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VOD Vodafone Group Plc

68.44
0.62 (0.91%)
03 May 2024 - Closed
Delayed by 15 minutes
Share Name Share Symbol Market Type Share ISIN Share Description
Vodafone Group Plc LSE:VOD London Ordinary Share GB00BH4HKS39 ORD USD0.20 20/21
  Price Change % Change Share Price Bid Price Offer Price High Price Low Price Open Price Shares Traded Last Trade
  0.62 0.91% 68.44 68.40 68.44 68.74 67.82 67.96 88,262,864 16:29:56
Industry Sector Turnover Profit EPS - Basic PE Ratio Market Cap
Radiotelephone Communication 45.71B 11.84B 0.4372 1.57 18.53B

Vodafone Group Plc Half Yearly Report (6594W)

11/11/2014 7:01am

UK Regulatory


Vodafone (LSE:VOD)
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TIDMVOD

RNS Number : 6594W

Vodafone Group Plc

11 November 2014

Vodafone announces results for the six months ended 30 September 2014

11 November 2014

Highlights

-- H1 Group revenue up 8.9% to GBP20.8 billion; organic service revenue down 2.8%* to GBP19.1 billon

-- Q2 Group organic service revenue down 1.5%* compared to -4.2%* in Q1 due to improved commercial performance and reduced impact of mobile termination rate ('MTR') cuts

-- Improved service revenue performance in all key markets in Q2: Germany -3.4%*, Italy -9.7%*; UK -3.0%*,

Spain -9.3%*, India 13.2%*; and Vodacom 0.3%*

-- H1 EBITDA down 10%* to GBP5.9 billion; organic EBITDA margin down 2.1* percentage points; reported margin 28.4%

-- Free cash flow(2) break even (GBP0.0 billion) reflecting Project Spring investments; total capex GBP3.9 billion, up GBP1.6 billion year-on-year

-- Full year guidance: EBITDA now GBP11.6 billion to GBP11.9 billion, free cash flow remains positive. Guidance excludes Ono

   --      Additional GBP5.5 billion deferred tax assets recognised 

-- Net debt of GBP21.8 billion (or GBP18.6 billion including Verizon loan notes) including GBP5.8 billion in relation to Ono

   --      Interim dividend per share of 3.60 pence, up 2.0% 
 
                                                 Six months ended          Change 
                                                                    -------------------- 
                                                 30 September 
                                                  2014               Reported   Organic* 
                                                              GBPm          %          % 
 ---------------------------------------------   -----------------  ---------  --------- 
 Group revenue                                              20,752       +8.9      (3.0) 
 Group service revenue                                      19,139       +9.2      (2.8) 
 Europe                                                     13,083      +19.0      (6.5) 
 Africa, Middle East and Asia 
  Pacific ('AMAP')                                           5,831      (7.7)       +5.7 
 EBITDA                                                      5,884       +5.5     (10.0) 
 Adjusted operating profit (Note 
 1)                                                          1,756     (29.5)     (29.9) 
 Operating profit                                              917     (58.2) 
 Free cash flow (Note 2)                                         1     (99.9) 
 Profit for the financial period 
 (Note 3)                                                    5,501     (69.5) 
 Basic earnings per share (Note 3)                          20.48p     (69.8) 
 Adjusted earnings per share from continuing 
  operations (Note 4)                                        2.63p     (46.5) 
 Interim dividend per share                                  3.60p       +2.0 
----------------------------------------------   -----------------  ---------  --------- 
 

-- Strong momentum on GBP19 billion Project Spring investment programme: mobile network deployment 40% complete; European 4G coverage up to 59%; 10.5 million 4G customers across the Group

-- 16.1 million Vodafone Red customers; European contract base penetration 26%; ARPU dilution on Vodafone Red migrations continues to stabilise

-- H1 Group data traffic up 77% year-on-year, accelerating to +80% in Q2, driven by 4G in Europe and 3G in India

-- Unified communications capabilities strengthening: completion of Ono acquisition, ongoing integration of KDG, fibre build progress in Italy, Spain, Portugal and Ireland. Consumer launches announced in Netherlands and UK

-- Fixed: 11.2 million broadband customers including 1.6 million from Ono; organic growth 0.2 million in Q2, fixed now represents 23.7% of service revenue in Europe

-- Enterprise: strong performance in strategic segments: Q2 service revenue up 1%* in Vodafone Global Enterprise and 24%* in machine-to-machine

Vittorio Colao, Group Chief Executive, commented:

"We have made encouraging progress during the quarter. There is growing evidence of stabilisation in a number of our European markets, supported by improvements in our commercial execution and very strong demand for data. Our two year, GBP19 billion investment programme is well underway, and customers are beginning to see the benefits: in wider 3G and 4G data coverage, improved voice quality and reliability, and increased access to next generation fixed line services. Customers are showing an increasing propensity to trade up to bigger data allowances as a result of the 4G experience. In India, growth has accelerated, stimulated by investment in our 3G network. Our unified communications strategy continues to advance, with accelerating customer growth, further progress on fibre deployment, and the ongoing integration of recent acquisitions.

"Our markets continue to be highly competitive, and regulatory and macroeconomic risks remain. However, we are not yet half way through our investment programme, and there is still much more we will do to build a differentiated service for customers and improve perception. Today in Europe, only 6% of our customers are using 4G. In the next 18 months, we will reach 90% 4G coverage in Europe, giving us a great opportunity to increase penetration, stimulate data usage and grow customer spend. At the same time, we remain committed to shareholder returns, as the growth in the interim dividend demonstrates."

Note:

* All amounts in this document marked with an "*" represent organic growth which presents performance on a comparable basis, both in terms of merger and acquisition activity and movements in foreign exchange rates. See page 38 for "Use of non-GAAP financial information".

1 Adjusted operating profit has been redefined to exclude amortisation of customer bases and brand intangible assets of GBP637 million for the six months ended 30 September 2014 (2013: GBP125 million).

2 Free cash flow for the six months ended 30 September 2014 excludes GBP167 million of restructuring costs (2013: GBP107 million), a GBP365 million UK pensions contribution payment, GBP359 million of Verizon Wireless tax dividends received after the completion of the disposal, GBP328 million of interest paid on the settlement of the Piramal option, GBP116 million of KDG incentive scheme payments that vested upon acquisition and a GBP100 million (2013: GBP100 million) payment in respect of the Group's historic UK tax settlement.

3 Six months ended 30 September 2014 includes the recognition of GBP5,468 million of deferred tax assets in respect of tax losses in Luxembourg. Six months ended 30 September 2013 included the recognition of a deferred tax asset in respect of tax losses in Germany (GBP1,838 million) and Luxembourg (GBP16,069 million) and the estimated tax liability related to the rationalisation and reorganisation of our non-US assets prior to the disposal of our stake in Verizon Wireless (GBP3,016 million).

4 Adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations excludes the results and related tax charge of the Group's former investment in Verizon Wireless in the prior period and the recognition of deferred tax assets in both periods.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S STATEMENT

Financial review of the half year

The Group's emerging markets business continues to deliver strong organic growth, reflecting the combination of increasing demand for mobile voice and data services, with leading network quality and distribution reach, effective marketing strategies, and innovative services such as mobile money transfer. European market conditions remain challenging mainly due to continued competitive headwinds and the difficult macroeconomic conditions, leading to an overall fall in organic service revenue. However, signs of improvement in our commercial execution, a more stable competitive environment in some markets, and the early benefits of our Project Spring investment programme particularly in India, have led to a stabilisation of revenue quarter-on-quarter in several markets and an improved year-on-year revenue trend in the second quarter.

Group

Revenue for the first half fell 3.0%* to GBP20.8 billion. Group service revenue was GBP19.1 billion, reflecting a 2.8%* decrease on an organic basis comprising -4.2%* in Q1 and -1.5%* in Q2. Excluding the impact of MTR cuts, organic service revenue declined 2.9%* and 0.9%* respectively, with the improvement reflecting better trends in both our European and AMAP regions.

EBITDA fell 10.0%* to GBP5.9 billion. The Group EBITDA margin fell 0.9 percentage points to 28.4% (or -2.1* percentage points on an organic basis). This reduction reflected the impact of continued revenue declines in Europe, particularly in Spain, Germany and Italy, which offset broadly stable margins in AMAP.

Adjusted operating profit decreased to GBP1.8 billion from GBP2.5 billion in the prior period as higher reported EBITDA was offset by higher amortisation and depreciation, mainly due to the acquisition of KDG and the consolidation of Vodafone Italy.

The adjusted effective tax rate for the first half was 30.6% and includes the impact from foreign exchange losses. Excluding this impact the adjusted effective tax rate would be 29.5%. We recognised an additional deferred tax asset of GBP5.5 billion (2014: GBP14.9 billion) which takes our total deferred tax assets to GBP25.4 billion.

Adjusted earnings per share(1) of 2.63 pence fell 46.5% mainly reflecting the Group's lower adjusted operating profit over the period.

Free cash flow(2) was GBP0.0 billion, down GBP1.9 billion from the same period last year as lower payments for taxation were offset by lower dividends received from associates and investments and higher capital expenditure (GBP3.9 billion compared to GBP2.3 billion last year) associated with the Project Spring investment programme.

Net debt as at 30 September 2014 was GBP21.8 billion, (or GBP18.6 billion taking into account the Verizon loan notes) compared to GBP13.7 billion at 31 March 2014. Net debt includes the impact of the acquisitions of Ono in July 2014 for GBP5.8 billion and Cobra Automotive in August 2014 for GBP0.2 billion.

The Board is recommending an interim dividend per share of 3.60 pence, up 2.0% year-on-year, in line with our intention to increase the full year dividend per share annually.

Europe

Service revenue declined 6.5%* in H1, reflecting ongoing pressures from competition, regulation and weak economies. However, trends are showing signs of stabilisation, with Q2 service revenue growth of -5.0%* (Q1: -7.9%) reflecting sequential improvements in almost all European markets.

Mobile service revenue declined 7.3%* (Q1: -9.0%*; Q2: -5.6%*). The main factors behind this improvement include the growth of our contract customer base over recent quarters (aided by lower churn), the benefits to ARPU of 4G and increased data usage, a more stable pricing environment in some markets, and a weak prior period.

Revenue from fixed services declined 2.5%* (Q1: -2.8%*; Q2: -2.1%*), with growth in Spain, Italy and Portugal offset by continued declines in Germany and the UK. KDG continued to grow strongly, driven in part by 108,000 broadband net additions. Fixed revenue in Europe now accounts for 23.7% of total service revenue (compared to 18.1% in the prior year).

Organic EBITDA fell 16.3%* and the EBITDA margin reduced to 28.3%, representing a decrease of 0.4 percentage points, or 3.0* percentage points on an organic basis. This reflects the decline in revenue, increased customer investment and the cost impact of Project Spring, partly offset by a reduction in other operating expenses.

AMAP

Organic service revenue in the AMAP region, which accounts for 30.5% of total service revenue, increased by 5.7%*, with continued strong growth in most markets. The region continues to benefit from strong customer growth, increased usage of voice and data services, and effective marketing and pricing strategies. In the first half the customer base increased by 11 million to 313 million, and voice and data usage increased 9% and 110% respectively. During the period the pace of service revenue growth improved from 4.7%* in Q1 to 6.8%* in Q2, particularly driven by India, Turkey and Egypt. The contribution from data services increased notably, with the number of data users up 29% compared to last year, to 103 million.

Organic EBITDA increased 5.3%* and the EBITDA margin was 30.2%. The EBITDA margin fell 0.3 percentage points on both a reported and organic basis, as increased operating costs from Project Spring and inflationary pressures offset the scale benefits of continued revenue growth.

Strategic and commercial progress

Project Spring

Our two year programme to invest GBP19 billion to accelerate and extend our network and service differentiation in our key markets is progressing well. We are on track to meet our planned network deployment targets, with 21,000 4G sites and 38,000 new high capacity backhaul sites, added since last September. As a result the 4G network in Europe now covers 59% of the population, up from 32% a year ago, and 82% of data sessions take place at speeds greater than 3 Mbps. Over the same period in India we added approximately 12,400 3G sites and now provide 3G coverage across 89% of targeted urban areas. In the fixed business we have also deployed high speed next generation network technology to pass a further 1.6 million households in Europe. In terms of customer service, 26% of the targeted 8,000 stores across the Group have been refurbished so far, and our investments in IT and digital platforms have helped to improve the customer experience and reduce call centre call volumes.

Our investment in the network is delivering clear improvements in network quality. Dropped call rates across Europe have reduced 0.19 percentage points year-on-year to 0.71% and the average call set up success rate improved from 98.8% to 99.7%. Independent network tests in 20 Vodafone European and AMAP markets show that we have the best or equal-best networks for 3G data in 15 markets and for voice in 18 markets.

Our Project Spring investment programme is also delivering further innovation and enhancement to services. High Definition voice technology, for exceptionally clear mobile calls, is now live in 15 markets; 4G carrier aggregation, which bonds together multiple spectrum blocks to increase mobile data speeds significantly is live in the UK, Spain, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic, and will be operational in more European markets by March 2015; and Voice over LTE ('VoLTE'), which reduces call set up times and provides more stable and high quality calls using 4G technology, is currently being trialled in several European markets. Innovation is also taking place in our fixed business. In Germany, for example, KDG, has started to deploy its high speed 200 Mbps cable broadband product as an addition to the standard 100 Mbps offer.

Consumer

The take-up of data services continues to grow, and data traffic growth on our networks is accelerating. We now have 165 million data users across the Group, driving a 77% year-on-year growth in data usage in H1 (59% in Europe and 110% in AMAP). In India alone we now have 57 million data users, of which 14 million are using 3G.

Our 10.5 million 4G customers across the Group use, on average, 2 to 3 times the amount of data as compared with 3G customers driven by the improved user experience offered by 4G data connections. As a result 4G now accounts for 21% of data traffic in our European markets, compared to 16% a year ago. We continue to enhance our 4G propositions with a mixture of attractive music, sport and TV content to increase adoption and usage. We now have content deals in 10 markets and 4G customers that buy content services typically use significantly more data than those without bundled content.

Our Vodafone Red plans, which offer unlimited calls and texts combined with generous data allowances, are now used by 16.1 million customers, with 3.9 million added in H1. Our Vodafone Red plans account for around half of service revenue in the consumer contract segment in Europe and typically lead to both higher data and voice usage as compared to standard plans, and the ARPU dilution from customers migrating to Red plans continues to stabilise. During the last quarter we launched Vodafone Red across India, taking the number of Vodafone markets to 21. We also introduced Vodafone 'Red +' plans, which enable several customers to share one large data plan across a number of devices, in the UK and New Zealand, with more markets to follow later in the year.

Our transition from a predominantly mobile company to a unified communications provider is well advanced. Our fixed broadband customer base grew to around 11.2 million (10.5 million in Europe) at the end of the period, including 1.6 million customers gained from the acquisition of Ono in Spain in July 2014, making us one of the largest fixed broadband providers in Europe. Fixed service revenue across the Group now accounts for 18.7% of total service revenue.

The process of integrating KDG in Germany and Ono in Spain remains on track. In Germany cross-selling of fixed and mobile services and joint marketing of integrated plans is underway, the migration of DSL customers to cable has begun, and network integration has commenced. In Spain cross-selling started in August, the migration of DSL customers to fibre has commenced, and from 1 September one common leadership team manages both the fixed and mobile businesses.

Our fibre deployment plans in Italy, Spain, Portugal and Ireland are progressing. We have recently launched a combined fixed broadband and TV service in the Netherlands, and are announcing today our plans to launch residential broadband services in the UK in Spring 2015, leveraging the infrastructure acquired with Cable & Wireless Worldwide ('CWW'). Taking into account our wholesale agreements we have access to fibre passing 42 million homes across Europe, representing 29% of households, of which 4.4 million households actively use our fibre services.

During the last quarter, we announced the acquisition of an additional 73% of the share capital of Hellas Online ('HOL') for a total cash consideration of EUR72.7 million (GBP57 million), taking our interest to 91%. HOL is a leading provider of fixed broadband and telephony services in Greece and will accelerate our unified communications strategy in the Greek market. The transaction is expected to complete in the fourth quarter of the 2014 calendar year, following which Vodafone Greece will extend a mandatory takeover offer for the remaining shares in HOL. The purchase price implies an enterprise value for 100% of HOL of EUR311 million (GBP242 million).

We continue to drive adoption of a range of innovative consumer services to differentiate our offerings and deliver commercial benefits including incremental revenue and lower churn:

-- Our money transfer service, M-Pesa, which operates principally in emerging markets, now serves 18.5 million active customers, up 16% on last year. During the period the M-Pesa product portfolio was enhanced with the introduction of our savings and loans proposition (M-Pawa), in partnership with the Commercial Bank of Africa, and our merchant proposition (Lipa Kwa M-Pesa), both in Tanzania.

-- Our mobile payment service for European markets, Vodafone Wallet, expanded to the UK and Italy, taking the number of markets to five.

-- Two million customers now take our mobile security services to protect against viruses and harmful websites in two markets - Italy and Portugal.

Enterprise

In Enterprise we continue to focus on strategic growth areas, as corporate customers look to mobility to improve the productivity of their workforces and to enhance the value of services they provide to their own customers. Revenue at Vodafone Global Enterprise, which provides services to multinational companies, rose 1%* in Q2, supported by a number of significant contract wins including new services for British Gas, Aviva and Robert Bosch. In machine-to-machine, in which we are a global market leader, revenue growth was 24%*. The acquisition of Cobra Automotive Technologies, which was completed in August, expands our M2M capability beyond connectivity and significantly strengthens our telematics and application services capabilities.

We are also executing on our plans to become a key unified communications provider to businesses. 24% of our Enterprise service revenue in Europe is now from fixed line, as we invest in and enhance the platforms acquired with CWW to take services such as Cloud & Hosting and IP-VPN into new geographical markets. Vodafone One Net, our cloud-based integrated fixed and mobile platform for small and medium sized companies, is now used by 3.6 million customers, representing an increase of 11% year-on-year.

Organisational efficiency

We continue to use the benefits of our global reach and scale to standardise and simplify the way we do business to both improve our cost efficiency and improve customer service. We continue to centralise procurement within the Group; 15,000 employees work in lower cost shared service centres, as compared to 13,500 in March 2014; and the number of customers now using our MyVodafone mobile self-care app increased by 68% to 9.8 million, which helps to reduce calls made to call centres and in turn customer care costs.

Outlook and guidance(3)

The overall performance of the Group in the first half of the current financial year has been in line with our expectations. Competitive, macroeconomic and regulatory pressures, particularly in Europe, continue. However, we are seeing some signs of stabilisation in our commercial performance and operating trends, and some markets are beginning to demonstrate the early benefits of our Project Spring investment programme.

We anticipate that our investments will begin to translate into further improvements in network performance and customer perception over the coming quarters. In the medium term, this will become more consistently evident in key operational metrics such as churn and ARPU; and subsequently into revenue, profitability and cash flow.

We now expect EBITDA for the 2015 financial year to be in the range of GBP11.6 billion to GBP11.9 billion, and free cash flow to be positive, after all capex. Guidance excludes Ono.

