Tag Archives: DIGI Távközlési és Szolgáltató Kft.

New GVH decision approving the acquisition of Invitel Tavkozlesi Zrt. by DIGI Tavkozlesi es Szolgaltato Kft

(PRESS RELEASE) BUCHAREST, Romania, 19-Mar-2020 — /EPR FINANCIAL NEWS/ — The Company informs its shareholders and investors that the Hungarian Competition Authority (Gazdasagi Versenyhivatal, hereinafter “GVH”) has issued on 18 March 2020 a new decision approving the acquisition by our Hungarian subsidiary, DIGI Tavkozlesi es Szolgaltato Kft. (“Digi HU”) of shares representing in total 99.998395% of the share capital and voting rights of Invitel Tavkozlesi Zrt. (“Invitel”) (the “Transaction”)

As disclosed in the Company’s current report on 15 November 2018, GVH withdrew on 14 November 2018 its initial decision approving the Transaction, issued in May 2018 (the “Withdrawal Decision”) and opened a new merger control procedure with the purpose of reassessing certain limited aspects in connection with market overlaps between Invitel and i-TV Digitalis Tavkozlesi Zrt. (“i-TV”, Digi HU’s Hungarian subsidiary) (the “New Procedure”) and imposed a fine of approximately EUR 280,000 (HUF 90,000,000). For more details, please refer to the current report dated 15 November 2018, which can be found at http://www.bvb.ro/FinancialInstruments/SelectedData/NewsItem/DIGI-Actualizare-cu-privire-la-tranzactia-Invitel/309C6 or at https://www.digi-communications.ro/en/investor-relations/shares/current-reports/digi-current-report-update-regarding-the-invitel-transaction.

We would like to remind our shareholders and investors that the Withdrawal Decision has been appealed by Digi HU, with the decision issued by the competent Hungarian court in first instance reducing the amount of the fine in half. In addition, although the competent court has maintained the Withdrawal Decision in relation to Digi HU’s alleged failure to proactively act in a required manner, it also established that GVH had failed to properly gather the necessary information at the time of its initial approval in order to clarify the matter. Both GVH and Digi have filed appeals against the court’s decision. The appeal hearing was initially scheduled for March 25, 2020, but as consequence to the measures implemented by the Hungarian government in response to the COVID – 19 epidemics, the hearing has been postponed.

Although we firmly continue to believe that the Withdrawal Decision was incorrect, in the context of the New Procedure and in order to address the authority’s concerns formulated at the time of it issuing the Withdrawal Decision, in consultation with GVH, Digi HU proposed a remedy package. One of the main elements of this package is the sale by Invitel to a third party of its operations in 14 Hungarian settlements and parts of its network in the Szeged settlement that overlapped with DIGI Hungary’s own network there, the sale and purchase agreement having been executed on 9 January 2020. In response to the competition concerns identified by GVH in connection with 67 settlements where Invitel has overlapping services with i-TV, Digi HU proposed to ensure that i-TV’s rental agreements with the relevant local network operators will not be terminated until December 31, 2023 (but will be discontinued from 1 January 2024). Following its analysis of the proposal of this remedial package aimed at addressing competition concerns in connection with the Transaction, GVH authorised again DIGI Hungary’s acquisition of Invitel. Digi HU has to fulfil the remedial measures within three months as of the official communication of the new approval to it.

For details regarding the reports, please access the official website designated of Digi: www.digi-communications.ro (Investor Relations Section/Current Reports).

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Digi Communications N.V.: Digi HU’s ownership and control over Invitel is not affected by the GVH’s decision to reassess the acquisition

BUCHAREST, Romania, 15-Nov-2018 — /EPR FINANCIAL NEWS/ — We would like to inform the market and our investors that, in connection with the decision issued by the Hungarian Competition Authority (Gazdasági Versenyhivatal – “GVH”) in May 2018 (the “Initial Decision”) approving the acquisition by our Hungarian subsidiary – DIGI Távközlési és Szolgáltató Kft. (“Digi HU”), as the purchaser, of shares representing in total 99.998395% of the share capital and voting rights of Invitel Távközlési Zrt. (“Invitel”) from Ilford Holding Kft. and InviTechnocom Kft., acting as sellers (the “Transaction” – the completion of which we have disclosed to the market on 30 May 2018), on 14 November 2018, the GVH issued several decisions whereby it formally withdrew the Initial Decision and it opened a new investigation (“New Procedure”) for reassessing limited aspects in connection with certain settlements where i-TV Digitális Távközlési Zrt. (“i-TV” – one of Digi HU’s subsidiaries in Hungary) and Invitel overlap.

GVH’s stated reason for withdrawing the Initial Decision is based on allegations that Digi HU has failed to proactively comment during the initial assessment on certain data regarding the territorial scope of certain telecommunications services provided by i-TV, which has been used by the GVH in its Initial Decision. On that basis, the GVH also imposed a fine on Digi HU of approximately EUR 280,000 (HUF 90,000,000).

Digi HU’s ownership and control over Invitel is not affected by the above-mentioned GVH’s decisions, as the GVH simultaneously decided on 14 November 2018 to allow Digi HU to continue to exercise control over Invitel (“Exemption Decision”) before the issuance by the GVH of a new decision on the Transaction. As a consequence, on the basis of the Exemption Decision, the implementation by Digi HU of the Transaction is not affected by the GVH’s New Procedure, except for certain limited behavioral restrictions from the Initial Decision that were reinstated.

In relation to the operation of i-TV, the GVH imposed certain behavioral interim obligations on Digi HU until the completion of the New Procedure. i-TV represents a minor part of DIGI HU’s business in Hungary.

We continue to strongly hold that Digi HU fully cooperated during the initial procedure by providing complete and accurate information, and that the GVH’s decision to withdraw the Initial Decision and to apply a fine is incorrect.

Meanwhile, we will continue to fully and in good faith cooperate with the GVH during the New Procedure in order to ensure that a new decision re-approving the Transaction is finalized as soon as possible.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Digi Communications NV’s subsidiary in Hungary DIGI Távközlési és Szolgáltató Kft. acquires 99.998395% of the share capital and voting rights of Invitel Távközlési Zrt. for EUR 135.4 million

BUCHAREST, Romania, Jun-2-2018 — /EPR Financial News/ — The Company would like to inform its shareholders that, as a result of the completion of the conditions to closing provided in the share-purchase agreement (“SPA”) signed on 21 July 2017 between DIGI Távközlési és Szolgáltató Kft.(“Digi HU”), as the purchaser, and Ilford Holding Kft. and InviTechnocom Kft. (former name Invitel Technocom Távközlési Kft.), acting as sellers (the “Sellers”), the acquisition by Digi HU of shares representing in total 99.998395% of the share capital and voting rights of Invitel Távközlési Zrt. (the “Target”) was finalized today, 30 May 2018.

The total consideration paid by Digi HU to the Sellers for the acquisition of shares in the Target was of approximately EUR 135.4 million.

The Company welcomes the addition to the Digi group of a key Hungarian telecommunications operator positioned as the second-largest incumbent fixed line telecommunications and broadband internet services provider in the residential and small business customers segment in Hungary. The Target offers an extensive portfolio of services to residential and small business customers, including a variety of multimedia and entertainment services such as interactive, digital and HD television, fast internet offerings and fixed telephony services across its regional networks.

This transaction will allow the Company’s group to consolidate its position on the Hungarian telecommunications market, and to expand its customer reach and experience, as well as to create better operational synergies.

SOURCE: EuropaWire