NEW YORK, 2024-Oct-1 — /EPR Network/ — Renowned investment manager Chetan Kapur, founder of ThinkStrategy Capital Management, has long been recognized for delivering top-tier returns to investors for over a decade, particularly before and during the Great Recession. However, Kapur now faces what he describes as an unjust campaign by certain individuals within the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). According to Kapur, despite going to great lengths to protect investors during the financial crisis — including depleting his firm’s resources for their benefit — he has been subjected to harassment and unfounded accusations by corrupt elements within the SEC.
Kapur claims that ThinkStrategy Capital Management provided exceptional returns to investors for years and even outperformed the market during the downturn. As a result of the financial crisis, ThinkStrategy’s leveraged TS Multi-Strategy Fund was forced into liquidation. Despite this, Kapur asserts that the firm worked tirelessly without compensation to mitigate losses and ensure the best outcomes for investors. He sacrificed personal claims to further shield investors from additional harm.
The SEC’s actions against Kapur, he contends, are based on false and defamatory claims, which have led to a prolonged legal battle. Kapur accuses the SEC of colluding with a dissatisfied investor, Benjamin Schwarz, who sought preferential treatment during the liquidation process. The accusations against him, Kapur argues, were fabricated and part of an unjust attempt to extort him and his family. Though the charges brought by New York prosecutors were ultimately dropped, Kapur continues to fight a campaign of defamation and wrongful persecution.
Kapur’s ordeal, he insists, is a result of deep-seated corruption and abuse of power within the SEC, driven by personal and racial biases. Despite the legal challenges, Kapur’s supporters, including independent third parties, maintain his innocence and commend his integrity and dedication to his investors throughout the financial crisis.
The case, according to Kapur, highlights the urgent need for anti-corruption authorities to investigate the SEC’s internal misconduct and ensure justice is served. Kapur and ThinkStrategy Capital Management continue to stand by their track record of integrity and investor protection, even in the face of significant adversity.
VANCOUVER, Canadá, 30-Sep-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — Astor Asset Management 3 Ltd informa que Ricardo Benjamín Salinas Pliego, presidente de Grupo Elektra, S.A.B. de C.V., enfrenta nuevas acusaciones por transferir activos fuera de Estados Unidos para evadir el pago de una sentencia de 20 millones de dólares derivada de una disputa contractual con AT&T.
La sentencia fue emitida el 29 de noviembre de 2023 por un tribunal estadounidense contra Grupo Salinas Telecom, S.A. de C.V. y Grupo Salinas Telecom II, S.A. de C.V., empresas vinculadas a Salinas Pliego. Documentos judiciales revelan que Grupo Salinas Telecom realizó transferencias rápidas de activos fuera de Estados Unidos solo tres días después de la sentencia.
Según los informes, 10,25 millones de dólares en acciones de Grupo Elektra fueron transferidos desde una correduría en EE.UU. a Banco Azteca en México. Además, se enviaron 5,65 millones de dólares a una entidad canadiense, Security International Investments, Inc., que supuestamente está vinculada a Salinas Pliego. También se han documentado otras transferencias y liquidaciones de activos que superan los 10 millones de dólares.
Por “razones estratégicas”, Salinas Pliego decidió no contar con representación legal en este caso, lo que ha sido interpretado como un intento de evitar el pago de la sentencia judicial. Esta acción, junto con el historial de las empresas de Salinas Pliego de alegar dificultades financieras para no pagar a sus acreedores, plantea serias preocupaciones sobre la transparencia y gobernanza en Grupo Elektra.
Salinas Pliego tiene un historial extenso de conductas financieras controvertidas, que incluyen acusaciones de fraude de valores, disputas por impuestos no pagados y deudas con acreedores. Sus recientes movimientos, incluidos los rápidos traslados de activos fuera de la jurisdicción estadounidense, han atraído un mayor escrutinio por parte de reguladores financieros y acreedores.
Astor Asset Management 3 Ltd también está involucrada en litigios con Salinas Pliego en el Reino Unido por el incumplimiento de un préstamo de 110 millones de dólares.
