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.
The fourth quarter of 2004 was the best ever in net subscriber additions for América Móvil as it gained 7.0 million new wireless subscribers, bringing the years total to 17.3 million new subscribers. For the first time since the company began operations, substiantially all the subscriber growth was organic.
América Móvil closed the year with 61.1 million wireless subscribers, nearly all of them equity subscribers. Together with 1.9 million fixed lines, América Móvil had a total of 63 million lines at the close of the year.
In Mexico, América Móvil gained 2.0 million subscribers in the fourth quarter; in Brazil, 1.7 million; in each of Argentina and Colombia, it obtained more than 1.0 million new subscribers; and in the U.S., 550 thousand.
América Móvils revenues reached 135 billion pesos in 2004, of which 40 billion were generated in the fourth quarter. This represented annual rates of growth of 49.1% and 43.3% respectively. Quarter-over-quarter, revenues expanded by 15.9%.
At 42.1 and 23.5 billion pesos, EBITDA and operating profits were in line with América Móvils targets despite the sharp acceleration of subscriber growth observed throughout the year which significantly raised subscriber acquisition costs. EBITDA increased by 25.7% in 2004 and represented 31.2% of revenues.
The year closed with a net profit of 16.5 billion pesos, up 4.4% over 2003. A net profit of 1.6 billion was recorded in the fourth quarter after allowance for deferred taxes in the amount of 3.2 billion pesos. The latter was equivalent to 13 peso cents per share and to 24 dollar cents per ADR.
Net debt was almost unchanged in constant pesos at 42.4 billion pesos, as América Móvils operating cash flow was sufficient to cover capital expenditures of 22.4 billion pesos and the acquisition of equity interests in several companies for a combined net amount of 6.1 billion pesos. In addition, América Móvil spent 13.6 billion pesos in share buybacks and dividends.
América Móvil continued with the expansion of a GSM platform in Latin America. All its operations are now offering both voice and data services that run on their GSM networks.
América Móvil Fundamentals |
Jan-Dec 04 | 4Q04 | 4Q03 | |
EPS (Mex$)* | 1.35 | 0.13 | 0.44 |
Earnings per ADR (US$)** | 2.39 | 0.24 | 0.79 |
Net Income (millions of Mex$) | 16,513 | 1,643 | 5,603 |
EBITDA (millions of Mex$) | 42,089 | 10,155 | 9,543 |
EBIT (millions of Mex$) | 23,494 | 5,093 | 5,364 |
Shares Outstanding (billion) | 12.26 | 12.26 | 12.84 |
ADRs Equivalent (billion) | 0.61 | 0.61 | 0.64 |
Relevant Events
In December, América Móvil increased its stake in Compañía de Telecomunicaciones del Salvador (CTE) by 41.54%, for a purchase price of 295 million dollars. With this acquisition, América Móvils interest in the company increased to 94.4%. During the course of the month we continued to acquire minority participations in the company, bringing up our stake to 95.2% at the end of 2004. CTE provides fixed, mobile and other telecommunications services throughout El Salvador.
Operations in Uruguay, managed by our Argentinean subsidiary CTI, were started in the last month of 2004.
Towards the beginning of November, América Móvil placed in the international markets senior notes due 2015 for 500 million dollars. The notes will bear interest at 5.750% per year and will accrue interest on a six-month basis.
During the year, the company bought back stock in the amount of 12.2 billion pesos. This made 2004 the biggest year thus far in terms of share buybacks.
The expansion of the GSM network continued in all its Latin American operations, providing a common platform for voice and data communications. The number of roaming agreements with international operators has increased significantly, and a number of new data-based products are now being offered by América Móvils subsidiaries.
