countrybaht

1TrueGroupreportedanetprofitofBaht5.
4billioninthefourthquarterandBaht2.
3billionin2017drivenbyrecord-highrevenueandEBITDA,corporate-widecostandproductivityinitiatives,andthesuccessfulassetdivestmenttotheDigitalTelecommunicationsInfrastructureFund(DIF)pavingthewayforTruetoachievesustainableprofitabilityanddividendpayments.
On28February2018,True'sboardofdirectorsapproveddividendpaymentsfromTrue'sfull-year2017financialperformancetotalingapproximatelyBaht1billion(Baht0.
031pershare).
TheGroup'songoingcommitmenttoprovideconsumerswithsuperiortelecommunicationsnetworks,value-drivenconvergenceanddigitalofferings,andimprovingserviceexperiencewerekeycontributorsforitssolidrevenueandsubscribergrowth.
Atthesametime,TrueGroupfocusedheavilyoncostandproductivityinitiativesthroughouttheyear.
These,combinedwiththegainfromassetdivestmenttoDIFdroveitsEBITDAup59.
2%YoYtoBaht39.
9billion.
ExcludingtheeffectoftheassetdivestmenttoDIF,EBITDAgrew36%YoYtoBaht34billionwithEBITDAmarginonservicerevenueexpandingbymorethan600basispointsfrom29.
0%inayearearlierto35.
2%in2017.
In2017,theThaimobileindustrywascompetitivebutremainedrationalwithoperatorsfocusingon4Gnetworkexpansion,attractivedatapriceplanshighlightingspeedsand4Gservices,andcontentbundling.
Avarietyofdevice-bundledcampaignswasalsointroducedparticularlytoencourageprepaiduserstoupgradetopostpaidpackageswhiletheoverallprepaidsubsidieswerescaleddown.
TrueMoveHsignificantlyoutgrewtheindustrythroughout2017andwastheonlyoperatorrecordingpositivenetaddsof2.
7millionwhiletheothertwomajorplayersreportedcombinednetsubscriberlossof2.
8million.
ThiswasdrivenbyTrueMoveH's4.
5G/4Gsuperiorityandoverwhelmingresponsetoitsbundledpropositionsfrombothpostpaidandprepaidsegments.
TrueMoveHexpandeditssubscriberbaseto27.
2million,ofwhich20.
3millionwereprepaidand6.
9millionwerepostpaidusers.
Thisdroveitsservicerevenueup17.
3%YoYin2017,contrastingwithonly2.
1%YoYgrowthofitsmajorcompetitorscombined,andactedasacatalysttopushtheoverallindustry'sservicerevenuetogrow5.
7%YoY,thehighestyearlygrowthratesince2014.
Thepositivegrowthtrendwillcontinueasdataconsumptionkeepsrising.
Thailand'sbroadbandinternetmarketgrewhealthilyin2017asoperatorscontinuedtoexpandtheirfibernetworksandemphasizedonqualitysubscriptionwithconvergencepropositionswhilediscountcampaignsweretaperedoff.
TrueOnlineacceleratedexpansionofitsfiberfootprintbothintheBangkokMetropolitanArea(BMA)andupcountrywhileaddingmorevalueforconsumerswithspeedandtechnologyupgradestomeettheirrapidlygrowingdemandforfasteronlinetransmission.
TheGroupcontinuestosupportthenationalbroadbandrolloutinitiativeandbridgethedigitaldividewithinthecountrybyincreasingitsbroadbandnetworktoreachover13millionhomespassednationwide.
Theseresultedinsoliddouble-digitbroadbandrevenueandsubscribergrowthandsealeditsleadershipinthebroadbandinternetmarket.
TrueOnlinerecorded385knetaddsin2017andexpandeditsbroadbandsubscriberbaseto3.
2million,allofwhichwereonFTTxnetwork.
TrueVisionsremainscommittedtoenhancingitsofferingsthroughacomprehensiverangeofhigh-qualitycontent,livebroadcastingandHDviewingexperiencewhiledevelopingitsown-producedchannelstomatchThaiconsumers'preferences.
ThisstrengthandtheGroup'scompetitivebundledpackagesboostedTrueVisions'subscriptionrevenueandpayingsubscriberbase.