A medida que los mercados exigen cada vez más transparencia y responsabilidad, la gestión de estos asuntos legales y financieros por parte de Salinas Pliego será vigilada de cerca por inversores y reguladores.
BUCHAREST, Romania, 30-Sep-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — Digi Communications N.V. (“DIGI”), a major European telecommunications company listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, has successfully completed the full redemption of its €450 million Senior Secured Notes. The redemption was finalized on 27 September 2024, following an earlier announcement made on 16 September 2024, which outlined the company’s intention and fulfillment of the necessary financial conditions. The notes, carrying a 2.5% interest rate and originally set to mature in 2025, were fully redeemed by Digi Romania S.A., the company’s Romanian subsidiary.
About Digi Communications N.V.
Digi Communications N.V. is a leading European telecommunications provider, with a significant presence in Romania and Spain, and operations in Italy, Portugal, and Belgium. The company is a top player in delivering telecommunication services, offering innovative solutions across its targeted geographic markets.
BUCHAREST, Romania, 16-Sep-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — Digi Communications N.V., a prominent European telecommunications provider, has announced that its Romanian subsidiary, Digi Romania S.A., will redeem the entirety of its outstanding €450 million 2.50% Senior Secured Notes, set to mature in 2025. The full redemption, scheduled for September 27, 2024, will involve paying noteholders the principal amount along with accrued interest up to the redemption date. This move marks an important financial milestone for Digi Communications as it continues to strengthen its financial position.
The company has outlined that noteholders must be recorded by September 26, 2024, to be eligible for the redemption payout. Citibank N.A., London Branch, will act as the Paying Agent to facilitate the process, with interest on the Notes ceasing to accrue after the redemption date unless the issuer defaults on the payment. Digi Communications has already fulfilled the financing conditions required for this redemption, ensuring a smooth process for all stakeholders.
Digi Communications, a major player in the telecom industry, offers services primarily in Romania and Spain, with expanding operations across Italy, Portugal, and Belgium. This latest financial development underscores the company’s robust growth and operational stability in the European telecom sector.
BUCHAREST, Romania, 6-Sep-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — Digi Communications N.V. (“DIGI”), a prominent European telecommunications provider, today announced the successful completion of the first phase of its Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) network sale in Spain. This milestone marks a significant step in the transaction between Digi Spain Telecom S.L.U. and Sota Investments Spain OpCo, S.L.U., a consortium led by Macquarie Capital, abrdn, and Arjun Infrastructure Partners.
The transaction, initiated with an asset purchase agreement signed on April 4, 2024, involves the sale of an extensive FTTH network across 12 Spanish provinces. The initial delivery encompasses 4,412,500 homes passed, with the full network development expected to extend over the next three years, eventually covering an additional 1,587,500 homes.
In addition to the network sale, Digi Spain and Sota Investments Spain OpCo, S.L.U. have finalized a long-term wholesale bitstream services agreement. Under this arrangement, Sota Investments will offer Digi Spain wholesale access bitstream services for an initial term of 25 years. Simultaneously, Digi Spain will provide operation and maintenance services, along with other technical support for the network over the same period.
This strategic move aligns with Digi Communications’ commitment to expanding its telecommunications infrastructure and enhancing service delivery across Europe.
VANCOUVER, Canada, 26-Aug-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — Astor Asset Management, a prominent investment firm, has formally accused Mexican billionaire Ricardo Salinas Pliego of breaching a $110 million loan agreement. The allegations include failure to meet payment obligations and non-disclosure of pledged shares, which is considered a violation of Mexican securities regulations. Astor asserts that these actions compromise market transparency and investor confidence. The firm has urged Mexico’s National Banking and Securities Commission (CNBV) to take decisive action. This development could have significant implications for the financial markets and regulatory environment in Mexico.
For further details, read the full press release issued by the firm over here (German) and here the Spanish version.
WARSZAWA, 19-sierpnia-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — ChargeEuropa, a leading Polish electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure company, has secured significant international investment in its latest funding round, marking a major milestone in the company’s expansion plans. The round was led by Paris-based investment firm Shift4Good, which specializes in supporting environmentally focused companies and manages a capital pool of €200 million. This investment represents the first substantial French involvement in Poland’s burgeoning electromobility sector.
