Telefónica Deutschland Holding AG: Robust start to the year confirming FY23 outlook with ongoing commercial momentum driving sustained operational & financial performance

MUNICH, 10 May 2023

Telefónica Deutschland – interim statement for January to March 2023

Robust start to the year confirming FY23 outlook with ongoing commercial momentum driving sustained operational & financial performance

• Continued commercial momentum on back of own brand strength and return to low churn levels, +368k mobile postpaid and +25k fixed BB net adds
• Strong revenue growth of +8.0% y-o-y driven by sustained MSR momentum & another record quarter of handset sales
• Solid OIBDA[1] growth of +1.7% % y-o-y supported by enhanced MSR quality
• Excellent 5G roll-out progress within normalised C/S envelope - well on track to deliver 5G pop coverage of ~90% by YE23
• ESG leadership extended & well on track to deliver a sustainable digital future
• Confirming FY23 outlook & proposing dividend of EURc 18/share to AGM on 17 May-23

Operating performance

Telefónica Deutschland had a robust start to the year and seamlessly continued its growth path, delivering another quarter of good commercial traction with healthy own brand performance as well as strong revenue and solid OIBDA growth.

At the same time, the company consistently implemented its ‘more-for-more’ strategy across all brands and portfolios, most importantly with the launch of the new ‘O₂ Mobile’ portfolio at the beginning of April. The new tariffs include higher data volumes and/or higher speeds while being on average priced at ~10% higher price points. The ‘more-for-more’ strategy reflects Telefónica Deutschland’s widely acknowledged improvements of product, service & network quality as well as ESG leadership.  

Telefónica Deutschland’s highly committed customer service team achieved a ‘very good’ rating in the recent connect magazine’s hotline test and widened the gap vs the third placed German MNO.

In parallel, the company made good progress with the roll-out of its green 5G network. The focus lies on network densification both, in cities and rural areas, to further improve the 5G customer experience. In Q1 23, ~1k of additional 5G sites went live, taking Telefónica Deutschland’s 5G pop coverage to >82%, well on track to deliver ~90% of 5G pop coverage by YE23 and nationwide 5G pop coverage by YE25.   

Telefónica Deutschland also extended its ESG leadership by executing its ambitious ESG agenda. The company consistently achieves top rankings in leading sustainability ratings by further improving its scores: Top 3-ranked within the global telecommunications sector by Sustainalytics and top 12% within the sector in S&P Global’s rating. S&P Global highlights top scores for Telefónica Deutschland in the categories ‘Social and Environmental Reporting’, highlighting the company’s transparent reporting on targets, measures and KPIs.

Telefónica Deutschland helps society to strive. The company joined the ‘Safer Internet Day 2023’ initiative to raise political awareness by distributing smartphones and an internet guide for kids including best practice for digital skills. Also, Telefónica Deutschland helped people to stay connected post the severe earthquake in Turkey/Syria by making calls and SMS as well as roaming free of charge for some weeks.

Moreover, Telefónica Deutschland remains committed to its climate protection goals. The Company strives to reduce its Scope 1 & 2 emissions by 95% and ultimately neutralising them no later than 2025. Also, the company is taking concrete actions to be net CO₂ neutral along its entire value chain (Scope 3) by 2040. 

Mobile business

Mobile postpaid maintained momentum and recorded +368k net adds (+28.2% y-o-y), with the continued high O₂ brand appeal driving gross add momentum while O₂’s churn rates returned to low levels achieved prior to the EECC-implementation in the German market. Also, the contribution of partner brands remained solid.

M2M posted +41k net additions (+34k in Q1 22).

Mobile prepaid reported -353k net disconnections (-100k in Q1 22) driven by the usual seasonality in combination with the ongoing German market trend of prepaid to postpaid migration.

Churn rates for O₂ postpaid returned to the low levels achieved prior to the EECC-implementation in the German market. O₂ postpaid churn improved 0.2p.p. y-o-y to 1.0% in Q1 23 reflecting the commercial success based on network and service quality in combination with strong brand appeal.

Overall, Telefónica Deutschland’s mobile customer accesses was broadly stable q-o-q (+0.1% q-o-q[2]) at 44.4m as of 31 Mar-23. The mobile postpaid base (ex M2M) continued its strong upwards trend, climbing +5.2% y-o-y to 26.7m accesses (60.2% of total mobile access base, up +4.9 p.p y-o-y) on the back of strong own-brand gross add momentum in combination with the anticipated return to low churn levels. M2M accesses were also up +5.5% yoy to 1.7m while the mobile prepaid base declined -15.6% y-o-y to 15.9m mainly as a result of the revenue neutral technical[3] base adjustment as of year-end 2022.