Country | Company | Business | Equity Participation |
Consolidation Method |
Subsidiaries | ||||
- Mexico | Telcel | wireless | 100.0% | Global Consolidation Method |
- Argentina | CTI | wireless | 100.0% | Global Consolidation Method |
- Brazil | Telecom Americas | wireless | 97.8% | Global Consolidation Method |
- Colombia | Comcel | wireless | 99.2% | Global Consolidation Method |
- Ecuador | Conecel | wireless | 100.0% | Global Consolidation Method |
- El Salvador | CTE | wireless, wireline | 95.2% | Global Consolidation Method |
- Guatemala | ACT* | wireless, wireline | 99.9% | Global Consolidation Method |
- Honduras | Megatel | wireless | 100.0% | Global Consolidation Method |
- Nicaragua | Enitel | wireless, wireline | 99.0% | Global Consolidation Method |
- Uruguay | CTI | wireless | 100.0% | Global Consolidation Method |
- U.S.A. | Tracfone | wireless | 98.2% | Global Consolidation Method |
Affiliates | ||||
- Mexico | US Commercial Corp. | other | 29.7% | Equity Method |
- U.S.A | Telvista | other | 45.0% | Equity Method |
* AMX owns through ACT and directly 99% of Telgua, which owns 100% of the wireless subsidiaries Sercom in Guatemala and Nicaragua. |
Subscribers
In the last quarter of 2004, América Móvil gained 7.0 million subscribers, making it the best quarter on record in terms of subscriber growth. This resulted in net subscriber additions of 17.3 million in 2004, nearly 1.5 times as many as in all of 2003. In that year the subscriber base increased by 12.1 million, but 4.2 million of those came through acquisitions; in 2004 substantially all the growth was organic. Total wireless subscribers ended the year at 61.1 million, for a 39.3% increase in the year. Together, fixed and wireless lines totaled 63.0 million at the end of 2004, 37.8% more than the 45.7 million lines seen in 2003.
Leading the subsidiaries in terms of net additions is Telcel, which acquired 5.4 million subscribers in 20042.0 million of them in the fourth quarterand brought Mexicos subscriber base to nearly 29 million in December.
The Brazilian operations, under the brand name Claro, reached 13.7 million subscribers at the end of December 2004, a net increase of 4.1 million compared to the previous year. On an annual basis, our subscriber base in Brazil expanded by 43.4%, while on a quarterly basis, it grew by 13.9%, as net additions in the last three months of the year totaled 1.7 million.
Subscriber growth in Argentina accelerated throughout 2004, with CTI gaining 1.0 million subscribers in the last quarter (39.4% sequential growth) and 2.2 million in the year as a whole. At the end of 2004 CTIs subscriber base, 3.6 million, was 2.5 times greater than the one seen the previous year. In Uruguay CTI began operations in December.
Subscribers as of December 2004 |
Total(1) | Equity(2) | ||||||||||
Country | Dec-04 | Sep-04 | Var.% | Dec-03 | Var.% | Dec-04 | Sep-04 | Var.% | Dec-03 | Var.% | |
Mexico | 28,851 | 26,831 | 7.5% | 23,444 | 23.1% | 28,851 | 26,831 | 7.5% | 23,444 | 23.1% | |
Argentina | 3,587 | 2,573 | 39.4% | 1,411 | 154.2% | 3,587 | 2,573 | 39.4% | 1,298 | 176.3% | |
Brazil | 13,657 | 11,985 | 13.9% | 9,521 | 43.4% | 13,306 | 11,650 | 14.2% | 9,135 | 45.7% | |
Colombia | 5,814 | 4,746 | 22.5% | 3,674 | 58.2% | 5,767 | 4,737 | 21.8% | 3,516 | 64.0% | |
Ecuador | 2,326 | 1,970 | 18.1% | 1,537 | 51.3% | 2,326 | 1,970 | 18.1% | 1,537 | 51.3% | |
El Salvador | 518 | 421 | 22.9% | 216 | 139.9% | 493 | 223 | 121.2% | 110 | 347.9% | |
Guatemala | 1,306 | 1,155 | 13.1% | 870 | 50.2% | 1,293 | 1,143 | 13.1% | 859 | 50.5% | |
Honduras | 198 | 140 | 41.3% | 27 | 625.8% | 198 | 140 | 41.3% | 0 | n.m. | |
Nicaragua(3) | 453 | 394 | 14.7% | 220 | 105.3% | 448 | 391 | 14.7% | 99 | 353.2% | |
Uruguay | 5 | 0 | nm | 0 | nm | 5 | 0 | nm | 0 | nm | |
U.S.A. | 4,394 | 3,843 | 14.3% | 2,952 | 48.9% | 4,315 | 3,774 | 14.3% | 2,899 | 48.9% | |
Total Wireless | 61,107 | 54,060 | 13.0% | 43,873 | 39.3% | 60,589 | 53,432 | 13.4% | 42,898 | 41.2% | |