Shift4Good’s Managing Partner, Matthieu de Chanville, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, highlighting their commitment to supporting innovative companies that positively impact the environment. The partnership with ChargeEuropa aims to accelerate the expansion of EV charging infrastructure across Poland and Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).
Other notable investors in the round include Simpact Ventures, a Polish impact investment fund, MobilityFund, a German venture capital firm specializing in mobility and transportation, and Canard Ventures, a U.S.-based firm focused on creative technologies. Additionally, Alex Kostecki, a Swiss-Polish entrepreneur and co-founder of the financial app Clair, also participated, bringing valuable experience in scaling technology companies.
The newly acquired capital will enable ChargeEuropa to enhance its cutting-edge EV charging technologies, expand its team, and deploy new charging stations across Poland, with over 1,000 locations already in the pipeline. The company also plans to expand into new markets and solidify its position as a leader in the EV charging infrastructure sector in the CEE region.
Wojciech Majewski, Partner at Simpact Ventures, expressed confidence in ChargeEuropa’s potential to democratize access to clean transportation across both urban and underserved rural areas. Similarly, Jan-Christoph Rickers, Managing Director of MobilityFund, emphasized the innovative approach of integrating advertising with EV charging stations, which can make these stations profitable even in emerging markets.
Matt Tymowski, CEO of ChargeEuropa, expressed his excitement about the strong support from international investors. He noted that this investment would not only allow ChargeEuropa to improve its technology and expand its team but also accelerate its mission to make EV charging more accessible throughout Poland and beyond.
This latest funding round marks a significant step forward for ChargeEuropa and the Polish electromobility industry, demonstrating growing international interest and confidence in the sector’s potential. ChargeEuropa remains committed to creating sustainable solutions and setting new standards in the EV charging industry.
BUCHAREST, Romania, 14-Aug-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — Digi Communications N.V. has released its financial results for the first half of 2024, revealing a robust performance across its key markets. The company achieved consolidated revenues of €921.3 million, marking a 13% increase compared to the same period last year. Adjusted EBITDA, excluding the impact of IFRS 16, also saw a significant rise, reaching €284.6 million, a 19.3% improvement year-on-year.
The company’s growth was driven by a substantial increase in revenue-generating units (RGUs), surpassing the 25 million mark for the first time—a 14% year-on-year increase. This growth was particularly pronounced in Spain, where the mobile segment grew by 23.2% and broadband services surged by 50.6%.
Digi’s operations in Romania, Spain, and Italy continued to expand, with notable increases in mobile, fixed internet, and Pay-TV services. In Romania, mobile services grew by 15.1%, while Spain saw a 30.1% increase in RGUs across all services. The company also announced strategic expansions into new markets, including Portugal and Belgium, with significant acquisitions and agreements to enhance its market presence.
Serghei Bulgac, CEO of Digi Communications, expressed confidence in the company’s trajectory, highlighting the successful transition to a full-fledged mobile network operator in Spain and the ongoing efforts to strengthen their market position through strategic acquisitions and partnerships.
The financial report for the first half of 2024 is now available on Digi Communications’ website.
BUCHAREST, Romania, 13-Aug-2024 — /EPR FINANCIAL NEWS/ — Digi Communications N.V. (“Digi” or the “Company”), one of the leading European telecommunications companies, listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, informs the market that on 12 August 2024 was granted a total amount of 70,000 conditional class B stock options to a director of Digi Romania S.A. (the Romanian subsidiary of the Company), according to a stock option program approved by the Company’s Class A Shareholders and by the Board of Directors resolutions on 12 August 2024, pursuant to the Company’s Stock Option Plan.
The actual exercise of the stock options is conditional upon the fulfilment of several performance conditions and the normal vesting date is being set after a period of at least 1 year as of the grant date.
About Digi Communications N.V.
We are a European leader in geographically-focused telecommunication solutions, based on the number of revenue generating units (“RGUs”) and a leading provider of telecommunication services in Romania and Spain, with a presence also in Italy, Portugal and Belgium.
