PHILIPPINE LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE CO Published on Aug 18, 2014
MANILA, Philippines, 18th August 2014 - Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company ("PLDT") (PSE:TEL) (NYSE:PHI), the leading telecoms operator in the Philippines, welcomes United Internet AG's ("United Internet") strategic investment in Rocket Internet which was announced on Friday, 15th August 2014.
With 13.87 million fee-based customer contracts and 31.44 million ad-financed free
accounts, United Internet AG is Europe's leading internet specialist. United Internet is
listed in the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and is a member of the
German stock index, TecDAX, which includes the 30 largest German companies from
the technology sector.
Under the terms of the partnership agreement, United Internet is investing a total of
€435 million for a 10.7 per cent stake in Rocket. The investment consists of €333
million in cash and €102 million represented by United Internet's equity participation in
the portfolio of Global Founders Capital funds ("Global Founders Capital").
Global Founders Capital is a portfolio of over 50 venture capital investments held jointly
by United Internet and Global Founders Fund GmbH ("Global Founders Fund", formerly
European Founders Fund GmbH), the personal investment vehicle of Oliver Samwer
and his brothers.
As part of this transaction, the equity participation of Global Founders Fund in Global
Founders Capital, valued at €153 million, will also be contributed into Rocket in
exchange for new shares, which will bring Global Founders Fund's stake in Rocket to
53.7 per cent.
The total value of the new funds invested and the Global Founders Capital portfolio is
€588 million. The investment and contributions imply a €4.3 billion post-transaction
valuation for Rocket.
Following this investment, PLDT's resultant ownership in Rocket will be 8.6%, with the
balance held by United Internet (10.7%), Investment AB Kinnevik (18.5%), Access
Industries (8.5%), and the Global Founders Fund (53.7%).
accounts, United Internet AG is Europe's leading internet specialist. United Internet is
listed in the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and is a member of the
German stock index, TecDAX, which includes the 30 largest German companies from
the technology sector.
Under the terms of the partnership agreement, United Internet is investing a total of
€435 million for a 10.7 per cent stake in Rocket. The investment consists of €333
million in cash and €102 million represented by United Internet's equity participation in
the portfolio of Global Founders Capital funds ("Global Founders Capital").
Global Founders Capital is a portfolio of over 50 venture capital investments held jointly
by United Internet and Global Founders Fund GmbH ("Global Founders Fund", formerly
European Founders Fund GmbH), the personal investment vehicle of Oliver Samwer
and his brothers.
As part of this transaction, the equity participation of Global Founders Fund in Global
Founders Capital, valued at €153 million, will also be contributed into Rocket in
exchange for new shares, which will bring Global Founders Fund's stake in Rocket to
53.7 per cent.
The total value of the new funds invested and the Global Founders Capital portfolio is
€588 million. The investment and contributions imply a €4.3 billion post-transaction
valuation for Rocket.
Following this investment, PLDT's resultant ownership in Rocket will be 8.6%, with the
balance held by United Internet (10.7%), Investment AB Kinnevik (18.5%), Access
Industries (8.5%), and the Global Founders Fund (53.7%).
|
distributed by
|
