DOHA: Ooredoo Group’s revenue touched QR32.2bn in 2015. The group net profit to Ooredoo shareholders maintained at QR2.1bn in 2015 driven by a strong EBITDA performance.

Ooredoo Group’ customers reached 117 million at the end of 2015 an increase of 9 percent or 9.5 million net customer adds over 2014 driven by strong performances in Qatar Indonesia Myanmar Oman Algeria Maldives and Palestine.

Group recorded revenue and EBITDA growth across its key markets in 2015 while overall performance was impacted by the security situation in Iraq and adverse currency movements in Indonesia Algeria and Tunisia.

The solid revenue was supported by strong revenue growth in local currency terms in Qatar Oman Indonesia Myanmar Algeria Kuwait and the Maldives. Excluding foreign exchange translation impact the revenue would have increased by 4 percent YoY compared to a decline of 3 percent reported.

The group EBITDA increased by 1 percent exceeding QR13bn in 2015 with an improved EBITDA margin of 40 percent. Excluding foreign exchange translation impact EBITDA would have increased by 8 percent YoY indicating a strong underlying operational performance. Quarterly EBITDA increased by 11 percent YoY to QR3bn in Q4 2015.

Excluding forex impact net profit to Ooredoo shareholders in 2015 would have increased by 6 percent YoY. Supported by an improvement in emerging market currencies towards the end of the year the quarterly net profit to Ooredoo shareholders stood at QR360m in Q4 2015 an increase of 551 percent compared with QR55m in Q4 2014 which was impacted by one-off customer acquisition and handset costs in Algeria.

Group earnings per share stood at QR6.61 in 2015 compared to QR6.66 in 2014. In November 2015 Sheikh Saud bin Nasser Al Thani former CEO of Ooredoo Qatar was appointed as Group CEO and Waleed Al Sayed former COO of Ooredoo Qatar was appointed as Deputy Group CEO and CEO of Ooredoo Qatar. Both Sheikh Saud bin Nasser Al Thani and Waleed Al Sayed have extensive experience in Qatar and Ooredoo’s other operating countries as Board members.

Commenting on the results Sheikh Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Saud Al Thani Chairman of Ooredoo said: “Ooredoo Group delivered a strong performance in 2015 adding 9.5 million new customers and reaching a global customer base of 117 million. Despite currency volatility in emerging markets and the security situation in Iraq our underlying financial and operational performance was solid. We grew revenue and EBITDA in local currency terms in our primary markets and continued to roll-out the Ooredoo brand across our footprint.”

“Ooredoo plays a key role in connecting people as we shift to an increasingly interconnected world. Our ability to connect people information and markets is playing an integral role in developing the economies of our markets.”

On behalf of the Board of Directors he recommended to the General Assembly the distribution of a cash dividend of QR3 per share 30 percent of the nominal share value.

Sheikh Saud bin Nasser Al Thani Group CEO of Ooredoo said: “Ooredoo Group’s performance was robust during 2015 as we generated organic revenue growth in local currency terms in Qatar Oman Kuwait Algeria Indonesia Myanmar Palestine and Maldives. This was partially offset by the challenges with the security situation in Iraq a weakened Tunisian macro-economic environment and currency volatility in emerging markets.

Qatar and Oman delivered strong performances achieving double-digit revenue and EBITDA growth and margin improvement in 2015. Kuwait also increased its revenues by 6 percent and EBITDA by 31 percent with improved margin. After the successful rebranding in Indonesia in 2015 eight Ooredoo markets are now fully Ooredoo branded. As part of our portfolio strategy we sold our stake in non-core asset in Philippines to focus on our core markets enabling further optimisation of our operations.”

In line with the Group’s focus on leading customer service and networks we have made considerable progress on our strategy of being a data-centric business in all of our operating companies. Our data revenue share reached 37 percnet of group revenue and our B2B offering was significantly enhanced across markets. We now have 4G in Qatar Oman Kuwait Indonesia and Maldives and advanced 3G in Iraq and Myanmar. Algeria and Tunisia are preparing for a 4G roll out and Palestine plans to offer 3G in 2016.”

Ooredoo Qatar delivered a robust performance in 2015 driven by a continued growth in customer numbers and double-digit solid growth in revenue and EBITDA. Its wireless broadband customers grew strongly while total customers increased by 11 percent to 3.5 million.The Peninsula