BUCHAREST, Romania, 7-Aug-2024 — /EPR FINANCIAL NEWS/ — Digi Communications N.V. (“Digi” or the “Company”), one of the leading European telecommunications companies, listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, announces that on 14 August 2024 at 14:00 UK time / 16:00 EEST (Romania local time), will host a conference call to discuss its H1 2024 financial results. The Company will publish the unaudited H1 2024 financial results on the same day, 14 August 2024 at 08:00 am EEST.
The call will be held in English language, and it will be hosted by the Company’s CEO, Mr. Serghei Bulgac, and the Company’s CFO, Mr. Dan Ionita.
To participate in the call the stakeholders are invited to pre-register at:
The deadline for pre-registration is 14 August 2024, 12:00 UK time / 14:00 EEST (Romania local time).
About Digi Communications N.V.
We are a European leader in geographically-focused telecommunication solutions, based on the number of revenue generating units (“RGUs”) and a leading provider of telecommunication services in Romania and Spain, with a presence also in Italy, Portugal and Belgium.
BUCHAREST, Romania, 2-Aug-2024 — /EPR FINANCIAL NEWS/ — Digi Communications N.V. (“Digi” or the “Company”), one of the leading European telecommunications companies, listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, informs the market that on 1 August 2024 DIGI Portugal, LDA. (“DIGI Portugal”) entered into a share purchase agreement with LORCA JVCO Limited for the acquisition of 100% of the shares issued by Cabonitel, S.A. at a valuation of EUR 150 million, subject to customary adjustments and certain contingent events (the “Transaction”).
The Transaction perimeter includes Nowo Communications, S.A. (“Nowo”), Portugal’s fourth biggest mobile and fixed telecom operator (entirely owned by Cabonitel S.A.). Nowo has ca. 270 thousand mobile telephony clients and ca. 130 thousand fixed telecommunications clients. Nowo also holds spectrum licenses in 1800 Mhz, 2600 MHz and 3600 MHz frequency bands.
The completion of the Transaction is subject to competition clearance.
About Digi Communications N.V.
We are a European leader in geographically-focused telecommunication solutions, based on the number of revenue generating units (“RGUs”) and a leading provider of telecommunication services in Romania and Spain, with a presence also in Italy, Portugal and Belgium.
BUCHAREST, Romania, 24-Jul-2024 — /EPR FINANCIAL NEWS/ — Digi Communications N.V. (“Digi” or the “Company”), one of the leading European telecommunications companies, listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, wishes to inform the investors and the market regarding the publication of a rating issued by the American agency Fitch Ratings. Fitch Ratings has assigned Digi Communications N.V. a Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) of ‘BB’ with a stable outlook.
Details regarding the assigned ratings and the rationale behind the evaluations are available on the Fitch Ratings website at the following link:
We are a European leader in geographically-focused telecommunication solutions, based on the number of revenue generating units (“RGUs”) and a leading provider of telecommunication services in Romania and Spain, with a presence also in Italy, Portugal and Belgium.
BUCHAREST, Romania, 2-Jul-2024 — /EPR FINANCIAL NEWS/ — Digi Communications N.V. (“Digi” or the “Company”), one of the leading European telecommunications companies, listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, would like to inform the market that the executive directors of the Company, exercised their right to receive a total number of 150,000 class B shares from the share capital of the Company respectively (80,000 class B shares to Mr. Serghei Bulgac and 70,000 class B shares to Mr. Valentin Popoviciu), for the year 2023, as per the conditional share options granted on the 19th of May 2023, in accordance with the decision of the Company’s Ordinary General Shareholders’ Meeting from the 18th of May 2021 (the OGSM 2021) and on the 2nd of March 2023, in accordance with the decision of the Company’s Ordinary General Shareholders’ Meeting from the 28th of December 2022 (the OGSM 2022).
The conditional share options have been vested in accordance with the provisions of the Company’s Share Option Plan and the OGSM 2021 and OGSM 2022.
Details regarding the conditional share options granted on the 19th of May 2023 and the 2nd of March 2023 to the executive directors of the Company are available on the Company’s website at “ANNOUNCEMENTS” section, available HERE.
