Telefónica Deals & M&A – Page 9
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Content & TV
Telefónica eyeing new industrial partners for Movistar+
Early-stage consideration reportedly underway on partnership that would see Telefónica bring in new investor for domestic pay-TV platform and international production interests. North American Spanish-language media merger may provide template for closer links between platforms and content. Movistar+ rebranding underway to further differentiate service from core offerings.
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Premium
Telefónica targets Industry 4.0 with edge compute tie-up
Telefónica Tech signs Grupo Álava strategic agreement to develop a predictive maintenance solution for industrial use-cases. Sharpens focus on Industry 4.0 solutions suite after recent Geprom acquisition.
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M&A
Regulator approves Oi sale
Decision confirmed, subject to conditions, after Brazilian regulator Anatel postponed ruling last week. A board member had asked for additional time to review sale to a consortium featuring Telefónica|Vivo, Claro Brasil, and TIM Brasil. Final approval still required from competition authority CADE.
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Public Affairs
Telefónica handed EC fine for Brazilian non-compete deal
Decade-long proceedings close with Telefónica — along with Pharol — ordered to hand over €79m for antitrust breach. European Commission findings upheld despite yo-yoing, with final charge held for Telefónica and down slightly for Pharol.
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Network & Infrastructure
Telefónica’s PangeaCo begins operations in Peru
Telefónica appears to have failed to find an investor for the Peruvian FibreCo. Political situation may have complicated efforts to find a partner.
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M&A
Telefónica concludes Central American exit with El Salvador sale
General International Telecom’s $139m transaction completed. Sale goes through at the second attempt after an agreement with América Móvil collapsed in 2019.
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Premium
Telefónica Tech snaps up Geprom
Latest acquisition aimed at bolstering the IoT & Big Data unit.
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M&A
Group’s Central America withdrawal complete
El Salvador’s Superintendencia de Competencia gives Group green light to exit the market through transaction announced with General International Telecom in autumn. No conditions attached to approval, unlike earlier deal with América Móvil that ended up collapsing. Deal is final of five regional sales by Group.
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Public Affairs
Ericsson loses latest skirmish in Telefónica Avatar saga
Ericsson blocked from unilaterally changing working conditions for employees transferred from Telefónica in 2010 in conjunction with the AltamirA platform acquisition. A renewed deal linked to the platform removes Telefónica’s minimum spend commitment.
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M&A
VM O2 CEO happy as spectator to BT takeover saga
Lutz Schüler, CEO at Virgin Media O2, said he “thanks God” his business is not distracted by shareholder goings on. Comes after Patrick Drahi expanded his shareholding in VM O2 rival BT. Schüler’s attention fixed on customer experience improvements and fibre rollout.
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M&A
Spain shields Telefónica as KKR’s TI bid makes waves
Spanish government reinforcing restrictions that would halt hostile bids for Telefónica until 2023. Europe’s telco sector awash with bid speculation as KKR pursues TI, and Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries is linked to a BT bid.
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Premium
Telefónica linked to Portugal return, as Drahi builds war chest
Portuguese market leader in fixed and mobile access available for sale as owner Drahi looks at Eutelsat and BT acquisitions. Telefónica may consider spreading its wings as debt worries die down. Lack of infrastructure ‘crown jewels’ may lessen appeal of any deal.
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Financial & Performance
Telefónica passes €1bn in shape shifting Tech push
Telefónica Tech division hitting €1bn in annualised revenue flagged as a highlight in Group’s Q3 results presentation. Growth business’s expansion still being significantly driven by M&A, obscuring ‘organic’ progress. Operator maintains rebound from pandemic with growth in earnings and revenue, and confirmation of guidance.
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Venturing & Investments
Vivo transaction carries Telefónica Tech into Brazilian IoT space
Telefónica’s expansive growth areas division furthers its international ambitions by negotiating a tie-up with Vivo on IoT and analytics-based services. Deal mirrors an August transaction that gave Telefónica Tech an interest in Vivo’s cloud and security business.
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M&A
Telefónica’s El Salvador sale under review by regulator
$144m deal cannot go ahead without authorisation. SC has 90 business days to reach a decision.
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M&A
Telefónica sells El Salvador unit at the second attempt
Honduran financiers acquire Telefónica El Salvador for a cut-price $144m following breakdown of negotiations with América Móvil in 2020. Move completes Telefónica’s exit from Central America.
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M&A
Telefónica moulds new UK unit for central cloud push
Cancom business, bought in August, becomes “Telefónica Tech UK & Ireland”. New name reflects ambitions to widen out Group’s in-country offering.
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Network & Infrastructure
Citi said to be charged with Telefónica Spanish infra sale
Rumours continue to circulate around Telefónica’s fibre monetisation plans in Spain. Investment bank understood to have valued Spanish fibre infrastructure at €14bn. Sale speculation comes despite Telefónica classing its Spanish fibre infrastructure as a “strategic asset”. Report suggests Group is seeking resources to finance investments in 5G and digitisation. ...
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Profile
CEO Lutz Schüler relishes challenger role at VM O2
After Virgin Media O2’s first 100 days, Schüler is raring to go head-to-head with BT on full fibre, wholesale, and B2B. Reportedly in talks with Sky on fibre investment. Determined merger integration won’t slow VM O2 down. Big believer in “data and digital” for delivering what customers want; hints ...
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M&A
Telefónica mulling Spanish infra stake sale?
Rumours circulate that Group is discussing fibre monetisation in Spain. Between five and ten funding vehicles reportedly put hats in the ring, as Group sounds out market interest. Sale speculation comes despite Telefónica classing its Spanish fibre infrastructure as a “strategic asset”.