O₂ postpaid ARPU posted +0.5% y-o-y growth in Q1 23, reflecting the popularity of high value tariffs while partly offset by the further reduction of MTRs as of 1 Jan-23; underlying[4] ARPU growth was even stronger at +1.1% y-o-y.

Fixed business

Fixed broadband net additions were +25k in Q1 23 (-10 k in Q1 22) reflecting the unabated success of Telefonica Deutschland’s technology agnostic ‘O₂ myHome’ tariff portfolio.

Fixed churn improved 0.5 p.p. y-o-y to 0.9% in Q1 23, also returning to the low levels reported prior to the EECC-implementation in the German market.

As a result, the fixed broadband customer base grew +3.0% y-o-y to 2.3m accesses as of 31 Mar-23, thereof 80% VDSL accesses (-1.6 p.p. y-o-y) as cable and fibre are gaining further momentum in customer demand.

Fixed broadband ARPU continued its growth path, up +5.5% y-o-y to EUR 25.9 in Q1 23, reflecting the increasing share of higher value customers in the base.

Financial performance

Revenues posted strong growth of +8.0% y-o-y to EUR 2,101m in Q1 23 reflecting sustained mobile service revenue momentum and another record quarter for handset sales.

Mobile service revenues[5] grew +4.2% y-o-y to EUR 1,408m in Q1 23 fuelled by the unabated commercial success of the O₂ tariff portfolio and a solid contribution from partners; more than compensating for the negative impact from the MTR glidepath[6].

Handset sales climbed +23.6% y-o-y to EUR 485m in Q1 23 driven by ongoing customer demand for 5G enabled devices and good availability of high value handsets at Telefónica Deutschland. This is the strongest handset quarter in the company’s history with an ongoing trend towards longer-term ‘O₂ myHandy’ contracts.

Fixed revenues were up +2.9% y-o-y to EUR 203m in Q1 23 with fixed retail BB revenues posting even stronger growth of +4.3% y-o-y in Q1 23.

Other income was EUR 33m in Q1 23.

Operating expenses[7] were up +10.6% y-o-y to EUR 1,523m (including EUR -1m of restructuring expenses) in Q1 23 mainly driven by an increase in supply costs as well as some anticipated inflationary impacts.

• Supplies increased +13.4% y-o-y to EUR 671m in Q1 23 with the positive effects from the MTR-cuts6 more than off-set by volume related higher hardware cost of sales. Connectivity-related cost of sales and hardware cost of sales accounted for 31% and 66% of Q1 23 supplies, respectively.
• Personnel expenses were up +5.6% y-o-y to EUR 162m in Q1 23 reflecting the general salary increases as of Sep-22 and the introduction of statutory minimum wages mainly in customer service as of Oct-22 in combination with a slightly higher FTE-base.
• Other operating expenses (other Opex) increased +8.6% y-o-y to EUR 663m in Q1 23 reflecting commercial activity in the quarter, technology transformation as well as tough comps for energy as Q1 22 still benefitted from energy supplies secured at favourable FY21 pricing. Commercial and non-commercial costs accounted for 65% and 32% of other Opex in Q1 23, respectively. Group fees came to EUR 9m both, in Q1 23 and Q1 22.

OIBDA[8] posted solid growth, +1.7% y-o-y to EUR 612m in Q1 23. Improved operational leverage mainly in mobile on continued own brand momentum was partly offset by the anticipated and before mentioned Opex increase. OIBDA⁸ margin contracted -1.8 p.p. y-o-y to 29.1% in Q1 23 mainly due to the particular strong growth of broadly margin-neutral hardware revenues.

Depreciation & Amortisation broadly stable y-o-y (+0.5%) at EUR 563m in Q1 23.

Operating income was EUR +49m (+17.4% y-o-y) in Q1 23.

Net financial expenses accounted for EUR -12m in Q1 23.

Income tax was at EUR -4m in Q1 23.

As a result, total profit for the period improved to EUR +30m in Q1 23.

CapEx[9] was lower -7.2% y-o-y at EUR 246m in Q1 23 with a CapEx/Sales ratio of 11.7%. Telefónica Deutschland continued to make excellent progress in network modernisation and 5G roll-out. Until Mar-23, ~1k of additional 5G sites went live, taking Telefónica Deutschland’s 5G pop coverage to >82%; well on track for the targeted ~90% of 5G pop coverage by year-end 2023 and nationwide coverage latest in 2025.

Operating cash flow (OIBDA minus CapEx⁹) improved +8.7% y-o-y to EUR 366m in Q1 23 reflecting both, strong operating and financial performance as well as y-o-y lower Capex post successful completion of the Company’s ‘Investment-for-Growth’ programme.