Notes:

* All amounts in this document marked with an "*" represent organic growth which presents performance on a comparable basis, both in terms of merger and acquisition activity and movements in foreign exchange rates.

1 Adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations excludes the results and related tax charge of the Group's former investment in Verizon Wireless in the prior period and the recognition of deferred tax assets in both periods.

2 Free cash flow for the six months ended 30 September 2014 excludes GBP167 million of restructuring costs (2013: GBP107 million), a GBP365 million UK pensions contribution payment, GBP359 million of Verizon Wireless tax dividends received after the completion of the disposal, GBP328 million of interest paid on the settlement of the Piramal option, GBP116 million of KDG incentive scheme payments that vested upon acquisition and a GBP100 million (2013: GBP100 million) payment in respect of the Group's historic UK tax settlement.

   3    See "Guidance" on page 7. 

GROUP FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 
                                                      Six months 
                                                           ended 
                                                    30 September                Change 
                                                                  -------------------- 
                                                 2014       2013   Reported   Organic* 
                                      Page       GBPm       GBPm          %          % 
---------------------------------  -------  ---------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
 Statutory basis (Note 1) 
 Group revenue                          22     20,752     19,061        8.9      (3.0) 
 Operating profit                       22        917      2,196     (58.2) 
 Profit before taxation                 22        406      1,514     (73.2) 
 Profit for the financial period 
  from continuing operations 
  (Note 2)                              22      5,501     15,711     (65.0) 
 Basic earnings per share (Note 
  2)                                    22     20.48p     67.73p     (69.8) 
 Net cash flow from operating 
  activities                        25, 32      3,691      3,878      (4.8) 
 
 Adjusted statutory basis (Note 
  3) 
 Group service revenue                   8     19,139     17,532        9.2      (2.8) 
 EBITDA                                  8      5,884      5,576        5.5     (10.0) 
 EBITDA margin                           8      28.4%      29.3%    (0.9pp)    (2.1pp) 
 Adjusted operating profit 
  (Note 4)                               8      1,756      2,490     (29.5)     (29.9) 
 Adjusted profit before tax             10      1,074      1,949     (44.9) 
 Adjusted effective tax rate 
  (Note 5)                              10      30.6%      31.8% 
 Adjusted profit attributable 
  to owners of the parent           11, 41        697      1,303     (46.5) 
 Adjusted earnings per share 
  from continuing operations 
  (Note 6)                          11, 41      2.63p      4.92p     (46.5) 
 Capital expenditure                    18      3,901      2,329       67.5 
 Free cash flow (Note 7)                18          1      1,947     (99.9) 
 Net debt                            18,19   (21,832)   (23,933)      (8.8) 
---------------------------------  -------  ---------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
 

Notes:

* All amounts in this document marked with an "*" represent organic growth which presents performance on a comparable basis, both in terms of merger and acquisition activity and movements in foreign exchange rates. See page 38 for "Use of non-GAAP financial information".

1 Statutory basis prepared in accordance with IFRS accounting principles, including the results of the Group's joint ventures using the equity accounting basis and the profit contribution from Verizon Wireless to 2 September 2013 as discontinued operations.

2 Six months ended 30 September 2014 includes the recognition of GBP5,468 million of deferred tax assets in respect of tax losses in Luxembourg. Six months ended 30 September 2013 included the recognition of a deferred tax asset in respect of tax losses in Germany (GBP1,838 million) and Luxembourg (GBP16,069 million) and the estimated tax liability related to the rationalisation and reorganisation of our non-US assets prior to the disposal of our stake in Verizon Wireless (GBP3,016 million).

   3    See page 38 for "Use of non-GAAP financial information" and page 45 for "Definition of terms". 

4 Adjusted operating profit has been redefined to exclude amortisation of customer bases and brand intangible assets of GBP637 million for the six months ended 30 September 2014 (2013: GBP125 million).

5 The adjusted effective tax rate for the six months ended 30 September 2013 has been restated to exclude the results and related tax expense of Verizon Wireless and to show the adjusted tax rate as calculated on the same basis as the current year.

6 Adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations excludes the results and related tax charge of the Group's former investment in Verizon Wireless in the prior period and the recognition of deferred tax assets in both periods.

7 Free cash flow for the six months ended 30 September 2014 excludes GBP167 million of restructuring costs (2013: GBP107 million), a GBP365 million UK pensions contribution payment, GBP359 million of Verizon Wireless tax dividends received after the completion of the disposal, GBP328 million of interest paid on the settlement of the Piramal option, GBP116 million of KDG incentive scheme payments that vested upon acquisition and a GBP100 million (2013: GBP100 million) payment in respect of the Group's historic UK tax settlement.

GUIDANCE

Please see page 38 for "Non-GAAP financial information", page 45 for "Definitions of terms" and page 46 for "Forward-looking statements".

2015 financial year guidance

 
                  Original guidance   Updated guidance 
                              GBPbn              GBPbn 
---------------  ------------------  ----------------- 
 EBITDA                   11.4-11.9          11.6-11.9 
 Free cash flow            Positive           Positive 
---------------  ------------------  ----------------- 
 

We now expect EBITDA to be in the range of GBP11.6 billion to GBP11.9 billion. We expect free cash flow to be positive after all capex, before the impact of M&A, spectrum purchases and restructuring costs. Total capex over the two years to March 2016 is expected to be around GBP19 billion, after which we anticipate capital intensity normalising to a level of 13-14% of annual revenue. Guidance excludes Ono.

Assumptions

We have based guidance for the 2015 financial year on our current assessment of the global macroeconomic outlook and assume foreign exchange rates of GBP1:EUR1.21, GBP1:INR 105.8 and GBP1:ZAR 18.4. It excludes the impact of licences and spectrum purchases, material one-off tax-related payments, restructuring costs and any fundamental structural change to the Eurozone. It also assumes no material change to the current structure of the Group.

Actual foreign exchange rates may vary from the foreign exchange rate assumptions used. A 1% change in the euro to sterling exchange rate would impact EBITDA by GBP60 million and have no material impact on free cash flow. A 1% change in the Indian Rupee to sterling exchange rate would impact EBITDA by GBP10 million and free cash flow by GBP5 million. A 1% change in the South African Rand to sterling exchange rate would impact EBITDA by GBP15 million and free cash flow by GBP5 million.

CONTENTS

 
                                                             Page 
 Financial results                                              8 
 Liquidity and capital resources                               18 
 Risk factors                                                  20 
 Responsibility statement                                      21 
 Unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements         22 
 Use of non-GAAP financial information                         38 
 Additional information                                        39 
 Other information (including forward-looking statements)      44 
 
 

FINANCIAL RESULTS

Group (Note 1)

 
                                                                         Six months 
                                                                            ended 
                                                                         30 September           Change 
                                                                     ------------------  -------------------- 
                                               Other 
                                               (Note 
                           Europe      AMAP       2)   Eliminations      2014      2013   Reported   Organic* 
                             GBPm      GBPm     GBPm           GBPm      GBPm      GBPm          %          % 
-----------------------  --------  --------  -------  -------------  --------  --------  ---------  --------- 
 Mobile in-bundle 
  revenue                   6,104     1,697       99              -     7,900     6,978 
 Mobile out-of-bundle 
  revenue                   2,610     2,876       12              -     5,498     5,863 
 Mobile incoming 
  revenue                     710       641        -              -     1,351     1,495 
 Fixed line revenue         3,104       378       93              -     3,575     2,423 
 Other service 
  revenue                     555       239       41           (20)       815       773 
-----------------------  --------  --------  -------  -------------  --------  --------  ---------  --------- 
 Service revenue 
  (Note 3)                 13,083     5,831      245           (20)    19,139    17,532        9.2      (2.8) 
 Other revenue                891       635       87              -     1,613     1,529 
-----------------------  --------  --------  -------  -------------  --------  --------  ---------  --------- 
 Revenue                   13,974     6,466      332           (20)    20,752    19,061        8.9      (3.0) 
 Direct costs             (3,274)   (1,739)    (203)             20   (5,196)   (4,745) 
 Customer costs           (3,173)   (1,019)       16              -   (4,176)   (3,931) 
 Operating expenses       (3,569)   (1,757)    (170)              -   (5,496)   (4,809) 
-----------------------  --------  --------  -------  -------------  --------  --------  ---------  --------- 
 EBITDA                     3,958     1,951     (25)              -     5,884     5,576        5.5     (10.0) 
 Depreciation and 
  amortisation 
  Acquired intangibles       (71)     (179)        -              -     (250)     (205) 
  Purchased licences        (530)      (95)        -              -     (625)     (625) 
  Other                   (2,418)     (803)        5              -   (3,216)   (2,521) 
 Share of result 
  in associates 
  and joint ventures          (2)      (35)        -              -      (37)       265 
-----------------------  --------  --------  -------  -------------  --------  --------  ---------  --------- 
 Adjusted operating 
  profit (Note 4)             937       839     (20)              -     1,756     2,490     (29.5)     (29.9) 
 Restructuring costs                                                     (84)     (210) 
 Amortisation of acquired customer base and 
  brand intangible assets                                               (637)     (125) 
 Other income and 
  expense                                                               (118)        41 
-----------------------  --------  --------  -------  -------------  --------  -------- 
 Operating profit                                                         917     2,196 
 Non-operating income and expense                                        (26)     (150) 
 Net financing costs                                                    (485)     (532) 
 Income tax, excluding the recognition of 
  additional deferred tax                                               (373)     (694) 
 Recognition of additional deferred tax (Note 
  5)                                                                    5,468    14,891 
-------------------------------------------------------------------  --------  -------- 
 Profit for the financial period from continuing 
  operations                                                            5,501    15,711 
 Profit for the financial period from discontinued 
  operations                                                                -     2,353 
-------------------------------------------------------------------  --------  -------- 
 Profit for the financial period                                        5,501    18,064 
-------------------------------------------------------------------  --------  -------- 
 

Notes:

* All amounts in this document marked with an "*" represent organic growth which presents performance on a comparable basis, both in terms of merger and acquisition activity and movements in foreign exchange rates. See page 38 for "Use of non-GAAP financial information".

1 Current period reflects average foreign exchange rates of GBP1:EUR1.24, GBP1:INR 100.88 and GBP1:ZAR 17.86.

2 The "Other" segment primarily represents the results of partner markets and the net result of unallocated central Group costs.

3 The analysis of mobile and fixed line service revenue for the six months ended 30 September 2013 has been restated following the integration of CWW into the UK business.

4 Adjusted operating profit has been redefined to exclude amortisation of customer bases and brand intangible assets of GBP637 million for the six months ended 30 September 2014 (2013: GBP125 million).

   5    Refer to page 29 for further details. 

FINANCIAL RESULTS

Revenue

Group revenue increased by 8.9% to GBP20.8 billion and service revenue increased 9.2% to GBP19.1 billion. Reported growth rates reflect the acquisitions of Kabel Deutschland ('KDG') in October 2013 and of Grupo Corporativo Ono, S.A. ('Ono') in July 2014, as well as the consolidation of Italy after we increased our ownership to 100% in February 2014.

In Europe, service revenue declined by 6.5%* as growing demand for 4G and data services continues to be offset by challenging competitive and macroeconomic pressures and the impact of MTR cuts.

In AMAP, service revenues increased by 5.7%* driven by continued strong growth in India, Turkey, Ghana and Qatar, good growth in Vodacom and Egypt, partially offset by declines in New Zealand.

EBITDA and operating profit

Group EBITDA increased 5.5% to GBP5.9 billion primarily driven by higher revenue partly offset by higher operating costs. On an organic basis, EBITDA fell 10.0%* and the Group's EBITDA margin fell 0.9 percentage points to 28.4% (or -2.1* percentage points on an organic basis), reflecting the impact of continued revenue declines in Europe, which offset broadly stable margins in AMAP.

Operating profit decreased to GBP0.9 billion from GBP2.2 billion in the prior period as higher EBITDA was offset by higher amortisation and depreciation, mainly due to the acquisition of KDG and the consolidation of Vodafone Italy.

Discontinued operations

On 2 September 2013 the Group announced it had reached an agreement with Verizon Communications Inc. to dispose of its US group whose principal asset was its 45% interest in Verizon Wireless. The Group ceased recognising its share of results in Verizon Wireless on 2 September 2013, and classified its investment as a held for sale asset and the results as a discontinued operation. The transaction completed on 21 February 2014.

Net financing costs

 
                                                         Six months ended 
                                                           30 September 
                                                            2014      2013 
                                                            GBPm      GBPm 
 ---------------------------------------------------   ---------  -------- 
 Investment income                                           305       171 
 Financing costs                                           (790)     (703) 
                                                       ---------  -------- 
 Net financing costs                                       (485)     (532) 
----------------------------------------------------   ---------  -------- 
 
 Analysed as: 
  Net financing costs before interest on settlement 
   of tax issues                                           (658)     (532) 
  Interest expense arising on settlement of 
   outstanding tax issues                                   (24)       (9) 
 ----------------------------------------------------  ---------  -------- 
                                                           (682)     (541) 
 Foreign exchange (Note 1)                                   197         9 
                                                       ---------  -------- 
                                                           (485)     (532) 
----------------------------------------------------   ---------  -------- 
 

Note:

1 Comprises foreign exchange rate differences reflected in the income statement in relation to certain intercompany balances.

Net financing costs before interest on settlement of tax issues increased by 24% primarily due to recognition of net foreign exchange losses and net mark-to-market losses offset by the impact of lower average net debt levels following the disposal of the Group's investment in Verizon Wireless and the acquisition of Ono.

Taxation

 
                                                              Six months ended 
                                                                30 September 
                                                                2014       2013 
                                                                GBPm       GBPm 
 --------------------------------------------------------   --------  --------- 
 Income tax expense: 
  - Continuing operations before recognition 
   of deferred tax                                               373        694 
  - Recognition of additional deferred tax 
   - continuing operations                                   (5,468)   (14,891) 
---------------------------------------------------------   --------  --------- 
 Total tax credit - continuing items                         (5,095)   (14,197) 
 Tax on adjustments to derive adjusted profit 
  before tax                                                     187         79 
 Recognition of deferred tax asset for losses 
  in Germany and Luxembourg                                    3,341     17,907 
 Deferred tax recognised on additional losses 
  in Luxembourg                                                2,127          - 
 Tax liability on US rationalisation and reorganisation            -    (3,016) 
 Deferred tax on use of Luxembourg losses 
  in the period                                                (272)      (232) 
---------------------------------------------------------   --------  --------- 
 Adjusted income tax expense                                     288        541 
 Share of associates' and joint venture's 
  tax                                                             58        116 
---------------------------------------------------------   --------  --------- 
 Adjusted income tax expense for calculating 
  adjusted tax rate                                              346        657 
---------------------------------------------------------   --------  --------- 
 Profit before tax 
 Total profit before tax - continuing operations                 406      1,514 
 Adjustments to derive adjusted profit before 
  tax (Note 1)                                                   668        435 
---------------------------------------------------------   --------  --------- 
 Adjusted profit before tax                                    1,074      1,949 
 Share of associates' and joint venture's 
  tax and non-controlling interest                                58        116 
---------------------------------------------------------   --------  --------- 
 Adjusted profit before tax for calculating 
  adjusted effective tax rate                                  1,132      2,065 
---------------------------------------------------------   --------  --------- 
 Adjusted effective tax rate                                   30.6%      31.8% 
---------------------------------------------------------   --------  --------- 
 

Note:

   1    See "Earnings per share" on page 11. 

The adjusted effective tax rate for the six months ended 30 September 2014 was 30.6%. The rate is higher than expected due to the impact from foreign exchange losses for which we are unable to take a tax deduction. Excluding this impact the adjusted effective tax rate would be 29.5%. This is in line with our expectation for the year and our tax rate is expected to remain in the high twenties over the medium term.

This tax rate does not include the impact of the recognition of an additional GBP3,341 million deferred tax asset in respect of the Group's historic tax losses in Luxembourg. The losses have been recognised as a consequence of the financing arrangements for the acquisition of Ono. The rate also excludes the use of Luxembourg losses in the half year (GBP272 million) and an additional asset in the year of GBP2,127 million arising from the revaluation of investments based upon the local GAAP financial statements.

The adjusted effective tax rate for the six months ended 30 September 2013 has been restated to exclude the results and related tax expense of Verizon Wireless and to show the adjusted tax rate as calculated on the same basis as the current year. The rate excludes the recognition of an additional deferred tax asset in respect of the Group's historic tax losses in Germany of GBP1,838 million (year ended 31 March 2014: GBP1,916 million) and Luxembourg of GBP16,069 million (year ended 31 March 2014: GBP17,402 million), the estimated US tax liability of GBP3,016 million (year ended 31 March 2014: GBP2,210 million) relating to the rationalisation and reorganisation of our non-US assets prior to the disposal of our interest in Verizon Wireless and excludes the use of Luxembourg losses in the half year (GBP232 million).

Earnings per share

Adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations, which excludes the results and related tax charge of the Group's former investment in Verizon Wireless in the prior period and the recognition of deferred tax assets in both periods, was 2.63 pence, a decrease of 46.5% year-on-year, reflecting the Group's lower adjusted operating profit over the same period.

Basic earnings per share decreased to 20.48 pence (2013: 67.73 pence) due to the prior period impact of the disposal of the Group's investment in Verizon Wireless and the recognition of a higher deferred tax assets in the prior period compared to the current period, as described above, both of which have been excluded from adjusted earnings per share.

 
                                                     Six months ended 
                                                       30 September 
                                                   ------------------- 
                                                       2014       2013 
                                                       GBPm       GBPm 
 -----------------------------------------------   --------  --------- 
 Profit attributable to owners of the parent          5,422     17,954 
------------------------------------------------   --------  --------- 
 Adjustments: 
  Amortisation of acquired customer base and 
   brand intangible assets                              637        125 
  Restructuring costs                                    84        210 
  Other income and expense                              118       (41) 
  Non-operating income and expense                       26        150 
  Investment income and financing costs               (197)        (9) 
 ------------------------------------------------  --------  --------- 
                                                        668        435 
  -----------------------------------------------  --------  --------- 
 Taxation (Note 1)                                  (5,383)   (14,738) 
 Discontinued operations (Note 2)                         -    (2,353) 
 Non-controlling interests                             (10)          5 
                                                   --------  --------- 
 Adjusted profit attributable to owners of 
  the parent                                            697      1,303 
------------------------------------------------   --------  --------- 
                                                    Million    Million 
 -----------------------------------------------   --------  --------- 
 Weighted average number of shares outstanding 
  - basic (Note 3)                                   26,470     26,509 
 Weighted average number of shares outstanding 
  - diluted (Note 3)                                 26,615     26,707 
------------------------------------------------   --------  --------- 
 Earnings per share 
------------------------------------------------   --------  --------- 
                                                      Pence      Pence 
 -----------------------------------------------   --------  --------- 
 Basic earnings per share                            20.48p     67.73p 
 Adjusted earnings per share from continuing 
  operations                                          2.63p      4.92p 
------------------------------------------------   --------  --------- 
 

Notes:

1 Six months ended 30 September 2014 includes the recognition of GBP5,468 million of deferred tax assets in respect of tax losses in Luxembourg. Six months ended 30 September 2013 includes the recognition of a deferred tax asset in respect of tax losses in Germany (GBP1,838 million) and Luxembourg (GBP16,069 million) and the estimated tax liability related to the rationalisation and reorganisation of our non-US assets prior to the disposal of our stake in Verizon Wireless (GBP3,016 million).

