All Nick Read articles – Page 6
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Strategy & Change
BT reviewing Indian tech ops, may insource from partners
Taking a relook at level of work outsourced to third-party providers such as Tata Consultancy Services and Tech Mahindra. Insourcing would “strengthen” role of BT’s Bangalore-based services operation, increase self-reliance.
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Enterprise (B2B)
Vodafone’s Read wants Europe to ‘do a Spain’ on digital
Group CEO makes reference to €3bn budget for digitalisation of small businesses. Move chimes with existing Vodafone Business strategy to focus on SMEs.
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Network & Infrastructure
Portuguese operators remain embroiled in epic 5G auction
Portugal’s 5G auction has completed 146 days of bidding, and counting. Government said to have no plans to intervene, but drag adds to 5G deadline pressure.
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Financial & Performance
Vi AGR appeal torpedoed; Birla seeks to jump ship
Vi challenges Supreme Court decision to stick with DoT’s AGR liability calculation. Vodafone’s junior partner Kumar Mangalam Birla resigns as Vi Chairman shortly after India’s top court sides with DoT. Vi CEO Takkar claims private investors are more put off by India’s floor pricing than AGR dispute.
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Financial & Performance
Vodafone, ABG keep funding taps closed for beleaguered Indian JV
Vi shareholders wash their hands of JV’s plight. Insist that private investment is the only way for Vi to remain going concern. Vi CEO Ravinder Takkar claims private investors are more put off by India’s floor pricing than AGR dispute.
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M&A
Vantage back in shop window as Vodafone builds revival
M&A remains a lever to help Vodafone revive growth, says CEO Read. New Chairman van Boxmeer lighting a fire under Group strategy and ambition. Another chunk of Vantage could be sold off to “like-minded” partner. Hint made of some UK deal-making in pipeline. Egyptian and Spanish assets remain in ...
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Strategy & Change
Group Technology toes line on “new-gen” plan
Top-down flavour to Tech 2025 initiatives as Group Finance (again) steals a lot of the Group Technology thunder, keeping ambitions in check with fiscal targets. Programme kept closely in line with Group leadership’s medium-term, twin-track ambition to refuel its commercial engine while keeping a tight rein on investment. Headline ...
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Strategy & Change
Van Boxmeer gifted remit to disrupt Vodafone Board
Latest Board Evaluation calls for increased “liveliness” of conversations across the Group’s top table. Composition changes mooted for dozen-strong grouping brought together by former Chairman Gerard Kleisterlee. Start of TechCo strategy seen as moment to strengthen accountability of top duo Read and Della Valle.
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Premium
Q4 FY20–21: Vodafone Group goes off thrift script in Read ‘phase two’
FY20–21 presentation sees reins eased off investment, but to an unknown degree, and with a focus on select target areas within leadership’s comfort zone. Increasingly dominant German operations to get a capex boost, along with ever-expanding central functions. Announcement of strategy tweak falls on stony ground, with City appearing ...
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Premium
Q4 FY20–21: Vodafone Group lines up for NextGenerationEU subs
Leadership pins hopes on European Union twelve-figure cash injection to breathe new life into troubled Mediterranean markets. Group prepping its own capex uplift in tandem with EU’s, but focus is primarily on German ‘safe zone’. While operator is positive on European prospects, little is offered to convince underlying market ...
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Premium
Vodafone Q4 FY20–21 headlines: footing regained and Group ready for climb
Top execs keen to portray Vodafone as ready for bounce-back. Top-line recovery remains Africa- and Germany-centric. Signs domination of efficiency drives may have run course and revenue base needs a boost.
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Premium
Vodafone Q4 FY20–21 guidance: capex bill causes pushback
Group opens up with medium-term growth commitments. However, City analysts appear irked by cash flow uncertainties stemming from spend to fuel that growth.
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Interview
Vishal Dixit: MVNOs are vital to Vodafone UK growth
Conversations with potential UK MVNO partners are “in the double digits”. Asda Mobile and Virgin Media deals exemplify OpCo’s new approach to MVNO partnerships. OpCo moving away from a ‘computer says no’ approach to MVNOs.
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Premium
Vodafone reels in €2.3bn from Vantage Towers IPO
Proceeds to pay down Group debt. IPO share price holds steady on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
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Premium
Q3 FY20–21: Top team turn bullish as growth returns, just
Nick Read and Margherita Della Valle claim Group set for acceleration after sneaking back into growth territory during quarter. European macro and M&A questions continue to overhang claims of confidence in regional prospects, however. Amid continued talk of yet more in-country consolidation, “pragmatic” Vodafone will “always examine opportunities to ...
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Partnerships & Alliances
German startup MOWEA seeks tailwind for Vodafone network tie-up
Startup’s relationship with Vodafone lies in German UPLIFT scheme. Vendor aiming to branch out in Germany and form relationships with other in-country tower businesses.
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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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Strategy & Change
Vodafone centralising national tech functions for Europe platform union
In-country tech leadership to be extracted and taken over by Group, as part of broader, homogenisation-focused regional reorg. Top Group execs in London hope move will address longstanding frustration with fragmentation and bring efficiencies and speed. Some in OpCos might continue to have other ideas…
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M&A
Vodafone’s Read coy on Spanish M&A possibilities
“Pragmatic” Vodafone will “always examine opportunities to enhance and strengthen our business”, says Group Chief Executive.
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Operations
Vodafone’s Read: “pre-COVID office concept is gone”
Future Ready office pilots taking place in UK, Czechia, and Hungary. Nick Read outlines long-term policy changes implemented in response to the pandemic, with norms changed to support a “hybrid” work future. Distributed, regional model to promote diversity and inclusion.