Wrap Text
Quarterly update for the period ended 31 March 2019
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration number 1994/009584/06)
(Share code: MTN)
(ISIN: ZAE000042164)
(MTN or the group)
Quarterly update for the period ended 31 March 2019
MTN is an emerging market mobile operator with a clear vision to lead the delivery of a bold, new digital
world to our 237 million customers across 21 operations. We are inspired by our belief that everyone deserves
the benefits of a modern connected life.
Salient features
- Group subscribers increased quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) by 4,0 million to 236,6 million
- Active data subscribers increased QoQ by 2,6 million to 81,3 million
- Active MTN Mobile Money customers increased QoQ by 1,2 million to 28,3 million
- Group service revenue increased year-on-year (YoY) by 10,0%
- MTN South Africa service revenue increased YoY by 4,6% with an earnings before interest, tax and
depreciation (EBITDA) margin of 38,8% (35,3%*)
- MTN Nigeria service revenue increased YoY by 13,4% with an EBITDA margin of 53,3% (44,2%*)
- Reported growth rates for both service revenue and EBITDA* were higher than constant currency rates
These results are presented on an IFRS 16 basis adopted on 1 January 2019.
* For comparative purposes IAS 17 numbers have been provided in brackets. A summary table below provides the
impact of IFRS 16 on the numbers disclosed in these results. How the IFRS 16 standard being applied in MTN will
be presented to investors at a pre-capital markets day on 24 May 2019. Full IFRS 16 numbers will be reported in
our interim 2019 results.
Unless otherwise stated, financial growth rates are presented on a constant currency basis and are YoY
(three-month period ended 31 March 2019 versus the three month ended 31 March 2018). Non-financial growth
rates are presented QoQ, or 1Q19 versus 4Q18. Data revenue refers to access data revenue only.
IFRS 15 - Revenue from Contracts with Customers has been implemented with effect from 1 January 2018 and
comparative numbers have been restated where appropriate.
All prior period financial and non-financial numbers have been restated for the disposal of Cyprus for
comparability purposes.
Group president and CEO, Rob Shuter comments:
"MTN's positive commercial momentum continued in the first quarter with a pleasing operational performance
across the markets, led by South Africa, Nigeria and Ghana. Group service revenue grew by 10,0% YoY in line
with our medium-term guidance of double-digit service revenue growth.
The growth in service revenue was supported by the continued expansion in voice, data and fintech revenue.
Outgoing voice revenue increased by 5,9%, data revenue increased by 18,3% and fintech revenue increased by
30,6%. Digital revenue declined by 45,4%, impacted by the work that continues around optimising our value-added
services business. Currency markets were favourable in the quarter, resulting in reported service revenue growth
higher than constant currency rates.
We made good progress in our work to build a digital operator, adding 2,6 million active data subscribers
and 1,2 million MTN Mobile Money subscribers.
We have launched Africa's first instant messaging platform ‘Ayoba' in Ivory Coast and Cameroon and plan
further roll out across other markets in the second half of the year. We will also integrate payments
into the Ayoba service as part of our broadening of the fintech business.
We continued to invest in our network with reported capital expenditure to the end of March 2019 of
R5,4 billion (R5,0 billion*). In the quarter, we led network NPS in nine of our markets.
We made further headway in our asset realisation programme. We signed an agreement with American Tower
Corporation (ATC) to buy out our shareholder loan in ATC Ghana.
The successful listing of our e-commerce joint venture, Jumia, provides a market value for our 18,9%
investment and we completed the conversion of MTN Nigeria to a public company ahead of the listing by
introduction on the Nigerian Stock Exchange anticipated for May 2019.
We remain committed to achieving our medium-term targets through delivering against all elements of our
BRIGHT strategy and in particular executing our plans to access our growth curves."
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 4,6%, within our medium-term guidance range of
mid-single-digit growth, buoyed by a strong performance from our wholesale business. Data and fintech revenue
increased by 3,1% and 21,1% respectively, while digital and outgoing voice revenue declined by 35,7% and 4,4%
respectively.
Given out-of-bundle price reductions taken in the period, and a challenging economic environment, prepaid
service revenue decreased by 5,1%. As previously communicated, we expect that prepaid service revenue will
remain under pressure for a few quarters, before we see recharge resilience and changes in customer behaviour
drive up in-bundle service revenue. Consumer postpaid service revenue increased by an encouraging 11,5%.