2 Discontinued operations represent the results and related tax charge of our US group whose principal asset was its 45% interest in Verizon Wireless, the disposal of which was announced on 2 September 2013 and completed on 21 February 2014.

3 On 19 February 2014, we announced a "6 for 11" share consolidation effective on 24 February 2014. This had the effect of reducing the number of shares in issue from 52,821,751,216 ordinary shares (including 4,351,833,492 ordinary shares held in Treasury) as at the close of business on 18 February 2014 to 28,811,864,298 new ordinary shares in issue immediately after the share consolidation on 24 February 2014. Prior year comparatives have been restated.

FINANCIAL RESULTS

Europe

 
                                                                   Other 
                            Germany   Italy       UK     Spain    Europe   Eliminations    Europe       % change 
                                                                                                   ----------------- 
                               GBPm    GBPm     GBPm      GBPm      GBPm           GBPm      GBPm      GBP   Organic 
 ------------------------  --------  ------  -------  --------  --------  -------------  --------  -------  -------- 
 30 September 2014 
 Mobile in-bundle 
  revenue                     1,728     994    1,264       884     1,234              -     6,104 
 Mobile out-of-bundle 
  revenue                       481     552      640       264       673              -     2,610 
 Mobile incoming 
  revenue                       129     148      178        57       198              -       710 
 Fixed line revenue           1,528     348      733       314       181              -     3,104 
 Other service revenue          169      97      148        77       101           (37)       555 
-------------------------  --------  ------  -------  --------  --------  -------------  --------  -------  -------- 
 Service revenue              4,035   2,139    2,963     1,596     2,387           (37)    13,083     19.0     (6.5) 
 Other revenue                  293     219      129       104       149            (3)       891 
-------------------------  --------  ------  -------  --------  --------  -------------  --------  -------  -------- 
 Revenue                      4,328   2,358    3,092     1,700     2,536           (40)    13,974     18.6     (7.1) 
 Direct costs               (1,033)   (530)    (798)     (404)     (547)             38   (3,274) 
 Customer costs               (914)   (448)    (785)     (539)     (489)              2   (3,173) 
 Operating expenses           (995)   (593)    (864)     (450)     (667)              -   (3,569) 
-------------------------  --------  ------  -------  --------  --------  -------------  --------  -------  -------- 
 EBITDA                       1,386     787      645       307       833              -     3,958     17.1    (16.3) 
 Depreciation and 
  amortisation: 
  Acquired intangibles            -    (68)        -         -       (3)              -      (71) 
  Purchased licences          (242)       -    (188)       (5)      (95)              -     (530) 
  Other                       (828)   (384)    (447)     (346)     (413)              -   (2,418) 
 Share of result 
  in associates and 
  joint ventures                  1       -      (5)         -         2              -       (2) 
-------------------------  --------  ------  -------  --------  --------  -------------  --------  -------  -------- 
 Adjusted operating 
  profit                        317     335        5      (44)       324              -       937   (35.9)    (43.9) 
-------------------------  --------  ------  -------  --------  --------  -------------  --------  -------  -------- 
 EBITDA margin                32.0%   33.4%    20.9%     18.1%     32.8%                    28.3% 
 30 September 2013 
 Mobile in-bundle 
  revenue                     1,834       -    1,224       983     1,268              -     5,309 
 Mobile out-of-bundle 
  revenue                       607       -      678       362       848              -     2,495 
 Mobile incoming 
  revenue                       156       -      194        87       240              -       677 
 Fixed line revenue             851       -      818       161       159            (1)     1,988 
 Other service revenue          183       -      144       101       120           (26)       522 
-------------------------  --------  ------  -------  --------  --------  -------------  -------- 
 Service revenue              3,631       -    3,058     1,694     2,635           (27)    10,991 
 Other revenue                  269       -      167       145       209            (2)       788 
-------------------------  --------  ------  -------  --------  --------  -------------  -------- 
 Revenue                      3,900       -    3,225     1,839     2,844           (29)    11,779 
 Direct costs                 (858)       -    (892)     (384)     (597)             29   (2,702) 
 Customer costs               (923)       -    (765)     (602)     (585)              -   (2,875) 
 Operating expenses           (791)       -    (866)     (431)     (734)              -   (2,822) 
-------------------------  --------  ------  -------  --------  --------  -------------  -------- 
 EBITDA                       1,328       -      702       422       928              -     3,380 
 Depreciation and 
  amortisation: 
  Acquired intangibles            -       -        -         -       (3)              -       (3) 
  Purchased licences          (256)       -    (170)       (5)      (93)              -     (524) 
  Other                       (483)       -    (432)     (303)     (441)              -   (1,659) 
 Share of result 
  in associates and 
  joint ventures                  -     274      (6)         -         -              -       268 
-------------------------  --------  ------  -------  --------  --------  -------------  -------- 
 Adjusted operating 
  profit                        589     274       94       114       391              -     1,462 
-------------------------  --------  ------  -------  --------  --------  -------------  -------- 
 EBITDA margin                34.1%            21.8%     22.9%     32.6%                    28.7% 
 Change at constant 
  exchange rates                  %       %        %         %         % 
 Mobile in-bundle 
  revenue                     (0.1)       -      3.3     (4.6)       3.9 
 Mobile out-of-bundle 
  revenue                    (15.9)       -    (5.7)    (22.9)    (15.2) 
 Mobile incoming 
  revenue                    (12.5)       -    (8.4)    (31.0)    (11.4) 
 Fixed line revenue            90.4       -   (10.4)     107.2      20.7 
 Other service revenue        (2.7)       -      3.3    (19.2)     (9.7) 
-------------------------  --------  ------  -------  --------  -------- 
 Service revenue               17.8       -    (3.1)     (0.2)     (3.2) 
 Other revenue                 15.8       -   (22.5)    (24.1)    (24.4) 
-------------------------  --------  ------  -------  --------  -------- 
 Revenue                       17.6       -    (4.1)     (2.1)     (4.8) 
 Direct costs                (27.7)       -     10.5    (11.6)       2.1 
 Customer costs               (5.0)       -    (2.6)       5.1      11.1 
 Operating expenses          (33.2)       -      0.2    (10.4)       2.7 
-------------------------  --------  ------  -------  --------  -------- 
 EBITDA                        10.6       -    (8.1)    (23.0)     (4.2) 
 Depreciation and 
  amortisation: 
  Acquired intangibles            -       -        -         -       3.7 
  Purchased licences              -       -   (10.4)     (4.1)     (9.2) 
  Other                      (82.1)       -    (3.7)    (21.2)       0.6 
 Share of result 
  in associates and 
  joint ventures                  -       -     14.3         -      11.7 
-------------------------  --------  ------  -------  --------  -------- 
 Adjusted operating 
  profit                     (43.0)       -   (94.6)   (141.3)    (11.4) 
-------------------------  --------  ------  -------  --------  -------- 
 EBITDA margin movement 
  (pps)                       (2.1)            (0.9)     (4.9)       0.3 
 

Revenue increased 18.6%. M&A activity, including KDG, Ono and the consolidation of Vodafone Italy, contributed a 31.0 percentage point positive impact, while foreign exchange rate movements contributed a 5.3 percentage point negative impact. On an organic basis service revenue declined 6.5%*, driven primarily by a challenging operating environment in many markets, continued competition and the impact of MTR cuts.

EBITDA increased 17.1%, including a 39.1 percentage point positive impact from M&A activity and a 5.7 percentage point adverse impact from foreign exchange rate movements. On an organic basis EBITDA decreased 16.3%*, resulting from a reduction in organic service revenue in most markets, partially offset by increased cost efficiencies.

 
                                     Organic*        M&A    Foreign   Reported 
                                       change   activity   exchange     change 
                                            %        pps        pps          % 
----------------------------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
 Europe revenue                         (7.1)       31.0      (5.3)       18.6 
----------------------------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
 Service revenue 
 Germany                                (4.2)       22.0      (6.7)       11.1 
 Italy                                 (13.0)       13.0          -          - 
 UK                                     (3.1)          -          -      (3.1) 
 Spain                                 (12.4)       12.2      (5.6)      (5.8) 
 Other Europe                           (3.2)          -      (6.2)      (9.4) 
 Europe service revenue                 (6.5)       30.8      (5.3)       19.0 
----------------------------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
 EBITDA 
 Germany                               (16.4)       27.0      (6.2)        4.4 
 Italy                                 (21.7)       21.7          -          - 
 UK                                     (8.1)          -          -      (8.1) 
 Spain                                 (43.0)       20.0      (4.3)     (27.3) 
 Other Europe                           (4.2)          -      (6.0)     (10.2) 
 Europe EBITDA                         (16.3)       39.1      (5.7)       17.1 
----------------------------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
 Europe adjusted operating profit      (43.9)       11.7      (3.7)     (35.9) 
----------------------------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
 

Note:

* All amounts in this document marked with an "*" represent organic growth which presents performance on a comparable basis, both in terms of merger and acquisition activity and movements in foreign exchange rates. See page 38 for "Use of non-GAAP financial information".

Germany

Service revenue in H1 decreased 4.2%* excluding KDG, but increased quarter-on-quarter in local currency.

Mobile service revenue declined 4.6%* due mainly to the impact of price reductions implemented in the previous year. However, ARPU continued to stabilise quarter-on-quarter. The contract customer base continued to grow, driven by improved commercial performance and continued focus on Vodafone Red and 4G where we had over 3.8 million customers and 2.3 million customers respectively at 30 September 2014. The roll-out of 4G services continued with a focus on urban areas, with overall outdoor population coverage of 71% as at 30 September 2014, and we continued to make significant further improvements to our voice and data networks.

Fixed line revenue decreased 2.9%* excluding KDG. KDG maintained its strong growth and contributed GBP752 million to service revenue and GBP338 million to EBITDA.

EBITDA declined 16.4%*, with a 4.5* percentage point decline in EBITDA margin, driven by lower service revenue and a higher level of customer investment.

Italy

Service revenue decreased 13.0%* as improving trends in both mobile and fixed line, led by higher prices and improvements in the enterprise segment, were offset by the continuing effects of last year's summer prepaid price war, the difficult macroeconomic environment, and the negative impact of MTR cuts effective from July 2013.

Mobile service revenue declined 15.4%* due to the lower prepaid customer base and lower ARPU following last year's price cuts. Although there has been some recovery in prices, the consumer mobile market remains very competitive. Enterprise continued its strong commercial performance, with service revenue close to flat in Q2. Customer take-up of Vodafone Red, which had over 1.5 million customers at 30 September 2014, has continued to increase, leading to improved churn in the contract segment. 4G outdoor population coverage reached 64% at 30 September 2014.

Fixed line revenue grew 1.7%*, with continued broadband revenue growth, supported by further broadband customer additions, partially offset by declining fixed line voice usage. Vodafone Italy now offers fibre services in 8 cities and is continuing to progress on its own fibre build plans, with around 600 street cabinets connected to Vodafone fibre at 30 September 2014.

EBITDA declined 21.7%*, with a 3.5%* percentage point decline in EBITDA margin. The impact of lower service revenue was only partially offset by lower direct costs and customer investment, and strong efficiency improvements delivered on operating expenses, which fell 3.1%*.

UK

Service revenue decreased 3.1%* as consumer service revenue growth was offset by declines in fixed line and enterprise.

Mobile service revenue declined 0.5%*. We delivered strong growth in the consumer contract segment due to positive contract customer additions, continued good traction for ARPU accretive 4G plans bundled with content, and increased customer take-up of Vodafone Red plans, which was offset by pricing pressures in the fixed and enterprise segments. The roll-out of 4G services continued, with outdoor population coverage reaching over 48% and nearly 1.4 million 4G customers as at 30 September 2014.

Organic fixed line revenue (which includes the UK portion of CWW and carrier services) decreased 10.4%* as a result of low conversion of the sales pipeline and lower fixed termination rates. The sales pipeline continues to grow, supporting future revenue trends.

During the period we acquired 139 Phones 4U stores which will all be rebranded as Vodafone stores in November 2014 and signed a new multi-year distribution agreement with Dixons Carphone.

EBITDA declined 8.1%*, with a 0.9* percentage point decline in the EBITDA margin, driven by the lower service revenue and higher customer investment.

Spain

Service revenue decreased 12.4%* excluding Ono as a result of continued intense convergence price competition, macroeconomic pressure and an MTR cut from July 2013.

Mobile service revenue declined 14.8%* as a result of price reductions, a change in mix towards mid-tier handsets and increased SIM-only take-up. New tariffs with content have been launched to stabilize the ARPU trend in recent quarters. Despite the competitive environment, we continued to reduce customer churn as a result of an improved customer experience and the continued take-up of Vodafone Red plans, with over 1.8 million customers at 30 September 2014. In Q2, we achieved contract net additions growth for the first time in 3 years. We had over 1.7 million 4G customers as at 30 September 2014, with overall 4G outdoor population coverage of 63%.

Fixed line revenue grew 10.1%* excluding Ono, supported by strong net broadband customer additions. We now have more than 0.8 million homes covered by our joint fibre network with Orange. Following the acquisition of Ono on 23 July 2014, Ono contributed GBP199 million to service revenue and GBP86 million to EBITDA. The integration of Vodafone Spain and Ono continues to progress with the cross-selling of products already underway.

EBITDA declined 43.0%*, with a 7.8* percentage point decline in EBITDA margin, driven by lower service revenue, partially offset by lower direct costs and customer investment as well as lower operating expenses, which fell 2.9%*.

Other Europe

Service revenue declined 3.2%* due to price competition, the challenging macroeconomic environment and MTR cuts. Service revenue declined 2.2%*, 4.0%* and 4.7%* in the Netherlands, Portugal and Greece respectively. However, in every market apart from Portugal and Malta, the service revenue trend improved in Q2 from Q1. In the Netherlands, we now have nationwide 4G coverage, continue to grow the mobile contract base, and ARPU is stabilizing. In Portugal mobile service revenue continues to decline due to intense converged price competition while, in fixed line, revenue continues to grow, and we now have 1.2m households connected with fibre. In Greece the revenue trend is improving due to customer base growth and ARPU stabilisation.

EBITDA declined 4.2%*, with a 0.3* percentage point increase in EBITDA margin, driven by lower revenues, partially offset by lower direct costs, customer investment and operating expenses.

Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific

 
                                                   Other 
                             India     Vodacom      AMAP   Eliminations      AMAP       % change 
                                                                                   ----------------- 
                              GBPm        GBPm      GBPm           GBPm      GBPm      GBP   Organic 
 ------------------------  -------  ----------  --------  -------------  --------  -------  -------- 
 30 September 2014 
 Mobile in-bundle 
  revenue                      377         528       792              -     1,697 
 Mobile out-of-bundle 
  revenue                    1,249         958       669              -     2,876 
 Incoming revenue              293         102       246              -       641 
 Fixed line revenue             81           1       296              -       378 
 Other service revenue          47         131        61              -       239 
-------------------------  -------  ----------  --------  -------------  --------  -------  -------- 
 Service revenue             2,047       1,720     2,064              -     5,831    (7.7)       5.7 
 Other revenue                  10         382       243              -       635 
-------------------------  -------  ----------  --------  -------------  --------  -------  -------- 
 Revenue                     2,057       2,102     2,307              -     6,466    (7.2)       6.5 
 Direct costs                (647)       (304)     (788)              -   (1,739) 
 Customer costs               (88)       (598)     (333)              -   (1,019) 
 Operating expenses          (715)       (465)     (577)              -   (1,757) 
-------------------------  -------  ----------  --------  -------------  --------  -------  -------- 
 EBITDA                        607         735       609              -     1,951    (8.2)       5.3 
 Depreciation and 
  amortisation: 
  Acquired intangibles       (125)        (36)      (18)              -     (179) 
  Purchased licences          (35)         (2)      (58)              -      (95) 
  Other                      (250)       (189)     (364)              -     (803) 
 Share of result in 
  associates and joint 
  ventures                       -         (4)      (31)              -      (35) 
-------------------------  -------  ----------  --------  -------------  --------  -------  -------- 
 Adjusted operating 
  profit                       197         504       138              -       839   (13.3)       1.0 
-------------------------  -------  ----------  --------  -------------  --------  -------  -------- 
 EBITDA margin               29.5%       35.0%     26.4%                    30.2% 
 30 September 2013 
 Mobile in-bundle 
  revenue                      297         518       730              -     1,545 
 Mobile out-of-bundle 
  revenue                    1,329       1,180       855              -     3,364 
 Incoming revenue              354         170       294              -       818 
 Fixed line revenue             12           1       324              -       337 
 Other service revenue          46         142        64              -       252 
-------------------------  -------  ----------  --------  -------------  -------- 
 Service revenue             2,038       2,011     2,267              -     6,316 
 Other revenue                  10         431       212              -       653 
-------------------------  -------  ----------  --------  -------------  -------- 
 Revenue                     2,048       2,442     2,479              -     6,969 
 Direct costs                (632)       (383)     (873)              -   (1,888) 
 Customer costs               (80)       (658)     (325)              -   (1,063) 
 Operating expenses          (732)       (513)     (647)              -   (1,892) 
-------------------------  -------  ----------  --------  -------------  -------- 
 EBITDA                        604         888       634              -     2,126 
 Depreciation and 
  amortisation: 
  Acquired intangibles       (139)        (42)      (24)              -     (205) 
  Purchased licences          (37)         (2)      (62)              -     (101) 
  Other                      (262)       (210)     (378)              -     (850) 
 Share of result in 
  associates and joint 
  ventures                    (50)           -        48              -       (2) 
-------------------------  -------  ----------  --------  -------------  -------- 
 Adjusted operating 
  profit                       116         634       218              -       968 
-------------------------  -------  ----------  --------  -------------  -------- 
 EBITDA margin               29.5%       36.4%     25.6%                    30.5% 
 Change at constant 
  exchange rates 
 Mobile in-bundle 
  revenue                     40.9        20.8      25.8 
 Mobile out-of-bundle 
  revenue                      4.6       (5.2)     (9.5) 
 Incoming revenue            (7.7)      (29.9)     (0.4) 
 Fixed line revenue          629.8       158.6       0.5 
 Other service revenue        10.4         6.2      11.6 
-------------------------  -------  ----------  -------- 
 Service revenue              11.7         0.2       5.1 
 Other revenue                16.8         4.9      31.8 
-------------------------  -------  ----------  -------- 
 Revenue                      11.7         1.0       7.4 
 Direct costs               (14.0)         8.5     (4.8) 
 Customer costs             (21.8)       (8.0)    (19.4) 
 Operating expenses          (8.5)       (5.5)     (3.5) 
-------------------------  -------  ----------  -------- 
 EBITDA                       11.9       (2.7)       8.6 
 Depreciation and 
  amortisation: 
  Purchased licences         (3.6)         3.9     (3.9) 
  Other                      (6.4)       (5.2)    (10.7) 
 Share of result in 
  associates and joint 
  ventures                    99.2   (3,728.3)   (169.4) 
-------------------------  -------  ----------  -------- 
 Adjusted operating 
  profit                     101.6       (6.2)    (31.9) 
-------------------------  -------  ----------  -------- 
 EBITDA margin movement 
  (pps)                          -       (1.3)       0.3 
 

Revenue declined 7.2% as a result of a 13.7 percentage point adverse impact from foreign exchange rate movements, particularly with regards to the Indian rupee, the South African rand and the Turkish lira. On an organic basis service revenue grew 5.7%* driven by a higher customer base, increased customer voice usage and demand for data and strong commercial execution, partially offset by the impact of MTR reductions.

