Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri: Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2022 Results

ISTANBUL–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri A.S. (NYSE:TKC) (BIST:TCELL):

• Please note that all financial data is consolidated and comprises that of Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri A.S. (the “Company”, or “Turkcell”) and its subsidiaries and associates (together referred to as the “Group”), unless otherwise stated.
• We have four reporting segments:
  • “Turkcell Turkey” which comprises our telecom, digital services and digital business services related businesses in Turkey (as used in our previous releases in periods prior to Q115, this term covered only the mobile businesses). All non-financial data presented in this press release is unconsolidated and comprises Turkcell Turkey only figures, unless otherwise stated. The terms “we”, “us”, and “our” in this press release refer only to Turkcell Turkey, except in discussions of financial data, where such terms refer to the Group, and except where context otherwise requires.
  • “Turkcell International” which comprises all of our telecom and digital services related businesses outside of Turkey.
  • “Techfin” which comprises all of our financial services businesses.
  • “Other” which mainly comprises our non-group call center and energy businesses, retail channel operations, smart devices management and consumer electronics sales through digital channels and intersegment eliminations.
• In this press release, a year-on-year comparison of our key indicators is provided and figures in parentheses following the operational and financial results for December 31, 2022 refer to the same item as at December 31, 2021. For further details, please refer to our consolidated financial statements and notes as at and for December 31, 2022, which can be accessed via our website in the investor relations section (www.turkcell.com.tr).
• Selected financial information presented in this press release for the fourth quarter and for the full year of 2021 and 2022 is based on Turkish Accounting Standards (TAS) / Turkish Financial Reporting Standards (TFRS) figures in TRY terms unless otherwise stated.
• In the tables used in this press release totals may not foot due to rounding differences. The same applies to the calculations in the text.
• Year-on-year and quarter-on-quarter percentage comparisons appearing in this press release reflect mathematical calculation.

Our Initial Assessment of the Earthquakes’ Impact

On February 6^th, 2023, two high-magnitude earthquakes, epicentered in Kahramanmaraş yet impacting 11 cities across Southeastern Türkiye, have dramatically affected the lives of 14 million people. As Turkcell, we took immediate action after the quakes as quickly and efficiently as possible to ensure the safety of our colleagues and to provide communication to our 6.5 million subscribers in the region. On the very first day, almost half of our 3,300 base stations in the region was out of service mainly due to power outage and destruction. We rapidly deployed more than 1,200 network personnel to the region to make the necessary repairs. We swiftly reactivated 99% of our sites by deploying around 250 mobile base stations and 1,400 electric generators to compensate for one tower and around 150 base stations that were destroyed. We began to provide Wi-Fi services via mobile base stations in tent and container areas. While providing free communication packages to subscribers, healthcare personnel and emergency teams in the region, we have also provided 1-month of free communication to subscribers in the state of emergency region. Currently, 68% of our exclusive stores in the region are fully operational and all our services continue to run uninterruptedly through our digital channels and containers we have deployed in the area.

We are deeply saddened by the lives lost, which include 21 of our colleagues. We will continue providing aid and support for the families of our colleagues who lost their lives, and for our citizens affected by the earthquake, as we have done since the first day of the disaster.

We have prepared our 2023 guidance¹ considering all of the above developments, and based upon the initial impact assessment of the earthquake on our business. Accordingly, we target revenue growth of between 55-57%, an EBITDA of around TRY34 billion and an operational capex over sales ratio² of around 22%.

We estimate a negative revenue impact of around TRY1.5 billion. This arises from the steps we have taken to alleviate pressure on our affected subscribers, such as free communication packages, the cancellation of line opening-closing fees, the suspension fees, and from shrinking customer demand in the longer term triggered by the earthquakes’ impact on people’s purchasing power. In addition, we expect an impact of around TRY400 million on operational expenses due to personnel, infrastructure, and network expenses that we have incurred to date, and will continue to incur in the region. We expect a replacement CAPEX of circa TRY900 million for mobile and fixed network investments, particularly in the regions that have suffered extensive destruction. These assessments include the effect of the earthquakes based on our initial impact analysis; and all these estimations are already considered in the 2023 guidance. However, potential measures that may arise subsequent to this announcement and other developments over time may further affect our guidance. We will continue to provide information as such developments occur over the coming periods.

(1) Please note that this section contains forward-looking statements based on our initial impact assessment of the earthquake. Factors such as changes in the state of emergency measures and potential aftershocks, as well as the risk factors disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for 2021 filed with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, could cause actual impacts to differ materially from our expectations.

