IAM Maroc Telecom

H1 2019 CONSOLIDATED RESULTS

Results beyond objectives:    

• Group's total customer base, close to 63 million subscribers, up 3.9%;
• Consolidated revenues up 0.8% (at constant exchange rates), thanks to the growth in Mobile Data revenue in Morocco (+19.7%) and in the subsidiaries (+24.6%);
• EBITDA up sharply (+5.1% on a like-for-like basis*), thanks to cost optimization;
• Group share of adjusted Net Income up 1.8% (on a like-for-like basis*);
• Adjusted Consolidated Cash Flow From Operations up 30.6% on a like-for-like basis*.

2019 outlook maintained, at constant scope and exchange rates and excluding IFRS16:

• Stable revenues;
• Stable EBITDA;
• CAPEX approximately 15% of revenues, excluding frequencies and licenses.

To mark the publication of this press release, Abdeslam Ahizoune, Chairman of the Management Board, made the following comments:

"Maroc Telecom achieved better-than-target results in the first half of 2019, thanks in part to the success of Data in all its markets, despite the strong competitive intensity. Profitability is improving significantly thanks to cost optimization efforts, which offset the increasing sectoral tax pressure in some subsidiaries' countries.

As an engaged operator in digital transformation in Africa, the Group continues its investment efforts to meet the challenges of the digital age through the development of last generation connectivity infrastructure. "

* Like-for-like basis refers to unchanged MAD/Ouguiya/ CFA Franc exchange rates and the impact of the neutralization of the application of IFRS 16

Group adjusted* consolidated results

* Details of the financial indicator adjustments are provided in Appendix 1.

►   Customer base

Maroc Telecom Group ended the half year with a total customer base of nearly 63 million subscribers, up 3.9% on the same period the previous year.  This increase was originating both from the Mobile and Fixed-Line customer base in Morocco (up 3.2% and 3.6%, respectively) as well as from subsidiaries’ Mobile customer base (up 4.1%).

►   Revenues

At end-June 2019, Maroc Telecom Group's consolidated revenues(4) amounted to MAD 17,844  million, up 0.8% (at constant exchange rates), thanks to business growth in Morocco, which offset the adverse impact of the decline in Mobile call terminations rates and incoming international revenue in subsidiaries.

►   Earnings from operations before depreciation and amortization

Thanks to an active cost optimization policy, which reduced operating expenses, and to the favorable fall in Mobile call termination rates in subsidiaries, the Group’s earnings from operations before depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounted to MAD 9,409 million, up 6.2% (+5.1% on a like-for-like basis(1)). The EBITDA margin improved by 2.1 points to the high level of 51.5% (on a like-for-like basis(1)). 

►   Earnings from operations

At the end of June 2019, Maroc Telecom Group's adjusted consolidated earnings from operations  (EBITA) (5)  amounted to MAD 5,862 million, up 5.8% (+6.4% on a like-for-like basis(1)), supported by the rise in EBITDA. The EBITA margin rose 2.0 points (+1.7 pts on a like-for-like basis(1)) to 32.9%.

►   Net Income and Group share of Net Income

In the first half of 2019, adjusted Net Income amounted to MAD 3,485 million and Group share of adjusted Net Income was MAD 3,022 million, up 1.5% and 1.8%, respectively, on a like-for-like basis(1), supported by strong business performance in Morocco.

►   Investments

Excluding frequencies and licenses, the optimization of capital expenditures levels leads to a CAPEX/revenue ratio of 10.7%, in line with targets.

►   Cash Flow

Adjusted cash flow from operations (CFFO)(6) was MAD 5,728 million, up 35.4% (+30.6% on a like-for-like basis(1)) under the combined effects of higher EBITDA and optimization of investments.

At the end of June 2019, Maroc Telecom Group's consolidated net debt(7) was MAD 21 billion, up 22.8% year-on-year, reflecting the license payments in subsidiaries, the acquisition of Tigo Chad, the payment of dividends to all Maroc Telecom Group shareholders and the impact of IFRS16. Excluding the impact of IFRS 16, the consolidated net debt is up 16.3%.

►   Highlights

As part of the implementation of the 2019 Budget Act, the Moroccan Government sold off 8% of the capital and voting rights in Itissalat Al-Maghrib in the form of blocks of shares on June 17, 2019 (6% of capital) and of a public offer sale closed on July 16, 2019 (2% of capital). After the completion of this transaction, the Kingdom of Morocco holds 22% of the capital and voting rights in Maroc Telecom.