El Salvador | 781 | 778 | 0.4% | 704 | 10.9% | 737 | 409 | 80.2% | 359 | 105.3% | |
Guatemala | 901 | 885 | 1.8% | 930 | -3.1% | 892 | 877 | 1.8% | 919 | -2.9% | |
Nicaragua | 214 | 211 | 1.7% | 205 | 4.6% | 212 | 209 | 1.7% | 0 | n.m. | |
Total Fixed | 1,897 | 1,874 | 1.2% | 1,839 | 3.2% | 1,842 | 1,495 | 23.2% | 1,278 | 44.2% | |
Total Lines | 63,004 | 55,934 | 12.6% | 45,712 | 37.8% | 62,431 | 54,926 | 13.7% | 44,175 | 41.3% | |
Our operations in Colombia added 2.1 million new subscribers throughout the year1.1 million of them in the last quarterand ended 2004 with 5.8 million subscribers. In Ecuador net gains totaled 789 thousand in the year and 356 thousand in the quarter, and its subscriber base ended December with 2.3 million subscribers. For the second year in a row Tracfone, which operates in the United States, continued to exhibit subscriber growth of nearly 50%. It added 1.4 million clients in the year and finished 2004 with 4.4 million subscribers.
Our Central American operations in Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Honduras reached a combined figure of 2.5 million wireless subscribers in December, having added 1.1 million subs in 2004. Fixed line subscribers in Central America reached 1.9 million at the end of the year.
América Móvil Consolidated Results
In a year characterized by the acceleration of subscriber growth in the countries where it operatesparticularly sharp in the fourth quarterAmérica Móvils revenues expanded by almost 50% relative to those of the previous year, to reach 134.7 billion pesos. As opposed to what was seen in its first three years of operations, when acquisitions had an important impact on the consolidated results of the company, in 2004 substantially all revenue growth was organic.
In the fourth quarter, revenues increased by 15.9% in relation to the previous quarter, totaling 40 billion pesos, reflecting not only strong service revenue growth (7.8% in the quarter) but also major equipment sales that mirrored the seasonally strong increase in the subscriber base.
EBITDA expanded by 25.7% in 2004, to a total of 42.1 billion pesos, in line with the companys target, but the EBITDA margin for the year came down to 31.2% from 37.0% in 2003. With consolidated gross subscriber additions up significantly in 2004 in relation to the ones observed a year earlier, subscriber acquisition costs were up 87.2% and cut into the companys EBITDA margin.
Fourth quarter EBITDA came in at 10.2 billion pesos, or 26% of revenues, as acquisition costs in that quarter were particularly high. Brazil, Colombia and Argentina registered their stronger quarter ever in terms of subscriber growth.
América Móvil obtained an operating profit of 23.5 billion pesos in the year, 24.4% more than in 2003, as depreciation and amortization charges rose somewhat faster than EBITDA, reflecting the impact of higher capex figures.
The company recorded a comprehensive financial income of 1.9 billion pesos in 2004, resulting from foreign exchange gains and from monetary gains associated with the effect of inflation on its net debt position. Together, these gainswhich were greater than the ones seen in 2003were more than sufficient to cover the net financial costs of the companys financial position.
Net income for the year totaled 16.5 billion pesos, surpassing the previous years by 4.4%. The fourth quarters net income came in at 1.6 billion pesos after allowance for 3.2 billion pesos in deferred taxes. For the year as a whole, earnings per share were 1.35 pesos and per ADR, 2.39 dollars.
Including accrued interest, América Móvils net debt ended the year at 42.4 billion pesos, almost flat in relation to 2003. The net debt position is equivalent to 1.0 times EBITDA. The companys operating cash flow allowed it to cover capex payments of 22.4 billion pesos, to acquire equity interests in various companies worth 6.1 billion pesos in all (net of divestments), and to buy back stock and pay dividends in an aggregate amount of 13.6 billion pesos.