(1) 2023 guidance figures are based on TFRS, and do not include the effects of a likely adoption of inflationary accounting in accordance with IAS 29.

(2) Excluding license fee

NOTICE

We are publishing financial statements as of December 31, 2022 prepared in accordance with Turkish Accounting Standards/Turkish Financial Reporting Standards (“TAS”/“TFRS”) only. These standards are issued by the Public Oversight Accounting and Auditing Standards Authority (“POA”) and are in full compliance with IAS/IFRS Standards. In an announcement published by the POA on January 20, 2022, it is stated that TAS 29 “Financial Reporting in Hyperinflationary Economies” does not apply to TFRS financial statements as of December 31, 2021. Since then and as of the preparation date of our latest consolidated financial statements, no new statement has been made by the POA about TAS 29 application. Consequently, no TAS 29 adjustment was made to our consolidated financial statements.

Financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS should apply IAS 29 “Financial Reporting in Hyperinflationary Economies” as of December 31, 2022. In this context, financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS and TFRS would have significant differences and would not be comparable as of December 31, 2022. We intend to publish IFRS financial statements, compliant with IAS 29 to the extent that it remains applicable, with our Annual Report on Form 20-F that will be filed to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Although we have not prepared a detailed comparison of differences between IFRS (unadjusted according to IAS 29) and TFRS, we have noted in our past financial statements that the most significant differences have appeared in the lines Other Operating Income/Expense, Finance Income/Expense, and Investment Activity Income/Expense. In the past, revenue, net income and EBITDA have generally not differed. While no assurance can be given that this will be the case for Q4 2022, we are not at present aware of changes that would cause other significant differences, other than those resulting from the application of IAS 29.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

FULL YEAR HIGHLIGHTS

• Solid financial performance:
  • Group revenues up 50.0% supported mainly by accelerated ARPU growth, and strong subscriber net add performance as well as the contribution of the digital business services and techfin business
  • EBITDA up 46.5% leading to an EBITDA margin of 40.8%; EBIT up 62.1% resulting in an EBIT margin of 23.2%
  • Net income up 119.7% to TRY11.1 billion including a major one-off (net TRY4.6 billion deferred tax income impact) resulting from fixed asset revaluation; without the one-off net income rose 83.7% to TRY6.4 billion
  • Free cash flow⁴ generation of TRY1.7 billion; net leverage⁵ level at 0.9x; net short FX position of US$25 million
• Robust operational momentum continued:
  • Turkcell Turkey subscriber base up by 2.3 million net additions; 1.9 million mobile postpaid net additions the highest performance since 2009
  • 220 thousand fixed subscriber net additions; 234 thousand fiber net additions, best net add performance ever
  • 887 thousand new fiber homepasses
  • Mobile ARPU⁶ growth of 40.3%; residential fiber ARPU growth of 26.5%
• 2023 guidance⁷; revenue growth target of between 55-57%, EBITDA target of around TRY34 billion, and operational capex over sales ratio⁸ target of around 22%

FOURTH QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

• Strong financial results:
  • Group revenues up 57.4% on the back of the strong ARPU performance of Turkcell Turkey and contribution from digital business services and techfin business
  • EBITDA up 58.4% leading to an EBITDA margin of 41.6%; EBIT up 94.6% resulting in an EBIT margin of 25.9%
  • Net income up 333.1% to TRY6.0 billion (including TRY4.1 billion net impact of tax income resulting from fixed asset revaluation)
• Robust operational performance maintained:
  • Quarterly mobile postpaid subscriber net additions of 599 thousand; postpaid subscriber share at 68.1% of mobile subscriber base
  • Quarterly fixed subscriber net additions of 69 thousand
  • Year-on-year mobile ARPU⁵ increased 55.6% mainly driven by price adjustments, upsell to higher tariffs, and higher postpaid share
  • Residential fiber ARPU growth of 33.3% year-on-year mainly by price adjustments and upsell efforts, as well as increased IPTV penetration
  • Average monthly data usage of 4.5G subscribers at 16.9 GB in Q422; smartphone penetration at 87%
  • Digital channels’ share⁹ in sales at 24.9%

(1) EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. See page 20 for the explanation of how we calculate Adjusted EBITDA and its reconciliation to net income.

(2) EBIT is a non-GAAP financial measure and is equal to EBITDA minus depreciation and amortization expenses.

(3) Excludes the impact of fixed assets revaluation. Please refer to table on page 22 for details.

