* Seeking partner to extend fibre build out
* Agrees pension funding deal
* CEO says after years of decline, BT is on the front foot
* COVID drives 7% fall in revenue, see growth from 22/23 FY
* Shares fall 4%
(Adds shares, CEO comments, PM Johnson comment)
By Paul Sandle
LONDON, May 13 (Reuters) - BT will take fast
broadband fibre to 25 million homes and businesses by the end of
2026, it said on Thursday, after changes in tax and regulation
and a new deal on its pension deficit enabled it to raise its
target by 5 million premises.
Chief Executive Philip Jansen said he was seeking partners
to help fund the 15 billion pounds ($21 billion) of investment
needed for the rollout.
"After years of decline for BT the future is now one of
growth," he told reporters. "We've got BT back on the front
foot, and we're now focusing BT on building further and faster
to deliver even more for our customers and shareholders."
The government has prioritised faster broadband to drive
Britain's economic recovery.
Prime Minster Boris Johnson said: "Fantastic that BT are
rolling out lightning-fast broadband to even more homes."
APPETITE FOR INVESTMENT
"There's so much appetite for investing in this kind of
infrastructure," Jansen said, adding that any partnership would
focus on the additional 5 million premises, including 1.5
million in rural locations, rather than on selling a stake in
networks business Openreach.
As well as seeking a partner in fibre, BT is in talks about
selling a stake in BT Sport, a move that could relieve the
pressure of buying expensive rights.
A big short-term risk facing BT Sport was removed on
Thursday when the Premier League agreed to renew current rights
for three years.
Jansen said it was too early to call the outcome of talks.
"It's very possible we make no changes at all, because BT
Sport now has a very clear profile and we're happy with it," he
said. "It's possible that we do some sort of partnership or
joint venture, and of course it is possible that we don't end up
with BT Sport."
Broadcasters and online streamers such as ITV, DAZN
and Disney could be interested, sources have said.
Shares in BT, which reached a 12 month high of 172 pence on
Friday, were trading down 3.8% at 162 pence in morning deals.
BT set its new fibre target after it reported a 7% fall in
revenue and a 6% fall in adjusted earnings for the year to
end-March, reflecting the impact of COVID-19 on its consumer and
enterprise units, despite soaring demand for fast broadband.
Revenue fell 7% to 21.33 billion pounds ($30 billion), just
shy of analysts forecasts, while adjusted earnings dropped 6% to
7.42 billion pounds.
It said adjusted revenue would be broadly flat this year,
while earnings would be between 7.5 billion and 7.7 billion
pounds.
BT said it had struck a new deal for its pension, which at
7.98 billion pounds is one of the biggest in the country.
Some 2 billion pounds of deficit will be met through an
asset backed arrangement secured against its EE mobile business,
while the balance will be met over 10 years, starting with an
annual cash contribution of 900 million pounds.
($1 = 0.7124 pounds)
(Editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Elaine Hardcastle)
ITV (ITV)
BT (BT.A)
