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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Report on Form 6-K dated 4 February 2004
ORANGE plc
(Name of Registrant)
St. James Court, Great Park Road
Almondsbury Park, Bradley Stoke
Bristol BS32 4QJ
England
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F:ý Form 40-F:o
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):
Yes:o No:ý
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):
Yes:o No:ý
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes:o No:ý
Enclosure:
- —
- Statement dated 4 February 2004 "Orange 2003 full-year results".
4th February 2004—France Telecom S.A. today announced its 2003 full year revenues which contained the following information relating to Orange S.A.
Orange 2003 full-year results:
- •
- 9% revenue increase on a comparable basis (5% on a historical basis)
- •
- nearly 50 million customers at the end of 2003
Orange Revenues 2003 and 2002*
| | Full Year 2003 | Full Year 2002 Historical | % Change 2003/2002 Historical | Full Year 2002 on a comparable basis | % Change 2003/2002 on a comparable basis | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | In millions of euros | |||||||||||
| Total revenues | 17,941 | 17,085 | 5.0 | 16,463 | 9.0 | |||||||
| of which | ||||||||||||
| Orange France | 7,983 | 7,651 | 4.3 | 7,651 | 4.3 | |||||||
| Orange UK | 5,819 | 5,961 | (2.4 | ) | 5,418 | 7.4 | ||||||
| Orange Rest of World | 4,315 | 3,657 | 18.0 | 3,574 | 20.7 | |||||||
| Inter segment eliminations | (176 | ) | (184 | ) | (4.3 | ) | (180 | ) | (2.2 | ) | ||
- *
- Unaudited figures
The number of customers continued to show steady growth, with a customer base totalling nearly 50 million. In particular, the number of customers in the Rest of World segment increased by 28.1% on a comparable basis. Growth in the customer base accelerated significantly in the fourth quarter with the addition of 2.2 million new customers. Orange retained its leadership in market share in France (48.8%).
Orange also continued to refocus on high value customers. Favorable ARPU trends were confirmed—annual ARPU increased in France in 2003 for the first time—with an improvement in the customer mix. Contract customers accounted for 57.9% of the customer base in France and 32.7% in the United Kingdom. Non-voice services experienced strong growth, representing 12.7% of network revenues at the end of 2003, up from 10.7% at the end of 2002. Average usage per user (AUPU) also experienced robust growth, rising 10.5% in France and 4.3% in the UK in one year.
Network revenues increased 9.8% on a comparable basis and 5.8 percent on a historical basis.
The launch of Orange World at the end of October 2003 reinforced the development of multimedia usage. At December 31, 2003, Orange had recruited 1.9 million multimedia contract customers in France, Switzerland and the United-Kingdom.
| | Year 2003 | Year 2002 | Change (in %) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Customer base (in thousands) | |||||||||
| Orange France | 20,329 | 19,216 | 5.8 | ||||||
| of which contract | 57.9 | % | 55.6 | % | |||||
| Orange UK | 13,649 | 13,312 | 2.5 | ||||||
| of which contract | 32.7 | % | 31.8 | % | |||||
| Orange Rest of World | 15,161 | 11,839 | 28.1 | ||||||
| Of which contract | 32.8 | % | 33.3 | % | |||||
| TOTAL Orange | 49,139 | 44,367 | 10.8 | ||||||
| Total ARPU (contract and prepay services) | |||||||||
| Orange France (in €) | 379 | 377 | 0.5 | ||||||
| Orange UK (in £) | 271 | 259 | 4.6 | ||||||
| Total AUPU (in minutes per month) | |||||||||
| Orange France | 158 | 143 | 10.5 | ||||||
| Orange UK | 146 | 140 | 4.3 | ||||||
| Share of non-voice services in network revenues (in %) | |||||||||
| Orange France | 11.7 | % | 8.9 | % | |||||
| Orange UK | 15.9 | % | 14.3 | % | |||||
| Orange Rest of World | 10.2 | % | 8.4 | % | |||||
| TOTAL Orange | 12.7 | % | 10.7 | % | |||||
Key commercial indicators per market
| | Twelve months ended 31 December | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France (incl. Caraïbes and Réunion) | 2003 | 2002 pro forma | |||
| Customers (in thousands) (period end) | 20,329 | 19,216 | |||
| Of which Contract customers | 11,763 | 10,683 | |||
| Recurring network revenues (€ in millions) | 7,371 | 6,989 | |||
| Equipment and other revenues (€ in millions) | 612 | 662 | |||
| Total revenues (€ in millions) | 7,983 | 7,651 | |||
| Annual average revenue per user (€)(7) | 379 | 377 | |||
| Contract | 546 | 560 | |||
| Prepay | 160 | 163 | |||
| UK | | | |||
| Customers (in thousands) (period end) | 13,649 | 13,312 | |||
| Of which Contract customers | 4,457 | 4,238 | |||
| Recurring network revenues (€ in millions) | 5,221 | 4,858 | |||
| Equipment and other revenues (€ in millions) | 598 | 560 | |||
| Total revenues (€ in millions) | 5,819 | 5,418 | |||
| Annual average revenue per user (£)(5) | 271 | 259 | |||
| Contract | 569 | 557 | |||
| Prepay | 128 | 125 | |||
| Belgium—Mobistar | | | |||
| Customers (in thousands) (period end) | 2,615 | 2,305 | |||
| Total revenues (€ in millions) | 1,167 | 1,004 | |||
| Annual average revenue per user (€) | 416 | 402 | |||
| Denmark—Orange | | | |||
| Customers (in thousands) (period end) | 576 | 509 | |||
| Total revenues (€ in millions) | 258 | 241 | |||
| Annual average revenue per user (€) | 373 | 339 | |||
| Egypt—MobiNil (at 71.25%) | | | |||
| Customers (in thousands) (period end) | 2,131 | 1,626 | |||
| Total revenues (€ in millions) | 372 | 286 | |||
| Annual average revenue per user (€) | 194 | 281 | |||
| The Netherlands—Orange | | | |||
| Customers (in thousands) (period end) | 1,326 | 1,024 | |||
| Total revenues (€ in millions) | 465 | 400 | |||
| Annual average revenue per user (€) | 402 | 333 | |||
| Romania—Orange | | | |||
| Customers (in thousands) (period end)(9) | 3,317 | 2,211 | |||
| Total revenues (€ in millions) | 467 | 328 | |||
| Annual average revenue per user (€) | 169 | 202 | |||
| Slovakia—Orange | | | |||
| Customers (in thousands) (period end) | 2,065 | 1,713 | |||
| Total revenues (€ in millions) | 392 | 324 | |||
| Annual average revenue per user (€) | 198 | 198 | |||
| Switzerland—Orange | | | |||
| Customers (in thousands) (period end) | 1,085 | 963 | |||
| Total revenues (€ in millions) | 775 | 670 | |||
| Annual average revenue per user (€) | 712 | 721 | |||
| Other Countries | | | |||
| Customers (in thousands) (period end) | 2,046 | 1,488 | |||
| Total revenues (€ in millions) | 403 | 313 | |||
| Total Rest of World(excl. shared group functions) | | | |||
| Customers (in thousands) (period end) | 15,161 | 11,839 | |||
| Total revenues (€ in millions) | 4,299 | 3,566 | |||
| Total Orange | | | |||
| Customers (in thousands) (period end) | 49,139 | 44,367 | |||
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Orange plc has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| ORANGE PLC | |||
Date: 4 February 2004 | By: | /s/ PHILIPPE MCALLISTER | |
| Name: | Philippe McAllister | ||
| Title: | Director | ||
SIGNATURES