VOD

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form 6-K

 

Report of Foreign Private Issuer

 

Pursuant to Rules 13a-16 or 15d-16 under

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Dated November 10, 2021

 

Commission File Number: 001-10086

 

VODAFONE GROUP

PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

 

 

VODAFONE HOUSE, THE CONNECTION, NEWBURY, BERKSHIRE, RG14 2FN, ENGLAND

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

 

Form 20-F x         Form 40-F ¨

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): _____

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ____

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

Yes ¨                 No x

 

If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-____.

 

 

This Report on Form 6-K contains a Stock Exchange Announcement dated 10 November 2021 entitled ‘VODAFONE AGREES TO TRANSFER ITS 55% INTEREST IN VODAFONE EGYPT TO VODACOM IN EXCHANGE FOR CASH AND NEW ORDINARY SHARES IN VODACOM’.

 

RNS Number : 9159R

Vodafone Group Plc

10 November 2021

 

10 November 2021

 

VODAFONE AGREES TO TRANSFER ITS 55% INTEREST IN VODAFONE EGYPT TO VODACOM
IN EXCHANGE FOR CASH AND NEW ORDINARY SHARES IN VODACOM

 

Vodafone Group Plc¹ ("Vodafone") announces today that it has agreed to transfer its 55% shareholding in Vodafone Egypt to Vodacom Group Limited ("Vodacom"), its sub-Saharan African subsidiary. This transfer simplifies the management of Vodafone's African holdings and further strengthens the delivery of connectivity and financial services in Africa.

 

Transaction rationale

 

The transaction is expected to generate clear benefits for Vodafone, Vodacom and Vodafone Egypt:

 

•

Vodafone simplifies the management of its African holdings;

 

•

Vodacom gains exposure to another leading business in an attractive market, diversifying its portfolio and accelerating its growth profile; and

 

•

Vodafone Egypt will benefit from closer co-operation with Vodacom, enabling it to accelerate growth in financial services and IoT.

 

 

Transaction details

 

The transaction values Vodafone's 55% shareholding in Vodafone Egypt at €2,722 million on a debt free, cash free basis, implying a multiple for the last twelve month period ended 30 September 2021 of 7.3x Adjusted EBITDAaL and 12.2x Adjusted OpFCF². Based on Vodafone's 55% share of the net debt in Vodafone Egypt as at 30 September 2021 the total equity consideration is €2,365 million (the "Purchase Consideration"). Approximately 80% of the Purchase Consideration (€1,892 million) will be settled by the issue of 242 million new ordinary Vodacom shares to Vodafone at an issue price of ZAR 135.75 per share. As a result, Vodafone's ownership in Vodacom will increase from 60.5% to 65.1%.

 

The remaining 20% of the Purchase Consideration (€473 million) will be settled in cash³.

 

Under the terms of the sale and purchase agreement, the cash element of the Purchase Consideration will be adjusted for any movement in the net debt and agreed working capital of Vodafone Egypt between signing and closing. As such, Vodafone will be entitled to its 55% share of the cash generated by Vodafone Egypt between signing and closing.

 

The Johannesburg Stock Exchange ("JSE") has taken note that Vodacom's JSE defined free float will be below 20% as a result of Vodafone's increased ownership. Given the scale of Vodacom's current liquidity on the JSE, the JSE has not asked for any remedial steps to be taken. Vodafone confirms that is has no current intention to dispose of any of its shares in the market to increase Vodacom's free float.

 

Conditions to completion and indicative timetable

 

A committee of Vodacom's independent non-executive directors has unanimously approved the transaction. Vodacom has appointed an independent expert, PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc., to provide a fairness opinion on the proposed transaction which will be included in the circular. The circular and notice of a general meeting will be posted to Vodacom Group shareholders in due course. Given the transaction represents a related party transaction per the listing requirements of the JSE, Vodafone will not vote on the transaction and the transaction will require approval by ordinary resolution from the minority shareholders representing 39.5% of the Vodacom shares.

 

Vodacom has received an irrevocable undertaking to vote in favour of the transaction from YeboYethu Investment Company (RF) Proprietary Limited which owns 6.2% of the Vodacom shares in issue and 15.8% of the Vodacom shares in issue outside those held by Vodafone. Vodacom has also received an in-principle letter of support to vote in favour of the proposed transaction from Public Investment Corporation which owns 14.3% of the Vodacom shares in issue and 36.1% of the Vodacom shares in issue outside those held by Vodafone as at the date of their letter. The Public Investment Corporation's in-principle support is subject to it conducting an assessment and evaluation process upon receipt of the circular.

 

The sale of Vodafone's shareholding in Vodafone Egypt constitutes a Class 2 transaction for the purposes of the UK Financial Conduct Authority's Listing Rules, and, as such does not require Vodafone shareholders' approval.