America Movil's Income Statement (in accordance with Mexican GAAP) |
4Q04 | 4Q03 | Var.% | Jan-Dec | Jan-Dec | Var.% | |
Service Revenues | 30,960 | 22,814 | 35.7% | 110,721 | 77,705 | 42.5% |
Equipment Revenues | 8,881 | 4,987 | 78.1% | 24,026 | 12,696 | 89.2% |
Total Revenues | 39,840 | 27,801 | 43.3% | 134,747 | 90,401 | 49.1% |
Cost of Service | 7,264 | 5,322 | 36.5% | 26,409 | 19,113 | 38.2% |
Cost of Equipment | 14,075 | 7,289 | 93.1% | 39,007 | 20,306 | 92.1% |
Selling, General & Administrative Expenses | 8,346 | 5,646 | 47.8% | 27,242 | 17,492 | 55.7% |
Total Costs and Expenses | 29,685 | 18,257 | 62.6% | 92,658 | 56,911 | 62.8% |
Ebitda | 10,155 | 9,543 | 6.4% | 42,089 | 33,490 | 25.7% |
% of Total Revenues | 25.5% | 34.3% | 31.2% | 37.0% | ||
Depreciation & Amortization | 5,062 | 4,179 | 21.1% | 18,595 | 14,598 | 27.4% |
Ebit | 5,093 | 5,364 | -5.0% | 23,494 | 18,892 | 24.4% |
% of Total Revenues | 12.8% | 19.3% | 17.4% | 20.9% | ||
Net Interest Expense | 792 | 435 | 82.1% | 2,278 | 1,465 | 55.5% |
Other Financial Expenses | 809 | -528 | 253.3% | 1,210 | 199 | n.m. |
Foreign Exchange Loss | -1,830 | -332 | n.m. | -2,197 | -1,425 | -54.2% |
Monetary Result | -1,011 | -884 | -14.4% | -3,200 | -2,473 | -29.4% |
Comprehensive Financing Cost (Income) | -1,240 | -1,309 | 5.3% | -1,908 | -2,234 | 14.6% |
Other Income and Expenses | 38 | 860 | -95.6% | -89 | 1,099 | -108.1% |
Income & Deferred Taxes | 4,576 | 79 | n.m. | 8,531 | 3,708 | 130.1% |
Net Income before Minority Interest and Equity | 1,719 | 5,734 | -70.0% | 16,959 | 16,318 | 3.9% |
Participation in Results of Affiliates | ||||||
minus | ||||||
Equity Participation in Results of Affiliates | 26 | 18 | 42.4% | 93 | 136 | -31.9% |
Minority Interest | 50 | 113 | -55.5% | 353 | 370 | -4.5% |
Net Income | 1,643 | 5,603 | -70.7% | 16,513 | 15,812 | 4.4% |
*n.m. = not meaningful |
Balance Sheet (in accordance with Mexican GAAP)* |
América Móvil Consolidated
Dec-04 | Dec-03 | Var.% | Dec-04 | Dec-03 | Var.% | |||
Current Assets | Current Liabilities | |||||||
Cash & Securities | 19,108 | 10,605 | 80.2% | Short Term Debt** | 5,392 | 12,737 | -57.7% | |
Accounts Receivable | 20,808 | 12,007 | 73.3% | Accounts Payable | 37,769 | 20,980 | 80.0% | |
Other Current Assets | 3,808 | 2,974 | 28.0% | Other Current Liabilities | 12,617 | 8,132 | 55.2% | |
Inventories | 11,243 | 5,501 | 104.4% | 55,779 | 41,849 | 33.3% | ||
54,967 | 31,087 | 76.8% | ||||||
Long-Term Assets | ||||||||
Plant & Equipment | 85,056 | 74,855 | 13.6% | |||||
Investments in Affiliates | 652 | 2,681 | -75.7% | Long-Term Liabilities | ||||
Long Term Debt | 56,067 | 39,135 | 43.3% | |||||
Deferred Assets | Other Liabilities | 6,487 | 3,974 | 63.2% | ||||
Goodwill (Net) | 9,523 | 8,445 | 12.8% | 62,555 | 43,110 | 45.1% | ||
Brands, Patents & Licenses | 35,028 | 35,441 | -1.2% | |||||
Deferred Assets | 10,674 | 5,253 | 103.2% | |||||
Shareholder's Equity | 77,568 | 72,804 | 6.5% | |||||
Total Assets | 195,901 | 157,762 | 24.2% | Total Liabilities and Equity | 195,901 | 157,762 | 24.2% | |
Mexico
Telcels subscriber growth accelerated in 2004, allowing it to obtain 5.4 million new subscribers in the year, compared to 3.4 million in 2003. By December Telcel had a total of 28.9 million subscribers, 23.1% more than a year before.
