Deals & M&A
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M&ABT revives Ireland sale talks as Kirkby picks up where Jansen left off — report
BT said to be considering BT Ireland sale as new CEO Allison Kirkby attempts what Philip Jansen could not. A sale would extend the asset-light strategy taken on at BT Business…
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Weekly BriefingsVodafonewatch Weekly: M&A success in Africa; funding milestone in India; Microsoft getting AI-cosy in Paddington
Latest from Vodafone and its ecosystem, including: long-awaited acquisition in Tanzania that looks to be good business for Vodacom; initial answer to funding questions at Vi via Vodafone partner ABG; developments across the Group’s European operations; and more…
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M&ACriteriaCaixa becomes largest Telefónica shareholder with 5%
CriteriaCaixa exerts its muscle at Telefónica as CaixaBank gradually fades away.
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M&AVodacom Tanzania snaps up rival Smile as Saudi investors cut losses
It’s all Smile(s) as Vodacom completes acquisition of small Tanzanian operator with attractive spectrum holding and 4G network presence. Vodacom Tanzania acquired local rival Smile for TZS 68.8bn (£22m/€25m) just two years after Saudi investors spent $235m+ on a rescue deal. The deal delivers access to Smile’s 800MHz and ...
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Financial & PerformanceDeutsche Telekom’s Europe success story — under-appreciated, under-valued (and awkwardly off-narrative)
Exclusive analysis: quietly, the transatlantic behemoth that is Deutsche Telekom is countenancing a slight increase in capital outlay in its ten-territory Europe division, despite the remorseless downer its execs lay on the region’s lack of global investment appeal. Investors still value rump DT very poorly compared to T-Mobile US, however. Read more…
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M&ASpain buys 3% of Telefónica, more share purchases likely
Madrid initiates process of regaining primary shareholder status in Telefónica, as national interests surrounding telco ownership continue to rise back up the agenda in Europe, prompted by phase of operator vulnerability to outside takeovers and broader climate of geopolitical risk.
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M&AVodafone ‘not well managed’ suggests disgruntled Xavier Niel
Vodafone minority shareholder Xavier Niel has cast doubt on Vodafone management’s strategic vision in a Sunday Times profile that followed the sale to Swisscom of the Vodafone Italy business he has long coveted.
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M&ACMA concerned Vodafone-Three could access O2 and EE secrets
As expected, the UK merger is headed for tougher scrutiny in a longer investigation following an initial review by the Competition and Markets Authority.
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InterviewNetomnia: capex inefficiency is blocking consolidation opportunity
Speaking to TelcoTitans, Netomnia founder and CEO Jeremy Chelot suggests too many altnets are banking on unachievable take-up goals, and that playing fast and loose with investor money has resulted in a block on viable valuations for consolidation.
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PeopleEx-BT CEO Patterson takes chair of edtech company Kahoot
Gavin Patterson named Chair of new Board of Directors at recently privatised online learning platform company Kahoot.
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Financial & PerformanceHelios swaps land-grab for lease-grab in strategy refresh
Middle East and Africa tower group makes a change-up of headline KPIs after shifting away from M&A-based expansion of tower footprint.
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M&AVodafone’s Della Valle claims retrenchment is complete after Italian sale confirmed
CEO Margherita Della Valle has declared the Group’s Italy retreat to be the ‘final step’ of her right-sizing campaign, leaving it smaller but purportedly ready to chase growth in markets that matter. Deal prompts wholesale structural change stretching beyond Europe — ExCo swaps, B2B priorities, shared services overhaul — but Vodafone is left a far cry from its former superpower status…
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Financial & PerformanceIHS Towers hires advisers to assess ‘strategic alternatives’
Tower group’s annual results this week sees chief executive highlight initiation of a strategic review of its business, amid share price slump.
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M&ACityFibre ignites M&A plan with Lit Fibre buy
Altnet lights M&A touchpaper with Lit Fibre deal, expands FTTP footprint and brings in Newlight Partners as minority investor. More to come from CityFibre soon…
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M&ATelefónica ‘mulls’ Avatel buy to defend wholesale biz
Purchase of Spain’s #5 broadband provider, valued at €1bn, holds potential to accelerate rural fibre, strengthen pre-existing MVNO ties, position Group to better compete. Saudi Arabia’s stc also prowling, despite Telefónica stakebuild friction…
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M&ATelefónica looks to inhale leftover O2 shares
Group announces intent to buy the final portion of Telefónica Deutschland that it did not manage to secure in recent voluntary acquisition offer, and in parallel take the German business’ shares off Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
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Financial & PerformanceTelefónica Hispam points finger at Peru after FY23 earnings dip
Hispam unit soldiers on with asset-light model, although FY23 sees an unwelcome dip in figures…
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M&ACellnex chases VM O2-Vodafone UK infra-sharing renewal to reassure investors
Virgin Media O2 and Vodafone in ‘advanced’ talks with Cellnex, amidst consolidation uncertainty. Cellnex sees ‘positives’ and ‘some challenges’ in European M&A spectre. Learn more from the InfraCo major’s latest Capital Markets Day…
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Weekly BriefingsInfrawatch Weekly: net-sharing, consolidation and deal-making in UK and Europe
Latest from the UK and Europe’s digital infra scene, including interviews and OpEds from Fibrus and nexfibre; big talk from Liberty’s CEO; and DigitalBridge’s Marc Ganzi teasing M&A to come. Plus much more from altnets, European infra players, and investors…
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M&ATelefónica ‘hits pause’ on Nabiax sale amid Microsoft talks
Sale of Spanish data centre JV with Asterion Industrial Partners reportedly delayed again until end of summer-2024, as refreshed hyperscaler cloud deal holds potential to boost valuation.