EBITDA decreased 8.2%, including a 13.2 percentage point adverse impact from foreign exchange rate movements. On an organic basis, EBITDA grew 5.3%* driven by strong growth in India, Turkey, Qatar and Ghana, and an improved performance in Egypt.

 
                                   Organic*      Other    Foreign   Reported 
                                     change   activity   exchange     change 
                                          %        pps        pps          % 
--------------------------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
 AMAP revenue                           6.5          -     (13.7)      (7.2) 
--------------------------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
 Service revenue 
 India                                 11.7          -     (11.3)        0.4 
 Vodacom                                0.2          -     (14.7)     (14.5) 
 Other AMAP                             5.1          -     (14.1)      (9.0) 
 AMAP service revenue                   5.7          -     (13.4)      (7.7) 
--------------------------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
 EBITDA 
 India                                 11.9          -     (11.4)        0.5 
 Vodacom                              (2.7)          -     (14.5)     (17.2) 
 Other AMAP                             9.8      (1.2)     (12.5)      (3.9) 
 AMAP EBITDA                            5.3      (0.3)     (13.2)      (8.2) 
--------------------------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
 AMAP adjusted operating profit         1.0      (0.8)     (13.5)     (13.3) 
--------------------------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
 

Note:

* All amounts in this document marked with an "*" represent organic growth which presents performance on a comparable basis, both in terms of merger and acquisition activity and movements in foreign exchange rates. See page 38 for "Use of non-GAAP financial information".

India

Service revenue increased 11.7%*, driven by continued customer growth, strong data usage and improved voice pricing. Mobile customers increased by 7.3 million during the first half of the financial year giving a closing customer base of 173.8 million at 30 September 2014.

Data usage grew 94.6%, primarily driven by mobile internet customer growth. At 30 September 2014 active data customers totalled 57.2 million, including 13.6 million 3G customers and 33.9 million smartphone users representing 19.5% penetration of the total customer base.

We continue to make good progress on several key initiatives. We have accelerated our Project Spring investment programme, with 3,145 3G sites added in Q2 (Q1: 2,305), taking 3G coverage in targeted urban areas to 89%. Vodafone Red was launched in India in August, attracting some 163,000 customers by the end of September. M-Pesa continues to expand rapidly, with over 79,000 sales agents and 2.1 million registered customers (Q1: 1.5 million), of which approximately 370,000 are active.

EBITDA grew 11.9%*, with EBITDA margins remaining stable, as higher service revenue and resulting economies of scale on costs were offset by higher acquisition costs.

Vodacom

Service revenue increased 0.2%* as growth in Vodacom's mobile operations outside South Africa were offset by the negative impact of MTR cuts in South Africa.

In South Africa, organic service revenue decreased 1.3%* as strong growth in data revenue of 21.6%* driven by higher active data customers and smartphone penetration was offset by intensifying price competition and a 4.2 percentage point negative impact of an MTR cut which took effect from 1 April 2014. We relaunched M-Pesa in South Africa in August with a segmented proposition offer.

Vodacom's mobile operations outside of South Africa delivered service revenue growth of 6.2%* mainly from continued customer base growth as we continue to invest in expanding our data and voice networks. M-Pesa continued to perform well across all of Vodacom's mobile operations outside of South Africa, with over 5 million customers actively using the service.

EBITDA declined 2.7%* with a 1.3* percentage point decrease in EBITDA margin, driven by the reduced MTRs, weaker currency and increased customer investment.

On 14 April 2014, Vodacom announced the acquisition of the Vodacom customer base from Nashua Mobile, a mobile cellular service provider for South African mobile network operators. The transaction was approved by the Competition Commission on 29 September 2014. Customer migration will commence by the end of the 2014 calendar year.

We aim to complete the acquisition of Neotel by the end of the 2015 financial year, subject to regulatory approval.

Other AMAP

Service revenue increased 5.1%*, with growth in Turkey, Egypt, Qatar and Ghana which was partially offset by a decline in New Zealand.

Service revenue in Turkey increased 7.1%* reflecting continued strong growth in consumer contract and enterprise revenue, including higher ARPU and data usage, partly offset by a negative impact from voice and SMS MTR cuts. As at 30 September 2014 the total customer base in Turkey was 20.6 million, with continued acceleration in net additions largely driven by contract, Vodafone Red and higher smartphone penetration.

In Egypt service revenue increased 1.7%* as a result of an increase in data and voice usage and a more stable economic environment. Revenue increased 23.7%* in Qatar due to continued net customer additions and the success of segmented commercial offers. In Ghana, service revenue grew 19.1%*, driven by an increase in customers, higher data usage and re-pricing to mitigate the impact of the deteriorating economy.

EBITDA grew 9.8%* with a 0.6* percentage point improvement in EBITDA margin due to higher service revenue, the resulting economies of scale on costs and more efficient customer investment.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Cash flows and funding

 
                                                           Six months ended 30 
                                                                September 
                                                         ---------------------- 
                                                               2014        2013 
                                                               GBPm        GBPm 
-------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
 EBITDA                                                       5,884       5,576 
 Working capital                                            (1,072)        (46) 
 Other                                                           45          46 
-------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
 Cash generated by operations (excluding restructuring 
  costs) (Note 1)                                             4,857       5,576 
 Cash capital expenditure (Note 2)                          (3,907)     (2,869) 
-------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
  Capital expenditure                                       (3,901)     (2,329) 
  Working capital movement in respect of capital 
   expenditure                                                  (6)       (540) 
-------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
 Disposal of property, plant and equipment                       62          32 
-------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
 Operating free cash flow (Note 1)                            1,012       2,739 
 Taxation                                                     (418)     (1,491) 
 Dividends received from associates and investments             127       1,453 
-------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
  Tax distribution from VZW                                       -       1,422 
  Other                                                         127          31 
-------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
 Dividends paid to non-controlling shareholders 
  in subsidiaries                                             (140)       (150) 
 Interest received and paid                                   (580)       (604) 
-------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
 Free cash flow (Note 1)                                          1       1,947 
 Licence and spectrum payments                                (127)       (158) 
 Acquisitions and disposals (Note 3)                        (6,679)       (131) 
 Equity dividends paid                                      (1,979)     (3,360) 
 Purchase of treasury shares                                      -     (1,033) 
 Foreign exchange                                               843       1,902 
 Income dividend from VZW                                         -       2,067 
 Other (Note 4)                                               (191)         187 
-------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
 Net debt (increase)/decrease                               (8,132)       1,421 
 Opening net debt                                          (13,700)    (25,354) 
-------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
 Closing net debt                                          (21,832)    (23,933) 
-------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
 

Notes:

1 Cash generated by operations, operating free cash flow and free cash flow have been redefined to exclude restructuring costs for the six months ended 30 September 2014 of GBP167 million (2013: GBP107 million). See also note 4 below.

2 Cash capital expenditure comprises the purchase of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets, other than licence and spectrum payments, during the period.

3 Acquisitions and disposals for the six months ended 30 September 2014 primarily includes a GBP2,945 million payment in relation to the acquisition of the entire share capital of Ono plus GBP2,858 million of associated net debt acquired, a GBP563 million payment in relation to the acquisition of the remaining 10.97% equity interest in Vodafone India and GBP131 million payment in relation to acquisition of the entire share capital of Cobra plus GBP40 million of associated debt acquired.

4 Other cash flows for the six months ended 30 September 2014 include GBP167 million of restructuring costs (2013: GBP107 million), a GBP365 million UK pensions contribution payment, GBP359 million of Verizon Wireless tax dividends received after the completion of the disposal, GBP328 million of interest paid on the settlement of the Piramal option, GBP116 million of KDG incentive scheme payments that vested on acquisition and a GBP100 million (2013: GBP100 million) payment in respect of the Group's historic UK tax settlement.

Cash generated by operations decreased by 12.9% to GBP4.9 billion, primarily driven by working capital movements which more than offset the higher EBITDA.

Free cash flow decreased to GBP1 million compared to GBP1.9 billion in the prior period as lower payments for taxation were offset by higher cash capital expenditure and lower dividends received from associates and investments.

Capital expenditure increased GBP1.6 billion to GBP3.9 billion primarily driven by investments in the Group's networks as a result of Project Spring.

Payments for taxation decreased 72.0% to GBP0.4 billion and dividends received from associates and investments decreased GBP1.3 billion to GBP0.1 billion primarily as a result of the Group's disposal of its 45% interest in Verizon Wireless.

A foreign exchange gain of GBP0.8 billion was recognised on net debt due to favourable exchange rate movements resulting primarily from the weakening of the Euro and the Indian Rupee against Sterling.

Analysis of net debt:

 
                                                 30 September   31 March 
                                                         2014       2014 
                                                         GBPm       GBPm 
 ---------------------------------------------  -------------  --------- 
 Cash and cash equivalents                              5,891     10,134 
----------------------------------------------  -------------  --------- 
 Short-term borrowings 
  Bonds                                                 (417)    (1,783) 
  Commercial paper (Note 1)                           (3,562)      (950) 
  Put options over non-controlling interests          (1,391)    (2,330) 
  Bank loans                                          (3,483)    (1,263) 
  Other short-term borrowings (Note 2)                (1,588)    (1,421) 
 ---------------------------------------------  -------------  --------- 
                                                     (10,441)    (7,747) 
 ---------------------------------------------  -------------  --------- 
 Long-term borrowings 
  Put options over non-controlling interests              (5)        (6) 
  Bonds, loans and other long-term borrowings        (22,171)   (21,448) 
 ---------------------------------------------  -------------  --------- 
                                                     (22,176)   (21,454) 
 ---------------------------------------------  -------------  --------- 
 
 Other financial instruments (Note 3)                   4,894      5,367 
                                                -------------  --------- 
 Net debt                                            (21,832)   (13,700) 
----------------------------------------------  -------------  --------- 
 

Notes:

1 At 30 September 2014 US$3,311 million was drawn under the US commercial paper programme and EUR1,953 million was drawn under the euro commercial paper programme.

2 At 30 September 2014 the amount includes GBP1,476 million (31 March 2014: GBP1,185 million) in relation to cash received under collateral support agreements.

3 Comprises mark-to-market adjustments on derivative financial instruments which are included as a component of trade and other receivables (30 September 2014: GBP2,798 million; 31 March 2014: GBP2,443 million) and trade and other payables (30 September 2014: GBP726 million; 31 March 2014: GBP881 million) and short-term investments primarily in index linked government bonds and a managed investment fund included as a component of other investments (30 September 2014; GBP2,822 million, 31 March 2014: GBP3,805 million).

The following table sets out the Group's undrawn committed bank facilities:

 
                                                            30 September 
                                                                    2014 
                                                 Maturity           GBPm 
-------------------------------------------  ------------  ------------- 
 US$4.2 billion committed revolving credit 
  facility (Notes 1, 2)                        March 2017          2,617 
 EUR3.9 billion committed revolving credit 
  facility (Note 1)                            March 2019          3,006 
 Other committed credit facilities                Various            798 
-------------------------------------------  ------------  ------------- 
 Undrawn committed facilities                                      6,421 
---------------------------------------------------------  ------------- 
 

Notes:

1 Both facilities support US and euro commercial paper programmes of up to US$15 billion and GBP5.0 billion, respectively.

   2    US$155 million of this facility matures March 2016. 

The Group's GBP3,562 million of commercial paper due to mature within one year is covered 1.8 times by GBP6,421 million in undrawn committed facilities. In addition, the Group has historically generated significant amounts of free cash flow which has been allocated to pay dividends, repay maturing borrowings and pay for discretionary spending.

The Group has a EUR30 billion euro medium-term note ('EMTN') programme and a US shelf registration programme which are used to meet medium to long-term funding requirements. At 30 September 2014 the total amounts in issue under these programmes split by currency were US$14.6 billion, EUR7.8 billion and GBP1.7 billion.

At 30 September 2014 the Group had bonds outstanding with a nominal value of GBP17.3 billion (31 March 2014: GBP17.0 billion). During the six months ended 30 September 2014 the Group issued a EUR1.75 billion bond which matures in September 2020 and a EUR1.0 billion bond that matures in September 2025.

Dividends

The directors have announced an interim dividend per share of 3.60 pence, representing a 2.0% increase over the prior financial year's interim dividend. The ex-dividend date for the interim dividend is 20 November 2014 for ordinary shareholders, the record date is 21 November 2014 and the dividend is payable on 4 February 2015. Dividend payments on ordinary shares will be paid directly into a nominated bank or building society account.

RISK FACTORS

There are a number of key factors and uncertainties that could have a significant effect on the Group's financial performance, including the following:

Network or IT systems failure

Major failures of, or malicious attacks on, our network or IT systems may result in service interruption and consequential customer and revenue loss.

Failure to protect customer information

We host increasing quantities and types of customer data in both our enterprise and consumer segments, and any failure to protect adequately this data could affect our reputation or lead to legal action.

Competition

We operate in an increasingly competitive environment, where all operators are looking to secure a growing share of the potential customer base. This may lead to lower future revenues and profitability.

Regulation

We are required to comply with an extensive range of regulatory requirements including the licensing, construction and operation of our networks and services. To the extent that we need to commit significant expenditure and resources to maintain such compliance, our business, financial condition and results of operation could be materially and adversely affected.

Converged and over-the-top "OTT" services

Several of our competitors offer converged services that we may not be able to replicate or provide at similar price points. Furthermore, recent advances in smartphone technology have been more focused on the type and quality of applications, operating systems and devices being offered, rather than the quality of services provided by operators. To the extent that consumers may in the future prefer to use applications and services offered by our competitors over those that we offer, notwithstanding the quality of our services, our revenues could be materially and adversely affected.

Weak economic conditions

Economic conditions in many markets, especially in Europe, continue to stagnate or show nominal levels of growth. Some markets remain impacted by austerity measures which could affect disposable incomes and may result in customers moving to lower-priced plans or giving up their mobile devices.

Health risks

Concerns have been expressed that the electromagnetic signals emitted by mobile handsets and base stations may pose health risks. While authorities, including the World Health Organization ('WHO'), agree that there is no convincing evidence that exposure to radio frequency fields from mobile devices and base stations operated within guideline limits will result in any adverse health effects, such concerns, to the extent that they result in unfavourable press coverage or affect public perception of our services in the markets in which we operate, could result in material adverse effects on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

Integration of acquired businesses

The consideration that we pay for businesses that we acquire is based upon current and future expected cash flows that are expected to be generated from benefits and synergies resulting from being part of the Vodafone Group. If market conditions negatively impact the Group's future expected cash flows, or if we fail to deliver any expected integration benefits and synergies, then there may be an impairment of the carrying value of the acquired business.

Key suppliers

We depend on a limited number of suppliers for strategically important network and IT infrastructure and associated support services to operate and upgrade our networks and provide key services to our customers. Our operations could be materially and adversely impacted by the failure of any of our key suppliers.

Tax disputes

We operate in many jurisdictions around the world and have from time to time been involved in disputes with tax authorities on the amount of tax due. For example, we are currently involved in an ongoing tax dispute in India, where the Indian Government has introduced retrospective legislation that overturns a decision by the India Supreme Court which would have avoided adverse tax consequences for the Group.

Impairment assumptions

Any future revisions to the assumptions used in assessing the recoverability of goodwill, including discount rates, estimated future cash flows or anticipated changes in operations, could lead to the impairment of certain Group assets.

Currency related risks

The Group is subject to a range of currency risks primarily related to its operations in Europe, India and South Africa. In Europe, the Group faces a number of operational and financial risks resulting from the challenging economic conditions and we continue to review our policies and procedures to minimise the Group's economic exposure and to preserve our ability to operate in a range of potential conditions that may exist in the future. The main potential short-term financial statement impact of the current economic uncertainties is the potential impairment of non-financial and financial assets. We have performed impairment testing for each country in Europe as at 30 September 2014 and did not identify any required impairment changes. The significant areas of additional risk for the Group are investment risk, particularly in relation to the management of the counterparties holding our cash and liquid investments; trading risks primarily in relation to procurement and related contractual matters; and business continuity risks focused on cash management in the event of disruption to banking systems.

Further information in relation to these risk factors and uncertainties, which have not changed materially since 31 March 2014, can be found on pages 46 to 47 and on pages 196 to 200 of the Group's annual report for the year ended 31 March 2014, which is available at Vodafone.com/investor.

RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT

We confirm that to the best of our knowledge:

-- the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IAS 34, "Interim Financial Reporting"; and

-- the interim management report includes a fair review of the information required by Disclosure and Transparency Rule 4.2.7R and Disclosure and Transparency Rule 4.2.8R.

Neither the Company nor the directors accept any liability to any person in relation to the half-year financial report except to the extent that such liability could arise under English law. Accordingly, any liability to a person who has demonstrated reliance on any untrue or misleading statement or omission shall be determined in accordance with section 90A and schedule 10A of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.

By Order of the Board

Rosemary Martin

Group General Counsel and Company Secretary

11 November 2014

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Consolidated income statement

 
                                                                Six months ended 
                                                                   30 September 
                                                                   2014       2013 
                                                        Note       GBPm       GBPm 
-----------------------------------------------------  -----  ---------  --------- 
 Continuing operations 
 Revenue                                                   2     20,752     19,061 
 Cost of sales                                                 (15,476)   (13,617) 
-----------------------------------------------------  -----  ---------  --------- 
 Gross profit                                                     5,276      5,444 
 Selling and distribution expenses                              (1,707)    (1,513) 
 Administrative expenses                                        (2,499)    (1,999) 
 Share of result of equity accounted associates 
  and joint ventures                                               (35)        223 
 Other income and expense                                         (118)         41 
-----------------------------------------------------  -----  ---------  --------- 
 Operating profit                                          2        917      2,196 
 Non-operating income and expense                                  (26)      (150) 
 Investment income                                                  305        171 
 Financing costs                                                  (790)      (703) 
-----------------------------------------------------  -----  ---------  --------- 
 Profit before taxation                                             406      1,514 
 Income tax credit                                         4      5,095     14,197 
-----------------------------------------------------  -----  ---------  --------- 
 Profit for the financial period from continuing 
  operations                                                      5,501     15,711 
 Profit for the financial period from discontinued 
  operations                                               5          -      2,353 
-----------------------------------------------------  -----  ---------  --------- 
 Profit for the financial period                                  5,501     18,064 
-----------------------------------------------------  -----  ---------  --------- 
 
 Attributable to: 
 - Owners of the parent                                           5,422     17,954 
 - Non-controlling interests                                         79        110 
-----------------------------------------------------  -----  ---------  --------- 
 Profit for the financial period                                  5,501     18,064 
-----------------------------------------------------  -----  ---------  --------- 
 
 Earnings per share 
 From continuing operations: 
 - Basic                                                   6     20.48p     58.85p 
 - Diluted                                                 6     20.37p     58.42p 
 
 Total Group: 
 - Basic                                                5, 6     20.48p     67.73p 
 - Diluted                                              5, 6     20.37p     67.23p 
-----------------------------------------------------  -----  ---------  --------- 
 The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed 
  financial statements. 
 
