JG Summit Completes Landmark Telco Transaction with PLDT
(PHStocks) – The Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT; PSE: TEL, NYSE: PHI) and JG Summit Holdings Inc. (JG Summit; PSE: JGS) jointly announce that PLDT has successfully completed the acquisition of a majority interest in Digital Telecommunications Philippines, Inc. (Digitel; PSE: DGTL) from JG Summit and other shareholders of Digitel, in a landmark share swap transaction valued at about P69.2 billion.
Together with 3.277 billion shares representing 51.55% of Digitel’s outstanding common stock, PLDT also acquired the zero-coupon bonds issued by Digitel Group to JG Summit, which were assumed to be convertible or exchangeable into 18.6 billion Digitel shares, and assumed P34.1 billion in advances made by JG Summit to Digitel Group (collectively, the Enterprise Assets). As payment for the Enterprise Assets, PLDT issued 27,679,210 new shares of common stock at the issue price of P2,500 per PLDT share. As a result, the JG Summit Group presently holds approximately 12.9% of PLDT’s expanded outstanding common stock.
Approvals Obtained
The transaction was completed today following the issuance by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on July 29, 2011 of its confirmation of the valuation of the Enterprise Assets and by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) on 26 October 2011 of its approval of the transfer of 51.55% interest in Digitel. PLDT’s common shareholders had earlier approved the issuance of PLDT common shares as payment for the Enterprise Assets during their meeting on June 14, 2011.
Lock-up and Option Agreements
The PLDT shares that were issued as payment for the Enterprise Assets are subject to a lock-up period of one (1) year during which JG Summit and the other sellers may not transfer or encumber such PLDT shares without the consent of PLDT.
PLDT has granted consents to the potential sale by JG Summit of 5.81 million and 4.56 million PLDT shares under separate option agreements that JG Summit has entered into with an associate company of First Pacific Company Limited and NTT Docomo Inc., respectively. Following the sale of these shares, expected to occur within 30 days from the listing date of the PLDT shares issued to JG Summit, the JG Summit Group will own approximately 8.0% of PLDT’s common shares.
Tender Offer
As the transaction triggers a mandatory tender offer for the acquisition of the remaining 48.45% of Digitel shares held by the public, PLDT will launch a tender offer for such shares on a date to be announced by PLDT. Under the terms of the tender offer, Digitel shareholders will be given an option to sell at P1.6033 per Digitel share or swap their holdings for PLDT common shares at a swap ratio of 1,559.28 Digitel shares for every new PLDT common share. If fully taken up, the tender offer would bring the total transaction value to P74.1 billion, making it the largest buyout in Philippine corporate history. On June 21, 2011, the SEC issued its confirmation that PLDT may close the main transaction with JG Summit prior to the closing of the tender offer.
Impact on the Telecommunications Industry
With PLDT’s successful acquisition of Digitel, the consumers are expected to begin realizing the substantial benefits to be reaped from the combined expertise, resources and capabilities of the PLDT Group and Digitel.
PLDT’s Chairman, Manuel V. Pangilinan, remarked: “PLDT is extremely pleased to welcome Digitel to the PLDT Group. PLDT will continue to provide its consumers with the best value in terms of price, quality and range of products and services and we have committed to continue offering “unlimited” type of services in fulfillment of this promise. In addition, Sun subscribers can benefit from PLDT’s extensive infrastructure and varied service offerings.”
On the other hand, JG Summit Chairman, James L. Go, said of the transaction: “This transaction ensures that Digitel remains in good hands. Together, the PLDT-Digitel Group will be well-positioned to compete not only with formidable existing competitors but with well-funded new entrants as well.”
Advisers
Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc and De Los Angeles acted as legal adviser to JG Summit. SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan acted as PLDT’s legal adviser while ING Bank N.V. acted as PLDT’s financial adviser.