The Vodafone Group Plc board has announced an interim dividend per share of 4.50 eurocents (H1 FY23: 4.50 eurocents). The ex-dividend date for the interim dividend is 23 November 2023 for ordinary shareholders, the record date is 24 November 2023 and the dividend is payable on 2 February 2024. Dividend payments on ordinary shares will be paid directly into a nominated bank or building society account.
Other financial highlights include:
- Group service revenue growth of 4.2% in H1 FY24, or 2.3% excluding Turkey, with both Europe (Q1: 0.4%, Q2: 1.5%) and Africa (Q1: 9.0%, Q2: 9.0%) growing
- Good improvement in Germany (Q1: -1.3%, Q2: 1.1%) and continued acceleration in Vodafone Business with 4.4% growth in H1 FY24
- Group revenue decline of 4.3% to €21.9 billion due to adverse foreign exchange rate movements and the disposal of Vantage Towers, Vodafone Hungary and Vodafone Ghana in the prior financial year
- Operating profit decrease of 44.2% to €1.7 billion reflecting business disposals in the prior financial year, adverse foreign exchange rate movements and lower share of results of associates and joint ventures
- Adjusted EBITDAaL growth of 0.3% despite a significant increase in energy costs
- Adjusted free cash outflow of €1.5 billion in the period, reflecting lower Adjusted EBITDAaL and lower dividends from associates and joint ventures
- Announced merger in the UK and sale of Vodafone Spain as they right-size Vodafone for growth
- FY24 guidance reiterated with Adjusted EBITDAaL expected to be 'broadly flat' at around €13.3 billion and Adjusted free cash flow to be 'around' €3.3 billion
