DGAP-Ad hoc: Vodafone Group Plc. <VOD> part 1 - 500 Beiträge pro Seite

[ad_hoc [wO]]

DGAP-Ad hoc: Vodafone Group Plc. <VOD> part 1

PRELIMINARY ANNOUNCEMENT OF RESULTS YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2002

Ad-hoc-announcement processed and transmitted by DGAP. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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Part 1 of 3

PRELIMINARY ANNOUNCEMENT OF RESULTS YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2002

- Statutory turnover increased by 52% to GBP22,845 million - Data revenues increased by 87% to GBP2,093 million - Statutory operating profit(1) increased by 35% to GBP7,044 million - Earnings per ordinary share(1) increased by 45% to 5.15 pence - Proportionate EBITDA(2) increased by 44% to GBP10,093 million, with an improvement of 3% in the mobile business EBITDA margin to 36% - Operating cash flow per share increased by 60% to 11.92 pence - Free cash flow of GBP2,365 million, after investing GBP4,145 million of tangible capital expenditure - Dividend increased by 5% to 1.4721 pence per share for the year - Continued growth in customer base with a 22% increase in proportionate registered customers to 101.1 million. Venture customer base over 229 million - Strong financial position. Net debt of GBP12,034 million, representing 14% of market capitalisation at 31 March 2002. Single A credit ratings maintained. - No impairment in respect of the Group´s controlled mobile businesses. GBP6,000 million impairment of other Group assets(3)

(1) before goodwill amortisation of GBP13,470 million and exceptional items, which comprise exceptional operating costs of GBP5,408 million and exceptional non-operating items of GBP860 million (2) before exceptional items (3) see page 17, "Exceptional items" for further details

The full text of this release is available from the Vodafone Group website - http://www.vodafone.com.

For further information:

Vodafone Group Tim Brown, Group Corporate Affairs Director Melissa Stimpson, Head of Group Investor Relations Bobby Leach, Head of Group Financial Media Relations Darren Jones, Senior Investor Relations Manager Tel: [phone]

Tavistock Communications Lulu Bridges / John West Tel: [phone]

End of Part 1

end of ad-hoc-announcement (c)DGAP 28.05.2002

Issuer´s information/explanatory remarks concerning this ad-hoc-announcement:

Sir Christopher Gent, Chief Executive, commented: "The past year has seen the Group successfully execute its adjusted strategy, delivering very strong operational performance and exceptional financial results, including the generation of substantial free cash flow. In the current year, we envisage net customer growth of just below 10%, allowing for the expected disconnections of non-revenue generating handsets, and a modest but real improvement in ARPU in most of our major European markets. This combination should lead to double-digit revenue growth. In addition, we will continue to focus on improving operational performance and expect to achieve further increases in EBITDA margin, which should result in still better operating cash flow in the year ahead. We have every confidence in the continued growth potential of the business. This year will see many exciting new developments which will sustain the long-term growth of Vodafone in the years to come."

Julian Horn-Smith, Group Chief Operating Officer, commented: "These results highlight our excellent operational performance during the year. The business has achieved satisfactory customer growth with a better mix of customers in most markets, which has helped contribute to stability in ARPU, ahead of our previous expectations despite reductions in incoming call tariff rates. The continued focus on driving down costs and initiatives led by our Global Products and Services team in achieving cost efficiencies, best practice sharing, global benchmarking and standardisation have contributed to a significant margin improvement and the generation of exceptional free cash flow. Most of our networks have moved to the single Vodafone brand, where sponsorship deals such as Ferrari and the global offering of seamless services are not only contributing to improved ARPU but are also helping to extend our brand recognition and increase customer loyalty."

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WKN: 875999; ISIN: GB0007192106; Index: Stoxx 50 Listed: Amtlicher Handel in Frankfurt (Dt. Zert.); Freiverkehr in Berlin, Bremen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover, München, Stuttgart

Autor: DGAP import (),08:49 28.05.2002

[Shortguy]

ftd.de, Di, 28.5.2002, 9:01
Vodafone überrascht Märkte

Europas größter Mobilfunkanbieter Vodafone hat seinen Gewinn im abgelaufenen Geschäftsjahr erhöht. Die am Dienstag vorgelegten Jahreszahlen übertrafen die Erwartungen der Analysten.

Vodafone hat seinen Gewinn vor Steuern, Zinsen und Abschreibungen (Ebitda) um 44 Prozent auf 10,09 Mrd. Pfund (rund 16 Mrd. Euro) gesteigert und lag damit am oberen Rand der Analystenprognosen. Wie der Konzern am Dienstag in London weiter mitteilte, wurden Abschreibungen in Höhe von sechs Mrd. Pfund auf Nicht-Mobilfunkbeteiligungen vorgenommen. Von Reuters und Multex befragte Analysten hatten ein Ebitda in einer Spanne von 7,4 bis mehr als zehn Mrd. Pfund erwartet. Einige Analysten hatten zudem mit hohen Abschreibungen für Akquisitionen im Mobilfunkbereich von mehreren Mrd. Pfund gerechnet.

Der Umsatz stieg den Angaben zufolge um 52 Prozent auf 22,84 Mrd. Pfund. Für das laufende Jahr erwartet Vodafone den Angaben zufolge ein zweistelliges Umsatzwachstum sowie ein Netto-Kundenwachstum von knapp unter zehn Prozent. Die Nettoverschuldung bezifferte der Konzern auf 12,03 Mrd. Pfund. Vodafone-Aktien stiegen vorbörslich um knapp fünf Prozent auf 110 Pence.



© 2002 Reuters Limited. Nutzerbeschränkungen

[Shortguy]

10:32 Uhr: Blitzmeinung von Christof Schmidbauer


Vodafone zeigt seine alten Qualitäten
Reuters-News Kurse Chart


Mit seinen besser als erwartet ausgefallenen Quartalszahlen scheint Vodafone wieder seine starke Position als Marktführer unterstrichen zu haben. Doch teilweise hat der weltweit größte Mobilfunk-Anbieter dem Ergebnis mit einer etwas zimperlichen Abschreibungspraxis auf die Sprünge geholfen. Dennoch überwiegen die guten Nachrichten. Der Umsatz kletterte um 52 Prozent auf 22,845 Milliarden britische Pfund. Wichtiger noch war aber die Prognose. Zweistelliges Umsatzwachstum bei weiter steigender Gewinnspanne. Das liebt die Börse. Zaghaft war Vodafone bei den Abschreibungen auf die vor zwei Jahren übernommene Mannesmann AG. Sie stellte den Hauptanteil der rund 25 Millionen Pfund an Firmenwerten in der Vodafone-Bilanz. Dennoch dürfte der Aktienkurs zunächst das Tal der Tränen verlassen haben.

© 2002 sharper.de