The enterprise business continued to stabilise and the wholesale business recorded excellent growth with
contribution from both Telkom and Cell C roaming traffic.
At the end of the quarter, MTN South Africa had 24,1 million prepaid users (down 4,9% QoQ), 5,9 million
postpaid subscribers (up 1,2% QoQ) and 3,0 million IoT subscribers.
MTN South Africa maintained its position as the country's best network, and registered number one position
in NPS at the end of March 2019.
MTN South Africa's margin on EBITDA was 38,8%. On an IAS 17 basis the margin remained unchanged YoY at
35,3%.
We note the provisional findings and recommendations of the Competition Commission in its data services
market inquiry and will engage with the Commission constructively, ahead of submitting our response in June 2019.
We remain of the view that significant reductions in data pricing have already been implemented subsequent to
the data analysed in the report, that the urgent release of high demand spectrum will result in lower cost of
data services, and that there is a viable wholesale market that enables smaller operators and MNVOs to provide
compelling propositions to their customers.
MTN Nigeria
MTN Nigeria reported a solid quarter with service revenue increasing by 13,4% YoY, in line with our
medium-term guidance of double-digit growth. This was led by a 32,4% increase in data revenue and a 12,7%
increase in voice revenue. A general slowdown in economic activities during the election period impacted
voice revenue growth.
Growth in data revenue was supported by an increase in smartphone penetration, improved network quality and
a 9,1% increase QoQ in active data subscribers to 20,4 million.
Total subscribers increased by 3,6% QoQ to 60,3 million.
MTN Nigeria reported an EBITDA margin of 53,3%. On an IAS 17 basis the margin increased to 44,2%, up
2,4 percentage points YoY, driven by the growth in revenue and effective cost management.
Southern and East Africa and Ghana (SEAGHA)
The strong performance of the SEAGHA region was mainly driven by MTN Ghana, MTN Uganda and MTN Rwanda.
SEAGHA's service revenue increased by 21,2%. Data and fintech revenues increased across the region.
Subscribers increased by 3,1% to 45,0 million, supported by MTN Ghana and MTN Uganda.
West and Central Africa (WECA)
Performance of the WECA region was negatively impacted by the underperformance of MTN Ivory Coast, mainly
as a result of competitive pressures. This dragged WECA service revenue down by 1,4%, however, this is an
improvement from the 5,0% decline of service revenue in 2018. In Cameroon, the operating environment remained
challenging with conflict in the Northwest and Southwest regions continuing, however, MTN Cameroon is tracking
ahead of our recovery plan. WECA subscribers increased by 5,6% to 32,4 million, led by MTN Cameroon.
Middle East and North Africa (MENA) (excluding Iran)
The MENA region reported a pleasing performance in the quarter, with service revenue up by 22,6% (excluding
MTN Cyprus from the prior year comparison), supported by solid growth in data revenue across the region.
Subscribers increased by 0,3% to 24,1 million.
Progress on our asset realisation programme
We advanced plans to dispose of our shareholding in Mascom Wireless Botswana for a consideration of
US$300 million. This is expected to be concluded during the second quarter, subject to regulatory approvals.
Early in the second quarter, our e-commerce joint venture, Jumia Technologies AG, successfully raised fresh
capital and listed on the New York Stock Exchange, resulting in a dilution of our shareholding from 29,7% to
18,9%. This investment is now valued at approximately US$560 million as at 6 May 2019. As of 12 April 2019,
we will no longer equity account for the Jumia investment.
In May 2019, we signed an agreement with American Tower Corporation (ATC) to buy out our shareholder loan in
ATC Ghana at par plus accrued interest for proceeds of approximately US$61 million. The transaction is
expected to close during the second quarter.
In line with simplifying the capital structure of the business ahead of listing, MTN Nigeria is progressing
with the redemption of the preference shares, of which MTN Group's share is approximately US$315 million.
Update on the Attorney General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria matter
MTN took legal action after receiving a demand notice from the Attorney General of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria (AGF) alleging unpaid duties and taxes between 2007 and 2017. The lawsuit challenges the authority
of the AGF to deal with issues around tax and custom duties. According to the law, oversight for this is the
responsibility of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and Nigerian Customs Service (NCS).
