SES (Paris:SESG) (LuxX:SESG), the pre-eminent satellite operator
worldwide (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchanges: SESG),
reports on financial performance for the three months ended 30
September 2007.
HIGHLIGHTS
-- Recurring(1) revenue of EUR 405 m was up 9.9% on the prior
year period
-- Reported revenue was EUR 406.9 m (Q3 2006: EUR 481.8 m)
-- The prior year period included one-time items totalling
EUR 83 m (as reported)
-- Recurring(1) EBITDA of EUR 290 m was 17.1% ahead of the prior
year period
-- Reported EBITDA was EUR 283.2 m (Q3 2006: EUR 323.9 m)
-- The prior year period included one-time items totaling EUR
59 m (as reported)
-- Operating profit was EUR 175.9 m (Q3 2006: EUR 199.6 m)
-- Net profit was EUR 138.8 m (Q3 2006: EUR 132.0 m)
-- 12 month weighted EPS 0.92 (2006 reported EPS EUR 0.82),
favourably impacted by the ongoing share buyback programme
Romain Bausch, President and CEO of SES, commented:
"Despite the introduction of additional satellite capacity via the
move of ASTRA 2C to 28.2 degrees East, the group fleet utilisation
rate has remained high, at 75%. The growth of our operational
business, coupled with some financial developments and our ongoing
share buyback activities, translates into a strong earnings per share
growth through the year.
This positive trend will continue. We have revised upwards our
2007 guidance for both revenues and EBITDA. In our 2008 guidance, we
show revenue growth exceeding 6%. Over the period 2008 - 2010 the
revenue CAGR will equal or exceed the growth rate foreseen in the
guidance for 2008, with an infrastructure EBITDA margin of over 81%."
BUSINESS REVIEW
During the third quarter, all group operating companies added new
business, demonstrating the favourable market conditions for satellite
broadcasting capacity and satellite services. Excluding one-time
payments in the prior year period, the year-on-year performance shows
consistent improvement at all levels. The prior year period benefited
from one-time payments, totalling EUR 83 m, from Connexion by Boeing
and Star One.
Revenue in the period was EUR 406.9 m, with a solid recurring
growth of 9.9%.
EBITDA was EUR 283.2 m, representing a margin of 69.6%. The
infrastructure margin rose to 82.7%, while services activities
returned a margin of 10.9%, excluding start-up costs and non-recurring
items.
Profit of the group was EUR 138.8 m. The buyback and cancellation
of shares in the GE spin-off transaction earlier in the year, coupled
with our ongoing share buyback activities, results in an enhanced
weighted average earnings per share ("EPS") as we move through the
year, delivering EPS of EUR 0.92 for the twelve months to 30 September
2007.
At constant exchange rates, the fully protected Group contract
backlog at 30 September 2007 was unchanged at EUR 6.1 billion compared
to 30 June 2007.
The SIRIUS-4 satellite launch has been rescheduled for 18 November
2007, and the AMC-14 satellite for February 2008, following the
conclusion of the investigation into a Proton launch failure that
occurred last September and the return to flight of the launch
vehicle. The delay to the onset of revenues from these spacecraft is
incorporated in the financial guidance for 2008, which is published
today.
SES has recently announced the creation of a new division, SES
ENGINEERING, to consolidate satellite, ground, procurement,
engineering and operational services for the group. Martin Halliwell,
previously Chief Technology Officer of SES ASTRA, has been appointed
as President of this new entity, and is a member of the SES Executive
Committee. The new division will be staffed by employees from SES´
operating companies and is expected to be fully operational as of 1
January 2008.
SES ASTRA
The recently launched ASTRA 1L replacement satellite was brought
into service at the prime European DTH orbital position of 19.2
degrees East on 11 July. Consequently, the ASTRA 2C satellite, which
had been located at 19.2 degrees East, has been moved to 28.2 degrees
East to provide additional capacity for the UK and Irish DTH markets.
In Germany, national public broadcasters ARD and ZDF, as well as
Tele5, signed new contracts for additional transponder capacity for
digital services. The additional capacity is to be used to enhance the
quality of standard definition digital broadcasts by increasing the
channel data rates, as well as to support the further development of
digital offers.
In France, as part of the CANAL+ framework contract signed earlier
in the year, CANAL+ contracted two further transponders for the
transmission of the regional programmes of France3 within the CANALSAT
and the TNTSAT bouquets.
