reached 13.7 million, up 98% year-on-year. This demonstrates the strong underlying demand for data services, which we expect to translate into strong service revenue growth as customers migrate to faster 3G platforms.

 

Total communications: fixed revenue across the Group was up 6.1%(*) year-on-year in the first half of the financial year. We continue to develop our fixed line capabilities to meet our customers’ total communications needs beyond mobile connectivity, in both the consumer and enterprise markets.

 

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: Fixed revenue within enterprise was up 19.2%(*). In the consumer market, we have shown continued good growth in Italy, while in Germany we are developing new services, such as Vodafone TV, to make our overall domestic connectivity package more competitive.

 

New services: we see significant potential for profitable growth from new services, driven by two key factors – the increasing level of intelligence in our own network and the introduction of connectivity between appliances as well as people, allowed by very high levels of mobile coverage.

 

During the period we launched “charge to bill” services across a number of European markets and on a range of mobile operating systems. Using this platform, customers can charge purchases from online applications stores to their Vodafone mobile phone accounts, making it much easier for users to make purchases. The initial results have been very encouraging and we will continue to roll out the service over the coming months.

 

Machine-to-machine (‘M2M’) revenue grew strongly, with regulation in the utilities sector and the increasing use of tracking and telemetry in the automotive sector being key drivers.

 

2)           Deliver value and efficiency from scale

 

The scale and composition of the Group has enabled us to increase efficiency and achieve favourable relative 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 first half of the financial year we commenced working with Verizon Communications to identify procurement savings opportunities across a wide range of common suppliers.

 

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

 

During the first half of the financial year, we completed the sale of our 44% interest in SFR, the number two mobile operator in France, to Vivendi, the majority shareholder, for £6.8 billion. We have committed £4.0 billion of the proceeds to a share buyback programme. We also announced the sale of our 24.4% stake in Polkomtel, the Polish operator, for £0.8 billion.

 

In July, Verizon Wireless announced its intention to pay a dividend of US$10.0 billion in January 2012. Vodafone’s share of this dividend is US$4.5 billion (£2.8 billion), out of which we intend to pay a special dividend of 4.0 pence per share to Vodafone shareholders at the same time as the interim dividend in February 2012.

 

4)           Apply rigorous capital discipline to investment decisions

 

We continue to adhere to strict capital discipline in our investment decisions. We apply rigorous commercial analysis and demanding hurdle rates to ensure that any investment or corporate activity will enhance shareholder returns. Maintaining our target credit rating of a low single A provides 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 make sure we are maximising the return on the capital employed across the Group.

 

Outlook and guidance(1)

 


 

CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S STATEMENT

 

 

Progress against our strategic and financial objectives in the first half of the financial year has been good. Although the macroeconomic outlook is uncertain, we are confident that we can continue to execute successfully in the second half of the financial year.

 

We now expect adjusted operating profit for the full year to be in the range of £11.4 – £11.8 billion, the upper half of the range indicated in May 2011. We continue to expect free cash flow to be in the range of £6.0 – £6.5 billion, excluding the £2.8 billion dividend due from Verizon Wireless in January 2012.

 

 

(1)   See ‘Guidance’ on page 8.

 


 

GROUP FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

 

  

 

Six months ended

30 September

 

 

  

 

2011 

2010 

% change

  

Page

£m 

£m 

Reported 

Organic 

Financial information(1)

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

29 

23,520 

22,603 

4.1 

2.2 

Operating profit

29 

8,999 

5,213 

72.6 

 

Profit before taxation 

29 

8,011 

8,240 

(2.8)

 

Profit for the financial period

29 

6,644 

7,504 

(11.5)

 

Basic earnings per share (pence)

29 

13.06p

14.31p

(8.7)

 

Capital expenditure

43 

2,618 

2,435 

7.5 

 

Cash generated by operations  

20 

7,069 

7,331 

(3.6)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Performance reporting(1)(2)

 

 

 

 

 

Group adjusted EBITDA

7,532 

7,363 

2.3 

–   

Group adjusted EBITDA margin

 

32.0%

32.6%

(0.6pp)

(0.7pp)

Adjusted operating profit

9, 45 

6,035 

6,069 

(0.6)

4.4 

Adjusted profit attributable
to equity shareholders

11, 45 

3,962 

4,616 

(14.2)

 

Adjusted earnings per share (pence)

11, 45 

7.75p

8.76p

(11.5)

 

Free cash flow(3)

20 

2,616 

3,489 

(25.0)

 

Net debt

20, 21 

26,247 

30,457 

(13.8)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes:

(1)     Amounts presented at 30 September or for the six month period then ended.

(2)     See page 40 for “Use of non-GAAP financial information” and page 47 for “Definitions of terms”.

(3)     All references to free cash flow are to amounts before licence and spectrum payments.

 


 

GUIDANCE

 

 

Please see page 40 for “Use of non-GAAP financial information”, page 47 for “Definition of terms” and page 48 for “Forward-looking statements”.

 

2012 financial year guidance

 

 

Original guidance
 2012 financial year
£bn

Updated guidance
 2012 financial year
£bn

 

 

 

 

Adjusted operating profit

 

11.0 – 11.8

11.4 – 11.8

 

 

 

 

Free cash flow

 

6.0 – 6.5

6.0 – 6.5

 

 

 

 

 

Assumptions

 

Guidance for the 2012 financial year 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, the £2.8 billion dividend due from Verizon Wireless, material one-off tax related payments and restructuring costs, and assumes no material change to the current structure of the Group.

 

Actual foreign exchange rates may vary from the foreign 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.

 


 

CONTENTS

 

 

Page

Financial results

9

Liquidity and capital resources

20

Other significant developments

23

Events occurring subsequent to the approval of the half-year financial report on 8 November 2011

23

Regulation

24

Legal proceedings

28

Unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

29

Use of non-GAAP financial information

40

Additional information

43

Other information (including forward-looking statements)

47

 

 

 

FINANCIAL RESULTS

 

Group(1)

 

 

  

Africa, 

Middle East 

and Asia 

Non-

Controlled

Interests and

Common

 

Six months ended 30

September

 

  

 

Europe 

 

Pacific

 

Functions(2) 

 

Eliminations 

 

2011 

 

2010 

 

% change

 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

 

£ 

 

Organic

Voice revenue

8,652 

4,561 

147 

–  

13,360 

13,788 

 

  

Messaging revenue

2,168 

474 

30 

–  

2,672 

2,482 

 

  

Data revenue

2,286 

757 

19 

–  

3,062 

2,411 

 

  

Fixed line revenue

1,589 

213 

–  

–  

1,802 

1,646 

 

  

Other service revenue

642 

371 

11 

(26)

998 

902 

 

  

Service revenue

15,337 

6,376 

207 

(26)

21,894 

21,229 

3.1 

1.4 

Other revenue

999 

532 

99 

(4)

1,626 

1,374 

 

  

Revenue

16,336 

6,908 

306 

(30)

23,520 

22,603 

4.1 

2.2 

Direct costs

(3,889)

(1,799)

(38)

26 

(5,700)

(5,681)

 

  

Customer costs

(4,985)

(1,709)

(207)

–  

(6,901)

(6,260)

 

  

Operating expenses

(1,907)

(1,399)

(85)

(3,387)

(3,299)

 

  

Adjusted EBITDA

5,555 

2,001 

(24)

–  

7,532 

7,363 

2.3 

–   

Depreciation and amortisation:

 

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

Acquired intangibles

(56)

(406)

(2)

–  

(464)

(577)

 

  

 

Purchased licences

(573)

(101)

–  

–  

(674)

(563)

 

  

 

Other

(1,969)

(887)

(24)

–  

(2,880)

(2,808)

 

  

Share of result in associates

11 

2,508 

–  

2,521 

2,654 

 

  

Adjusted operating profit

2,959 

618 

2,458 

–  

6,035 

6,069 

(0.6)

4.4 

 

Impairment loss

 

  

 

 

(450)

(800)

 

 

 

Other income and (expense)(3)

 

  

 

 

3,414 

(56)

 

 

Operating profit

 

  

 

 

8,999 

5,213 

 

 

Non-operating (expense)/income(4) 

 

  

 

 

(161)

2,389 

 

 

Net (financing costs)/investment income

  

 

 

 

(827)

 638 

 

 

Income tax expense

 

  

 

 

(1,367)

(736)

 

 

Profit for the financial period

 

  

 

 

6,644 

7,504 

 

 

 

Notes:

(1)     Current period results reflect average foreign exchange rates of £1:€1.14 and £1:US$1.62.

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

(3)     Other income and expense for the six months ended 30 September 2011 included a £3,419 million gain on disposal of the Group’s 44% interest in SFR. Other income and expense for the six months ended 30 September 2010 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.

(4)     Non-operating (expense)/income for the six months ended 30 September 2010 includes £2,388 million profit arising on the sale of the Group’s 3.2% interest in China Mobile Limited.

 


 

FINANCIAL RESULTS

 

 

Revenue

 

Group revenue was up 4.1% to £23.5 billion, with service revenue of £21.9 billion, an increase of 1.4%(*) on an organic basis. Our overall performance reflects continued strong demand for data services and further voice penetration growth in emerging markets, offset by regulatory changes and voice price deflation driven by ongoing competitive pressures.

 

AMAP service revenue was up by 8.4%(*), with a strong performance in India and continued growth in Vodacom, Ghana and Qatar.

 

In Europe, service revenue was down by 1.3%(*) reflecting reductions in most markets offset by growth in the UK, the Netherlands and Turkey.

 

Adjusted EBITDA and profit

 

Group adjusted EBITDA was up by 2.3% to £7.5 billion, driven by strong revenue growth partially offset by higher customer investment due to increased smartphone penetration.

 

Adjusted operating profit was stable at £6.0 billion.

 

Operating profit increased by 72.6% to £9.0 billion, primarily due to the gain on disposal of the Group’s 44% interest in SFR and lower impairment losses compared to the six months ended 30 September 2010.

 

An impairment loss of £450 million was recorded in relation to Vodafone Greece, primarily resulting from lower projected cash flows within business plans and an increase in discount rates.

 

 

Net (financing costs)/investment income

 

 

  

Six months ended 30 September 

 

  

 

2011 

 

2010 

 

  

 

£m 

 

£m 

Investment income

 

226 

 

1,402 

Financing costs

 

(1,053)

 

(764)

Net (financing costs)/investment income

 

(827)

 

638 

Analysed as:

 

 

 

 

 

Net financing costs before income from investments

 

(867)

 

(594)

 

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

 

(36)

 

(47)

 

Income from investments

 

10 

 

201 

 

  

 

(893)

 

(440)

Foreign exchange(2)

 

66 

 

228 

Equity put rights and similar arrangements(3)

 

–  

 

(22)

Interest related to the settlement of tax cases

 

–  

 

872 

 

  

 

(827)

 

638 

 

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.

 

Net financing costs before income from investments increased from £594 million to £867 million, primarily due to mark-to-market movements on interest rate swaps and futures. Income from investments decreased by £191 million as a result of the disposal of the Group’s 3.2% interest in China Mobile Limited and the Group’s interests in SoftBank during the 2011 financial year.

 


 

FINANCIAL RESULTS

 

 

Taxation

 

The effective tax rate for the six months ended 30 September 2011 was 17.1% compared to 8.9% in the same period last year, with the difference primarily due to the impact of the resolution of long-standing tax issues in the six months ended 30 September 2010.

 

Earnings per share

 

Adjusted earnings per share was 7.75 pence, a decline of 11.5% year-on-year, reflecting the loss of our share of SFR’s profits, the loss of interest income from investment disposals and mark-to-market items charged through finance costs, partially offset by a reduction in shares arising from the Group’s share buyback programme. Basic earnings per share was 13.06 pence (H1 2010: 14.31 pence), reflecting the profit on disposal of our 44% interest in SFR and the impairment in relation to Vodafone Greece, which are excluded from adjusted earnings per share.

 

 

  

Six months ended 30 September 

 

  

 

2011 

 

2010 

 

  

 

£m 

 

£m 

Profit attributable to equity shareholders

 

6,679 

 

7,542 

Pre-tax adjustments:

 

 

 

 

 

Impairment loss

 

450 

 

800 

 

Other income and expense(1)

 

(3,414)

 

56 

 

Non-operating income and expense(2)

 

161 

 

(2,389)

 

Investment income and financing costs(3)

 

(66)

 

(1,078)

 

  

 

(2,869)

 

(2,611)

Taxation

 

170 

 

(315)

Non-controlling interests

 

(18)

 

–  

Adjusted profit attributable to equity shareholders

 

3,962 

 

4,616 

 

  

 

Million 

 

Million 

Weighted average number of shares outstanding – basic

 

51,132 

 

52,701 

Weighted average number of shares outstanding – diluted

 

51,427 

 

52,984 

 

Notes:

(1)     Other income and expense for the six months ended 30 September 2011 includes a £3,419 million gain on disposal of the Group’s 44% interest in SFR. The six months ended 30 September 2010 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)     Non-operating income and expense for the six months ended 30 September 2010 includes £2,388 million profit arising on the sale of the Group’s 3.2% interest in China Mobile Limited.

(3)     See notes 2 and 3 in “Net (financing costs)/investment income” on page 10.