 
 Consolidated statement of comprehensive 
  income 
                                                                  Six months ended 
                                                                      30 September 
                                                                   2014       2013 
                                                                   GBPm       GBPm 
-----------------------------------------------------  -----  ---------  --------- 
 Profit for the financial period                                  5,501     18,064 
 Other comprehensive income: 
 Items that may be reclassified to profit 
  or loss in subsequent periods 
 Gains/(losses) on revaluation of available-for-sale 
  investments, net of tax                                             5       (89) 
 Foreign exchange translation differences, 
  net of tax                                                    (3,016)    (2,853) 
 Foreign exchange gains transferred to the 
  income statement                                                  (1)          - 
 Fair value gains transferred to the income 
  statement                                                         (4)          - 
 Other, net of tax                                                (149)          1 
-----------------------------------------------------  -----  ---------  --------- 
 Total items that may be classified to profit 
  or loss in subsequent periods                                 (3,165)    (2,941) 
 Items that will not be reclassified to profit 
  or loss in subsequent periods 
 Net actuarial losses on defined benefit 
  pension schemes, net of tax                                      (13)        (4) 
-----------------------------------------------------  -----  ---------  --------- 
 Total items will not be classified to profit 
  or loss in subsequent periods                                    (13)        (4) 
 Other comprehensive expense                                    (3,178)    (2,945) 
-----------------------------------------------------  -----  ---------  --------- 
 Total comprehensive income for the financial 
  period                                                          2,323     15,119 
-----------------------------------------------------  -----  ---------  --------- 
 
 Attributable to: 
 - Owners of the parent                                           2,221     15,124 
 - Non-controlling interests                                        102        (5) 
-----------------------------------------------------  -----  ---------  --------- 
                                                                  2,323     15,119 
-----------------------------------------------------  -----  ---------  --------- 
 The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed 
  financial statements. 
 

Consolidated statement of financial position

 
 
                                                       30 September   31 March 
                                                               2014       2014 
                                                Note           GBPm       GBPm 
---------------------------------------------  -----  -------------  --------- 
 Non-current assets 
 Goodwill                                                    23,682     23,315 
 Other intangible assets                                     22,163     23,373 
 Property, plant and equipment                               25,770     22,851 
 Investments in associates and joint 
  ventures                                         9           (77)        114 
 Other investments                                            3,627      3,553 
 Deferred tax assets                                         25,394     20,607 
 Post employment benefits                                       162         35 
 Trade and other receivables                                  3,687      3,270 
---------------------------------------------  -----  -------------  --------- 
                                                            104,408     97,118 
---------------------------------------------  -----  -------------  --------- 
 Current assets 
 Inventory                                                      522        441 
 Taxation recoverable                                           729        808 
 Trade and other receivables                                  8,606      8,886 
 Other investments                                            3,509      4,419 
 Cash and cash equivalents                                    5,891     10,134 
 Assets held for sale                                             -         34 
---------------------------------------------  -----  -------------  --------- 
                                                             19,257     24,722 
---------------------------------------------  -----  -------------  --------- 
 Total assets                                               123,665    121,840 
---------------------------------------------  -----  -------------  --------- 
 
 Equity 
 Called up share capital                                      3,792      3,792 
 Additional paid-in capital                                 117,012    116,973 
 Treasury shares                                            (7,063)    (7,187) 
 Accumulated losses                                        (48,828)   (51,428) 
 Accumulated other comprehensive income                       5,451      8,652 
---------------------------------------------  -----  -------------  --------- 
 Total equity attributable to owners 
  of the parent                                              70,364     70,802 
---------------------------------------------  -----  -------------  --------- 
 Non-controlling interests                                    1,552      1,733 
 Put options over non-controlling interests                     (5)      (754) 
---------------------------------------------  -----  -------------  --------- 
 Total non-controlling interests                              1,547        979 
---------------------------------------------  -----  -------------  --------- 
 
 Total equity                                                71,911     71,781 
---------------------------------------------  -----  -------------  --------- 
 Non-current liabilities 
 Long-term borrowings                                        22,176     21,454 
 Taxation liabilities                                             -         50 
 Deferred tax liabilities                                       561        747 
 Post employment benefits                                       353        584 
 Provisions                                                     870        846 
 Trade and other payables                                       963      1,339 
---------------------------------------------  -----  -------------  --------- 
                                                             24,923     25,020 
---------------------------------------------  -----  -------------  --------- 
 Current liabilities 
 Short-term borrowings                                       10,441      7,747 
 Taxation liabilities                                           686        873 
 Provisions                                                     965        963 
 Trade and other payables                                    14,739     15,456 
---------------------------------------------  -----  -------------  --------- 
                                                             26,831     25,039 
---------------------------------------------  -----  -------------  --------- 
 Total equity and liabilities                               123,665    121,840 
---------------------------------------------  -----  -------------  --------- 
 The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed 
  financial statements. 
 

Consolidated statement of changes in equity

 
                                       Additional 
                                          paid-in                 Accumulated          Equity 
                                          capital               comprehensive    attributable           Non- 
                               Share        (Note   Treasury           income              to    controlling     Total 
                             capital           1)     shares         (Note 2)      the owners      interests    equity 
                                GBPm         GBPm       GBPm             GBPm            GBPm           GBPm      GBPm 
-------------------------  ---------  -----------  ---------  ---------------  --------------  -------------  -------- 
 1 April 2013                  3,866      154,279    (9,029)         (77,639)          71,477          1,011    72,488 
 Issue or reissue 
  of shares                        -            2        177            (157)              22              -        22 
 Redemption or 
  cancellation of 
  shares                        (74)           74      1,648          (1,648)               -              -         - 
 Share-based payments              -           51          -                -              51              -        51 
 Transactions with 
  non-controlling 
  interests in 
  subsidiaries                     -            -          -             (14)            (14)           (48)      (62) 
 Comprehensive 
  income                           -            -          -           15,124          15,124            (5)    15,119 
 Dividends                         -            -          -          (3,365)         (3,365)          (159)   (3,524) 
-------------------------  ---------  -----------  ---------  ---------------  --------------  -------------  -------- 
 30 September 2013             3,792      154,406    (7,204)         (67,699)          83,295            799    84,094 
-------------------------  ---------  -----------  ---------  ---------------  --------------  -------------  -------- 
 
 1 April 2014                  3,792      116,973    (7,187)         (42,776)          70,802            979    71,781 
 Issue or reissue 
  of shares                        -            1        124             (97)              28              -        28 
 Share-based payments              -           45          -                -              45              -        45 
 Transactions with 
  non-controlling 
  interests in 
  subsidiaries                     -            -          -            (755)           (755)            616     (139) 
 Comprehensive 
  income                           -            -          -            2,221           2,221            102     2,323 
 Dividends                         -            -          -          (1,975)         (1,975)          (150)   (2,125) 
 Other                             -          (7)          -                5             (2)              -       (2) 
-------------------------  ---------  -----------  ---------  ---------------  --------------  -------------  -------- 
 30 September 2014             3,792      117,012    (7,063)         (43,377)          70,364          1,547    71,911 
-------------------------  ---------  -----------  ---------  ---------------  --------------  -------------  -------- 
 

Notes:

1 Includes share premium, capital redemption reserve and merger reserve. The merger reserve was derived from acquisitions made prior to 31 March 2004 and subsequently allocated to additional paid-in capital on adoption of IFRS.

   2    Includes accumulated losses and accumulated other comprehensive income. 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed financial statements.

Consolidated statement of cash flows

 
 
                                                              Six months ended 
                                                                30 September 
                                                                 2014      2013 
                                                      Note       GBPm      GBPm 
---------------------------------------------------  -----  ---------  -------- 
 Net cash flow from operating activities                10      3,691     3,878 
---------------------------------------------------  -----  ---------  -------- 
 
 Cash flows from investing activities 
 Purchase of interests in subsidiaries, net of 
  cash acquired                                               (2,936)       (6) 
 Purchase of interests in associates and 
  joint ventures                                                  (4)      (12) 
 Purchase of intangible assets                                  (937)     (718) 
 Purchase of property, plant and equipment                    (3,103)   (2,309) 
 Purchase of investments                                         (92)     (503) 
 Disposal of interests in subsidiaries, net of 
  cash disposed                                                     -      (89) 
 Disposal of interests in associates and 
  joint ventures                                                   27         - 
 Disposal of property, plant and equipment                         62        32 
 Disposal of investments                                        1,031     1,185 
 Dividends received from associates and 
  joint ventures                                                  485     3,517 
 Dividends received from investments                                1         3 
 Interest received                                                131       288 
---------------------------------------------------  -----  ---------  -------- 
 Net cash flow from investing activities                      (5,335)     1,388 
---------------------------------------------------  -----  ---------  -------- 
 
 Cash flows from financing activities 
 Issue of ordinary share capital and reissue 
  of treasury shares                                               28        37 
 Net movement in short-term borrowings                          2,354     1,044 
 Proceeds from issue of long-term borrowings                    2,169         - 
 Repayment of borrowings                                      (3,232)   (2,752) 
 Purchase of treasury shares                                        -   (1,033) 
 Equity dividends paid                                        (1,979)   (3,360) 
 Dividends paid to non-controlling shareholders 
  in subsidiaries                                               (140)     (150) 
 Other transactions with non-controlling 
  interests in subsidiaries                                     (718)         - 
 Other movements in loans with associates 
  and joint ventures                                                -      (21) 
 Interest paid                                                (1,039)     (892) 
---------------------------------------------------  -----  ---------  -------- 
 Net cash flow used in financing activities                   (2,557)   (7,127) 
---------------------------------------------------  -----  ---------  -------- 
 
 Net cash flow                                                (4,201)   (1,861) 
 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning 
  of the financial period                                      10,112     7,506 
 Exchange loss on cash and cash equivalents                     (118)      (44) 
---------------------------------------------------  -----  ---------  -------- 
 Cash and cash equivalents at end of the 
  financial period                                              5,793     5,601 
---------------------------------------------------  -----  ---------  -------- 
 The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed 
  financial statements. 
 

Notes to the unaudited condensed financial statements

For the six months ended 30 September 2014

   1    Basis of preparation 

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the six months ended 30 September 2014:

-- were prepared in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34 "Interim Financial Reporting" ('IAS 34');

-- are presented on a condensed basis as permitted by IAS 34 and therefore do not include all disclosures that would otherwise be required in a full set of financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the Group's annual report for the year ended 31 March 2014;

-- apply the same accounting policies, presentation and methods of calculation as those followed in the preparation of the Group's consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2014, which were prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ('IFRS') as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board and were also prepared in accordance with IFRS adopted by the European Union ('EU'), the Companies Act 2006 and Article 4 of the EU IAS Regulations. Income taxes are accrued using the tax rate that is expected to be applicable for the full financial year, adjusted for certain discrete items which occurred in the interim period in accordance with IAS 34.

-- include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the periods presented;

-- do not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of section 434(3) of the Companies Act 2006; and

   --    were approved by the Board of directors on 11 November 2014. 

The information relating to the year ended 31 March 2014 is an extract from the Group's published annual report for that year, which has been delivered to the Registrar of Companies, and on which the auditors' report was unqualified and did not contain any emphasis of matter or statements under section 498(2) or 498(3) of the UK Companies Act 2006.

After reviewing the Group's budget for the remainder of the financial year, and longer term plans, the directors are satisfied that, at the time of approving the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, it is appropriate to continue to adopt a going concern basis of accounting.

The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the end of the reporting period, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could vary from these estimates. The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period or in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods.

On 1 April 2014, the Group adopted certain new accounting policies where necessary to comply with amendments to IFRS, none of which had a material impact on the consolidated results, financial position or cash flows of the Group; further details are provided in the Group's annual report for the year ended 31 March 2014.

   2    Segmental analysis 

The Group has a single group of related services and products being the supply of communications services and products. Revenue is attributed to a country or region based on the location of the Group company reporting the revenue.

 
                                    Segment   Intra-region   Regional   Inter-region      Group 
                                    revenue        revenue    revenue        revenue    revenue   EBITDA 
                                       GBPm           GBPm       GBPm           GBPm       GBPm     GBPm 
------------------------------  -----------  -------------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ------- 
 Six months ended 30 
  September 2014 
 Germany                              4,328            (6)      4,322            (8)      4,314    1,386 
 Italy                                2,358            (8)      2,350            (1)      2,349      787 
 UK                                   3,092            (5)      3,087            (1)      3,086      645 
 Spain                                1,700           (10)      1,690            (3)      1,687      307 
 Other Europe                         2,536           (11)      2,525            (1)      2,524      833 
------------------------------  -----------  -------------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ------- 
 Europe                              14,014           (40)     13,974           (14)     13,960    3,958 
------------------------------  -----------  -------------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ------- 
 India                                2,057              -      2,057            (1)      2,056      607 
 Vodacom                              2,102              -      2,102              -      2,102      735 
 Other AMAP                           2,307              -      2,307            (5)      2,302      609 
------------------------------  -----------  -------------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ------- 
 AMAP                                 6,466              -      6,466            (6)      6,460    1,951 
------------------------------  -----------  -------------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ------- 
 Other (Note 1)                         332              -        332              -        332     (25) 
------------------------------  -----------  -------------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ------- 
 Group                               20,812           (40)     20,772           (20)     20,752    5,884 
------------------------------  -----------  -------------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ------- 
 Discontinued operations 
 Verizon Wireless (Note 
  2)                                      -                                                            - 
------------------------------  -----------  -------------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ------- 
 
 Six months ended 30 September 
  2013 
  (Note 3) 
 Germany                              3,900            (4)      3,896            (5)      3,891    1,328 
 Italy                                    -              -          -              -          -        - 
 UK                                   3,225            (9)      3,216            (1)      3,215      702 
 Spain                                1,839           (10)      1,829            (1)      1,828      422 
 Other Europe                         2,843            (5)      2,838            (1)      2,837      928 
------------------------------  -----------  -------------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ------- 
 Europe                              11,807           (28)     11,779            (8)     11,771    3,380 
------------------------------  -----------  -------------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ------- 
 India                                2,048              -      2,048            (2)      2,046      604 
 Vodacom                              2,442              -      2,442              -      2,442      888 
 Other AMAP                           2,479              -      2,479            (4)      2,475      634 
------------------------------  -----------  -------------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ------- 
 AMAP                                 6,969              -      6,969            (6)      6,963    2,126 
------------------------------  -----------  -------------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ------- 
 Other (Note 1)                         328              -        328            (1)        327       70 
------------------------------  -----------  -------------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ------- 
 Group                               19,104           (28)     19,076           (15)     19,061    5,576 
------------------------------  -----------  -------------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ------- 
 Discontinued operations 
 Verizon Wireless (Note 
  2)                                  9,955                                                        4,274 
------------------------------  -----------  -------------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ------- 
 
 

Note:

1. The "Other" segment primarily represents the results of partner markets and the net result of unallocated central Group costs.

2. Discontinued operations comprise our US group whose principal asset was a 45% interest in Verizon Wireless, which was sold on 21 February 2014. Refer to note 5 "Discontinued operations" for further details.

3. During the year ended 31 March 2014 the Group changed its organisational structure, merging its Northern and Central Europe and Southern Europe regions into one Europe region and moved its Turkish operating company into the AMAP region given its emerging market characteristics. The table above presents prior year segmental information on this revised basis.

The Group's measure of segment profit, EBITDA, excludes depreciation, amortisation and loss on disposal of fixed assets and the Group's share of results in associates and joint ventures. A reconciliation of EBITDA to operating profit is shown below. For a reconciliation of operating profit to profit for the financial period, see the consolidated income statement on page 22.

 
                                                      Six months ended 
                                                        30 September 
                                                    ------------------- 
                                                         2014      2013 
                                                         GBPm      GBPm 
 -------------------------------------------------  ---------  -------- 
 EBITDA                                                 5,884     5,576 
 Depreciation, amortisation and loss on disposal 
 of fixed assets                                      (4,728)   (3,476) 
 Restructuring costs                                     (84)     (210) 
 Share of results in associates and joint 
  ventures                                               (37)       265 
 Other income and expense                               (118)        41 
                                                    ---------  -------- 
 Operating profit                                         917     2,196 
--------------------------------------------------  ---------  -------- 
 
   3          Impairment review 

Impairment testing was performed as at 30 September 2014 and 30 September 2013. No impairment charge was recognised for the six months ended 30 September 2014 or for the six months ended 30 September 2013. The methodology adopted for impairment testing for the six months ended 30 September 2014 was consistent with that disclosed on page 106 and pages 114 to 117 of the Group's annual report for the year ended 31 March 2014.

The recoverable amounts of the Group's operations in Germany, Italy and Spain are not materially greater than their reported carrying value at 30 September 2014. Any adverse change in a key assumption underpinning the value in use calculation may, therefore, cause impairment losses to be recognised. The table below shows the key assumptions used in the value in use calculations at 30 September 2014.

 
                                           Assumptions used in value 
                                                  in use calculation 
------------------------------------  ------------------------------ 
                                                               Spain 
                                                               (Note 
                                         Germany     Italy        1) 
                                               %         %         % 
------------------------------------  ----------  --------  -------- 
 Pre-tax risk adjusted discount 
  rate                                       7.8      10.6      10.0 
 Long-term growth rate                       0.5       1.0       1.9 
 Budgeted EBITDA (Note 2)                    2.7     (2.2)     (0.7) 
 Budgeted capital expenditure (Note       12.5 -    11.1 -     9.0 - 
  3)                                        21.7      25.5      23.5 
------------------------------------  ----------  --------  -------- 
 

The changes in the following table to assumptions used in the impairment review would, in isolation, lead to an impairment loss being recognised for the six months ended 30 September 2014:

 
                                                                                    Spain 
                                      Germany                 Italy              (Note 1) 
-----------------------  --------------------  --------------------  -------------------- 
                          Increase   Decrease   Increase   Decrease   Increase   Decrease 
                              2pps       2pps       2pps       2pps       2pps       2pps 
                             GBPbn      GBPbn      GBPbn      GBPbn      GBPbn      GBPbn 
-----------------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
 Pre-tax risk adjusted 
  discount rate              (5.3)          -      (1.1)          -      (0.7)          - 
 Long-term growth 
  rate                           -      (4.9)          -      (1.0)          -      (0.6) 
 Budgeted EBITDA 
  (Note 2)                       -      (0.6)          -      (0.1)          -          - 
 Budgeted capital 
  expenditure (Note 
  4)                         (2.3)          -          -          -      (0.5)          - 
-----------------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
 

Notes:

1. Excludes Grupo Corporativo Ono, S.A. acquired on 23 July 2014 (see note 8 for further details).

2. Budgeted EBITDA is expressed as the compound annual growth rates in the initial five years of the plans used for impairment testing.

