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Company Announcements

Final Results

RNS Number : 7138N
Cable & Wireless Communications PLC
20 May 2015
 



ANNOUNCEMENT

20 mAY 2015

 

CABLE & WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS PLC

RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2015

 

Strong performance and improving platform for growth

 

Highlights

§ Group revenue of US$1.8 billion up 4% reflecting strategic progress

§ Group EBITDA of US$585 million up 7%; EBITDA margin increased by 1 ppt to 33%

§ US$100 million cost reduction plan successfully completed; c.800 FTE reductions over two years

§ US$442 million Project Marlin capex investments have improved network performance

§ Significant growth in adjusted EPS to US4.7 cents driven by US$55 million lower interest cost

§ Columbus acquisition completed on 31 March 2015; integration underway

§ Recommended final dividend per share of US2.67 cents; full year dividend per share of US4 cents (2013/14 US4 cents)

US$m

Full year ended 
31 March 2015 

Full year ended 
31 March 2014 

Change 

Revenue

1,753 

1,689 

4% 

EBITDA

585 

546 

7% 

Adjusted earnings per share (US cents)

4.7c 

2.2c 

114% 

 

 

Note: Figures above are for continuing operations, including the Seychelles and excluding Monaco.  EBITDA and adjusted earnings per share are defined in the footnotes on page 3 and a reconciliation is provided on page 32

 

Commenting on the Group results, Phil Bentley, Chief Executive of Cable & Wireless Communications Plc, said:

 

"2014 was a year of transformation and growth for Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC).  We created a new senior executive team operating out of our new Miami hub.  We developed a new vision and strategy for the Group, backed by our US$1 billion "Project Marlin" investment programme.  We began to execute a performance improvement plan and deliver our strategy to grow.  The team's hard work has started to deliver results as we saw top-line growth for the first time since demerger and EBITDA margins improve.

"In addition to our improved operating performance, we completed the sales of our Monaco Telecom business for US$445 million in May 2014 and our stake in Solomon Telekom for US$16.5 million in October 2014, and, through the acquisition of Sonitel in Panama for US$41 million, added our first acquisition in support of our Business Solutions division.  Most importantly, in November 2014, we announced an agreement to acquire Columbus International Inc. (Columbus) for US$3.025 billion, which was completed on 31 March 2015.

"This is a transaction that transforms CWC, and is one that will accelerate the delivery of our strategy across the Caribbean and Latin America.  Columbus is an outstanding business, backed by a state-of-the-art terrestrial and submarine fibre network.  Our complementary fixed line and mobile networks and our focus on providing the best customer service, bringing together the skills and capabilities of over 7,500 team members, will position us better to serve our customers and improve the ICT infrastructure of the communities in which we operate.

"We have made good progress in executing our strategy and we are beginning to uncover the full potential of our business.  CWC is on the way to becoming a better company - a genuine quad play operator, with strong market shares in the geographically focused and attractive Caribbean and Latin American markets.  We see good long-term growth prospects across Consumer, Business Solutions, and Networks businesses, underpinned by our differentiated submarine and terrestrial fibre networks and full service offering.

"Overall we are pleased with the results following the first year of our new strategy, but there remains much to do to realise the full potential of the business."

 

Performance against targets

 

Last year we set out a series of goals by which our performance would be measured.  Progress is being made in delivery of our strategy as follows:

Top-line growth - Group revenue grew 4% (up 2% like-for-like) and represented the best year-on-year growth since demerger, demonstrating good levels of progress relative to the sector;

Business effectiveness - Operating costs fell US$15 million or 2% year-on-year while EBITDA grew 7%.  Although our operating costs to revenue ratio fell by 2 percentage points to 41%, further reducing this ratio remains our long term ambition for the company; and

Net Promoter Score (NPS) - Customer loyalty as measured by our Group NPS was up 6 points over the year.  NPS also grew across every product segment as our investments and focus began to improve customer experience.

 

Our strategy is expected to deliver, in the three years to 31 March 2018:

§ Annual mid to high single digit revenue growth and significant EBITDA growth;

§ Run-rate operating cost synergies of US$85 million and total capex synergies of US$145 million;

§ EPS accretion from 2016/17; dilutive in 2015/16; and

§ Following completion of Project Marlin, capital intensity is expected to fall to c.14% of revenue in the year ending 31 March 2018.

 

Outlook

 

Overall economic growth prospects in our markets remain generally positive with some variability on a country-by-country basis.  Latin American countries such as Panama and Colombia have relatively robust forecast GDP growth rates of 6% and 4% respectively whilst in our Caribbean markets there are lower growth rates as the region continues to experience a more modest pace of recovery following the previous economic downturn.

 

Although we face increasingly competitive conditions within some markets, for example with the introduction of mobile competition in The Bahamas later this year, we expect to continue making good progress in growing our revenue and reducing our operating cost base.  In addition, we expect to benefit from revenue, operating cost and capital expenditure synergies following our acquisition of Columbus.  With increasing traffic over our networks, improved service reliability, positive NPS momentum and a more diversified set of products and services to offer our customers, the decisions we have made to invest in our infrastructure and our people position us well to capitalise on positive growth trends in our industry.

 

Group results overview

 

US$m

Full year  

 ended  
31 Mar 2015
  

Full year  

 ended  
31 Mar 20141  

%    

 Change    

Six months  

 ended  
31 Mar 20151
 

Six months  

 ended  
31 Mar 2014

%    

 Change    

 

Revenue

1,753  

1,689  

4%2

905  

848  

7%2

Gross margin

1,295  

1,271  

2% 

661  

640  

3% 

Operating costs

(710) 

(725) 

2% 

(353) 

(359) 

2% 

EBITDA3

585  

546  

7% 

308  

281  

10% 








Depreciation and amortisation

(256) 

(235) 

(9)%

(133) 

(120) 

(11)%

Net other operating expense

(20) 

(15) 

(33)%

(18) 

(7) 

nm    

Joint ventures and associates

12  

5  

nm    

1  

5  

(80)%

Total operating profit before exceptional items

321  

301  

7% 

158  

159  

(1)%








Exceptional expense

(231) 

(241) 

4% 

(231) 

(186) 

(24)%

Total operating profit

90  

60  

50% 

(73) 

(27) 

nm    








Finance income

26  

6  

nm    

23  

3  

nm    

Finance expense

(84) 

(139) 

40

(50) 

(66) 

24

Exceptional finance expense

(37) 

(25) 

(48%)

(37) 

(25) 

(48)%

Other non-operating income

4  

‑  

nm    

4  

‑  

(100)%

Profit before tax

(1) 

(98) 

nm    

(133) 

(115) 

nm    








Income tax

(32) 

(32) 

‑    

(3) 

(7) 

57% 

Net profit/(loss) from continuing operations

(33) 

(130) 

nm    

(136) 

(122) 

(11)%








Net profit before exceptional items

202  

117  

73% 

99  

70  

41% 

Net profit from discontinued operations

8  

76  

(89)%

‑  

26  

nm    

Gain/(loss) on disposal of discontinued operations

346  

1,005  

(66)%

‑  

(6) 

nm    








Profit for the year

321  

951  

(66)%

(136) 

(102) 

(33)%

Net profit attributable to :







Owners of the Parent Company

253  

859  

(71)%

(149) 

(141) 

6% 

Non-controlling interests

68  

92  

(26)%

13  

39  

(67)%








EPS

(3.8)c 

(8.4)c

55% 

(5.7)c

(6.4)c

11% 

Adjusted EPS4

4.7c  

2.2c 

114% 

2.7c 

1.3c 

108% 








EBITDA3

585  

546  

7% 

308  

281  

10% 

Capital expenditure

(442) 

(251) 

(76)%

(252) 

(146) 

(73)%

Operating cash flow5

143  

295  

(52)%

56  

135  

(59)%








Customer numbers (000s)6







Mobile

3,820  

3,550  

8% 




Fixed

1,131  

1,072  

6% 




Broadband

658  

379  

74% 




Video

460  

67  

nm    




Total customers

6,069  

5,068  

20% 




 

1

Year ended 31 March 2014 restated for classification of Seychelles as a continuing operation and classification of Monaco as a discontinued operation.  Results for the six months ended 31 March 2014 and six months ended 31 March 2015 are unaudited

2

Like-for-like revenue, excluding the impact of Sonitel and currency movements, up 2% for FY 2014/15 and up 3% for H2 2014/15 against the prior respective periods

3

EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation, net other operating and non-operating income/expense and exceptional items

 

4

Adjusted EPS is before exceptional items, gains/losses on disposals, amortisation of acquired intangibles, transaction costs and foreign exchange gains/losses on financing activities

 

5

Operating cash flow is defined as EBITDA less capital expenditure

 

6

Year ended 31 March 2015 customer numbers include Columbus fixed, broadband and video customers

 

Annual results presentation

Cable & Wireless Communications will hold its 2014/15 annual results presentation for analysts and institutional investors at 9:30am BST on Wednesday 20 May 2015. The presentation will be webcast live on the Cable & Wireless Communications website www.cwc.com.  An on-demand version will be available later in the day.

 

Cable & Wireless Communications

 

Investors

Media

Kunal Patel      +44 (0) 20 7315 4083

Grace Silvera                   +1 786 353 8156

Mike Gittins     +44 (0) 20 7315 4184

Neil Bennett (Maitland)     +44 (0) 20 7379 5151

2014/15 Performance Review

 

Group revenue in the 2014/15 financial year grew by US$64 million or 4% (US$39 million or 2% excluding Sonitel and adjusting for currency movements).  This represents the Group's best revenue growth in five years.  We saw growth across our Mobile, B2B/B2G and Video lines of business, as well as some encouraging signs for our Fixed Voice business as we refreshed tariffs and introduced innovative products to make the category more relevant for our customers.  Broadband performance was disappointing with 1% growth but we are optimistic that the acquisition of Columbus will address the challenges we face, in particular in terms of faster network speeds.

Mobile network improvements through Project Marlin investments in HSPA+ and LTE have contributed to mobile data revenue growth of US$48 million.  Traffic on our mobile networks grew 39% in the year and across our Group 44% of customers now has a smartphone.  With the launch of a number of value added services we also began to broaden our mobile data offering beyond pure connectivity and we added some 560,000 new data plans (1.6 million in total).

Our Panama business maintained its mobile market share of greater than 50% and delivered a 4% rise in revenue driven by mobile data and subscriber growth outstripping lower ARPU.  EBITDA was up 1% on a reported basis, but declined by 1% adjusting for the acquisition of Sonitel as operating costs increased by 5% due to higher marketing spend as we launched improved broadband services and a revamped video offering whilst there was also an increase in the minimum wage of up to 15%.

In the Caribbean, our Jamaica business continued to attract new mobile subscribers (up 107,000 or 15%) and gain market share, leading to 19% revenue growth (30% at constant currency).  Our investments in networks and our "Upgrade Caribbean" programme led to a 10% increase in LIME mobile revenue with HSPA+ speeds now provided across the region, albeit with challenges in broadband due to delays in fibre rollout.  Total reported revenue grew 3% year over year.

In The Bahamas, revenue performance declined 2% as we prepared BTC for the advent of mobile competition by reducing prices and updating roaming agreements whilst also being impacted by the introduction of VAT.  We continue to anticipate that a new mobile operator will enter the Bahamian market before the end of this calendar year, which will further adversely impact performance in 2015/16.  Our agreement to transfer 2% of our shares in BTC to the newly formed charitable BTC Foundation during the year, cemented our partnership with The Government of The Bahamas and will ensure investment in good causes for the benefit of the Bahamian people.

We continue to exercise cost discipline in all areas of the business and the initiative to reduce our run-rate operating costs by US$100 million by the end of 2014/15 was achieved with c.800 team members exiting the business over the two years in addition to our exiting non-core property assets, and investing to reduce power consumption.  As we integrate our business with Columbus's we will look to drive further process efficiencies.

In the second half, we generated EBITDA of US$308 million which was up 11% on the first half and 10% on the second half of the prior year (profitability is typically weighted towards the second half).  This performance represents growing momentum across our business which we aim to continue.


 

Acquisition of Columbus International Inc.

On 31 March 2015, Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC) completed the purchase of 100 per cent. of the equity of Columbus International Inc, a leading privately-owned fibre-based telecommunications and technology services provider operating in the Caribbean, Central America and the Andean region.

We expect the operating synergies to be significant; together the new company creates the opportunity to invest more, grow faster and provide an improved customer experience and most importantly, a development opportunity for our people that neither company could have achieved on their own.

The transaction will accelerate both our mobile leadership and our fixed mobile convergence strategies, enabling customers, for example, to have seamless access to high quality video content as they move between devices and locations.  The streaming of video content onto mobile phones will accelerate.  In fixed line, the significant improvements in our networks along with Columbus' broadband capabilities will deliver an outstanding online experience with faster speeds and wider coverage.  The transaction also brings significantly improved content and advances in video delivery and cloud based services.

