Gwang-Seok Shin
Analyst · KDB Daewoo Securities. Mr. Hong Kim, please go ahead sir
[Korean] [Interpreted] Good afternoon. I am Gwang-Seok Shin, CFO of KT. In 2014, as KT started to overcome difficulties with improvement of corporate fundamentals, especially some ruthless business innovation and set its vision and target of becoming global number one KT and achieving GiGAtopia. For a bigger leap, we brought to work company’s colleagues’ spirit. As a result, KT was able to recover its core business performances reaffirming our number one DNA that steadfast in times of crisis. [Korean] [Interpreted] First of all in the wireless business, subscriber growth continued on KT’s strong brand value and stronger channel competitiveness. Also by acquiring more high value users, ARPU growth expanded, name the basis that will expedite earnings turnaround. Especially, the net key plan introduced in time for the handset subsidy act is leading service competition by acquiring more than 1.2 million users in just 70 days. [Korean] [Interpreted] For the wireless business, after declaring the age of GiGAtopia last night, we were the first to bring nationwide commercialization of GIGA internet in October. Since then, broadband subscriber net addition has been growing and IPTV recorded 890,000 net gains sustaining a fast pace of growth. BC Card, KT Rental, KT Skylife and other major subsidiaries are also growing at scale as business leaders at spearhead somewhat. [Korean] [Interpreted] Whilst 2014 was a year where lane basis for a turnaround in growth and improvement in fundamental were the key, in 2015, we will start to see profitability and performance based on that very foundation. [Korean] [Interpreted] There are three key strategic directions for 2015. First, KT will strengthen competitiveness in its core business. With differentiated product strategy visiting the new environment and customer services we will grow our wireless business. Based on the GIGA internet, we will also continue to hold on to our market leadership in the wire line business. [Korean] [Interpreted] Secondly, KT will explore and foster telecom-based converged GIGA service business such as next generation media and IOT and bring forth visible results by concentrating on areas where KT can maximize its ITT capability, we will open up an era of true GiGAtopia. [Korean] [Interpreted] Currently, following last year’s efforts, we will continue rigorously to innovate our business management infrastructure to become agile to its market changes, we are expanding empowerment and we will continue to optimize corporate-wide and group companies’ business structure so as to bring improvements and profitability. [Korean] [Interpreted] Through such effort in 2015, we will strive to achieve above KRW 24 trillion in revenues and although it’s difficult for us to communicate specific profit guidance because of uncertainties in operational environment, we plan to undertake activities with a focus on profit improvements. CapEx is planned at KRW 2.7 trillion. [Korean] [Interpreted] This year, we expect handset subsidy act will take root in the market as we move away from the transitional period and market - will require a new competitive paradigm. Also in the global environment, IOT needs are expanding fast demanding us to respond quickly with our future businesses. [Korean] [Interpreted] Based on regained competitiveness in the telecom business, and unwavering corporate enhancement efforts, KT will lay the basis for solid performance and also secure leadership in ITT convergence services as our future growth engine. [Korean] [Interpreted] In 2014, there was a temporary decline in profitability on the back of business rationalization efforts to make a sounder financial position and I just mentioned this portfolio of companies. For this year, our efforts will start to bear visible outcome in profits and growth improvements. [Korean] [Interpreted] Going forward, we will gain stronger trust from our shareholders, investors and customers and continue to enhance corporate value. Now, I would move on to business results for 2014. [Korean] [Interpreted] 2014 operating revenue fell 1.6% year-on-year to KRW 23 trilling or KRW 121.5 billion and declines in fixed line and merchandize revenue despite improvement in wireless, media, and finance businesses. Due to one-off items, such as the ERP expense in the first half of the year, operating profit recorded KRW 291.8 billion in loss. [Korean] [Interpreted] Net income posted KRW 955.5 billion in loss, EBITDA is down 20.9% year-over-year coming in at KRW 3,483.5 billion. Next to some highlights on subsidiary performance. [Korean] [Interpreted] BC card revenue went up 6.6% year-on-year driven by growth in purchase volumes on credit and check cards and its operating profit rose 10.5%. On subscriber growth, KT Skylife revenue was up 4.1% year-on-year for operating profit fell 20.4% year-on-year due to one-off expense items. [Korean] [Interpreted] On greater momentum in the rental market, KT rental revenue increased 20.9% year-on-year, operating profit rose 12.3%. Next is on the highlights for the company financial position. [Korean] [Interpreted] As of end of Q4, debt-to-equity ratio stood at 186.5%, up 0.4 percentage points Q-o-Q. Net debt was KRW 10885.8 billion, similar to last quarter’s figure. With net debt-to-equity ratio reporting 92.3%. Next is on CapEx. [Korean] [Interpreted] 2014 CapEx came in at KRW 2,514.1 billion, chasing it down to around 93.1% of KRW 2.7 trillion guidance we communicated at the beginning of the year. KRW 900.5 billion was spent on wireless, KRW 1,283.2 billion on fixed line and KRW 330.4 billion spent on others. Next is on the performance highlights of each business segment. [Korean] [Interpreted] In Korean, I said that the percentage was 91.3%, but it actually is 93.1% against the guidance. [Korean] [Interpreted] Wireless revenue edged up 4.8% year-on-year to KRW 7,314.8 billion on ARPU growth driven by healthy e-subscriber expansion. [Korean] [Interpreted] In 2014, there was net addition of 870,000 against the total subscribers and in particular LTE subs were significantly to 10,810,000 expanding the LTE proportion to 62.4%. Q4 ARPU was KRW 35,283, up 9.7% year-on-year. Next is on the wire line business. [Korean] [Interpreted] Wire line revenue recorded KRW 5,538.3 billion, down 7.2% year-on-year. Although PSTN revenue erosion continued, broadband subscriber base continues to expand driven by positive responses from the GIGA internet subscribers. Next is on media and content business. [Korean] [Interpreted] Media and content revenue came in at KRW 1,508.2 billion, up 11.3% year-on-year. KT’s IPTV achieved 5.86 million subscribers to 890,000 net adds in 2014 alone. As such, we continued to solidify our leadership in the pay TV market. [Korean] [Interpreted] Next is on the finance, rental and other services revenues. [Korean] [Interpreted] Finance rental revenue increased 8.0% year-on-year to KRW 4,169.7 billion on gross expansion from BC card and KT Rental. Other services revenue declined 15.3% year-on-year to KRW 1,430 billion on IT solutions and real estate revenue declines. This brings me to the end of 2014 earnings presentation. [Korean] [Interpreted] For more details, please refer to the materials we provided earlier. From now on, we will take questions.