UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14D-9C
Solicitation/Recommendation Statement Under
Section 14(d)(4) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
PORTUGAL TELECOM, SGPS, S.A.
(Name of Subject Company)
PORTUGAL TELECOM, SGPS, S.A.
(Name of Person(s) Filing Statement)
Ordinary shares, nominal value €1 each
American Depositary Shares, each representing one ordinary share,
nominal value €1 per share
(Title of Class of Securities)
Ordinary Shares (ISIN: PTPTC0AM0009)
American Depositary Shares (CUSIP: 737273102)
(CUSIP Number of Class of Securities)
Nuno Prego
Investor Relations Director
Portugal Telecom, SGPS, S.A.
Av. Fontes Pereira de Melo, 40
1069-300 Lisboa
Portugal
+351 21 500 1701
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized
to Receive Notice and Communications on Behalf of the Person(s) Filing Statement)
The attached communications have been made public by Portugal Telecom, SGPS, S.A. (the "Company") and PT Multimédia-Serviços de Telecomunicações e Multimédia, SGPS, S.A., one of the Company's subsidiaries. Investors are urged to read the Company's Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 when it is filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), as it will contain important information. The Solicitation/Recommendation Statement and other public filings made from time to time by the Company with the SEC are available without charge from the SEC's website at www.sec.gov and at the Company's principal executive offices in Lisbon, Portugal.
Letter to the shareholders of Portugal Telecom
6 March 2006
Dear Shareholder,
Sonaecom-SGPS, S.A. and Sonaecom, B.V. (hereinafter named jointly as "Sonaecom") preliminarily announced an unsolicited cash offer (the "Offer") for Portugal Telecom, SGPS, S.A. ("PT" or the "Company"), on 6 February 2006. The Board of Directors (the "Board") having carefully reviewed the draft offer announcement and the draft prospectus provided by Sonaecom on 27 February 2006 (the "Offer Documents"), believes that the Offer significantly undervalues the Company and is, therefore, not in the best interest of PT's shareholders. Accordingly, this letter and the accompanying presentation provide the basis on which the Board recommends the shareholders to reject the Offer.
WHY YOU SHOULD REJECT THE OFFER
Sonaecom's Offer Significantly Undervalues PT
Sonaecom's Offer significantly understates the full value of PT and Sonaecom's arguments on value are disingenuous. This is demonstrated by the following valuation methodologies:
1. Public Premia Analysis
The Offer price of €9.50 represents only a 16% premium to PT's pre-announcement closing price. The Offer price further reflects (assuming the removal of the restrictions in the by-laws) a modest 5% premium to PT's share price four weeks prior to the Offer when France Telecom's profit warning caused the share prices of Europe's publicly traded telecommunications companies to fall sharply.
The premium implied by the Offer is less than one half of levels achieved in: (i) precedent comparable public takeovers in the European telecommunications sector; (ii) large unsolicited transactions in the broader European market; and (iii) substantial unsolicited transactions in Portugal. The modest premium represented by the Offer relative to precedent premia results in an undervaluation of PT of up to €2.6 billion. This is value Sonaecom wants to take from PT's owners.
|
Premia Paid in Precedent Transactions |
Premium Offered by Sonaecom |
||
---|---|---|---|---|
European Telecom | 40% | 16% | ||
Europe>$10 billion Unsolicited | 40% | 16% | ||
Portugal>$500 million Unsolicited | 45% | 16% |
|
---|
In the United States, PT will file a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") following commencement of a tender offer within the meaning of Rule 14d-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Investors are urged to read the Company's Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 when it becomes available, as it will contain important information. The Solicitation/Recommendation Statement and other public filings made from time to time by the Company with the SEC are available without charge from the SEC's website at www.sec.gov and at the Company's principal executive offices in Lisbon, Portugal. |
1
2. Precedent Transaction Multiples Analysis
Sonaecom's Offer values PT at 6.3x 2005 EBITDA, which represents a significant discount to valuations achieved in other change of control transactions which have occurred recently in the European telecommunications sector.
|
Average EBITDA Multiple |
EBITDA Multiple Offered by Sonaecom |
||
---|---|---|---|---|
European Precedents | 7.5x | 6.3x |
PT's Cash Flow Belongs to You. Why Should You Finance Sonaecom's Offer?