 


 

FINANCIAL RESULTS

 

Europe

 

 

 

Germany 

Italy 

Spain 

UK 

Other 

Eliminations 

Europe 

% change

 

 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£ 

Organic 

30 September 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Voice revenue

1,633 

1,595 

1,560 

1,201 

2,663 

–  

8,652 

 

 

Messaging revenue

440 

443 

156 

609 

520 

–  

2,168 

 

 

Data revenue

748 

354 

310 

432 

442 

–  

2,286 

 

 

Fixed line revenue

932 

317 

165 

22 

153 

–  

1,589 

 

 

Other service revenue

126 

74 

112 

212 

267 

(149)

642 

 

 

Service revenue

3,879 

2,783 

2,303 

2,476 

4,045 

(149)

15,337 

1.6 

(1.3)

Other revenue

223 

122 

208 

188 

259 

(1)

999 

 

 

Revenue

4,102 

2,905 

2,511 

2,664 

4,304 

(150)

16,336 

2.8 

(0.2)

Direct costs

(894)

(664)

(527)

(753)

(1,200)

149 

(3,889)

 

 

Customer costs

(1,199)

(590)

(1,043)

(993)

(1,161)

(4,985)

 

 

Operating expenses

(457)

(289)

(260)

(285)

(616)

–  

(1,907)

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

1,552 

1,362 

681 

633 

1,327 

–  

5,555 

–   

(3.5)

Depreciation and amortisation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquired intangibles

–  

–  

–  

–  

(56)

–  

(56)

 

 

 

Purchased licences

(274)

(54)

(4)

(166)

(75)

–  

(573)

 

 

 

Other

(447)

(332)

(316)

(282)

(592)

–  

(1,969)

 

 

Share of result in associates

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

 

 

Adjusted operating profit

 

831 

 

976 

 

361 

 

185 

 

606 

 

–  

 

2,959 

 

(3.3)

 

(7.3)

 

Adjusted EBITDA margin

37.8%

46.9%

27.1%

23.8%

30.8%

 

34.0%

 

 

30 September 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Voice revenue

1,784 

1,685 

1,738 

1,279 

2,716 

–  

9,202 

 

 

Messaging revenue

382 

414 

177 

555 

468 

–  

1,996 

 

 

Data revenue

584 

286 

265 

359 

349 

–  

1,843 

 

 

Fixed line revenue

892 

271 

157 

16 

120 

–  

1,456 

 

 

Other service revenue

68 

71 

103 

216 

283 

(148)

593 

 

 

Service revenue

3,710 

2,727 

2,440 

2,425 

3,936 

(148)

15,090 

 

 

Other revenue

149 

125 

174 

168 

186 

(2)

800 

 

 

Revenue

3,859 

2,852 

2,614 

2,593 

4,122 

(150)

15,890 

 

 

Direct costs

(931)

(656)

(549)

(780)

(1,189)

148 

(3,957)

 

 

Customer costs

(1,052)

(533)

(930)

(949)

(1,069)

(4,531)

 

 

Operating expenses

(405)

(307)

(267)

(265)

(603)

–  

(1,847)

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

1,471 

1,356 

868 

599 

1,261 

–  

5,555 

 

 

Depreciation and amortisation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquired intangibles

–  

–  

–  

–  

(70)

–  

(70)

 

 

 

Purchased licences

(216)

(50)

(3)

(166)

(67)

–  

(502)

 

 

 

Other

(437)

(302)

(310)

(295)

(578)

–  

(1,922)

 

 

Share of result in associates

–  

–  

–  

(1)

–  

–  

(1)

 

 

Adjusted operating profit

 

818 

 

1,004 

 

555 

 

137 

 

546 

 

–  

 

3,060 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA margin

38.1%

47.5%

33.2%

23.1%

30.6%

 

35.0%

 

 

Change at constant exchange rates

 

 

 

 

Voice revenue

(12.3)

(9.4)

(14.1)

(6.1)

(3.0)

 

 

 

 

Messaging revenue

10.2 

2.5 

(15.4)

9.7 

9.3 

 

 

 

 

Data revenue

22.7 

18.8 

12.1 

20.4 

23.1 

 

 

 

 

Fixed line revenue

0.1 

12.2 

0.7 

37.5 

25.0 

 

 

 

 

Other service revenue

78.8 

(1.0)

4.5 

(1.9)

(7.8)

 

 

 

 

Service revenue

0.2 

(2.3)

(9.6)

2.1 

1.3 

 

 

 

 

Other revenue

43.1 

(5.2)

14.6 

11.9 

33.3 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

1.8 

(2.4)

(8.0)

2.7 

2.8 

 

 

 

 

Direct costs

(8.2)

(3.1)

(8.0)

(3.5)

0.8 

 

 

 

 

Customer costs

9.2 

6.2 

7.5 

4.6 

7.1 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

8.3 

(9.7)

(6.8)

7.5 

1.5 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

1.1 

(3.7)

(24.9)

5.6 

1.7 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortisation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquired intangibles

–  

–  

–  

–  

(18.8)

 

 

 

 

 

Purchased licences

21.2 

1.9 

–  

–  

10.3 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

(2.0)

6.1 

(2.2)

(4.4)

0.2 

 

 

 

 

Share of result in associates

–  

–  

–  

(100.0)

–  

 

 

 

 

Adjusted operating profit

 

(2.8)

 

(6.9)

 

(37.7)

 

35.0 

 

5.2 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA margin movement (pps)

(0.3)

(0.6)

(6.1)

0.7 

(0.4)

 

 

 

 

 


 

FINANCIAL RESULTS

 

 

Revenue increased by 2.8% including a 2.9 percentage point impact from favourable foreign exchange rate movements. On an organic basis service revenue declined by 1.3%(*) reflecting reductions in most markets offset by growth in the UK, the Netherlands and Turkey. The decline was primarily driven by the impact of MTR reductions, competitive pricing pressures and continued economic weakness leading to lower voice revenue, partially offset by growth in data revenue.

 

Adjusted EBITDA was stable, benefiting from a 3.6 percentage point impact from favourable foreign exchange rate movements. On an organic basis adjusted EBITDA decreased by 3.5%(*), resulting from higher customer investment, driven by the increased penetration of smartphones, and a reduction in service revenue in most markets, partially offset by operating cost efficiencies.

 

 

Organic 

M&A 

Foreign 

Reported 

 

change 

activity 

exchange 

change 

 

pps 

pps 

Revenue - Europe

(0.2)

0.1 

2.9 

2.8 

Service revenue

 

 

 

 

Germany

0.2 

–  

4.4 

4.6 

Italy

(2.3)

–  

4.4 

2.1 

Spain

(9.6)

–  

4.0 

(5.6)

UK

2.1 

–  

–  

2.1 

Other Europe

1.3 

–  

1.5 

2.8 

Europe

 

 

(1.3)

 

–  

 

2.9 

 

1.6 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

 

 

 

Germany

1.1 

–  

4.4 

5.5 

Italy

(3.7)

–  

4.1 

0.4 

Spain

(24.9)

–  

3.4 

(21.5)

UK

5.6 

–  

–  

5.6 

Other Europe

1.9 

(0.2)

3.5 

5.2 

Europe

 

(3.5)

 

(0.1)

 

3.6 

 

–  

 

Adjusted operating profit

 

 

 

 

Germany

(2.8)

–  

4.4 

1.6 

Italy

(6.9)

–  

4.1 

(2.8)

Spain

(37.7)

–  

2.7 

(35.0)

UK

35.0 

–  

–  

35.0 

Other Europe

5.9 

(0.7)

5.8 

11.0 

Europe

 

(7.3)

 

(0.1)

 

4.1 

 

(3.3)

 

 

Germany

 

Service revenue was stable on an organic basis as strong data and enterprise revenue growth was offset by the impact of an MTR cut effective from 1 December 2010. Data revenue increased by 22.7%(*) driven by the increased penetration of smartphones and Superflat Internet tariffs. Enterprise revenue grew by 4.7%(*) driven by significant customer wins and the success of converged service offerings.

 

Adjusted EBITDA increased by 1.1%(*) driven by the revenue trends mentioned above. The adjusted EBITDA margin reduced by 0.3 percentage points reflecting investment in customer acquisition and retention.

 

The roll out of LTE has continued, following the launch of services in the 2011 financial year, with 52,000 LTE customers at 30 September 2011.

 

Italy

 

Service revenue declined by 2.3%(*) as a result of weak macro economic conditions, intense competition and the impact of an MTR cut effective from 1 July 2011. In September 2011 prepaid tariffs were refreshed with the launch of new integrated tariffs. Fixed line revenue grew by 12.2%(*) as a result of strong customer additions. Data revenue increased by 18.8%(*) resulting from a higher penetration of smartphones and strong mobile internet. Enterprise revenue grew by 6.4%(*) driven by growth in the customer base and the success of Vodafone One Net, which enables customers to combine their fixed and mobile communications into a single service with one number.

 

Adjusted EBITDA decreased by 3.7%(*). The adjusted EBITDA margin fell by 0.6 percentage points, with the impact of the decline in mobile voice revenue and the growth in lower margin fixed line business partially offset by operating cost efficiencies including site sharing agreements and the ongoing move to a single radio access network (‘RAN’).

 


 

FINANCIAL RESULTS

 

 

Spain

 

Service revenue declined by 9.6%(*), impacted by continued intense competition, general economic weakness and high unemployment, which have driven customers to reduce or optimise their spend on tariffs. The decline in Q2 improved by 0.6 percentage points compared to Q1. Data revenue increased by 12.1%(*), benefiting from the penetration of integrated voice and data tariffs launched in April 2011 and strong growth in mobile internet. Improvements were seen in fixed line revenue which increased by 4.2%(*) in Q2, resulting from a competitive proposition leading to good customer additions. Mobile customer net additions were strong, arising from mobile number portability net gains, as a result of our more competitive tariffs introduced in Q1, and a focus on improving the retention of higher-value customers.

 

Adjusted EBITDA declined by 24.9%(*), with a 6.1 percentage point fall in the adjusted EBITDA margin, due to the lower revenue and higher acquisition and retention costs resulting from the increased penetration of smartphones, partially offset by operating cost efficiencies.

 

UK

 

Service revenue grew by 2.1%(*) driven by an increase in enterprise and data revenue as well as good net customer additions and some price increases in consumer contract and prepaid. Growth was impacted by an MTR cut effective from 1 April 2011. The increase in enterprise revenue was driven by the success of integrated offerings and strong data roaming. Data revenue grew by 20.4%(*) resulting from the higher penetration of smartphones with a high percentage being sold with data bundles.

 

Adjusted EBITDA increased by 5.6%(*), with a 0.7 percentage point improvement in the adjusted EBITDA margin, as a result of higher revenue partially offset by investment in customer acquisition and retention.

 

Other Europe

 

Service revenue increased by 1.3%(*) as growth in Albania, the Netherlands and Turkey more than offset a decline in the rest of the region, particularly in Greece, Portugal and Ireland which continued to be impacted by the challenging economic environment and competitive factors. Service revenue in Turkey grew by 27.9%(*), driven by strong growth in voice and data revenue resulting from a larger contract customer base and data campaigns. In the Netherlands service revenue increased by 2.3%(*), driven by an increase in the customer base and stronger roaming revenue, partially offset by a slow-down in messaging revenue growth rates and price competition.

 

Adjusted EBITDA grew by 1.9%(*), with strong growth in Turkey, driven by operating cost savings and improved management of customer acquisition costs, partially offset by declines in the majority of the other markets.

 


 

FINANCIAL RESULTS

 

Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific

 

 

 

India 

Vodacom 

Other Africa,
Middle East
and 
Asia
Pacific 

Africa,
Middle East
and 
Asia Pacific 

% change

 

 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£ 

Organic

30 September 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

Voice revenue

1,621 

1,740 

1,200 

4,561 

 

 

Messaging revenue

107 

147 

220 

474 

 

 

Data revenue

176 

348 

233 

757 

 

 

Fixed line revenue

108 

99 

213 

 

 

Other service revenue

185 

117 

69 

371 

 

 

Service revenue

2,095 

2,460 

1,821 

6,376 

6.8 

8.4 

Other revenue

22 

354 

156 

532 

 

 

Revenue

2,117 

2,814 

1,977 

6,908 

7.2 

8.6 

Direct costs

(629)

(569)

(601)

(1,799)

 

 

Customer costs

(292)

(873)

(544)

(1,709)

 

 

Operating expenses

(661)

(438)

(300)

(1,399)

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

535 

934 

532 

2,001 

3.6 

5.3 

Depreciation and amortisation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquired intangibles

(172)

(209)

(25)

(406)

 

 

 

Purchased licences

(44)

(1)

(56)

(101)

 

 

 

Other

(328)

(254)

(305)

(887)

 

 

Share of result in associates

–  

–  

11 

11 

 

 

Adjusted operating (loss)/profit

 

(9)

 

470 

 

157 

 

618 

 

10.0 

 

12.4 

 

Adjusted EBITDA margin

25.3%

33.2%

26.9%

29.0%

 

 

30 September 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

Voice revenue

1,499 

1,706 

1,236 

4,441 

 

 

Messaging revenue

79 

150 

220 

449 

 

 

Data revenue

111 

254 

187 

552 

 

 

Fixed line revenue

101 

86 

190 

 

 

Other service revenue

161 

99 

77 

337 

 

 

Service revenue

1,853 

2,310 

1,806 

5,969 

 

 

Other revenue

21 

302 

150 

473 

 

 

Revenue

1,874 

2,612 

1,956 

6,442 

 

 

Direct costs

(531)

(567)

(578)

(1,676)

 