The court heard arguments on the AGF's preliminary objection on 26 March 2019. At the time, the AGF
requested that MTN's lawsuit be dismissed because it was not filed within the appropriate timeframe, which the
AGF asserted was within three months of receipt of the initial request for a self-assessment. Having considered
the matter, the judge determined that MTN's lawsuit was not statute-barred, as the company was only required to
file its case within three months of receipt of the actual demand notice in August, which it did. The Federal
High Court delivered its ruling on 7 May 2019, rejecting the notice of preliminary objection filed by the AGF
in response to MTN's lawsuit to have the AGF's demand for circa US$2 billion dismissed.
We remain resolute that MTN Nigeria has not committed any offence and will continue to defend this position.
Court was adjourned to 26 June 2019 for the trial of the substantive case.
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. The
economies of Sudan, South Sudan and Syria were assessed to be hyperinflationary for the period under review
and hyperinflation accounting was applied.
Fairland
9 May 2019
Lead sponsor
JP Morgan Equities (SA) Proprietary Limited
Joint sponsor
Tamela Holdings Proprietary Limited
Subscribers
('000)
Modernised Modernised Modernised Modernised Modernised
Country 1Q18 2Q18 3Q18 4Q18 1Q19
South Africa 29 806 30 176 29 471 31 191 30 010
Postpaid 5 489 5 614 5 734 5 795 5 866
Prepaid 24 317 24 562 23 738 25 397 24 144
Nigeria 54 529 55 185 56 035 58 197 60 265
SEAGHA 39 737 40 249 41 767 43 692 45 044
Ghana 16 151 16 525 17 111 17 790 18 595
Uganda 10 856 10 511 10 828 11 270 11 713
Rwanda 3 574 3 805 4 203 4 465 4 600
Zambia 5 638 5 747 6 052 6 459 6 381
South Sudan 762 927 958 1 016 1 103
Botswana 1 746 1 746 1 664 1 722 1 703
Swaziland 1 010 988 952 969 948
WECA 28 610 29 451 30 152 30 637 32 361
Cameroon 6 596 6 637 6 922 7 684 8 742
Ivory Coast 10 971 11 257 11 208 11 050 11 357
Benin 4 358 4 517 4 826 4 914 5 114
Conakry 2 655 2 827 2 923 2 791 2 932
Congo B 2 373 2 345 2 382 2 464 2 419
Liberia 915 1 078 1 117 983 1 033
Bissau 742 790 774 752 763
MENA 68 203 67 855 67 959 68 838 68 921
Iran (joint venture) 44 551 44 610 44 439 44 780 44 783
Syria 5 617 5 293 5 435 5 605 5 412
Sudan 7 670 7 677 7 600 7 792 8 212
Yemen 4 193 4 213 4 263 4 405 4 251
Afghanistan 6 172 6 062 6 222 6 257 6 263
Total subscribers 220 885 222 916 225 384 232 554 236 601
ARPU
(Local currency)
Modernised Modernised Modernised Modernised
Country 1Q18 2Q18 3Q18 4Q18 1Q19
South Africa 96,14 94,23 98,33 101,32 93,04
Postpaid 141,80 140,23 142,78 146,60 141,76
Postpaid (excluding telemetry) 262,43 256,26 271,14 281,10 278,50
Prepaid 77,19 74,64 77,52 80,50 71,72
Nigeria 1 493,09 1 491,28 1 492,25 1 534,73 1 510,01
SEAGHA
Ghana 20,13 21,08 19,38 23,00 21,23
Uganda 7 914,00 8 010,00 8 463,00 8 775,00 8 616,00
Rwanda 1 960,18 1 971,52 2 031,64 1 914,06 1 898,71
Zambia 27,57 28,66 30,05 30,23 26,97
South Sudan 477,84 678,47 678,63 710,00 804,38
Botswana 76,26 76,26 75,21 73,00 67,14
Swaziland 92,83 90,01 99,85 113,74 100,09
WECA
Cameroon 2 518,35 2 534,53 2 408,00 2 178,00 2 025,11
Ivory Coast 2 261,27 2 260,85 2 053,72 2 307,00 1 979,53
Benin 2 941,08 2 690,45 2 745,06 2 809,19 2 840,22
Conakry 18 426,75 17 371,94 16 995,08 17 524,00 18 270,13
Congo B 3 263,37 3 356,65 3 789,47 3 673,47 3 472,56
Liberia 3,47 3,14 2,67 3,17 2,72
Bissau 2 153,93 2 316,82 1 979,81 1 489,93 1 696,98
MENA
Iran (joint venture) 159 303,00 167 793,00 175 049,22 181 284,00 182 205,00
Syria 1 032,71 1 129,02 1 244,15 1 114,48 1 188,01
Sudan 35,25 39,88 42,35 49,79 51,46
Yemen 921,59 982,79 1 020,19 1 034,72 1 069,29
