VEON 1Q25 Earnings Release: Strong Start to 2025, Digital Revenues Surge 50%, Driving Growth

15 May 2025

VEON 1Q25 Earnings Release: Strong Start to 2025, Digital Revenues Surge 50%, Driving Growth Dubai, May 15, 2025

VEON 1Q25 Highlights

Total revenue growth of 8.9% YoY to USD 1,026 million (12.9% YoY in underlying local currency terms)

EBITDA growth of 13.7% YoY to USD 439 million (10.4% YoY in underlying local currency terms)

Direct digital revenue growth of 50.2% YoY to USD 147 million ( 54.3% YoY in local currency terms), representing 14.3% of revenues for quarter

Total cash and cash equivalents and deposits of USD 1,775 million, with USD 662 million at headquarters ( HQ ); and gross debt at USD 4,377 million (decreased by USD 4 million QoQ), with net debt excluding lease liabilities at USD 1,810 million (decreased by USD 91 million QoQ)

LTM Equity Free Cash Flow of USD 387 million, Capex of USD 135 million

VEON Ltd. (Nasdaq: VEON), a global digital operator, announces selected financial and operating results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025.

In 1Q25, VEON achieved an 8.9% year-on-year growth in USD revenues and a 13.7% YoY growth in USD EBITDA. Despite the declining blended weighted average inflation rates in our operating countries (from 11.9% in 1Q24 to 7.6% in 1Q25), VEON continued to show strong revenue growth, with a 12.9% YoY increase in underlying local currency terms. Total revenues reached USD 1,026 million for 1Q25.

Growth was underpinned by robust direct digital revenue growth, which grew by 50.2% YoY in reported currency, and by 54.3% YoY in local currency terms. EBITDA for the quarter was USD 439 million, representing a 13.7% year-on-year increase in reported currency and a 10.4% increase in underlying local currency terms. The underlying growth reflects adjustment to 1Q24 for certain identified items including the impact of the cyberattack in Ukraine and the deconsolidation of the TNS Plus LLP ( TNS ) business in Kazakhstan on 1Q24 EBITDA base.

Capex in 1Q25 increased 8.3% YoY to USD 135 million and implies LTM capex intensity of 20.4% ( 2.2 p.p. YoY, 17.9% excl. Ukraine). Total cash and cash equivalents and deposits as of March 31, 2025 amounted to USD 1,775 million (including USD 303 million related to customer deposits from our banking operations in Pakistan and excluding USD 30 million in Ukrainian sovereign bonds that are classified as investments) with USD 662 million held at the HQ level. Net debt to LTM EBITDA, excluding lease liabilities, declined to 1.23x (from 1.34x as of December 31, 2024).

Outlook for 2025

VEON affirms its 2025 outlook and expects underlying local currency growth for total revenue of between 12% and 14% year-on-year, and underlying EBITDA growth of between 13-15% year-on-year. VEON's 2025 outlook for the Group's capex intensity is in the range of 17%-19%.

On March 25, 2025, VEON commenced the second phase of its previously announced share buyback program with respect to the Company's American Depositary Shares ( ADS ) in an amount of USD 35 million. As of May 13, 2025, the Company has acquired 520,366 ADSs for a total consideration of US$23.2 million as part of this second phase of buyback.

Commenting on the results, VEON Group CEO Kaan Terzioglu said:

VEON has started 2025 with strong momentum and delivered solid results that reflect both disciplined execution and strategic clarity.

We are making rapid progress in our digital operator strategy. Our direct digital revenues rose by 50.2%, reaching USD 147 million and now account for 14.3% of Group revenues, up from 10.4% a year ago. We are delivering innovative and locally relevant digital services that enhance our customers' lives every minute of the day - from financial services and healthcare to entertainment, education, and enterprise applications. This is now complemented by our AI1440 vision, which integrates AI in native languages to truly augment human capabilities, well beyond process optimization. Together, these strategies position VEON as a frontrunner in digital transformation across frontier markets. Looking ahead, we are on track to meet our FY2025 goals and are reaffirming our guidance for underlying local currency growth for total revenue of between 12% and 14% YoY, and underlying EBITDA growth of between 13-15% YoY.

We remain focused on disciplined execution and innovation as we continue to scale impact for our customers and value for our shareholders.

Additional information

View the full 1Q25 Earnings Release

View 1Q25 Results Presentation

View 1Q25 Factbook

1Q25 results conference call

VEON will also host a results conference call with senior management at 16:00 GST (14:00 CET, 9:00 EST) today.

To register and access the event, please click here or copy and paste this link to the address bar of your browser: https://veon-1q-2025-trading-update.open-exchange.net/.

Once registered, you will receive registration confirmation on the email address mentioned during registration with the link to access the webcast and dial-in details to listen to the conference call over the phone.

We strongly encourage you to watch the event through the webcast link, but if you prefer to dial in, then please use the dial-in details.

Q&A

If you want to participate in the Q&A session, we ask that you select the Yes option on the Will you be asking questions live on the call?' dropdown. That will bring you to a page where you can join the Q&A room by clicking Connect to meeting'.

You will be brought into a zoom webinar where you can listen to the presentation and once Q&A begins, if you have a question, please use the raise hand button' on the bottom of your zoom screen. When it is your turn to speak, the moderator will announce your name as well as sending a message to your screen asking you to confirm you want to talk. Once accepted, please unmute your mic and ask your question.

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LINK:	https://www.veon.com/newsroom/press-releases/veon-1q25-earnings-releas...
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