Dutch satellite TV provider Canal Digitaal signed up two
transponders at the third European prime orbital position for DTH
services, 23.5 degrees East, for the launch of new digital thematic
services this autumn as well as for the launch of an HDTV bouquet
early 2008.
SES ASTRA signed an agreement for an additional transponder with
the Spanish broadcaster Sogecable, bringing the number of ASTRA
transponders used by Sogecable to eleven.
SES ASTRA also signed an agreement with the international content
management and delivery enterprise GlobeCast for one additional
transponder at 28.2/ 28.5 degrees East.
The satellite broadband service ASTRA2Connect signed new contracts
with STARDSL in Germany, Sosat in Austria and with the Irish provider
National Broadband Services, providing satellite based internet
connectivity in Ireland. These services are delivered via 23.5 degrees
East.
The digital satellite platform entavio was officially launched for
the German market on 1st September at the IFA consumer electronics
fair in Berlin. Its anchor customer, Pay TV operator Premiere, was
joined on the platform by sportdigital.tv, a German sports channel
which has announced that it will be offering its services via entavio.
SES ASTRA´s utilisation rate at the period end was 85%, or 240 of
282 commercially available transponders with 16 transponders added to
the commercially available capacity as a result of the Astra 2C move.
(As reported at 30 June 2007: 87%, or 233 of 266 commercially
available transponders).
SES AMERICOM
The AMC-18 satellite, the fifth satellite in SES AMERICOM´s
HD-Prime neighbourhood, continued HDTV channel expansion. The
multi-year contract with Comcast Media Center´s HITS Quantum service
supports six HDTV channels. This expansion results in a total of two
AMC-18 transponders supporting the HITS Quantum service.
AMERICOM Government Services was awarded a five-year contract to
build and operate a satellite network in support of the Defense
Intelligence Agency. The contract is for a base year plus four
one-year options.
IP-PRIME, SES AMERICOM´s IPTV service offering, launched
commercial service in June 2007. IP-PRIME has completed roll-out of
services for three NRTC-affiliated telco customers. Telco operators
have reported strong initial subscriber penetration rates confirming
customers´ positive reception of the service. The IP-PRIME programme
line-up now includes 28 HDTV channels with significant HDTV programme
expansion expected in the coming months.
Argentinian satellite services company AR-SAT (Empresa Argentina
de Soluciones Satelitales, S.A.), entered into a five-year contract to
lease five transponders on the AMC-6 satellite at 72 degrees West. The
capacity will provide follow-on capacity and service continuity for
customers previously served by the Nahuel-1 satellite from that
orbital position.
With the AMC-16 satellite now operating at its permanent location
at 85 degrees West, EchoStar will discontinue leasing the AMC-2
satellite in February 2008. AMC-2 has provided service to EchoStar
since 2003, well beyond its initial mission of serving as an interim
satellite. SES AMERICOM is evaluating new commercial opportunities for
AMC-2.
SES AMERICOM´s utilisation rate at the period end was 74%, or 330
of 447 commercially available transponders (As reported at 30 June
2007: 74%, or 332 of 447 commercially available transponders).
SES NEW SKIES
In the quarter, ImpSat, a subsidiary of Global Crossing, took
capacity totalling 2.5 transponders on the NSS-10 satellite to serve
customers in Latin America. The capacity is to serve the growing
demand for VSAT IP services and SCPC services in the region.
A two-transponder contract was signed with Papua New Guinea
operator PNG Telikom for GSM backhaul services, providing essential
connectivity in a region where terrestrial links are limited or
non-existent.
AfSat, one of Africa´s largest VSAT companies took capacity on
NSS-7 to deliver IP trunking services in sub-Saharan Africa, in
particular West Africa and South Africa.
France24, the French digital TV news channel, became available via
NSS-7 in French and in English. Broadcasts cover Europe, the Middle
East and all of Africa.
SES NEW SKIES´ utilisation rate at the period end was 69%, or 220
of 318 commercially available transponders (As reported at 30 June
2007: 64%, or 205 of 318 commercially available transponders), with
utilisation at period end benefiting from capacity ramp-up on
previously signed contracts in addition to those new contracts
mentioned above.
Outlook and guidance for 2007 and 2008
SES will continue to secure organic growth. This will be supported
by the new capacity that is scheduled to be launched into orbit,
namely SIRIUS-4 in November 2007, AMC-14 in February 2008, ASTRA 1M
and AMC-21 in Q2 2008, and Ciel-2 in Q4 2008. In addition, we continue
to assess potential select acquisitions that may complement our assets
in key markets. Other initiatives to deliver value are being
developed. For example, we have taken a group-wide approach to
securing in-orbit insurance that has resulted in a favourable
development in the insurance premiums payable.