Further to the agreement signed on March 14, 2019, Maroc Telecom finalized the acquisition from Millicom of its subsidiary Tigo Chad. The consolidation of this subsidiary will be effective in the second half of 2019.

►   2019 Outlook maintained, at constant scope and exchange rates and excluding IFRS16

Based on recent market changes and to the extent that no new major exceptional event impacts the Group's business, Maroc Telecom has maintained its forecasts for 2019, at constant scope and exchange rates and excluding IFRS 16:

• Stable revenues;
• Stable EBITDA;
• CAPEX of around 15% of revenue (excluding frequencies and licenses).

                Review of the Group’s activities

Details of the financial indicator adjustments for "Morocco" and "International" are provided in Appendix 1.

• Morocco

*Fixed-Line Data includes Internet, ADSL TV and corporate Data services

Revenues from activities in Morocco continued to grow, to MAD 10,713 million (+1.4% from the same period of the previous year) thanks to the still-booming Mobile and Fixed-line Data business (+19.7% and +4.5% respectively).

Earnings from operations before depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) in the first half of 2019 amounted to MAD 6,136 million, up 10.7% and +9.0% excluding the impact of the application of IFRS16. This performance reflects revenue growth as well as cost control. EBITDA margin improved by 3.9 points (on a like-for-like basis(1)).

Adjusted earnings from operations (EBITA)(5) amounted to MAD 4,170 million, up 13.3% year-on-year (+13.2% on like-for-like basis(1)) mainly due to the rise in EBITDA. The adjusted EBITA margin therefore improved by 4.0 points (on a like-for-like basis(1)).

In the first six months of 2019, adjusted cash flow from operations (CFFO)(6) amounted to MAD 3,818 million, up 19.8% (16.7% excluding the impact of IFRS 16), mainly thanks to the increase of EBITDA and the optimization of investments.

Mobile

At June 30, 2019, the Mobile customer base(8) was 19.5 million customers, up 3.2% year-on-year, driven by the growth of 18.3% in the postpaid base, and of 1.6% in the prepaid base.

Mobile revenues amounted to MAD 6,959 million, up 2.6%. The 6.5% growth in outgoing revenues largely offset the decline in incoming revenues reflecting the international traffic decline.

Blended ARPU(10) was MAD 57.5 for the first six months of 2019, unchanged from the same period the previous year.

Fixed-Line and Internet

The Fixed-line customer base is at 1.9 million lines, up 3.6% and the Broadband subscribers rise by 6.2% to 1.5 million lines.

Revenues from Fixed-line and Internet activities posted a slight decrease of 0.2%, due to the decline in revenues from international transit, partly offset by the 4.5% increase in Fixed-line Data revenue.

•   
• International

Financial indicators

At the end of June 2019, the Group’s international activities recorded revenues of MAD 7,824  million, down 1.0% at constant exchange rates, mainly due to the decline in Mobile call terminations rates as well as the decrease in incoming international revenue facing indirect competition from OTTs’ services. Excluding the impact of the decline in call terminations rates, revenues from international activities are up 0.7% at constant exchange rates.

Over the same period, earnings from operations before depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounted to MAD 3,273 million, down 1.4% (-1.3% like-for-like(1)) reflecting the combined impacts of the decline in revenues and the weight of taxes and regulatory fees, which represented 4.2% of EBITDA. EBITDA margin was stable (-0.1 pt on like-for-like basis(1)) from the same period of 2018.

In the first half of 2019, adjusted earnings from operations (EBITA)(5) amounted to MAD 1,692  million, down 9.1% (-7.0% on like-for-like basis(1)), representing a margin of 21.6% (down 1.4 pt on a like-for-like basis(1)) from the same period the previous year.

Adjusted cash flow from operations (CFFO)(6) in international activities increased by 82.9% (+73.0% on like-for-like basis(1)), to MAD 1,909 million, with capital expenditures at 13.1% of revenues, excluding frequencies and licenses.