 

Customer costs

(251)

(773)

(513)

(1,537)

 

 

Operating expenses

(604)

(406)

(287)

(1,297)

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

488 

866 

578 

1,932 

 

 

Depreciation and amortisation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquired intangibles

(180)

(291)

(29)

(500)

 

 

 

Purchased licences

–  

–  

(59)

(59)

 

 

 

Other

(302)

(231)

(306)

(839)

 

 

Share of result in associates

–  

(1)

29 

28 

 

 

Adjusted operating profit

 

 

343 

 

213 

 

562 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA margin

26.0%

33.2%

29.6%

30.0%

 

 

Change at constant exchange rates

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Voice revenue

13.3 

2.5 

(2.0)

 

 

 

Messaging revenue

41.1 

(2.1)

(6.1)

 

 

 

Data revenue

66.1 

37.6 

18.7 

 

 

 

Fixed line revenue

114.4 

14.2 

17.4 

 

 

 

Other service revenue

20.3 

20.0 

(13.6)

 

 

 

Service revenue

18.4 

7.3 

0.1 

 

 

 

Other revenue

6.5 

17.0 

1.7 

 

 

 

Revenue

18.3 

8.4 

0.2 

 

 

 

Direct costs

24.4 

2.0 

3.5 

 

 

 

Customer costs

21.4 

13.5 

1.3 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

14.5 

8.1 

5.0 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

14.8 

8.1 

(6.6)

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortisation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquired intangibles

–  

(28.2)

(21.9)

 

 

 

 

Purchased licences

100.0 

100.0 

–  

 

 

 

 

Other

13.5 

10.9 

(0.3)

 

 

 

Share of result in associates

–  

–  

(56.9)

 

 

 

Adjusted operating profit

 

nm

 

37.3 

 

(22.4)

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA margin movement (pps)

(0.7)

(0.1)

(2.0)

 

 

 

 


 

FINANCIAL RESULTS

 

 

Revenue grew by 7.2% including a 1.4 percentage point adverse impact from foreign exchange rate movements. On an organic basis service revenue grew by 8.4%(*) driven by customer and data growth, partially offset by the impact of MTR reductions. Growth was driven by a strong performance in India, Qatar and Ghana, continued growth from Vodacom and a return to growth in Egypt in Q2.

 

Adjusted EBITDA grew by 3.6% after a 1.7 percentage point adverse impact from foreign exchange rate movements. On an organic basis adjusted EBITDA grew by 5.3%(*) driven primarily by strong growth in India and Vodacom, as well as improved contributions from Qatar, Ghana and New Zealand offset in part by declining adjusted EBITDA margins in Egypt and the impact of network and customer service issues in Australia.

 

  

Organic 

M&A 

Foreign 

Reported 

  

change 

activity 

exchange 

change 

  

pps 

pps 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue – Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific

8.6  

–  

(1.4)

7.2  

 

 

 

 

 

Service revenue

 

 

 

 

India

18.4  

–  

(5.3)

13.1  

Vodacom

7.3  

–  

(0.8)

6.5  

Other Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific

0.1  

–  

0.7  

0.8  

Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific

8.4  

–  

(1.6)

6.8  

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

 

 

 

India

14.8  

–  

(5.2)

9.6  

Vodacom

8.1  

–  

(0.2)

7.9  

Other Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific

(6.6)

–  

(1.4)

(8.0)

Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific

5.3  

–  

(1.7)

3.6  

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted operating profit

 

 

 

 

India

nm 

–  

nm 

nm 

Vodacom

37.3  

–  

(0.3)

37.0  

Other Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific

(22.4)

–  

(3.9)

(26.3)

Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific

12.4  

–  

(2.4)

10.0  

 

Note:

nm – Not meaningful.

 

India

 

Service revenue grew by 18.4%(*), driven by a 25.5% increase in the customer base, strong growth in incoming and outgoing voice minutes and 66.1%(*) growth in data revenue. Growth also benefited from operators starting to charge for SMS termination in Q2. At 30 September 2011 data customers totalled 27.5 million, a year-on-year increase of 142%. This was driven by an increase in data enabled handsets and the impact of successful marketing campaigns. Whilst the market remains highly competitive, the effective rate per minute is stabilising as operators increase headline voice tariffs and focus on promotional offers.

 

Following the launch of commercial 3G services in February 2011, 3G was available to Vodafone customers in 534 towns and cities across 20 circles at 30 September 2011.

 

Adjusted EBITDA grew by 14.8%(*) driven by the increase in revenue and economies of scale, partially offset by higher customer acquisition costs and increased interconnection costs.

 

Vodacom

 

Service revenue grew by 7.3%(*), primarily driven by South Africa where growth in data revenue was partially offset by the impact of an MTR cut effective from 1 March 2011. Despite intense competitive pricing pressure, data revenue increased by 37.6%(*), driven by the higher penetration of smartphones and data bundles.

 

Vodacom’s operations outside South Africa continued to improve, with strong service revenue growth of 19.5%(*), driven by customer net additions. M-Pesa continues to perform well in Tanzania with over 10 million users now registered. Trading conditions remain challenging in the Gateway operations.

 

Adjusted EBITDA increased by 8.1%(*), driven by service revenue growth.

 


 

FINANCIAL RESULTS

 

 

Other Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific

 

Organic service revenue, which now includes Australia, was flat year-on-year. New Zealand’s service revenue growth was heavily impacted by MTR cuts effective from 6 May 2011. In Australia network and customer service issues experienced in the Group’s prior financial year adversely impacted on service revenue growth. In Egypt the economic environment remains challenging. Whilst Egypt service revenue was flat year-on-year in H1, growth in Q2 was 1.2%(*), driven by an increase in the customer base and improved data usage offsetting a decline in messaging and visitor revenue. In Qatar a 35.4% increase in customers resulted in service revenue growth of 48.1%(*) despite significant price competition in the market. Service revenue in Ghana grew by 32.5%(*), driven primarily by an increase in the customer base. Ghana launched its 3G network on 29 June 2011.

 

Adjusted EBITDA was down 6.6%(*), driven by the service revenue decline in Australia and the challenging economic and competitive environment in Egypt, partially offset by growth in Qatar, Ghana and New Zealand. Integration in Australia continues to progress, with synergies exceeding original expectations to date.

 


 

FINANCIAL RESULTS

 

 

Non-Controlled Interests and Common Functions

 

Verizon Wireless(1)(2)

 

  

Six months ended 30 September 

 

  

  

 

2011 

2010 

% change

  

 

£m 

£m 

£ 

Organic(3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service revenue

 

8,741 

8,692 

0.6 

7.1 

Revenue

 

9,728 

9,372 

3.8 

10.5 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

3,848 

3,753 

2.5 

9.1 

Interest

 

(108)

(134)

(19.4)

  

Tax(2)

 

(141)

(146)

(3.4)

  

Group’s share of result in Verizon Wireless

 

2,451 

2,344 

4.6 

11.1 

  

 

 

 

 

  

KPIs (100% basis)

 

 

 

 

  

Customers (’000)(4)

 

90,708 

86,734 

 

  

Average monthly ARPU (US$)(4)

 

58.5 

57.0 

 

  

Churn(4)

 

14.8% 

16.5% 

 

  

Messaging and data as a percentage of service revenue

 

36.4% 

31.5% 

 

  

 

Notes:

(1)          All amounts represent the Group’s share, based on its equity interest, 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 in the prior period which was recorded 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, adjusted EBITDA and the Group’s share of result in Verizon Wireless would have been 6.1%, 9.6%, 6.9% and 7.7% respectively.

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

 

In the United States Verizon Wireless reported 2.3 million net mobile retail customer additions during the six months ended 30 September 2011, bringing its closing mobile retail customer base to 90.7 million, up 4.6%.

 

Service revenue growth of 7.1%(*) was driven by the expanding customer base and robust growth in data ARPU driven by increased penetration of smartphones.

 

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

 

Verizon Wireless’ net debt at 30 September 2011 totalled US$3.1 billion (31 March 2011: US$9.6 billion).

 


 

FINANCIAL POSITION

 

 

Statement of financial position

 

Non-current assets decreased from £134.2 billion at 31 March 2011 to £123.3 billion at 30 September 2011. The decrease of £2.1 billion in goodwill, £2.1 billion in other intangible assets and £1.6 billion in property, plant and equipment, primarily results from foreign exchange rate movements, classifying assets in relation to Polkomtel as ‘held for sale’ within current assets and a £450 million impairment loss in relation to Vodafone Greece. Other intangible assets were also impacted by amortisation charges partially offset by additions, mainly in computer software. Investments in associates decreased by £4.3 billion to £33.8 billion at 30 September 2011, primarily due to the disposal of the Group’s 44% interest in SFR.

 

Current assets increased from £17.0 billion at 31 March 2011 to £23.5 billion at 30 September 2011, primarily due to the £2.8 billion dividend declared by Verizon Wireless to be received in January 2012, the reclassification from non-current to current assets of the remaining £1.5 billion receivable in relation to the disposal of the Group’s interests in SoftBank and an increase in cash and cash equivalents of £0.7 billion as analysed in the consolidated statement of cash flows.

 

Non-current liabilities increased from £36.6 billion at 31 March 2011 to £37.8 billion at 30 September 2011 mainly due to the increase in long-term borrowings of £0.9 billion. Current liabilities decreased from £27.1 billion at 31 March 2011 to £23.7 billion at 30 September 2011 primarily due to a £3.1 billion decrease in short-term borrowings.

 

Total equity

 

Total equity shareholders’ funds decreased by £3.6 billion to £83.9 billion at 30 September 2011, primarily as a result of other comprehensive income for the period of £4.0 billion being more than offset by equity dividends of £3.1 billion, share repurchases of £2.7 billion and the acquisition of a non-controlling interest in Vodafone India of £2.0 billion.

 

Put options over non-controlling interests decreased by £2.1 billion to £0.7 billion at 30 September 2011, primarily as a result of the acquisition of a non-controlling interest in Vodafone India.

 

Inflation

 

Inflation has not had a significant effect on the Group’s consolidated results of operations and financial condition during the six months ended 30 September 2011.

 


 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

 

Cash flows and funding

 

  

Six months ended 30 September 

 

  

2011 

2011 

 

2010 

2010 

 

  

£m 

£m 

 

£m 

£m 

%

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

7,532 

 

 

7,363 

2.3 

Working capital

 

(533)

 

 

(110)

 

Other

 

70 

 

 

78 

 

Cash generated by operations

 

7,069 

 

 

7,331 

(3.6)

Cash capital expenditure(1)

 

(3,349)

 

 

(2,677)

 

  Capital expenditure

(2,618)

 

 

(2,435)

 

 

  Working capital movement in respect of capital expenditure

(731)

 

 

(242)

 

 

Disposal of property, plant and equipment

 

42 

 

 

15 

 

Operating free cash flow

 

3,762 

 

 

4,669 

(19.4)

Taxation

 

(1,043)

 

 

(1,091)

 

Dividends received from associates and investments(2)

 

735 

 

 

784 

 

Dividends paid to non-controlling shareholders in subsidiaries

 

(199)

 

 

(234)

 

Interest received and paid

 

(639)

 

 

(639)

 

Free cash flow  

 

2,616 

 

 

3,489 

(25.0)

Tax settlement

 

(100)

 

 

–  

 

Licence and spectrum payments

 

(264)

 

 

(2,937)

 

Acquisitions and disposals(3)

 

6,674 

 

 

(22)

 

Equity dividends paid

 

(3,102)

 

 

(2,976)

 

Purchase of treasury shares

 

(1,813)

 

 

(146)

 

Foreign exchange

 

135 

 

 

825 

 

Other(4)

 

(535)

 

 

4,626 

 

Net debt decrease

 

3,611 

 

 

2,859 

 

Opening net debt

 

(29,858)

 

 

(33,316)

 

Closing net debt

 

(26,247)

 

 

(30,457)

(13.8)

 

Notes:

(1)          Cash capital expenditure comprises the purchase of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets, other than licence and spectrum payments, during the period.

(2)          Dividends received from associates and investments for the six months ended 30 September 2011 includes £554 million (2010: £700 million) from the Group’s interest in Verizon Wireless and £178 million (2010: £nil) from the Group’s interest in SFR.

(3)          Acquisitions and disposals for the six months ended 30 September 2011 primarily includes £6,805 million proceeds from the sale of SFR  and excludes the £2,588 million payment in relation to the purchase of non-controlling interests in Vodafone India.

(4)          Other for the six months ended 30 September 2011 primarily includes £2,301 million movement in the written put option in relation to India offset by the £2,588 million payment in relation to the purchase of non-controlling interests in Vodafone India. The six months ended 30 September 2010 includes £4,269 million in relation to the disposal of the Group’s 3.2% interest in China Mobile Limited.

 

 

Cash generated by operations decreased by 3.6% to £7.1 billion primarily driven by working capital movements.

 

Free cash flow decreased by 25.0% to £2.6 billion primarily due to timing differences on both working capital movements and capital expenditure. Cash capital expenditure increased by £0.7 billion, driven by a reduction in capital creditors and increased investment, particularly in India and Vodacom.

 

Payments for taxation decreased by 4.4% to £1.0 billion primarily due to the timing of tax payments in Italy and lower tax payments in the US.

 

Dividends received from associates and investments were stable at £0.7 billion, as were net interest payments at £0.6 billion.

