All Deals (M&A) articles
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M&ABT pays hefty price for full possession of OnePhone
Swedish business’s 30% holding given a near-nine-figure price tag. Purchase coincides with OnePhone champion taking helm at new Enterprise unit.
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M&A
Vodafone Turkey buys into enterprise IT specialist FGS
OpCo takes 50% share of business services provider and frames deal as reflecting Vodafone’s march into “ TechCo ” territory. FGS products to be launched in Vodafone markets outside Turkey.
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M&A
Deutsche Telekom smart-buildings partner snapped up
2017 “ strategic ” investment offloaded by Group. Netherlands’ Planon to subsume Axonize’s IoT platform into wider facilities management product and services suite.
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M&A
Telxius completes European tower sale
Telefónica handed regulatory go‑ahead for tower divestment, with German and Spanish sites handed to American Tower. Latin American portion to follow next year, pending approval. Submarine cables also up for grabs, with first bids reportedly received.
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M&A
Telefónica Colombia dials up DIRECTV buyout
DIRECTV internet services customer base and spectrum to be acquired under agreement, pending regulatory approval. Deal indicates “ commitment ” to Colombia despite rumblings of an exit, says CEO Hernández.
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M&A
VM-O2 sets sights on BT as merger gets final clearance
CMA’s final approval should see deal completed by 1 June. Owners trumpeting investment opportunities with fibre InfraCo potential coming to the fore.
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M&A
Telefónica offloads DCs to Nabiax
Operator exchanges DCs for minority holding in Nabiax. Long-term housing services agreement established. Deal mooted to worth around €100m.
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M&A
hubraum-backed Flexperto sold to RGI
The software provider, one of hubraum’s first investments, is acquired by insurance tech specialist RGI Group. Communications SaaS provider Flexperto claims to have seen significant growth during lockdowns.
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Strategy & Change
Safaricom: deadline for Ethiopia entry bid pushed back (again)
ECA grants Kenyan operator and other interested parties more time to consider ins and outs of Ethiopian expansion. Deadline revised for the second time in as many months. Laws blocking Safaricom from operating fintech service in country remain in place (for now).
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M&A
CMA doubts bundle demand as it greenlights VM‑O2
Provisional clearance of merger based on limited ability of the partners to manipulate wholesale pricing and services in their favour. Creation of a new fixed‑mobile giant not expected to unleash a sudden surge towards single‑contract multi‑play bundles in the UK market.
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M&A
Vodafone’s Icelandic affiliate divests Hey
Sýn sells minority stake in Faroese sister company. Icelandic operator seeking cost efficiencies (in more ways than one). Partner Market relationship remains active in service and tech development.
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M&A
BT absorbs Local Business agent Fourfront
Reseller relationship brought in‑house in small transaction. BT says no shift in strategy for SME go-to-market.
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People
Schüler coronated as VM‑O2 CEO
Lutz Schüler, dynamic Virgin Media chief, with a track record at O2 Germany, is to lead the new VM‑O2 joint venture, subject to competition clearance. O2 CFO and experienced merger overseer Patricia Cobian to take on the JV finance role. No room for O2 CEO Mark Evans. ...
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Network & Infrastructure
T-Mobile Netherlands bulks up on fibre via new KKR venture
Dutch NatCo builds on Primevest investments as first anchor tenant of Open Dutch Fiber . New fibre venture taps former CEO and CCO of Vodafone Germany partner Deutsche Glasfaser. Move raises further questions over Group plans for its Dutch business.
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M&A
Vantage Towers buys out partner in Greek TowerCo
Vodafone TowerCo signals its independence with first acquisition since its IPO in Frankfurt . Vodafone Greece and Wind Hellas to remain anchor tenants of Greek TowerCo. Rival OTE bides its time.
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M&A
Vodafone readies cheque for Egyptian fintech players
Vodafone Egypt signs MoU for minority stakes in digital payment players Bee and Masary. New Vodafone Egypt CEO Abdallah seeks to paint deal as part of “ promising ” strategic investment plan, following Group’s failed exit.
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M&A
Telefónica to swap more data centres for Nabiax stake
Four data centres are said to be on the table, with a 20%‑stake in Asterion subsidiary Nabiax the price. Nabiax‑Telefónica JV reportedly in the pipeline to manage the estate.
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M&A
Oi firms up mobile deal, Vivo reinforces its market lead
Oi finalises mobile asset sale to three‑strong consortium of Claro, TIM Brasil, and Vivo. Oi CFO: regulatory approval expected within the year. Trifecta of assets now divested by in‑administration Oi as it seeks route to recovery via fibre.
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Partnerships & Alliances
Telefónica agrees to monetise Cornerstone
Telefónica UK and Vodafone UK give each other freedom to “ commercialise ” their 50% stakes in Cornerstone JV. Uncertain how Group’s top brass will proceed, but partial or full sale seems likely.
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M&A
Wholesale power under scrutiny as CMA reviews VM‑O2
Proposed JV’s ability to tilt backhaul market in its favour and limit opportunities for MVNOs will be central to competition review. The impact of the deal on the development of providers offering fixed‑mobile bundles will receive particular scrutiny. CMA wields new powers post‑ Brexit , but this ...