In terms of Business-to-Business (B2B) and Business-to-Government (B2G), the transaction expands CWC's regional footprint bringing additional national and international connectivity to better serve multinational customers, as well as opening up Latin America's high growth markets.  These opportunities are well aligned with our new CWC Business Solutions unit's focus and capabilities.

As part of the regulatory approval process, we intend to dispose our 49 per cent. stake in TSTT in Trinidad & Tobago and certain overlapping terrestrial fibre assets in Barbados.

Below we present summary combined financials for the enlarged Group.

US$m

CWC 

 (consolidated)

Columbus1

Consolidated 

 Combined 

 Group 

CWC 

 (proportionate)

Proportionate Combined Group

Revenue

1,753 

598 

2,351 

1,194 

1,792

EBITDA

585 

255 

840 

373 

628

Capex

(442)

(191)

(633)

na 

na

 

1

Extracted from audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2014

In the 12 months to 31 December 2014, Columbus generated revenue of US$598 million, up 19% on a reported basis and 14% removing the impact of the Promitel acquisition.  This top line growth drove EBITDA up 18% to US$255 million, 12% excluding Promitel.  This is broadly in-line with our expectations at acquisition, although there have been higher initial investments required to build the Columbus Business Solutions capability and there was an impact from the devaluation of the Colombian peso.

Integration

Since completion of the acquisition, the Group has made good progress with the integration of the CWC and Columbus businesses.

Our initial focus is to deliver the benefits of a combined Group to our customers.  This will be achieved through a revamp of services such as our customer support, field operations and network operations activities; and improving our product offering through the introduction of Columbus' video products across our markets in addition to the rollout of unified consumer and business facing brands.

We have also established the executive management structure for the combined Group, ensuring retention of highly skilled colleagues from both Columbus and CWC, whilst also providing a framework which will enable decisions to be made more quickly and effectively.

The integration of back office functions such as our billing and provisioning systems will also be a focus, though they will require a longer period to achieve due to planning and execution considerations.

Synergies

As a result of the Columbus acquisition, the Group expects to achieve recurring annualised pre-tax cost synergies of approximately US$85 million on a run-rate basis, and one-time capital expenditure synergies of approximately US$145 million in total, by 31 March 2018.  Additional revenue benefits are anticipated through an improved product offering, particularly in high-speed broadband and video services, cross-selling and reduced churn.


Recurring cost synergies

Substantial cost synergies have been identified across the following areas:

·      Duplication of corporate costs and functional overheads (approximately US$50 million): rationalisation of overlapping headcount in back office, sales and marketing and customer service roles, renegotiation of vendor rates, reduction of real estate costs and harmonisation of IT systems; and

·      Integration of networks and video content (approximately US$35 million): transition to Columbus' fixed line fibre network where networks overlap, renegotiation of maintenance fees,  consolidation of network and service operating centres and leverage of Columbus' superior video content buying terms and access to greater economies of scale.

We expect to benefit from approximately 45% of these synergies by the end of 2015/16, 85% by the end of 2016/17 and 100% by the end of 2017/18.

To achieve the synergy benefits we anticipate one-off cash costs of US$110 million, split approximately 45%, 40% and 15% over the three years following the acquisition.  US$68 million of the operating exceptional items charged in the year ended 31 March 2015 relate to these cash costs.

One-off capex synergies

In addition, the Group will benefit from one-time synergies of approximately US$145 million related to avoidance of duplicative one-off capital expenditure through network consolidation in the overlapping markets where there had been investment plans under Project Marlin and Columbus already has existing network infrastructure.  Such synergies are expected to be split 35%, 40% and 25% over the three years to 31 March 2018.

Revenue synergies

Revenue synergies are anticipated from selling additional services to existing customers through cross-selling of triple play and quad play bundles, improving legacy CWC's video offering in non-overlapping markets, improved network quality reducing customer churn and an enhanced B2B and B2G offering.

Financing of the acquisition

The acquisition of Columbus was financed through a placing of new shares, equity issuance to the vendors, two-year term loan facilities and the assumption of Columbus' debt.



 

The Cable & Wireless Communications Group

 

We operate across a number of markets with variable economic prospects in the Caribbean and Latin America region.  Latin American countries such as Panama and Colombia have relatively robust forecast GDP growth rates of 6% and 4% respectively whilst in our Caribbean markets there are lower growth rates as the region continues to experience a more modest pace of recovery following the previous economic downturn.

 

With the following attributes, we believe our businesses are well positioned to grow in the Caribbean and Latin American region.

 

1.   Strong consumer market positions

We are the leader in:

§ 10 out of 16 mobile markets;

§ 16 out of 18 broadband markets;

§ 17 out of 18 markets in which we provide fixed line services; and

§ 7 out of 10 markets where we offer video.

 

Our ambition is to be the leader in every service in every market.

 

2.   Wholesale and carrier

We are uniquely positioned to serve the large, growing and increasingly complex needs of carrier operators and large multi-national corporations requiring wholesale access to international bandwidth within the Caribbean and Latin America region.

 

3.   Growing data demand

Global demand for data products continues to grow and is forecast to grow at a 59% CAGR from 2014-2019 in the Caribbean and Latin America with the markets we serve currently lagging adoption rates in more developed countries.  By providing our customers with best-in-class networks and the devices and services they desire, we are beginning to see increased data penetration and usage across our markets.

 

4.   Convergence

Our ownership of mobile and fixed networks, meshed with the new company's backhaul and international connectivity capabilities is a strategic advantage which can enable us to provide customers with the best network quality experience.

 

5.   Synergies and operating efficiencies

The Columbus transaction presents the opportunity to capture synergies arising from capital and operational overlap as well as an acceleration of CWC's initiatives to reduce operating costs and improve efficiency by simplifying our processes and upgrading our systems.

 

6.   Managed services

Latin America's B2B telecoms market represents a sizable growth opportunity.  We plan to extend our relationships with existing customers and increase our current market penetration. The acquisitions of Columbus and Sonitel provide greater opportunity to capture this growth based on our expanded scale and scope capabilities.

 

 

Vision and Strategy

While our vision remains the same - we seek to deliver long-term and sustainable growth for shareholders through growing the lifetime value of our customer relationships - with the acquisition of Columbus we have refined our strategy to reflect our enhanced market positions and capabilities.  The new company's strategy now has six imperatives with two additions since the Columbus acquisition.

 

Established strategic imperatives

 

§  Drive to mobile leadership ‑ Deliver the best network, data packages, handset range and customer service;

§  Fixed-mobile convergence ‑ Leverage our unique combination of fixed and mobile assets;

§  Video and content leadership ‑ Generate video and broadband growth whilst reducing fixed line churn; and

§  Grow our B2B and B2G business - Build bespoke, customer-centric solutions leveraging our sub-sea and terrestrial assets.

 

Additional imperatives post Columbus merger

 

§  Build a leading wholesale network ‑ Deliver unrivalled intra-regional connectivity; and

§  Deliver successful integration ‑ Improve customer experience, reduce costs and improve returns.

 

Investments

 

Consistent with our vision and strategy, 2014/15 saw an uplift in our capital expenditure from US$251 million to US$442 million as we delivered the first year of Project Marlin.  The main areas of investment focused on:

 

Mobile networks

We have now upgraded to HSPA+ across all our markets and launched LTE services in The Bahamas, Cayman, Panama, and Antigua, providing more than 4x the throughput of HSPA+.  In the year, our total number of network sites grew by 42% and our mobile networks showed improvement across all parameters with 8 of 15 HSPA+ networks determined as "Best in Class" based on international benchmarks.  Data traffic increased 165% across all LIME markets.  We have more work to do however in terms of mobile network performance in our larger scale markets.

 

We have added 399 new HSPA+ sites in Jamaica and 476 new HSPA+ sites in the other markets.  In The Bahamas, 24 additional HSPA+ sites and additional second carriers were added to improve coverage and capacity in the high traffic areas. In addition, 107 new LTE sites were added to expand the LTE footprint.  In Panama, 290 HSPA+ sites were added, 186 2nd carrier and 235 3rd carrier expansions were completed to increase network coverage and capacity.  Panama launched LTE service in March 2015, with 106 sites in operation.

 

Fixed networks

On the Fixed Networks, LIME is strategically upgrading the broadband service by using FTTH capable of providing 1 Gbps and VDSL2 technologies that can yield over 30 Mbps of throughput, providing our customers with the best broadband experience in the region.  In Barbados, the FTTH deployment has continued, passing 73,000 homes.  In Cayman, over 12,000 homes have been passed with FTTH and another 8,000 have been passed with VDSL2.  Projects in Turks and Caicos, BVI and Anguilla are well under way with over 252 km of new fibre installed and a total of 10,000 homes passed in all 3 markets providing VDSL2 services.  This brings the total fibre rollout to over 1,300km across LIME markets.  Panama has deployed an additional 967km of fibre, for a total of 1,173 km deployed to expand the broadband service offering to customers in new areas; our fibre coaxial network in Panama now passes over 260,000 homes.  In Bahamas, an additional 71 km of fibre has been deployed, passing over 23,000 homes.

 

Traffic on our fixed networks grew 31% as we drove our fixed-mobile convergence strategy to most efficiently deliver data to customers.  We saw our 'production cost' of data fall 38% measured by cost per GB as we improved our delivery efficiency.

 

We anticipate that our capital expenditure will remain elevated as a proportion of our revenue in the coming financial year as we deliver Year 2 of Project Marlin and commence the first year of our integration with Columbus.  This year's financial performance bears out our underlying belief that increased investment to deliver an improved service will generate future revenue and earnings growth.

REVIEW OF CWC OPERATIONS

 

Income statement for the full year - continuing operations

 


Panama

LIME

BTC

Seychelles

Other1

Total


2014/15 

2013/14 

Change 

2014/15 

2013/14 

Change 

2014/15 

2013/14 

Change 

2014/15 

2013/14 

Change

2014/15 

2013/14 

Change

2014/15 

2013/14 

Change 


US$m 

US$m 

US$m 

US$m 

US$m 

US$m 

US$m 

US$m 

%

US$m 

US$m 

%

US$m 

US$m 

Mobile

351 

336 

4% 

299 

273 

10% 

250 

258 

(3)%

29 

31 

(6)%

− 

− 

−    

929 

898 

3% 

Broadband and Video

69 

64 

8% 

103 

105 

(2)%

15 

15 

‑    

11 

10 

10% 

− 

− 

−    

198 

194 

2% 

Fixed voice

106 

113 

(6)%

196 

207 

(5)%

49 

45 

9% 

(11)%

− 

− 

−    

359 

374 

(4)%

Managed services and other

110 

63 

75%  

111 

106 

5% 

34 

36 

(6)%

33% 

15 

(47)%

267 

223 

20% 

Revenue

636 

576 

10%  

709 

691 

3% 

348 

354 

(2)%

52 

53 

(2)%

15 

(47)%

1,753 

1,689 

4% 

LFL Revenue2

592 

576 

3%  

709 

677 

5% 

348 

354 

(2)%

52 

48 

8% 

15 

(47)%

1,709 

1,670 

2% 

Cost of sales

(223)

(182)

(23)% 

(154)

(153)

(1)%

(67)

(65)

(3)%

(8)

(7)

(14)%

(6)

(11)

45% 

(458)

(418)

(10)%

Gross margin

413 

394 

5%  

555 

538 

3% 

281 

289 

(3)%

44 

46 

(4)%

(50)%

1,295 

1,271 

2% 

Operating costs

(172)

(155)

(11)% 

(317)

(368)

14% 

(159)

(161)

1% 

(25)

(26)

4% 

(37)

(15)

nm    

(710)

(725)

2% 

EBITDA3

241 

239 

1%  

238 

170 

40% 

122 

128 

(5)%

19 

20 

(5)%

(35)

(11)

nm    

585 

546 

7% 

Proportionate EBITDA

118 

117 

1%  

211 

150 

41% 

60 

65 

(8)%

19 

20 

(5)%

(35)

(11)

nm    

373 

341 

9% 

Depreciation and amortisation

(101)

(94)

(7)% 

(88)

(89)

1% 

(43)

(44)

2% 

(10)

− 

nm    

(14)

(8)

(75)%

(256)

(235)

(9)%

Net other operating income/(expense)

21 

− 

nm    

(10)

nm    

‑ 

− 

nm    

− 

−  

−    

(31)

(15)

nm    

(20)

(15) 

(33)%

Operating profit/(loss) before joint ventures and exceptional items

161 

145 

11%  

140 

81 

73% 

79 

84 

(6)%

20 

(55)%

(80)