TrueVisionsended2017withatotalcustomerbaseof4.
0millionhouseholds.
BysharingitsunrivaledcontentacrossTrueGroup'smultipleplatformsincludingwiredandwirelessbroadband,televisionanddigitalmediaplatforms,theGroupideallyfulfillstoday'sconsumerdemandtoaccesscontentanytime,anywhere,andonanydevices.
Inadditiontostrengtheningcorebusinesses,TrueGrouphasplacedimportanceondisruptiveanddigital-relatedbusinessesaimingtoprovidethebestpossibledigitalandcontentplatformsthatfulfillconsumers'demandsandlifestyles.
TheseincludeInternetofThingsandotherinnovativeofferingsaswellasthedevelopmentofTrueID,aone-stopinnovativeapplicationforavarietyofcontent,lifestylesandspecialprivileges.
TheGroupalsofocusesonBigDataandArtificialIntelligencetechnologies,whichprovidedata-drivenbusinessintelligencetobeanalyzedforcompetitiveadvantagesandbetterrespondingtoconsumers'needs.
ThesewellpositionTrueGrouptoamplifygrowthandstayatthetopofconsumers'mind.
Lookingforwardto2018TrueGroup'scommitmenttonetworkandserviceexcellence,disruptiveanddigitalbusinesseswhilecultivatingadigitalmindsetandcreativitywithinthecompanywillenableittoalwayskeeppacewithchangesinconsumers'preferencesandadvancementsintechnology.
Thesedevelopmentsandconsumers'constantly-growingdemandsfortelecommunicationsanddigitalservicesintheThailand4.
0eraareexpectedtodrivesolidgrowthofTrueGroup.
TheGrouptargetsalowdouble-digitgrowthforconsolidatedservicerevenuein2018.
Thisincrementalscale,combinedwithcontinuedfocusoncostandproductivityinitiatives,shouldturnitsnetprofitspositiveexcludingtheone-timeimpactsoftheplannedsaleofadditionalassetstoDIF.
The2018cashCAPEXexcludinglicensefeepaymentisexpectedtobearoundthesamelevelas2017.
TrueCorporationPLC.
2017MD&AInvestorRelationsOfficeir_office@truecorp.
co.
th(66)2858-2515,http://www.
truecorp.
co.
thExecutiveSummary:Consolidatedresults2Segmentresults3RevenueProfile4BalanceSheet5Detailedfinancial&operationalstatistics6Contents:Remark:EBITDAmarginreferstomarginonservicerevenueexcludingcontributionfromproductsalesandDIFtransactions2TrueCorporationPLC.
Consolidatedresults:NormalizedStatementsofIncome(Loss)-ConsolidatedTrueGroup'sconsolidatedservicerevenueincreased10.
2%YoYtoBaht97.
0billionduetosignificantgrowthofboththecellularandconsumerbroadbandbusinesseswhoserevenueandsubscriberbaseincreasinginasoliddouble-digitrate.
Thisstrongperformancewasachieveddespiteimpactfromthefixed-linevoiceconcessionendinginOctober2017astheGroup'snetworkstrengthandexpandedfootprintcontinuedtomeetcustomers'growingconsumptionofdataanddigitalcontent.
Productsalessurged40.
6%YoYtoBaht23.
7billiononassetdivestmenttoDIFandcontinuedstrongresponsetotheGroup'sdevice-bundlingcampaigns.
ExcludingDIFtransactions,productsalesgrew3.
4%fromthepreviousyeartoBaht17.
4billion.
Regulatorycostsdecreased3.
9%YoYtoBaht3.
3billionduetolowerrevenuesharingrelatedtothetraditionalfixed-linephoneservice,whoseconcessionendedinOctober,andpositiveimpactfromthenewratesofUSOandlicensefeeannouncedinMayandDecemberrespectively.
Thefull-yearpositiveimpactfromthenewprogressiverateoflicensefeewasbookedin4Q17.
Coreoperatingexpense(comprisingcostofprovidingservicesexcludingICandotherS&A)increased2.
6%YoYtoBaht75.
0billionduetohigherexpensesrelatedtonetworkandpersonnel.