In accordance with the provisions of article 19 para. (1) of the Market Abuse Regulation, on July 1st , 2024, the executive directors, as persons discharging managerial responsibilities within the Company, have notified the Company, the Romanian Financial Supervisory Authority (ASF) and the Autoriteit Financiële Markten (AFM), in connection with the exercise of the share options.
About Digi Communications N.V.
We are an European leader in geographically-focused telecommunication solutions, based on the number of revenue generating units (“RGUs”) and a leading provider of telecommunication services in Romania and Spain, with a presence also in Italy, Portugal and Belgium.
BUCHAREST, Romania, 2-Jul-2024 — /EPR FINANCIAL NEWS/ — Digi Communications N.V. (“Digi” or the “Company”), one of the leading European telecommunications companies, listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, would like to inform the market about the availability of the detailed instruction regarding the payment of share dividend for the 2023 financial year, in gross amount of 1.25 lei per share, as approved by the Company’s Ordinary General Shareholders’ Meeting, which was held on the 25th of June 2024.
The payment of the dividend related to 2023 financial year will be carried out on July 22nd, 2024 to the Company’s class B shareholders registered on July 4th, 2024 in the Register of Shareholders held by Depozitarul Central S.A. and to the class A shareholders registered at the same date in the Register of Shareholders held by the Company, ex-date being July 3rd 2024.
The detailed instruction on the payment of dividend is available on the Company’s website, at the „DOCUMENTS REGARDING THE DISTRIBUTION OF DIVIDEND FOR THE YEAR 2023” section, available HERE.
About Digi Communications N.V.
We are an European leader in geographically-focused telecommunication solutions, based on the number of revenue generating units (“RGUs”) and a leading provider of telecommunication services in Romania and Spain, with a presence also in Italy, Portugal and Belgium.
BUCHAREST, Romania, 28-Jun-2024 — /EPR FINANCIAL NEWS/ — Digi Communications N.V. (“Digi” or the “Company”), one of the leading European telecommunications companies, listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, would like to inform the market and its investors that, on 27 June 2024, the Executive Directors of the Company were granted conditional stock options by the Company pursuant to the decision of the Company’s general meeting of shareholders dated 25 June 2024 and the resolution of the Board of Directors dated 27 June 2024. The number of options of class B shares granted as part of this stock option plan (applicable for the year 2024) amounts to a total of 140,000 stock options (respectively 80,000 for Mr. Serghei Bulgac and 60,000 for Mr. Valentin Popoviciu). The further vesting of all option shares granted will be conditional upon a multiple performance criteria and the passage of a period of time, as indicated in Annex 1 of the Agenda and Explanatory notes published by the Company on 13 May 2024, which can be accessed at the following link: https://www.digi-communications.ro/en/see-file/AGM-2024_Agenda-and-explanatory-notes.pdf
In accordance with the applicable regulations, on 27 June 2024, both executive directors, as persons discharging managerial responsibilities in connection with the Company, have notified the Company, the Romanian Financial Supervisory Authority (ASF) and Autoriteit Financiële Markten (AFM) in connection with the grant of the above-mentioned stock options and the execution between them and the Company of corresponding stock option agreement.
About Digi Communications N.V.
We are an European leader in geographically-focused telecommunication solutions, based on the number of revenue generating units (“RGUs”) and a leading provider of telecommunication services in Romania and Spain, with a presence also in Italy, Portugal and Belgium.
BUCHAREST, Romania, 26-Jun-2024 — /EPR FINANCIAL NEWS/ — Digi Communications N.V. (“Digi” or the “Company”), one of the leading European telecommunications companies, listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange,The Company would like to inform the market and its investors that today, Tuesday, 25 June 2024, at 2:00 PM CET, at the offices of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP (Amsterdam Office), Strawinskylaan 10, 1077 XZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands, the Company’s general shareholders’ meeting (the GSM) took place with respect to which the Company informed its shareholders and the market through the Convocation notice released on 13 May 2024 (the Convocation Notice).
The GSM was attended by shareholders representing 82,72% of the total number of shares with voting rights, respectively 78,794,760 shares.