(34)

nm    

309 

296 

4% 

Capital expenditure

(126)

(79)

(59)% 

(195)

(102)

(91)%

(75) 

(51)

(47)%

(12)

(10)

(20)%

(34)

(9)

nm    

(442)

(251)

(76)%

Operating cash flow4

115 

160 

(28)% 

43 

68 

(37)%

47 

77 

(39)%

10 

(30)%

(69)

(20)

nm    

143 

295 

(52)%

Cash exceptional items

(7)

(2)

nm    

(26)

(113)

77% 

(8) 

(8)

‑    

− 

− 

−    

(17)

(7)

nm    

(58)

(130)

55% 

Net cash interest

(10)

(9)

(11)% 

(1)

‑ 

nm    

‑    

− 

− 

−    

(116)

(43)

nm    

(126)

(51)

nm    

Cash tax

(24)

(27)

11%  

(16)

(17)

(6)%

(1) 

(2)

50% 

(6)

(5)

(20)%

(5)

(3)

(67)%

(52)

(54)

4% 

Headcount5

1,542

1,376 

12%  

1,363 

1,409 

(3)%

779 

772 

1% 

211 

210 

0% 

256 

146 

75% 

4,151 

3,913 

6% 

 


nm represents % change not meaningful

1

Other includes management, royalty and branding fees, the costs of the corporate centre and operational hub, net UK defined benefit pension charge or credit and intercompany eliminations

2

Adjusted for currency movements in the prior year and the removal of Sonitel revenue in the current year

3

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation, net other operating and non-operating income/expense and exceptional items

4

EBITDA less capital expenditure

5

Full time equivalents as at 31 March

 

 

Income statement for the second half of the year - continuing operations

 

 


Panama

LIME

BTC

Seychelles

Other3

Total


H2 14/15 

H2 13/14 

Change 

H2 14/15 

H2 13/14 

Change 

H2 14/15 

H2 13/14 

Change 

H2 14/15

H2 13/14

Change

H2 14/15 

H2 13/14 

Change 

H2 14/15 

H2 13/14 

Change  


US$m 

US$m 

% 

US$m 

US$m 

% 

US$m 

US$m 

% 

US$m 

US$m 

%

US$m 

US$m 

% 

US$m 

US$m 

%  

Mobile

175 

168 

4% 

156 

138 

13% 

124 

129 

(4)% 

13 

16 

(19)%

‑ 

‑ 

‑    

468 

451 

4%  

Broadband and Video

35 

33 

6% 

51 

53 

(4)%

(13)% 

20% 

‑ 

‑ 

‑    

99 

99 

‑     

Fixed voice

52 

55 

(5)%

98 

102 

(4)%

25 

20 

25%  

(20)%

‑ 

‑ 

‑    

179 

182 

(2)% 

Managed services and other

72 

33 

nm    

60 

52 

15% 

21 

22 

(5)% 

100% 

(50)% 

159 

116 

37%  

Revenue

334 

289 

16% 

365 

345 

6% 

177 

179 

(1)% 

25 

27 

(7)%

(50)% 

905 

848 

7%  

LFL Revenue2

290 

289 

0%  

365 

339 

8% 

177 

179 

(1)% 

25 

23 

9% 

(50)% 

861 

838 

3%  

Cost of sales

(123)

(90)

(37)%

(81)

(73)

(11)%

(34)

(34)

‑     

(4)

(3)

(33)%

(2)

(8)

75%  

(244)

(208)

(17)% 

Gross margin

211 

199 

6% 

284 

272 

4% 

143 

145 

(1)% 

21 

24 

(13)%

‑ 

nm    

661 

640 

3%  

Operating costs

(88)

(76)

(16)%

(146)

(180)

19% 

(80)

(77)

(4)% 

(12)

(14)

14% 

(27)

(12)

nm    

(353)

(359)

2%  

EBITDA2

123 

123 

‑    

138 

92 

50% 

63 

68 

(7)% 

10 

(10)%

(25)

(12)

nm    

308 

281 

10%  

Proportionate EBITDA

60 

60 

‑    

122 

79 

54% 

31 

34 

(9)% 

10 

(10)%

(25)

(12)

nm    

197 

171 

15%  

Depreciation and amortisation

(53)

(50)

(6)%

(47)

(45)

(4)%

(22)

(21)

(5)% 

(3)

‑ 

nm    

(8)

(4)

(100)% 

(133)

(120)

(11)% 

Net other operating income/ (expense)

‑ 

 

nm    

(10)

(1)

nm    

‑ 

nm     

‑ 

‑ 

‑    

(9)

(6)

(50)% 

(18)

(7)

nm    

Operating profit before joint ventures and associates and exceptional items

70 

73 

(4)%

81 

46 

76% 

42 

47 

(11)% 

10 

(40)%

(42)

(22)

(91)% 

157 

154 

2%   




















Capital expenditure

(68)

(44)

(55)%

(105)

(63)

(67)%

(48)

(28)

(71)% 

(8)

(5)

(60)%

(23)

(6)

nm    

(252)

(146)

(73)% 

Operating cash flow1

55 

79 

(30)%   

33 

29 

14% 

15 

40 

(63)% 

(80)%

(48)

(18)

nm    

56 

135 

(59)% 




















 


nm represents % change not meaningful

1

EBITDA less capital expenditure

2

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation, net other operating and non-operating income / (expense) and exceptional items

3

Other includes management, royalty and branding fees, the costs of the corporate centre and operational hub, net UK defined benefit pension charge or credit and intercompany eliminations

 


 


 

Panama

 

·      Total revenue up 10%, like-for-like up 3%, driven by 4% growth in mobile revenue

·      Data traffic up 15% with 25% growth in mobile data revenue; LTE launched in March

·      8% growth in broadband and video sales following network improvements

 


Year ended   

31 Mar 2015   

6 months ended   

31 Mar 2015   

6 months ended   

30 Sep 2014   

Year ended   

31 Mar 2014   

6 months ended   

31 Mar 2014   

6 months ended   

30 Sep 2013   

Subscribers (000s)







Mobile1

2,087   

2,087   

2,184   

1,961   

1,961   

1,909   

Broadband

132   

132   

132   

131   

131   

129   

Video

56   

56   

47   

43   

43   

41   

Fixed

366   

366   

369   

372   

372   

374   

ARPU (US$)2


    


    

    

    

Mobile

13.9   

13.4   

14.5   

14.7   

14.1   

15.3   

Broadband3

29.2   

29.5   

29.0   

28.8   

28.6   

28.9   

Video

33.7   

33.4   

34.0   

33.6   

34.2   

33.0   

Fixed3

24.1   

23.7   

24.5   

25.2   

24.7   

25.8   

Revenue (US$m)

636   

334   

302   

576   

289   

287   

EBITDA (US$m)

241   

123   

118   

239   

123   

116   

Margin%

38%

37%

39%

41%

43%

40%

 

1

Active subscribers are defined as those having performed a revenue-generating activity in the previous 60 days, prepaid subscribers restated following removal of inactive subscribers acquired through promotions

2

ARPU is average revenue per user per month, excluding equipment sales

3

ARPUs for 2014 restated for reclassified business revenue from managed services to broadband and fixed line

 

Revenue at US$636 million was 10% higher than the prior year as mobile, broadband and video, and managed services growth offset the continued decline in fixed voice as we continue to see fixed to mobile substitution.

 

Mobile revenue at US$351 million was up 4% against the prior year.  Subscribers increased by 127,000, driven by a 6% increase in prepaid customers and a 13% increase in postpaid customers as we launched more affordable smart devices and value propositions such as M-Wallet.  Data revenue was up 25% on the prior year, more than offsetting voice revenue decline of 8%.  Data penetration of our customer base increased by 13 percentage points to 52% following a 43% increase in data subscribers as a wider range of data plans stimulated both prepaid and postpaid usage.  Mobile ARPU was lower than the prior year due to reduced inbound roaming revenue and lower voice rates and usage due to competitive pressures.

 

Broadband and video revenue of US$69 million was 8% higher than the prior year.  Broadband subscribers were up 1% to 132,000 and video subscribers rose by 30% to 56,000 following the launch of an improved video product and a prepaid DTH service.  Bundling of products was an effective retention tool with 84% of video and 82% of broadband subscribers taking more than one service.

 

Fixed voice revenue of US$106 million was down 6% against the prior year due to lower domestic call revenue.  Subscriber numbers continued to decline as customers substituted to other products, but the rate of decline slowed by two percentage points due to the impact of triple play offerings.

 

Managed services revenue of US$110 million grew by 75% primarily as a result of the acquisition of Grupo Sonitel which was completed in September 2014.  There were delays in the award of Government contracts following elections in May, but we improved performance in the second half as government departments mobilised and the Sonitel acquisition delivered synergies through cross and up-selling.

 

Gross margin at US$413 million was up 5% on the prior year.  As a percentage of revenue, gross margin was 65%, declining 3 percentage points in the year due to the increase in lower gross margin managed services revenue.

 

Operating costs were 11% higher than the prior year due to the inclusion of Sonitel's cost base and increased advertising spend as we launched improved broadband services and a revamped video offering, prepared for unification of branding within our consumer businesses and responded to an increase in the minimum wage of up to 15%.  This resulted in EBITDA of US$241 million, which was 1% better than last year.  The EBITDA margin for the period was 38%, again impacted by increased managed services revenue.

 

Capital expenditure of US$126 million was 59% higher than the prior year (spectrum excluded) as we focused our investments on the mobile segment (68% of total balance sheet spend) through expansion of our 3G/4G network, whilst also increasing our broadband and video capacity to deliver a better customer experience.

 

CWC's proportionate ownership of Panama EBITDA for year ended 31 March 2015 was 49%.

 

LIME

 

·      EBITDA up 40% to US$238 million; 9 percentage point increase in margin to 34%

·      Revenue 3% higher, up 5% on a constant currency basis

·      Mobile revenue up 10%; subscriber growth of 11%; HSPA+ available across footprint

·      Jamaica mobile service revenue up 19%, 30% at constant currency

·      Operating costs 14% lower

 


Year ended   

31 Mar 2015   

6 months ended   

31 Mar 2015   

6 months ended   

30 Sep 2014   

Year ended   

31 Mar 2014   

6 months ended   

31 Mar 2014   

6 months ended   

30 Sep 2013   

Subscribers (000s)







Mobile1

1,328   

1,328   

1,236   

1,198   

1,198   

1,094   

Broadband

224   

224   

219   

218   

218   

214   

Video

27   

27   

26   

24   

24   

22   

Fixed

578   

578   

574   

580   

580   

582   

ARPU (US$)2






    

Mobile

19.5   

19.5   

19.5   

20.7   

19.2   

22.2   

Broadband

35.7   

35.3   

36.0   

37.4   

36.5   

38.3   

Video

23.9   

22.7   

25.0   

24.7   

26.2   

23.3   

Fixed

28.4   

28.4   

28.3   

29.6   

29.0   

30.1   

Revenue (US$m)

709   

365   

344   

691   

345   

346   

EBITDA (US$m)

238   

138   

100   

170   

92   

78   

Margin%

34%

38%

29%

25%

27%

23%

 

1

Active subscribers are defined as those having performed a revenue-generating activity in the previous 60 days.  Historic subscriber numbers have been restated to exclude subscribers with credit balances but no activity in the preceding 60 days 

2

ARPU is average revenue per user per month, excluding equipment sales

 

 

The LIME brand encompasses our operations in Anguilla, Antigua, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and Turks and Caicos.  LIME's reported revenue of US$709 million was 3% up on the prior year.  At constant currency revenue would have been up US$32 million or 5% higher.

 

Mobile revenue was up US$25 million against the prior year at US$299 million with increasing demand for mobile data; revenue increased $13m or 24% year over year, with voice also increasing by $10m or 5%.  Mobile traffic increased by 264% in Jamaica, 242% in Grenada and by 350% in St Vincent and we expect the shift in mix from voice to data to continue as we invest in high-speed networks.  During the period we continued to see strong uptake in Cayman, with ARPU growth of 9%, where we launched LTE services last year.  We have now also launched LTE in Antigua resulting in mobile revenue growth of 15%, following a 12% increase in ARPU.  As part of Project Marlin we have now upgraded all of our operations to at least HSPA+, and improved customer perception, measured through NPS, has reflected the improvements in our service quality.  Jamaica momentum continued with 15% growth in mobile subscribers resulting in a market share of 28%, up 3 percentage points on last year.

 

Broadband and video revenue was broadly in line with the prior year.  Broadband subscribers rose 3% with growth in most of our key markets, offset by competitive pricing pressure which drove ARPU lower.  We are focusing on delivering high speed fibre access in markets where we can see a clear return.  In Barbados, our combined network with Columbus passes 115,000 homes with 76,000 connected with broadband.  Across the segment, we have grown LIME TV subscribers by 14% to 27,034 following the introduction of fibre based services in Barbados, Cayman, and St. Lucia.

