28.10.2020
DGAP-News:Telefónica Deutschland Holding AG: Solid financial results with OIBDA back to growth
DGAP-News: Telefónica Deutschland Holding AG / Key word(s): Quarterly /
Interim Statement
Telefónica Deutschland Holding AG: Solid financial results with OIBDA back
to growth
28.10.2020 / 07:30
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
MUNICH, 28 October 2020
Interim statement for January to September 2020
Solid financial results with OIBDA back to growth
- Core business momentum fully intact, churn remained on historic low levels
supported by network quality improvements while international roaming
reflects ongoing travel restrictions
- Revenues up +0.4% y-o-y in Q3 20 on sustained MSR and fixed revenue trends
- Q3 20 OIBDA [1] back to growth up +0.8% y-o-y on improved revenue mix and
enhanced cost efficiencies while muted by COVID-19 related roaming drag
- C/S ratio of 13.4% in Q3 20; making steady progress with LTE roll-out and
5G network went 'live' while some Capex shift within the current investment
programme
- Confirming FY20 financial outlook while continuously monitoring &
analysing COVID-19 impacts
Operating performance
In a dynamic yet rational environment Telefónica Deutschland's core business
momentum remained fully intact with solid trading momentum in Q3 20 driven
by the strong traction of the O2 Free portfolio, leveraging historic low
churn levels and increasing NPS as a result of the steady quality
improvements of the O2 network and services. O2 was ranked top with a 'very
good'-rating in both, the connect magazine's shop test as well as the
connect service app test.
Telefónica Deutschland's 5G network went live on 3 Oct-20 and is already
operational in the first 15 German cities. The company is driving its 5G
rollout over the coming months to reach >30% of population coverage by YE21,
~50% by YE22 and close to full coverage by YE25.
On 21 Oct 2020, Telefónica Deutschland announced its ambition to become
climate neutral by 2025 by significantly increasing energy efficiency of its
network on the back of the 5G rollout and network modernisation as well as
using 100% of green energy in all areas of the business. Also, the company
is targeting to reduce business travel by ~70% as part of the new normal in
an increasingly digital working environment. With its ambitious climate
strategy Telefónica Deutschland supports the Paris Climate Agreement and
contributes to the action alliance "Business Ambition for 1.5 C".
Mobile business
Mobile postpaid [2] posted +261k net additions in Q3 20 (+608k in 9M 20)
compared to +367k in Q3 19 (+1,008k in 9M 19) reflecting continued historic
low churn levels in the COVID-19 environment and sustained strong customer
demand for the well-performing O2 Free portfolio as well as a robust
performance of partner brands.
M2M saw +47k net additions in Q3 20 (+164k in 9M 20) versus +25k in Q3 19
(-9k net disconnections
in 9M 19).
Mobile prepaid registered seasonal strong demand, posting +208k net
additions in Q3 20 (-566k net disconnections in 9M 20) compared to -3k in Q3
19 (-210k in 9M 19) while the ongoing prepaid to postpaid migration trends
in the market remained unchanged.
Postpaid [3] churn improved +0.1 p.p. y-o-y to 1.4% both, in Q3 20 and YTD.
Churn in the O2 brand continued to be at even lower levels and improved +0.4
p.p. y-o-y to historic lows of 1.0% in Q3 20 and 1.1% in 9M 20, an
improvement of +0.2 p.p. y-o-y. These positive churn trends are mainly
driven by the Company's retention focus supported by sustained network
quality improvements and some tailwinds from COVID-19 related lower churn
entries. The implied annualised churn rate of the O2 brand in 9M 20 improved
to 13.5% vs. 15.7% in 9M 19, thus providing a clear proof point for
sustained quality improvements and excellent customer experience on the O2
network.
Hence, Telefónica Deutschland's mobile customer accesses stood at 44.0m
(+1.0% y-o-y) as of 30 September 2020 driven by strong +4.8% y-o-y growth of
the mobile postpaid ex M2M base which increased to 23.1m accesses. As a
result, mobile postpaid accounted for 52.6% of the company's total mobile
base, a plus of +1.9 p.p. y-o-y. M2M accesses came to 1.4m at the end of
September, +15.0% y-o-y. The mobile prepaid base declined -3.9% y-o-y to
19.5m, reflecting seasonality as well as the ongoing prepaid-to-contract
migration trends in the German market.
