– The new Telefónica Brasil—the company resulting from the integration with GVT—becomes the country’s largest integrated telecommunications company, both in terms of accesses and of revenue.
– The transaction had already been strongly backed by shareholders, both at Telefónica Brasil and at the parent company (Telefónica S.A.), as proven by the success of the 16,107 million BRL and 3,048 million euros, respectively, in capital increases, both of them connected to financing the acquisition of GVT.
– Telefónica Brasil’s Board of Directors and Shareholders’ Meeting both approved the proposal of appointing Amos Genish as the company’s new Executive Chairman to lead the integration process.
Madrid, 29 May 2015.- Telefónica Brasil‘s Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting supported the purchase of Global Village Telecom (GVT) from Vivendi. The closing of this transaction, announced in September 2014, places Telefónica Brasil as the Brazilian market’s leading integrated operator, both in terms of clients—with over 105 million accesses after the integration —and of revenues; and with a high value customer profile.
With sustainable growth and a high-quality service offer as its main goals, Telefónica Brasil now has national coverage and is the unchallenged leader in the mobile business and fixed ultra-broadband, while also strengthening its position in pay TV. All of this is possible because the company has the best network infrastructure, an innovative portfolio that consolidates it as a Digital Telco, and a well-differentiated, high-definition TV offer combined with on-demand content, interactive applications and access to multi-device content.
Additionally, the integration of Vivo with GVT makes the complementarity between them obvious. While Vivo has the largest national 3G network, with coverage in 3,200 Brazilian municipalities, as well as 4G (which covers more than 140 cities nationwide), GVT has an extensive fibre optics network reaching 156 cities in 20 Brazilian states, besides the Federal District.
In accordance with the provisions of the purchase terms*, the closing of this transaction has been formalised for a total of 4,663 million euros (by means of cash settlement and debt assumption), as well as the hand over of 12% of the share capital of the new Telefónica Brasil—resulting from the integration. In the coming weeks, Vivendi will exchange 4.5% of this interest for 8.3% of the ordinary shares of Telecom Italia, according to the terms agreed by the parties.
On the other hand, the Telefónica Brasil’s Board of Directors and Shareholders’ Meeting have approved the proposal of appointing Amos Genish as Telefónica Brasil’s new Executive Chairman. He has been chosen to lead the integration process of both companies and to define a clear strategy for the future that is entirely focused on clients.
The green light to the transaction received from Telefónica Brasil’s Shareholders’ Meeting, summoned to that effect, follows the approval granted from the relevant Brazilian authorities during the first quarter of this year: Brazil’s Administrative Council of Economic Defence (CADE)—Brazil’s antitrust agency—and ANATEL, the country’s telecommunications regulator.
Moreover, the transaction has already been enthusiastically backed by shareholders, both at Telefónica Brasil and at the parent company (Telefónica S.A.), as proven by the success of the recent capital increases connected to financing the acquisition of GVT.
By purchasing GVT, Telefónica is reaffirming its commitment to Brazil, where it has invested nearly 55 billion euros since it first ventured into the country in 1996, and which is currently the source of nearly a fourth of the Group’s revenue. The country’s telecommunications market not only holds much potential, but is also vital for the growth and competitiveness of the country itself. Moreover, the transaction closed today brings about meaningful value generation for Telefónica, with significant synergies estimated, particularly in the fields of cross-selling, customer loyalty and satisfaction, and complementarity in the deployment of high-speed networks, among others.
(*) Telefónica and Vivendi signed the agreement for the sale transaction last September. The terms and conditions of the transaction included a cash settlement of 4,663 million euros (an amount subjected to adjustments in terms of net debt and normalised working capital), more than 12% of Telefónica Brasil’s share capital after its integration with GVT. Additionally, Vivendi accepted Telefónica’s offer of acquiring 1.11 billion common shares of Telefónica’s participation in Telecom Italia, in exchange for 4.5% of the capital that Vivendi will receive from the corporation resulting from the integration of Telefónica Brasil and GVT.
