Verizon

Verizon Communications close to deal to buy 45% stake in Verizon Wireless

posted by Alan F. / Aug 31, 2013, 9:05 PM

Verizon Communications close to deal to buy 45% stake in Verizon Wireless

The boards of both Verizon Communications and Vodafone Group are expected to meet on Sunday to vote on a deal for Verizon to buy back the 45% stake in Verizon Wireless owned by Vodafone. If both boards agree to the transaction, it is expected to be announced on Monday. Verizon will supposedly pay $130 billion for the rest of Verizon Wireless that it doesn't own, and is planning on raising $65 billion to help fund the purchase.

According to insiders, Verizon is working with JP Morgan Chase & Co, Morgan Stanley, Barclays, and Bank of America Merrill Lynch in order to raise the $65 billion through a combination of debt and bank loans. The remaining $65 billion will be financed through the sale of equity. Sources say that in addition to those four banks, Verizon is also getting help from former Morgan Stanley banker Paul Taubman and Guggenheim Partners. Vodafone is being helped by UBS and Goldman Sachs.

The deal is expected to be structured so that Verizon Communications will purchase Vodafone America, the U.S. holding company of the U.K. communications firm that owns the Verizon Wireless stake. Verizon will keep the Verizon Wireless stake and sell European assets back to Vodafone, a move that reduces the latter's tax bill by $5 billion.

If the deal is completed, it will be the third largest acquisition in corporate history and will give Verizon Communications 100% ownership of the nation's largest mobile carrier.

source: Reuters

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6 Comments

1. JGuinan007

Posts: 699; Member since: May 19, 2011

So Vonda phone gets 130 million, assets back in Europe, and get out of Verizon while the gettins good. Verizon get 100% control of Verizon wireless, and 130 billion in debt to biggest banks in US. Maybe they can make a Verizon Quad package Fios, TV-ala cart pick your channels free hd, home phone, and a family plan with a combined data package! all for $250 a month!

posted on Aug 31, 2013, 9:33 PM 0

2. PAPINYC

Posts: 2315; Member since: Jul 30, 2011

Who 'Run the World', not Beyonce that's for sure. BTW, Alan, TYPO': paragraph 2; sentence 1 [Billion], not Million. Verizon: "We Runs The World!" (Sorry, had to take a minute from my Labor Day Vacā' to say that) as you were .....

posted on Aug 31, 2013, 9:52 PM 1

3. Alan01

Posts: 616; Member since: Mar 21, 2012

Sorry...once we get past the fingers counting stage its hard to visualize....oh yeah, toes and other appendages too. thanks! Alan F.

posted on Aug 31, 2013, 10:15 PM 0

4. Gawain

Posts: 439; Member since: Apr 15, 2010

This is a win for Verizon Communications and a long-term bad move for Vodafone. It takes them out of the dynamic US market, leaving them with the saturated Euro-zone and small growth. India has good growth, but doesn't have the purchasing power found in the west. They will get an injection of cash which is nice, but its 45% stake in VZW was netting them $7B+ in dividends a year, for doing nothing. Wish I had an arrangement like that.

posted on Aug 31, 2013, 10:19 PM 0

6. johnbftl

Posts: 283; Member since: Jun 09, 2012

Vodafone isn't only in Europe and India. They are also in Australia, New Zealand, Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar. They are doing well, and I'm pretty sure if they were looking to get out of the U.S. market, it made financial sense. If they made $7B a year from Verizon and they just cashed out $130B, that's 18+ years they just walked away with to sell off their stake. 18 years of unknown revenue from a company in which they are a silent partner. I'd say taking it all up front is a pretty smart move.