 


 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

 

Analysis of net debt:

 

 

  

30 September 

 

31 March 

 

  

 

2011 

 

2011 

 

  

 

£m 

 

£m 

Cash and cash equivalents(1)

 

6,975 

 

6,252 

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term borrowings

 

 

 

 

 

Bonds

 

(1,801)

 

(2,470)

 

Commercial paper(2)

 

(1,598)

 

(1,660)

 

Put options over non-controlling interests

 

(758)

 

(3,113)

 

Bank loans

 

(1,837)

 

(2,070)

 

Other short-term borrowings(1)

 

(836)

 

(593)

 

  

 

(6,830)

 

(9,906)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term borrowings

 

 

 

 

 

Put options over non-controlling interests

 

(69)

 

(78)

 

Bonds, loans and other long-term borrowings

 

(29,210)

 

(28,297)

 

  

 

(29,279)

 

(28,375)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other financial instruments(3)

 

2,945 

 

2,171 

Net debt associated with held for sale assets

 

(58)

 

–  

Net debt  

 

(26,247)

 

(29,858)

 

Notes:

(1)              At 30 September 2011 the amount includes £821 million (31 March 2011: £531 million) in relation to cash received under collateral support agreements.

(2)              At 30 September 2011 US$817 million was drawn under the US commercial paper programme; €1,023 million and US$306 million were 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 (30 September 2011: £2,624 million; 31 March 2011: £2,045 million) and trade and other payables (30 September 2011: £423 million; 31 March 2011: £548 million); and ii) short-term investments primarily in index linked government bonds included as a component of other investments (30 September 2011: £744 million; 31 March 2011: £674 million).

 

Net debt decreased by £3.6 billion to £26.2 billion primarily due to cash generated in the first half of the financial year and the proceeds from the sale of the Group’s 44% interest in SFR, partially offset by share buybacks and equity dividend payments.

 

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

 

  

 

30 September 

  

 

 

2011 

  

Maturity

 

£m 

  

 

 

 

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

March 2016

 

2,665 

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

July 2015

 

3,567 

Other committed credit facilities

Various

 

765 

Undrawn committed facilities

 

 

6,997 

 

Note:

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

 

The Group’s £1,598 million of commercial paper maturing within one year is covered 4.4 times by the £6,997 million 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 registration programme which are used to meet medium to long-term funding requirements. At 30 September 2011 the total amounts in issue under these programmes split by currency were US$13.3 billion, £2.5 billion, €10.2 billion and £0.2 billion sterling equivalent of other currencies.

 


 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

 

At 30 September 2011 the Group had bonds outstanding with a nominal value of £19.8 billion (31 March 2011: £21.0 billion). In the six months ended 30 September 2011 one bond was issued on 19 August 2011 for US$100 million (£64 million) under the Group’s EMTN programme, maturing on 22 August 2012. On 11 July 2011 the Group also raised US$850 million (£543 million) through a US private placement with a maturity of 11 July 2016.

 

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 an interim dividend of 3.05 pence per share representing a 7.0% increase over last year’s interim dividend.

 

On 28 July 2011 Vodafone announced that the Board of Verizon Wireless approved the payment of a US$10.0 billion (£6.1 billion) dividend. As a 45% shareholder in Verizon Wireless, Vodafone’s share of the dividend is US$4.5 billion (£2.8 billion). The Board of Vodafone therefore intends to pay a special, second interim, dividend of £2.0 billion, equivalent to 4.0 pence per share, to Vodafone shareholders in February 2012.

 

The ex-dividend date for the interim and special dividend is 16 November 2011 for ordinary shareholders, the record date is 18 November 2011 and the dividends are payable on 3 February 2012. 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 the Company’s Registrars: Computershare Investor Services PLC, The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol, BS99 6ZY.

 

Share buyback programmes

 

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 which was completed in June 2011. Under this programme the Group purchased a total of 1,631,662,645 shares at an average price per share, including transaction costs, of 171.60 pence.

 

Following the disposal of the Group’s entire 44% shareholding in SFR to Vivendi on 16 June 2011, the Group initiated a £4.0 billion share buyback programme. 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

June 2011

95,908 

164.15 

95,908 

3,843 

July 2011

178,643 

163.77 

274,551 

3,550 

August 2011

196,798 

165.14 

471,349 

3,225 

September 2011

199,672 

162.77 

671,021 

2,900 

October 2011

173,100 

172.69 

844,121 

2,601 

November 2011 (to date)

52,900 

173.34 

897,021 

2,509 

Total

897,021 (4)

166.17 

897,021 

2,509 

 

Notes:

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

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

(3)          In accordance with shareholder authority granted at the 2011 AGM.

(4)          The total number of shares purchased represents 1.78% of our issued share capital, excluding treasury shares, at 7 November 2011.

 


 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

 

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.

 

Information regarding the Group’s interest in Vodafone India Limited (formerly Vodafone Essar Limited) can be found on page 38.

 

Details of other call and put option agreements, including those in relation to the United States, are available on page 51 of the Group’s annual report for the year ended 31 March 2011.

 

OTHER SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS

 

Indian tax case

 

Vodafone International Holdings B.V. (‘VIHBV’) believes that neither it nor any other member of the Group is liable for Indian withholding taxes on the Hutchison transaction in 2007 and continued to take actions to defend itself vigorously both during and after the six months ended 30 September 2011. The Group did not carry a provision for this litigation at 30 September 2011 or 31 March 2011. Further details are set out on page 39.

 

EVENTS OCCURING SUBSEQUENT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE HALF-YEAR FINANCIAL REPORT ON 8 NOVEMBER 2011.

 

Polkomtel

 

On 9 November 2011 the Group announced the completion of the disposal of its entire 24.4% interest in Polkomtel. The Group received cash consideration of approximately €920 million (£790 million) from Spartan Capital Holdings SP. Z o.o before tax and transaction costs. See note 7 for further information.

 


 

REGULATION

 

 

Introduction

 

Our operating companies are generally subject to regulation governing the operation of their business activities. Such regulation typically takes the form of industry specific law and regulation covering telecommunications services and general competition (antitrust) law applicable to all activities.

 

The following section describes the regulatory frameworks and the key regulatory developments, at the global and regional level and in selected countries in which we have significant interests, that occurred during the six months ended 30 September 2011 and should be read in conjunction with the information contained under “Regulation” on pages 140 to 142 of the Group’s annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended 31 March 2011. Many of the regulatory developments reported in the following section involve ongoing proceedings or consideration of potential proceedings that have not reached a conclusion. Accordingly, we are unable to attach a specific level of financial risk to our performance from such matters.

 

European Union (‘EU’)

 

The European Commission (the ‘Commission’) continues to review the future scope and nature of universal service provision in the EU. The Commission has also published a broadband strategy which proposes that the European Investment Bank offer support for broadband infrastructure projects which fulfil certain criteria and is currently revising its guidelines on the circumstances in which public funds (State Aid) can be used by national or local governments to support such projects.

 

Roaming

 

The current roaming regulation (the ‘roaming regulation’) entered into force in July 2009 and requires mobile operators to supply voice and text roaming services under retail price caps. Wholesale price caps also apply to voice, text and data roaming services. In July 2011 the Commission published proposals for a new roaming regulation, to replace the current roaming regulation upon its expiry in July 2012. The Commission proposes to retain retail price caps for voice and text roaming services and to introduce a new cap for data roaming services in July 2012. These caps, the level of which would reduce annually until July 2014, would apply until at least 2016 but would be removed thereafter if competition were deemed by the Commission to be sufficiently effective. The Commission also proposes to retain wholesale price caps for voice, text and data roaming services. These would reduce annually until July 2014, apply until at least 2018 and could be removed thereafter. The proposed new roaming regulation would expire in 2022.

 

The Commission also proposed a number of measures which are intended to increase competition in the retail market for roaming (and thereby facilitate the withdrawal of price caps). These include a requirement that users be able, from July 2014, to purchase roaming services from a provider other than their current provider of non-roaming services and to retain the same phone number when roaming.

 

The Commission’s proposals will now be considered by the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers and may be subject to further revision before adoption prior to July 2012. The European Regulators for Electronic Communications (‘BEREC’) have expressed concerns about the levels of the retail caps proposed by the Commission and the likely costs and benefits of the additional measures being proposed to increase competition in the retail market.

 

Call termination

 

At 30 September 2011 the termination rates effective for our subsidiaries and joint ventures within the EU, which differs from our Europe region, ranged from 3.3 eurocents per minute (2.84 pence) to 5.3 eurocents per minute (4.55 pence), at the relevant 30 September 2011 foreign exchange rates.

 

Fixed network regulation

 

In October 2011 the Commission consulted on proposals for guidelines to national regulators on the setting of access prices for fixed networks, recognising that prices for copper services will influence incentives for investment in, and demand for, fibre based networks. The Commission seeks comment on proposals to, inter alia, reduce copper prices unless network operators commit to reinvest any surplus in new fibre networks, and on measures to ensure the switch off of copper-based services and rapid migration to fibre.


 

REGULATION

 

 

Spectrum

 

In September 2010 the Commission published a proposed radio spectrum policy programme (‘RSPP’) for consideration by the European Parliament and Council. Various amendments are being debated and we expect political agreement between the European Parliament and Council in December 2011.

 

Europe region

 

Germany

 

Our current MTR was reduced in December 2010 to 3.36 eurocents per minute, effective until 30 November 2012.

 

In September 2011 the national regulator started an investigation into whether a separate market for access to Deutsche Telekom’s fibre network, in particular to connect LTE base stations to the mobile core network, should be defined.

 

The national regulator reduced the unbundled local loop (‘ULL’) fee which was applied by Deutsche Telekom from €10.20 per month to €10.08 per month.

 

Italy

 

In September 2011 we acquired 2x10 MHz of 800 MHz spectrum, 2x5 MHz of 1800 MHz spectrum and 2x15 MHz of 2.6 GHz spectrum for a cost of €1.26 billion (£1.1 billion). The licences are valid until 2030.

 

Spain

 

In July 2011 we acquired 2x10 MHz of 800 MHz spectrum and 2x20 MHz of 2.6 GHz spectrum for a cost of €517 million. The licences will expire in 2030. We have the option to renew our existing 900 MHz licence (which currently expires in 2020) until 2030.

 

In July 2012 the national competition authority sent all Spanish operators a statement of objections in which it asserts that the operators have abused a collective dominant position in the provision of wholesale origination of SMS and MMS and abused an individual dominant position in the provision of SMS and MMS termination services. We have provided a written response in which we contest these claims.

 

UK

 

Our regulated average termination rate is currently 2.98 pence per minute. The national regulator has imposed a glidepath from 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2015 with annual adjustments that would see a reduction to 0.69 pence per minute (plus inflation adjustment) in 2014 and 2015. We are appealing this decision.

 

The national regulator has consulted on the release of 800 MHz and 2.6 GHz spectrum, including proposals for the auction design. The auction is expected to be held late in the 2012 calendar year. As part of the conditions for clearance of the merger between Orange UK and T-Mobile UK, the Commission has required them to dispose of 2x15 MHz of spectrum in the 1800 MHz band.

 

In August 2011, at the Competition Appeals Tribunal, BT won an appeal against the mobile network operators with respect to the amount BT charges for terminating calls to numbers in the 08x range. We are appealing this decision.

 

Other Europe

 

Albania

We acquired the single 3G licence (2x15 MHz) for €31.4 million in November 2010. Commercial services were launched in January 2011. AMC (Deutsche Telekom) acquired the second 3G licence in September 2011.

 


 

REGULATION

 

 

Czech Republic

In January 2011 the Government announced plans to auction 800 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 2.6 GHz spectrum. The auction will be performed by the national regulator, and is expected to take place in the second half of the 2012 calendar year.

 

Greece

The national regulator has finalised plans for the renewal/re-auction of existing 900 MHz licences expiring in 2012, 2016 and 2017 and the release of additional spectrum in the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands. Results are expected to be announced on 18 November 2012.

 

Hungary

In October 2010 the Hungarian Parliament adopted a law which imposes a significant additional tax burden on the telecommunications, retail and energy sectors. The law came into force in December 2010 and will apply until at least January 2013, although the Hungarian government has indicated that it may be further extended. We paid 7,119,714,000 HUF (£23 million) in relation to the 2011 financial year. On 29 September 2011 the Commission sent a request to the Hungarian Government to abolish the tax, because the Commission considers that the tax is incompatible with EU law, to which the Hungarian Government has two months in which to reply.

 

A proposal has been issued for the release of an additional 2x10.8 MHz of 900 MHz spectrum. The auction is expected to start in December 2011.

 

Ireland

The national regulator has proposed auctioning all spectrum in the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz spectrum bands at the same time as an auction of 800 MHz spectrum within the next four to six months, with spectrum awarded under the auction available in 2013. In the meantime, Vodafone’s and O2’s 900 MHz licences have been renewed until 2013.

 

Netherlands

Our termination rate reduced to 4.2 eurocents per minute in January 2011 following a cost model analysis by the national regulator which proposes reducing it to 1.2 eurocents per minute by September 2012. Following an appeal, the court rejected the national regulator’s analysis and directed that the termination rate should instead reduce to 2.4 eurocents by September 2012.

 

In February 2011 the Government announced plans to auction 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2.1 GHz and 2.6 GHz spectrum in early 2012. The Government is expected to reserve 2 x 5 MHz in the 900 MHz band for new entrants, in addition to 2 x 10 MHz in the 800 MHz band.

