Helios Towers plc, the independent telecommunications infrastructure company, has announced the results for the three months to 31 March 2022 (“Q1 2022”).
The financial highlights of the same are as follows,
- Revenue increased 23% year-on-year to US$127.5m (Q1 2021: US$103.6m), driven by acquisitions in Senegal, Madagascar and Malawi and strong organic tenancy growth across the Group. Excluding acquisitions, revenue increased 10% year-on-year.
Revenue increased by 4% quarter-on-quarter (Q4 2021: US$122.3m). - Adjusted EBITDA increased by 20% year-on-year to US$66.7m (Q1 2021: US$55.8m), driven by the three acquisitions closed over the past twelve months and organic tenancy growth in our established markets, partially offset by corporate SG&A investments previously communicated to support the Group’s transformational expansion from five markets to ten markets.
Adjusted EBITDA increased by 2% quarter-on-quarter (Q4 2021: US$65.6m). - Operating profit decreased year-on-year by US$2.7m and quarter-on-quarter by US$2.6m to US$14.4m, driven by higher depreciation from acquired assets, partially offset by Adjusted EBITDA growth.
- Portfolio free cash flow increased by 34% year-on-year to US$49.4m (Q1 2021: US$37.0m), driven by the increase in Adjusted EBITDA, lower maintenance and corporate capital additions, lower tax payments partially offset by higher lease payments, due to higher site count.
- Portfolio free cash flow was broadly flat quarter-on-quarter (Q4 2021: US$49.6m).
- Cash generated from operations increased by 76% year-on-year to US$52.7m (Q1 2021: US$30.0m), driven by higher Adjusted EBITDA and working capital movements. The decrease quarter-on-quarter was primarily due to working capital movements.
- Net leverage of 3.7x increased by +0.7x year-on-year (Q1 2021: 3.0x) and +0.1x quarter-on-quarter (Q4 2021: 3.6x), and remains at the low end of the Group’s medium-term target range of 3.5x-4.5x.
- Business underpinned by long-term contracted revenues of US$4.2bn (Q1 2021: US$2.8bn), of which 99% is from multinational MNOs, with an average remaining life of 7.4 years (Q1 2021: 6.6 years).
We have seen strong growth this quarter with revenue up 23% year-on-year, driven by continued organic demand in our established markets in addition to the contributions from our three new markets of Senegal, Madagascar and Malawi. Our recent platform expansion is progressing well, as we become the most diversified towerco in the region with the doubling of our sites and markets. We have many exciting years ahead as we move to a new phase of our journey and launch our 5 year sustainable business strategy – focused on driving growth, impact, margins and returns.
Tom Greenwood, Chief Excutive Officer, Helios Tower
