REG - Vodafone Group Plc - VODAFONE HUNGARY PROPOSED SALE

VodafoneAnnouncement

22/08/2022 07:00

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RNS Number : 7421W  Vodafone Group Plc  22 August 2022

22 AUGUST 2022

 

VODAFONE AGREES NON-BINDING TERMS IN RELATION TO THE SALE OF VODAFONE HUNGARY
FOR €1.8 BILLION TO 4iG AND CORVINUS

 

Vodafone Group Plc(1) ("Vodafone") announces that it has entered into heads of
terms with 4iG Public Limited Company ("4iG") and Corvinus Zrt ("Corvinus", a
Hungarian state holding company) (all together the "Parties") in relation to
the potential sale of 100% of Vodafone Magyarország Távközlési Zrt
("Vodafone Hungary") for a total cash consideration equivalent to an
enterprise value of HUF 715bn (€1.8bn)(2,3). This represents a multiple of
9.1x Adjusted EBITDAaL for the 12-month period ending 31 March 2022.

Vodafone Hungary is one of the leading converged network operators in Hungary
and a combination with 4iG will create a clear #2 operator across mobile and
fixed communications with broader ICT (Information and Communications
Technology) capabilities. It also supports the Hungarian state's goal of
creating a national ICT champion.

The combination with 4iG is complementary, with limited overlaps and the
addition of Vodafone Hungary's infrastructure to the 4iG group will create a
stronger competitor to the incumbent operator.

Nick Read, Chief Executive of Vodafone, said: "The Hungarian Government has a
clear strategy to build a Hungarian owned national champion in the ICT sector.
This combination with 4iG will allow Vodafone Hungary, which has a proud
history of success and innovation in the country, to play a major role in the
future growth and development of the sector as a much stronger scaled and
fully converged operator. The combined entity will increase competition and
have greater access to investment to further the digitalisation of Hungary."

The transaction is subject to completion of confirmatory due diligence, the
Parties entering into binding transaction documentation and obtaining
regulatory approval. The Parties are targeting completion by the end of 2022.

Vodafone's shared services business in Hungary - VOIS - is not included in the
transaction perimeter and it will continue to provide services to Vodafone's
other operating companies.

 

- ends -

For more information, please contact:

Investor
Relations
Media Relations

Investors.vodafone.com
Vodafone.com/media/contact

ir@vodafone.co.uk
GroupMedia@vodafone.com

Registered Office: Vodafone House, The Connection, Newbury, Berkshire RG14
2FN, England. Registered in England No. 1833679

About Vodafone

Unique in its scale as the largest pan-European and African technology
communications company, Vodafone transforms the way we live and work through
its innovation, technology, connectivity, platforms, products and services.

Vodafone operates mobile and fixed networks in 21 countries, and partners with
mobile networks in 48 more.  As of 30 June 2022, we had over 300m mobile
customers, more than 28m fixed broadband customers and 22m TV customers.
Vodafone is a world leader in the Internet of Things (IoT), connecting around
160m devices and platforms.

We have revolutionised fintech in Africa through M-Pesa, which celebrates its
15th anniversary in 2022. It is the region's largest fintech platform,
providing access to financial services for more than 50m people in a secure,
affordable and convenient way.

Our purpose is to connect for a better future by using technology to improve
lives, digitalise critical sectors and enable inclusive and sustainable
digital societies.

We are committed to reducing our environmental impact to reach net zero
emissions across our full value chain by 2040, while helping our customers
reduce their own carbon emissions by 350m tonnes by 2030.  We are driving
action to reduce device waste and achieve our target to reuse, resell or
recycle 100% of our network waste.

We believe in the power of connectivity and digital services to improve
society and economies, partnering with governments to digitalise healthcare,
education and agriculture and create cleaner, safer cities.  Our products and
services support the digitalisation of businesses, particularly small and
medium enterprises (SMEs).

Our inclusion for all strategy seeks to ensure no-one is left behind through
access to connectivity, digital skills and creating relevant products and
services such as access to education, healthcare and finance.  We are also
committed to developing a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the
customers and societies we serve.

For more information, please visit http://www.vodafone.com
(http://www.vodafone.com) , follow us on Twitter at @VodafoneGroup or connect
with us on LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/company/vodafone
(http://www.linkedin.com/company/vodafone) .

About 4iG

Budapest-based 4iG Plc is Hungary's leading IT systems integrator with
significant interests in the Hungarian and regional telecommunications
markets. The company has been active in the market for innovative,
industry-independent IT technologies for more than 27 years. The company is
continuously expanding its services and portfolio to meet the changing needs
and demands of the ICT market. The Group employs 6,200 people in Hungary and
the Western Balkans. 4iG is a broad-spectrum solutions provider with
significant interests in IT, telecommunications, satellite telecommunications
and telecommunications infrastructure development. The company, listed on the
Budapest Stock Exchange, aims to build a strong market position across a wide
range of infocommunication services.

Notes to announcement

1.             Vodafone Europe B.V. is the selling entity which is
a 100% owned indirect subsidiary of Vodafone Group plc

2.             Converted from HUF to EUR at a rate of 406.85 based
on actual reported FX at 19 August 2022

3.             Cash receivable subject to customary purchase price
adjustments

Disclaimer

Certain information contained in this document constitutes "forward-looking
statements", which can be identified by the use of terms such as "may",
"will", "should", "expect", "anticipate", "project", "estimate", "intend",
"continue", "target" or "believe" (or the negatives thereof) or other
variations thereon or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy,
plans, objectives, goals, future events or intentions. Such statements express
the intentions, opinions, or current expectations of the parties with respect
to possible future events and are based on current plans, estimates and
forecasts, which the parties have made to the best of their respective
knowledge, concerning, among other things, the respective business, results of
operations, financial position, prospects, growth and strategies, statements
regarding the transaction and the anticipated consequences and benefits of the
transaction, and the targeted closing date of the transaction. Due to various
risks and uncertainties, actual events or results or the actual performance
may differ materially from those reflected or contemplated in such
forward-looking statements.

Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, regulatory
approvals that may require acceptance of conditions with potential adverse
impacts; risks involving the parties' respective ability to realise expected
benefits associated with the transaction; the impact of legal or other
proceedings; and continued growth in the market for telecommunications
services and general economic conditions in the relevant market(s).

Furthermore, a review of the reasons why actual results and developments may
differ materially from the expectations disclosed or implied within
forward-looking statements can be found under "Forward-looking statements" and
"Principal risk factors and uncertainties" in the Vodafone Group Plc's annual
report for the year ended 31 March 2022

No assurances can be given that the forward-looking statements in this
announcement will be realised. As a result, recipients should not rely on such
forward-looking statements. Subject to compliance with applicable law and
regulations, the parties undertake no obligation to update these
forward-looking statements. No representation or warranty is made as to the
reasonableness of such forward-looking statements. No statement in this
document is intended to be nor may be construed as a profit forecast or
estimate for any period. Actual results could differ materially from those
expressed or implied.

This press release is for information purposes only and is not intended to and
does not constitute, or form part of, any invitation or offer to sell,
dispose, acquire, purchase or subscribe for any securities of any companies
mentioned herein in any jurisdiction, whether pursuant to the transaction or
otherwise. This document shall not be distributed or used by any person or
entity in any jurisdiction where such distribution or use

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