Wrap Text
Quarterly update for the period ended 30 September 2018 and renewal of cautionary announcement
MTN Group Limited
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
Registration number: 1994/009584/06
ISIN: ZAE000042164
Share code: MTN
("MTN" or "the Group")
Quarterly update for the period ended 30 September 2018
and renewal of cautionary announcement
MTN is a leading emerging market mobile operator, serving 225,4 million people in 21 countries across
Africa and the Middle East. Our vision is to deliver a bold, new digital world to our customers.
Our belief is that everyone deserves the benefits of a modern connected life.
Salient features
- Group subscribers increased quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) by 2,5 million to 225,4 million
- Active data subscribers increased QoQ by 5,0 million* to 74,2 million
- Active MTN Mobile Money customers increased QoQ by 1,7 million to 25,8 million
- Group service revenue increased year-on-year (YoY) by 10,0%
- Group data revenue increased YoY by 23,9%
- MTN South Africa service revenue increased YoY by 3,0% with an EBITDA margin of 34,5%
- MTN Nigeria service revenue increased YoY by 17,4% with an EBITDA margin of 43,2%
- MTN Ghana service revenue increased YoY by 22,9% with an EBITDA margin of 37,6%
- MTN Irancell service revenue increased YoY by 14,1% with an EBITDA margin of 35,3%
Unless otherwise stated, financial growth rates are presented on a constant currency basis and are
YoY (the nine-month period ended 30 September 2018 versus the nine months ended 30 September 2017).
Non-financial growth rates are presented QoQ, or 3Q18 vs 2Q18. Data revenue refers to access data
revenue only. Digital revenue refers to Mobile Money (MoMo) and value-added services (VAS) revenue.
* Active data subscriber growth includes a restatement of MTN Ghana's active subscriber base between
January and July 2018. All growth rates for non-financials have been restated for Cyprus disposal to
enable comparability.
MTN Group consolidated numbers include MTN Cyprus financial results up to the end of August 2018 and exclude
MTN Cyprus non-financial numbers for the quarter. At the end of June, MTN Cyprus had 441 000 subscribers and
190 000 active data users.
IFRS 15 - Revenue from Contracts with Customers has been implemented with effect from 1 January 2018 and
comparative numbers have been restated where appropriate.
MTN Group president and CEO, Rob Shuter comments:
"MTN recorded an improved operational performance in many markets in the third quarter. Group service revenue grew
by 10,0% year on year, ahead of our medium-term target of upper-single-digit growth, supported by continued strong
growth in voice and data revenue. These results were delivered in challenging operating and currency conditions.
Group outgoing voice revenue increased by 5,2% and data revenue increased by 23,9%. Higher digital revenue was led
by robust growth in MTN Mobile Money.
The group benefited from the particularly strong performance of operations in Nigeria and Ghana, while some operations
in our West and Central Africa (WECA) region remained under pressure. MTN South Africa continues to execute on
operational improvements.
We made good progress on our key growth drivers of data and digital services, adding 5,0 million active data
subscribers and 1,7 million new MoMo subscribers in the quarter.
We successfully completed the listing of MTN Ghana. MTN Nigeria's plans to list have been challenged by the recent
Central Bank of Nigeria and Attorney General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria matters, however, MTN remains committed
to the listing in Nigeria and work continues in this regard. In the quarter, the group engaged extensively with
authorities in Nigeria to deal with the matters they raised.
Across our markets, we continued to invest in our networks, and now have the leading network net promoter score in
10 of our markets. Reported capital expenditure to the end of the September 2018 was R16,4 billion, a group capex
intensity of 16,9%.
We continued to optimise our balance sheet structure and reduced our gross US dollar debt by approximately
US$400 million. This was supported by proceeds from the sale of MTN Cyprus of US$303 million, the settlement
of a loan from our Ugandan Tower Company of US$34 million as well as the proceeds from the MTN Ghana listing
of US$202 million received after the quarter's end. We also concluded the refinancing of our US$1,25 billion
revolving credit facilities that are maturing in 2019 with a new five-year revolving credit facility of
US$1,25 billion at an improved margin, and with an option to increase to US$1,5 billion.
We continue to focus on operational improvements across our business and continue to develop our digital
businesses."
MTN's results are presented in line with the group's operational structure. This is South Africa, Nigeria and three
regions: Southern and East Africa and Ghana (SEAGHA), West and Central Africa (WECA) and Middle East and North Africa
(MENA) and their respective underlying operations.
