Reuters: Technology News: Telefonica tightens hold on Telecom Italia, avoids takeover bid

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Telefonica tightens hold on Telecom Italia, avoids takeover bid Sep 25th 2013, 02:45 By Danilo Masoni and Stefano Rebaudo MILAN | Tue Sep 24, 2013 10:45pm EDT MILAN (Reuters) - Spanish telecoms group Telefonica has struck a deal to gradually secure control of Telecom Italia and its lucrative South American business without having to launch a full takeover bid. The multi-part 860 million euro ($1.2 billion) cash and shares deal secured on Tuesday will allow Telefonica to raise its stake in Telco, the holding company controlling about 22 percent of Telecom Italia, allowing Telco's other investors, Intesa Sanpaolo, Generali and Mediobanca to eventually bow out. Telefonica, which has debt of nearly 50 billion euros ($67.5 billion), is keen to have influence over what happens to Telecom Italia and its prized Brazilian mobile unit Tim Participacoes but at minimal cost. The deal has yet to receive the approval of Brazilian regulators, who could force Telecom Italia to sell TIM Participacoes if Telefonica acquires full ownership of Telco, a source at Brazilian telecom regulator Anatel told Reuters. In a statement issued in Brazil, Telefonica said an initial capital increase involved only preferential shares and not voting rights, and thus control over Telco was unchanged in accordance with rules set by Anatel. Other possible capital increases would not take place without regulatory approval. Despite a debt burden of nearly 29 billion euros ($39.1 billion) and sinking margins at home, Telecom Italia has been seen as a potential takeover target. It has attracted interest from Egyptian tycoon Naguib Sawiris and Hong Kong-based Hutchison Whampoa, while U.S. telecoms group AT&T has also had contacts with the firm, people close to the matter have said. The agreement ends months of speculation over the future of Telecom Italia which is seeking capital to cut its debt, but is likely to face scrutiny over a prospective break-up of Italy's biggest telecoms group as well as possible lay-offs. Junior economy minister Antonio Catricala ruled out on Monday a government intervention to keep the former state monopoly under national control but expressed his support for a plan to sell the company's fixed-line network, Italy's most sensitive telecoms infrastructure, to a state-backed fund. The government's decision not to intervene could have implications for other large Italian groups, such as Alitalia which is being stalked by Air France-KLM, potentially adding to the list of large Italian groups which have been acquired by foreign shareholders. For the time being Telefonica has ensured its Italian partners looking to cut their unprofitable investments in Telecom Italia do not sell out to a rival. "We believe this additional investment made by Telefonica in Telco was the price the company was willing to pay to keep its options open at Telecom Italia and keep at large any other third party that could be interested in Telecom Italia and especially its Brazilian assets," Espirito Santo analysts said. Telefonica could push for a sale and break up of the Brazilian operations which analysts have estimated to be worth around $10 billion. GOING BIG Telefonica said that it will increase its stake in Telco to 66 percent in the initial agreement, then subject to regulatory approval to 70 percent by buying additional preferential shares, while keeping its voting stake unchanged at 46.18 percent. Also subject to regulatory approval, especially in Brazil, other shareholders have given Telefonica the option to buy their shares as of January 1, 2014, and the right to convert preferential shares into ordinary shares, which could raise its share of voting power in Telco to as much as 64.9 percent. Telco has control of Telecom Italia because it appoints a majority of members to its board. The deal values Telecom Italia shares at 1.09 euros each. That is nearly twice current market prices, but below book value for two of Telco's investors - all of which have repeatedly booked losses since taking control in 2007. Telefonica shares closed at 11.29 euros, while Telecom Italia's gained 1.7 percent to 0.60 euros. Telefonica will use some of its shares to pay down some of Telco's debt. The Italian investors in Telco will retain the right to unwind the shareholder pact they share with Telefonica in June 2014, leaving some uncertainty. "The deal brings no benefit to minority shareholders since it's all at the holding level," said Stefano Fabiani, a fund manager at Zenit Sgr. "But valuing Telecom Italia shares at 1.09 euros has set a theoretical upside." Italy's telecoms sector is already largely controlled by foreign capital. Britain's Vodafone owns the country's second-largest mobile operator, while Swisscom owns the second-biggest fixed-line player, Fastweb. Italian unions said on Tuesday the Telefonica deal was worrisome because it did not solve Telecom Italia's debt problems and may limit its capacity to invest. The two main parties supporting Prime Minister Enrico Letta on Tuesday asked the government to testify in parliament over Telecom Italia. ($1=0.7412 euros) (Additional reporting by Stephen Jewkes with Robert Hetz, Clare Kane and Manuel Ruiz in Madrid, Leila Abboud in Paris and Leonardo Goy in Brasilia; Editing by Mark Potter, Elaine Hardcastle, Cynthia Osterman and Edwina Gibbs) Link this Share this Digg this Email Reprints

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