Virgin Mobile USA Reaches 5.2 million customers, up 6% YoY

During the third quarter of 2008, Virgin Mobile USA's net service revenue was $305.0 million, an increase of 1% versus the same period last year. Adjusted EBITDA in the third quarter of 2008 was $27.5 million, an increase of 61% compared to Adjusted EBITDA of $17.0 million in the third quarter of 2007.


During the third quarter, Virgin Mobile USA closed the acquisition of Helio, a joint venture between SK Telecom and EarthLink, and financial results for Helio are included in Virgin Mobile USA's results beginning on August 22, 2008.


Gross additions (or new Virgin Mobile USA customers who activated their accounts) during the third quarter of 2008 totaled 821,491, up 8% from 759,927 in the third quarter of 2007. Gross additions for the first nine months of 2008 were 2,345,436, down 3% from 2,426,919 in the first nine months of 2007, due to the current economic conditions and their impact on consumer behavior. The company cited encouraging results with its newly launched service plans.


The company's cost per gross addition (CPGA) for the third quarter of 2008 was $105.86, compared to CPGA of $127.35 in the third quarter of 2007. CPGA for the first nine months of 2008 was $111.50, compared to $108.10 in the first nine months of 2007. Virgin Mobile USA CPGA in the third quarter benefited from a reduction in marketing spend following investments in its new service plans in the first half of the year.


Average monthly customer turnover, or churn for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2008 was 5.5% and 5.4%, respectively, compared with 4.9% for both the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2007.


As of September 30, 2008, the company had approximately 5.2 million customers, an increase of 6% over September 30, 2007, reflecting, in part, the acquisition of Helio. The increase in churn was as a result of normal churn patterns that occur after new plans are implemented and was within our expectations.


Average revenue per user (ARPU) for the third quarter of 2008 was $20.19, reflecting a 2% decline from the prior year's third quarter ARPU of $20.59, and an increase of 5% from the second quarter of 2008. ARPU for the first nine months of 2008 was $19.82, a 7% decline compared to $21.31 for the same period last year. ARPU in the first three and nine months of 2007 benefited from the launch of our hybrid plans in the second half of 2006. The sequential growth in ARPU from $19.32 in the second quarter was the result of continued adoption of the new higher cost plans as well as the impact of our recent acquisition of Helio.http://www.virginmobileusa.com