Grupo Iusacell announces third quarter results

 

MEXICO CITY - Grupo Iusacell, S.A. de C.V., (NYSE: CEL and CEL.D; BMV: IUSACEL) reported that its cellular subscriber base at September 30, 1997 was 338,300 customers versus 281,740 customers as of June 30, 1997, an increase of 56,560 subscribers, or 20%. Paging customers grew by 32% in the third quarter, from 9,808 at June 30, 1997 to 12,969 at September 30, 1997.

 

The company reported revenues of $446.7 million pesos in the third quarter of 1997, versus $440.9 million pesos for the second quarter, with all results stated on a September 30, 1997 constant purchasing power basis.(a) Revenue growth was adversely affected by $39 million pesos due to the reversal, as a consequence of the settlement of an interconnection dispute with Telefonos de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (Nasdaq: TFONY) (Telmex), reached in August 1997, of accrued interconnection revenue which was expected to be received from Telmex.

 

Without this reversal, third quarter revenues would have been $486 million pesos, a 10.2% increase over second quarter revenues. During the same period, long distance revenues increased by 12.3%.

 

Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) were $103.4 million pesos in the third quarter of 1997, compared to $72.4 million pesos in the second quarter of 1997 and represented 23.1% of reported revenues in the third quarter versus 16.4% in the second quarter. EBITDA in the third quarter was reduced by the $39 million pesos reversal of accrued interconnection revenues; this reduction was more than offset by a $47.4 million pesos reduction in cost of services, as a result of the interconnection settlement mentioned above. Without these revenue and cost of service effects, EBITDA would have been $95 million pesos, or 19.6% of total revenues.

 

Net income for the quarter was $80.9 million pesos and included a gain of $151.9 million pesos resulting from the sale, concluded on September 30, 1997, of Iusacell's 30.8% direct and indirect interests in an Ecuadorian cellular company, Consorcio Ecuatoriano de Telecomunicaciones S.A. (CONECEL).

 

Tom Bartlett, CEO of Grupo Iusacell, noted, "Our strategic view continues to take shape as we move forward with our digital and spectrum plans, grow subscribers, roll out our new brand image, as well as redesign and expand our own store network. All of this reflects our ability to deliver our successful global wireless model to the Mexican marketplace. Fulvio del Valle and his team continue to successfully implement the changes necessary to achieve our ambitious targets for revenue and margin growth."

 

Operationally, Grupo Iusacell reported total service costs of $153.0 million pesos in the third quarter of 1997, an 18.1% decline from total service costs of $186.9 million pesos reported in the second quarter of 1997, or 34.3% of reported revenues. Service costs in the third quarter of 1997 reflect a benefit of $47.4 million pesos, resulting from the interconnection settlement mentioned above. Sales, general and administrative expenses were $207.3 million pesos in the third quarter of 1997, a 1.8% increase from the $203.7 million pesos reported in the second quarter of 1997. Total cash expenses per subscriber for the third quarter, on a normalized basis, were approximately $1,219 pesos, down 10% from $1,350 pesos in the second quarter.

 

Fulvio del Valle, President and Director General of Iusacell, noted, "During the third quarter of this year, we continued to restructure the company, reaching new and higher levels of growth, productivity, network quality and customer care. The microwave licenses which we recently won will support further growth. We built 16 cell sites throughout our four regions and we now have a total of 263 cell sites. Our total points of sale grew by 14%, and our own stores grew by 20%, from 64 to 77. We are progressing toward our goal of meeting the global benchmarks attained by superior operators in the cellular industry."

 

Howard F. Zuckerman, CFO of Iusacell, added, "Third quarter results demonstrate solid progress toward our key financial objectives of revenue growth, cost reductions and improving cash flow from operations. Further, this performance, together with our mid-quarter financing restructure, enables us to support future investments in our cellular network."

 

Additionally, Iusacell noted that it had acquired three licenses in the recently concluded auctions for microwave spectrum at a total cost of approximately $36.3 million pesos.

 

Average monthly minutes of use (MOU) per subscriber for the third quarter of 1997 were 104, as compared to 106 in the second quarter of 1997. This decline is attributable to a normal industry trend of lower MOU's as the cellular subscriber base expands, and as a result of higher growth in the prepay subscriber base. Average monthly revenue per subscriber declined to $451 pesos in the third quarter of 1997, versus $463 pesos in the second quarter of 1997; average monthly revenue per subscriber is not adjusted to reflect constant peso purchasing power as of September 30, 1997.

 

Grupo Iusacell is a leading independent telecommunications company in Mexico. It is the non-wireline cellular service provider in four of Mexico's nine regions in the central portion of Mexico (including Mexico City) covering a total of 66 million POPs -- representing 70% of the country's total population. Since February 1997, the Company has been under the operating and management control of Bell Atlantic (NYSE: BEL) which, through certain subsidiaries, owns 42% of the capital stock of Grupo Iusacell.

 

 

 

Operating Highlights

Third Second

Quarter Quarter

1997 1997 % Change

Cellular Subscribers (EOP) 338,300 281,740 20.1

Paging Subscribers (EOP) 12,969 9,808 32.2

Net Subscriber Additions 56,560 31,050 82.2

Avg Monthly MOU / Sub 104 106 (1.9)

Avg Monthly Rev / Sub $451 463 (2.6)

Avg Monthly Contract Churn 2.94% 2.73% 7.7

Number of Employees 1,919 1,973 (2.7)

 

     

 

GRUPO IUSACELL, S.A. DE C.V.

Management's Discussion & Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for the Period Ended September 30, 1997, (In Mexican GAAP with Pesos of Constant September 1997 Purchasing Power).