 

Fixed voice revenue at US$196 million declined by 5% as a 4% fall in ARPU, driven mainly by rate reductions due to competition and bundling as well as by lower termination rates, was compounded by a 0.4% drop in the subscriber base.

 

Managed services revenue rose 5% to US$111 million.  Second half revenue was US$9 million up on the first half as installation on equipment sales picked up and contract wins came through.

 

Gross margin at US$555 million was up 3% compared to the prior year reflecting reduced cost of sales following lower international carrier rates for roaming, international voice and data.  As a percentage of revenue, gross margin remained flat at 78%.

 

Operating costs reduced by US$51 million (14%) to US$317 million as we continue to improve efficiency within the businesses.  Following an initial focus on staff efficiency, we have been reducing costs through working on other projects such as exiting non-core property assets with associated utility cost saving and introducing initiatives to reduce power consumption.  Across our LIME business we delivered the targeted cost reductions in line with the objectives previously set out and are focussed on further improvements.

 

EBITDA increased by 40% to US$238 million, driven by growing revenue and lower operating costs.  The EBITDA margin at 34% was 9 percentage points higher than the prior year.

 

Capital expenditure at US$195 million, excluding spectrum, represented a 91% increase against the prior year with 84% of balance sheet spend focused on our mobile and fixed segments to enhance our HSPA+ and LTE networks capacity as well as enhancing our fibre networks.  Significant investments were also made to optimise infrastructure in order to reduce power costs.

 

Our proportionate ownership of LIME EBITDA for the year ended 31 March 2015 was 89%.

 

BTC

 

·      Total revenue down 2%, driven by mobile decline of 3% as preparations made for entry of competition

·      60% growth in mobile data subscribers (48% of total customer base) following investment in HSPA+ and LTE networks in the prior year

·      Fibre investments leave us well placed to deploy Columbus video product

·      EBITDA of US$122 million, 5% lower than prior year

 


Year ended   

31 Mar 2015   

6 months ended   

31 Mar 2015   

6 months ended   

30 Sep 2014   

Year ended   

31 Mar 2014   

6 months ended   

31 Mar 2014   

6 months ended   

30 Sep 2013   

Subscribers (000s)







Mobile1

318   

318   

311   

308   

308   

305   

Broadband

25   

25   

24   

23   

23   

19   

Fixed

99   

99   

102   

103   

103   

114   

ARPU (US$)2







Mobile

61.3   

60.2   

62.4   

66.1   

64.3   

67.8   

Broadband

51.3   

49.8   

52.8   

64.3   

60.9   

67.7   

Fixed

40.2   

40.8   

39.5   

34.7   

33.6   

35.7   

Revenue (US$m)

348   

177   

171   

354   

179   

175   

EBITDA (US$m)

122   

63   

59   

128   

68   

60   

Margin%

35%

36%

35%

36%

38%

34%

 

1

Active subscribers are defined as those having performed a revenue-generating activity in the previous 60 days.  Historic subscriber numbers have been restated to exclude subscribers with credit balances but no activity in the preceding 60 days 

2

ARPU is average revenue per user per month, excluding equipment sales

 

 

 

Revenue at US$348 million was down 2% on the prior year primarily due to a reduction in mobile revenue as the business prepared for a new mobile entrant later this calendar year.

 

Mobile revenue was down US$8 million following price reductions ahead of the anticipated entrant of a mobile competitor, reflected in an 7% drop in ARPU.  Data traffic grew 140% following additional investment in HSPA+ with LTE sites added in the year.

 

Broadband revenue was flat in the period, with subscribers increasing 9% following increased uptake in fibre based products as consumers benefited from investments to double broadband speeds to more than 16Mbits per second in the prior year.

 

Fixed voice revenue at US$49 million was up 9% driven by ARPU growth of 16% as there was upselling of higher tariff products as part of bundled offers.  Of the fixed subscriber base, 17% of customers (c.16,000) have upgraded from their basic packages.

 

Managed services revenue fell by 6% to US$34 million due to a reduction in off island capacity sales.

 

Gross margin at US$281 million was 3% down compared to the prior year reflecting the reduction in revenue and higher subscriber acquisition costs.  As a percentage of revenue, gross margin declined by one percentage point to 81%.

 

Operating costs reduced by US$2 million (1%) to US$159 million as we began to realise the benefits of the on-going cost reduction initiatives.  Headcount grew by 1%, to 779 colleagues as we invested in marketing.  A new headcount reduction programme has been announced to right-size the cost base ahead of competition.

 

EBITDA of US$122 million was 5% lower than the prior year with the EBITDA margin of 35% declining by one percentage point.

 

Capital expenditure of US$75 million was 47% higher than the previous year with 58% of balance sheet investment geared towards expanding our 3G, HSPA+ and LTE infrastructure as well as expanding our NGN and high speed DSL network.

 

Our proportionate ownership of BTC EBITDA for the year ended 31 March 2015 was 49%.

Seychelles

 

Following a strategic review of the opportunities, and discussions with the Government, the Seychelles business has returned to continuing operations as we have no plans to divest the asset in the near term.  We therefore no longer consider the business to be held for sale.

 

·      Revenue down 2%, up 8% at constant currency

·      EBITDA of US$19 million, US$1 million lower than prior year, up 12% at constant currency

·      Mobile subscribers up 5%

 


Year ended   

31 Mar 2015   

6 months ended  

31 Mar 2015   

6 months ended  

30 Sep 2014   

Year ended   

31 Mar 2014   

6 months ended   

31 Mar 2014   

6 months ended  

30 Sep 2013   

Subscribers (000s)







Mobile1

87   

87   

84   

83   

83   

82   

Broadband

7   

7   

7   

7   

7   

6   

Fixed

17   

17   

18   

17   

17   

17   

ARPU (US$)2







Mobile

28.5   

26.7   

30.3   

30.9   

31.8   

30.1   

Broadband

130.2   

128.4   

131.9   

126.6   

124.6   

128.6   

Fixed

36.4   

34.6   

38.3   

43.5   

42.8   

44.2   

Revenue (US$m)

52   

25   

27   

53   

27   

26   

EBITDA (US$m)

19   

9   

10   

20   

10   

10   

Margin%

37%

36%

37%

38%

37%

38%

 

1

Active subscribers are defined as those having performed a revenue-generating event in the previous 60 days

2

ARPU is average revenue per user per month, excluding equipment sales

 

The Seychelles business generated revenue of US$52 million, down 2% on the prior year as the Seychelles rupee devalued over the year.

 

EBITDA of US$19 million was 5% lower than the prior year (up 12% at constant currency), again driven by devaluation of the currency.

 

We fully owned the Seychelles business for the year ended 31 March 2015.

 

Other

 

Other includes Wholesale Solutions, management, royalty and branding fees, the costs of the corporate centre and operational hub, net UK defined benefit pension charge or credit and intercompany eliminations.

 

EBITDA for the period was US$24 million lower than the prior year at US$(35) million primarily due the addition of central commercial, technology and business solutions capabilities and consulting fees related to the implementation of the Group's strategic initiatives.


Joint ventures and associates

Our share of profit after tax from joint ventures and associates was US$12 million, US$7 million higher than the prior period.

 



CWC share of revenue

CWC share of profit/(loss) after tax


Effective   

ownership as at   
31 March
2015
   

Year ended
31 March 2015

Year ended
31 March 2014

Year ended 
31 March 2015 

Year ended 
31 March 2014
 


%   

US$m

US$m

US$m 

US$m 

Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT)

49%

229

231

11 

(62)

Solomon Telekom

0%

10

16

Other1


1

(1)

(3)

Total


239

248

12 

(63)

1

Other includes the Seychelles Cable System (SCS)

 

 

CWC's share of TSTT revenue was down 1% in the period as competition intensified in the region.  Profits increased by US$73 million to US$11 million as the prior period included a one-off US$67 million charge related to a voluntary separation scheme.  CWC successfully disposed of its holding in Solomon Telekom on 24 October 2014 for US$16.5 million.

 

As a condition to the regulatory approval for the Columbus acquisition, we are required to divest our 49% stake in TSTT and no longer retain significant influence over its management.  Accordingly, our investment in TSTT has been transferred to assets held for sale.

 

Capital expenditure

Capital expenditure in the year was US$442 million, 76% higher than last year, representing 25% of revenue as we accelerated investments following commencement of Project Marlin.

 

Mobile investments, 41% of the total balance sheet capital expenditure, accounted for the majority of expenditure as we continue to upgrade our network in all regions.  The next largest investment area was in fixed networks, 29% of the total, where fibre upgrades, 2,300 km rolled out and c.114,000 additional homes passed, provided our customers with a leading high-speed broadband experience.  We also made capital investments to increase our range of managed services solutions, with our Disaster Recovery as a Service product recently recognised in the Gartner Magic Quadrant and being recognised by Avaya as their Central America and the Caribbean Mid-Market Partner of the Year.

 

Pre-exceptional depreciation and amortisation

Depreciation and amortisation at US$256 million was 9% higher following accelerated investment in network infrastructure as part of Project Marlin.

 

 

Other Group items

 

Net other operating expense

The US$20 million net other operating expense for the year comprised US$54 million of costs related to the acquisition of Columbus partly offset by income from the sub-sea cable partnership with Columbus Networks and foreign exchange translation gains related to the UK pension scheme as the US dollar strengthened against sterling.  In the prior year the loss of US$15 million principally comprised a foreign exchange translation loss related to the UK pension scheme.

 

Exceptional expense

Exceptional expenses totalled US$231 million in the year.  The charge included impairment of assets; primarily, copper plant and facilities in markets where CWC and Columbus overlap and legacy voice switches replaced as part of Project Marlin, as well as expenses to yield synergies related to the Columbus transaction and a voluntary separation scheme in The Bahamas.  US$241 million of expense in the prior period included charges for the Group cost reduction initiative and a charge of US$67 million in TSTT.

 

Net finance expense

The US$58 million net finance expense for the Group included finance income of US$26 million (US$6 million in 2013/14) primarily due to foreign exchange gains on sterling denominated liabilities.  The total finance expense was lower than the prior year at US$84 million (US$139 million in 2013/14) predominantly related to the early redemption of the secured US$500 million 2017 bond with 8.625% coupon in February 2014.

 

Exceptional finance expense

The US$37 million exceptional finance expense for the Group in 2014/15 related primarily to financing fees for the Columbus acquisition consents and backstop facilities.  The 2013/14 exceptional finance expense related to the early redemption of the secured US$500 million 2017 bond in February 2014.

 

Other non-operating income

Other non-operating income of US$4 million (US$nil million in 2013/14) represented the gain on disposal of the Group's 32.577% shareholding in Solomon Telekom.

 

Income tax expense

The income tax charge for the continuing Group of US$32 million (US$32 million in 2013/14) was in respect of overseas taxes.  This charge represented an effective tax rate of 24% pre-exceptional items.  Removing the impact of non-deductible interest charged on the Group's central borrowing facilities this charge represented an effective tax rate of 19% pre-exceptional items.

 

Discontinued Operations

In the year ended 31 March 2015, discontinued operations included Monaco's contribution until its disposal was completed on 20 May 2014.  In the prior year, discontinued operations comprised Monaco, Macau and the Islands businesses.

 

Gains on disposals

During the period we recognised an accounting gain of US$346 million following the completed disposal of our holding in Monaco Telecom in May 2014.

 

Group cash flow

US$m

2014/15 

2013/14 

EBITDA1

585 

546 

Capital expenditure

(442)

(251)

Operating cash flow before exceptional items

143 

295 

Movement in working capital and other provisions

(14)

Net investment income2

10 

Underlying free cash flow

133 

310 

Fixed charges



Taxes paid

(52)

(54)

Interest paid

(82)

(122)

Dividends paid to non-controlling interests

(86)

(72)

Underlying equity free cash flow

(87)

62 

Dividends paid to shareholders

(104)

(100)

Net cash flow before one-off items and exceptional items

(191)

(38)

Non-recurring and exceptional items



Cash exceptional items

(58)

(130)

Pension payment

(52)

− 

Proceeds on issue of shares

176 

‑ 

Acquisitions and disposals

(431)

1,297 

Premium for early redemption of US$500 million 2017 bond

‑ 

(19)

Panama and Jamaica concession renewals and spectrum purchases

(14)

(114)

Cash flow from discontinued operations

‑ 

55 

Net cash flow after one-off items and exceptional items

(570)

1,051 

Net cash within assets disposed and acquired

41 

(165)

Net proceeds/(repayments) from borrowings

724 

(976)

Net cash flow

195 

(90)

 

1

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation, net other operating and non-operating income/(expense) and exceptional items

2

Includes dividends received from joint ventures of US$nil million in 2014/15 (US$2 million in 2013/14)

 

The Group generated operating cash flow before exceptional items of US$143 million for the year ended 31 March 2015, 52% lower than the prior year as capital expenditure accelerated under Project Marlin.  There was a US$14 million working capital outflow during the year with improvement in Panama government receivables during the second half.  Net investment income primarily comprised interest on cash balances, with US$0 million dividends received from our TSTT joint venture (US$2 million in 2013/14).

