SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of
Announcement: 07 May
2020
BT Group plc
(Translation
of registrant's name into English)
BT
Group plc
81 Newgate Street
London
EC1A 7AJ
England
(Address
of principal executive offices)
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form
20-F..X...
Form 40-F
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information
to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes
No ..X..
If
"Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the
registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-
________
Financial results
Results
for the full year to 31 March 2020
BT
Group plc
7
May 2020
This
announcement contains inside information
BT
Group plc (BT.L) today announced its results for the full year to
31 March 2020.
Highlights:
● 2019/20
results overall in line with expectations
● New
FTTP target to reach 20m premises by mid- to late-2020s, on the
assumption we obtain the required critical enablers
● Phase
1 of our transformation programme complete; next phase of
modernisation to deliver annualised gross benefits of £1bn by
March 2023 and £2bn by March 2025, with £1.3bn one-off
cost to achieve in total across the five years
● Keeping
the nation connected during the Covid-19 crisis
● Final
dividend suspended for 2019/20 and all dividends for 2020/21 to
create capacity for value-enhancing investments and managing
confidently through the Covid-19 crisis; expect to resume dividends
in 2021/22 at an annual rate of 7.7 pence per share
Philip Jansen, Chief Executive, commenting on the results,
said
"BT had
a positive year delivering results in line with expectations and
completing our £1.6bn phase 1 transformation programme, one
year ahead of schedule.
"Covid-19
has changed everybody's world and I am immensely proud of how BT
has responded to the challenges the Covid-19 crisis has presented.
Our strong and resilient networks, both fixed and mobile, have
proved critical to the continuing functioning of the UK economy,
providing unrivalled connectivity and services for the
nation.
"Of
course, Covid-19 is affecting our business, but the full impact
will only become clearer as the economic consequences unfold over
the next 12 months. Due to Covid-19, BT is not providing guidance
for 2020/21, at this time.
"BT has
the best network infrastructure in the UK. We have the leading 4G
network and are rapidly expanding our leadership position in 5G,
that today covers over 80 towns and cities. We have the largest and
most extensive fixed network and are leading the UK on the next
generation Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network where we now pass
2.6 million premises. Today we are announcing a rapid acceleration
of our FTTP build with a target of 20 million premises passed by
the mid- to late-2020s, including a significant build in rural
areas. After passing 1.3 million premises last year, we are aiming
at over 2 million in 2020/21, and envisage a maximum build rate of
3 million premises per year. Our FTTP investment should deliver
pre-tax nominal returns of between 10% to 12% and is based on a
regulatory framework consistent with Ofcom's preferred policy
direction and continued support for infrastructure investment and
competition.
"The
continued delivery of market leading customer experiences remains
core to our success, with a focus on driving the take-up of
converged product offerings such as Halo, our premium converged
offering for homes and businesses. In the short period since
launch, Halo now represents over 30% of our BT consumer broadband
base.
"BT is
delivering, but is also changing. BT needs to be leaner, simpler
and more agile. Today we are announcing a radical modernisation and
simplification programme that will use technology to create a
better BT for the future. This 5-year initiative will re-engineer
old and out of date processes, rationalise products, reduce re-work
and switch off many legacy services. This next stage in the
modernisation of BT will deliver gross annualised savings of
£2 billion over the next 5 years.
"In
order to deal with the potential consequences of Covid-19, allow us
to invest in FTTP and 5G, and to fund the major 5-year
modernisation programme, we have also taken the difficult decision
to suspend the dividend until 2022 and re-base
thereafter.
"These
decisions, particularly on the dividend, network investment and
transformation are key to underpinning BT's investment case;
driving network strength, competitive strength and financial
strength, providing more clarity to the market, and driving
long-term value for shareholders. I am confident that these
decisions position us really positively for the
future."
|
Jan du Plessis, Chairman, commenting on the dividend,
said
"Recognising
the importance of dividends to our shareholders, the Board's
decision in relation to the dividend has been exceptionally
difficult. BT plays a key role in sustaining critical national
infrastructure - as magnified by the Covid-19 crisis - and many
stakeholders trust and rely on the connectivity we provide.
BT also stands ready to make the biggest communications
infrastructure investment in the UK in a generation - that includes
building our full fibre network to 20m premises by the mid- to
late-2020s. To maintain such trust, whilst creating capacity for
value-enhancing investment and navigating the unprecedented
uncertainties caused by Covid-19 without compromising our credit
rating, the Board concluded that the prudent and proper decision
was to suspend the 2019/20 final dividend and all dividends for
2020/21, and re-base future dividends to a more sustainable level.
The Board believes that this decision is in the best long-term
interests of shareholders.