 

Completion of the transaction is subject to a number of additional conditions, including but not limited to: approval from the Financial Surveillance Department of the South African Reserve Bank and approval from the National Telecom Regulatory Authority of Egypt. Vodacom has committed to Vodafone that they will sign a deed of adherence to the shareholders' agreement with Telecom Egypt. The transaction is expected to close before 31 March 2022.

 

Additional financial information

 

Contribution of Vodafone Egypt to Vodafone financial statements

 

12-month period to September 2021 (€ million)⁴:

 

		Vodafone Group reported				Adjustment to reflect intercompany charges5				Adjusted financials
Revenue			1,638				-				1,638
Adjusted EBITDAaL			729				(49	)			680
Capex			(275	)			-				(275	)
Adjusted OpFCF2			454				(49	)			405

 

12-month period to March 2021 (€ million)⁶:

 

		Vodafone Group reported				Adjustment to reflect intercompany charges5				Adjusted financials
Revenue			1,537				-				1,537
Adjusted EBITDAaL			652				(48	)			604
Capex			(258	)			-				(258	)
Adjusted OpFCF2			394				(48	)			346

For the financial year ended 31 March 2021 Vodafone Egypt reported €346 million of profit before tax, and at 31 March 2021 the value of Vodafone Egypt's Gross Assets was €2,405 million.

 

About Vodafone

 

Vodafone is a leading telecommunications company in Europe and Africa. Our purpose is to "connect for a better future" enabling an inclusive and sustainable digital society.  Our expertise and scale gives us a unique opportunity to drive positive change for society. Our networks keep family, friends, businesses and governments connected and - as COVID-19 has clearly demonstrated - we play a vital role in keeping economies running and the functioning of critical sectors like education and healthcare.  

 

Vodafone is the largest mobile and fixed network operator in Europe and a leading global IoT connectivity provider. Our M-Pesa technology platform in Africa enables 50m people to benefit from access to mobile payments and financial services. We operate mobile and fixed networks in 21 countries and partner with mobile networks in 49 more. As of 30 June 2021, we had over 300m mobile customers, more than 28m fixed broadband customers, over 22m TV customers and we connected 130m IoT devices. 

 

We support diversity and inclusion through our maternity and parental leave policies, empowering women through connectivity and improving access to education and digital skills for women, girls, and society at large. We are respectful of all individuals, irrespective of race, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, belief, culture or religion.

 

Vodafone is also taking significant steps to reduce our impact on our planet by reducing our greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2025 and becoming net zero by 2040, purchasing 100% of our electricity from renewable sources in Europe and across our entire operations by 2025, and reusing, reselling or recycling 100% of our redundant network equipment.

 

For more information, please visit www.vodafone.com, follow us on Twitter at @VodafoneGroup or connect with us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/vodafone.

 

About Vodacom

 

Vodacom is a leading and purpose-led African connectivity, digital and financial services company. From our roots in South Africa, we have grown our business to include operations in Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (the DRC), Mozambique, Lesotho and Kenya. Our mobile networks cover a population of over 295.8 million people. Through Vodacom Business Africa (VBA), we offer business-managed services to enterprises in 48 countries. Vodacom is majority owned by Vodafone (60.5% holding), one of the world's largest communications companies by revenue.

 

 

Notes

 

1.

The selling entities are Vodafone Europe B.V. and Vodafone International Holdings B.V., which are 100% owned indirect subsidiaries of Vodafone Group Plc.

2.

Adjusted OpFCF defined as Adjusted EBITDAaL less Capex.

 

3.

The cash proceeds from the transaction will be retained by Vodafone for general corporate purposes.

4.

Converted from EGP to € at an average rate of 18.8 based on actual reported fx for the 12-month period to 30 September 2021.

5.

Adjustment to reflect intercompany charges below EBITDAaL. Existing intercompany arrangements will remain in place after closing.

6.

Converted from EGP to € at an average rate of 18.4 based on actual reported fx for the 12-month period to 31 March 2021.

 

Goldman Sachs acted as financial advisor to Vodafone.

 

- ends -

 

For more information, please contact:

 

Investor Relations	Media Relations
Investors.vodafone.com	Vodafone.com/media/contact
ir@vodafone.co.uk	GroupMedia@vodafone.com

 

Registered Office: Vodafone House, The Connection, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2FN, England. Registered in England No. 1833679

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorised.

 

	VODAFONE GROUP
	PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY
	(Registrant)

 

Dated: November 10, 2021	By:	/s/ R E S MARTIN
	Name:	Rosemary E S Martin
	Title:	Group General Counsel and Company Secretary