Following the debates, the GSM has adopted the following decisions regarding the points included on the agenda, representing voting items, in accordance with the Convocation Notice:
2. Annual Report 2023
c. Adoption of the 2023 Annual Accounts;
d. Distribution of dividend – based on the approval, the Company will distribute a gross dividend of 1.25 RON per outstanding share (both Class A Shares and Class B Shares equally). The listed Class B shares will be quoted ex-dividend from 3 July 2024 and the record date for the dividend shall be 4 July 2024. It is expected that the dividend will be paid on or around 22 July 2024.
e. Release from liability of the members of Board of Directors;
3. Implementation of the Remuneration Policy and the Remuneration Report for the year 2023
a. The Remuneration Report for the year 2023 (advisory, non-binding vote);
b. The revised Remuneration Policy of the Board of Directors;
4. Appointment of KPMG N.V. as the statutory auditor of the Company for the financial year 2024
6. Designation of the Board of Directors as the competent body to repurchase own class B Shares
Based on this approval, the Board of Directors has the authority to acquire class B shares in the share capital of the Company through purchases effected on the stock exchange via trading on the regular market on which the class B shares are listed and/or through other means (including public tender offers), for a period of 18 months from June 26, 2024 up to and including 24 December 2025, in compliance with the applicable law, subject to the following conditions:
• The authority of the Board of Directors shall be limited to a maximum number of 3,000,000 class B shares;
• Transactions effected on the stock exchange via trading on the regular market on which the class B shares are listed will be subject to a maximum price per class B share equal to the average of the highest price on each of the five trading days prior to the date of acquisition, as shown in the Official Price List of the Bucharest Stock Exchange plus 10% (maximum price) and to a minimum price per class B share equal to the average of the lowest price on each of the five trading days prior to the date of acquisition, as shown in the Official Price List of Bucharest Stock Exchange minus 10% (minimum price);
• Transactions effected through other means (including public tender offers) will be subject to a maximum price per class B share of RON 65 (maximum price) and a minimum price of no less than RON 35 (minimum price).
Any buy-back of shares will be conducted by way of a share buy-back program in line with applicable EU rules. The launch of such program and the determination of its terms and conditions is subject to a decision of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors intends to appoint an independent specialized trading / brokerage firm to execute any such buyback. Further, any buy-back program may be suspended, discontinued, or modified at any time for any reason and without previous notice in the Company’s sole discretion in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. Neither the authorization requested, nor the subsequent launch of any share buy-back program obligates the Company to buy-back any class B shares.
7. Appointment of the members of the Board of Directors
a. Re-appointment of Mr. Serghei Bulgac as Executive Director of the Board of Directors;
b. Re-appointment of Mr. Valentin Popoviciu as Executive Director of the Board of Directors;
c. Re-appointment of Mr. Zoltan Teszari as Non-Executive Director and President of the Board of Directors;
d. Re-appointment of Mr. Marius Catalin Varzaru as Non-Executive Director and Vice-president of the Board of Directors;
e. Re-appointment of Mr. Bogdan Ciobotaru as Non-Executive Director of the Board of Directors;
f. Re-appointment of Mr. Emil Jugaru as Non-Executive Director of the Board of Directors;
g. Appointment of Mr. Jose Manuel Arnaiz de Castro as Non-Executive Director of the Board of Directors.
8. Approval of award of stock options to directors
The Board of Directors is authorized to decide upon the award stock options to acquire class B shares in the capital of the Company to executive directors subject to the criteria of the Company’s Share Option Plan (the details of which can be found on the Company’s corporate website www.digi-communications.ro).
Additionally, the Company wishes to inform the shareholders and investors that the 2023 approved Annual Report is also available on the Company’s website and can be consulted HERE.
We are an European leader in geographically-focused telecommunication solutions, based on the number of revenue generating units (“RGUs”) and a leading provider of telecommunication services in Romania and Spain, with a presence also in Italy, Portugal and Belgium.