 

Fixed charges

We paid US$52 million relating to income tax in the period, US$2 million lower than the prior year primarily due to changes in the taxation rate in Panama and lower tax payments in LIME.  Interest paid on our external borrowings at US$82 million was US$40 million lower than the prior year driven by the redemption of the US$500 million 8.625% secured bonds due 2017, in February 2014.  We paid dividends to non-controlling interests of US$86 million in the period, which was US$14 million higher than the prior year due to timing of dividends from Panama.

 

Underlying equity free cash flow of US$(87) million was US$149 million lower than the prior year.

 

Non-recurring and exceptional items

The net cash outflow included US$58 million for exceptional items related to restructuring programmes primarily in LIME and the centre as we established our Miami office.  We made a US$52 million cash contribution to the Cable & Wireless Superannuation Fund in the period and do not anticipate any further top-up payments until H1 2015/16 per the existing agreement with the Trustees of the fund.  Acquisitions and disposals for the period include the US$708 million cash consideration and fees related to the acquisition of Columbus, and a payment for the acquisition of Grupo Sonitel, offset by proceeds for the sale of Monaco Telecom less cash deconsolidated upon the disposal and US$16.5 million from the sale of our minority shareholding in Solomon Telekom.  We also made a US$14 million payment related to our licence extension and additional spectrum agreement in Jamaica.

Group consolidated cash and debt


As at 31 March 2015

As at 31 March 2014


Subsidiaries 

Central 

Group 

Subsidiaries 

Central 

Group 


US$m 

US$m 

US$m 

US$m 

US$m 

US$m 








Cash and cash equivalents

93 

309 

402 

114 

91 

205 








US$1.25bn unsecured bonds repayable in 2021

- 

(1,234)

(1,234)

- 

- 

- 

Sterling unsecured bonds repayable in 2019

- 

(219)

(219)

- 

(242)

(242)

US$400 million secured bonds due 2020

- 

(394)

(394)

- 

(393)

(393)

US$390 million secured loan due 2017

- 

(374)

(374)

- 

- 

- 

US$300 million unsecured loan due 2017

- 

(288)

(288)

- 

- 

- 

US$570 million Revolving Credit Facility (RCF)

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

Other regional debt facilities

(259)

- 

(259)

(220)

- 

(220)

Total debt

(259)

(2,509)

(2,768)

(220)

(635)

(855)








Total reported net (debt)

(166)

(2,200)

(2,366)

(106)

(544)

(650)

 

As part of the Columbus acquisition, we raised financing comprised of US$390 million secured and US$300 million unsecured term loans maturing on 31 March 2017.  Additionally, we replaced our US$487 million revolving credit facility (RCF) with a new US$570 million RCF that matures five years from the Columbus acquisition closing date.

 

Consolidated net debt as at 31 March 2015 was US$2,366 million with proportionate net debt of US$2,263 million representing 3.6x proportionate EBITDA, combined with the Columbus business for the year ended 31 March 2015.  Our target leverage for the Group is 2.5x to 3.0x proportionate net debt to proportionate EBITDA.

 

Following the Columbus acquisition, the debt profile of the Group has changed significantly due to the new financing of US$690 million and assumed existing Columbus debt of US$1.25 billion.  Management are focussed on ensuring that the Group maintains appropriate compliance with covenants included within relevant financing agreements, reviewing key ratios relating to leverage and gearing and monitoring operational cash flows.

 

Equity issuance

 

On 6 November 2014, the Company issued an additional 252,812,284 shares (9.99% of the issued share capital excluding treasury shares immediately prior to the issuance).  The net proceeds of US$176 million were used to finance part of the cash consideration for the Columbus acquisition.

 

Pensions

 

In May 2014 the Company reached agreement with the Trustees of the Cable & Wireless Superannuation Fund (CWSF) on the actuarial funding valuation as at 31 March 2013.  This showed a funding deficit of £109 million.  Cash contributions to the CWSF for 2014 to 2016 will remain in line with the agreement following the March 2010 triennial review.  In addition to payments of £30 million made in July 2014 and £31 million in April 2015, a future payment of £33 million will be due in April 2016.  Payments in 2017, 2018 and 2019 will be based on the outcome of the triennial valuation as at 31 March 2016 and will be in the range of £0 - £23 million each year as necessary to fund the scheme by April 2019.

 

As at 31 March 2015, the defined benefit section of the CWSF had an IAS 19 accounting deficit of £106 million (US$158 million), compared to a deficit of £90 million (US$148 million) as at 31 March 2014.  This deficit funding agreed as part of the 2013 actuarial funding valuation constitutes a minimum funding agreement and in accordance with accounting standards we are required to account for this within the deficit. The IAS19 deficit recorded at 31 March 2015 therefore represents the present value of the amounts committed under the minimum funding agreement.

 

The AA corporate bond rate used in calculating the pension deficit was 3.2% compared with 4.4% at 31 March 2014.

 

The fund assets at 31 March 2015 were approximately invested 67% in the bulk annuity policy, 18% in equities, and 15% in bonds, property, swaps and cash.

 

There are other unfunded pension liabilities in the UK of £32 million (£29 million at 31 March 2014). The Group holds investments in gilts of £24 million to partially back the UK unfunded pension liabilities. Other schemes in Cable & Wireless Communications have a net IAS 19 surplus of US$14 million (US$17 million surplus at 31 March 2014).

 

Dividend

 

For the financial year 2014/15 the Board is recommending a final dividend of US2.67 cents per share.  Combined with the interim dividend of US1.33 cents paid in January, this will total a full year dividend of US4 cents per share, in line with the 2013/14 distribution.

 

For 2015/16 the Board has confirmed that, subject to financial and trading performance, it expects to recommend a dividend of US4 cents per share.

 

Subject to shareholder approval, the final dividend will be paid on 7 August 2015 to ordinary shareholders on the register at the close of business on 29 May 2015.

 

A currency option and the dividend reinvestment plan will be offered in respect of the interim dividend.  The default currency for payment is sterling.  Shareholders wishing to receive their dividend in US dollars or wishing to participate in the dividend reinvestment plan should make an election using CREST Input Message or return a completed Currency Mandate Form or Dividend Reinvestment Plan Mandate Form to: Equiniti Ltd, Aspect House, Spencer Road, Lancing, West Sussex, BN99 6DA by 10 July 2015.  Copies of the mandate forms are available from Equiniti Ltd.  UK callers: 0871 384 2104; overseas callers: +44 (0)121 415 7052 or from our website www.cwc.com.

 

The sterling dividend payment amount per share will be announced on 16 July 2015, and will be based on the prevailing GBP sterling to US dollar exchange rate at 2:00pm BST on that date.

 

Transactions

 

Disposal of Monaco Telecom

On 20 May 2014, CWC completed the disposal of Compagnie Monegasque de Communication SAM (CMC), which was the holding company for CWC's 55% stake in Monaco Telecom S.A.M. (Monaco Telecom).  At completion, CWC received consideration of €321,788,000 (US$445 million) on a cash and debt free basis.  In addition, CWC received €6.2 million (US$8.6 million) relating to the estimated cash, debt and working capital at completion.

 

Bahamas Telecommunications Company

On 24 July 2014, CWC completed the transfer of 2% of its 51% holding in BTC to The BTC Foundation, a charitable trust dedicated to investing in projects for the benefit of Bahamians.  The 2% shareholding is not entitled to any voting rights and therefore CWC has retained majority voting rights in BTC as well as remaining the largest overall shareholder.  CWC will maintain management and Board control of the business.

 

Acquisition of Grupo Sonitel

On 12 September 2014, Cable & Wireless Panama completed the acquisition of Grupo Sonitel for US$36 million plus contingent consideration of up to an additional US$5 million.  Grupo Sonitel operates SSA Sistemas, a provider of end-to-end managed IT solutions and telecoms services to business and government customers in Panama, as well as in El Salvador, Nicaragua and Peru; and Sonset, a provider of IT solutions and services to Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) customers in Panama. Logistica, an IT hardware reseller and a small number of other non-core Grupo Sonitel companies, were not included as part of the transaction.

 

Disposal of Solomon Telekom

On 15 October 2014, CWC announced that it had agreed to divest its 32.577% shareholding in Solomon Telekom Company Limited (Soltel) to the Solomon Islands National Provident Fund Board for total cash proceeds of approximately US$16.5 million.  The transaction completed on 24 October 2014.

 

Acquisition of Columbus International Inc.

On 31 March 2015, Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC) completed the purchase of 100% of the equity of Columbus International Inc, a leading privately-owned fibre-based telecommunications and technology services provider operating in the Caribbean, Central America and the Andean region, for a consideration comprising USD708 million in cash and 1,558 million CWC shares.

Appendices

 

               Consolidated income statement                                                                                                  21

               Consolidated statement of comprehensive income                                                                    22

               Consolidated statement of financial position                                                                               23

               Consolidated statement of changes in equity                                                                             24

               Consolidated statement of cash flows                                                                                        25

               Reconciliation of net loss to net cash flow from operating activities                                           26

               Additional information                                                                                                                   27

 

Operating performance information

 

               CWC constant currency results detail                                                                                        35

               KPI detail                                                                                                                                      37

               Exchange rates                                                                                                                            38

               EBITDA by currency                                                                                                                    38

               Important disclaimer                                                                                                                    39

 

Extracts from the financial statements and additional information

 

Consolidated income statement

 


2014/15  

Restated* 

2013/14  

 

Pre- 
exceptional 

items 

Exceptional 

items 

Total  

Pre-  
exceptional 
 

items  

Exceptional 

items 

Total  

Continuing operations

US$m 

US$m 

US$m  

US$m  

US$m 

US$m  








Revenue

1,753 

1,753  

1,689  

- 

1,689  

Operating costs before depreciation, amortisation and impairment

(1,168)

(104)

(1,272) 

(1,143) 

(174)

(1,317) 

Depreciation and impairment

(209)

(127)

(336) 

(204) 

- 

(204) 

Amortisation

(47)

(47) 

(31) 

- 

(31) 

Other operating income

42 

42  

-  

- 

-  

Other operating expense

(62)

(62) 

(15) 

- 

(15) 

Group operating profit/(loss)

309 

(231)

78  

296  

(174)

122  

Share of profit/(loss) of joint ventures and associates

12 

12 

5  

(67) 

(62) 

Total operating profit/(loss)

321 

(231)

90  

301  

(241)

60  

Gain on sale of businesses

4  

 

- 

-  

Finance income

26 

26  

6  

- 

6  

Finance expense

(84)

(37)

(121) 

(139) 

(25)

(164) 

Profit/(loss) before income tax

267 

(268)

(1) 

168  

(266)

(98) 

Income tax (expense)/credit

(65)

33 

(32) 

(51) 

19  

(32) 

Profit/(loss) for the year from continuing operations

202 

(235)

(33) 

117  

(247)

Discontinued operations

 

 

 




Profit after tax for the year from discontinued operations

354 

354  

1,081  

- 

1,081  

Profit/(loss) for the year

556 

(235)

321  

1,198  

(247)

951  


 

 

 




Profit/(loss) attributable to:

 

 

 




Owners of the Parent Company

458 

(205)

253  

1,088  

(229)

859  

Non-controlling interests

98 

(30)

68  

110  

(18)

92  

Profit/(loss) for the year

556 

(235)

321  

1,198  

(247)

951  

 

Earnings per share attributable to the owners of the Parent Company during the year (cents per share)1





 

- basic



9.7c 



34.3c 

- diluted



9.7c 



34.3c 

 

Loss per share from continuing operations attributable to the owners of the Parent Company during the year (cents per share)





 

- basic



(3.8)c



(8.4)c

- diluted



(3.8)c



(8.4)c

 

Earnings per share from discontinued operations attributable to the owners of the Parent Company during the year (cents per share)





 

- basic



13.5c 



42.7c 

- diluted



13.5c 



42.7c 

*The results have been restated for the classification of Monaco in discontinued operations (note 5) and for Seychelles within continuing operations (note 3).