Its revenues expanded at an even faster pace (28.3%), ending the year at 70.8 billion pesos, with both MOUs and ARPUs continuing to trend up. In the case of the former, by 16.5% year-on-year, and as regards ARPUs, by 7.2%. Value-added services, and in particular short messages, continued to gain a greater share of service revenues.
EBITDA climbed 30% in the year, to 30.6 billion pesos, and the EBITDA margin rose to 43.2% from 42.7% the previous year. Considering that gross subscriber additions in 2004 exceeded those of 2003 by 29% and that the associated subscriber acquisition costs went up correspondingly, the fact that Telcels EBITDA margin still went up is a testimony of the strength of its operation and the trend towards higher margins that it fosters.
Telcel continued with the expansion of its GSM network. By the end of the year, it covered 660 towns and cities, an area where 73% of the Mexican people live. In addition, it has set up coverage along 130 of the countrys main highways. GSM subscribers now make up 38.9% of Telcels subscribers.
The number of voice and data roaming agreements with international GSM operators kept rising, enabling an ever greater use of data-based products. Among the new products offered by Telcel in 2004 were push-to-talk services over its GSM network.
INCOME STATEMENT |
Mexico
4Q04 | 4Q03 | Var.% | Jan-Dec 04 | Jan-Dec 03 | Var.% | |
Revenues | 19,456 | 15,233 | 27.7% | 70,822 | 55,189 | 28.3% |
Ebitda | 8,260 | 6,516 | 26.8% | 30,619 | 23,579 | 29.9% |
% | 42.5% | 42.8% | 43.2% | 42.7% | ||
Ebit | 6,961 | 5,245 | 32.7% | 25,538 | 18,614 | 37.2% |
% | 35.8% | 34.4% | 36.1% | 33.7% | ||
Mexico's Operating Data |
4Q04 | 4Q03 | Var.% | |
Subscribers (thousands) | 28,851 | 23,444 | 23.1% |
Postpaid | 1,815 | 1,466 | 23.8% |
Prepaid | 27,036 | 21,979 | 23.0% |
MOU | 104 | 89 | 16.5% |
ARPU (Constant Mex$) | 191 | 178 | 7.2% |
Churn (%) | 3.2% | 3.2% | 0.0 |
Argentina
América Movils subscriber base in Argentina grew 2.5 times in 2004, as CTI obtained 2.2 million new subscribers. Nearly 47% of all subscriber gains were realized during the last quarter alone, when they surpassed the one million mark. Subscriber net additions in the fourth quarter of 2004 are nearly ten times greater than those of the same period last year.
Revenues soared in 2004, doubling from the previous year to 1.4 billion Argentinean pesos (487 million dollars), with service revenues increasing by 73% year over year. In the fourth quarter, total revenues expanded by 34% sequentially, to 521 million Argentinean pesos.
EBITDA came in at 5 million pesos (2 million dollars) for the full year as the surge in subscribers boosted acquisition costs. The EBITDA margin fell to 0.4% for 2004 and was negative in the last quarter in light of the strong subscriber growth mentioned above and its impact on subscriber acquisition costs.
Traffic levels expanded significantly through the year. In spite of the very fast pace of subscriber growth, MOUs actually rose almost 17% year-on-year and 5.2% sequentially, with ARPUs increasing by 1.1% in the last quarter.