 

In June 2011 the Dutch Parliament adopted amendments to the Telecommunications Act which are intended to limit the circumstances in which operators are able to engage in network management and to prevent operators from varying the charges to end users by reference to the type of internet service or application which they wish to use. The cumulative effect of these measures is to prevent operators from blocking or otherwise charging specifically for voice over internet protocol (‘VOIP’) and other internet services. The amendments must be approved by the Upper House of the Dutch Parliament and are expected to come into force on 1 January 2012, at which date all new tariffs would be required to comply. Existing tariffs would be required to comply by January 2013. The Commission has sought further information from the Dutch Government on the proposed measures to assess their compatibility with EU law.

 

Portugal

The spectrum auction in Portugal is now expected to take place in November 2011 and will include a number of spectrum bands including 900 MHz and 2.6 GHz.

 

Romania

The Government is consulting on various proposals for the renewal of our 900/1800 MHz licences, which expire in December 2011.

 

Turkey

In August 2011 the national regulator started a consultation process on the deregulation of international termination rates.

 

Areas which do not have GSM infrastructure and are located in rural areas with a population of less than 500 will be provided with mobile telecommunication services funded by the universal service fund following a Cabinet decision of July 2011.

 


 

REGULATION

 

 

Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific Region

 

India

 

Litigation remains pending in the Supreme Court in relation to a number of significant regulatory issues including MTRs and spectrum usage charges.

 

In May 2010 and February 2011 the national regulator made recommendations on the spectrum management and licensing framework which includes proposals for spectrum allocation and pricing including possible one-off fees for 900 MHz and 1800 MHz spectrum above 6.2 MHz. These recommendations have been considered by the Department of Telecommunications (‘DoT’) and are being referred back to the national regulator. The revised recommendations of the national regulator will be reviewed by the DoT and then by the Union Minister of Communications and IT before a decision is taken.

 

New regulations in relation to the activation of value added services (‘VAS’) and unsolicited commercial communications (‘UCC’) came into force during 2011, requiring some changes to activation procedures for VAS and capping of high volume SMS users.

 

South Africa

 

The national regulator has proposed to Parliament a simultaneous licensing of the 2.6 GHz and 800 MHz spectrum during the first quarter of the 2012 calendar year. The regulator is in the process of resolving in-band migration in the 2.6 GHz band in order to accommodate frequency division duplex assignments in the band.

 

The National Consumer Commission (‘NCC’), the regulatory authority tasked with enforcing the Consumer Protection Act (‘CPA’), has instituted investigations into the communications sector, including consumer complaints relating to quality of service, international roaming charges, airtime and data carry-over rules, and contract terms and conditions. The NCC issued a compliance notice against Vodacom in August 2011 in relation to fixed-term consumer agreements which the NCC alleges do not comply with the CPA. Vodacom has appealed to the National Competition Tribunal.

 

Other Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific

 

Egypt

The national regulator set termination rates at 65% of each operator’s on-net retail revenue per minute in September 2008 and issued a similar decree in 2010. Mobinil has obtained interim relief against this regulation and a final order is awaited. Vodafone Egypt (‘VFE’) has filed a similar case in the Administrative Court challenging the regulator’s decisions regarding the applicable termination rates as well as the calculation formula and is awaiting a decision. VFE has sought compensation from the government for the financial losses VFE suffered during the January/February 2011 socio-political unrest and demonstrations as a result of the government ordering VFE and the two other mobile networks to temporarily suspend mobile services in certain areas.

 

New Zealand

The Ministry of Economic Development has published a discussion paper on the 700 MHz band digital dividend spectrum and is asking for submissions. Policy is expected to be finalised following the November 2011 election with an auction to be held late in the 2012 calendar year.

 

Qatar

In August 2011 Qtel closed the Virgin Mobile service following regulatory orders. In May 2012 the regulator is expected to decide if a third mobile license should be issued. In June 2011 the Government formed a company to deploy a national passive broadband network. Vodafone Qatar will negotiate access terms in the next fiscal quarter. Regulatory decisions are also expected in the next fiscal quarter on regulatory proceedings against Qtel for below cost international calling promotions, terms of access to QTel’s international cable landing station and mandated tower sharing. In May 2011 the national regulator referred Vodafone Qatar to the public prosecutor for non-compliance with orders related to performance of its “Freedom” services and requested that a fine of QR 5 million be applied. The public prosecutor is reviewing the matter.

 


 

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

 

The following section describes developments in legal proceedings which may have, or have had, during the six months ended 30 September 2011, a significant effect on the financial position or profitability of the Company and its subsidiaries. This section should be read in conjunction with the information contained under “Legal proceedings” on page 122 of the Group’s annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended 31 March 2011 and the information contained under “Operating Review – Other transactions and developments” in the Group’s interim management statement for the quarter ended 30 June 2011.

 

India tax case

 

Vodafone International Holdings B.V. (‘VIHBV’) believes that neither it nor any other member of the Group is liable for Indian withholding taxes on the Hutchison transaction in 2007 and continued to take actions to defend itself vigorously both during and after the six months ended 30 September 2011. The Group did not carry a provision for this litigation at 30 September 2011 or 31 March 2011. Further details are set out on page 39.

 


 

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

Consolidated income statement

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

Six months ended 30 September 

  

 

 

2011 

 

2010 

  

Note

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

23,520 

 

22,603 

Cost of sales

 

 

(15,794)

 

(15,062)

Gross profit

 

 

7,726 

 

7,541 

Selling and distribution expenses

 

 

(1,658)

 

(1,526)

Administrative expenses

 

 

(2,554)

 

(2,600)

Share of result in associates

 

 

2,521 

 

2,598 

Impairment loss

 

(450)

 

(800)

Other income and expense

 

3,414 

 

–  

Operating profit

 

8,999 

 

5,213 

Non-operating (expense)/income

 

 

(161)

 

2,389 

Investment income

 

 

226 

 

1,402 

Financing costs

 

 

(1,053)

 

(764)

Profit before taxation

 

 

8,011 

 

8,240 

Income tax expense

 

(1,367)

 

(736)

Profit for the financial period

 

 

6,644 

 

7,504 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attributable to:

 

 

 

 

 

– Equity shareholders

 

 

6,679 

 

7,542 

– Non-controlling interests

 

 

(35)

 

(38)

  

 

 

6,644 

 

7,504 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per share

 

 

 

 

 

– Basic

 

13.06p 

 

14.31p 

– Diluted

 

12.99p 

 

14.23p 

  

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

Six months ended 30 September 

  

 

 

2011 

 

2010 

  

 

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

54 

 

328 

Foreign exchange translation differences, net of tax

 

 

(2,029)

 

(2,444)

Net actuarial losses on defined benefit pension schemes, net of tax

 

 

(207)

 

(116)

Foreign exchange gains transferred to the income statement

 

 

(585)

 

–  

Fair value gains transferred to the income statement

 

 

–  

 

(2,196)

Other, net of tax

 

 

(26)

 

Other comprehensive loss

 

 

(2,793)

 

(4,425)

Profit for the financial period

 

 

6,644 

 

7,504 

Total comprehensive income for the financial period

 

 

3,851 

 

3,079 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attributable to:

 

 

 

 

 

– Equity shareholders

 

 

3,996 

 

3,114 

– Non-controlling interests

 

 

(145)

 

(35)

  

 

 

3,851 

 

3,079 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.


 

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

Consolidated statement of financial position

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

30 September 

 

31 March 

  

 

 

2011 

 

2011 

  

Note

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-current assets

 

 

 

 

 

Goodwill

 

 

43,131 

 

45,236 

Other intangible assets

 

 

21,197 

 

23,322 

Property, plant and equipment

 

 

18,620 

 

20,181 

Investments in associates

 

 

33,816 

 

38,105 

Other investments

 

 

1,216 

 

1,381 

Deferred tax assets

 

 

2,155 

 

2,018 

Post employment benefits

 

 

60 

 

97 

Trade and other receivables

 

 

3,062 

 

3,877 

  

 

 

123,257 

 

134,217 

Current assets

 

 

 

 

 

Inventory

 

 

580 

 

537 

Taxation recoverable

 

 

316 

 

281 

Trade and other receivables

 

 

14,132 

 

9,259 

Other investments

 

 

744 

 

674 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

6,975 

 

6,252 

Assets held for sale

 

749 

 

–  

  

 

 

23,496 

 

17,003 

Total assets

 

 

146,753 

 

151,220 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity

 

 

 

 

 

Called up share capital

 

 

3,976 

 

4,082 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

153,947 

 

153,760 

Treasury shares

 

 

(8,264)

 

(8,171)

Retained losses

 

 

(78,613)

 

(77,661)

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

 

12,862 

 

15,545 

Total equity shareholders’ funds

 

 

83,908 

 

87,555 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-controlling interests

 

 

2,157 

 

2,880 

Put options over non-controlling interests

 

 

(793)

 

(2,874)

Total non-controlling interests

 

 

1,364 

 

Total equity

 

 

85,272 

 

87,561 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term borrowings

 

 

29,279 

 

28,375 

Taxation liabilities

 

 

250 

 

350 

Deferred tax liabilities

 

 

6,767 

 

6,486 

Post employment benefits

 

 

312 

 

87 

Provisions

 

 

509 

 

482 

Trade and other payables

 

 

670 

 

804 

  

 

 

37,787 

 

36,584 

Current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term borrowings

 

 

6,830 

 

9,906 

Taxation liabilities

 

 

1,931 

 

1,912 

Provisions

 

 

488 

 

559 

Trade and other payables

 

 

14,264 

 

14,698 

Total liabilities associated with assets classified as held for sale

 

181 

 

–  

  

 

 

23,694 

 

27,075 

Total equity and liabilities

 

 

146,753 

 

151,220 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.


 

UNAUDITED CONDENSED 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 2010

4,153 

153,509 

(7,810)

(59,471)

90,381 

429 

90,810 

Issue or reissue of shares

–  

–  

134 

(108)

26 

–  

26 

Repurchase of own shares

–  

–  

(187)

–  

(187)

–  

(187)

Share-based payment

–  

88 

–  

–  

88 

–  

88 

Transactions with non-controlling shareholders in subsidiaries

–  

–  

–  

(107)

(107)

22 

(85)

Comprehensive income

–  

–  

–  

3,114 

3,114 

(35)

3,079 

Dividends

–  

–  

–  

(2,976)

(2,976)

(240)

(3,216)

Other

–  

–  

–  

28 

28 

–  

28 

30 September 2010

4,153 

153,597 

(7,863)

(59,520)

90,367 

176 

90,543 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 April 2011

4,082 

153,760 

(8,171)

(62,116)

87,555 

87,561 

Issue or reissue of shares

–  

237 

(189)

51 

–  

51 

Redemption or cancellation of shares

(106)

106 

2,343 

(2,343)

–  

–  

–  

Repurchase of own shares

–  

–  

(2,673)

–  

(2,673)

–  

(2,673)

Share-based payment

–  

78 

–  

–  

78 

–  

78 

Transactions with non-controlling shareholders in subsidiaries

–  

–  

–  

(2,006)

(2,006)

1,703 

(303)

Comprehensive income

–  

–  

–  

3,996 

3,996 

(145)

3,851 

Dividends

–  

–  

–  

(3,102)

(3,102)

(200)

(3,302)

Other

–  

–  

–  

–  

30 September 2011

3,976 

153,947 

(8,264)

(65,751)

83,908 

1,364 

85,272 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.


 

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

Consolidated statement of cash flows

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

Six months ended 30 September 

  

 

 

2011 

 

2010 

  

Note

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash flow from operating activities

 

5,926 

 

6,240 

  

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

(118)

 

(22)

Purchase of intangible assets

 

 

(983)

 

(3,455)

Purchase of property, plant and equipment

 

 

(2,630)

 

(2,159)

Purchase of investments

 

 

(85)

 

(28)

Disposal of interests in associates

 

 

6,805 

 

–  

Disposal of property, plant and equipment

 

 

42 

 

15 

Disposal of investments

 

 

68 

 

4,270 

Dividends received from associates

 

 

733 

 

700 

Dividends received from investments

 

 

 

84 

Interest received

 

 

158 

 

120 

Taxation on investing activities

 

 

(104)

 

–  

Net cash flow from investing activities

 

 

3,888 

 

(475)

  

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

Issue of ordinary share capital and reissue of treasury shares

 

 

51 

 

26 

Net movement in short-term borrowings

 

 

643 

 

885 

Proceeds from issue of long-term borrowings

 

 

1,062 

 

3,871 

Repayment of borrowings

 

 

(1,984)

 

(1,703)

Purchase of treasury shares

 

 

(1,813)

 

(146)

Equity dividends paid

 

 

(3,102)

 

(2,976)

Dividends paid to non-controlling shareholders in subsidiaries  

 

 

(199)

 

(234)

Other transactions with non-controlling shareholders in subsidiaries  

 

 

(2,601)

 

(137)

Interest paid  

 

 

(797)

 

(759)

Net cash flow from financing activities

 

 

(8,740)

 

(1,173)

  

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash flow

 

 

1,074 

 

4,592 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the financial period

 

 

6,205 

 

4,363 

Exchange loss on cash and cash equivalents

 

 

(325)

 

(134)

Cash and cash equivalents at end of the financial period

 

 

6,954 

 

8,821 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.