1 Includes discontinued operations

 



Consolidated statement of comprehensive income

 

   

2014/15  

2013/14  



US$m  


US$m  

Profit for the year


321  


951  






Other comprehensive (expense)/income for the year comprised:





Items that will not be reclassified to profit or loss in subsequent periods:





Actuarial losses in the value of defined benefit retirement plans

(77) 


(8) 


Income tax relating to items that will not be reclassified to profit or loss

-  


-  


Net other comprehensive loss not to be reclassified to profit or loss in subsequent periods


(77) 


(8) 

Items that are or may be reclassified to profit or loss in subsequent periods:





Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations

(11) 


(3) 


Foreign currency translation reserves recycled on disposal of operations

(94) 


(7) 


Foreign currency translation reserves recycled on held for sale associate

(30) 


-  


Fair value gain/(loss) on available-for-sale financial assets

 


(3) 


Income tax relating to items that may be reclassified to profit or loss

-  


-  


Net other comprehensive loss to be reclassified to profit or loss in subsequent periods


(132) 


(13) 






Other comprehensive expense for the year, net of tax


(209) 


(21) 






Total comprehensive income for the year, net of tax


112  


930  






Total comprehensive income attributable to:





Owners of the Parent Company


42  


836  

Non-controlling interests


70  


94  



112  


930  

 



Consolidated statement of financial position

 

 

31 March
2015

31 March
2014

 

US$m

US$m

ASSETS

 

 

Non-current assets

 

 

Intangible assets

2,954

526

Property, plant and equipment

2,523

1,418

Investments in joint ventures and associates

1

188

Available-for-sale financial assets

59

58

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

14

-

Other receivables

158

170

Deferred tax asset

51

34

Retirement benefit assets

17

20

 

5,777

2,414

Current assets


 

Trade and other receivables

587

433

Inventories

50

36

Loans to related parties

56

-

Cash and cash equivalents (see note 5)

402

205

 

1,095

674

Assets held for sale

165

70

 

1,260

744

Total assets

7,037

3,158

 

 

 

LIABILITIES


 

Current liabilities


 

Trade and other payables

771

612

Borrowings

82

58

Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss

-

274

Provisions

119

140

Current tax liabilities

118

121

 

1,090

1,205

Liabilities held for sale

-

23

 

1,090

1,228

Net current assets/(liabilities)

170

(484)

 


 

Non-current liabilities


 

Trade and other payables

373

26

Borrowings

2,686

797

Financial liabilities at amortised cost

879

-

Deferred tax liabilities

225

27

Provisions

99

42

Retirement benefit obligations

209

199

 

4,471

1,091

Net assets

1,476

839

 


 

Equity


 

Capital and reserves attributable to the owners of the Parent Company


 

Share capital

224

133

Share premium

260

97

Reserves

652

259

 

1,136

489

Non-controlling interests

340

350

Total equity

1,476

839

 



Consolidated statement of changes in equity

 

 
Share 
capital 
Share 
premium 
Foreign 
currency 
translation 
and hedging 
reserve 
Capital 
and 
other 
reserves 
Retained 
earnings 
Total 
Non- 
controlling 
interests 
Total 
equity 
 
US$m 
US$m 
US$m 
US$m 
US$m 
US$m 
US$m 
US$m 
Balance at 1 April 2013
133 
97 
32 
3,321 
(3,832)
(249)
501 
252 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Profit for the year
 
 
 
 
859 
859 
92 
951 
Actuarial losses recognised (net of tax)
 
 
 
 
(6)
(6)
(2)
(8)
Foreign currency translation reserves recycled on disposal of operations
 
 
(7)
 
 
(7)
 
(7)
Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations
 
 
(7)
 
 
(7)
4 
(3)
Fair value movements in available-for-sale financial assets
 
 
 
(3)
 
(3)
 
(3)
Total comprehensive (expense)/income for the year
 
 
(14)
(3)
853 
836 
94 
930 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Share-based payments
 
 
 
 
6 
6 
 
6 
Dividends
 
 
 
 
(100)
(100)
 
(100)
Total dividends and other transactions with Cable & Wireless Communications Plc shareholders
 
 
 
 
(94)
(94)
 
(94)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dividends paid to non-controlling interests
 
 
 
 
 
 
(76)
(76)
Transfers on sale of subsidiaries
 
 
 
(30)
26 
(4) 
(169)
(173)
Total dividends and other transactions with non-controlling interests
 
 
 
(30)
26 
(4) 
(245)
(249)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at 31 March 2014
133 
97 
18 
3,288 
(3,047)
489 
350 
839 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Profit for the year
 
 
 
 
253 
253 
68 
321 
Actuarial losses recognised (net of tax)
 
 
 
 
(76)
(76)
(1)
(77)
Foreign currency translation reserves recycled on disposal of operations
 
 
(94)
 
 
(94)
 
(94)
Foreign currency translation reserves recycled on held for sale associate
 
 
(30)
 
 
(30)
 
(30)
Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations
 
 
(14)
 
 
(14)
3 
(11)
Fair value movements in available-for-sale financial assets
 
 
 
3 
 
3 
 
3 
Total comprehensive (expense)/income for the year
 
 
(138)
177 
42 
70 
112 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lock-up and put option arrangements
 
 
 
(879)
 
(879)
 
(879)
Issuance of ordinary shares
91 
163 
 
1,312 
 
1,566 
 
1,566 
Equity share-based payments
 
 
 
 
28 
28 
 
28 
Dividends
 
 
 
 
(104)
(104)
 
(104)
Total dividends and other transactions with Cable & Wireless Communications Plc shareholders
91 
163 
 
433 
(76)
611 
 
611 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dividends paid to non-controlling interests
 
 
 
 
 
 
(86)
(86)
Transfer of BTC non-controlling interests
 
 
 
 
(6)
(6)
6 
 
Total dividends and other transactions with non-controlling interests
 
 
 
 
(6)
(6)
(80)
(86)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at 31 March 2015
224 
260 
(120)
3,724 
(2,952)
1,136 
340 
1,476 
 

Consolidated statement of cash flows


2014/15 

Restated*

2013/14 


US$m 

US$m 

Cash flows from operating activities



Cash generated - continuing operations (page 26)

431 

421 

Cash generated - discontinued operations

1 

116 

Income taxes paid - continuing operations

(52)

(54)

Income taxes paid - discontinued operations

- 

(3)

Net cash from operating activities

380 

480 




Cash flows from investing activities



Finance income

4 

Dividends received

- 

Purchase of available-for-sale assets

(1)

- 

Proceeds on disposal of property, plant and equipment

1 

Purchase of property, plant and equipment

(399)

(234)

Purchase of intangible assets

(57)

(132)

Proceeds on disposal of subsidiaries (net of cash disposed)

16 

- 

Loans to related parties

(56)

- 

Acquisition of subsidiaries (net of cash acquired)

(677)

- 

Net cash used in continuing operations

(1,169)

(351)

Disposal proceeds (net of cash disposed and transaction costs) for discontinued operations

403 

1,127 

Other discontinued operations

(1)

(53)

Discontinued operations

402 

1,074 

Net cash from investing activities

(767)

723 




Net cash flow before financing activities

(387)

1,203 




Cash flows from financing activities



Dividends paid to owners of the Parent Company

(104)

(100)

Dividends paid to non-controlling interests

(86)

(72)

Repayments of borrowings

(176)

(1,138)

Finance costs

(128)

(141)

Proceeds from borrowings

900 

162 

Proceeds on issuance of shares

176 

- 

Proceeds on sale of CMC shares

- 

100 

Unwind of sale of CMC shares

- 

(100)

Net cash used in continuing operations

582 

(1,289)

Discontinued operations

- 

(4)

Net cash used in financing activities

582 

(1,293)




Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents - continuing operations

(208)

(1,273)

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents - discontinued operations

403 

1,183 

Cash and cash equivalents at 1 April

208 

297 

Exchange movements on cash and cash equivalents

(1)

Cash and cash equivalents at 31 March

402 

208 

* The results have been restated for the classification of Monaco in discontinued operations (note 5) and for Seychelles within continuing operations (note 3).

 



Reconciliation of loss for the year to net cash generated

Continuing operations

2014/15 

US$m 

Restated*

2013/14

US$m 

Loss for the year

(33)

(130)

Adjustments for:



Tax expense

32 

32 

Depreciation before exceptional items

209 

204 

Amortisation

47 

31 

Impairment

127 

- 

Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment

1 

‑ 

Gain on sale of businesses

(4)

‑ 

Finance income

(26)

(6)

Finance expense after exceptional items

121 

164 

Other income and expenses

(16)

15 

Increase in exceptional provisions

38 

52 

Employee benefits

14 

11 

Defined benefit pension scheme contributions

(6)

(6)

Defined benefit pension scheme other contributions

(52)

‑ 

Share of profit after tax of joint ventures and associates

(12)

62 

Operating cash flows before working capital changes

440 

429 

Changes in working capital

(excluding the effects of acquisitions and disposals of subsidiaries)



Increase in inventories

(4)

(6)

(Increase)/decrease in trade and other receivables

(39)

38 

Increase/(decrease) in payables

34 

(40)

Cash generated from continuing operations

431 

421 

* The results have been restated for the classification of Monaco in discontinued operations (note 5) and for Seychelles within continuing operations (note 3).

 



Additional information

1 Significant accounting policies and principles

Whilst the financial information included in this announcement has been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards adopted by the European Union (IFRS), this announcement does not itself contain sufficient information to comply with IFRS.  The Group's 2014/15 Annual Report and Accounts are prepared in accordance with IFRS.

 

The accounting policies applied by the Group in this announcement are the same as those applied by the Group in its consolidated financial statements as at and for the year ended 31 March 2015. The adoption of IFRS 10 Consolidated financial statements and IFRS 11 Joint arrangements had no material impact on the Group. The disclosures required under IFRS 12 Disclosures on interests in other entities will increase in line with the standard in the Annual Report and Accounts.

 

The financial information in this announcement represents non-statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 435 of the Companies Act 2006.  The auditors have reported on the statutory accounts for the year ended 31 March 2015. Their report was (i) unqualified, (ii) did not include a reference to any matters to which the auditors drew attention by way of emphasis without qualifying their report and (iii) did not contain a statement under section 498 (2) or (3) of the Companies Act 2006.  These accounts will be sent to the Registrar of Companies following the Company's Annual General Meeting. A separate dissemination announcement with the Disclosure and Transparency Rules (DTR) 6.3 will be made when the annual report and audited financial statements are available on the Group's website.

 

Going concern

After making enquiries, the Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Group has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future.  Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.

 

 

2 Shares outstanding at year end and weighted average number of shares


At 31 March 2015 

'000 

At 31 March 2014 

'000 

Number of shares in issue

4,475,954 

2,665,612 

Shares held in treasury

(137,489)

(137,489)

Shares held by employee share ownership trust

(9,141)

(24,660)

Number of shares outstanding

4,329,324 

2,503,463 

Weighted average number of shares outstanding during the year used for the EPS

calculation

2,615,055 

2,501,990 

 

On 7 November 2014, a total of 252,812,284 new ordinary shares of US5 cents each in the capital of the Company were placed by Deutsche Bank AG (cash box placement) at a price of 45 pence per placing share, raising gross proceeds of US$180 million (excluding equity transaction costs of US$4 million).  The placing shares being issued represented 10% less one share of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company prior to Placing.

 

On 31 March 2015, a total of 1,557,529,605 new ordinary shares of US5 cents each in the capital of the Company were issued to the Principal Vendors (as defined and further described in the circular to shareholders dated 19 November 2014).  These shares represent approximately 36% of the ordinary share in CWC (excluding treasury shares).

 

3 Segment information

Cable & Wireless Communications Group is an international telecommunications service provider.  It operates integrated telecommunications companies offering mobile, broadband, TV, fixed line and managed services and other to residential and business customers.  The Group has modified its operating segments following the disposal of Monaco which has been classified as discontinued operations (note 5) and the reclassification of Seychelles to continuing operations.  From 1 April 2014, the Board (the chief operating decision maker) considers the performance of BTC (Bahamas) separately from that of LIME (rest of Caribbean).  During the year the Group had four principal operations which have been identified as the Group's reportable segments, being Panama, LIME, BTC and Seychelles.  Our business-to-business and business-to-government operations are included in the results of the region to which they relate.

 

The Group also has an 'other' operating segment which is comprised of the corporate centre, operational hub, results of our sub-sea cable partnership and wholesale solutions business and eliminations for inter-segment transactions.  This segment does not meet the definition of an operating segment as it earns revenue from its activities that are less than 10% of overall Group revenue.  This function primarily acts as an operational support provider for the reportable segments.

 

The Board considers the performance of each of these operations in assessing the performance of the Group and making decisions about the allocation of resources.  Accordingly, these are the operating segments disclosed.  There are no other operating segments identified by the Board.  The operating segments are reported in a manner consistent with the internal reporting provided to the Board.