Afghanistan 116,92 134,77 139,39 128,45 119,99
ARPU
(US dollar)
Modernised Modernised Modernised Modernised
Country 1Q18 2Q18 3Q18 4Q18 1Q19
South Africa 8,06 7,45 7,06 7,08 6,68
Nigeria 4,14 4,13 4,12 4,22 4,17
SEAGHA
Ghana 4,50 4,60 4,02 4,70 4,05
Uganda 2,17 2,12 2,25 2,36 2,33
Rwanda 2,32 2,13 2,35 2,54 2,15
Zambia 2,82 2,87 2,90 2,63 2,25
South Sudan 3,60 4,93 4,67 4,70 5,19
Botswana 7,60 7,60 7,24 7,10 6,20
Swaziland 7,78 7,12 7,17 8,02 7,19
WECA
Cameroon 4,66 4,60 4,28 3,79 3,53
Ivory Coast 4,19 4,10 3,65 4,01 3,45
Benin 5,45 4,88 4,88 4,88 4,95
Conakry 2,05 1,93 1,89 1,93 2,01
Congo B 5,94 5,99 6,69 6,38 6,04
Liberia 3,47 3,14 2,67 3,17 2,72
Bissau 3,99 4,21 3,52 2,59 2,96
MENA
Iran (joint venture) 4,32 4,05 2,52 1,98 2,14
Syria 2,37 2,58 2,84 2,54 2,71
Sudan 1,45 1,37 1,45 1,12 1,08
Yemen 2,38 2,58 2,68 2,72 2,81
Afghanistan 1,69 1,90 1,90 1,70 1,60
Average exchange rates
ZAR:LC
strengthening/
March March (weakening)
ZAR: local currency 2019 2018 %
Nigerian naira 25,98 30,20 (14,0)
Iranian rial 6 108,30 3 089,54 97,7
Ghanaian cedi 0,38 0,38 -
Cameroon franc 41,25 45,86 (10,1)
Ugandan shilling 264,79 304,79 (13,1)
Syrian pound 31,46 36,59 (14,0)
Sudanese pound 3,42 2,04 67,6
LC:USD
strengthening/
March March (weakening)
USD: local currency 2019 2018 %
South African rand 13,92 11,92 (16,8)
Nigerian naira 362,09 360,24 (0,5)
Iranian rial 85 006 36 848 (130,7)
Service revenue
Rm
Constant
Reported currency
Country Q1 19 Q1 18 % %
South Africa 9 092 8 693 4,6 4,6
Nigeria 10 845 8 232 31,7 13,4
SEAGHA 6 097 4 851 25,7 21,2
WECA 5 176 4 739 9,2 (1,4)
MENA (excluding Cyprus) 1 940 1 645 17,9 22,6
Group (excluding Cyprus) 33 210 28 133 18,0 10,0
EBITDA margin
IAS 17 IAS 17 IFRS 16
Q1 18 Q1 19 Q1 19
MTN South Africa (%) 35,3 35,3 38,8
MTN Nigeria (%) 41,8 44,2 53,3
Group capex (Rm) 3 880 4 991 5 358
Appendix - MTN Nigeria
Condensed consolidated income statement
for the
Financial Financial
period period
ended ended
31 March 31 March
2019 2018
Nm Nm
Revenue 282 093 249 223
Other income 24 20
Direct network and technology operating costs (55 892) (71 295)
Costs of handsets and other accessories (3 096) (1 515)
Interconnect and roaming costs (26 790) (25 055)
Staff costs (7 765) (6 681)
Selling, distribution and marketing expenses (21 416) (21 400)
Government and regulatory costs (7 667) (6 876)
Impairment of trade receivables and contract assets (718) 545
CBN resolution - -
Other operating expenses (8 339) (12 767)
EBITDA 150 432 104 201
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment (49 247) (33 410)
Amortisation of intangible assets (7 317) (6 701)
Impairment of goodwill - -
Operating profit 93 868 64 090
Net finance costs (23 772) (15 452)
Profit before tax 70 096 48 638
Income tax expense (21 655) (16 435)
Profit after tax 48 441 32 203
Attributable to:
Equity holders of the company 48 441 32 203
Non-controlling interests - -
48 441 32 203
Condensed consolidated statement of comprehensive income
for the
Financial Financial
period period
ended ended
31 March 31 March
2019 2018
Nm Nm
Profit after tax 48 441 32 203
Other comprehensive income after tax:
Items that may be reclassified to profit or loss:
Available-for-sale financial assets (6) (237)
Gains arising during the year (6) (237)
Other comprehensive income for the year (6) (237)
Attributable to equity holders of the company (6) (237)
Total comprehensive income for the year 48 435 31 966
Attributable to:
Equity holders of the company 48 435 31 966
48 435 31 966
Condensed consolidated statement of financial position
for the
Financial Financial
period period
ended ended
31 March 31 March
2019 2018
Nm Nm
Non-current assets 1 264 122 705 682
Property, plant and equipment 1 135 025 564 693
