France Telecom to Take Stake in Meditelecom
ARIS—France Telecom SA announced an agreement to buy 40% of Morocco's No. 2 telecommunications operator, Meditelecom, as the French telecom giant seeks to boost revenue growth outside of Europe.
France Telecom said it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Meditel shareholders FinanceCom and Caisse de Depot et de Gestion, or CDG, to acquire an initial 40% of Meditel's capital and voting rights for €640 million ($840 million), which corresponds to a company value of €2.14 billion.
A France Telecom spokesman added that the groups have also agreed that the French firm will increase the stake to 45% from 2011 and to 49% in 2015. France Telecom said it will consolidate the stake in its accounts as of fiscal 2015.
The move comes as France Telecom is looking to boost revenue in emerging markets amid slowing growth in mature markets such as Europe. The French telecom giant has repeatedly said it is keen on making acquisitions in fast-growing emerging markets, notably Africa.
"The acquisition of this stake in Medi Telecom is the first concrete step in our new policy of expansion outside Europe, and contributes to our stated aim of doubling our revenue in Africa and the Middle East over the next five years," France Telecom Chief Executive Stephane Richard said in a statement.
Meditel has over 10 million subscribers and a market share of 37%, France Telecom said.
In 2009, the company posted sales of over €465 million and an earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or Ebitda, margin of 40%, the group added.
Meditel competes with Maroc Telecom, which is majority owned by French telecom-to-broadcast giant Vivendi SA.
CDG, FinanceCom and France Telecom said they agreed to list Meditel on the Casablanca stock exchange in the short to medium term.
The stake buy is expected to be completed by the end of the year, subject to approval by the relevant Moroccan regulatory body, France Telecom added.
The transaction will be accretive for France Telecom from 2011 in terms of cash flow per share and profit per share, the company said.
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