 

Notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

For the six months ended 30 September 2011

 

1  Basis of preparation

 

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the six months ended 30 September 2011:

 

·     were prepared in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34 “Interim Financial Reporting” (‘IAS 34’);

 

·     are presented on a condensed basis as permitted by IAS 34 and therefore do not include all disclosures that would otherwise be required in a full set of financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the Group’s annual report for the year ended 31 March 2011;

 

·     apply the same accounting policies, presentation and methods of calculation as those followed in the preparation of the Group’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2011 which were prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (‘IFRS’) adopted by the European Union (‘EU’), the Companies Act 2006 and Article 4 of the EU IAS Regulations;

 

·     include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the periods presented; and

 

·     do not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of section 434(3) of the Companies Act 2006 and were approved by the Board of directors on 8 November 2011.

 

The information relating to the year ended 31 March 2011 is an extract from the Group’s published annual report for that year, which has been delivered to the Registrar of Companies, and on which the auditors’ report was unqualified and did not contain statements under section 498(2) or 498(3) of the UK Companies Act 2006.

 

The directors are satisfied that, at the time of approving the interim financial statements, it is appropriate to continue to adopt a going concern basis of accounting.

 

The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the 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.

 


 

Notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

For the six months ended 30 September 2011

 

2         Segment analysis

 

The Group has a single group of related services and products being the supply of communications services and products. The Group announced a new organisational structure on 9 September 2010, effective 1 October 2010. The table below presents segmental information on the revised basis, with the six months ended 30 September 2010 amended to conform to the current presentation.

 

  

Segment 

Intra-
region 

Regional 

Inter-
region 

Group 

Adjusted 

  

revenue 

revenue 

revenue 

revenue 

revenue 

EBITDA 

  

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

Six months ended 30 September 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

Germany

4,102 

(25)

4,077 

(1)

4,076 

1,552 

Italy

2,905 

(19)

2,886 

(1)

2,885 

1,362 

Spain

2,511 

(38)

2,473 

(2)

2,471 

681 

UK

2,664 

(25)

2,639 

(3)

2,636 

633 

Other Europe

4,304 

(43)

4,261 

(2)

4,259 

1,327 

Europe

16,486 

(150)

16,336 

(9)

16,327 

5,555 

India

2,117 

–  

2,117 

(3)

2,114 

535 

Vodacom

2,814 

–  

2,814 

(3)

2,811 

934 

Other Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific

1,977 

–  

1,977 

(11)

1,966 

532 

Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific

6,908 

–  

6,908 

(17)

6,891 

2,001 

Non-Controlled Interests and Common Functions

306 

–  

306 

(4)

302 

(24)

Group

23,700 

(150)

23,550 

(30)

23,520 

7,532 

Verizon Wireless(1)

9,728 

 

 

 

 

3,848 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six months ended 30 September 2010

 

 

 

 

 

Germany

3,859 

(24)

3,835 

(2)

3,833 

1,471 

Italy

2,852 

(24)

2,828 

(1)

2,827 

1,356 

Spain

2,614 

(38)

2,576 

(1)

2,575 

868 

UK

2,593 

(26)

2,567 

(4)

2,563 

599 

Other Europe

4,122 

(38)

4,084 

(2)

4,082 

1,261 

Europe

16,040 

(150)

15,890 

(10)

15,880 

5,555 

India

1,874 

–  

1,874 

(7)

1,867 

488 

Vodacom

2,612 

–  

2,612 

(4)

2,608 

866 

Other Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific

1,956 

–  

1,956 

(13)

1,943 

578 

Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific

6,442 

–  

6,442 

(24)

6,418 

1,932 

Non-Controlled Interests and Common Functions

320 

–  

320 

(15)

305 

(124)

Group

22,802 

(150)

22,652 

(49)

22,603 

7,363 

Verizon Wireless(1)

9,372 

 

 

 

 

3,753 

 

Note:

(1)          Values shown represent the Group’s share, based on its equity interest. They are not included in the calculation of Group revenue or adjusted EBITDA as Verizon Wireless is an associate.

 

A reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to operating profit is shown below. For a reconciliation of operating profit to profit before taxation see the consolidated income statement on page 29.

 

 

 

Six months ended 30 September 

 

 

 

2011 

 

2010 

 

 

 

£m 

 

£m 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

 

7,532 

 

7,363 

Depreciation and amortisation including loss on disposal of fixed assets

 

 

(4,018)

 

(3,948)

Share of results in associates

 

 

2,521 

 

2,598 

Impairment loss

 

 

(450)

 

(800)

Other income and expense

 

 

3,414 

 

–  

Operating profit

 

 

8,999 

 

5,213 

 

The Group’s 44% interest in SFR was sold on 16 June 2011 for £6,805 million generating a £3,419 million income statement gain.


 

Notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

For the six months ended 30 September 2011

 

3  Impairment loss

 

The carrying value of goodwill, intangible assets and property, plant and equipment of the Group’s operations in Greece (reported within the Other Europe segment) was impaired by £450 million in the six months ended 30 September 2011 following a test for impairment triggered by adverse movements in the discount rate and adverse performance against previous plans.

 

The majority of the impairment loss in the six months ended 30 September 2011 was driven by lower projected cash flows within business plans as a result of challenging economic conditions. There was also an adverse movement in the discount rate. The carrying value was based on a value in use calculation using a pre-tax risk adjusted discount rate of 15.9%. The pre-tax adjusted discount rate used in the previous value in use calculation at 31 March 2011 was 14.0%. The charge has been recognised in the consolidated income statement as a separate line item within operating profit. The recoverable amount of the Group’s operations in Greece equals its reported carrying value at 30 September 2011 and consequently, any adverse change in a key assumption underpinning the value in use calculation may cause a further impairment loss to be recognised.

 

The carrying value of goodwill of the Group’s operations in Greece was impaired by £800 million in the six months ended 30 September 2010.

 

4         Taxation

 

 

 

Six months ended 30 September 

 

 

 

2011 

 

2010 

 

 

 

£m 

 

£m 

United Kingdom corporation tax expense/(income):

 

 

 

 

 

     Current year

 

 

 

38 

     Adjustments in respect of prior years

 

 

(4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overseas current tax expense/(income):

 

 

 

 

 

     Current year

 

 

1,165 

 

1,624 

     Adjustments in respect of prior years

 

 

 

(229)

Total current tax expense

 

 

1,170 

 

1,438 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred tax on origination and reversal of temporary differences:

 

 

 

 

 

     United Kingdom deferred tax

 

 

(43)

 

(210)

     Overseas deferred tax

 

 

240 

 

(492)

Total deferred tax expense/(income)

 

 

197 

 

(702)

Total income tax expense

 

 

1,367 

 

736 

 

 

5         Earnings per share

 

 

 

Six months ended 30 September 

 

 

 

2011 

 

2010 

 

 

 

Millions 

 

Millions 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of shares for basic earnings per share

 

 

51,132 

 

52,701 

Effect of dilutive potential shares: restricted shares and share options

 

 

295 

 

283 

Weighted average number of shares for diluted earnings per share

 

 

51,427 

 

52,984 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

£m 

 

£m 

Earnings for basic and diluted earnings per share

 

 

6,679 

 

7,542 

 


 

Notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

For the six months ended 30 September 2011

 

6         Equity dividends on ordinary shares

 

  

 

Six months ended 30 September 

  

 

 

2011 

 

2010 

  

 

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Declared during the period:

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

3,102 

 

2,976 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

Interim dividend for the year ending 31 March 2012: 3.05 pence per share (2011:
2.85 pence per share)

 

 

1,538 

 

1,494 

Second interim dividend for the year ending 31 March 2012: 4.0 pence per share
(2011: nil)

 

 

2,017 

 

–  

  

 

 

3,555 

 

1,494 

 

 

7         Held for sale assets

 

On 30 June 2011 the Group announced an agreement to sell its entire 24.4% holding in Polkomtel to Spartan Capital Holdings SP. z o.o. This transaction is part of an agreement between all of the shareholders of Polkomtel to sell their stakes to Spartan Capital Holdings SP. z o.o. The transaction is due to complete in the fourth calendar quarter of 2011. The Group is expected to receive a cash consideration of approximately €920 million (£815 million) before tax and transaction costs.

 

The major classes of assets and liabilities comprising the operations classified as held for sale are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

As at  30
September 

 

 

 

 

 

2011 

 

 

 

 

 

£m 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goodwill

 

 

 

 

358 

Other intangible assets

 

 

 

 

137 

Property, plant and equipment

 

 

 

 

201 

Other current assets

 

 

 

 

53 

Total assets classified as held for sale

 

 

 

 

749 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term borrowings

 

 

 

 

49 

Deferred tax liabilities

 

 

 

 

12 

Trade and other payables

 

 

 

 

109 

Other current liabilities

 

 

 

 

11 

Total liabilities associated with assets classified as held for sale

 

 

 

 

181 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net assets of disposal group

 

 

 

 

568 

 


 

Notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

For the six months ended 30 September 2011

 

 

8         Reconciliation of net cash flow from operating activities

 

 

 

Six months ended 30 September 

 

 

 

2011 

 

2010 

 

 

 

£m 

 

£m 

Profit for the financial period

 

 

6,644 

 

7,504 

Adjustments for:

 

 

 

 

 

     Share-based payments

 

 

70 

 

78 

     Depreciation and amortisation

 

 

4,000 

 

3,930 

     Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment

 

 

18 

 

18 

     Share of result in associates

 

 

(2,521)

 

(2,598)

     Impairment loss

 

 

450 

 

800 

     Other income and expense

 

 

(3,414)

 

–  

     Non-operating income and expense

 

 

161 

 

(2,389)

     Investment income

 

 

(226)

 

(1,402)

     Financing costs

 

 

1,053 

 

764 

     Income tax expense

 

 

1,367 

 

736 

     Increase in inventory

 

 

(54)

 

(149)

     Increase in trade and other receivables

 

 

(587)

 

(481)

     Increase in trade and other payables

 

 

108 

 

520 

Cash generated by operations

 

 

7,069 

 

7,331 

Tax paid

 

 

(1,143)

 

(1,091)

Net cash flow from operating activities

 

 

5,926 

 

6,240 

 

 

9         Related party transactions

 

The Group’s related parties are its joint ventures, associates, pension schemes, directors and Executive Committee members.

 

Related party transactions with the Group’s joint ventures and associates primarily comprise fees for the use of products and services including network airtime and access charges, and cash pooling arrangements.

 

No related party transactions have been entered into during the period which might reasonably affect any decisions made by the users of these condensed consolidated financial statements, except as disclosed below. Transactions between the Company and its joint ventures are not material to the extent that they have not been eliminated through proportionate consolidation or disclosed below.

 

  

 

Six months ended 30 September

  

 

 

2011 

 

2010 

  

 

 

£m 

 

£m 

Sales of goods and services to associates

 

 

110 

 

152 

Purchases of goods and services from associates

 

 

59 

 

93 

Purchases of goods and services from joint ventures

 

 

108 

 

107 

Net interest income receivable from joint ventures

 

 

 

12 

  

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

30 September 

 

31 March 

  

 

 

2011 

 

2011 

  

 

 

£m 

 

£m 

Trade balances owed:

 

 

 

 

 

     by associates

 

 

28 

 

52 

     to associates

 

 

 

23 

     by joint ventures

 

 

58 

 

67 

     to joint ventures

 

 

28 

 

27 

Other balances owed by joint ventures(1)

 

 

327 

 

176 

 

Note:

 

(1)     Amounts arise primarily through Vodafone Italy and Indus Towers and represent amounts not eliminated on consolidation. Interest is paid in line with market rates.

 


 

Notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

For the six months ended 30 September 2011

 

In the six months ended 30 September 2011 the Group made contributions to defined benefit pension schemes of £14 million (six months ended 30 September 2010: £15 million). Dividends received from associates are disclosed in the consolidated statement of cash flows.

 

10  Commitments and contingent liabilities

 

There have been no material changes to the Group’s commitments or contingent liabilities during the period, except as disclosed in note 11.

 

11  Other matters

 

Seasonality or cyclicality of interim operations

 

The Group’s financial results have not, historically, been subject to significant seasonal trends.

 

SFR

 

Following clearance of the transaction by the relevant competition and regulatory authorities, the Group completed the disposal of its entire 44% shareholding in SFR to Vivendi on 16 June 2011.

 

The Group received cash consideration of €7.75 billion (£6.8 billion) from Vivendi and a final dividend from SFR of €200 million (£178 million). Vodafone and SFR have also entered into a partner market agreement which will maintain their commercial cooperation.

 

Vodafone India Limited (formerly Vodafone Essar Limited)

 

On 1 July 2011 Vodafone Group, Essar Communications (Mauritius) Limited (‘ECML’) and ETHL Communications Holdings Limited (‘ECHL’) agreed the terms under which ECML and ECHL would sell their direct and indirect shareholdings in Vodafone India Limited (‘VIL’).

 

Under the terms of the agreements, ECML’s wholly owned subsidiaries, Essar Communications Limited (‘ECL’) and Essar Com Limited (‘ECom’), sold their entire 22% shareholdings in VIL, and ECHL agreed terms to dispose of its 11% shareholding in VIL. Further, the parties agreed that all outstanding claims between them are terminated, and that all future claims have been renounced. The parties also agreed to cooperate fully in seeking all regulatory approvals necessary for the completion of these transactions. ECML and ECHL’s contractual rights in respect of VIL under their prior agreements with Vodafone have terminated, and both ECML and ECHL relinquished all of their board seats in VIL.

