Malaysian mobile group Axiata has revealed increased revenues in the first three months of 2012, with the company citing ‘excellent performances’ at all of its operational units. For the three months ended 31 March 2012 Axiata generated a total turnover of MYR4.3 billion (USD?), up 8.0% year-on-year, while earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose to MYR1.8 billion, up 4.1% against the corresponding period a year earlier. Further, with the company highlighting the increased strength of the local currency, the ringgit, it noted that revenue and EBITDA would, in fact, have been 10% and 6% higher respectively at constant currency. Profit after taxation and minority interests (PATAMI) excluding foreign translation impact, meanwhile, was up 19% to MYR652 million, while Axiata said that, even when taking the strengthened ringgit into consideration, actual PATAMI was up 3%.
At the end of March 2012 Axiata’s regional subscriber base had increased to 208.5 million, up 24% year-on-year, with the total outgoing minutes of use sold by the group’s operating companies rising by 49% against the year-ago period to 49 billion.
Axiata’s president and group CEO Dato’ Sri Jamaludin Ibrahim, said of the results: ‘It is very good to see all our operating companies posting solid y-o-y and q-o-q growth amidst difficult market conditions, and in a traditionally slower quarter … Strong data growth continues especially at Celcom, XL and Dialog, with data users now accounting for more than 50% of XL subscribers. This has led to some margin pressure at our OpCos but we remain confident in the long term. This quarter provides a very positive signal for the start of 2012. With the strong performances seen, excluding any adverse forex impact, we are on track to achieve our KPIs’.