3. Budgeted capital expenditure, which excludes licences and spectrum, is expressed as the range of capital expenditure as a percentage of revenue in the initial five years for all cash generating units of the plans used for impairment testing.

4. Budgeted capital expenditure, which excludes licences and spectrum, is expressed as a percentage of revenue in the initial five years of the plans used for impairment testing.

The recoverable amounts of the Group's operations in Czech Republic, Greece, Portugal and Romania are also not materially greater than their reported carrying value at 30 September 2014.

   4    Taxation 
 
                                                    Six months ended 
                                                      30 September 
                                                  ------------------- 
                                                      2014       2013 
                                                      GBPm       GBPm 
 -----------------------------------------------  --------  --------- 
 Overseas current tax expense/(credit): 
  Current year                                         359        497 
  Adjustments in respect of prior years               (11)       (54) 
 
 United Kingdom corporation tax expense: (Note 
  1) 
  Current year                                           -          5 
  Adjustments in respect of prior years                  -         13 
 -----------------------------------------------  --------  --------- 
 Total current tax expense                             348        461 
------------------------------------------------  --------  --------- 
 
 Deferred tax on origination and reversal 
  of temporary differences: 
  Overseas deferred tax                            (5,440)   (14,823) 
  United Kingdom deferred tax                          (3)        165 
 -----------------------------------------------  --------  --------- 
 Total deferred tax credit                         (5,443)   (14,658) 
------------------------------------------------  --------  --------- 
 Total income tax credit                           (5,095)   (14,197) 
------------------------------------------------  --------  --------- 
 

Note:

1. Significant ongoing investments made by our UK business in expanding and improving its network and systems, GBP6 billion of spectrum payments to the UK government in 2000, GBP0.8 billion of spectrum payments in 2013 and UK interest costs impact the calculation of the UK tax charge.

Overseas deferred tax credit for the six months ended 30 September 2014 includes the recognition of tax losses in Luxembourg following the acquisition of Grupo Corporativo Ono, S.A. (GBP3,341 million) and losses arising from the write down of investments following the completion and approval of Luxembourg statutory accounts (GBP2,127 million).

Overseas deferred tax credit for the six months ended 30 September 2013 includes the recognition of a deferred tax asset in respect of tax losses in Germany (GBP1,838 million) and Luxembourg (GBP16,069 million) and the estimated tax liability related to the rationalisation and reorganisation of our non-US assets prior to the disposal of our stake in Verizon Wireless (GBP3,016 million).

The Group expects to use these losses in Luxembourg and Germany over period of between 10 and 60 years; the actual use of these losses, and the period over which they may be used, is dependent on many factors which may change, including the level of profitability in both Luxembourg and Germany, changes in tax law and changes to the structure of the Group. Further details about the Group's tax losses can be found in note 6 of the Group's consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2014.

   5    Discontinued operations 

On 2 September 2013 the Group announced it had reached an agreement with Verizon Communications Inc. to dispose of its US group whose principal asset was its 45% interest in Verizon Wireless. The Group ceased recognising its share of results in Verizon Wireless on 2 September 2013, and classified its investment as a held for sale asset and the results as a discontinued operation. The transaction completed on 21 February 2014. The table below sets out all of the elements relating to this discontinued operation within the consolidated income statement.

 
 Income statement and segmental analysis of 
  discontinued operations 
                                                           Six months ended 
                                                              30 September 
                                                      -------------------------- 
                                                              2014          2013 
                                                              GBPm          GBPm 
 ---------------------------------------------------  ------------   ----------- 
 Share of result in associates                                    -        3,191 
 Net financing income                                             -           33 
----------------------------------------------------  -------------  ----------- 
 Profit before taxation                                           -        3,224 
 Taxation relating to performance of discontinued 
  operations                                                      -        (871) 
----------------------------------------------------  -------------  ----------- 
 Profit for the financial period from discontinued 
 operations                                                       -        2,353 
----------------------------------------------------  -------------  ----------- 
 
 Earnings per share from discontinued operations 
                                                           Six months ended 
                                                              30 September 
                                                      -------------------------- 
                                                              2014          2013 
                                                             Pence         Pence 
                                                         per share     per share 
 ---------------------------------------------------  ------------   ----------- 
  - Basic                                                         -        8.88p 
  - Diluted                                                       -        8.81p 
----------------------------------------------------  -------------  ----------- 
 
 
                                                           Six months ended 
                                                              30 September 
                                                      -------------------------- 
                                                              2014          2013 
                                                              GBPm          GBPm 
 ---------------------------------------------------  ------------   ----------- 
 Total comprehensive income for the financial 
  period from discontinued operations                             -        2,353 
----------------------------------------------------  -------------  ----------- 
 
 Cash flows from discontinued operations 
                                                           Six months ended 
                                                              30 September 
                                                      -------------------------- 
                                                              2014          2013 
                                                              GBPm          GBPm 
 ---------------------------------------------------  ------------   ----------- 
 Net cash flows from operating activities                         -      (1,008) 
 Net cash flow from investing activities                          -        3,489 
 Net cash flow from financing activities                          -      (2,493) 
----------------------------------------------------  -------------  ----------- 
 Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents                        -         (12) 
 Exchange gain on cash and cash equivalents                       -           12 
----------------------------------------------------  -------------  ----------- 
 Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the 
  financial period                                                -            - 
----------------------------------------------------  -------------  ----------- 
 
   6    Earnings per share 
 
                                                      Six months ended 
                                                        30 September 
                                                    ------------------- 
                                                         2014      2013 
                                                      Million   Million 
 -------------------------------------------------  ---------  -------- 
 Weighted average number of shares for basic 
  earnings per share (Note 1)                          26,470    26,509 
 Effect of dilutive potential shares: restricted 
 shares and share options (Note 1)                        145       198 
--------------------------------------------------  ---------  -------- 
 Weighted average number of shares for diluted 
  earnings per share (Note 1)                          26,615    26,707 
--------------------------------------------------  ---------  -------- 
 
                                                      Six months ended 
                                                        30 September 
                                                    ------------------- 
                                                         2014      2013 
                                                         GBPm      GBPm 
 -------------------------------------------------  ---------  -------- 
 Earnings for basic and diluted earnings per 
  share - continuing operations                         5,422    15,601 
 Earnings for basic and diluted earnings per 
  share - discontinued operations                           -     2,353 
--------------------------------------------------  ---------  -------- 
 Earnings for basic and diluted earnings per 
  share                                                 5,422    17,954 
--------------------------------------------------  ---------  -------- 
 
                                                        Pence     Pence 
 -------------------------------------------------  ---------  -------- 
 Basic earnings per share                              20.48p    67.73p 
 Diluted earnings per share                            20.37p    67.23p 
--------------------------------------------------  ---------  -------- 
 

Notes:

1. On 19 February 2014, we announced a "6 for 11" share consolidation effective on 24 February 2014. This had the effect of reducing the number of shares in issue from 52,821,751,216 ordinary shares (including 4,351,833,492 ordinary shares held in Treasury) as at the close of business on 18 February 2014 to 28,811,864,298 new ordinary shares in issue immediately after the share consolidation on 24 February 2014. Prior year comparatives have been restated.

   7    Equity dividends 
 
                                                    Six months ended 
                                                      30 September 
                                                  ------------------- 
                                                       2014      2013 
                                                       GBPm      GBPm 
------------------------------------------------  ---------  -------- 
 Declared during the financial period: 
 Final dividend for the year ended 31 March 
  2014: 7.47 pence per share (2013: 6.92 pence)       1,975     3,365 
------------------------------------------------  ---------  -------- 
 Proposed after the end of the reporting period 
  and not recognised as a liability: 
 Interim dividend for the year ending 31 March 
  2015: 3.60 pence per share (2014: 3.53 pence)         954     1,711 
------------------------------------------------  ---------  -------- 
 
   8    Acquisitions 

The aggregate cash consideration in respect of purchases in subsidiaries, net of cash acquired, is as follows:

 
                                                       GBPm 
 ------------------------------------------------    ------ 
 Cash consideration paid: 
 Grupo Corporativo Ono, S.A.                          2,945 
 Other acquisitions completed during the period         136 
-------------------------------------------------    ------ 
                                                      3,081 
 Net cash acquired                                    (145) 
-------------------------------------------------    ------ 
                                                      2,936 
-------------------------------------------------    ------ 
 

Total goodwill on acquisitions was GBP1,572 million and included GBP1,439 million in relation to Ono and GBP133 million in relation to other acquisitions completed during the period.

Grupo Corporativo Ono, S.A. ('Ono')

On 23 July 2014, the Group acquired the entire share capital of Ono for cash consideration of GBP2,945 million. The primary reason for acquiring the business was to create a leading integrated communications operator in Spain, offering customers unified communication services. The results of the acquired entity have been consolidated in the Group's income statement from 23 July 2014 and contributed GBP199 million of revenue and a loss of GBP89 million to the profit attributable to owners of the parent during the period.

The acquisition date fair values of the assets and liabilities acquired are provisional. These may be further adjusted as we gain a further understanding of the business. The provisional purchase price allocation is set out in the table below:

 
                                               Fair value 
                                                     GBPm 
 -----------------------------------------    ----------- 
 Net assets acquired: 
 Identifiable intangible assets (Note 1)              779 
 Property, plant and equipment                      3,270 
 Other investments                                      7 
 Trade and other receivables                          156 
 Cash and cash equivalents                            143 
 Current and deferred taxation                        634 
 Short and long-term borrowings                   (3,001) 
 Trade and other payables                           (451) 
 Provisions                                          (26) 
------------------------------------------    ----------- 
 Net identifiable assets acquired                   1,511 
 Non-controlling interests                            (5) 
 Goodwill (Note 2)                                  1,439 
                                              ----------- 
 Total consideration (Note 3)                       2,945 
------------------------------------------    ----------- 
 

Notes:

1. Identifiable intangible assets of GBP779 million consisted of customer relationships of GBP710 million, brand of GBP33 million and software of GBP36 million.

2. The goodwill arising on acquisition is principally related to the synergies expected to arise following the integration of the Ono business. These principally relate to synergies expected to arise following integration of the respective networks, operating cost rationalisation and revenue synergies driven by the larger network footprint and incremental revenue streams from integrated services.

3. Transaction costs of GBP14 million were charged in the Group's consolidated income statement in the six months ended 30 September 2014.

Pro-forma information

The following unaudited pro-forma summary presents the Group as if the acquisition of Ono had been completed on 1 April 2014. The pro-forma amounts include the results of Ono, application of Vodafone accounting policies, amortisation of the acquired intangible assets recognised on acquisition and interest expense on the increase in net debt as a result of the acquisition. The pro-forma information is provided for comparative purposes only and does not necessarily reflect the actual results that would have occurred, nor is it necessarily indicative of future results of operations of the combined companies.

 
                                                      Six months 
                                                           ended 
                                                    30 September 
                                                            2014 
                                                            GBPm 
 ---------------------------------------------    -------------- 
 Revenue                                                  21,127 
 Profit for the financial period                           5,341 
 Profit attributable to owners of the parent               5,262 
----------------------------------------------    -------------- 
 
                                                           Pence 
 ---------------------------------------------    -------------- 
 Basic earnings per share                                 19.88p 
 Diluted earnings per share                               19.77p 
----------------------------------------------    -------------- 
 

Other acquisitions

During the six month period ended 30 September 2014 the Group completed a number of other acquisitions for an aggregate net cash consideration of GBP136 million, all of which was paid during the period. The aggregate fair values of goodwill, identifiable assets, and liabilities of the acquired operations were GBP133 million, GBP143 million and GBP140 million, respectively. In addition, the Group completed the acquisition of certain non-controlling interests for net cash consideration of GBP718 million.

During the six month period ended 30 September 2013 there were no material acquisitions.

   9    Investment in associates and joint ventures 
 
                                  30 September   31 March 
                                          2014       2014 
                                          GBPm       GBPm 
 ------------------------------  -------------  --------- 
 Investment in joint ventures            (335)      (158) 
 Investment in associates                  258        272 
                                 -------------  --------- 
                                          (77)        114 
-------------------------------  -------------  --------- 
 
   10   Reconciliation of net cash flow from operating activities 
 
                                                        Six months ended 
                                                          30 September 
                                                      ------------------- 
                                                          2014       2013 
                                                          GBPm       GBPm 
 ---------------------------------------------------  --------  --------- 
 Profit for the financial period from continuing 
  operations                                             5,501     15,711 
 Profit for the financial period from discontinued 
  operations                                                 -      2,353 
 Adjustments for: 
  Share based payments                                      45         46 
  Depreciation and amortisation                          4,720      3,442 
  Loss on disposal of property, plant and 
   equipment                                                 8         34 
  Share of result of equity accounted associates 
   and joint ventures                                       35    (3,414) 
  Other income and expense                                 118       (41) 
  Non-operating income and expense                          26        150 
  Investment income                                      (305)      (171) 
  Financing costs                                          790        670 
  Income tax credit                                    (5,095)   (13,326) 
  Increase in inventory                                  (111)      (181) 
  Increase in trade and other receivables                (403)        (6) 
  (Decrease)/increase in trade and other payables      (1,120)        202 
 ---------------------------------------------------  --------  --------- 
 Cash generated by operations                            4,209      5,469 
 Tax paid                                                (518)    (1,591) 
----------------------------------------------------  --------  --------- 
 Net cash flow from operating activities                 3,691      3,878 
----------------------------------------------------  --------  --------- 
 
   11   Related party transactions 

The Group has a number of related parties including joint ventures and associates, pension schemes, directors and Executive Committee members. Related party transactions with the Group's joint ventures and associates primarily comprise fees for the use of products and services including network airtime and access charges, and cash pooling arrangements. No related party transactions have been entered into during the period which might reasonably affect any decisions made by the users of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements except as disclosed below.

 
                                                      Six months ended 30 
                                                           September 
                                                   ------------------------ 
                                                            2014       2013 
                                                            GBPm       GBPm 
 ------------------------------------------------  -------------  --------- 
 Sales of goods and services to associates                     3        127 
 Purchase of goods and services from associates               45         53 
 Sales of goods and services to joint ventures                 3          8 
 Purchase of goods and services from joint 
  ventures                                                   273        290 
 Net interest expense payable to joint 
  ventures                                                     1         35 
-------------------------------------------------  -------------  --------- 
 
                                                    30 September   31 March 
                                                            2014       2014 
                                                            GBPm       GBPm 
 ------------------------------------------------  -------------  --------- 
 Trade balances owed: 
  by associates                                                9          3 
  to associates                                                3          3 
  by joint ventures                                           97         82 
  to joint ventures                                           75        170 
 Other balances owed by joint ventures                        51         57 
 Other balances owed to joint ventures                         -         63 
-------------------------------------------------  -------------  --------- 
 

In the six months ended 30 September 2014 the Group made contributions to defined benefit pension schemes of GBP384 million (six months ended 30 September 2013: GBP29 million) which included special contributions of GBP325 million to the Vodafone Group Pension Scheme and GBP40 million to the Cable & Wireless Worldwide Retirement Plan relating to past service representing accelerated funding amounts that would have been due for each scheme over the period to 31 March 2020.

In addition, GBP1.5 million of dividends were paid to Board members and executive committee members (six months ended 30 September 2013: GBP1.3 million). Dividends received from associates are disclosed in the consolidated statement of cash flows.

   12   Fair value of financial instruments 

The table below sets out the valuation basis (Note 1) of financial instruments held at fair value by the Group at 30 September 2014.

 
                                              Level 1                 Level 2 
                                             (Note 2)                (Note 3)                   Total 
                                   ------------------      ------------------      ------------------ 
                                           30      31              30      31              30      31 
                                    September   March       September   March       September   March 
                                         2014    2014            2014    2014            2014    2014 
                                         GBPm    GBPm            GBPm    GBPm            GBPm    GBPm 
---  ----------------------------  ----------  ------      ----------  ------      ----------  ------ 
 Financial assets: 
 Fair value through the 
  income statement (held 
  for trading)                              -       -           2,822   3,792           2,822   3,792 
 Derivative financial 
  instruments: 
  Interest rate swaps                       -       -           1,875   1,871           1,875   1,871 
  Cross currency interest 
   rate swaps                               -       -             837     504             837     504 
  Foreign exchange contracts                -       -              77      68              77      68 
  Interest rate futures                     -       -               9      13               9      13 
 --------------------------------  ----------  ------      ----------  ------      ----------  ------ 
                                            -       -           5,620   6,248           5,620   6,248 
 --------------------------------  ----------  ------      ----------  ------      ----------  ------ 
 Financial investments 
  available for sale: 
  Listed equity securities                 19       6               -       -              19       6 
  Unlisted equity securities                -       -             124     154             124     154 
 --------------------------------  ----------  ------      ----------  ------      ----------  ------ 
                                           19       6             124     154             143     160 
 --------------------------------  ----------  ------      ----------  ------      ----------  ------ 
                                           19       6           5,744   6,402           5,763   6,408 
 --------------------------------  ----------  ------      ----------  ------      ----------  ------ 
 Financial liabilities: 
 Derivative financial 
  instruments: 
  Interest rate swaps                       -       -             499     635             499     635 
  Cross currency interest 
   rate swaps                               -       -             174     217             174     217 
  Foreign exchange contracts                -       -              53      29              53      29 
 --------------------------------  ----------  ------      ----------  ------      ----------  ------ 
                                            -       -             726     881             726     881 
 --------------------------------  ----------  ------      ----------  ------      ----------  ------ 
 

Notes:

   1.   There were no changes made during the year to valuation methods or the processes to determine classification and no transfers were made between the levels in the fair value hierarchy. 

2. Level 1 classification comprises financial instruments where fair value is determined by unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

3. Level 2 classification comprises where fair value is determined from inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Fair values for unlisted equity securities are derived from observable quoted market prices for similar items. Derivative financial instrument fair values are present values determined from future cash flows discounted at rates derived from market sourced data.