The SEAGHA region includes Ghana, Uganda, Zambia, Rwanda, South Sudan, Botswana (joint venture equity accounted),
eSwatini (joint venture equity accounted) and Business Group.
The WECA region includes Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Benin, Congo-Brazzaville, Liberia, Guinea-Conakry and Guinea-Bissau.
The MENA region includes Iran (joint venture equity accounted), Syria, Sudan, Yemen and Afghanistan.
MTN SOUTH AFRICA
MTN South Africa recorded YoY service revenue growth of 3,0%, edging closer to our medium-term target of
mid-single-digit growth. Data and digital revenue increased by 12,5% and 9,9% respectively, while outgoing voice
revenue declined by 8,4%.
In a weak economy, consumers felt the pressure of a higher VAT rate, becoming increasingly price sensitive. Prepaid
service revenue increased 0,5% and postpaid service revenue increased by 1,9%. MTN South Africa took steps to transform
data prices, including introducing attractive social media bundles and CVM offerings. As a result, customers optimised
their data and voice spend and the number of active data subscribers increased by 6,7% QoQ to 13,5 million.
The consumer postpaid business maintained its positive momentum; the stabilisation of the enterprise business
continued and the wholesale business gained traction. At the end of the quarter, we had 23,7 million prepaid
users (down 3,4% QoQ), 2,9 million postpaid subscribers (up 2,1% QoQ) and 2,8 million telemetry subscribers.
The Cell C roaming agreement is contributing positively towards revenue and EBITDA and is expected to be fully
implemented in line with our planned timelines.
MTN South Africa's margin on earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) was little
changed YoY at 34,5% from 34,8%. The lower sequential EBITDA margin was largely impacted by higher device prices
following the weakness in the rand exchange rate and increased device sales in the quarter.
In the quarter, OpenSignal rated MTN South Africa as having the widest 4G coverage, supporting our return to the
number one net promoter score (NPS) position.
We are in consultation with ICASA on the implementation of the new data pricing regulations and are proactively
implementing the various changes to which we have committed. We welcome the commitment by ICASA to license
high-demand radio frequency spectrum by the end of March 2019.
MTN NIGERIA
MTN Nigeria had an excellent quarter, increasing service revenue by 17,4% YoY, towards the upper end of our
medium-term target for Nigeria of double-digit growth. This was led by a 52,5% increase in data revenue and
21,5% increase in outgoing voice revenue. Data revenue growth was supported by an increase in active data
subscribers as well as more smartphones on our network, the result of various CVM and OEM-partnership initiatives.
Digital revenue declined by 28,5% following the continued optimisation of our value-added services (VAS)
business. We completed the final element of this optimisation, suspending auto-renewal of subscriptions, in
mid-September which means that digital revenue will continue to be impacted by lower VAS revenue in the fourth
quarter, after which we expect it to stabilise.
MTN Nigeria reported 17,2 million active data subscribers, up 15,1% QoQ, and 2,5 million MoMo customers,
up 12,4% QoQ.
The EBITDA margin expanded to 43,2% in the first nine months of the year, up 4,7 percentage points from
end-September 2017, driven by the strong growth in revenue, mix of revenue and further cost optimisation
efforts.
SOUTHERN AND EAST AFRICA AND GHANA (SEAGHA)
MTN Ghana
MTN Ghana delivered a strong performance, driven by robust service revenue growth of 22,9%. Data revenue
increased by 30,9% YoY and digital revenue expanded by more than 28%, driven by MoMo.
MTN Ghana reported an EBITDA margin of 37,6% in the first nine months of the year. This is 1,3 percentage
points lower than the margin in the first nine months of 2017. Excluding the impact of the reintroduction
of management fees in May 2018, the EBITDA margin was 40,4%.
Subscriber numbers increased to 17,1 million1, with 5,8 million active data subscribers and 7,9 million MoMo
customers.
MTN Uganda
MTN Uganda recorded service revenue growth of 7,4%, led by growth in voice and data revenue, while MoMo revenue
declined following the implementation of new taxes. Outgoing voice revenue grew 5,1% and data revenue increased
by 12,4% in the period. MTN Uganda reported nearly 2,0 million active data subscribers and 5,4 million
MoMo customers, a QoQ increase of 10,8% and 1,9% respectively.
Other SEAGHA
Across the balance of the SEAGHA region the subscriber base increased by 4,7% QoQ, led by gains in Rwanda
and Zambia.
WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA (WECA)
MTN Ivory Coast
MTN Ivory Coast's service revenue declined by 7,1% YoY, a result of a 24,2% decrease in outgoing voice revenue
in a competitive market characterised by lower subscriber numbers after a nationwide subscriber re-identification
process earlier in the year. Data and digital revenue increased by 13,8% and 27,9% respectively.
The number of MoMo subscribers increased by 14,1% to 2,9 million and the number of active data users rose by
12,2% to 3,1 million.
Following a number of regulatory challenges, which we believe are now behind us, and the introduction of a
new tariff structure, we expect the fourth quarter to deliver positive sequential revenue growth.
MTN Cameroon
In a difficult operating environment and amid competitive pressure, MTN Cameroon reported an 8,0% YoY decline in
service revenue. Outgoing voice revenue declined 11,8%. Data revenue increased 8,7% and digital, mostly MoMo,
revenue grew by 41,1%. The number of active data users increased 8,2% QoQ to 2,3 million and the number of
MoMo customers rose by 24,9% to 1,5 million.
MTN Cameroon is in the process of a significant transformation, which includes a strengthened management team,
led by Hendrik Kasteel, who joined as CEO in September 2018. A new organisational structure will improve the
agility of the operation and reduce costs. We are also working hard to improve relations with our many
stakeholders, including regulatory authorities, and are encouraged by recent trends, including customer
net additions.
Other WECA
Across the balance of the WECA region the subscriber base increased by 4% QoQ, driven mainly by growth in Benin.
1 These numbers are calculated using MTN Group definitions and may differ from those defined by the regulator
in Ghana.
MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA (MENA)
MTN Irancell (joint venture - equity accounted, 49%)
MTN Irancell reported service revenue growth of 14,1% YoY, supported by strong data growth of 40,6%. The operation
remained the market leader in data services, a result of continued network rollout and attractive segmented offers.
The number of active data users increased by 0,9% QoQ to 19,4 million.
Digital revenue declined 15,5% as the regulator enforced strict additional opt-in measures, affecting all operators.
Outgoing voice revenue declined 5,0% YoY.
Despite the strong service revenue growth, MTN Irancell had a tough quarter due to the impact on costs of the sharp
devaluation of the rial after the government announced a new exchange rate regime for regulating imports.
For our accounting of the Iranian business we use the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) exchange rate until the end of
July 2018 and have then adopted the SANA exchange rate. FIPPA-approved outstanding loans and dividends will
continue to be translated at the CBI rate.
Other MENA
Across the rest of the MENA region the subscriber base increased by 1,2% QoQ, because of growth in Syria and
Afghanistan.
UPDATE ON THE NIGERIAN MATTERS
During the quarter, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) alleged improper dividend repatriations by MTN Nigeria
between 2007 and 2015 of US$8,1 billion while the Attorney General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (AGF)
alleged unpaid taxes on foreign payments and imports of approximately US$2,0 billion.
MTN Nigeria continues to deny these allegations and claims. To protect MTN Nigeria's assets and shareholder
rights within the confines of Nigerian law, we applied in the Federal High Court of Nigeria for injunctive
relief restraining the CBN and the AGF from taking further action in respect of their orders, while we continue
to engage with the relevant authorities on these matters. We remain resolute that MTN Nigeria has not committed
any offences and will continue to defend this position vigorously.
Shareholders are referred to the cautionary announcement dated 30 August 2018 and the subsequent renewal of cautionary
announcements, the latest of which was released on 23 October 2018. Shareholders are advised to continue to exercise
caution when dealing in the company's securities until a further announcement is made.
The financial information on which this quarterly update is based, including constant currency information, has not
been reviewed and reported on by MTN's external auditors. Constant currency information has been presented to illustrate
the impact of changes in currency rates on the group's results. In determining the change in constant currency terms, the
current financial reporting period's results have been adjusted to the prior period average exchange rates determined
as the average of the monthly exchange rates. The measurement has been performed for each of the group's currencies,
materially being that of the US dollar and Nigerian naira. The constant currency growth percentage has been calculated
based on the current year constant currency results compared to the prior year results. In addition, in respect of MTN
Irancell, MTN Sudan, MTN South Sudan and MTN Syria, the constant currency information has been prepared excluding the
impact of hyperinflation. Hyperinflation accounting was discontinued for MTN Irancell and MTN Sudan on 1 July 2015 and
1 July 2016 respectively. The economy of South Sudan was assessed to be hyperinflationary effective 1 January 2016, and
hyperinflation accounting was applied from December 2016 onwards. The economy of Syria was assessed to be
hyperinflationary, effective 1 January 2014, and hyperinflation accounting has been applied since.