 

The total cash outflow from Vodafone, including cash already paid for the first tranche of ECL’s shareholding in VIL, was expected to be approximately US$5.5 billion (£3.4 billion). This comprised:

 

·

a net payment of US$3.3 billion (£2.0 billion) for the 22% stake in VIL held by ECL and ECom after withholding tax of US$0.9 billion (£0.6 billion). The transfer of these shares from ECL and ECom to Vodafone was completed in two tranches on 1 June 2011 and 1 July 2011. Euro Pacific Securities Ltd., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Vodafone International Holdings B.V., had sought confirmation from the Authority for Advanced Rulings (‘AAR’) in India on whether withholding tax was due in respect of consideration payable on the acquisition of Essar Group’s offshore holding in VIL. A ruling from the AAR was expected by the end of May 2011 but was adjourned until 1 July 2011, when the case was withdrawn. Whilst Vodafone and Essar continue to believe that no tax is due on this transfer, it was viewed as prudent to pay withholding tax on a “without prejudice” basis. The payment was made on 5 July 2011.

·

a payment of US$1.3 billion (£0.8 billion or INR 56.7 billion) relating to the remaining 11% stake in VIL held by ECHL and the settlement of all shareholder claims. On 10 August 2011 Vodafone announced that Piramal Healthcare (‘Piramal’) had agreed to purchase approximately 5.5% of the issued equity share capital of VIL from ECHL for cash consideration of approximately US$0.6 billion (£0.4 billion). The transaction contemplates various exit mechanisms for Piramal, including both participation in a potential initial public offering of VIL and a sale of its stake to Vodafone. Approval for the sale of the remaining 5.5% interest in VIL currently held by ECHL is pending.

 


 

Notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

For the six months ended 30 September 2011

 

Licence acquisition in Spain

 

On 29 July 2011 Vodafone acquired a total of 20 MHz (2x10 MHz) spectrum in the 800 MHz band and 40 MHz (2x20 MHz) spectrum in the 2.6 GHz band for a total cost of €0.5 billion (£0.5 billion). The 800 MHz ‘digital dividend’ spectrum is expected to become available in 2014 and the 2.6 GHz spectrum is immediately available for use.

 

Events after the end of the reporting period

 

Developments in the India tax case

The Group continues to believe that neither VIHBV nor any other member of the Group is liable for Indian withholding taxes on the Hutchison transaction in 2007, and continues to take actions to defend itself vigorously both during and after the six months ended 30 September 2011.

 

On 22 October 2010 the Indian Tax Authority quantified the alleged tax liability and issued a demand of INR 112.2 billion (£1.5 billion) in respect of tax (INR 79 billion) and interest (INR 33.2 billion). On 15 November 2010 VIHBV was asked to make a deposit with the Supreme Court of INR 25 billion (£0.3 billion) and provided a guarantee for INR 85 billion (£1.1 billion) pending final adjudication of the case. It is normal for the Supreme Court in India to request a monetary deposit and/or security by way of a bank guarantee as an interim measure pending the final outcome of a case. In line with this practice, VIHBV duly complied with the request in order to enable it to continue with the Supreme Court appeal process.

 

Following the payment of the deposit, interest remains accruing at 1% per month on the balance of the alleged tax liability of INR 54 billion (£0.7 billion) should this be found due. In addition to the tax and interest, penalties of up to 100% could be imposed on any tax found due.

 

The hearing before the Supreme Court, which is considering the appeal on the issue of jurisdiction as well as on the challenge to quantification, finished on 19 October 2011 and the decision of the Supreme Court is expected in due course. The outcome of the proceedings may or may not conclude on the matter in its entirety and there can be no assurance that any outcome will be favourable to VIHBV or the Group.

 

The Group did not carry a provision for this litigation at 30 September 2011 or 31 March 2011 as it continues to believe that it had no obligation to withhold tax on the acquisition under applicable Indian law at the time of the transaction.

 

Additional details on this matter are available under “Legal proceedings” on page 122 of the Group’s annual report for the year ended 31 March 2011.

 

Licence acquisition in Italy

On 3 October 2011 Vodafone acquired a total of 20 MHz (2x10 MHz) spectrum in the 800 MHz band, 10 MHz (2x5 MHz) spectrum in the 1.8 GHz band and 30 MHz (2x15MHz) spectrum in the 2.6 GHz band for a total cost of €1.3 billion (£1.1 billion). The 1.8 GHz band is expected to become available by the end of 2011, the 2.6 GHz spectrum band is expected to become available by the end of 2012 and the 800 MHz ‘digital dividend’ spectrum is expected to become available in January 2013.

 


 

USE OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

In the discussion of our 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.

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

Adjusted EBITDA is operating profit excluding share in results of associates, depreciation and amortisation, gains/losses on the disposal of fixed assets, impairment losses and other operating income and expense. We use adjusted EBITDA, in conjunction with other GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures such as adjusted operating profit, operating profit and net profit, to assess our operating performance. We believe that adjusted EBITDA is an operating performance measure, not a liquidity measure, as it includes non-cash changes in working capital and is reviewed by the Chief Executive to assess internal performance in conjunction with adjusted EBITDA margin, which is an alternative sales margin figure. We believe it is both useful and necessary to report adjusted EBITDA as a performance measure as it enhances the comparability of profit across segments.

 

Because adjusted EBITDA does not take into account certain items that affect operations and performance, adjusted EBITDA has inherent limitations as a performance measure. To compensate for these limitations, we analyse adjusted EBITDA in conjunction with other GAAP and non-GAAP operating performance measures. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for a GAAP measure of operating performance.

 

A reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to the closest equivalent GAAP measure, operating profit, is provided in note 2 to the condensed consolidated financial statements on page 34. A reconciliation of operating profit to profit for the financial period is provided in our consolidated income statement on page 29.

 

Group adjusted operating profit and adjusted earnings per share

 

Group adjusted operating profit excludes non-operating income of associates, impairment losses and other income and expense. Adjusted earnings per share also exclude amounts in relation to equity put rights and similar arrangements and certain foreign exchange rate differences, together with related tax effects. We believe that it is both useful and necessary to report these measures for the following reasons:

 

·

these measures are used by the Group for internal performance analysis;

 

 

·

these measures are used in setting director and management remuneration; and

 

 

·

they are useful in connection with discussion with the investment analyst community and debt rating agencies.

 

Reconciliation of adjusted operating profit and adjusted earnings per share to the respective closest equivalent GAAP measures, operating profit and basic earnings per share, is provided in the section “Financial results” beginning on page 9.

 

Cash flow measures

 

In presenting and discussing our reported results, free cash flow is calculated and presented even though this measure is not recognised within IFRS. We believe that it is both useful and necessary to communicate free cash flow to investors and other interested parties, for the following reasons:

 

·

free cash flow allows us and external parties to evaluate our liquidity and the cash generated by our operations. Free cash flow does not include payments for licences and spectrum included within intangible assets, items determined independently of the ongoing business, such as the level of dividends, and items which are deemed discretionary such as cash flows relating to acquisitions and disposals. In addition, it does not necessarily reflect the amounts which we have an obligation to incur. However, free cash flow does reflect the cash available for activities such as strengthening the consolidated statement of financial position or providing returns to shareholders in the form of dividends or share purchases;

 

 

·

free cash flow facilitates comparability of results with other companies although our measure of free cash flow may not be directly comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies;

 

 

·

this measure is used by management for planning, reporting and incentive purposes; and

 

 

·

this measure is useful in connection with discussions with the investment analyst community and debt rating agencies.

 

A reconciliation of cash generated by operations, the closest equivalent GAAP measure, to free cash flow is provided on page 20.

 


 

USE OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

Organic growth

 

All amounts in this document marked with an “(*)” represent organic growth which present performance on a comparable basis, both in terms of merger and acquisition activity and foreign exchange rates. We believe that “organic growth”, which is not intended to be a substitute for, or superior to, reported growth, provides useful and necessary information to investors and other interested parties for the following reasons:

 

·

it provides additional information on the underlying growth of the business without the effect of certain factors unrelated to the operating performance of the business;

 

 

·

it is used for internal performance analysis; and

 

 

·

it facilitates comparability of underlying growth with other companies although the term “organic” is not a defined term under IFRS and may not therefore be comparable with similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

 

Reconciliations of organic growth to reported growth is shown where used or in the table on the following page.

 

 


 

USE OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

Organic

M&A 

Foreign 

Reported 

  

 

change

activity 

exchange 

change 

  

 

pps 

pps 

pps 

Group

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

H1

2.2 

0.1 

1.8 

4.1 

Service revenue

H1

1.4 

–  

1.7 

3.1 

Service revenue

Q2

1.3 

–  

2.4 

3.7 

Service revenue excluding the impact of MTR's

H1

3.8 

–  

1.8 

5.6 

Data revenue

H1

23.8 

–  

3.2 

27.0 

Fixed revenue

H1

6.1 

–  

3.4 

9.5 

Enterprise revenue

H1

2.6 

–  

3.2 

5.8 

Fixed revenue within enterprise

H1

19.2 

–  

4.6 

23.8 

Vodafone Global Enterprise revenue

H1

–  

11 

Machine-to-machine revenue

H1

33 

–  

37 

Adjusted EBITDA  

H1

–  

–  

2.3 

2.3 

Adjusted operating profit

H1

4.4 

(4.8)

(0.2)

(0.6)

Europe

 

 

 

 

 

Enterprise revenue

H1

1.5 

–  

3.5 

5.0 

Germany service revenue

Q2

0.1 

–  

5.3 

5.4 

Germany data revenue

H1

22.7 

–  

5.4 

28.1 

Germany enterprise revenue

H1

4.7 

–  

4.6 

9.3 

Italy service revenue

Q2

(3.0)

–  

5.1 

2.1 

Italy service revenue

Q1

(1.5)

–  

3.5 

2.0 

Italy data revenue

H1

18.8 

–  

5.0 

23.8 

Italy fixed line revenue

H1

12.2 

–  

4.8 

17.0 

Italy enterprise revenue

H1

6.4 

–  

4.7 

11.1 

Spain service revenue

Q1

(9.9)

–  

3.2 

(6.7)

Spain service revenue

Q2

(9.3)

–  

4.8 

(4.5)

Spain service revenue

Change

0.6 

–  

1.6 

2.2 

Spain data revenue

H1

12.1 

–  

4.9 

17.0 

Spain fixed line revenue

Q2

4.2 

–  

6.3 

10.5 

UK service revenue

Q2

2.5 

–  

–  

2.5 

UK data revenue

H1

20.4 

–  

–  

20.4 

Netherlands service revenue

H1

2.3 

–  

4.5 

6.8 

Netherlands service revenue

Q2

4.2 

–  

5.5 

9.7 

Turkey service revenue

H1

27.9 

–  

(16.9)

11.0 

Turkey service revenue

Q2

24.0 

–  

(19.7)

4.3 

Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific

 

 

 

 

 

India service revenue

Q2

20.1 

–  

(2.6)

17.5 

India data revenue

H1

66.1 

–  

(7.5)

58.6 

Vodacom service revenue

Q2

6.7 

–  

(1.6)

5.1 

Vodacom data revenue

H1

37.6 

–  

(0.6)

37.0 

Vodacom's operations outside of South Africa

H1

19.5 

–  

(6.9)

12.6 

Australia service revenue

Q2

(8.1)

–  

10.9 

2.8 

Australia service revenue

Q1

(3.6)

–  

9.6 

6.0 

Egypt service revenue

H1

0.1 

–  

(10.9)

(10.8)

Egypt service revenue

Q2

1.2 

–  

(8.2)

(7.0)

Ghana service revenue

H1

32.5 

–  

(15.3)

17.2 

Qatar service revenue

H1

48.1 

–  

(9.4)

38.7 

Non-Controlled Interests and Common Functions

 

 

 

 

 

Verizon Wireless service revenue

H1

7.1 

–  

(6.5)

0.6 

Verizon Wireless service revenue

Q2

6.4 

–  

(3.9)

2.5 

Verizon Wireless revenue

H1

10.5 

–  

(6.7)

3.8 

Verizon Wireless adjusted EBITDA

H1

9.1 

–  

(6.6)

2.5 

Group's share of result in Verizon Wireless

H1

11.1 

–  

(6.5)

4.6 

 

 


 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

 

 

Regional results - six months ended 30 September

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Revenue

 

Adjusted 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

4,102 

3,859 

 

1,552 

1,471 

 

831 

818 

 

410 

342 

 

869 

1,111 

Italy

2,905 

2,852 

 

1,362 

1,356 

 

976 

1,004 

 

269 

260 

 

893 

983 

Spain

2,511 

2,614 

 

681 

868 

 

361 

555 

 

147 

220 

 

343 

402 

UK

2,664 

2,593 

 

633 

599 

 

185 

137 

 

219 

178 

 

252 

266 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Europe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greece

456 

486 

 

132 

124 

 

42 

26 

 

50 

67 

 

110 

36 

 

Netherlands

903 

823 

 

308 

286 

 

181 

177 

 

93 

99 

 

202 

217 

 

Portugal

560 

565 

 

250 

232 

 

162 

145 

 

62 

63 

 

169 

162 

 

Romania

361 

359 

 

141 

149 

 

46 

53 

 

38 

32 

 

64 

84 

 

Turkey

870 

760 

 

132 

93 

 

(33)

 

134 

146 

 

(127)

 

Other(1)

1,154 

1,129 

 

364 

377 

 

173 

178 

 

120 

114 

 

164 

182 

  

4,304 

4,122 

 

1,327 

1,261 

 

606 

546 

 

497 

521 

 

582 

684 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Intra-region eliminations

(150)

(150)

 

–  

–  

 

–  

–  

 

–  

–  

 

–  

–  

Europe

16,336 

15,890 

 

5,555 

5,555 

 

2,959 

3,060 

 

1,542 

1,521 

 

2,939 

3,446 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

India

2,117 

1,874 

 

535 

488 

 

(9)

 

329 

286 

 

332 

340 

Vodacom

2,814 

2,612 

 

934 

866 

 

470 

343 

 

303 

183 

 

590 

565 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Egypt

623 

691 

 

271 

323 

 

158 

199 

 

59 

101 

 

153 

213 

 

Other(1)

1,354 

1,265 

 

261 

255 

 

(1)

14 

 

223 

205 

 

21 

155 

  

1,977 

1,956 

 

532 

578 

 

157 

213 

 

282 

306 

 

174 

368 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Intra-region eliminations

–  

–  

 

–  

–  

 

–  

–  

 

–  

–  

 

–  

–  

Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific

6,908 

6,442 

 

2,001 

1,932 

 

618 

562 

 

914 

775 

 

1,096 

1,273 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-Controlled Interests and Common Functions

306 

320 

 

(24)

(124)

 

2,458 

2,447 

 

162 

139 

 

(273)

(50)

Inter-region eliminations

(30)

(49)

 

–  

–  

 

–  

–  

 

–  

–  

 

–  

–  

Group

23,520 

22,603 

 

7,532 

7,363 

 

6,035 

6,069 

 

2,618 

2,435 

 

3,762 

4,669 

 

Note:

 

(1)          Includes elimination of £21 million (2010: £12 million) and £1 million (2010: £2 million) of intercompany revenue between operating companies within the Other Europe and Other Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific segments respectively.

