Telekom Austria to get Telekom Slovenije Macedonia unit (updated)

Telekom Slovenije, D.d

22/10/2014 14:36

* Telekom Austria gets 55 pct of venture, Telekom Slovenije 
45 pct 
    * Telekom Slovenije to exit venture within three years 
    * No financial details disclosed 
 
 (Adds quotes and background) 
    VIENNA, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Telekom Austria  TELA.VI  will 
expand in Macedonia by merging its Vip Operator unit with 
Telekom Slovenije's  TLSG.LJ  One unit there, bringing together 
the country's second- and third-biggest mobile operators, the 
Austrian group said Wednesday. 
    Telekom Austria will hold 55 percent of the merged venture 
and run the operation, it said in a statement, while Telekom 
Slovenije would hold 45 percent, with call and put options for 
the Slovenian group to exit the venture within three years 
    The America Movil  AMXL.MX  unit gave no financial terms for 
the transaction, which it said could close by the first quarter 
of 2015 pending due diligence reviews and regulatory approval. 
    Vip Operator last year had a 28.1 percent market share and 
around 630,000 customers in Macedonia, where it had sales of 65 
million euros ($82.3 million) and earnings before interest, tax, 
depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of 14.7 million. 
    One had a market share of 23.6 percent and around 528,000 
customers at the end of 2013. It had sales of around 75.5 
million and EBITDA of 14.4 million last year, Telekom Austria 
said. 
    Telekom Austria has been offering mobile services in  
Macedonia since 2007. Its acquisition of blizoo Macedonia in 
July 2014 also let it offer fixed-line services there. 
    (1 US dollar = 0.7895 euro) 
 
 (Reporting by Michael Shields, editing by Louise Heavens) 
 ((Michael.Shields@thomsonreuters.com; +43 1 531 12 258; Reuters 
Messaging: michael.shields.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)) 
 
Keywords: TELEKOM AUSTRIA TELEKOM/MACEDONIA