Free cash flow (FCF)[10] amounted to EUR 160m in Q1 23 vs. EUR 222m in Q1 22. Lease payments mainly driven by annual prepayments for antenna sites and leased lines amounted to EUR 296m in Q1 23 (EUR 275m in Q1 22). This reflects a combination of network densification including new BTS sites in white spots and some anticipated y-o-y increases. As a result, FCFaL stood at EUR -136m for the reporting period (EUR -52m in prior year) with the usual backend loaded profile.

Working capital movements were EUR -202m in Q1 23 vs. EUR -86m in Q1 22. The development in Q1 23 was mainly driven by a decrease in capex payables (EUR -130m) following last year’s capex peak already in Q3, as well as other working capital movements of EUR -71m, mainly driven by an increase in inventories facilitating record handset sales.

Consolidated net financial debt[11] amounted to EUR 3,272m as of 31 Mar-23. Leverage ratio of 1.3x[12] remained well below the company’s self-defined upper limit of 2.5x and leaves comfortable leverage headroom with regards to the company’s BBB-rating with stable outlook by Fitch.

Financial Outlook FY23

Telefónica Deutschland had a robust start to FY23 delivering ongoing commercial momentum and sustained operational and financial performance in the first quarter of the year. The company is confirming its FY23 outlook as presented on 22 Feb-23.

The Company has invited to its annual general meeting on 17 May 2023 to resolve upon the dividend proposal of EUR 0.18 per share for the financial year 2022. This dividend proposal is in-line with the  dividend floor for the financial years 2021-23 announced at the company’s Strategy Update on 19 January 2021. Hereby, Telefónica Deutschland confirms its strong commitment to attractive shareholder remuneration while financial flexibility remains the company’s foremost priority during unprecedented times.

Link to detailed Data Tables

Further information

Telefónica Deutschland Holding AG
Investor Relations
Georg-Brauchle-Ring 50

80992 München

Christian Kern, Director Investor Relations; (m) +49 179 9000 208

Marion Polzer, CIRO, Head of Investor Relations; (m) +49 176 7290 1221

Eugen Albrecht, CIRO, Senior Investor Relations Officer; (m) +49 176 3147 5260

(t) +49 89 2442 1010

ir-deutschland@telefonica.com

www.telefonica.de/investor-relations

Disclaimer:

This document contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements and expectations about Telefónica Deutschland Holding AG (in the following “the Company” or “Telefónica Deutschland”) that reflect the current views and assumptions of Telefónica Deutschland's management with respect to future events, including financial projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives and expectations which may refer, among others, to the intent, belief or current prospects of the customer base, estimates regarding, among others, future growth in the different business lines and the global business, market share, financial results and other aspects of the activity and situation relating to the Company. Forward-looking statements are based on current plans, estimates and projections. The forward-looking statements in this document can be identified, in some instances, by the use of words such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "believes", and similar language or the negative thereof or by forward-looking nature of discussions of strategy, plans or intentions. Such forward-looking statements, by their nature, are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond Telefónica Deutschland's control and other important factors that could cause actual developments or results to materially differ from those expressed in or implied by the Company's forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include those discussed or identified in fuller disclosure documents filed by Telefónica Deutschland with the relevant Securities Markets Regulators, and in particular, with the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – BaFin). The Company offers no assurance that its expectations or targets will be achieved.

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^[1]  Adjusted for exceptional effects. Both, in Q1 23 and in Q1 22, exceptional effects amounted to EUR -1m of restructuring costs.

^[2] -3.4% y-o-y mainly on a revenue-neutral technical base adjustment in prepaid in Q4 22.

^[3] Introduction of a stricter active SIM-card definition.

^[4] Excluding MTR-cut from EURc 0.55 to EURc 0.40 as of 1 Jan-23

^[5]  Mobile service revenue includes base fees and fees paid by the company’s customers for the usage of voice, SMS and mobile data services; it also includes access and interconnection fees as well as other charges levied on partners for the use of the company’s network.

^[6]  MTR-cut from EURc 0.55 to EURc 0.40 as of 1 Jan-23.

^[7]  Operating expenses include impairment losses in accordance with IFRS 9 in the amount of EUR 26m in Q1 23 (EUR 20m in Q1 22).

^[8]  Adjusted for exceptional effects. Both, in Q1 23 and in Q1 22, exceptional effects amounted to EUR -1m of restructuring costs.

^[9] CapEx includes additions to property, plant and equipment and other intangible assets while investments for spectrum licenses and additions from capitalised right-of-use assets are not included.

^[10] Free cash flow pre dividends and payments for spectrum (FCF) is defined as the sum of cash flow from operating activities and cash flow from investing activities and does not contain payments for investments in spectrum as well as related interest payments.

^[11] Net financial debt includes current and non-current interest-bearing financial assets and interest-bearing liabilities as well as cash and cash
equivalents and excludes payables for spectrum.

^[12] Leverage ratio is defined as net financial debt divided by OIBDA of the last twelve months adjusted for exceptional effects.