| France Telecom and TDC agree to merge Orange Switzerland and Sunrise to create the leading alternati |
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Renens, Zurich, Paris and Copenhagen - France Telecom and TDC announce today that they have reached an agreement to combine their respective Swiss subsidiaries, Orange Communication S.A. (Orange Switzerland) and Sunrise Communications S.A. (Sunrise). The combined entity will create the leading nationwide alternative provider of telecommunications services in Switzerland. France Telecom will pay at closing a net amount of 1.5 billion to TDC and, as a result of a series of steps, become a 75% shareholder in the combined entity, and TDC will hold the remaining 25%. With approximately 3.4 million mobile(1) and 1.1 million fixed and broadband customers(2), the combined entity will account for around 38% of the mobile telephony market(3) and 13% of the fixed broadband connections(4). For 2008, the combined entity would have generated total pro-forma revenues of CHF 3.1 billion (2.0 billion) and EBITDA of CHF 809 million (534 million). As a full-service nationwide fixed and mobile operator, it will broaden the scope of services offered through more than 100 shops throughout Switzerland, bringing the best of both companies offers to a larger number of customers. Gervais Pellissier, France Telecom Deputy CEO and CFO, said: The planned merger of Sunrise and Orange Switzerland marks a new significant step in the long-term investment by France Telecom-Orange in Switzerland. Following the UK joint venture between Orange and T-Mobile, France Telecom completes another major in-market consolidation, consistent with its M&A policy. Jesper Ovesen, TDC CFO, said: We are pleased with the transaction and believe that the combination will create a stronger player in the Swiss telecommunications market. We look forward to working with France Telecom and creating further value for all stakeholders. The agreement is a natural last step towards TDC focusing on the Nordic markets, which is our strategic goal. This merger will bring substantial benefits to Swiss customers. It will result in better mobile network coverage, broadband capacity and quality for 2G and 3G services, with notable environmental benefits. Joint network development would lead to a reduction of around one third in the projected number of mobile telephone antennas compared to the original standalone network build-up plans. In addition, the combined entity would bring a better customer reach and service through a larger network of shops and improved customer services. Thomas Sieber, CEO of Orange Switzerland, added: This merger is a further proof of France Telecoms lasting commitment to our country, and will offer us fabulous opportunities by creating the leading alternative operator in the Swiss telecom market. The merger with Orange is an important milestone for us, said Sunrise CEO Christoph Brand. This is a logical way for us to improve our competitive position in the Swiss market and create a better product offering for our customers. The combined group will be better placed to make the necessary investments for the future and allow us to play a more active role in shaping the market. Transaction highlights The Board of the combined entity will be composed of representatives of TDC and France Telecom, with France Telecom holding the majority of the seats. Thomas Sieber will be the Chief Executive Officer of the combined entity. After successfully having repositioned Sunrise in the market over the last three years, Christoph Brand will continue as Sunrises CEO up until the completion of the transaction. Post-closing Christoph Brand will help supervise the initial integration, before moving on to pursue new executive opportunities outside of the combined entity. The combined entity will have a share buyback programme targeted at TDCs 25% stake to be executed at the discretion of the Board using cash generated by the company. If decided, the annual share buybacks will be executed in Q1 of each of 2012, 2013 and 2014, on the basis of pre-agreed multiples applied to prior year EBITDA and determined on the basis of a target net present value of 1.2bn for the full 25% TDC stake. Furthermore, TDC will have the right to sell its stake to third-parties from the second anniversary of closing or to do an initial public offering of the company from the third anniversary of closing. In addition, France Telecom will have an option to buy TDCs shares from the first anniversary of closing at a minimum value of 1.2 billion, compounded at a rate of 7% per annum. In connection with the exit routes, the following mechanism is put in place: Prior to signing the final transaction documentation, which is expected to take place in the second half of February 2010, both TDC and France Telecom will undertake a confirmatory due diligence. The completion of the transaction will furthermore be conditional upon the approval by the relevant competition and regulatory authorities. The transaction is expected to create substantial value for both shareholders and for France Telecom to be accretive from 2010 in terms of free cash-flow per share and from 2011 in terms of earnings per share. After closing, France Telecom will fully consolidate the combined entity, whilst TDC will recognise its interest in the company using the equity method. 1/ as of end of June 2009 About TDC TDCs shares are listed on NASDAQ OMX Copenhagen, its Reuters code is TDC.CO and its Bloomberg code is TDC DC. For more information: www.tdc.dk, www.sunrise.ch France Telecom disclaimer This Presentation does not constitute or form part of, and should not be construed as, an offer or invitation to subscribe for, underwrite or otherwise acquire, any securities of TDC, Nordic Telephone Company Holding ApS (NTCH), a parent company of TDC, or any member of the TDC group, nor should it or any part of it form the basis of, or be relied on in connection with, any contract to purchase or subscribe for any securities of NTCH, TDC or any member of its group nor shall it or any part of it form the basis of or be relied on in connection with any contract or commitment whatsoever. This Presentation has been prepared solely for information and background purposes and is subject to amendment. This Presentation (or any part of it) may not be reproduced or redistributed or published in whole or in part for any purpose without the prior written consent of TDC. This Presentation is not directed to, or intended for distribution to or use by, any person or entity that is a citizen or resident or located in any locality, state, country or other jurisdiction where such distribution, publication, availability or use would be contrary to law or regulation or which would require any registration or licensing within such jurisdiction. This Presentation is not for publication, release or distribution in Australia, Canada or Japan. This Presentation and the information contained herein are not an offer of securities for sale in the United States and may not be viewed by persons within the United States (within the meaning of Regulation S under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the US Securities Act), except for qualified institutional buyers (as defined in Rule 144A under the US Securities Act). This communication is only directed at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom or (ii) to investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2001 (the Order) or (iii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as relevant persons). Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this communication or any of its contents. |