INCOME STATEMENT |
Argentina
4Q04 | 4Q03 | Var.% | Jan-Dec 04 | Jan-Dec 03 | Var.% | |
Total Revenues | 521 | 210 | 148.4 | 1,439 | 704 | 104.3% |
EBITDA | -25 | 58 | -143.3% | 5 | 230 | -97.7% |
% | -4.8% | 27.6% | 0.4% | 32.7% | ||
EBIT | -47 | 43 | -209.8% | -77 | 173 | -144.8% |
% | -9.1% | 20.5% | -5.4% | 24.5% | ||
Argentina's Operating Data |
4Q04 | 4Q03 | Var.% | |
Subscribers (thousands)* | 3,587 | 1,411 | 154.2% |
Postpaid | 521 | 466 | 11.9% |
Prepaid | 3,066 | 945 | 224.4% |
MOU | 169 | 145 | 16.7% |
ARPU (ARG$) | 44 | 45 | -2.4% |
Churn (%) | 1.9% | 2.2% | -0.3 |
Brazil
Our Brazilian operationunder the brand name Claroregistered its best quarter to date in terms of subscriber growth with 1.7 million net subscribers, which brought the total number of net additions in 2004 to 4.1 million. This represented a 43.4% annual increase of the subscriber base.
Revenues totaled 5.2 billion reais (1.9 billion dollars) in the year, of which 1.7 billion were generated in the last quarter. Relative to 2003, they increased by 76% for the full year and by 68% for the fourth quarter. These rates of increase reflect the rate of growth of the client base, but also the incorporation to Claro of BSE, in the Northeast of Brazil, and BCP, in the metropolitan area of Sao Paulo, in May and December of 2003.
EBITDA for the year was 18 million reais, or 0.3% of revenues. The acceleration of subscriber growth in Brazil led to a 2.3 times increase in the consolidated level of gross subscriber additions in relation to 2003. And this translated into an important increase in overall subscriber acquisition costs that ended up reducing Claros EBITDA.
The strong seasonality of subscriber growth in Brazilthe fourth quarter typically generates between one third and 40% of the net subscriber additions of the yearusually leads to a reduction in EBITDA margins in the fourth quarter, and 2004 was no exception. If anything, this seasonality was even more marked that year, with net additions in the fourth quarter representing 41.5% of the years total. This resulted in an EBITDA loss of 192 million reais (69 million dollars) in the last quarter, which was equivalent to 11.6% of revenues.
In spite of the surge in subscriber growth in the fourth quarter, MOUs actually rose by 2.5% sequentially and ARPUs remained flat at 28 reais (16.5 dollars).
INCOME STATEMENT |
Brazil Consolidated
4Q04 | 4Q03 | Var.% | Jan-Dec 04 | Jan-Dec 03 | Var.% | |
Revenues | 1,661 | 990 | 67.9% | 5,248 | 2,982 | 76.0% |
Ebitda | -192 | 93 | -306.9% | 18 | 620 | -97.1% |
% | -11.6% | 9.4% | 0.3% | 20.8% | ||
Ebit | -545 | -148 | -269.4% | -1,293 | -207 | n.m. |
% | -32.8% | -14.9% | -24.6% | -7.0% | ||
Brazil's Operating Data |
4Q04 | 4Q03 | Var.% | |
Subscribers (thousands) | 13,657 | 9,521 | 43.4% |
Postpaid | 2,398 | 1,782 | 34.6% |
Prepaid | 11,259 | 7,739 | 45.5% |
MOU | 105 | 91 | 15.8% |
ARPU (R$) | 28 | 28 | 0.7% |
Churn (%) | 3.1% | 2.9% | 0.2 |
Central America
Our subsidiaries in Central America nearly doubled their combined wireless subscriber base to 2.5 million in 2004, reflecting in part the consolidation of Megatel in Honduras beginning in July and of Enitel in Nicaragua starting in August. Combined figures for operations in Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Honduras indicate 1.1 million net additions in the year, 363 thousand of them in the last quarter. In absolute terms, Guatemalas subscriber additions made up 42% of total net additions in the region during the fourth quarter, although in relative terms, Megatel in Honduras and CTE in El Salvador showed the biggest gains in subscribers, with an increase of 41.3% and 22.9%, respectively, with respect to the previous quarter.
The number of fixed lines in El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua rose 3.2%, bringing the total lines in place to 1.9 million. El Salvador proved the most dynamic country in terms of fixed line growth in 2004, with a 10.9% increase compared to the previous year. In Guatemala the number of fixed lines was actually reduced as some of them were not deemed to be in operation anymore.
Combined revenues for our Central American operations reached 1.1 billion dollars in 2004, 23.5% above the previous years numbers. In sequential terms, revenues expanded by 7.5%, in the fourth quarter, to 315 million dollars.