 

See page 40 for “Use of non-GAAP financial information” and page 47 for “Definitions of terms”.

 


 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

 

 

Service revenue – quarter ended 30 September

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Group(1)

Europe 

Africa, Middle East 
and Asia Pacific 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2011 

2010 

2011 

2010 

2011 

2010 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Voice revenue

6,668 

6,851 

4,306 

4,578 

2,290 

2,208 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Messaging revenue

1,359 

1,260 

1,096 

1,014 

249 

227 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Data revenue

1,579 

1,243 

1,188 

944 

380 

286 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed line revenue

903 

819 

795 

720 

108 

99 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other service revenue

527 

469 

345 

315 

190 

164 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service revenue

11,036 

10,642 

7,730 

7,571 

3,217 

2,984 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

% change

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Group 

Europe 

Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific 

 

Organic 

Foreign 
exchange 

M&A 
activity 

Reported 

Organic 

Foreign 
exchange 

M&A 
activity 

Reported 

Organic 

Foreign 
exchange 

M&A 
activity 

Reported 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Voice revenue

(4.5)

1.8 

–  

(2.7)

(8.9)

3.0 

–  

(5.9)

4.6 

(0.9)

–  

3.7 

Messaging revenue

4.8 

3.1 

–  

7.9 

5.1 

3.0 

–  

8.1 

5.9 

3.8 

–  

9.7 

Data revenue

23.1 

3.9 

–  

27.0 

21.3 

4.5 

–  

25.8 

31.8 

1.1 

–  

32.9 

Fixed line revenue

5.9 

4.4 

–  

10.3 

5.2 

5.2 

–  

10.4 

11.0 

(1.9)

–  

9.1 

Other service revenue

11.2 

1.2 

–  

12.4 

7.0 

2.5 

–  

9.5 

16.2 

(0.3)

–  

15.9 

Service revenue

1.3 

2.4 

–  

3.7 

(1.2)

3.3 

–  

2.1 

8.2 

(0.4)

–  

7.8 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

815 

896 

780 

824 

781 

866 

611 

642 

808 

724 

877 

865 

Messaging revenue

226 

192 

222 

213 

77 

88 

308 

282 

63 

40 

75 

76 

Data revenue

385 

295 

186 

150 

164 

136 

219 

184 

89 

56 

172 

134 

Fixed line revenue

468 

443 

157 

132 

84 

76 

12 

53 

54 

Other service revenue

68 

35 

40 

37 

60 

55 

111 

114 

93 

78 

60 

48 

Service revenue

1,962 

1,861 

1,385 

1,356 

1,166 

1,221 

1,261 

1,230 

1,056 

899 

1,237 

1,177 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

% change

 

Germany 

Italy 

Spain 

UK 

India

Vodacom 

 

Reported 

Organic 

Reported 

Organic 

Reported 

Organic 

Reported 

Organic 

Reported 

Organic 

Reported 

Organic 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service revenue

5.4 

0.1 

2.1 

(3.0)

(4.5)

(9.3)

2.5 

2.5 

17.5 

20.1 

5.1 

6.7 

 

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.

 


 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

 

Reconciliation of adjusted earnings

 

 

 

Note

 

Reported

 

Adjustments

 

Adjusted

 

Six months ended 30 September 2011

 

 

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating profit

 

1

 

8,999 

 

(2,964)

 

6,035 

 

Non-operating income and expense

 

2

 

(161)

 

161 

 

-  

 

Net financing costs

 

3

 

(827)

 

(66)

 

(893)

 

Profit before taxation

 

 

 

8,011 

 

(2,869)

 

5,142 

 

Income tax expense

 

4

 

(1,367)

 

170 

 

(1,197)

 

Profit for the financial period

 

 

 

6,644 

 

(2,699)

 

3,945 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attributable to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

– Equity shareholders

 

 

 

6,679 

 

(2,717)

 

3,962 

 

– Non-controlling interests

 

 

 

(35)

 

18 

 

(17)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share

 

 

 

13.06p 

 

 

 

7.75p 

 

 

Notes:

 

(1)

Adjustment primarily relates to the £3,419 million gain arising from the disposal of the Group’s 44% interest in SFR.

(2)

Adjustment primarily consists of losses in relation to equity investments.

(3)

Comprises a £66 million adjustment in relation to foreign exchange rate movements on certain intercompany balances.

(4)

Adjustment primarily consists of tax related to the anticipated sale of an investment.

 

 

 

 

Note

 

Reported

 

Adjustments

 

Adjusted

 

Six months ended 30 September 2010

 

 

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating profit

 

1

 

5,213 

 

856 

 

6,069 

 

Non-operating income and expense

 

2

 

2,389 

 

(2,389)

 

  

 

Net investment income/(financing costs)

 

3

 

638 

 

(1,078)

 

(440)

 

Profit before taxation

 

 

 

8,240 

 

(2,611)

 

5,629 

 

Income tax expense

 

4

 

(736)

 

(315)

 

(1,051)

 

Profit for the financial period

 

 

 

7,504 

 

(2,926)

 

4,578 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attributable to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

– Equity shareholders

 

 

 

7,542 

 

(2,926)

 

4,616 

 

– Non-controlling interests

 

 

 

(38)

 

  

 

(38)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share

 

 

 

14.31p 

 

 

 

8.76p 

 

 

Notes:

(1)

Adjustment relates to the £800 million impairment loss for Vodafone Greece 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 on disposal arising from the disposal of the Group’s 3.2% interest in China Mobile Limited.

(3)

Includes a £228 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 an £872 million release of interest accrual on the settlement of a tax case.

(4)

Represents £235 million relating to tax on the adjustments used to derive adjusted profit before tax offset by £550 million arising on the settlement of a tax case.

 


 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

 

Mobile customers(1)

 

(in thousands)

Country 

 

1 July
2011

 

Net
additions

 

Other
movements

 

30 September
2011 

 

Prepaid(2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Germany

 

36,024

 

804 

 

 

36,828

 

58.7%

 

Italy

 

23,223

 

(148)

 

 

23,075

 

83.6%

 

Spain

 

17,350

 

170 

 

 

17,520

 

38.1%

 

UK(3)

 

19,006

 

81 

 

244

 

19,331

 

48.0%

 

 

 

95,603

 

907 

 

244

 

96,754

 

60.4%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Europe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Albania

 

1,663

 

85 

 

 

1,748

 

93.9%

 

Czech Republic

 

3,230

 

69 

 

 

3,299

 

45.6%

 

Greece

 

3,995

 

90 

 

 

4,085

 

60.7%

 

Hungary

 

2,642

 

12 

 

 

2,654

 

51.5%

 

Ireland

 

2,209

 

11 

 

 

2,220

 

67.3%

 

Malta

 

257

 

17 

 

 

274

 

83.6%

 

Netherlands

 

5,145

 

119 

 

 

5,264

 

37.4%

 

Portugal

 

6,052

 

128 

 

 

6,180

 

81.4%

 

Romania

 

8,930

 

(334)

 

 

8,596

 

60.5%

 

Turkey

 

17,505

 

323 

 

 

17,828

 

70.3%

 

 

 

51,628

 

520 

 

 

52,148

 

64.1%

 

Europe

 

147,231

 

1,427 

 

244

 

148,902

 

61.7%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

India

 

141,519

 

3,473 

 

 

144,992

 

95.3%

 

Vodacom(4)

 

45,418

 

2,479 

 

 

47,897

 

88.9%

 

 

 

186,937

 

5,952 

 

 

192,889

 

93.7%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Australia

 

3,419

 

(27)

 

 

3,392

 

39.7%

 

Egypt

 

33,745

 

1,576 

 

 

35,321

 

96.0%

 

Fiji

 

305

 

(2)

 

 

303

 

95.4%

 

Ghana

 

3,494

 

472 

 

 

3,966

 

99.6%

 

New Zealand

 

2,458

 

(24)

 

 

2,434

 

67.2%

 

Qatar

 

761

 

53 

 

 

814

 

96.3%

 

 

 

44,182

 

2,048 

 

 

46,230

 

87.2%

 

Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific

 

231,119

 

8,000 

 

 

239,119

 

92.4%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-Controlled Interests and Common Functions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poland

 

3,365

 

(21)

 

 

3,344

 

47.5%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Group

 

381,715

 

9,406 

 

244

 

391,365

 

79.3%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Memorandum:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Group’s share of Verizon Wireless(5)

 

40,381

 

438 

 

 

40,819

 

5.0%

 

Vodafone Group plus the Group’s share of Verizon Wireless

 

422,096

 

9,844 

 

244

 

432,184

 

65.9%

 

 

Notes:

(1)

Group customers represent subsidiaries on a 100% basis and joint ventures (being Italy, Australia, Fiji and Poland) based on the Group’s equity interests.

(2)

Prepaid customer percentages are calculated on a venture basis. At 30 September 2011 there were 521.0 million venture customers.

(3)

Other movements relate to a customer base acquisition.

(4)

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

(5)

Includes Verizon Wireless’ retail customers only, based on the Group’s equity interest.

 


 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

 

Annualised mobile customer churn – quarter ended 30 September 2011

 

 

Country 

 

Contract

 

Prepaid

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Germany

 

15.4%

 

32.4%

 

25.4%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Italy

 

19.2%

 

31.4%

 

29.5%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spain

 

20.9%

 

56.4%

 

34.4%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UK

 

17.0%

 

55.4%

 

35.4%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

India

 

22.4%

 

65.2%

 

63.2%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vodacom(1)

 

9.2%

 

53.9%

 

48.8%

 

 

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

 

Notes:

 

1.

Vodafone and the Vodafone logo, Vodacom, M-Pesa, Vodafone TV and Vodafone One Net are trademarks of the Vodafone Group. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

2.

All growth rates reflect a comparison to the half-year ended 30 September 2010 unless otherwise stated.

3.

References to the “Q1” are to the quarter ended 30 June 2011 unless otherwise stated.

4.

References to the “Q2” are to the quarter ended 30 September 2011 unless otherwise stated.

5.

References to “first half of the financial year” or “H1” are to the six months ended 30 September 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.

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

 

 

 

SME

 

Small to medium-sized enterprises.

 

 

 

SoHo

 

Small-office-home-office.

 

 

 

 

For definitions of other terms please refer to pages 149 to 150 of the Group’s annual report for the year ended 31 March 2011.

 


 

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 and within the guidance for adjusted operating profit and free cash flow for the 2012 financial year; expectations for the Group’s future performance generally including adjusted EBITDA growth; expectations regarding the Group’s 7% per annum dividend per share growth target, the Verizon Wireless dividend anticipated to be paid in January 2012 and the special dividend expected to be paid in February 2012; expectations regarding the operating environment and market conditions and trends, including customer 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 or by third parties independently, including the growth of tablet device usage; growth in customers and usage; growth in data, enterprise and broadband; expectations regarding spectrum licence acquisitions, including anticipated new availability in Spain and Italy; expectations regarding adjusted operating profit, revenue, service revenue, capitalised fixed asset additions, adjusted EBITDA margins, depreciation and amortisation charges, capital expenditure, free cash flow, foreign exchange rate movements and tax rates, including the Group’s anticipated adjusted effective tax rate for the financial year ending 31 March 2012; 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 Australia; expectations regarding disposals, including the anticipated disposal of Polkomtel; expectations regarding the Group’s share buyback programmes 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 the Group’s annual report for the year ended 31 March 2011. 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.

 

-ends-

 


 

OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

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: November 15, 2011

By: /s/ R MARTIN

 

Name: Rosemary Martin

 

Title: Group General Counsel and Company Secretary