(4) Free cash flow calculation includes EBITDA and the following items as per Turkish Financial Reporting Standartds (TFRS) cash flow statement; acquisition of property, plant and equipment, acquisition of intangible assets, change in operating assets/liabilities, payment of lease liabilities and income tax paid.

(5) Starting from Q421, we have revised the definition of our net debt calculation to include “financial assets” reported under current and non-current assets. Required reserves held in CBRT balances are also considered in net debt calculation. We believe that these assets are highly liquid and can be easily converted to cash without significant change in value.

(6) Excluding M2M

(7) Please note that this section contains forward-looking statements based on our initial impact assessment of the earthquake. Factors such as changes in the state of emergency measures and potential aftershocks, as well as the risk factors disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for 2021 filed with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, could cause actual impacts to differ materially from our expectations.

(7) 2023 guidance figures are based on TFRS, and do not include the effects of a likely adoption of inflationary accounting in accordance with IAS 29.

(8) Excluding license fee

(9) Share of all sales from digital channels (including voice, data, services & smart devices) in Turkcell Turkey consumer sales (excluding fixed business) and equipment related revenues in other segment.

For further details, please refer to our consolidated financial statements and notes as at December 31, 2022 via our website in the investor relations section (www.turkcell.com.tr).

COMMENTS BY CEO, MURAT ERKAN

The disaster of the century…

Two devastating earthquakes, epicentered in Kahramanmaraş, with magnitudes of 7.7 and 7.6 have marked themselves as the greatest disaster of Türkiye’s modern history. The earthquakes that struck Türkiye and Syria have claimed thousands of lives and placed our country into deep mourning. We wish Allah’s mercy upon the victims, among whom were 21 of our colleagues. We offer our sincere and heartfelt condolences to those who lost their families and loved ones. From the first moment of the earthquake, Turkcell made an initial assessment to swiftly take all necessary actions. On the first day of the earthquake, we lost approximately half of the 3,300 sites in the region. We deployed mobile base stations, generators and batteries to the region and within four days increased our active site rate to over 90%. We provided free voice, SMS, and internet packages to close to 6.5 million subscribers in the earthquake region. Additionally, we provided a “Kahraman Paketi (Hero Package)” to meet the needs of emergency team and health care professionals. We sustained free Wi-Fi and charging stations in the region and supported victims with a donation commitment of TRY3.5 billion to the “Türkiye Tek Yürek (Türkiye One Heart)” quake relief campaign. Being Türkiye’s Turkcell, we will remain by our people as always.

In 2022, as inflationary pressures topped the agenda, the tightening policies of Central Banks against inflation and concerns over recession were in focus. Energy and commodity prices rose massively in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war. As we saw an easing of the pandemic’s impact on Türkiye, the agenda turned to deterioration in pricing behaviour and the expectation of high inflation propping up consumer spending. Strong tourism inflows that returned to pre-pandemic levels supported the current account balance, as well as the telecommunication sector.

Best mobile postpaid subscriber net addition of the past 13 years

In 2022 we outperformed our expectations. At the start of the year we targeted adding 1 million net subscribers and ended up exceeding 2.3 million net subscriber additions thanks to our value propositions that meet our customers’ needs, increased tourism activity and strong demand from the corporate segment. By keeping our focus of enlarging our mobile postpaid base which provides a higher revenue contribution, we added 1.9 million subscribers, the record of the past 13 years. Accordingly, the postpaid share in the mobile base increased to 68.1%.

The mobile churn rate slightly increased to 2.7%, as we deactivated a higher number of inactive subscribers in the fourth quarter, since Türkiye had a greater tourist and visitor inflow in 2022 compared to the previous year. The Mobile Number Portability (MNP) market, which was rationalized as our sequential price increases were followed by competitors throughout the year, was triggered by aggressive price offerings in the market during the last quarter of the year.

With an awareness of Türkiye lagging behind OECD countries in terms of speed and capacity of fixed broadband services, we continued to invest to our fiber infrastructure to provide fiber services that our customers demand. In 2022, we reached 887 thousand homes with our end-to-end fiber, and total fiber homepasses reached 5.4 million. For the year we had a record net fiber add of 234 thousand subscribers. Thanks to the increased penetration of our complementary, content-rich TV+ service, and our superior customer experience, the fiber churn rate decreased to an all-time low of 1.1%. Moreover, we sustained our focus on high speed internet packages. On the fiber subscriber acquisition side, 37% of the subscribers preferred speeds of 100 Mbps and above.

