BT Group plc Results for the Second Quarter and Half Year to 30 September 2010

LONDON, Nov. 11, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- BT Group plc (BT.L) today announces its results for the second quarter and half year to 30September 2010. Unless otherwise stated, the changes in results are year on year against the second quarter or half year to 30 September 2009.

Key points for the second quarter:

• Adjusted revenue(1) of pounds Sterling 4,977m, down 3%
• Adjusted EBITDA(1) of 1,452m pounds, up 3%
• Adjusted profit before tax(1) of 496m pounds, up 13% (reported profit before tax of 406m pounds, up 48%)
• Adjusted earnings per share(1) of 5.1p, up 16% (reported earnings per share down 7% due to prior year tax credit)
• Free cash flow(2) of 535m pounds; 950m pounds in the half year, up 63%
• Net debt(2) of 8.7bn pounds, down by 1.2bn pounds
• Interim dividend of 2.4p per share, up 4%
• 2010/11 full year outlook raised:
  • adjusted EBITDA(1) expected to be around 5.8bn pounds
  • free cash flow(1) expected to be 2bn pounds
• Free cash flow(1) in 2011/12 and 2012/13 expected to be above 2bn pounds

Ian Livingston, Chief Executive, commenting on the results, said:

"We have made significant progress in improving profitability and cash flow, enabling us to invest in building the foundations for revenue growth in 2012/13.

"We have increased our EBITDA outlook for the year and now expect to hit our 2bn pounds free cash flow target two years early.

"Global Services order intake was up 50% at 2.1bn pounds. Our fibre roll out has passed three million premises and BT Infinity orders are now running at over 4,000 per week. BT Vision customers now stand at more than half a million, with more developments planned to enhance our offering. Our share of DSL broadband net additions was 45%, one of our highest shares ever."

(1)  Before specific items. Specific items are defined on page 18

(2)  Free cash flow and net debt are defined on page 20

(1)  Before specific items. Specific items are defined below and analysed in Note 5

(2)  Adjusted for the impact of customer account moves and the impact of changes in the internal trading model.  The effect of the changes is primarily to reduce internal revenue in both BT Wholesale and Openreach by around 62m pounds per quarter in 2010/11. There is no impact from these changes on total group revenue. In the line of business commentaries for BT Wholesale and Openreach, revenue has been measured against an adjusted basis taking account of the changes in the internal trading model to enable a like for like comparison

(3)  Restated for the impact of customer account moves.  See Note 1

Notes: Unless otherwise stated, any reference to earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA), operating profit, operating costs, profit before tax and earnings per share (EPS) are measured before specific items. The commentary focuses on the trading results before specific items. This is consistent with the way that financial performance is measured by management and is reported to the Board and the Operating Committee and assists in providing a meaningful analysis of the trading results of the group.  The directors believe that presentation of the group's results in this way is relevant to the understanding of the group's financial performance as specific items are those that in management's judgement need to be disclosed by virtue of their size, nature or incidence. In determining whether an event or transaction is specific, management considers quantitative as well as qualitative factors such as the frequency or predictability of occurrence. Specific items may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.  

Reported EBITDA, reported operating profit, reported profit before tax and reported EPS are the equivalent unadjusted or statutory measures. Unless otherwise stated, the change in results is year on year.

The income statement, cash flow statement, statements of comprehensive income and equity and balance sheet are provided on pages 11 to 15. A reconciliation of group operating profit to EBITDA (as defined above) is provided in Note 6. A reconciliation of reported profit before tax (as defined above) to adjusted profit before tax is provided in Note 7. A reconciliation of reported EPS (as defined above) to adjusted EPS is provided in Note 8. A definition and reconciliation of free cash flow and net debt are provided in Notes 9 and 10.

Note:   To access the full text version of the announcement, go to:

http://www.btplc.com/News/Articles/Showarticle.cfm?ArticleID=04AC369C-17F4-4026-B958-7480A1658425

About BT

BT is one of the world's leading providers of communications solutions and services operating in over 170 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to our customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband and internet products and services and converged fixed/mobile products and services. BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, BT Retail, BT Wholesale and Openreach.

British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York.

For more information, visit www.btplc.com

SOURCE BT