Investor Presentaiton
Operating free cash flow
Operating free cash flow was $473m, up by 10.3%, as higher EBITDA more than offset increased capital expenditure. Capital
expenditure during the period was $35m higher relating mainly to planned network expansion.
Leverage
Leverage (net debt to EBITDA) improved to 1.3x at 30 June 2022, from 1.8x at 30 June 2021, largely driven by increased cash generation,
EBITDA expansion and the receipt of $550m from mobile money minority investments. Our balance sheet has continued to be de-
risked through a reduction of HoldCo debt to $1bn, from $1.9bn in the prior period; and the increased localisation of our debt into the
OpCos, such that our HoldCo debt is significantly lower than gross OpCo debt of $3bn (including lease obligations). In July 2022, our
HoldCo debt was reduced even further to $550m, following the early repayment of $450m of senior notes due in May 2024.
Other significant updates
NIN - SIM linkage implementation in Nigeria
Following a directive issued by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on 7 December 2020 to all Nigerian telecom operators,
Airtel Nigeria has been working with the government to ensure that all our subscribers provide their valid National Identification
Numbers (NINs) to update SIM registration records. To complete the registration process, we must link the NIN information received
with the SIM of the respective subscribers and share the same with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
The original regulatory directive set an initial deadline for customers to register (link) their NIN with their SIM of 30 December 2020.
This was subsequently moved several times, with the last deadline being 31 March 2022. Airtel Nigeria was subsequently notified that
with effect from 4 April 2022, all SIMs that have not been linked to a NIN were to be placed on 'receive only' status, meaning all their
outgoing calls have been barred with immediate effect. Subscribers of such lines can still link their SIMs to their NINs in order that these
restrictions can be lifted. Customers have therefore been given a final opportunity to fully comply with the latest registration
requirements. A total of 13.6 million customers were initially barred out of which 5.3 million (39%) have subsequently submitted their
NIN and 2.3 million (17%) have subsequently been verified and unbarred.
As at the end of June 2022, we had collated NIN information for 40.7 million active customers. Revenues for those subscribers who
have not yet linked their NIN with their SIM amount to around 7% of total revenues from Nigeria, and around 3% of total revenues for
the Group. As we reported might happen, SIM registration has accelerated, and some SIM consolidation is occurring in response to
implementation, potentially reducing the future financial impact.
We continue to work closely with the regulator and impacted customers to help them to comply with the registration requirements,
making every effort to minimise disruption and ensure affected customers can continue to benefit from full-service connectivity as
soon as possible; in line with our aim to drive increased connectivity and digital inclusion across Nigeria.
Nigeria mobile money operationalisation
On 29 April 2022, we announced that the Central Bank of Nigeria ('CBN') had confirmed that Smartcash Payment Service Bank limited
('Smartcash'), had received final approval for a full Payment Service Bank ('PSB') licence, affording the Group the opportunity to deliver
a full suite of mobile money services into Nigeria. This news followed our announcement of 26 April that the CBN had also awarded
our subsidiary, Airtel Mobile Commerce Nigeria Ltd, with a full super-agent licence, allowing the business to create an agency network
that can service the customers of licenced Nigerian banks, payment service banks and licenced mobile money operators in Nigeria.
On 19 May 2022, we announced that Smartcash had commenced operations in Nigeria. Services were initially made available at
selected retail touchpoints, and operations are now being expanded gradually across the country.
This marks the beginning of our journey to revolutionise the financial services landscape in Nigeria, to help further digitise the Nigerian
economy, and to help bank the unbanked by reaching the millions of Nigerians who do not currently have access to financial services
by delivering current and savings accounts, payment and remittance services, debit and prepayment cards and more sophisticated
services.
DRC spectrum acquisition
On 6 June 2022, we announced the purchase of 58 MHz of additional spectrum in the DRC, spread across 900, 1800, 2100 and 2600
MHz bands, for a gross consideration of $42m. The licence for paired spectrum in the 2100 band comes up for renewal in September
2032. All the other licences continue until July 2036. This additional spectrum will support our 4G expansion in the DRC for both mobile
data and fixed wireless home broadband capability, providing significant capacity to accommodate our continued strong data growth
in the country. DRC is the largest country by area in our portfolio and our second largest market by population. This investment reflects
our continued confidence in the tremendous opportunity inherent in the DRC, supporting the local communities and economies
through furthering digital inclusion and connectivity.
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