 

The following report addresses Grupo Iusacell, S.A. de C.V.'s ("Iusacell" or the "Company") financial performance for the quarter ended September 30, 1997, and for the quarter ended June 30, 1997, along with its financial condition as of September 30, 1997. It should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements accompanying this discussion. All comparative analysis is on a constant September 30, 1997 purchasing power basis unless otherwise stated.

 

Results of Operations (b):

 

Total revenues for the quarter ended September 30, 1997 were $446.7 million pesos, an increase of $5.8 million pesos, or 1.3% versus the second quarter of 1997. Revenue growth was adversely affected by $39 million pesos due to the reversal, as a consequence of the settlement of an interconnection dispute with Telefonos de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (Telmex) reached in August 1997 of accrued interconnection revenue which was expected to be received from Telmex. Without this reversal, third quarter revenues would have been $486 million pesos, a 10.2% increase over second quarter revenues of $440.9 million pesos. Service revenues for the third quarter were $368.3 million pesos, which included the settlement-related adjustment for interconnection, declined by 1.5% and represented 82% of total revenues. On a non-adjusted basis, service revenues would have been $407.3 million pesos, an 8.9% increase over second quarter revenues of $374 million pesos. During the same period, long distance revenues increased by 12.3%. Equipment sales and other revenues (including out-roaming) increased by 17.0% and represented approximately 18% of total revenues. Airtime consumption represented approximately 30% of revenues during the third quarter of 1997 versus approximately 28% of revenues during the second quarter of 1997. Monthly fees represented approximately 34% of total revenues during the third quarter versus approximately 33% during the second quarter of 1997. Value-added services represented approximately 6% in both the third and second quarters of 1997. Long distance represented approximately 13% of revenues in the third quarter of 1997, compared to approximately 8% of revenues in the second quarter.

 

The Company's subscriber base was 338,300 on September 30, 1997, compared to 281,740 at June 30, 1997, representing a quarterly increase of 20.0%, and a 60% increase over the subscriber base as of September 30, 1996. During the third quarter of 1997, contract subscriber churn increased to an average monthly level of 2.94%, compared to 2.73% during the second quarter of 1997.

 

Average monthly minutes of use (MOU's) per subscriber for the third quarter of 1997 declined to 104 from 106 during the second quarter of 1997. Average monthly revenue per subscriber declined to $451 pesos for the third quarter of 1997 from $463 pesos for the second quarter of 1997, on a nominal basis.

 

Cost of services decreased by 18.1% in the third quarter of 1997 compared with the second quarter of 1997, to $153.0 million pesos and were 34.3% of revenues. The decrease in cost of services includes a benefit of $47.4 million pesos related to the settlement of the interconnection agreement mentioned above. Sales, general and administrative expenses were $207.3 million pesos in the third quarter of 1997, compared to $203.7 million pesos in the second quarter of 1997, and represented an increase of 1.8%.

 

Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) were $103.4 million pesos in the third quarter of 1997, compared to $72.4 million pesos in the second quarter of 1997 and represented 23.1% of reported revenues in the third quarter versus 16.4% in the second quarter. EBITDA in the third quarter was reduced by the $39 million pesos reduction in revenues and was enhanced by a $47.4 million pesos reduction in cost of services, as a result of the interconnection settlement mentioned above.

 

Without these effects, EBITDA would have been $95 million pesos, or 19.6% of total revenues. Integral financing costs were $20.1 million pesos in the third quarter of 1997 versus a gain in the second quarter of 1997 of $8.6 million pesos.

 

Integral financing in the third quarter was composed of a gain from monetary correction of $35.8 million pesos, compared to a gain of $67.4 million pesos in the second quarter of 1997, interest expense of $81.4 million pesos compared to $50.8 million pesos of interest expense in the second quarter of 1997, and a foreign exchange gain of $25.4 million pesos compared to a loss of $8.0 million pesos in the second quarter of 1997. The Company reported higher net interest expense due to the reclassification of $28.6 million pesos from cost of services as part of the settlement of the interconnection agreement mentioned above. A foreign exchange gain was recorded in the third quarter due to a strengthening in the Mexican peso from 7.95 at June 30, 1997 to 7.82 at September 30, 1997.

 

Iusacell reported net income of $80.9 million pesos for the third quarter of 1997, compared to a loss of $69.0 million pesos for the second quarter of 1997. Net income included a gain of $151.9 million pesos resulting from the sale, concluded on September 30, 1997, of Iusacell's 30.8% direct and indirect interests in an Ecuadorian cellular company, Consorcio Ecuatoriano de Telecomunicaciones S.A. CONECEL.

 

 

On September 30, 1997, Grupo Iusacell's total assets were $6,922.4 million pesos as compared to $6,574.6, an increase of 5.3% from June 30, 1997.

 

As of September 30, 1997, the Company's debt/total capital ratio stood at 34%, versus 30% when compared to June 30, 1997. At September 30, 1997, the Company's average cost of outstanding debt was approximately 9.6%, with a remaining average maturity of approximately 5.6 years. On July 25, 1997, the Company executed a series of financing agreements which restructured all of its U.S. dollar-denominated debt. The Company raised U.S. $375 million ($275 million of which has been disbursed) consisting of a seven year, 10% bond offering of U.S. $150 million, U.S. $125 million in five year bank syndicated financing carrying an interest rate of LIBOR plus 1.75%, and a U.S. $100 million, five year revolving credit facility carrying the same interest rate. The Company's dollar-denominated debt is unhedged against potential devaluation of the peso.

 

(a) The company is reporting results in conformance with Mexican GAAP which require the restatement of prior period financials to reflect constant peso reporting.

 

(b) The Company is reporting results in conformance with Mexican GAAP which requires restatement of prior period financials to reflect constant peso reporting.