Operating indicators

Notes:

(1) "Like-for-like" refers to unchanged MAD/Ouguiya/ CFA Franc exchange rates and the neutralization of the impact of the application of IFRS 16 on EBITDA, adjusted EBITA, adjusted Net Income, Group share of adjusted Net Income, adjusted CFFO and Net debt.(2) CAPEX corresponds to purchases of tangible and intangible assets recognized for the period.(3) The ratio Net Debt/EBITDA excludes the impact of IFRS16 standard.(4) Maroc Telecom consolidates the following companies in its financial statements: Mauritel, Onatel, Gabon Telecom, Sotelma, Casanet, AT Côte d’Ivoire, Etisalat Benin, AT Togo, AT Niger, and AT Centrafrique.  (5) EBITA corresponds to EBIT before the amortization of intangible assets acquired through business combinations, write-downs of goodwill and other intangible assets acquired through business combinations, and other income and expenses relating to financial investment transactions and transactions with shareholders (except when recognized directly in equity).(6) CFFO includes net cash flow from operations before tax, as set out in the cash flow statement, as well as the dividends received from companies booked at equity and non-consolidated equity investments. CFFO also includes net capital expenditure, which corresponds to net uses of cash for acquisitions and disposals of tangible and intangible assets.(7) Loans and other current and non-current liabilities less cash and cash equivalents, including cash held in escrow for bank loans.(8) The active customer base consists of prepaid customers who have made or received a voice call (excluding ERPT or Call-Center calls) or received an SMS/MMS or used Data services (excluding ERPT services) during the past three months, and postpaid customers who have not terminated their agreements.(9) The active customer base for 3G and 4G+ mobile Internet includes holders of a postpaid subscription agreement (with or without a voice offer) and holders of a prepaid Internet subscription agreement who have made at least one top-up during the past three months or whose top-up is still valid and who have used the service during that period.(10) ARPU is defined as revenues (generated by inbound and outbound calls and by data services) net of promotional offers, excluding roaming and equipment sales, divided by the average customer base for the period. In this instance, blended ARPU covers both the prepaid and postpaid segments.(11) The broadband customer base includes ADSL access and leased lines in Morocco, as well as the ADMA customer base in Mauritania, Burkina Faso and Mali.

Important notice:Forward-looking statements. This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding Maroc Telecom’s financial position, income from operations, strategy, and outlook, as well as the impact of certain transactions. Although Maroc Telecom believes that these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, they do not amount to guarantees for the company’s future performance. The actual results may be very different from the forward-looking statements, due to a number of risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown. The majority of these risks are beyond our control, namely the risks described in the public documents filed by Maroc Telecom with the Moroccan Capital Markets Authority(www.ammc.ma) and the French Financial Markets Authority (www.amf-france.org), which are also available in French on our website (www.iam.ma). This press release contains forward-looking information that can only be assessed at its publication date. Maroc Telecom does not undertake to supplement, update, or alter these forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events, or for any other reason, subject to the applicable regulations, and especially to Articles III.2.31 et seq. of the circular issued by the Moroccan Capital Markets Authority and to Articles 223-1 et seq. of the French Financial Markets Authority’s General Regulations.

Maroc Telecom is a full-service telecommunications operator in Morocco and the leader in all of its Fixed-Line, Mobile and Internet business sectors. It has expanded internationally, and currently operates in 11 African countries. Maroc Telecom is listed on both the Casablanca and Paris Stock Exchanges, and its majority shareholders are Société de Participation dans les Télécommunications (SPT*) (53%), and the Kingdom of Morocco (22%).

 *SPT is a company incorporated under Moroccan law and controlled by Etisalat.

Appendix 1: Relationship between adjusted financial indicators and published financial indicators

Adjusted EBITA, Adjusted Net Income, Group share of adjusted Net Income, and adjusted CFFO are not strictly accounting measures, and should be considered as additional information. They are a better indicator of the Group's performance as they exclude non-recurring items.

The first half of 2019 was marked by the payment of MAD 1,841 million for licenses in Burkina Faso, Mali, Togo and Côte d’Ivoire.

The first half of 2018 was marked by the payment of MAD 274 million for licenses for subsidiaries in Gabon and Côte d’Ivoire.

Appendix 2: Impact of the adoption of IFRS 16

IFRS 16 is applied from January 1, 2019, and H1-2018 data represent the application of IAS 17. The like-for-like change excludes the impact of the application of IFRS 16 (MAD+189 million on EBITDA, MAD+15 million on adjusted EBITA, MAD-10 million on adjusted Net Income, MAD-10 million on Group share of adjusted Net Income, MAD+254 million on adjusted CFFO and MAD+1,362 million in Net debt).

As at end-June 2019, the impact of this standard on Maroc Telecom’ key indicators are as follows:

Appendix 3: Consolidated financial statements

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

Statement of comprehensive income

Consolidated cash flow statement

Attachment

• Maroc Telecom_PR-H1 2019 Results_ENG

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