LTE customer base climbed to 26.6m [4] accesses as of 30 September 2020, up
+27.4% y-o-y, fuelled by the sustained demand for high-speed mobile data
services. LTE-penetration across the base reached 62.4%, up +13.1p.p. y-o-y
while LTE penetration in postpaid continues to be even significantly higher
(~76%).
ARPU trends in the first 9M of 2020 are reflecting ongoing COVID-19 related
roaming headwinds as well as negligible regulatory effects while trading and
prepaid dynamics fully recovered in Q3 20. Mainly the COVID-19 related
roaming drag continues to offset the ARPU accretive effects from the
successful O2 Free portfolio and value-added services. Blended mobile ARPU
was EUR 9.9 in the first 9M of 2020, down -1.5% y-o-y while already showing
signs of recovery in Q3 20 at EUR 10.1 with a decline of -0.6% y-o-y.
Prepaid ARPU of EUR 6.0 was up +1.5% y-o-y in 9M 20 mainly on the back of
fewer inactive SIM-cards. Postpaid ARPU stood at EUR 13.6 in 9M 20, a
decline of -4.9% y-o-y on the back of the before mentioned factors. Own
brand postpaid ARPU was down -1.1% y-o-y in 9M 20. Excluding the COVID-19
related loss of roaming revenues, own brand ARPU was up +0.3% y-o-y in both,
Q3 20 and 9M 20.
Fixed business
The fixed broadband customer base stood at 2.3m accesses at the end of
September 2020, up +2.7% y-o-y, driven by a +8.8% y-o-y step-up of the VDSL
base to 1.8m - now representing 78% of the fixed broadband base. In 3Q 20,
fixed broadband registered +6k net additions in a low churn environment
(+45k in 9M 20), driven by continued strong demand for VDSL (+34k net
additions in Q3 20 and +110k in 9M 20).
Fixed churn remained at low levels of 0.9% in Q3 20, flat y-o-y.
Fixed broadband ARPU of EUR 23.7 continued its growth path and posted +2.4%
y-o-y growth in Q3 20 (also EUR 23.7 in 9M 20, +1.9% y-o-y) reflecting
growth in the customer base including the steadily increasing share of VDSL
customers.
Financial performance
Revenue dynamics remained intact, posting EUR 1,873m in Q3 20, up +0.4%
y-o-y (+1.5% y-o-y to EUR 5,509m in 9M 20) on improving MSR and fixed
revenue trends while absorbing EUR -30m of COVID-19 impacts in Q3 20 (EUR
-69m in 9M 20) and robust demand for handsets. Ex COVID-19 revenue growth
would have been +1.6 p.p. higher in Q3 20 and +1.3 p.p. in 9M 20.
Mobile service revenue [5] (MSR) were flat y-o-y at EUR 1,361m in Q3 20 (EUR
3,948m in 9M 20, -0.3% y-o-y), improving their y-o-y performance on strong
own brand performance while facing tougher comps and COVID-19 impacts of EUR
-27m in the quarter (EUR -62m in 9M 20). Ex COVID-19 MSR growth would have
been +2.0 p.p. higher in Q3 20 and +1.6 p.p. in 9M 20.
Handset revenue reflected some delayed smartphone launches while demand for
high value handset remained strong and registered a -2.1% y-o-y decline to
EUR 311m in Q3 20 while YTD performance was supported by the good traction
of online channels (+6.4% y-o-y to EUR 972m).
Fixed revenue further maintained their upward trend and posted strong +6.7%
y-o-y at EUR 198m in Q3 20 (+5.6% y-o-y growth at EUR 583m in 9M 20) on the
back of sustained retail customer base growth driven by strong VDSL demand.
Thus, fixed retail revenue posted even stronger y-o-y growth of +7.4% and
+7.2% in Q3 20 and 9M 20, respectively.