Carrying value and fair value information (Note 1)

The fair value and carrying value of the Group's financial assets and financial liabilities held at amortised cost is set out in the table below:

 
                                                        Fair value            Carrying value 
                                          ------------------------  ------------------------ 
                                           30 September   31 March   30 September   31 March 
                                                   2014       2014           2014       2014 
                                                   GBPm       GBPm           GBPm       GBPm 
 Cash and cash equivalents                        5,891     10,134          5,891     10,134 
 Cash held in restricted 
  deposits                                          586        524            586        524 
 Public debt and bonds                              241        227            241        227 
 Other debt and bonds                             3,260      3,171          3,260      3,171 
 Unlisted equity securities                          83         74             83         74 
                                          -------------  ---------  -------------  --------- 
                                                 10,061     14,130         10,061     14,130 
    ------------------------------------  -------------  ---------  -------------  --------- 
 Short-term borrowings: 
  Bonds                                           (416)    (1,771)          (417)    (1,783) 
  Commercial Paper                              (3,557)      (950)        (3,557)      (950) 
  Bank Loans and other short-term 
   borrowings                                   (6,466)    (4,992)        (6,467)    (5,014) 
 --------------------------------------   -------------  ---------  -------------  --------- 
                                               (10,439)    (7,713)       (10,441)    (7,747) 
    ------------------------------------  -------------  ---------  -------------  --------- 
 Long-term borrowings: 
  Bonds                                        (17,187)   (16,417)       (17,685)   (16,697) 
  Bank Loans and other long-term 
   borrowings                                   (4,550)    (4,817)        (4,491)    (4,757) 
 --------------------------------------   -------------  ---------  -------------  --------- 
                                               (21,737)   (21,234)       (22,176)   (21,454) 
    ------------------------------------  -------------  ---------  -------------  --------- 
                                               (22,115)   (14,817)       (22,556)   (15,071) 
    ------------------------------------  -------------  ---------  -------------  --------- 
 

Note:

1. The Group's trade and other receivables and trade and other payables are not shown in the table above. The carrying amounts of both categories approximate their fair values.

   13   Commitments and contingent liabilities 

There have been no material changes to the Group's commitments or contingent liabilities during the period, except as disclosed below.

Vodafone India Services Private Limited ('VISPL') tax claims

VISPL has been assessed to owe tax of approximately GBP240 million (plus interest of GBP190 million) in respect of (i) a transfer pricing margin charged for the international call centre of Hutchison prior to the 2007 transaction with Vodafone for Hutchison assets in India; (ii) the sale of the international call centre by VISPL to Hutchison and (iii) the alleged transfer of options held by VISPL for Vodafone India Limited ('VIL') equity shares. The first two of the three heads of tax are subject to an indemnity by Hutchison under the Vodafone International Holdings BV ('VIHBV') Tax Deed of Indemnity. The larger part of the potential claim is not subject to any indemnity. VISPL unsuccessfully challenged the merits of the tax demand in the statutory tax tribunal and the jurisdiction of the tax office to make the demand in the High Court. The Tax Appeal Tribunal has now heard the appeal and (i) a stay of the tax demand on a deposit of GBP20 million and (ii) a corporate guarantee by VIHBV for the balance remains in place pending a decision on the appeal which is expected during November 2014. If VISPL loses the appeal, its terms of the stay of demand may be revisited (and could be increased) while VISPL pursues further appeals in the High Court and the Supreme Court.

Extension of licences in Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata: VIL and others v Union of India

We sought an extension of our existing licences in Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. That extension was denied by the Department of Telecommunications by order dated 21 March 2013. We appealed that decision to the Telecommunications Dispute Settlement Appellate Tribunal ('TDSAT') and by its order dated 31 January 2014, the TDSAT denied the extension. The Supreme Court has agreed to hear our appeal on an expedited basis and a hearing has been scheduled for 26 November 2014. In the meantime, in order to maintain continuity of services, VIL sought and obtained spectrum in these cities.

British Telecom (Italy) v Vodafone Italy

The Italian Competition Authority concluded an investigation in 2007 when Vodafone Italy gave certain undertakings in relation to allegations that it had abused its dominant position in the wholesale market for mobile termination. In 2010, British Telecom (Italy) brought a civil damages claim against Vodafone Italy on the basis of the Competition Authority's investigation and Vodafone Italy's undertakings. British Telecom (Italy) seeks damages in the amount of EUR280 million for abuse of dominant position by Vodafone Italy in the wholesale fixed to mobile termination market for the period from 1999 to 2007. A court appointed expert delivered an opinion to the Court that the range of damages in the case should be in the region of EUR10 million to EUR25 million which was reduced in a further supplemental report published in September 2014 to EUR8 million to EUR11 million. The expert's report will be considered by the Court before it gives judgment on the case.

FASTWEB v Vodafone Italy

The Italian Competition Authority concluded an investigation in 2007 when Vodafone Italy gave certain undertakings in relation to allegations it had abused its dominant position in the wholesale market for mobile termination. In 2010, FASTWEB brought a civil damages claim against Vodafone Italy on the basis of the Competition Authority's investigation and Vodafone Italy's undertakings. FASTWEB seeks damages in the amount of EUR360 million for abuse of dominant position by Vodafone Italy in the wholesale fixed to mobile termination market. A court appointed expert delivered an opinion to the Court that the range of damages in the case should be in the region of EUR0.5 million to EUR2.3 million. On 15 October 2014, the Court decided to reject FASTWEB's damages claim in its entirety.

   14   Other matters 

Neotel Proprietary Limited ('Neotel')

On 19 May 2014 Vodacom announced its intention to acquire 100% of Neotel, the second largest provider of fixed telecommunications services in South Africa, for a cash consideration equivalent to an enterprise value of R7.0 billion (GBP0.4 billion). Vodacom expects that the combination of Neotel with its existing fibre network, spectrum holdings and enterprise business will accelerate Vodacom's unified communications strategy, yielding substantial cost and capital expenditure synergies. The transaction remains subject to the fulfilment of a number of conditions precedent including applicable regulatory approvals (submissions have been made to both the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) and the Competition Commission of South Africa) and we aim to complete the acquisition by the end of the 2015 financial year.

Vodafone Fiji Limited

On 1 July 2014 Vodafone announced that it has sold its entire 49% shareholding in Vodafone Fiji Limited to the Fiji National Provident Fund for a cash consideration of FJ$160 million (GBP51million).

Hellas Online SA ('HOL')

On 22 August 2014 Vodafone announced that Vodafone Greece had agreed to acquire 72.7% of the share capital of HOL, a leading provider of broadband and fixed-line telephony in Greece, from the Intracom Group and World Equities Investments Holdings SA for a total cash consideration of EUR72.7 million (GBP57 million) (the "Transaction"). The Transaction builds on the successful track record of commercial cooperation between Vodafone Greece and HOL since 2009, when Vodafone Greece became an 18.5% shareholder, and accelerates Vodafone's unified communications strategy in Greece. The Transaction, which remains subject to a number of conditions, is expected to complete in the fourth quarter of the 2014 calendar year, following which Vodafone Greece will extend a mandatory takeover offer for the remaining shares in HOL. The purchase price implies an enterprise value for 100% of HOL of EUR311 million (GBP242 million).

Seasonality or cyclicality of interim operations

The Group's financial results have not, historically, been subject to significant seasonal trends.

INDEPENDENT REVIEW REPORT TO VODAFONE GROUP PLC

Report on the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

Our conclusion

We have reviewed the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, defined below, in the half-year financial report of Vodafone Group Plc for the six months ended 30 September 2014. Based on our review, nothing has come to our attention that causes us to believe that the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are not prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34 as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board and as adopted by the European Union, and the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority.

This conclusion is to be read in the context of what we say in the remainder of this report.

What we have reviewed

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, which are prepared by Vodafone Group Plc, comprise:

   --     the consolidated statement of financial position as at 30 September 2014; 

-- the consolidated income statement and statement of comprehensive income for the period then ended;

   --     the consolidated statement of cash flows for the period then ended; 
   --     the consolidated statement of changes in equity for the period then ended; and 
   --     the explanatory notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. 

As disclosed in note 1, the financial reporting framework that has been applied in the preparation of the full annual financial statements of the group is applicable law and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board and as adopted by the European Union.

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in the half-year financial report have been prepared in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34, 'Interim Financial Reporting', as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board and as adopted by the European Union, and the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority.

What a review of unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements involves

We conducted our review in accordance with International Standard on Review Engagements (UK and Ireland) 2410, 'Review of Interim Financial Information Performed by the Independent Auditor of the Entity' issued by the Auditing Practices Board for use in the United Kingdom. A review of interim financial information consists of making enquiries, primarily of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters, and applying analytical and other review procedures.

A review is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland) and, consequently, does not enable us to obtain assurance that we would become aware of all significant matters that might be identified in an audit. Accordingly, we do not express an audit opinion.

We have read the other information contained in the half-year financial report and considered whether it contains any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the information in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

Responsibilities for the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the review

Our responsibilities and those of the directors

The half-year financial report, including the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, is the responsibility of, and has been approved by, the directors. The directors are responsible for preparing the half-year financial report in accordance with the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority.

Our responsibility is to express to the company a conclusion on the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in the half-year financial report based on our review. This report, including the conclusion, has been prepared for and only for the company for the purpose of complying with the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority and for no other purpose. We do not, in giving this conclusion, accept or assume responsibility for any other purpose or to any other person to whom this report is shown or into whose hands it may come save where expressly agreed by our prior consent in writing.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Chartered Accountants

11 November 2014

London

Notes:

1 The maintenance and integrity of Vodafone Group Plc website is the responsibility of the directors; the work carried out by the auditors does not involve consideration of these matters and, accordingly, the auditors accept no responsibility for any changes that may have occurred to the financial statements since they were initially presented on the website.

2 Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

USE OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION

In the discussion of the Group's reported financial position, operating results and cash flows, information is presented to provide readers with additional financial information that is regularly reviewed by management. However, this additional information presented is not uniformly defined by all companies including those in the Group's industry. Accordingly, it may not be comparable with similarly titled measures and disclosures by other companies. Additionally, certain information presented is derived from amounts calculated in accordance with IFRS but is not itself an expressly permitted GAAP measure. Such non-GAAP measures should not be viewed in isolation or as an alternative to the equivalent GAAP measure.

Organic growth

All amounts in this document marked with an "*" represent "organic growth" which presents performance on a comparable basis in terms of merger and acquisition activity and foreign exchange rates. While "organic growth" is neither intended to be a substitute for reported growth, nor is it superior to reported growth, we believe that the measure provides useful and necessary information to investors and other interested parties for the following reasons:

-- it provides additional information on underlying growth of the business without the effect of certain factors unrelated to its operating performance;

   --      it is used for internal performance analysis; and 

-- it facilitates comparability of underlying growth with other companies (although the term "organic" is not a defined term under IFRS and may not, therefore, be comparable with similarly titled measures reported by other companies).

Further information on the use of non-GAAP financial information is outlined on pages 201 to 205 of the Group's annual report for the year ended 31 March 2014.

A summary of certain non-GAAP measures included in this results announcement, together with details of where additional information and reconciliation to the nearest equivalent GAAP measure can be found, is shown below.

 
                                                               Location in this results 
                                Closest equivalent              announcement of reconciliation 
 Non-GAAP measure                GAAP measure                   and further information 
-----------------------------  -----------------------------  -------------------------------- 
 EBITDA                         Operating profit               Group results on page 
                                                                8 
-----------------------------  -----------------------------  -------------------------------- 
 Adjusted operating             Operating profit               Group results on page 
  profit                                                        8 
-----------------------------  -----------------------------  -------------------------------- 
 Adjusted profit before         Profit before taxation         Taxation on page 10 
  tax 
-----------------------------  -----------------------------  -------------------------------- 
 Adjusted effective             Income tax expense             Taxation on page 10 
  tax rate                       as a percentage of 
                                 profit before taxation 
-----------------------------  -----------------------------  -------------------------------- 
 Adjusted income tax            Income tax expense             Taxation on page 10 
  expense 
-----------------------------  -----------------------------  -------------------------------- 
 Adjusted profit attributable   Profit attributable            Earnings per share 
  to owners of the parent        to owners of the parent        on page 11 
-----------------------------  -----------------------------  -------------------------------- 
 Adjusted earnings per          Basic earnings per             Earnings per share 
  share                          share                          on page 11 and 41 
-----------------------------  -----------------------------  -------------------------------- 
 Operating free cash            Cash generated by operations   Cash flows and funding 
  flow                                                          beginning on page 18 
-----------------------------  -----------------------------  -------------------------------- 
 Free cash flow                 Cash generated by operations   Cash flows and funding 
                                                                beginning on page 18 
-----------------------------  -----------------------------  -------------------------------- 
 

See page 41 for a reconciliation of adjusted earnings to reported earnings.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 
 Regional results for the six months ended 
 30 September 
                                                           Adjusted 
                                                          operating                          Operating free 
                                                            profit            Capital           cash flow 
                       Revenue            EBITDA           (Note 1)         expenditure         (Note 2) 
                 ------------------  ---------------  -----------------  ----------------  ----------------- 
                     2014      2013     2014    2013     2014      2013     2014     2013      2014     2013 
                     GBPm      GBPm     GBPm    GBPm     GBPm      GBPm     GBPm     GBPm      GBPm     GBPm 
 --------------  --------  --------  -------  ------  -------  --------  -------  -------  --------  ------- 
 Europe 
 Germany (Note 
  3)                4,328     3,900    1,386   1,328      317       589    1,032      565       460      729 
 Italy (Note 4)     2,358         -      787       -      335       274      423        -       206        - 
 UK                 3,092     3,225      645     702        5        94      382      351       138      175 
 Spain (Note 5)     1,700     1,839      307     422     (44)       114      274      164        10      155 
 Other Europe 
  Netherlands         751       831      269     287      107       121      149       87       142      147 
  Portugal            404       460      157     176       68        90      117       54        54      100 
  Romania             279       318       98     114       41        54       58       36        32       68 
  Greece              275       313       76      84       26        27       29       29        35       38 
  Other               827       924      233     267       82        99      139       98        47       55 
  Eliminations          -       (2)        -       -        -         -        -        -         -        - 
 --------------  --------  --------  -------  ------  -------  --------  -------  -------  --------  ------- 
  Other Europe      2,536     2,844      833     928      324       391      492      304       310      408 
 Eliminations        (40)      (29)        -       -        -         -        -        -         -        - 
---------------  --------  --------  -------  ------  -------  --------  -------  -------  --------  ------- 
 Europe            13,974    11,779    3,958   3,380      937     1,462    2,603    1,384     1,124    1,467 
 
 AMAP 
 India              2,057     2,048      607     604      197       116      348      177        85      541 
 Vodacom            2,102     2,442      735     888      504       634      329      320       251      410 
 Other AMAP 
  Turkey              998     1,064      187     186       45        31      145       90     (144)     (91) 
  Egypt               544       602      245     264      130       142      115       78       141      190 
  Other               765       813      177     184     (37)        45      119      118       (8)       26 
  Eliminations          -         -        -       -        -         -        -        -         -        - 
 --------------  --------  --------  -------  ------  -------  --------  -------  -------  --------  ------- 
  Other AMAP        2,307     2,479      609     634      138       218      379      286      (11)      125 
 Eliminations           -         -        -       -        -         -        -        -         -        - 
---------------  --------  --------  -------  ------  -------  --------  -------  -------  --------  ------- 
 AMAP               6,466     6,969    1,951   2,126      839       968    1,056      783       325    1,076 
 
 Other                332       328     (25)      70     (20)        60      242      162     (437)      196 
 Inter-region 
  eliminations       (20)      (15)        -       -        -         -        -        -         -        - 
                 --------  --------  -------  ------  -------  --------  -------  -------  --------  ------- 
 Group             20,752    19,061    5,884   5,576    1,756     2,490    3,901    2,329     1,012    2,739 
---------------  --------  --------  -------  ------  -------  --------  -------  -------  --------  ------- 
 

Notes:

1 Adjusted operating profit has been redefined to exclude amortisation of customer bases and brand intangible assets of GBP637 million for the six months ended 30 September 2014 (2013: GBP125 million).

2 Free cash flow for the six months ended 30 September 2014 excludes GBP167 million of restructuring costs (2013: GBP107 million), a GBP365 million UK pensions contribution payment, GBP359 million of Verizon Wireless tax dividends received after the completion of the disposal, GBP328 million of interest paid on the settlement of the Piramal option, GBP116 million of KDG incentive scheme payments that vested upon acquisition and a GBP100 million (2013: GBP100 million) payment in respect of the Group's historic UK tax settlement.

3 On 14 October 2013 the Group acquired 76.57% of the share capital of KDG and the results of KDG have been fully consolidated into the results of Germany from that date.

4 On 21 February 2014 the Group acquired the remaining 23.1% equity interest in Vodafone Italy.

5 On 23 July 2014 the Group acquired 100% of the share capital of Ono and the results of Ono have been fully consolidated into the results of Spain from that date.

 
 Service revenue - quarter ended 30 September 
  (Notes 1, 2) 
 
                               Group               Europe                 AMAP 
                 -------------------  ------------------- 
                      2014      2013       2014      2013       2014      2013 
                      GBPm      GBPm       GBPm      GBPm       GBPm      GBPm 
                 ---------  --------  ---------  --------  ---------  -------- 
 
 Mobile 
  in-bundle          3,971     3,485      3,054     2,654        869       767 
 Mobile 
  out-of-bundle      2,767     2,884      1,320     1,257      1,439     1,625 
 Mobile 
  incoming             671       694        352       316        319       378 
 Fixed line          1,856     1,213      1,618       995        190       166 
 Other                 428       382        289       265        120       118 
                 ---------  --------  ---------  --------  ---------  -------- 
 Service 
  revenue            9,693     8,658      6,633     5,487      2,937     3,054 
                 ---------  --------  ---------  --------  ---------  -------- 
 
                                            % change 
                 ------------------------------------------------------------- 
                               Group               Europe                 AMAP 
                 ------------------- 
                  Reported   Organic   Reported   Organic   Reported   Organic 
                 ---------  --------  ---------  --------  ---------  -------- 
 
 Mobile 
  in-bundle           13.9       5.6       15.1       1.1       13.3      27.6 
 Mobile 
  out-of-bundle      (4.1)    (10.4)        5.0    (18.4)     (11.4)     (1.9) 
 Mobile 
  incoming           (3.3)     (6.3)       11.4     (6.2)     (15.6)     (6.5) 
 Fixed line           53.0       0.8       62.6     (2.1)       14.5      24.3 
 Other                12.0       2.9        9.1     (1.6)        1.7      11.5 
                 ---------  --------  ---------  --------  ---------  -------- 
 Service 
  revenue             12.0     (1.5)       20.9     (5.0)      (3.8)       6.8 
                 ---------  --------  ---------  --------  ---------  -------- 
 
                             Germany                Italy                  UK3                Spain                India                 Vodacom 
                 -------------------  -------------------  -------------------  -------------------  -------------------  ---------------------- 
                      2014      2013       2014      2013       2014      2013       2014      2013       2014      2013       2014         2013 
                      GBPm      GBPm       GBPm      GBPm       GBPm      GBPm       GBPm      GBPm       GBPm      GBPm       GBPm         GBPm 
                 ---------  --------  ---------  --------  ---------  --------  ---------  --------  ---------  --------  ---------  ----------- 
 
 Mobile 
  in-bundle            850       916        497         -        635       611        456       490        196       143        269          259 
 Mobile 
  out-of-bundle        242       308        281         -        327       347        132       178        614       615        496          590 
 Mobile 
  incoming              63        77         72         -         89        96         29        28        145       165         52           86 
 Fixed line            757       426        172         -        365       408        232        81         41         6          1            1 
 Other                  92        89         53         -         75        75         41        47         25        18         63           70 
                 ---------  --------  ---------  --------  ---------  --------  ---------  --------  ---------  --------  ---------  ----------- 
 Service 
  revenue            2,004     1,816      1,075         -      1,491     1,537        890       824      1,021       947        881        1,006 
                 ---------  --------  ---------  --------  ---------  --------  ---------  --------  ---------  --------  ---------  ----------- 
 
                                                                             % change 
                 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
                             Germany                Italy                   UK                Spain                India                 Vodacom 
                 -------------------  -------------------  -------------------  -------------------  -------------------  ---------------------- 
                  Reported   Organic   Reported   Organic   Reported   Organic   Reported   Organic   Reported   Organic   Reported      Organic 
 
 Service 
  revenue             10.4     (3.4)          -     (9.7)      (3.0)     (3.0)        8.0     (9.3)        7.8      13.2     (12.4)          0.3 
                 ---------  --------  ---------  --------  ---------  --------  ---------  --------  ---------  --------  ---------  ----------- 
 
 

Notes:

1 The sum of the regional amounts may not be equal to Group totals due to Non-Controlled Interests and Common Functions, and intercompany eliminations.