BUCHAREST, Romania, 3-Jun-2024 — /EPR FINANCIAL NEWS/ — Digi Communications N.V. (“Digi” or the “Company”), one of the leading European telecommunications companies, listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, would like to inform the market that on, June 3, 2024, the Company together with Digi Romania S.A., its subsidiary in Romania (“Digi Romania”), as borrowers and original guarantors, Digi Spain Telecom S.L.U. as original guarantor, ING Bank N.V. as underwriter, mandated lead arranger, bookrunner and original lender and ING Bank N.V., London Branch as facility agent have concluded a term loan of EUR 150,000,000, with a maturity of 3 (three) years after the first utilisation date. The borrowed amounts may be used by the Company and Digi Romania towards the refinancing of the EUR 450,000,000 Senior Secured Notes issued by Digi Romania, which are due in 2025.
About Digi Communications N.V.
We are an European leader in geographically-focused telecommunication solutions, based on the number of revenue generating units (“RGUs”) and a leading provider of telecommunication services in Romania and Spain, with a presence also in Italy, Portugal and Belgium.
BUCHAREST, Romania, 27-May-2024 — /EPF FINANCIAL NEWS/ — Digi Communications N.V. (“Digi” or the “Company”), one of the leading European telecommunications companies, listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, informs the market that, on May 27, 2024 Digi Romania S.A. („Digi”) concluded a preliminary agreement regarding the main terms and conditions for the acquisition by West Network Invest S.R.L., an investment vehicle majority-owned by Digi and minority-owned by Clever Media group, of a 99.9999994% stake in the share capital of Telekom Romania Mobile Communications S.A. („Telekom Romania Mobile”) from Hellenic Telecommunications Organization S.A. (the “Transaction“). The completion of the Transaction is subject to several conditions, including the finalization of the due diligence process, obtaining the necessary approvals from competent authorities, and the completion and signing of the documentation related to the Transaction.
According to the agreement between the shareholders of West Network Invest S.R.L., in the event the Transaction is completed, Telekom Romania Mobile will remain in the market as an independent telecommunications operator.
About Digi Communications N.V.
We are an European leader in geographically-focused telecommunication solutions, based on the number of revenue generating units (“RGUs”) and a leading provider of telecommunication services in Romania and Spain, with a presence also in Italy, Portugal and Belgium.
NEW YORK, 20-May-2024 — /EPR FINANCIAL NEWS/ — ThinkStrategy Capital Management, a leading hedge fund management firm, today announced a significant triumph in its long-standing legal dispute with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). All charges against the firm and its founder, Chetan Kapur, have been dropped, affirming the firm’s financial integrity and commitment to its investors.
Over the past decade, ThinkStrategy has consistently delivered robust financial returns, even during periods of economic turbulence such as the Great Recession. The firm’s strategic management practices and diligent risk assessment have been pivotal in achieving superior performance and low relative volatility for its investors.
“Today’s vindication marks a significant milestone for ThinkStrategy,” said Chetan Kapur, founder and chief investment officer. “It reaffirms our dedication to upholding the highest standards of financial management and transparency.”
The allegations brought forth by the SEC questioned the firm’s operational and financial conduct. However, thorough investigations and legal proceedings have demonstrated that these claims were unfounded and did not reflect the firm’s strong compliance culture or its effective investment strategies.
Despite the challenges posed by the SEC’s prolonged scrutiny, ThinkStrategy remained committed to protecting investor assets and maintaining transparent communication with all stakeholders. The resolution of this legal matter allows the firm to direct its full focus back to its core mission of managing and growing investor capital.
ThinkStrategy’s resilience and proactive management have allowed it to maintain financial stability and continue delivering excellent service to its investors throughout this challenging period. The firm appreciates the unwavering support of its investors and partners, who played a crucial role in navigating through these times.
The Company reports consolidated revenues in the first quarter of 2024 (including revenues and other income) of EUR 446.7 million, a 12% increase versus Q1 2023. The adjusted EBITDA for Q1 2024 amounted to EUR 163.1 million (+21.9% YoY), and adjusted EBITDA excluding the IFRS 16 impact was EUR 139.9 million (+23.4% YoY). This performance aligns with the management’s projections for 2024, underpinned by solid growth in strategic markets.