TheGroup'songoingfocusoncostsavingsandproductivitymeasuresresultedin8.
2%YoYdropofSG&Aexcludingdepreciationandamortizationin4Q17.
EBITDAsurged59.
2%YoYtoBaht39.
9billion.
ExcludingtheimpactfromassetdivestmenttoDIF,EBITDAexpanded36%YoYtoBaht34.
0billionasrevenuecontinuedtogrowwhilecostswerewellcontained.
Continuednetworkandserviceexpansionaswellasfull-yearimpactofthe900MHzlicenseamortizationdrovedepreciationandamortizationexpensestoBaht33.
5billion.
Interestexpense(net)increased27%YoYtoBaht5.
4billionduetoadditionalborrowingsforbusinessexpansionandworkingcapitalrequirements.
Debtrepaymentin4Q17resultedin10.
5%declineofnetinterestexpensecomparedtothepreviousquarter.
IncometaxexpenseincreasedfromBaht490millioninthepreviousyeartoBaht1.
3billionin2017mainlyduetodeferredtaxexpensesrelatedtoassettransactionswithDIF.
ThefirsttrancheofassetdivestmenttoDIFwascompletedin4Q17.
ImpacttotheGroup'snetincomewasapproximatelyBaht6.
5billion;apartofthisgainwasrecordedunderotherincometotalingBaht2.
4billionwhiletherestwasrecordedundernetproductsales,rentalexpenseanddeferredtax.
TheseresultedinconsolidatednetprofittoshareholdersoftheparentcompanytotalingBaht2.
3billionin2017.
GroupservicerevenueexclIC3TrueMoveHTrueMoveHsignificantlyoutgrewtheindustrythroughout2017andwastheonlyoperatorreportingpositivenetadds.
Itsexpandingsubscriberbaseanddatarevenueforbothpostpaidandprepaidsegmentsdroveitsservicerevenueup17.
3%YoYtoBaht67.
9billion.
Non-voicerevenuegrew24.
7%YoYtoBaht42.
4billion,representing62%ofTrueMoveH'sservicerevenuecomparedto59%inthepreviousyear,followingcontinuedsuccessofits4G,data-drivenanddevice-bundlingcampaigns.
Voicerevenueincreased1.
9%YoYtoBaht21.
2billionasTrueMoveH'ssubscribergrowthanditsstrongerpresenceinthemasssegmentoutpacedconsumers'risingtrendtowardsdataandonlinecommunications.
RevenuefrominternationalroamingandotherserviceswasBaht4.
3billion,increasingYoYpartlyduetohigherinboundroamingrevenuegivenmoretouristarrivals.
TrueCorporationPLC.
TrueMoveHcustomersandblendedARPUTrueOnline'sservicerevenuewasBaht32.
2billion,increasing16.
6%YoYonstrongbroadbandinternetgrowthandintercompanyrevenuesrelatedtoO&Mserviceswhichwerereportedunderotherservicerevenue;excludingthisandimpactfromthe2Gtransmissionnetworkshutdownsince3Q16,TrueOnline'sservicerevenuegrew3.
4%YoY.
Fixed-linevoicerevenuedeclinedtoBaht2.
5billion,comparedtoBaht4.
7billioninayearearlier,followingconsumers'behaviorshifttowardsmobileandonlinecommunicationsaswellasfixed-lineconcessionendinginOctoberwhichresultedinlowerrevenueandcostsrelatedtothetraditionalvoiceservices.
RevenuesfromBroadband,InternetandBusinessDataServiceincreased9.
8%YoYtoBaht23.
1billionduetostronggrowthinbothconsumerandcorporatesegmentsastheGroupcontinuedtoexpanditsFTTHfootprintwhileaddingvaluethroughconvergenceandcomprehensivesolutions.
Duringthefirstninemonthsof2017,theGroupfocusedheavilyonupgradingbroadbandcoppercustomerstothelicensedfibernetwork.
Withthatbehindus,TrueOnline'srevenuesfrombroadband,internetanddataservicesgrew16.
7%YoYand5.
4%QoQin4Q17withstrongquarterlynetaddsof112,781.
