Asian operator Axiata Group reported second-quarter revenue of MYR 5.3 billion, which represents an increase of 12.8 percent year-on-year. Revenue growth was mainly boosted by the acquisition of Ncell in the second quarter and higher revenues in Sri Lanka, coupled with a positive currency translation impact. At constant currency, group revenue registered an increase of 8.6 percent. EBITDA jumped 20.4 percent year-on-year to MYR 2.1 billion, and the margin increased by 2.5 percentage points to 38.9 percent.
Net profit in the period decreased by 63.1 percent to MYR 232.3 million. The decrease was mainly due to operational performance at some subsidiairies, incremental depreciation and amortisation, net finance costs and forex losses, the company said. Axiata Group’s cash balance stood at MYR 8.1 billion at 30 June. Axiata’s board of directors declared an interim dividend of 5 sen per share.
At Celcom in Malaysia, gross revenues decreased by 6.7 percent in the second quarter, while net profit fell 25.6 percent to MYR 259.8 million. Gross revenue in Indonesia slightly increased by 0.9 percent, but decreased by 6.7 percent at constant currency due to a decrease in service revenue and interconnect revenue. Axiata’s profit in Indonesia jumped more than 160 percent to MYR 15.4 million from a loss after tax of MYR 25.4 million in the year-earlier period.
Axiata posted gross revenue growth of 4.6 percent in Bangladesh, while net profit in the period decreased by 105.1 percent to a loss after tax of MYR 2.2 million. Sri Lanka operations reported gross revenue growth of 19 percent or 18.7 percent at constant currency, while net profit increased by 19.4 percent to MYR 62.3 million.
Cambodia recorded strong growth of 18.4 percent or 8 percent at constant currency in revenue for the quarter, with net profit up 40.4 percent to MYR 75.7 million.