2 Organic growth presents performance on a comparable basis in terms of merger and acquisition activity and foreign exchange.

3 The analysis of UK mobile and fixed line service revenue for the six months ended 30 September 2013 has been restated following the integration of CWW into the UK business.

Reconciliation of adjusted earnings

 
                                                                        Adjustments 
                                                         Discontinued         (Note 
                                              Reported     operations            1)   Adjusted 
 Six months ended 30 September 
  2014                                            GBPm           GBPm          GBPm       GBPm 
------------------------------------------   ---------  -------------  ------------  --------- 
 Operating profit                                  917              -           202      1,119 
 Amortisation of acquired customer 
 base and brand intangible 
 assets                                              -              -           637        637 
 Non-operating income and expense                 (26)              -            26          - 
 Net financing costs                             (485)              -         (197)      (682) 
------------------------------------------   ---------  -------------  ------------  --------- 
 Profit before taxation                            406              -           668      1,074 
 Income tax expense                              5,095              -       (5,383)      (288) 
                                             ---------  -------------  ------------  --------- 
 Profit for the financial period 
  from continuing operations                     5,501              -       (4,715)        786 
 Profit for the financial period 
  from discontinued operations                       -              -             -          - 
-------------------------------------------  ---------  -------------  ------------  --------- 
 Profit for the financial period                 5,501              -       (4,715)        786 
------------------------------------------   ---------  -------------  ------------  --------- 
 Attributable to: 
 - Owners of the parent                          5,422              -       (4,725)        697 
 - Non-controlling interests                        79              -            10         89 
------------------------------------------   ---------  -------------  ------------  --------- 
 Basic earnings per share from 
  continuing and discontinued operations        20.48p                                   2.63p 
-------------------------------------------  ---------  -------------  ------------  --------- 
 

Note:

1 Adjustments include the recognition of tax losses in Luxembourg following the acquisition of Ono (GBP3,341 million) and losses arising in the year from the write down of investments for local GAAP purposes (GBP2,127 million).

 
                                                         Discontinued 
                                              Reported     operations   Adjustments   Adjusted 
 Six months ended 30 September 
  2013                                            GBPm           GBPm          GBPm       GBPm 
------------------------------------------   ---------  -------------  ------------  --------- 
 Operating profit                                2,196              -           169      2,365 
 Amortisation of acquired customer 
 base and brand intangible 
 assets                                              -              -           125        125 
 Non-operating income and expense                (150)              -           150          - 
 Net financing costs                             (532)              -           (9)      (541) 
------------------------------------------   ---------  -------------  ------------  --------- 
 Profit before taxation                          1,514              -           435      1,949 
 Income tax credit/(expense)1                   14,197              -      (14,738)      (541) 
------------------------------------------   ---------  -------------  ------------  --------- 
 Profit for the financial period 
  from continuing operations                    15,711              -      (14,303)      1,408 
 Profit for the financial period 
  from discontinued operations                   2,353        (2,353)             -          - 
-------------------------------------------  ---------  -------------  ------------  --------- 
 Profit for the financial period                18,064        (2,353)      (14,303)      1,408 
------------------------------------------   ---------  -------------  ------------  --------- 
 Attributable to: 
 - Owners of the parent                         17,954        (2,353)      (14,298)      1,303 
 - Non-controlling interests                       110              -           (5)        105 
------------------------------------------   ---------  -------------  ------------  --------- 
 Basic earnings per share from 
  continuing and discontinued operations        67.73p                                   4.92p 
-------------------------------------------  ---------  -------------  ------------  --------- 
 

Note:

1 Adjustment includes the recognition of a deferred tax asset in respect of tax losses in Germany (GBP1,838 million) and Luxembourg (GBP16,069 million) and the estimated tax liability relating to the rationalisation and reorganisation of our non-US assets prior to the disposal of our 45% interest in VZW (GBP3,016 million).

Mobile customers - quarter ended 30 September 2014

 
 (in thousands) 
                                           Net 
                    1 July          additions/        Other   30 September 
 Country              2014    (disconnections)    movements           2014   Prepaid 
----------------  --------  ------------------  -----------  -------------  -------- 
 
 Europe 
 Germany            31,939               (228)            -         31,711     50.7% 
 Italy              26,895               (857)            -         26,038     81.4% 
 UK                 19,572                  96            -         19,668     40.1% 
 Spain (Note 1)     13,230                   2        1,548         14,780     25.8% 
----------------  --------  ------------------  -----------  -------------  -------- 
                    91,636               (987)        1,548         92,197     53.1% 
----------------  --------  ------------------  -----------  -------------  -------- 
 
 Other Europe 
 Netherlands         5,243                (38)            -          5,205     26.3% 
 Ireland             2,087                (29)            -          2,058     55.3% 
 Portugal            5,404                (47)            -          5,357     74.0% 
 Romania             7,986                (72)            -          7,914     57.8% 
 Greece              4,938                  82            -          5,020     68.4% 
 Czech Republic      3,227                 (1)            -          3,226     38.2% 
 Hungary             2,606                  41            -          2,647     44.7% 
 Albania             1,948                  51            -          1,999     94.5% 
 Malta                 308                   1            -            309     81.9% 
----------------  --------  ------------------  -----------  -------------  -------- 
                    33,747                (12)            -         33,735     56.4% 
----------------  --------  ------------------  -----------  -------------  -------- 
 Europe            125,383               (999)        1,548        125,932     54.0% 
----------------  --------  ------------------  -----------  -------------  -------- 
 
 AMAP 
 India             169,898               3,949            -        173,847     93.4% 
 Vodacom (Note 
  2)                68,414               1,872      (2,027)         68,259     92.6% 
----------------  --------  ------------------  -----------  -------------  -------- 
                   238,312               5,821      (2,027)        242,106     93.2% 
----------------  --------  ------------------  -----------  -------------  -------- 
 
 Other AMAP 
 Turkey             20,062                 541            -         20,603     61.0% 
 Egypt              41,737             (2,333)            -         39,404     93.8% 
 New Zealand         2,323                (24)            -          2,299     63.4% 
 Qatar               1,354                  18            -          1,372     90.5% 
 Ghana               6,681                  72            -          6,753     99.7% 
----------------  --------  ------------------  -----------  -------------  -------- 
                    72,157             (1,726)            -         70,431     83.7% 
----------------  --------  ------------------  -----------  -------------  -------- 
 AMAP              310,469               4,095      (2,027)        312,537     91.0% 
----------------  --------  ------------------  -----------  -------------  -------- 
 
 Group             435,852               3,096        (479)        438,469     80.4% 
----------------  --------  ------------------  -----------  -------------  -------- 
 

Notes:

   1    Other movements reflect the acquisition of Ono on 23 July 2014. 

2 Vodacom refers to the Group's interests in Vodacom Group Limited and its subsidiaries, including those located outside of South Africa. Other movements relate to a change in the disconnection policy.

Fixed broadband customers - quarter ended 30 September 2014

 
 (in thousands) 
                                            Net 
                     1 July          additions/        Other   30 September 
 Country               2014    (disconnections)    movements           2014 
------------------  -------  ------------------  -----------  ------------- 
 
 Europe 
 Germany              5,181                  75            -          5,256 
 Italy                1,810                  31            -          1,841 
 UK                      59                   3            -             62 
 Spain (Note 1)       1,074                  50        1,582          2,706 
------------------  -------  ------------------  -----------  ------------- 
                      8,124                 159        1,582          9,865 
------------------  -------  ------------------  -----------  ------------- 
 
 Other Europe 
 Netherlands             43                   5            -             48 
 Ireland                201                   7            -            208 
 Portugal               245                  31            -            276 
 Romania                 56                   2            -             58 
 Greece                  15                   4            -             19 
 Czech Republic          14                 (2)            -             12 
 Hungary                  -                   -            -              - 
 Albania                  -                   -            -              - 
 Malta                    2                   -            -              2 
------------------  -------  ------------------  -----------  ------------- 
                        576                  47            -            623 
------------------  -------  ------------------  -----------  ------------- 
 Europe               8,700                 206        1,582         10,488 
------------------  -------  ------------------  -----------  ------------- 
 
 AMAP 
 India                    3                   1            -              4 
 Vodacom (Note 2)         -                   -            -              - 
------------------  -------  ------------------  -----------  ------------- 
                          3                   1            -              4 
------------------  -------  ------------------  -----------  ------------- 
 
 Other AMAP 
 Turkey                  66                 (5)            -             61 
 Egypt                  205                   -            -            205 
 New Zealand            421                   5            -            426 
 Qatar                    6                   1            -              7 
 Ghana                   29                   1            -             30 
------------------  -------  ------------------  -----------  ------------- 
                        727                   2            -            729 
------------------  -------  ------------------  -----------  ------------- 
 AMAP                   730                   3            -            733 
------------------  -------  ------------------  -----------  ------------- 
 
 Group                9,430                 209        1,582         11,221 
------------------  -------  ------------------  -----------  ------------- 
 

Notes:

   1    Other movements reflect the acquisition of Ono on 23 July 2014. 

2 Vodacom refers to the Group's interests in Vodacom Group Limited and its subsidiaries, including those located outside of South Africa.

OTHER INFORMATION

Definitions of terms

 
 Term                       Definition 
-------------------------  ------------------------------------------------ 
 ARPU                       Average revenue per user, defined as 
                             mobile in-bundle customer revenue plus 
                             mobile out-of-bundle customer revenue 
                             and mobile incoming revenue divided by 
                             average customers. 
-------------------------  ------------------------------------------------ 
 EBITDA                     Operating profit excluding share of results 
                             in associates, depreciation and amortisation, 
                             gains/losses on the disposal of fixed 
                             assets, impairment losses, restructuring 
                             costs and other operating income and 
                             expense. The Group's definition of EBITDA 
                             may not be comparable with similarly 
                             titled measures and disclosures by other 
                             companies. 
-------------------------  ------------------------------------------------ 
 Adjusted operating         Group adjusted operating profit excludes 
  profit                     non-operating income from associates, 
                             impairment losses, restructuring costs, 
                             amortisation of customer bases and brand 
                             intangible assets and other income and 
                             expense. 
-------------------------  ------------------------------------------------ 
 Mobile in-bundle revenue   Represents revenue from bundles that 
                             include a specified number of minutes, 
                             messages or megabytes of data that can 
                             be used for no additional charge, with 
                             some expectation of recurrence. 
-------------------------  ------------------------------------------------ 
 Mobile in-bundle revenue   Revenue from all bundles and add-ons 
  - Contract                 lasting 30 days or more. 
-------------------------  ------------------------------------------------ 
 Mobile in-bundle revenue   Revenue from bundles lasting seven days 
  - Prepay                   or more. 
-------------------------  ------------------------------------------------ 
 Out-of-bundle              Revenue from minutes, messages or megabytes 
                             of data which are in excess of the amount 
                             included in customer bundles. 
-------------------------  ------------------------------------------------ 
 Mobile incoming revenue    Comprises revenue from termination rates 
                             for voice and messaging to Vodafone customers. 
-------------------------  ------------------------------------------------ 
 Operating free cash        Cash generated from operations after 
  flow                       cash payments for capital expenditure 
                             (excludes capital licence and spectrum 
                             payments) and cash receipts from the 
                             disposal of intangible assets and property, 
                             plant and equipment, but before restructuring 
                             costs. 
                             For the six months ended 30 September 
                             2014 and 2013 other items excluded special 
                             one-off UK pensions contribution payments 
                             and KDG incentive scheme payments. 
-------------------------  ------------------------------------------------ 
 Free cash flow             Operating free cash flow after cash flows 
                             in relation to taxation, interest, dividends 
                             received from associates and investments 
                             and dividends paid to non-controlling 
                             shareholders in subsidiaries, but before 
                             restructuring costs and licence and spectrum 
                             payments. 
                             For the six months ended 30 September 
                             2014 and 2013 other items excluded income 
                             dividends received from Verizon Wireless, 
                             Verizon Wireless tax dividends received 
                             after the completion of the disposal, 
                             special UK pensions contribution payments, 
                             interest paid on the settlement of the 
                             Piramal option, KDG incentive scheme 
                             payments and payments in respect of the 
                             Group's historic UK tax settlement. 
-------------------------  ------------------------------------------------ 
 

For definitions of other terms please refer to pages 211 to 212 of the Group's annual report for the year ended 31 March 2014.

1) Copies of this document are available from the Company's registered office at Vodafone House, The Connection, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 2FN.

2) The preliminary results will be available on the Vodafone Group Plc website, vodafone.com/investor, from 11 November 2014.

Notes:

1. Vodafone, the Vodafone Portrait, the Vodafone Speechmark, Vodacom, M-Pesa, Vodafone One Net, Vodafone Wallet and Vodafone Red are trademarks of the Vodafone Group. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners

2. All growth rates reflect a comparison to the six months ended 30 September 2013 unless otherwise stated.

3. References to "Q1" and "Q2" are to the quarters ended 30 June 2014 and 30 September 2014, respectively, unless otherwise stated. References to "first half" or "H1" are to the six months ended 30 September 2014 unless otherwise stated. References to the "financial year" or "2015 financial year" are to the financial year ending 31 March 2015 and references to the "last year" are to the financial year ended 31 March 2014 unless otherwise stated.

4. All amounts marked with an "*" represent "organic growth", which presents performance on a comparable basis, both in terms of merger and acquisition activity as well as in terms of movements in foreign exchange rates.

5. Reported growth is based on amounts in pounds sterling as determined under IFRS.

6. Vodacom refers to the Group's interest in Vodacom Group Limited ('Vodacom') in South Africa as well as its subsidiaries, including its operations in the DRC, Lesotho, Mozambique and Tanzania.

7. Quarterly historical information, including information for service revenue, mobile customers, churn, voice usage, messaging volumes, data volumes, ARPU, smartphones and fixed broadband customers, is provided in a spreadsheet available at vodafone.com/investor.

Copyright (c) Vodafone Group 2014

Forward-looking statements

This report contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to the Group's financial condition, results of operations and businesses and certain of the Group's plans and objectives.

In particular, such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: expectations regarding the Group's financial condition or results of operations, including the Group Chief Executive's statement and Review of the year on pages 2 to 5 of this report and the guidance for EBITDA and free cash flow for the 2015 financial year (and the related underlying assumptions) on page 7; expectations for the Group's future performance generally, including EBITDA growth and capital expenditure; statements relating to the Group's Project Spring investment programme; expectations regarding the operating environment and market conditions and trends, including customer usage, competitive and macroeconomic pressures, price trends and opportunities in specific geographic markets; intentions and expectations regarding the development, launch and expansion of products, services and technologies, either introduced by Vodafone or by Vodafone in conjunction with third parties or by third parties independently, including Vodafone Red, Smartpass, m-Pesa, and the launch of a number of additional features; growth in customers and usage; expectations regarding spectrum licence acquisitions, including anticipated new 3G and 4G availability and the customer uptake associated therewith; expectations regarding adjusted operating profit, EBITDA margins, capital expenditure, free cash flow, and foreign exchange rate movements; expectations regarding the integration or performance of current and future investments, associates, joint ventures, non-controlled interests and newly acquired businesses, including KDG, CWW, TelstraClear, Ono and Neotel; and the outcome and impact of regulatory and legal proceedings involving Vodafone and of scheduled or potential regulatory changes.

Forward-looking statements are sometimes, but not always, identified by their use of a date in the future or such words as "will", "anticipates", "aims", "could", "may", "should", "expects", "believes", "intends", "plans" or "targets" (including in their negative form). By their nature, forward-looking statements are inherently predictive, speculative and involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following: changes in economic or political conditions in markets served by operations of the Group that would adversely affect the level of demand for its mobile services; greater than anticipated competitive activity, from both existing competitors and new market entrants, which could require changes to the Group's pricing models, lead to customer churn, affect the relative appeal of the Group's products and services as compared to those of its competitors or make it more difficult for the Group to acquire new customers; the impact of investment in network capacity and the deployment of new technologies, or the rapid obsolescence of existing technology; higher than expected costs or capital expenditures; slower than expected customer growth and reduced customer retention; changes in the spending patterns of new and existing customers and the possibility that new products and services offered by the Group will not be commercially accepted or do not perform according to expectations; the Group's ability to expand its spectrum position or renew or obtain necessary licences, including for spectrum; the Group's ability to achieve cost savings; the Group's ability to execute its strategy in fibre deployment, network expansion, new product and service roll-outs, mobile data, enterprise and broadband and in emerging markets; changes in foreign exchange rates, including, in particular, changes in the exchange rate of pounds sterling, the currency in which the Group prepares its financial statements, to the euro, the US dollar and other currencies in which the Group generates its revenue, as well as changes in interest rates; the Group's ability to realise benefits from entering into partnerships or joint ventures and entering into service franchising and brand licensing; unfavourable consequences to the Group of making and integrating acquisitions or disposals; changes to the regulatory framework in which the Group operates, including possible action by regulators in markets in which the Group operates or by the EU to regulate rates the Group is permitted to charge; the impact of legal or other proceedings against the Group or other companies in the mobile telecommunications industry; loss of suppliers or disruption of supply chains; developments in the Group's financial condition, earnings and distributable funds and other factors that the Board takes into account when determining levels of dividends; the Group's ability to satisfy working capital and other requirements through access to bank facilities, funding in the capital markets and its operations; changes in statutory tax rates or profit mix which might impact the Group's weighted average tax rate; and/or changes in tax legislation or final resolution of open tax issues which might impact the Group's tax payments or effective tax rate.

Furthermore, a review of the reasons why actual results and developments may differ materially from the expectations disclosed or implied within forward-looking statements can be found under "Forward-looking statements" and "Principal risk factors and uncertainties" in the Group's annual report for the year ended 31 March 2014. The annual report can be found on the Group's website (vodafone.com/investor). All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company, to any member of the Group or to any persons acting on their behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the factors referred to above. No assurances can be given that the forward-looking statements in this document will be realised. Subject to compliance with applicable law and regulations, Vodafone does not intend to update these forward-looking statements and does not undertake any obligation to do so.

For further information:

 
 Vodafone Group Plc 
 Investor Relations            Media Relations 
 Telephone: +44 7919 990 230   www.vodafone.com/media/contact 
 

Copyright (c) Vodafone Group 2014

- ends -

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