Solid EBITDAaL growth on the back of strong mobile commercial momentum and continuous cost management

 Press release
Embargo until 21 October 2021 at 7:00 am
Regulated information – Inside information

Financial information for the third quarter of 2021 and first nine months of 2021

Solid EBITDAaL growth on the back of strong mobile commercial momentum
and continuous cost management

• Mobile postpaid customer base +3.9% yoy / Cable customer base +25.5% yoy
• Q3 Revenues +3.3% yoy / Q3 Retail service revenues +4.8% yoy
• Q3 EBITDAaL+8.1% yoy (YTD ‘21: +8.5%)

Q3 Operational Highlights

Strong growth in mobile net adds. The mobile postpaid customer base grew by 37k to 2.7m subscribers supported by the attractiveness of the Go portfolio, especially after the Go Plus data boost launched in June. Love and Home offers continue their steady growth trajectory. Cable customer base increased by 17k during Q3 to 382k customers (+25.5% yoy). B2C convergent ARPO decreased by 3.1% yoy to €73.1, as a result of the discounts provided on mobile tariff plans in convergence. Mobile only postpaid ARPO remained stable at €20.5.

Orange Belgium: key operating figures
	Q3 2020	Q3 2021	change
Mobile postpaid customer base (in ‘000)	2 615	2 718	3.9%
Net adds (in ‘000)	21	37	75.8%
Mobile only postpaid ARPO (€ per month)	20.5	20.5	-0.3%
Cable customer base (in ‘000)	305	382	25.5%
Net adds (in ‘000)	17	17	-1.1%
B2C convergent ARPO (€ per month)	75.4	73.1	-3.1%

Q3 Financial Highlights

Revenues reached €346.3m, up 3.3% yoy, mainly explained by an increase in retail service revenues as well as in wholesale revenues. As in previous quarters, retail service revenues continued to grow (+4.8% yoy), mainly due to convergent service revenues (+14.6% yoy). Revenue growth is also driven by a significant increase in customer and visitor roaming. EBITDAaL increased by 8.1% yoy to €96.7m. The increase of retail service revenues supported by continuous cost efficiencies have been the main drivers. EBITDAaL margin reached 27.9%. eCapex closed at €40.2m, slightly below Q3 2020 due to seasonality effect. A catch-up is expected in Q4 driven by the implementation of the RAN sharing deal.

Orange Belgium Group: key financial figures
	reported		reported	reported		reported
in €m	Q3 2020	Q3 2021	change	9M 2020	9M 2021	change
Revenues	335.3	346.3	3.3%	971.9	1 002.1	3.1%
Retail service revenues	230.6	241.7	4.8%	676.4	702.5	3.9%
EBITDAaL	89.4	96.7	8.1%	237.6	257.9	8.5%
margin as % of revenues	26.7%	27.9%	126 bp	24.4%	25.7%	129 bp
eCapex1	-41.9	-40.2	-4.1%	-106.8	-121.5	13.8%
Operating cash flow2	47.5	56.5	18.9%	130.7	136.3	4.3%
Net financial debt	135.3	63.3		135.3	63.3

1. eCapex excluding licence fees. In Q1 and Q3 2021 Orange Belgium paid 10.9 million euros on licence fees each quarter.
2. Operating cash flow defined as EBITDAaL – eCapex excluding licence fees
   

Xavier Pichon, Chief Executive Officer, commented:

Orange Belgium maintained solid commercial performance over the third quarter supported by the recent enhancements to the Go portfolio and the continuous growth of our convergence offers.

In addition, Orange Belgium continues to differentiate itself in the market while extending the range of value propositions to satisfy customers' constantly changing needs.

We successfully launched Orange TV Lite, enabling customers to stream OTT, without having to pay a full TV subscription or needing a set-top box and hey! our new 100% digital brand, targeting ultra-connected customers leading completely digitally oriented lives.

Antoine Chouc, Chief Financial Officer, stated:

Our positive commercial results also delivered corresponding financial performance. Our revenues have increased 3.3% in comparison to last year mainly supported by higher retail service revenues as well as growth in wholesale revenues.

The combination of increased retail service revenues and continuous cost management has resulted in outstanding EBITDAaL for this quarter. Regarding eCapex, we expect a catch-up in the last quarter of the year.

Given these results, and the improved health context, we expect to slightly exceed our EBITDAaL guidance. Revenue and eCapex guidance remain unchanged.

Attachment

• ENG OBEL_ER_2021 Q3 FV

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