Fairland
29 October 2018
Sponsor
Deutsche Securities (SA) Proprietary Limited
Subscribers
('000)
Country 1Q17 2Q17 3Q17 4Q17* 1Q18* 2Q18* 3Q18*
South Africa 30 231 31 216 30 908 29 516 29 806 30 176 29 471
Postpaid 5 161 5 194 5 227 5 357 5 489 5 614 5 734
Prepaid 25 070 26 022 25 681 24 159 24 317 24 562 23 738
Nigeria 60 523 53 094 50 308 52 273 54 529 55 185 56 035
SEAGHA 40 837 40 982 41 102 38 660 39 737 40 249 41 767
Ghana 16 789 17 304 17 590 15 667 16 151 16 525 17 111
Uganda 10 861 11 158 10 806 10 707 10 856 10 511 10 828
Rwanda 4 210 3 510 3 575 3 413 3 574 3 805 4 203
Zambia 5 505 5 575 5 695 5 485 5 638 5 747 6 052
South Sudan 708 685 691 663 762 927 958
Botswana 1 784 1 763 1 746 1 746 1 746 1 746 1 669
Swaziland 981 987 999 979 1 010 988 952
WECA 31 354 31 929 32 953 29 134 28 610 29 451 30 152
Cameroon 9 749 9 541 9 447 7 052 6 596 6 637 6 922
Ivory Coast 10 399 11 018 11 619 10 922 10 971 11 257 11 208
Benin 4 162 4 273 4 280 4 358 4 358 4 517 4 826
Guinea-Conakry 2 493 2 550 2 696 2 648 2 655 2 827 2 923
Congo-Brazzaville 2 355 2 345 2 481 2 532 2 373 2 345 2 382
Liberia 1 495 1 412 1 635 881 915 1 078 1 117
Guinea-Bissau 700 789 795 742 742 790 774
MENA 73 454 74 111 74 509 67 227 68 203 67 855 67 959
Iran (joint venture) 48 118 49 041 49 539 43 257 44 551 44 610 44 439
Syria 5 915 5 915 5 915 5 617 5 617 5 293 5 435
Sudan 7 604 7 576 7 450 7 582 7 670 7 677 7 600
Yemen 5 221 5 110 5 089 4 371 4 193 4 213 4 263
Afghanistan 6 597 6 469 6 516 6 400 6 172 6 062 6 222
Total subscribers 236 399 231 332 229 781 216 810 220 885 222 916 225 384
* Modernised.
Note: MTN Dubai Ltd concluded the sale of MTN Cyprus on 4 September 2018.
Historic data has been restated, stripping out MTN Cyprus subscribers, to allow for comparability
ARPU
(Local currency)
Country 1Q17 2Q17 3Q17 4Q17* 1Q18^* 2Q18* 3Q18*
South Africa 84,79 85,24 88,12 96,80# 96,14# 94,23# 98,33#
Postpaid 147,05 148,97 149,70 160,42 141,80 140,23 142,78
Postpaid
(excluding
telemetry) 264,52 268,57 272,40 296,90 262,43 265,26 271,14
Prepaid 72,06 72,32 75,87 82,84 77,19 74,64 77,52
Nigeria 1 131,00 1 171,00 1 407,73 1 483,52 1 493,09 1 491,28 1 492,25
SEAGHA
Ghana 12,90 15,92 16,45 18,15 20,13 21,08 19,38
Uganda 7 635,00 7 399,00 7 699,00 8 455,00 7 914,00 8 010,00 8 463,00
Rwanda 1 413,31 1 696,89 2 061,66 2 085,71 1 960,18 1 971,52 2 031,64
Zambia 21,80 24,54 27,82 31,45 27,57 28,66 30,05
South Sudan 198,44 257,39 267,73 393,34 477,84 678,47 678,63
Botswana 64,65 69,00 69,00 76,26 76,26 76,26 75,21
Swaziland 102,69 101,16 95,89 108,46 92,83 90,01 99,85
WECA
Cameroon 1 844,00 1 850,00 1 884,00 2 440,00 2 518,35 2 534,53 2 408,00
Ivory Coast 2 683,85 2 530,85 2 236,02 2 355,54 2 261,27 2 260,85 2 053,72
Benin 3 283,25 2 962,55 2 793,69 2 643,54 2 941,08 2 690,45 2 745,06
Guinea-Conakry 19 926,34 20 093,59 19 890,34 19 091,33 18 426,75 17 371,94 16 995,08
Congo-Brazzaville 4 031,72 4 328,90 3 788,47 3 211,45 3 263,37 3 355,93 3 789,47
Liberia 2,44 2,59 2,44 3,88 3,47 3,14 2,67
Guinea-Bissau 2 157,54 2 691,26 2 182,31 2 133,76 2 153,93 2 316,82 1 979,81
MENA
Iran (joint
venture) 28 907,00 134 721,00 143 178,00 169 151,00 159 303,00 167 793,00 175 049,22
Syria 1 013,91 1 024,15 1 111,89 1 083,76 1 032,71 1 129,02 1 244,15
Sudan 24,00 25,13 26,18 29,91 35,25 39,88 42,35
Yemen 793,79 824,79 843,85 912,72 921,59 982,79 1 020,19
Afghanistan 102,76 117,50 126,09 118,75 116,92 134,77 139,39
^ IFRS 15 - Revenue from Contracts with Customers has been implemented with effect from 1 January 2018 and
comparative numbers have been restated where appropriate.
