Dutch operator sees full impact of the coronavirus pandemic in Q2, but says business has proved to be resilient despite a fall in revenue.

Anne Morris, Contributing Editor, Light Reading

July 27, 2020

3 Min Read
KPN sticks to 2020 guidance despite impact of COVID-19

Netherlands-based KPN said it remained "committed" to its 2020 outlook, even though the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic had a "slightly negative effect" on results in the first half of the year.

The Dutch operator said the health crisis had an estimated negative impact on its adjusted gross profit of €5 million-€7 million (US$5.8 million-$8.2 million) in the first six months.

Figure 1: Talking it out: Despite the coronavirus pandemic, Dutch operator KPN is sticking to its guns. (Source: KPN) Talking it out: Despite the coronavirus pandemic, Dutch operator KPN is sticking to its guns.
(Source: KPN)

Although it conceded the ultimate impact of COVID-19 remains uncertain, the operator said it generated solid results in the first half of 2020.

KPN claimed this shows the business is resilient, and on track with the execution of its strategy.

Mobile health check

Revenue in the first six months fell by 3.6% year-on-year to €2.62 billion ($3 billion), while adjusted EBITDA was flat at €1.16 billion ($1.35 billion) and net profit rose by 18% to €255 million ($298 million).

The full effects of the pandemic were felt in the second quarter, when revenue dropped by 4.9%, or 3% excluding divestments, to €1.29 billion ($1.5 billion).

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Also in the second quarter, adjusted EBITDA was 1.5% lower at €585 million ($684 million), while net profit grew by 5.4% to €135 million ($157 million).

KPN said the increase in the net profit was primarily due to lower restructuring costs, an €11 million ($12.9 million) book gain on the sale of KPN Consulting and lower finance costs due to debt redemptions.

The operator added that its ongoing digitization efforts, "and strong and disciplined cost control," resulted in net indirect opex savings of €33 million ($38.5 million) in the second quarter.

Going viral

According to a research note from Jefferies, the Q2 figures show that KPN is "coping," with the 3% dip in revenue in line with consensus, and flat EBITDA 1% above consensus.

"The [full-year] guidance is reiterated, if with the proviso that the virus impact remains uncertain and a specific reference to the risk of worsening customer payment behavior. KPN is to pay a €0.043 interim dividend in August," the note added.

CEO Joost Farwerck pointed to the operator's continuing investment in fiber network rollout, and stressed that KPN believes that digitization "can be a catalyst for the country's economic recovery that simultaneously helps to address the ecological and social challenges of the post-COVID world."

KPN also recently acquired 5G frequency licenses for €416 million ($486 million), and plans to launch 5G services this week.

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— Anne Morris, contributing editor, special to Light Reading

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Europe

About the Author(s)

Anne Morris

Contributing Editor, Light Reading

Anne Morris is a freelance journalist, editor and translator. She has been working in the telecommunications sector since 1996, when she joined the London-based team of Communications Week International as copy editor. Over the years she held the editor position at Total Telecom Online and Total Tele-com Magazine, eventually leaving to go freelance in 2010. Now living in France, she writes for a number of titles and also provides research work for analyst companies.

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