Other income totalled EUR 439m in Q3 20 (EUR 496m in 9M 20) mainly driven by
a capital gain of EUR 407m related to the completed transfer of the first
tranche of ~6,000 mobile sites to Telxius in September.
Operating expenses including exceptional effects of EUR -26m (mainly
restructuring expenses) totalled EUR 1,336m in Q3 20; hence, up +1.3% y-o-y
(EUR 3,950m in 9M 20, +1.9% y-o-y) while in organic terms operating expenses
were -0.5% lower y-o-y in the quarter.
- Supplies reached EUR 591m in Q3 20, +1.2% y-o-y (EUR 1,762m in 9M 20,
+5.0% y-o-y) also driven by higher fixed network traffic so that hardware
cost of sales and connectivity-related cost of sales accounted for 51% and
45% of supplies, respectively. YTD September supplies are reflecting handset
demand, the COVID-19 driven increase of mobile and fixed voice volumes,
European roaming patterns as well as higher fixed data traffic on the
network.
- Personnel expenses amounted to EUR 168m in Q3 20 (EUR 461m in 9M 20) and
included EUR -24m of restructuring expenses (EUR +1m in Q3 19; EUR -25m and
EUR -5m in 9M 20 and 9M 19, respectively). Total base salaries were lower
-1.0% y-o-y in Q3 20 (-1.8% y-o-y in 9M 20) driven by a lower FTE base
versus prior year.
- Other operating expenses [6] were EUR 577m in Q3 20 and included
exceptional effects of EUR -2m (EUR 1,727m in 9M 20 including EUR -10m
exceptional effects). Other operating expenses were lower by -2.2% y-o-y in
Q3 20 (9M 20 and -1.4% y-o-y) reflecting efficiency gains and seasonal
effects as well as commercial activities. In the January to September
period, commercial and non-commercial costs accounted for 67% and 30%,
respectively. Group fees totalled EUR 8m in Q3 20 and EUR 24m in 9M 20, a
decline of -6.3% y-o-y.
OIBDA [7] amounted to EUR 595m in Q3 20, back to growth up +0.8% y-o-y in
the quarter (EUR 1,680m in 9M 20, -1.0% y-o-y). The improved OIBDA margin is
a result of the revenue mix and enhanced cost efficiencies while muted by
the COVID-19 related roaming drag. COVID-19 impacts amounted to EUR -23m in
Q3 20 and to EUR -47m in 9M 20 and are fully absorbed in the before
mentioned y-o-y trends. OIBDA7 margin stood at 31.8% in Q3 20 (+0.1 p.p.
y-o-y) and 30.5% in 9M 20 (-0.8 p.p. y-o-y) reflecting the before mentioned
effects as well as the growth trends of the lower margin handset business.
Ex COVID-19 OIBDA7 growth would have been +3.9 p.p. higher in Q3 20 and +2.8
p.p. YTD Sep-20.
Depreciation & Amortisation totalled EUR 1,701m in the nine months period to
September, a y-o-y decline of -6.2% (EUR 1,813m in 9M 19), mainly due to
individual assets in PPE reaching the end of their useful life.
The operating income for the first 9M of 2020 came to EUR 354m compares with
an operating loss of
EUR-141m in prior year and is driven by EUR +401m capital gains [8] related
with the sale of assets.
The net financial expenses accounted for EUR -49m in the first 9M of 2020
compared to EUR -39m in the same period 2019.
The Company reported EUR +22m income tax credit in the first nine months of
2020 as a result of cash taxes and a deferred tax income related with the
transfer of ~6,000 mobile sites to Telxius.
The net profit in 9M 20 amounted to EUR 328m compared to a net loss of EUR
-180m in the same period of the prior year.
CapEx [9] came to EUR 251m in Q3 20 with a C/S ratio of 13.4% and EUR 726m
in 9M 20 (-7.1% y-o-y) with a C/S ratio of 13.2%. This is the result of more
back-end loaded deployment of CapEx mainly due to COVID-19 as well as a
shift of some CapEx into next year within the current investment programme
which is also likely to take slightly longer to execute due to COVID-19.