Revenue and EBITDA guidance for 2007 and 2008 is published today
(see the associated presentation materials on our website
www.ses.com). For 2007, we revise upwards our revenue and EBITDA
guidance of 6 August 2007. "For 2008 and as expected, the delayed
Proton launch schedule slightly sets back the onset of new revenues
from both the SIRIUS-4 and the AMC-14 satellites. Our 2008 guidance
also considers the gap in the revenue stream generated by AMC-2
following the end of its temporary lease to EchoStar. Despite these
business developments, SES expects to deliver revenue growth in excess
of 6% in 2008. Revenue is expected in the range between EUR 1,623 m
and EUR 1,663 m, with EBITDA between EUR 1,100 m and EUR 1,140 m. Over
the next three years (2008-2010), group revenue will deliver a CAGR
exceeding 6%, with an infrastructure EBITDA margin of over 81%.
SUMMARY FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (in EUR millions)
1. CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT
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*T
YTD YTD
----------------------- ------- ------- ------ ------- ------- ------
Q3, Q3, Q3, Q3,
2007 2006 % 2007 2006 %
----------------------- ------- ------- ------ ------- ------- ------
----------------------- ------- ------- ------ ------- ------- ------
Revenue 406.9 481.8 -15.5% 1,196.0 1,192.3 --
----------------------- ------- ------- ------ ------- ------- ------
Operating expenses (123.7) (157.9) -21.7% (364.6) (368.9) -1.2%
----------------------- ------- ------- ------ ------- ------- ------
EBITDA 283.2 323.9 -12.6% 831.4 823.4 +1.0%
----------------------- ------- ------- ------ ------- ------- ------
----------------------- ------- ------- ------ ------- ------- ------
Depreciation (97.4) (113.4) -14.1% (327.3) (318.7) +2.7%
----------------------- ------- ------- ------ ------- ------- ------
Amortisation (9.9) (10.9) -9.2% (29.4) (26.6) +10.5%
----------------------- ------- ------- ------ ------- ------- ------
Operating profit 175.9 199.6 -11.9% 474.7 478.1 -1.0%
----------------------- ------- ------- ------ ------- ------- ------
----------------------- ------- ------- ------ ------- ------- ------
Net financing charges (7.8) (26.5) -70.6% (57.1) (40.0) +42.3%
----------------------- ------- ------- ------ ------- ------- ------
Profit for the period
before tax 168.1 173.1 -2.9% 417.6 438.1 -4.7%
----------------------- ------- ------- ------ ------- ------- ------
----------------------- ------- ------- ------ ------- ------- ------
Income tax expense (27.2) (45.1) -39.7% (71.3) (92.4) -22.8%
----------------------- ------- ------- ------ ------- ------- ------
Profit for the period
after tax 140.9 128.0 +10.1% 346.3 345.7 --
----------------------- ------- ------- ------ ------- ------- ------
----------------------- ------- ------- ------ ------- ------- ------
Share of associates´
profit (1.1) 4.0 -- 1.3 1.9 -31.6%
----------------------- ------- ------- ------ ------- ------- ------
Minority interests (1.0) 0.0 -- (0.6) 0.2 --
----------------------- ------- ------- ------ ------- ------- ------
Net profit of the Group 138.8 132.0 +5.2% 347.0 347.8 --
----------------------- ------- ------- ------ ------- ------- ------
*T
SUMMARY FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (in EUR millions) /cont.