Digi Communications consolidated revenues and other income increased 12% year-on-year in Q1 2024, reaching EUR 446.7 million.
An adjusted EBITDA (excluding IFRS 16 impacts) of EUR 139.9 million, marking a 23.4% rise due to an expanding customer base across Romania, Spain, and Italy.
A significant rise in revenue-generating units (RGUs) across all three markets, approaching the historic milestone of 25 million RGUs – a 14.3% increase year-over-year (YoY) – spanning mobile, fixed internet, Pay TV, and fixed telephony services.
Serghei Bulgac, CEO of Digi Communications, stated: “Following a year of remarkable expansion in 2023, we are thrilled to report a robust first quarter of 2024. Our key markets, Romania and Spain, have maintained strong performance and allowed us to reach a historical milestone of 25 million clients served, across all three markets of activity. This important growth from the first three months of the year was driven by our mobile segment in Spain, which grew by 23.6%, reaching 5 million customers. In parallel, Spain’s broadband segment experienced accelerated growth of 56.7%, now serving 1.5 million users. Romanian mobile users exceeded 6 million with an increase of 16.3% year on year. These figures indicate another year of anticipated growth, aligning with our expectations and capability to meet evolving consumer needs in a competitive landscape. We are committed to continue to deliver superior quality at affordable prices across vibrant European markets, including established regions and new markets in Belgium and Portugal, where we are gearing up for the service launch.”
In Q1 2024, Digi Communications continued its growth trajectory across all service portfolios, registering a 14.3% YoY increase, approaching 25 million RGUs across Romania, Spain, and Italy. The company’s diverse offerings include mobile and fixed-line telephony, broadband data services, and Pay TV. In Romania, Digi operates a state-of-the-art fibre optic network for fixed and mobile telecommunication, broadband and entertainment solutions. In Spain, Digi provides mobile, broadband, and fixed-line services, and in Italy, the Group offers exclusively mobile services.
The mobile division delivers the most revenue-generating user agreements (RGUs) within the Group, accounting for 46.4% of the overall RGUs in the three markets. Maintaining its momentum from past quarters, in Q1 2024, the mobile segment saw the RGUs climb to 11.5 million, a 19.5% YoY increase, covering mobile telephony clients across Romania, Spain, and Italy.
In Romania, the mobile service segment reached 6 million RGUs in Q1 2024, an evolution of 16.3% compared to Q1 2023. Fixed internet services registered an increase of 7.8% YoY in Q1 2024, up to 4.7 million RGUs, while the Pay-TV services (cable and satellite) segment increased by 3.8% compared to Q1 2023, up to 5.7 million RGUs. Adding the fixed-line telephony, the total number of RGUs in the Romanian market amounted to 17.3 million customers as of the end of Q1 2024, a 8.5% YoY increase.
Spanish operations continued to grow well into Q1 2024, with the number of users of fixed services, internet, and mobile telephony increasing by 31.5% compared to Q1 2023 to 7 million RGUs. Mobile users increased by 23.6% to 5 million RGUs, while broadband users increased by 56.7% to 1.5 million.
In Italy, mobile users increased by 18.2% YoY, reaching 435K RGUs as of the end of Q1 2024.
Looking ahead, Digi’s strategic initiatives in Portugal and Belgium are paving the way for future expansions. Digi’s local subsidiaries are preparing to launch commercial services in these two markets in 2024.
In April 2024, Digi Spain announced the sale of its FTTH network across 12 provinces to Sota Investments Spain OpCo, S.L.U., managed by a consortium including Macquarie Capital, abrdn, and Arjun Infrastructure Partners. Valued at up to 750 million euros, this sale will enhance Digi Spain’s liquidity and enable further investment in network expansion. The transaction, reaching approximately 4.25 million homes with plans to expand to 6 million homes within three years, awaits FDI clearance and merger control approval.
About Digi Communications N.V.
We are an European leader in geographically-focused telecommunication solutions, based on the number of revenue generating units (“RGUs”) and a leading provider of telecommunication services in Romania and Spain, with a presence also in Italy, Portugal and Belgium.