Continuing operations

Year ended 31 March 2015

Panama 
US$m 

LIME 
US$m 

BTC 
US$m 

Seychelles 
US$m 

Other and 

eliminations1
US$m 

Total 
US$m 

Revenue

636 

709 

348 

52 

8 

1,753 

Cost of sales

(223)

(154)

(67)

(8)

(6)

(458)

Gross margin

413 

555 

281 

44 

2 

1,295 

Pre-exceptional operating costs

(172)

(317)

(159)

(25)

(37)

(710)

EBITDA2

241 

238 

122 

19 

(35)

585 

Depreciation, amortisation and impairment

(101)

(88)

(43)

(10)

(14)

(256)

Net other operating income/(expense)

21 

(10)

- 

- 

(31)

(20)

Exceptional costs

(9)

(175)

(25)

- 

(22)

(231)

Group operating profit/(loss)

152 

(35)

54 

9 

(102)

78 

Share of (loss)/profit after tax of joint ventures and associates

- 

- 

- 

(1)

13 

12 

Total operating profit/(loss)

152 

(35)

54 

8 

(89)

90 

Gain on sale of businesses

- 

- 

- 

- 

4 

4 

Net finance (expense)/income

(8)

24 

1 

(112)

(95)

Profit/(loss) before income tax

144 

(11)

54 

9 

(197)

(1)

Income tax (expense)/credit

(36)

(9)

(1)

(8)

22 

(32)

Profit/(loss) for the year from continuing operations

108 

(20)

53 

1 

(175)

(33)

Income taxes paid3

(24)

(16)

(1)

(6)

(5)

(52)

1   Other and eliminations includes the corporate centre and operational hub expenses, results of our sub-sea cable partnership, wholesale solutions business and eliminations for inter-segment transactions and the results of our joint ventures and associates.

2   EBITDA is used in management reporting as it is considered by management to be a key financial metric.  It is defined as earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation, net other operating and non-operating income/expense and exceptional items (note 4).

3   Income taxes paid represents cash tax paid during the year by consolidated subsidiaries.

 

Continuing operations (restated)

Year ended 31 March 2014

Panama 
US$m 

LIME 
US$m 

BTC 
US$m 

Seychelles 
US$m 

Other and 

eliminations1
US$m 

Total 
US$m 

Revenue

576 

691 

354 

53 

15 

1,689 

Cost of sales

(182)

(153)

(65)

(7)

(11)

(418)

Gross margin

394 

538 

289 

46 

1,271 

Pre-exceptional operating costs

(155)

(368)

(161)

(26)

(15)

(725)

EBITDA2

239 

170 

128 

20 

(11)

546 

Depreciation and amortisation

(94)

(89)

(44)

- 

(8)

(235)

Net other operating expense

- 

- 

- 

- 

(15)

(15)

Exceptional operating costs

(3)

(120)

(12)

- 

(39)

(174)

Group operating profit/(loss)

142 

(39)

72 

20 

(73)

122 

Share of loss after tax of joint ventures and associates

- 

- 

- 

(2)

(60)

(62)

Total operating profit/(loss)

142 

(39)

72 

18 

(133)

60 

Net finance (expense)/income

(11)

14 

1 

(163)

(158)

Profit before income tax

131 

(25)

73 

19 

(296)

(98)

Income tax (expense)/credit

(28)

(5)

(1)

(5)

(32)

Profit/(loss) for the year from continuing operations

103 

(30)

72 

14 

(289)

(130)

Income taxes paid3

(27)

(17)

(2)

(4)

(4)

(54)

1   Other and eliminations includes the corporate centre and operational hub expenses, wholesale solutions business and eliminations for inter-segment transactions and the results of our joint ventures and associates.

2   EBITDA is used in management reporting as it is considered by management to be a key financial metric.  It is defined as earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation, net other operating and non-operating income/expense and exceptional items (note 4).

3   Income taxes paid represents cash tax paid during the year by consolidated subsidiaries.

 

4 Exceptional items

There were US$231 million of exceptional operating expenses for the twelve months ended 31 March 2015 (31 March 2014: US$241 million).  The charges included impairment of assets identified as redundant; primarily, copper plant and facilities in markets where CWC and Columbus overlap and legacy voice switches replaced as part of Project Marlin, as well as restructuring changes to yield synergies related to the Columbus transaction and a voluntary separation agreement in The Bahamas.  US$241 million of expense in the prior period included charges for the Group cost reduction initiative and a charge of US$67 million in TSTT.

 

5 Discontinued operations

 

i)          Monaco Telecom

 

At a General Meeting on 15 May 2014, shareholders of the Company approved the sale of Compagnie Monegasque de Communication SAM (CMC), the holding company for the Group's 55% stake in Monaco Telecom SAM to a private investment vehicle controlled by Xavier Niel.  Monaco Telecom also owned 36.75% of Telecom Development Company Afghanistan Limited (Roshan).  The sale of the business was completed on 20 May 2014 for a total consideration of US$445 million.  In addition, the Group received US$8.6 million relating to the estimated cash, debt and working capital at completion.  The disposal is a further step in CWC's strategy to focus on the Caribbean and Latin America region, and after completion of the disposal, as the Group now generates all of its revenue from the Caribbean and Latin America region, with the exception of the Seychelles.

 

 

The results of all discontinued operations are shown below:

 


Monaco 

Total 

discontinued 

operations 


US$m 

US$m 

Year ended 31 March 2015



Revenue

29 

29 

Expenses

(20)

(20)

Profit before tax

Tax

(1)

(1)

Profit after tax

Profit on disposal of discontinued operations

346 

346 

Profit for the year

354 

354 

Disposal costs

(8)

(8)


346 

346 

 

 

ii)         Seychelles

 

As at 31 March 2014 the Seychelles was held for sale and net assets were US$47 million.  This included cash and cash equivalents of US$3 million.

 

For the twelve months ended 31 March 2015, the Seychelles is now presented in continuing operations.

 

6 Changes in net funds


At 1 April 

2014 

Cash 
flow 

Capitalised 

v fees and 

 amortisation 

Transfers 

Acquisitions 

Exchange 

differences 

Net cash 

from 

discontinued 

operations 

At 31 

March 

2015 


US$m 

US$m 

US$m 

US$m 

US$m 

US$m 

US$m 

US$m 

Cash at bank and in hand

89 

(176)

- 

- 

81 

(1)

403 

396 

Short-term deposits

116 

(112)

- 

- 

2 

- 

- 

6 

Total funds

205 

(288)

- 

- 

83 

(1)

403 

402 










Debt due within one year

(58)

26 

- 

(47)

(4)

1 

- 

(82)

Debt due after more than one year

(797)

(750)

26 

47 

(1,234)

22 

- 

(2,686)

Total debt

(855)

(724)

26 

- 

(1,238)

23 

- 

(2,768)

Total net (debt)/funds

(650)

(1,012)

26 

- 

(1,155)

22 

403 

(2,366)

 

 

7 Provisions for liabilities and charges


Property 

Redundancy 

US$m costs 

Network 
and asset 
retirement 
obligations 

Legal and 
other 

Total 


US$m 

US$m 

US$m 

US$m 

US$m 

At 1 April 2014

20 

43 

30 

89 

182 

Acquisitions

- 

- 

- 

11 

11 

Business disposals

- 

(1)

(2)

(11)

(14)

Additional provisions

- 

80 

25 

18 

123 

Amounts used

(5)

(37)

- 

(29)

(71)

Unused amounts released

- 

(3)

- 

(9)

(12)

Exchange differences

- 

- 

(1)

- 

(1)

At 31 March 2015

15 

82 

52 

69 

218 

Current portion

12 

51 

2 

54 

119 

Non-current portion

3 

31 

50 

15 

99 

 

The net expense recognised through profit or loss from movements in provisions relating to discontinued operations at 31 March 2015 was US$7 million (31 March 2014 - US$7 million).

 

Property

Provision has been made for dilapidation costs and for the lower of the best estimate of the unavoidable lease payments or cost of exit in respect of vacant properties.  Unavoidable lease payments represent the difference between the rentals due and any income expected to be derived from the vacant properties being sublet.  The provision is expected to be used over the shorter of the period to exit and the lease contract life.

 

Redundancy

Provision has been made for the total employee related costs of redundancies announced prior to the reporting date. Amounts provided during the period primarily relate to regional integration costs for merging the operations of the new combined group.  The provision is expected to be used in the next two years.  Amounts used during the period relate to regional transformation activities in the Caribbean.

 

Network and asset retirement obligations

Provision has been made for the best estimate of the unavoidable costs associated with redundant leased network capacity.  The provision is expected to be used over the shorter of the period to exit and the lease contract life.

 

Provision has also been made for the best estimate of the asset retirement obligation associated with office sites, technical sites, mobile cell sites and domestic and sub-sea cabling.  This provision is expected to be used at the end of the life of the related asset on which the obligation arises.

 

Legal and other

Legal and other provisions include amounts relating to specific legal claims against the Group together with amounts in respect of certain employee benefits and sales taxes.  The timing of the utilisation of the provision is uncertain and is largely outside the Group's control, for example, where matters are contingent upon litigation.  There was a US$9 million release of litigation and claim exposures following a reassessment of exposures to the Group.


 

8 Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP items

 

Total operating profit to EBITDA

Continuing operations

2014/15 

Restated 

2013/14 

US$m 

US$m 

Total operating profit

90 

60 

Depreciation and amortisation

256 

235 

Net other operating expense/(income)

20 

15 

Share of profit after tax of joint ventures and associates - pre-exceptional

(12)

(5)

Share of profit after tax of joint ventures and associates - exceptional

- 

67 

Exceptional items: operating

104 

174 

Exceptional items: impairment

127 

- 

EBITDA

585 

546 

 

The Group uses EBITDA as a key performance measure as it reflects the underlying operational performance of the businesses.  EBITDA is not a measure defined under IFRS.  It is calculated as earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation, net other operating and non-operating income and expense and exceptional items.

 

Basic Earnings Per Share (EPS) to Adjusted EPS

Continuing operations

2014/15 

Restated 

2013/14 


US cents 

US cents 

Loss per share attributable to owners of the Parent Company

(8.4)

Exceptional items1

9.2 

Acquisition related transaction costs1

Amortisation of acquired intangibles1

0.1 

Foreign exchange (gains)/losses on financing activities

1.3 

Gain on disposal of businesses

Adjusted EPS attributable to owners of the Parent Company

4.7 

2.2 

Weighted average number of shares (million)

2,615 

2,502 

1 Excluding amounts attributable to non-controlling interests

 

Adjusted EPS is before exceptional items, acquisition related transaction costs, amortisation of acquired intangibles, foreign exchange (gains)/losses on financing activities and gain on disposal of businesses.

 

9 Business Combinations

i)          Columbus International Inc.

On 6 November 2014, CWC agreed to acquire 100% of the equity of Columbus International Inc. (Columbus) a leading privately-owned fibre-based telecommunications and technology services provider operating in the Caribbean, Central America and the Andean region with approximately 700,000 residential customers.

 

In the Caribbean, Columbus is one of the leading providers of triple-play cable TV and broadband enabled services over its proprietary fibre optic network infrastructure.  Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Columbus Networks, Columbus provides backhaul connectivity to 42 countries in the region, as well as capacity and IT services, corporate data solutions and data centre services throughout the Caribbean, Central American and the Andean region.  Columbus also provides next generation connectivity and IT solutions, managed networking and cloud-based services under the brand Columbus Business Solutions.  This transaction is in line with the strategy outlined in May 2014 to drive mobile leadership, accelerate fixed-mobile convergence, reinforce our video offer and grow the B2B/B2G business.

 

On 31 March 2015, the acquisition was completed for consideration of US$2,121 million comprising a mixture of cash, the Company's shares, capitalised share option amounts and the fair value of put options written to the principal Columbus vendors which are detailed below.

 


US$m 

Cash

708 

Shares in CWC

Fair value of put options

103 

Replacement share option awards

23 

 Total consideration

2,121 

 

 

The Group has made a provisional assessment of the fair values of the assets and liabilities as at the acquisition date based on estimated total consideration of US$2,121 million.


Book value 

US$m 

Fair value 

adjustments 

US$m 

Provisional 

fair value 

US$m 

Intangible assets

174 

513 

687 

Goodwill

2,034 

2,034 

Property, plant and equipment

1,041 

36 

1,077 

Assets held for sale

7 

7 

Assets held at fair value

14 

14 

Other receivables

9 

9 

Deferred tax assets

23 

23 

Trade and other receivables

144 

144 

Inventories

5 

5 

Cash and cash equivalents

80 

80 

Trade and other payables

(168)

(3)

(171)

Borrowings

(1,234)

(1,234)

Current tax liabilities

(16)

(16)

Deferred tax liabilities

(85)

(112)

(197)

Other non-current payables

(341)

(341)

 Total

(347)

2,468 

2,121 

 

Due to the timing of the acquisition, on the last day of the financial year, the assessment of the fair value of assets and liabilities at the acquisition date will be subject to change and the accounting for the acquisition will be updated in the prescribed 12 month period.