2. QUARTERLY DEVELOPMENT
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*T
Year-to-date, Q3 2007 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 YTD
----------------------- --------- ---------- --------- ------ -------
----------------------- --------- ---------- --------- ------ -------
Revenue 399.5 389.6 406.9 -- 1,196.0
----------------------- --------- ---------- --------- ------ -------
Operating expenses (124.3) (116.6) (123.7) -- (364.6)
----------------------- --------- ---------- --------- ------ -------
EBITDA 275.2 273.0 283.2 -- 831.4
----------------------- --------- ---------- --------- ------ -------
Depreciation (127.5) (102.4) (97.4) -- (327.3)
----------------------- --------- ---------- --------- ------ -------
Amortisation (9.8) (9.7) (9.9) -- (29.4)
----------------------- --------- ---------- --------- ------ -------
Operating profit 137.9 160.9 175.9 -- 474.7
----------------------- --------- ---------- --------- ------ -------
*T
3. ANALYSIS BY PRIMARY GEOGRAPHIC SEGMENT
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*T
SES Other
SES SES NEW operations/
Year-to-date, Q3 2007 ASTRA AMERICOM SKIES Elimination Total
----------------------- ------- --------- ------ ------------ -------
----------------------- ------- --------- ------ ------------ -------
Revenue 713.8 305.0 196.8 (19.6) 1,196.0
----------------------- ------- --------- ------ ------------ -------
Operating expenses (205.5) (108.0) (47.7) (3.4) (364.6)
----------------------- ------- --------- ------ ------------ -------
EBITDA 508.3 197.0 149.1 (23.0) 831.4
----------------------- ------- --------- ------ ------------ -------
Depreciation (132.7) (114.2) (80.2) (0.2) (327.3)
----------------------- ------- --------- ------ ------------ -------
Amortisation (27.1) (2.2) -- (0.1) (29.4)
----------------------- ------- --------- ------ ------------ -------
Operating profit 348.5 80.6 68.9 (23.3) 474.7
----------------------- ------- --------- ------ ------------ -------
*T
4. ANALYSIS BY SECONDARY BUSINESS SEGMENT
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*T
Other
Year-to-date, Q3 Infra- One-time operations/
2007 structure Services Items(a) Elimination Total
------------------- ---------- -------- -------- ------------ -------
------------------- ---------- -------- -------- ------------ -------
Revenue 1,030.3 224.9 1.4 (60.6) 1,196.0
------------------- ---------- -------- -------- ------------ -------
EBITDA 852.0 24.6 (22.1) (23.1) 831.4
------------------- ---------- -------- -------- ------------ -------
EBITDA margin 82.7% 10.9% 69.5%
------------------- ---------- -------- -------- ------------ -------
*T
(a) Start-up costs and non-recurring items
Additional information is available on our website www.ses.com
PRESS / ANALYST TELECONFERENCES
A press call will be hosted at 11.00 CET today, 29 October 2007.
Journalists are invited to call the following numbers five minutes
prior to this time.
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Belgium +32 (0)2 789 8726
France +33 (0)1 70 99 42 95
Germany +49 (0)69 5007 1316
Luxembourg +352 342 080 8656
UK +44 (0)20 7806 1966
*T
A call for investors and analysts will be hosted at 14.00 CET
today, 29 October 2007. Participants are invited to call the following
numbers five minutes prior to this time.
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*T
Belgium +32 (0)2 400 3463
France +33 (0)1 70 99 42 70
Germany +49 (0)30 2215 1089
Luxembourg +352 342 080 8570
UK +44 (0)20 7138 0815
USA +1 718 354 1359
*T
A presentation, which will be referred to in each call, will be
available for download from the Investor Relations section of our
website www.ses.com
A replay will be available for one week on our website:
www.ses.com
Disclaimer / Safe Harbor Statement
-- This document does not constitute or form part of, and should
not be construed as, any offer for sale of, or solicitation of
any offer to buy, any securities of SES nor should it or any
part of it form the basis of, or be relied on in connection
with, any contract or commitment whatsoever.
-- No representation or warranty, express or implied, is or will
be made by SES, or its advisors or any other person as to the
accuracy, completeness or fairness of the information or
opinions contained in this document, and any reliance you
place on them will be at your sole risk. Without prejudice to
the foregoing, none of SES or its advisors accepts any
liability whatsoever for any loss however arising, directly or
indirectly, from use of this document or its contents or
otherwise arising in connection therewith.
-- This document includes "forward-looking statements". All
statements other than statements of historical fact included
in this document, including, without limitation, those
regarding SES´s financial position, business strategy, plans
and objectives of management for future operations (including
development plans and objectives relating to SES products and
services) are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking
statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other important factors that could cause the actual results,
performance or achievements of SES to be materially different
from future results, performance or achievements expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements. Such
forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions
regarding SES´s present and future business strategies and the
environment in which SES will operate in the future and such
assumptions may or may not prove to be correct. These
forward-looking statements speak only as at the date of this
document. Forward-looking statements contained in this
document regarding past trends or activities should not be
taken as a representation that such trends or activities will
continue in the future. SES does not undertake any obligation
to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as
a result of new information, future events or otherwise..
(1) "Recurring" is a measure designed to represent underlying
revenue / EBITDA performance by removing currency exchange effects,
eliminating one-time items, considering changes in consolidation scope
and excluding revenue / EBITDA from new business initiatives that are
still in the start-up phase.