"We
expect to resume dividend payments in 2021/22, rebased to 7.7p per
share. The Board expects to continue with a progressive dividend
policy from this re-based level for future years."
|
Keeping the nation connected during the Covid-19
crisis:
● Our
priority is protecting our people, in particular our frontline
keyworkers who have continued to work to keep the nation
connected
● Our
networks are performing well, and comfortably within capacity,
despite the change in demand patterns
● We
have supported the national response to the crisis, including
providing connectivity to the NHS Nightingale hospitals and are
working closely with Government on a wide range of
initiatives
Operational:
● FTTP
rollout at c.32k premises passed per week; FTTP premises passed to
date doubled in the year to 2.6m
● Divested
Tikit and progressing disposals of selected domestic operations in
Latin America and France
● 5G
now live in 80 cities and large towns; investing significantly to
more than double current footprint by March 2021 subject to the
right conditions
● EE
named best overall operator in RootMetrics' biannual
awards
● Consumer
fixed ARPC £38.1, down 2% year on year; postpaid mobile ARPC
£20.4, down 2% year on year due to impact of regulation and
continued trend towards SIM-only; RGUs per address
2.38
● Postpaid
mobile churn improved to 1.1% quarter on quarter; fixed churn
improved to 1.3% year on year due to improvements to customer
experience and shift to fairer, predictable and competitive pricing
strategy
Financial:
● Reported revenue
£22,905m down 2%1 mainly
reflecting the impact of regulation, declines in legacy products,
strategic reductions in low margin business and
divestments
● Reported
profit before tax £2,353m down year on year; includes charges
of £95m as a result of Covid-19 mainly reflecting increased
debtor provisions
● Adjusted2 EBITDA
£7,907m, down 3%1,
due to lower revenue and investment in customer experience, partly
offset by cost savings from transformation
programmes
● Net cash inflow from
operating activities £6,271m, up 47%, due to lower pension
contributions and one-off cash flows; normalised free cash
flow2 £2,011m,
down 18%, primarily due to increased cash capital
expenditure
● Capital
expenditure £3,960m, up £193m excluding BDUK funding
deferral, driven by network and customer investment
● Net
debt2 increased
primarily due to implementation of IFRS 16, and net business cash
outflows
● Given
the uncertainty created by Covid-19 we will not be providing a
financial outlook statement for 2020/21
Full year to 31 March
|
2020
|
2019
|
2019
|
Change1
|
|
(IFRS 16)
|
(IAS 17)
|
(IFRS 16 pro forma2)
|
|
|
£m
|
£m
|
£m
|
%
|
Reported
measures
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue
|
22,905
|
|
23,428
|
|
|
|
(2)
|
Profit before tax
|
2,353
|
|
2,666
|
|
|
n/m
|
Profit after tax
|
1,734
|
|
2,159
|
|
|
n/m
|
Basic earnings per share
|
17.5p
|
21.8p
|
|
(20)
|
Net cash inflow from operating activities
|
6,271
|
|
4,256
|
|
|
47
|
Full year dividend
|
-
|
|
15.4p
|
|
n/m
|
Capital expenditure
|
3,960
|
|
3,963
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted
measures
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted2 Revenue
|
22,824
|
|
23,459
|
|
23,459
|
(3)
|
Adjusted2 EBITDA
|
7,907
|
|
7,392
|
|
8,126
|
(3)
|
Adjusted2 basic
earnings per share
|
23.5p
|
26.3p
|
|
(11)
|
Normalised
free cash flow2
|
2,011
|
|
2,440
|
|
2,440
|
(18)
|
Net
debt2
|
17,969
|
|
11,035
|
|
|
n/m
|
1 Changes on prior year
are presented on an IAS 17 basis where meaningful except for
adjusted EBITDA, which is presented on an IFRS 16 pro forma
basis
2 See Glossary on page
3
n/m
= IFRS 16 to IAS 17 comparison not meaningful
Customer-facing unit results for the full year to 31 March
2020
|
Adjusted2 revenue
|
Adjusted2 EBITDA
|
Normalised free cash flow2
|
Full year to
|
2020
|
20193
|
Change
|
2020
|
20193
|
Change
|
2020
|
20193
|
Change
|
31 March
|
(IFRS 16)
|
(IFRS
16
pro
forma1)
|
|
(IFRS 16)
|
(IFRS
16
pro
forma1)
|
|
(IFRS 16)
|
(IFRS
16
pro
forma1)
|
|
|
£m
|
£m
|
%
|
£m
|
£m
|
%
|
£m
|
£m
|
%
|
Consumer
|
10,388
|
|
10,591
|
|
(2)
|
|
2,426
|
|
2,558
|
|
(5)
|
|
1,065
|
|
1,166
|
|
(9)
|
|
Enterprise
|
6,093
|
|
6,396
|
|
(5)
|
|
1,965
|
|
2,032
|
|
(3)
|
|
1,397
|
|
1,356
|
|
3
|
|
Global
|
4,361
|
|
4,735
|
|
(8)
|
|
634
|
|
604
|
|
5
