Billionaire Xavier Niel has made a substantial offer to buy all of the outstanding shares of Millicom International Cellular SA, valuing the telecom operator in Latin America at almost $4.1 billion. This is a daring move on his part.
The Specifics of the Offer
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The proposal was made by Niel’s investment vehicle, Atlas Luxco Sarl, to buy Millicom shares for $24 in cash per share, which is marginally less than the business’s most recent closing price of $24.55. The independent board committee of Millicom has already determined that the offer is insufficient, stating that it “would significantly undervalue” the company given its financial performance in the second quarter, even though the board has not made a formal decision.
Money and Strategic Goals
The buyout proposal is completely financed by bank financing and available resources. Another chapter in Millicom’s takeover history Interest, Atlas, already the company’s largest shareholder, had been exploring this deal for months.
Niel purchased his interest in the company during discussions over a possible sale with Apollo Global Management Inc. as well as Claure Group last year.
The Market Position of Millicom
With its headquarters located in Luxembourg, Millicom provides landline and mobile telephony services to more than 50 million customers in Latin America under the Tigo brand. Due to market rivalry and economic uncertainty, Millicom has experienced inconsistent results in recent years; yet, the company generated $5.6 billion in revenues last year.
The decision by Atlas is interpreted by Analyst Insights BI analyst Matthew Bloxham as a conviction in Millicom’s underappreciated potential for cash production. He draws a comparison between Niel’s approach and French billionaire Patrick Drahi’s BT investment, pointing out that affluent telecom investors frequently exhibit confidence in generating large returns.
Advisory and Upcoming Actions
Niel is being advised on the transaction by BNP Paribas SA, Lazard Inc., Credit Agricole SA, Societe Generale SA, JPMorgan Chase & Co., and Svenska Handelsbanken AB. Financing is being provided by BNP, Credit Agricole, JPMorgan, Natixis, and Societe Generale. Market watchers and investors are waiting for more information about Millicom’s response and possible takeover as things stand.
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