Liberty Global Completes the Sale of its Austrian Operations to T-Mobile Austria
July 31 2018 - 4:22AM
Business Wire
Liberty Global plc (“Liberty Global”) (NASDAQ: LBTYA, LBTYB and
LBTYK) today announced that it has completed the previously
announced sale of UPC Austria to T-Mobile Austria for an enterprise
value of €1.9 billion1 ($2.2 billion2), equal to nearly 11x UPC
Austria’s estimated 2017 adjusted3 segment operating cash flow. The
proceeds, after taking into account the repayment of debt that we
attribute to UPC Austria, will be approximately €900 million ($1.1
billion2). These proceeds will be used to increase our share
repurchase program by $500 million and to repay additional debt
across select credit pools of Liberty Global.
Liberty Global’s Board of Directors authorized this increase to
the buyback program in connection with the closing of the sale. The
increase supplements our previously announced $2.0 billion share
repurchase program, which we intend to complete by year-end 2018.
The incremental $500 million announced today can be spent at any
time over the next 12 months. Under the buyback program, Liberty
Global may acquire from time to time its Class A ordinary shares,
Class C ordinary shares, or any combination of Class A and Class C
ordinary shares. The program may be effected through open market
transactions and/or privately negotiated transactions, which may
include derivative transactions. The timing of the repurchase of
shares will depend on a variety of factors, including market
conditions and applicable law. Buybacks under the program may be
implemented in conjunction with brokers for the Company and other
financial institutions with whom the Company has relationships
within certain pre-set parameters and purchases may continue during
closed periods in accordance with applicable restrictions. The
buyback program may be suspended or discontinued at any time.
About Liberty Global
Liberty Global is the world’s largest international TV and
broadband company, with operations in 11 European countries under
the consumer brands Virgin Media, Unitymedia, Telenet and UPC. We
invest in the infrastructure and digital platforms that empower our
customers to make the most of the video, internet and
communications revolution. Our substantial scale and commitment to
innovation enable us to develop market-leading products delivered
through next-generation networks that connect 22 million customers
subscribing to 46 million TV, broadband internet and telephony
services. We also serve over 7 million mobile subscribers and offer
WiFi service through 12 million access points across our
footprint.
In addition, Liberty Global owns 50% of VodafoneZiggo, a joint
venture in the Netherlands with 4 million customers subscribing to
10 million fixed-line and 5 million mobile services, as well as
significant investments in ITV, All3Media, ITI Neovision, Casa
Systems, LionsGate, the Formula E racing series and several
regional sports networks.
For more information, please visit www.libertyglobal.com.
________________________________________________
1 Cash proceeds approximated €1.8 billion ($2.1 billion2) after
considering debt, working capital and minority interests
adjustments.
2 Convenience translation based on USD/EUR spot rate of 1.173
For the purpose of the purchase price multiple calculation, the
estimated 2017 segment operating cash flow of UPC Austria has been
reduced by €9 million, representing the estimated net amount of
transitional services to be provided by Liberty Global during the
first year following closing.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180731005387/en/
Liberty GlobalInvestor Relations:Matt
Coates, +44 20 8483 6333John Rea, +1 303 220 4238Stefan Halters, +1
303 784 4528orCorporate Communications:Bill
Myers, +1 303 437 5880Matt Beake, +44 20 8483 6428
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