Daniel Hajj
Analyst · Rodrigo Villanueva of Bank of America. Your line is open
Thank you, Daniela. Welcome to the third quarter results. Carlos is going to make a summary of the report.
Carlos García Moreno: Thank you, Daniel. Good morning everyone. Well, following the massive monetary and fiscal stimulus introduced throughout the world since the advent of the pandemic, the third quarter saw a rebound in economic activity in most countries in our region of operation and legal [ph] volatilities were both present in the prior two quarters. With the exception of the Brazilian real, which continued to deteriorate to the dollar, the main currency in Latin America did not see much change over the period. As confinement measures began to be lifted towards the end of the second quarter, an improving trend became apparent on commercial activity. We are added 3.2 million wireless subscribers; 1.2 million of them postpaid, and 1.4 million prepaid. Brazil lead the way in terms of positive growth after adding 1.8 million subscribers, followed by Austria with 241,000, and Colombia which recorded for 200,000. In the second quarter, we had lost 500,000 users. For the prepaid gain, Mexico gained the most with 1.2 million, with Colombia and Ecuador contributing approximately 300,000 each, Peru 237,000 and Dominican at 129,000. We recovered several of the prepaid subscribers that were disconnected in second quarter, as mobility was restricted and making recharge difficult. In the fixed-line segment, we gained 446,000 new broadband clients with every operation in LATAM forcing an increase in accesses. Only Austria and Croatia among all our operations with central disconnections. Colombia and Mexico lead the way with over 100,000 executes each. In Mexico's case, it doubled both of the prior quarters. Altogether, mobile postpaid and fixed broadband remain our main areas of access with the former increasing 5.7% year-on-year, and the latter 5.2%. Our prepaid sub base is still down 3.2% from a year before, while Fixed Voice and PayTV accesses are falling at 0.25% [ph] each. Our third quarter revenues rose 4.7% in Mexican peso terms from a year before to reach MXN260 billion. Our service revenues expanded 5.4%. At constant exchange rates, service revenues were up 1.5%, roughly part of price as in the preceding quarter. On the back of continued strong performance of fixed broadband revenues and the recovery of mobile prepaid revenues, those most affected in the prior quarter, in the midst of the lockdown measures implemented throughout Latin America. Mobile service revenues accelerated to 3.5% from 2.3% in the second quarter while fixed-line service revenues maintained at 1.4% state of decline. Across our operations, both MOUs rose 11% while mobile data per user was up 41%, all of which resulted in a 5% increase in mobile ARPUs at constant exchange rates. Mobile service revenues were barred by prepaid revenues, it's growth from plus -- rose to 2.5% from minus 2% in the prior quarter. Our posted revenue decelerated complex to just under the 5% year-on-year, equipment revenues bounced back sharply. I will move on to a more forceful commercial activity. With continued decline in the fixed-line revenue took place at the gains observed in fixed broadband revenues from a pace of low 7.3% to one-off close [ph] 9.1% were offset by new revenue losses in fixed-line voice and PayTV revenues. It is our [indiscernible] in the third quarter from the year-end recorded to MXN6.5 billion. Our EBITDA margin remained at 33.2%. At constant exchange rates EBITDA increased 7.2% more than twice as fast as it had in the preceding quarters with Puerto Rico, Mexico and Dominican posting important advances. Mexico has improved from minus 10% in the second quarter close to 1.3% whereas Dominicans increased from minus 5.5% to plus 5.8% and 11 percentage points swing in both cases, and it's important just to note that both countries have a high share of prepaid clients. Our EBITDA margin 33.2%, was 1.6 percentage points higher than in the year earlier quarter. Our operating profit shot up 18% to MXN45 billion and was the driver of 45% inclusion of our net income, which totaled MXN19 billion. Our operating cash flow totaled MXN164 billion, and allowed us to cover our capital expenditures, which amounted to MXN91 billion. And to reduce financial and label obligations in the amount of MXN52 billion, including a MXN47 billion reduction in our net debt. Our capital expenditures in the period were directed to securing adequate capacity in our networks and maintaining good quality of service. At the end of September our net debt to EBITDA stood up 1.38 times on the prior year '17 [ph], and likely less than at the end of June. All throughout the year and in spite of movements in foreign exchange rates, we have kept our leverage ratio at or below 1.93 times on the -- all over the year. Looking at Mexico, prepaid revenues bounced back to plus 1.1% from a minus 4% decline in the second quarter with fixed broadband revenues accelerating to 6% from 2%. On the back on the above EBITDA recovered sharply from 10% plunge in the second quarter to plus 1.3%. As for Brazil, postpaid revenues continue to excel, posting a 9% increase from the year before with prepaid revenues lies on 5%, we think they capture on prior to the pandemic. On the fixed-line platform, broadband revenues continued to perform well, expanding 6.8% and maintaining a stable trend. Already clearing in projected revenues accelerated to minus 13.6%. Colombia, was the only country where our service revenues expanded on both, the mobile and the fixed-line platform in the third quarter; almost at the same period in H1. Both prepaid and postpaid revenues expanded at rates similar to growth in the first quarter, we have fixed broadband revenues remained at a 15% growth base, and PayTV revenues continue to accelerate to 10%. EBITDA increased 3.4% in the quarter on the strength of the revenue increases and they reduced need to provide for past due collections. Regarding Austria, both fixed and mobile revenue declined slightly, later [indiscernible] down by reduced growth in revenues to the concrete write-off on account of the pandemic. In spite of the above, the company's adjusted EBITDA before restructuring shot up 4.7% on reduced interconnection and roaming charges, as well as savings from several large fund. Well with this, I would like to conclude my talk. I would like to turn it back to Daniel Hajj. Thank you.