Nonetheless, the LTE-rollout is making steady progress with the second
milestone agreed with Bundesnetzagentur successfully achieved at the end of
September and the Company being on track to fulfil its YE20 coverage
obligations. Also, Telefónica Deutschland's 5G network already operates in
the first 15 German cities with a rapid rollout over the coming months to
reach >30% of pop-coverage by YE21, ~50% by YE22 and close to full coverage
by YE25.
Operating cash flow (OIBDA minus CapEx9) amounted to EUR 1,329m in 9M 20
including the before mentioned exceptional effects of EUR 375m. Excluding
exceptional effects, OpCF amounted to EUR 954m in 9M 20, up +4.3% y-o-y).
Free cash flow (FCF) [10] was EUR 695m in the first 9M of 2020. Lease
payments, primarily for leased lines and antenna sites, amounted to EUR
-429m. As a result, FCFaL stood at EUR 267m for the reporting period
compared to EUR 227m in the prior year.
Working capital movements and adjustments were negative in the amount of EUR
-221m in 9M 20
(EUR -210m in the prior year period). This development was mainly driven by
a decrease in capex payables (EUR -61m), decreased prepayments (EUR +13m),
net restructuring impacts (EUR +10m) as well as other working capital
movements in the amount of EUR -184m. The latter include the development of
net receivables (including factoring) in the amount of EUR +87m which were
outweighed by other working capital movements, especially a decrease in
trade and other payables.
Consolidated net financial debt [11] amounted to EUR 3,643m as of 30
September 2020 with a leverage ratio of 1.6x [12], well below the company's
self-defined target ratio of at or below 2.5x. This leaves comfortable
leverage headroom with regards to the company's BBB-rating by Fitch.
Financial outlook 2020
Telefónica Deutschland achieved a solid financial performance in 9M 20 with
core business operating trends fully intact. Trading momentum remains
supported by historic low churn which benefits from ongoing network quality
improvements while international roaming remains limited and reflects the
prevailing travel restrictions due to COVID-19.
COVID-19 impacts are fully reflected in the below 9M 20 performance. The
management team is continuously monitoring and analysing the latest
development of the COVID-19 related restrictions and their impact on the
company. In this context, Telefónica Deutschland confirms its financial
outlook for FY20.
Baseli- Outlook 2020 9M 20
ne
2019
Revenue EUR flat to slightly +1.5% y-o-y[1][13]
7,399m positive y-o-y 1. #footnote_13
OIBDA Adjusted for EUR broadly stable to -1.0% y-o-y13
exceptional effects 2,316m slightly positive
y-o-y
Capex to Sales Ratio 14.1% < 17-18% 13.2%
APPENDIX - DATA TABLES
https://www.telefonica.de/investor-relations-en/publications/financial-publications.html
Further information
Telefónica Deutschland Holding AG
Investor Relations
Georg-Brauchle-Ring 50
80992 München
Christian Kern, Director Investor Relations; (m) +44 7517 999208
Marion Polzer, Head of Investor Relations; (m) +49 176 7290 1221
Eugen Albrecht, Senior Investor Relations Officer; (m) +49 176 3147 5260
(t) +49 89 2442 1010
ir-deutschland@telefonica.com
www.telefonica.de/investor-relations
Disclaimer:
This document contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements
and expectations about Telefónica Deutschland Holding AG (in the following
"the Company" or "Telefónica Deutschland") that reflect the current views
and assumptions of Telefónica Deutschland's management with respect to
future events, including financial projections and estimates and their
underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives and
expectations which may refer, among others, to the intent, belief or current
prospects of the customer base, estimates regarding, among others, future
growth in the different business lines and the global business, market
share, financial results and other aspects of the activity and situation
relating to the Company. Forward-looking statements are based on current
plans, estimates and projections. The forward-looking statements in this
document can be identified, in some instances, by the use of words such as
"expects", "anticipates", "intends", "believes", and similar language or the
negative thereof or by forward-looking nature of discussions of strategy,
plans or intentions. Such forward-looking statements, by their nature, are
not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and
uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond
Telefónica Deutschland's control and other important factors that could
cause actual developments or results to materially differ from those
expressed in or implied by the Company's forward-looking statements. These
risks and uncertainties include those discussed or identified in fuller
disclosure documents filed by Telefónica Deutschland with the relevant
Securities Markets Regulators, and in particular, with the German Federal
Financial Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt für
Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht - BaFin). The Company offers no assurance that
its expectations or targets will be achieved.