 

The goodwill recognised of US$2,034 million on acquisition was based on the provisional assessment of the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed.  Goodwill arising on the acquisition includes the value of the workforce and expected synergies resulting from the integration into the existing business that did not meet the recognition criteria set out in IAS 38 Intangible Assets as they were unable to be separately identified.

 

ii)         Grupo Sonitel

On 12 September 2014, the Group, through its subsidiary Cable & Wireless Panamá, S. A. (CWP), agreed to acquire Panama-based Grupo Sonitel for US$36 million plus contingent consideration of up to an additional US$5 million.  Grupo Sonitel operates SSA Sistemas, a provider of end-to-end managed IT solutions and telecoms services to business and government customers in Panama, as well as in El Salvador, Nicaragua and Peru; and Sonset, a provider of IT solutions and services to Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) customers in Panama.

 

This transaction is in line with the strategy outlined in May 2014 to grow business (B2B) and government (B2G) capabilities.



 

The Directors has made a provisional assessment of the fair values of the assets and liabilities as at the acquisition date based on estimated total consideration (including contingent consideration) of US$39 million:

 


Book value 

US$m 

Fair value 

adjustments 

US$m 

Fair value 

US$m 

 Property, plant and equipment

‑ 

 Goodwill

‑ 

13 

13 

 Customer contracts and relationships

‑ 

17 

17 

 Brands

‑ 

 Other net assets

(4)

 Total

32

39 

 

2014/15 CWC CONSTANT CURRENCY results detail

 


Panama

LIME

BTC

Seychelles

Other3

Total


2014/15 

2013/14 

Change 

2014/15 

2013/14 

Change 

2014/15 

2013/14 

Change

2014/15 

2013/14 

Change 

2014/15 

2013/14 

Change

2014/15 

2013/14 

Change 


US$m 

US$m 

% 

US$m 

US$m 

% 

US$m 

US$m 

%

US$m 

US$m 

% 

US$m 

US$m 

%

US$m 

US$m 

Mobile

351 

336 

4% 

299 

268 

11% 

250 

258 

(3)%

29 

28 

4% 

− 

− 

−    

929 

890 

4% 

Broadband and Video

69 

64 

8% 

103 

103 

‑    

15 

15 

‑    

11 

22% 

− 

− 

−    

198 

191 

4% 

Fixed voice

106 

113 

(6)%

196 

202 

(3)%

49 

45 

9% 

‑    

− 

− 

−    

359 

368 

(2)%

Managed services and other

110 

63 

75% 

111 

104 

7%

34 

36 

(6)%

33% 

15 

(47)%

267 

221 

21% 

Revenue

636 

576 

10% 

709 

677 

5%

348 

354 

(2)%

52 

48 

8% 

15 

(47)%

1,753 

1,670 

5% 

Cost of sales

(223)

(182)

(23)%

(154)

(149)

(3)%

(67)

(65)

(3)%

(8)

(7)

(14)%

(6)

(11)

45% 

(458)

(414)

(11)%

Gross margin

413 

394 

5% 

555 

528 

5% 

281 

289 

(3)%

44 

41 

7% 

(50)%

1,295 

1,256 

3% 

Operating costs

(172)

(155)

(11)%

(317)

(359)

12% 

(159)

(161)

1% 

(25)

(24)

(4)%

(37)

(15)

nm    

(710)

(714)

1% 

EBITDA2

241 

239 

1% 

238 

169 

41% 

122 

128 

(5)%

19

17 

12% 

(35)

(11)

nm    

585 

542 

8% 

Depreciation and amortisation

(101)

(94)

(7)%

(88)

(88)

‑    

(43)

(44)

2% 

(10)

− 

nm    

(14)

(8)

(75)%

(256)

(234)

(9)%

Net other operating income/ (expense)

21 

− 

nm    

(10)

‑ 

nm    

‑ 

− 

‑ 

− 

−  

−    

(31)

(15)

nm    

(20)

(15)

(33)%

Operating profit before joint ventures and associates and exceptional items

161 

145 

11% 

140 

81 

73% 

79 

84 

(6)%

17 

(47)%

(80)

(34)

nm    

309 

293 

5% 




















Capital expenditure

(126)

(79)

(59)%

(195)

(100)

(95)%

(75)

(51)

(47)%

(12)

(9)

(33)%

(34)

(9)

nm    

(442)

(248)

(78)%

Operating cash flow1

115 

160 

(28)%

43 

69 

(38)%

47 

77 

(39)%

(13)%

(69)

(20)

nm    

143 

294 

(51)%




















 


nm represents % change not meaningful

1

EBITDA less capital expenditure

2

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation, net other operating and non-operating income / (expense) and exceptional items

3

Other includes management, royalty and branding fees, the costs of the corporate centre and operating hub, net UK defined benefit pension charge or credit and intercompany eliminations

 




 

H2 2014/15 CWC CONSTANT CURRENCY results detail

 


Panama

LIME

BTC

Seychelles

Other3

Total


H2 14/15 

H2 13/14 

Change 

H2 14/15 

H2 13/14 

Change 

H2 14/15 

H2 13/14 

Change

H2 14/15

H2 13/14

Change

H2 14/15 

H2 13/14 

Change 

H2 14/15 

H2 13/14 

Change 


US$m 

US$m 

% 

US$m 

US$m 

% 

US$m 

US$m 

%

US$m 

US$m 

%

US$m 

US$m 

% 

US$m 

US$m 

% 

Mobile

175 

168 

4% 

156 

136 

15% 

124 

129 

(4)%

13 

14 

(7)%

‑ 

‑ 

‑    

468 

447 

5% 

Broadband and Video

35 

33 

6% 

51 

52 

(2)%

(13)%

50% 

‑ 

‑ 

‑    

99 

97 

2% 

Fixed voice

52 

55 

(5)%

98 

100 

(2)%

25 

20 

25% 

‑    

‑ 

‑ 

‑    

179 

179 

‑    

Managed services and other

72 

33 

nm    

60 

51 

18% 

21 

22 

(5)%

100% 

(50)%

159 

115 

38% 

Revenue

334 

289 

16% 

365 

339 

8% 

177 

179 

(1)%

25

23 

9% 

(50)%

905 

838 

8% 

Cost of sales

(123)

(90)

(37)%

(81)

(71)

(14)%

(34)

(34)

‑    

(4)

(3)

(33)%

(2)

(8)

75% 

(244)

(206)

(18)%

Gross margin

211 

199 

6% 

284 

268 

6% 

143 

145 

(1)%

21 

20 

5% 

‑ 

nm    

661 

632 

5% 

Operating costs

(88)

(76)

(16)%

(146)

(177)

18% 

(80)

(77)

(4)%

(12)

(12)

‑    

(27)

(12)

nm    

(353)

(354)

0% 

EBITDA2

123 

123 

‑    

138 

91 

52% 

63 

68 

(7)%

13%

(25)

(12)

nm    

308 

278 

11% 

Depreciation and amortisation

(53)

(50)

(6)%

(47)

(44)

(7)%

(22)

(21)

(5)%

(3)

‑ 

nm    

(8)

(4)

(100)%

(133)

(119)

(12)%

Net other operating income/ (expense)

‑ 

 

nm    

(10) 

(1) 

nm    

‑ 

nm    

‑ 

‑ 

‑    

(9)

(6)

(50)%

(18)

(7)

nm    

Operating profit before joint ventures and associates and exceptional items

70 

73 

(4)%

81 

46 

76% 

42 

47 

(11)%

(25)%

(42)

(22)

(91)%

157 

152 

3% 




















Capital expenditure

(68)

(44)

(55)%

(105)

(61)

(72)%

(48)

(28)

(71)%

(8)

(5)

(60)%

(23)

(6)

nm    

(252)

(144)

(75)%

Operating cash flow1

55 

79 

(30)%   

33 

30 

10% 

15 

40 

(63)%

(67)%

(48)

(18)

nm    

56 

134 

(58)%




















 


nm represents % change not meaningful

1

EBITDA less capital expenditure

2

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation, net other operating and non-operating income / (expense) and exceptional items

3

Other includes management, royalty and branding fees, the costs of the corporate centre and operating hub, net UK defined benefit pension charge or credit and intercompany eliminations

 


 



KPI detaiL

 


2013/14

2014/15


Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Subscribers (000s)









Panama









Mobile1

1,907

1,909

1,958

1,961

2,502

2,184

2,246

2,087

Broadband

129

129

130

131

132

132

131

132

Fixed line

376

374

372

372

369

369

367

366

BTC









Mobile1

300

305

307

308

308

311

314

318

Broadband

17

19

21

23

24

24

25

25

Fixed line

115

114

104

103

103

102

100

99

LIME









Mobile1

994

1,094

1,191

1,198

1,211

1,236

1,333

1,328

Broadband

210

214

217

218

216

219

221

224

Fixed line

583

582

582

580

574

574

575

578

Seychelles









Mobile1

81

82

82

83

83

84

86

87

Broadband

6

6

7

7

7

7

7

7

Fixed line

17

17

17

17

17

18

18

17










ARPU (US$)2









Panama









Mobile

15.8

14.7

14.5

13.8

14.6

14.4

13.2

13.6

Broadband

29.0

28.8

28.5

28.7

28.8

29.2

29.7

29.3

Fixed line

26.1

25.4

24.7

24.6

24.4

24.6

24.3

23.1

BTC









Mobile1

70.7

64.9

65.8

62.8

64.8

60.0

60.4

59.9

Broadband

70.1

65.3

67.5

54.4

54.8

50.8

51.1

48.5

Fixed line

37.4

34.1

30.7

36.6

38.7

40.4

38.1

43.5

LIME









Mobile1

23.1

21.4

19.7

18.6

19.4

19.6

20.0

19.0

Broadband

37.9

38.7

36.7

36.3

36.3

35.7

35.6

35.1

Fixed line

30.9

29.4

28.6

29.3

28.6

28.0

29.0

27.7

Seychelles









Mobile1

31.6

28.6

29.7

33.8

31.6

29.1

27.1

26.3

Broadband

127.1

130.2

125.9

123.4

131.2

132.6

125.7

131.1

Fixed line

45.1

43.4

43.9

41.7

39.0

37.5

36.7

32.4

1

Active subscribers are defined as those having performed a revenue-generating activity in the previous 60 days.  Historic subscriber numbers have been restated to exclude subscribers with credit balances but no activity in the preceding 60 days

2

ARPU is average revenue per user per month, excluding equipment sales

 


 


CURRENCY INFORMATION

 

Exchange rates

 


Actual rates for
year ended
31 March 2015

Actual rates for
year ended
31 March 2014

Percentage change   

US dollar appreciation /   

 (depreciation)   





Sterling : US dollar




Average

0.6206

0.6313

(2)%

Period end

0.6705

0.6059

11% 





Jamaican dollar : US dollar




Average

112.6438

102.7058

10% 

Period end

114.8900

109.1550

5% 





Seychelles Rupee : US Dollar




Average

13.1440

11.9863

10% 

Period end

13.7550

12.1713

13% 





US dollar : Sterling




Average

1.6114

1.5840


Period end

1.4915

1.6504






 

Cable & Wireless Communications EBITDA by currency for year ended 31 March 2015

 


US$m

% of total

US dollar, pegged or linked

523

90

Seychelles rupee

19

3

Jamaican dollar

43

7

Total

585

100

 

 

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER

This announcement contains forward-looking statements that are based on current expectations or beliefs, as well as assumptions about future events. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate only to historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements often use words such as anticipate, target, expect, estimate, intend, plan, goal, believe, will, may, should, would, could or other words of similar meaning. Undue reliance should not be placed on any such statements because, by their very nature, they are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and can be affected by other factors that could cause actual results, and Cable & Wireless Communications' plans and objectives, to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements.

 

There are several factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements are changes in the global, political, economic, business, competitive, market and regulatory forces, future exchange and interest rates, changes in tax rates and future business combinations or dispositions. A summary of some of the potential risks faced by Cable & Wireless Communications is set out in the Group's most recent Annual Report.

 

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and Cable & Wireless Communications undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement contained within this announcement, or any other forward-looking statements it may make, regardless of whether those statements are affected as a result of new information, future events or otherwise (except as required by the UK Listing Authority, the London Stock Exchange, the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers or by law).

 


This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
 
END
 
 
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