Vodafone 2008 Annual Report Download - page 54

Regulatory decisions and changes in the regulatory environment could
adversely affect the Group’s business.
Because the Group has ventures in a large number of geographic areas, it must
comply with an extensive range of requirements that regulate and supervise the
licensing, construction and operation of its telecommunications networks and
services. In particular, there are agencies which regulate and supervise the allocation
of frequency spectrum and which monitor and enforce regulation and competition
laws which apply to the mobile telecommunications industry. Decisions by
regulators regarding the granting, amendment or renewal of licences, to the
Group or to third parties, could adversely affect the Group’s future operations in
these geographic areas. The Group cannot provide any assurances that governments
in the countries in which it operates will not issue telecommunications licences to
new operators whose services will compete with it. In addition, other changes in
the regulatory environment concerning the use of mobile phones may lead to a
reduction in the usage of mobile phones or otherwise adversely affect the Group.
Additionally, decisions by regulators and new legislation, such as those relating to
international roaming charges and call termination rates, could affect the pricing
for, or adversely affect the revenue from, the services the Group offers. Further
details on the regulatory framework in certain countries and regions in which the
Group operates, and on regulatory proceedings can be found in “Regulation” on
page 147.
Increased competition may reduce market share or revenue.
The Group faces intensifying competition. Competition could lead to a reduction
in the rate at which the Group adds new customers and to a decrease in the size
of the Group’s market share as customers choose to receive telecommunications
services, or other competing services, from other providers. Examples include,
but are not limited to, competition from internet based services and MVNOs.
The focus of competition in many of the Group’s markets continues to shift
from customer acquisition to customer retention as the market for mobile
telecommunications has become increasingly penetrated. Customer deactivations
are measured by the Group’s churn rate. There can be no assurance that the Group
will not experience increases in churn rates, particularly as competition intensifies.
An increase in churn rates could adversely affect profitability because the Group
would experience lower revenue and additional selling costs to replace customers.
Increased competition has also led to declines in the prices the Group charges for
its mobile services and is expected to lead to further price declines in the future.
Competition could also lead to an increase in the level at which the Group must
provide subsidies for handsets. Additionally, the Group could face increased
competition should there be an award of additional licences in jurisdictions in
which a member of the Group already has a licence.
Delays in the development of handsets and network compatibility and
components may hinder the deployment of new technologies.
The Group’s operations depend in part upon the successful deployment of
continuously evolving telecommunications technologies. The Group uses
technologies from a number of vendors and makes significant capital expenditures
in connection with the deployment of such technologies. There can be no
assurance that common standards and specifications will be achieved, that there
will be inter-operability across Group and other networks, that technologies will
be developed according to anticipated schedules, that they will perform according
to expectations or that they will achieve commercial acceptance. The introduction
of software and other network components may also be delayed. The failure of
vendor performance or technology performance to meet the Group’s expectations
or the failure of a technology to achieve commercial acceptance could result
in additional capital expenditures by the Group or a reduction in profitability.
Expected benefits from cost reduction initiatives may not be realised.
The Group has entered into several cost reduction initiatives principally relating
to the outsourcing of IT application development and maintenance, data centre
consolidation, supply chain management and a business transformation
programme to implement a single, integrated operating model using one ERP
system. However, there is no assurance that the full extent of the anticipated
benefits will be realised.
Changes in assumptions underlying the carrying value of certain Group
assets could result in impairment.
Vodafone completes a review of the carrying value of its assets annually, or more
frequently where the circumstances require, to assess whether those carrying
values can be supported by the net present value of future cash flows derived
from such assets. This review examines the continued appropriateness of the
assumptions in respect of highly uncertain matters upon which the carrying
values of certain of the Group’s assets are based. This includes an assessment of
discount rates and long term growth rates, future technological developments
and timing and quantum of future capital expenditure, as well as several factors
which may affect revenue and profitability identified within other risk factors
in this section such as intensifying competition, pricing pressures, regulatory
changes and the timing for introducing new products or services. Due to the
Group’s substantial carrying value of goodwill under IFRS, the revision of any of
these assumptions to reflect current or anticipated changes in operations or the
financial condition of the Group could lead to an impairment in the carrying value
of certain assets in the Group. While impairment does not impact reported cash
flows, it does result in a non-cash charge in the Consolidated Income Statement
and thus no assurance can be given that any future impairments would not affect
the Company’s reported distributable reserves and therefore its ability to make
distributions to its shareholders or repurchase its shares. See “Critical Accounting
Estimates” on page 85.
The Group’s geographic expansion may increase exposure to
unpredictable economic, political and legal risks.
Political, economic and legal systems in emerging markets historically are less
predictable than in countries with more developed institutional structures.
As the Group increasingly enters into emerging markets, the value of the Group’s
investments may be adversely affected by political, economic and legal
developments which are beyond the Group’s control.
Expected benefits from acquisitions may not be realised.
The Group has made significant acquisitions, which are expected to deliver
benefits resulting from the anticipated growth potential of the relevant markets.
However, there is no assurance as to the successful integration of companies
acquired by the Group or the extent to which the anticipated benefits resulting
from the acquisitions will be achieved.
The Company’s strategic objectives may be impeded by the fact that it
does not have a controlling interest in some of its ventures.
Some of the Group’s interests in mobile licences are held through entities in
which it is a significant but not controlling owner. Under the governing documents
for some of these partnerships and corporations, certain key matters such as the
approval of business plans and decisions as to the timing and amount of cash
distributions require the consent of the partners. In others, these matters may
be approved without the Company’s consent. The Company may enter into
similar arrangements as it participates in ventures formed to pursue additional
opportunities. Although the Group has not been materially constrained by the
nature of its mobile ownership interests, no assurance can be given that its
partners will not exercise their power of veto or their controlling influence
in any of the Group’s ventures in a way that will hinder the Group’s corporate
objectives and reduce any anticipated cost savings or revenue enhancement
resulting from these ventures.
Principal Risk Factors and Uncertainties
52 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report 2008
Vodafone – Performance