|
|
255
|
|
235
|
|
9
|
|
Openreach
|
5,112
|
|
5,075
|
|
1
|
|
2,858
|
|
2,934
|
|
(3)
|
|
670
|
|
1,006
|
|
(33)
|
|
Other
|
1
|
|
3
|
|
n/m
|
24
|
|
(2)
|
|
n/m
|
(1,376)
|
|
(1,323)
|
|
(4)
|
|
Intra-group items
|
(3,131)
|
|
(3,341)
|
|
6
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
Total
|
22,824
|
|
23,459
|
|
(3)
|
|
7,907
|
|
8,126
|
|
(3)
|
|
2,011
|
|
2,440
|
|
(18)
|
|
Fourth quarter to
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
31 March
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consumer
|
2,493
|
|
2,610
|
|
(4)
|
|
626
|
|
675
|
|
(7)
|
|
|
|
|
Enterprise
|
1,543
|
|
1,592
|
|
(3)
|
|
507
|
|
516
|
|
(2)
|
|
|
|
|
Global
|
1,081
|
|
1,201
|
|
(10)
|
|
175
|
|
176
|
|
(1)
|
|
|
|
|
Openreach
|
1,295
|
|
1,271
|
|
2
|
|
719
|
|
725
|
|
(1)
|
|
|
|
|
Other
|
1
|
|
(1)
|
|
n/m
|
(20)
|
|
(66)
|
|
n/m
|
|
|
|
Intra-group items
|
(781)
|
|
(820)
|
|
5
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
5,632
|
|
5,853
|
|
(4)
|
|
2,007
|
|
2,026
|
|
(1)
|
|
1,011
|
|
703
|
|
44
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Performance against 2019/20 outlook
|
2019/20 outlook
|
2019/20 performance
|
Change
in adjusted2 revenue
|
Down c.2%
|
Down 2.7%
|
Adjusted2 EBITDA
|
£7.9bn - £8.0bn
|
£7.9bn
|
Capital
expenditure4
|
£3.7bn - £3.9bn
|
£3.9bn
|
Normalised
free cash flow2
|
£1.9bn - £2.1bn
|
£2.0bn
|
1 Changes on prior year
are presented on an IAS 17 basis where meaningful except for
adjusted EBITDA, which is presented on an IFRS 16 pro forma
basis
2 See Glossary
below
3 Segmental
results as reported in the Q4 2018/19 results release have been
restated to reflect the change in the allocation of group overhead
costs and the transfer of the Emergency Services Network contract
from Consumer to Enterprise (see press release on 3 July
2019)
4 Excluding BDUK grant
funding deferral
n/m
= not meaningful
Glossary of alternative performance measure
Adjusted
|
Before specific items
|
EBITDA
|
Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and
amortisation
|
Adjusted EBITDA
|
EBITDA before specific items, share of post tax profits/losses of
associates and joint ventures and net non-interest related finance
expense
|
Free cash flow
|
Net cash inflow from operating activities after net capital
expenditure
|
Capital expenditure
|
Additions to property, plant and equipment and intangible assets in
the period
|
Normalised free cash flow
|
Free cash flow after net interest paid and payment of lease
liabilities, before pension deficit payments (including the cash
tax benefit of pension deficit payments) and specific
items
|
Net debt
|
Loans and other borrowings and lease liabilities (both current and
non-current), less current asset investments and cash and cash
equivalents, including items which have been classified as held for
sale on the balance sheet. Currency denominated balances within net
debt are translated into sterling at swapped rates where hedged.
Fair value adjustments and accrued interest applied to reflect the
effective interest method are removed.
|
IFRS 16 pro forma
|
On 1 April 2019, BT adopted IFRS 16 Leases, which replaced IAS 17
Leases. To aid comparability, pro forma financial information for
2018/19 has been presented to reflect how the results would have
looked like if the accounting standard had been adopted last year.
See page 12 for more details.
|
Specific items
|
Items that in management's judgement need to be disclosed
separately by virtue of their size, nature or incidence. Further
information is provided in note 6 on page 26.
|
We
assess the performance of the group using a variety of alternative
performance measures. The rationale for using adjusted measures is
explained in note 1 on page 41. Results on an adjusted basis are
presented before specific items. Reconciliations from the most
directly comparable IFRS measures are in Additional Information on
pages 41 to 43.
Click on, or paste the following link into your web browser, to
view the associated PDF document.
http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/2096M_1-2020-5-6.pdf
Signatures
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
BT Group plc
(Registrant)
By: /s/
Rachel Canham, Company Secretary
--------------------
Rachel
Canham, Company Secretary.
Date
07 May 2020
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