In line with our inflationary pricing policy, we have made sequential price adjustments since December 2021, where inflation began to rise. We have emphasized that price adjustments would be reflected in ARPU growth with a lag, due to the contract-based nature of our business. Accelerating from the first quarter of the year, Mobile ARPU¹ rose 55.6%, and Residential Fiber ARPU rose 33.3% year-over-year in the fourth quarter. For 2022, respective ARPU growth levels were 40.3% and 26.5%. Mobile ARPU growth was driven by sequential price adjustments, a higher postpaid subscriber base and upsell efforts, whereas Fiber ARPU growth was sustained by price adjustments, higher speed package preference of new subscribers in particular and increasing IPTV penetration.

Our consolidated revenue increased by 50.0% year-over-year in 2022 to TRY53.9 billion. Rising 46.5% we registered TRY22.0 billion EBITDA². Thanks to our strong operational performance and the contribution of TRY4.6 billion net deferred tax income arising from fixed asset revaluation, net income realized at TRY11.1 billion.

The support of our strategic focus areas continues

In 2022, the standalone paid users³ of our digital services and solutions, which are developed by Turkcell Engineers, increased by 1.1 million year-on-year to 5.1 million, while standalone revenues rose 30.3%. Digital TV platform TV+ continues to differentiate itself from the peers. According to 3^rd quarter ICTA data, the pay TV market reached 7.7 subscribers, where TV+, with its 15.9% market share, is the only provider to have steadily increased its market share since the second quarter of 2014. This performance is attributable to its extensive sales network, strong brand recognition and rich content. IPTV subscribers increased by 200 thousand year-on-year to 1.3 million while OTT TV users reached 1.0 million. With an effort to increase the international penetration of BiP, our instant messaging app, we entered the 120 million mobile user Pakistani market through a partnership agreement with “Jazz” in December. Currently, 37% of 17.9 million BiP users³ are from global markets.

The revenues of our digital business services, the greatest supporter of the digital transformation of its customers, rose 88.3% year-on-year, exceeding TRY4.3 billion. End-to-end tailored digital transformation projects, data center and cloud storage services were the main focus areas contributing to growth. While we have signed 2,800 system integrator and managed service projects to date, we have a contract value (backlog) from system integration projects of TRY2.8 billion to be realized beyond 2022, doubling the level of last year.

Serving with Paycell and Financell brands, our techfin segment sustained its strong contribution to topline growth this year. In 2022, Financell’s revenue rose 59.4% to TRY980 million, while its loan portfolio reached TRY3.4 billion up from last year’s TRY2.1 billion. With its wide-range product portfolio, Paycell serves 7.7 million users³, and its revenues rose 87.2% to TRY877 million. Mobile payment services “Pay Later”, driving 66% of the topline, was the main driver of the growth, while POS solutions, accelerating its reach from the last quarter of 2021, was also supportive. During the year, Paycell launched new services almost in every vertical of the Turkish techfin ecosystem. And as of December, its users are able to invest in shares listed on the NYSE and Nasdaq Stock Exchange via the Paycell application.

We entered 2023 with uncertainties

As we left 2022 behind, having experienced consecutive macroeconomic and political challenges, we are entering 2023 with hopes of healing our wounds caused by the greatest disaster of the past century. Yet 2023 comes with series of challenges: the global economies face recession concerns arising in the post pandemic period, political uncertainty caused by the ongoing war in the central-Europe, energy, commodity and labor cost pressure on producer costs, and domestically, a much busier political agenda. Therefore, we foresee that our guidance⁴ may change in the light of changing conditions. At this stage, we target revenue growth of 55-57% and EBITDA of around TRY34 billion. We expect an operational CAPEX over sales ratio of around 22%.

I would like to thank all of my colleagues those who have given their all in tackling the impact of the devastating earthquakes. As Türkiye’s Turkcell, we will continue working hard and heal our wounds together.

(1) Excluding M2M

(2) EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. See page 20 for the explanation of how we calculate Adjusted EBITDA and its reconciliation to net income

(3) 3-month active

(4) Please note that this section contains forward-looking statements based on our initial impact assessment of the earthquake. Factors such as changes in the state of emergency measures and potential aftershocks, as well as the risk factors disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for 2021 filed with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, could cause actual impacts to differ materially from our expectations.

(4) 2023 guidance figures are based on TFRS, and do not include the effects of a likely adoption of inflationary accounting in accordance with IAS 29.

FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL REVIEW

Financial Review of Turkcell Group

(1) Excluding depreciation and amortization expenses.

Contacts

For further information please contact Turkcell

Investor Relations
Tel: + 90 212 313 1888
[email protected].com.tr

Corporate Communications:
Tel: + 90 212 313 2321
[email protected]

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