Analysts and investors, and any other person or entity that may need to take
decisions, or prepare or release opinions about the shares / securities
issued by the Company, are cautioned not to place undue reliance on those
forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this
document. Past performance cannot be relied upon as a guide to future
performance.
Except as required by applicable law, Telefónica Deutschland undertakes no
obligation to revise these forward-looking statements to reflect events and
circumstances after the date of this presentation, including, without
limitation, changes in Telefónica Deutschland's business or strategy or to
reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
The financial information and opinions contained in this document are
unaudited and are subject to change without notice.
This document contains summarised information or information that has not
been audited. In this sense, this information is subject to, and must be
read in conjunction with, all other publicly available information,
including if it is necessary, any fuller disclosure document published by
Telefónica Deutschland.
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officers, directors, employees, advisors, representatives or agents shall be
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[1] Adjusted for exceptional effects. In Q3 20, exceptional effects amounted
to EUR +380m (EUR +375m in 9M 20), thereof EUR +407m capital gain related
with the sale of the operations of the first tranche of ~6,000 mobile sites
to Telxius and EUR -26m restructuring costs. In prior year, exceptional
effects were restructuring expenses of EUR -2m in Q3 and EUR -24m in 9M 19.
[2] As of 1 January 2020, M2M is separately reported from postpaid; for
comparability this change has also been applied to 2019, retrospectively.
[3] As of 1 January 2020, M2M is separately reported from postpaid; for
comparability this change has also been applied to 2019, retrospectively.
[4] Includes a technical database adjustment of +3.2m customers in Q4 19.
[5] Mobile service revenue includes base fees and fees paid by the company's
customers for the usage of voice, SMS and mobile data services; it also
includes access and interconnection fees as well as other charges levied on
partners for the use of the company's network.
[6] Includes other expenses and impairment losses in accordance with IFRS 9
in the amount of EUR 20m in Q3 20 and EUR 59m in 9M 20 (compared to EUR 19m
and EUR 56m in the respective periods of 2019).
[7] Adjusted for exceptional effects. In Q3 20, exceptional effects amounted
to EUR +380m (EUR +375m in 9M 20), thereof EUR +407m capital gain related
with the sale of the operations of the first tranche of ~6,000 mobile sites
to Telxius and EUR -26m restructuring costs. In prior year, exceptional
effects were restructuring expenses of EUR -2m in Q3 and EUR -24m in 9M 19.
[8] 9M 20 capital gains from the sales of assets totalled EUR +401m
including the sale of spectrum assets (EUR -5m) as well as the sale of the
operations of the first tranche of ~6,000 mobile sites to Telxius (EUR
+407m).
[9] Excluding additions from capitalised right-of-use assets.
[10] Free cash flow pre dividends and payments for spectrum (FCF) is defined
as the sum of cash flow from operating activities and cash flow from
investing activities and does not contain payments for investments in
spectrum as well as related interest payments.
[11] Net financial debt includes current and non-current interest-bearing
financial assets and interest-bearing liabilities as well as cash and cash
equivalents and excludes payables for spectrum.
[12] Leverage ratio is defined as net financial debt divided by OIBDA of the
last twelve months adjusted for exceptional effects.
[13] Including COVID-19 impacts.
28.10.2020 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a
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Language: English
Company: Telefónica Deutschland Holding AG
Georg-Brauchle-Ring 50
80992 München
Germany
Phone: +49 (0)89 24 42 0
Internet: www.telefonica.de
ISIN: DE000A1J5RX9
WKN: A1J5RX
Listed: Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard);
Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf,
Hamburg, Munich, Stuttgart, Tradegate Exchange
EQS News ID: 1143425
MDAX TecDAX
End of News DGAP News Service
1143425 28.10.2020