Intangible assets and goodwill 113 044 124 115
Capitalised contract costs 3 978 3 391
Deferred tax and other non-current assets 12 075 13 483
Current assets 182 037 259 271
Trade and other receivables 42 540 52 445
Other current assets 63 294 87 197
Restricted cash 21 852 42 683
Cash and cash equivalents 54 351 76 946
Total assets 1 446 159 964 952
Total equity 194 788 106 109
Attributable to equity holders of the company 194 788 106 109
Non-current liabilities 719 135 275 769
Interest-bearing liabilities 127 071 144 543
Deferred tax and other non-current liabilities 592 064 131 226
Current liabilities 532 236 583 075
Interest-bearing liabilities 124 723 155 170
Trade and other payables 274 563 331 839
Other current and tax liabilities 132 950 96 066
Total equity and liabilities 1 446 159 964 952
Condensed consolidated statement of changes in equity
for the
Financial Financial
period period
ended ended
31 March 31 March
2019 2018
Nm Nm
Opening balance at 1 January 106 109 100 898
Adjustment on initial application of IFRS 15 - 1 447
Adjustment on initial application of IFRS 9 (384) -
Restated balance at 1 January 105 725 102 345
Total comprehensive income 48 435 31 966
Profit after tax 48 441 32 203
Other comprehensive income after tax (6) (237)
Dividends declared (73 000) (38 613)
Other movements 113 628 10 410
Attributable to equity holders of the company 194 788 106 109
Non-controlling interests - -
Closing balance at 31 December 194 788 106 109
Condensed consolidated statement of cash flows
for the
Financial Financial
period period
ended ended
31 March 31 March
2019 2018
Nm Nm
Net cash generated from operating activities (22 467) 111 851
Cash generated from operations 71 184 150 749
Interest received 4 110 9 451
Interest paid (24 761) (10 693)
Net cash used in investing activities (48 551) (77 272)
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment (63 140) (56 254)
Acquisition of intangible assets (427) (884)
Realisation of bonds, treasury bills and foreign deposits 3 746 (17 966)
Decrease in restricted cash 15 367 (1 250)
Movement in other investing activities (4 097) (918)
Net cash used in financing activities 72 433 (46 565)
Proceeds from borrowings 101 701 75 426
Repayment of borrowings (24 792) (30 334)
Dividends paid to equity holders of the company (73 000) (37 657)
Other financing activities 68 524 (54 000)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents 1 415 (11 986)
Net cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year 53 012 89 749
Exchange gains/(losses) on cash and cash equivalents (75) (817)
Net cash and cash equivalents at end of the year 54 351 76 946
Impact of the adoption of IFRS 16
IFRS 16 was issued in January 2016, and is mandatory for financial years commencing 1 January 2019.
Under the new standard, an asset (the right of use of the leased item) (ROU) and a financial
liability to pay rentals are capitalised and recognised. The impact on the group's statement
of comprehensive income, resulting from the adoption of the IFRS 16, is the depreciation and
finance cost that replaced the rent charges under the IAS 17.
As at the reporting period, total recognised ROU assets and liability were N507,1 billion and
N503,2 billion respectively. Total operating costs declined by N25,8 billion, improving EBITDA
by same amount. On the other hand, depreciation and finance costs increased by N13,5 billion
and N16,8 billion, following the adoption of IFRS 16, which depreciates the ROU asset as well
as implicit finance cost charge on the ROU liability.
Date: 09/05/2019 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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