# Excludes telemetry.
* Modernised.
Note: MTN Dubai Ltd concluded the sale of MTN Cyprus on 4 September 2018.
ARPU
(US dollar)
Country 1Q17 2Q17 3Q17 4Q17* 1Q18* 2Q18* 3Q18*
South Africa 6,34 6,51 6,69 7,12# 8,06# 7,45# 7,06#
Nigeria 3,60 3,61 4,31 4,24 4,14 4,13 4,12
SEAGHA
Ghana 2,87 3,67 3,73 4,05 4,50 4,60 4,02
Uganda 2,11 2,06 2,14 2,32 2,17 2,12 2,25
Rwanda 1,74 2,03 2,45 2,46 2,32 2,13 2,35
Zambia 2,27 2,68 3,05 3,14 2,82 2,87 2,90
South Sudan 1,84 2,19 2,27 3,14 3,60 4,93 4,67
Botswana 6,17 6,70 6,50 7,60 7,60 7,60 7,24
Swaziland 7,75 7,72 7,28 7,98 7,78 7,12 7,17
WECA
Cameroon 2,98 3,17 3,40 4,32 4,66 4,60 4,28
Ivory Coast 4,33 4,35 3,99 4,17 4,19 4,10 3,65
Benin 5,30 5,09 4,99 4,68 5,45 4,88 4,88
Guinea-Conakry 2,16 2,24 2,21 2,12 2,05 1,93 1,89
Congo-Brazzaville 6,51 7,43 6,78 5,72 5,94 5,99 6,69
Liberia 2,44 2,59 2,44 3,88 3,47 3,14 2,67
Guinea-Bissau 3,48 4,62 3,90 3,78 3,99 4,21 3,52
MENA
Iran (joint venture) 3,86 3,84 4,35 4,87 4,32 4,05 2,52
Syria 1,96 1,98 2,15 2,29 2,37 2,58 2,84
Sudan 3,59 3,76 3,92 2,79 1,45 1,37 1,45
Yemen 3,17 3,29 3,11 2,34 2,38 2,58 2,68
Afghanistan 1,52 1,72 1,84 1,73 1,69 1,90 1,90
^ IFRS 15 - Revenue from Contracts with Customers has been implemented with effect from
1 January 2018 and comparative numbers have been restated where appropriate.
# Excludes telemetry.
* Modernised.
Note: MTN Dubai Ltd concluded the sale of MTN Cyprus on 4 September 2018.
Average exchange rates
Rand: local
currency
strengthening/
September September (weakening)
Rand: local currency 2018 2017 %
Nigerian naira 28,11 24,21 16,1
Iranian rial 3 502,72 2 473,31 41,6
Ghanaian cedi 0,36 0,33 9,1
Cameroon CFA franc 43,41 44,56 (2,6)
Ugandan shilling 289,87 271,41 6,8
Syrian pound 33,86 39,04 (13,3)
Sudanese pound 2,14 0,50 328,0
US dollar: local
currency
strengthening/
September September (weakening)
US dollar: local currency 2018 2017 %
Rand 12,87 13,26 2,9
Nigerian naira 361,05 321,13 (12,4)
Iranian rial 44 199 32 796 (34,8)
Date: 29/10/2018 07:05:00 Produced by the JSE SENS Department. The SENS service is an information dissemination service administered by the JSE Limited ('JSE').
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