EBITDA reached 555 million dollars, 21.4% more than the 2003 figure, leading to a margin of 51.3% in 2004. In the fourth quarter, EBITDA stood at 152 million dollars and represented 48.3% of revenues.
INCOME STATEMENT |
Central America Consolidated
4Q04 | 4Q03 | Var.% | Jan-Dec 04 | Jan-Dec 03 | Var.% | |
Revenues | 315 | 229 | 37.5% | 1,081 | 875 | 23.5% |
Ebitda | 152 | 116 | 30.7% | 555 | 457 | 21.4% |
% | 48.3% | 50.8% | 51.3% | 52.2% | ||
Ebit | 89 | 61 | 45.5% | 345 | 250 | 37.6% |
% | 28.4% | 26.8% | 31.9% | 28.6% | ||
* Annual comparisons affected by the incorporation of CTE, Enitel and Megatel. |
Central America's Operating Data* |
4Q04 | 4Q03 | Var.% | |
Wireless Subscribers (thousands) | 2,474 | 1,185 | 108.7% |
Postpaid | 230 | 137 | 68.1% |
Prepaid | 2,245 | 1,049 | 114.0% |
Fixed Lines (thousands) | 1,897 | 1,839 | 3.2% |
Total Lines (Wireless + Fixed, 000's) | 4,371 | 3,024 | 44.5% |
MOU** | 185 | 195 | -5.1% |
ARPU (US$) | 16 | 17 | -3.3% |
Churn (%)** | 1.4% | 1.8% | -0.4 |
Colombia
Our Colombian operations ended the year with 5.8 million subscribers, a 58% increase with respect to the previous year. Comcel remains our third largest subsidiary in terms of subscribers. Net additions for the year surpassed 2.1 million subscribers, more than twice as many as those registered in 2003, with nearly half of those obtained in the fourth quarter.
Comcels revenues rose to 1.9 trillion Colombian pesos in 2004 (749 million dollars) and were up 38% relative to the previous year. In the last quarter revenue growth came in at 50% year-on-year, as revenues reached 583 billion Colombian pesos. Traffic growth underpinned that of revenues, as minutes of use increased 53.3% from a year earlier and 10.2% on a sequential basis despite strong subscriber growth.
EBITDA increased 5.7% in the year, to 516 billion Colombian pesos (200 millon dollars). Faster subscriber growth during 2004 and the associated increase in subscriber acquisition costs pushed margins down to 26.7% in the year. In the fourth quarter, when subscriber growth was particularly strong, EBITDA came in at 118 billion Colombian pesos, equivalent to 20.2% of revenues.
INCOME STATEMENT |
Colombia
4Q04 | 4Q03 | Var.% | Jan-Dec 04 | Jan-Dec 03 | Var.% | |
Total Revenues | 583 | 389 | 49.7 | 1,935 | 1,406 | 37.7% |
EBITDA | 118 | 129 | -8.6% | 516 | 488 | 5.7% |
% | 20.2% | 33.1% | 26.7% | 34.7% | ||
EBIT | 12 | 36 | -67.3% | 108 | 153 | -29.7% |
% | 2.0% | 9.2% | 5.6% | 10.9% | ||
Colombia's Operating Data |
4Q04 | 4Q03 | Var.% | |
Subscribers (thousands) | 5,814 | 3,674 | 58.2% |
Postpaid | 1,428 | 1,160 | 23.1% |
Prepaid | 4,386 | 2,514 | 74.4% |
MOU | 133 | 87 | 53.3% |
ARPU (COP$) | 30,129 | 32,254 | -6.6% |
Churn (%) | 2.2% | 4.3% | -2.0 |
Ecuador
Our subscriber base in Ecuador increased 51.3% during the course of the year to reach 2.3 million subscribers. Of the 800 thousand subscribers added in 2004, 45% were obtained in the fourth quarter.
During the year revenues of our Ecuadorian subsidiary Conecel rose at a faster pace than subscribers (58.4%) and reached a total of 379 million dollars. Equipment revenues were the most dynamic component of total revenues, expanding by 2.5 times in the year. As regards fourth quarter revenues, at 120 million dollars they climbed 69.1% annually and 26.4% sequentially. Traffic levels were up significantly, with fourth quarter MOUs rising 28.0% relative to a year before and almost 17% sequentially, leading in both cases to increases (albeit at lower rates) in ARPUs.