Itsbroadbandsubscriberbaseincreasedto3.
2million,allofwhichwereonFTTxnetwork.
TrueOnlineTrueVisions'servicerevenuewasBaht12.
2billion,flat(+0.
1%)YoYassubscriptionandadvertisinggrowthoffsetlowermusicentertainmentandotherrevenues.
Subscriptionandinstallationrevenueincreased2.
2%YoYtoBaht8.
2billion,representing67%ofTrueVisions'servicerevenuecomparedto65%ayearearlier,onpositiveresponsetotheGroup'sconvergenceandmass-tierpackages.
ThisdroveTrueVisions'payingsubscriberbaseupto2.
2millionwithyearlynetaddsof176k.
Advertisingrevenueincreased2.
1%YoYtoBaht1.
8billioncontrastingwithindustry'sdecliningtrend.
Musicentertainmentandotherrevenuesdecreased8.
4%YoYtoBaht2.
3billionfollowingtheGroup'sstrategytotonedownlow-marginevents.
TrueVisionsBroadbandcustomersandARPUTrueVisionscustomersandARPURemark:TrueVisions'payingsubscribers=premiumpackage+standardpackage4RevenueprofileTrueCorporationPLC.
Remark:TrueMoveH'sproductsalesexcludingDIFtransactionswereBt5.
0bnin4Q17andBt17.
3bnin2017TrueOnline'sproductsalesexcludingDIFtransactionswereBt21mnin4Q17andBt111mnin20175CashFlowTrueGroup'sassetsincreased3.
6%fromtheendof2016toBaht465.
3billionmainlyduetohigherproperty,plantandequipment.
Property,plantandequipment(net)increased22.
1%fromtheendof2016toBaht175.
5billionasTrueGroupcontinuedtoexpanditscellularandbroadbandfootprint.
Intangibleassets(net)decreased7.
4%fromtheendof2016toBaht129.
4billionprimarilyduetoamortizationofthemobilespectrumlicensesduringtheperiod.
Investmentinassociatesandinterestsinjointventures(net)declinedfromBaht18.
2billionattheendof2016toBaht16.
5billiondrivenpartlybydividendreceivedfromDIF(seemoredetailinthenotetofinancialstatementssection20.
2).
Tradeaccountreceivables(net)increasedtoBaht49.
4billiondrivenbytheGroup'scontinuedbusinessexpansionanddomesticroamingreceivable.
TrueGroup'stotalliabilitiesincreased4.
4%fromtheendof2016toBaht331.
1billionmainlyduetohigherinterestbearingdebt(short-termandlong-termborrowingsexcludingfinancialleases)whichreachedBaht119.
5billioninordertosupporttheGroup'sbusinessexpansionincludingworkingcapitalrequirements.
DebtrepaymentduringQ4resultedin6%QoQdropofinterestbearingdebt.
Tradeaccountspayablerosefromtheendof2016toBaht67.
5billiondrivenbytheGroup'sbusinessexpansionwithattractivevendorfinancingterms.
Shareholders'equitygrewfromBaht131.
7billionattheendof2016toBaht134.
2billionduetonetprofitachievedin2017.
TrueGroup'sprimarycapitalresourcesfortheyear2017werecashflowsfromfinancingactivitiestotalingBaht5.
1billion,decliningfromthepreviousyear'shighbasewiththecapitalincrease.
Cashflowsfromoperatingactivities(net)in2017wasBaht5.
0billion(Baht10.
2billionbeforeinterestandtaxpayments),decreasingfromthepreviousyearduetoworkingcapitalrequirementsandcertainsettlementsrelatedtotheHSPAagreementwithCAT.
Cashflowsusedininvestingactivitiesin2017wasBaht42.
1billion,decreasingmainlyonproceedsfromassetdivestmenttoDIFinthefourthquarterof2017.
CashCAPEXin2017wasBaht47.
6billionandmainlyusedfortheGroup'swiredandwirelessbroadbandnetworks;excludinglicensefeepayments,cashCAPEXwasapproximatelyBaht37billion,belowtheBaht47billionguidance.
BalanceSheetTrueCorporationPLC.
6Selectedfinancial&operationalstatisticsTrueCorporationPLC.