Conecels 2004 EBITDA rose 46.6% year-on-year, topping 129 million dollars, with the EBITDA margin dropping slightly on the back of strong subscriber growth, to 34.1% of revenues. In the last quarter EBITDA, at 34 million dollars, had surged by 31.6% in relation to the same period of 2003.
At the end of the year negotiations were underway with fixed-line operators in Ecuador regarding the setting of new fixed-mobile interconnection fees.
INCOME STATEMENT |
Ecuador
4Q04 | 4Q03 | Var.% | Jan-Dec 04 | Jan-Dec 03 | Var.% | |
Revenues | 120 | 71 | 69.1% | 379 | 239 | 58.4% |
Ebitda | 34 | 26 | 31.6% | 129 | 88 | 46.6% |
% | 28.1% | 36.2% | 34.1% | 36.8% | ||
Ebit | 21 | 17 | 28.9% | 88 | 57 | 55.5% |
% | 17.8% | 23.4% | 23.2% | 23.6% | ||
Ecuador's Operating Data |
4Q04 | 4Q03 | Var.% | |
Subscribers (thousands) | 2,326 | 1,537 | 51.3% |
Postpaid | 204 | 110 | 85.6% |
Prepaid | 2,122 | 1,427 | 48.6% |
MOU | 52 | 41 | 28.0% |
ARPU (US$) | 13 | 12 | 13.9% |
Churn (%) | 3.2% | 3.5% | -0.3 |
United States
Our operations in the United States obtained 1.4 million subscribers in 2004, bringing their total subscriber base to nearly 4.4 million. For the second year in a row, subscriber net additions in the year expanded by approximately 50%. In the fourth quarter Tracfone gained 551 thousand new subscribers, which represented 40% of the years net subscriber additions.
At a rate of 43.9%, annual revenues grew slightly less than subscribers, totaling 787 million dollars in the year. Fourth quarter revenues were up 33.8% year-on-year and reached 223 million dollars, while MOUs rose 11.4% in the same period.
2004 EBITDA of 48 million dollars was 34.9% higher than that seen the year before, with the EBITDA margin staying in the 6% range. Due to the strong seasonality, subscriber acquisition costs increased significantly during the final months of the year, resulting in a two million dollar EBITDA and a corresponding decline in margins.
INCOME STATEMENT |
United States
4Q04 | 4Q03 | Var.% | Jan-Dec 04 | Jan-Dec 03 | Var.% | |
Revenues | 223 |
167 | 33.8% | 787 | 547 | 43.9% |
Ebitda | 2 |
25 | -91.2% | 48 | 35 | 34.9% |
% | 1.0% |
15.0% | 6.1% | 6.5% | ||
Ebit | -2 |
22 | -111.0% | 30 | 18 | 65.1% |
% | -1.1% |
13.2% | 3.8% | 3.3% | ||
* n.m. = not meaningful |
United States' Operating Data |
4Q04 | 4Q03 | Var.% | |
Subscribers (thousands) | 4,394 | 2,952 | 48.9% |
MOU | 61 | 54 | 11.4% |
ARPU, Net (US$)* | 14 | 19 | -25.7% |
Churn (%) | 4.4% | 4.4% | 0.0 |
AMERICA MOVIL, S.A. DE C.V.
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By: | /S/
Carlos Garcia Moreno
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Name: Title: |
Carlos Garcia Moreno
Chief Financial Officer
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This press release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements are statements that are not historical facts, and are based on management's current view and estimates of future economic circumstances, industry conditions, company performance and financial results. The words "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "expects", "plans" and similar expressions, as they relate to the company, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Statements regarding the declaration or payment of dividends, the implementation of principal operating and financing strategies and capital expenditure plans, the direction of future operations and the factors or trends affecting financial condition, liquidity or results of operations are examples of forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current views of management and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. There is no guarantee that the expected events, trends or results will actually occur. The statements are based on many assumptions and factors, including general economic and market conditions, industry conditions, and operating factors. Any changes in such assumptions or factors could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.