Sonaecom's Offer will borrow heavily off PT's balance sheet to finance a €16.3 billion (including PT's net debt) Offer for PT's assets. Sonaecom has stated that it will undertake a rights issue of up to €1.5 billion to fund the Offer. How will the remaining €14.8 billionor more than 90% of the transaction valuebe funded? By mortgaging PT's assets and cash flows? This cash flow belongs to the PT shareholders, and by accepting the Offer you would be giving away value that can be realised by PT independently with lower execution risk.
Sonaecom B.V., the vehicle that Sonaecom proposes to acquire PT, has a share capital of €100,000 and will be highly levered with significant financing requirements (in particular a need to repay 50% of the Offer's financing at the end of the second year following a transaction) which endanger the Company's future ability to: (i) invest in the growth of its business; (ii) undertake capital expenditures relating to the modernisation of the Portuguese information society (e.g. broadband, 3G, digitalisation of pay-TV offering, etc.); (iii) continue to proactively fund its pension fund obligations; and (iv) maintain attractive and competitive tariffs going forward to benefit consumers. The Offer's minimum acceptance condition of 50.01% may be a further indication that Sonaecom is seeking to gain control of PT for a modest cash outlay, thereby reflecting the significant financial constraints Sonaecom faces going forward.
Sonaecom's Offer is Conditional on Regulatory Approval of Unprecedented Concentration
The Board has received legal opinions indicating that the regulator may be unable to approve Sonaecom's proposed transaction given that the Offer is predicated on permitting an unprecedented level of market concentration.
Wireless Concentration is Untenable for a Coherent Regulatory Policy
Sonaecom's management has publicly announced that the value creation opportunity contemplated by the Offer is based upon merging Sonaecom's Optimus and PT's TMN mobile operations. The combination of Optimus and TMN would create a very large wireless operator in a duopolistic market with an estimated pro forma subscriber market share of over 65%.
A TMN-Optimus combination would result in unprecedented levels of wireless market concentration. We do not believe that such a combination, when compared to other European precedent in-market mobile consolidation transactions, would satisfy the minimum conditions for a competitive mobile market:
Impact of Transactions After Consolidation
|
European Precedents |
Portugal (as Implied by the Offer) |
||
---|---|---|---|---|
Median No. of Remaining Operators | 4 | 2 | ||
Resulting Market Share of Subscribers for Acquiror | 22%-50% | 66% |
Having reviewed previous European wireless in-country consolidation transactions, we believe that the likelihood of such a transaction being approved is low and implies significant risks to the credibility of the Offer.
The Resulting Concentration is Also Unprecedented From a Combined Voice Market Share Perspective
The Portuguese voice market is split between mobile (58% of total) and fixed line (42%) services, with PT holding the leading position in both segments. As Sonaecom also has a relevant position in both the mobile and fixed line voice markets, the combination of PT and Sonaecom would produce a pro forma market
2
share of 77% of the Portuguese voice market. This transaction would ultimately leave Vodafone, which offers only mobile services, as the only substantial competitor to a combined Sonaecom-PT in the carriage of voice minutes.
In conclusion, we believe that despite Sonaecom's stated intention to divest one of the fixed networks that would be combined as a result of the transaction, the regulatory hurdles are such that an approval would be without precedent. This conclusion is particularly apparent given the fact that the regulator (according to Portuguese competition law) needs to look at each market segment individually (fixed and mobile) when ruling on the transaction.
While the cost (as measured by household bills in Portugal) of most basic services such as water, electricity, gas, transportation, food and healthcare has increased meaningfully over the past five years, PT has actually driven down the cost of telecommunication services in Portugal as a result of our initiatives to provide services at attractive and competitive prices. Concerns about whether such a substantial concentration in the telecommunications sector could jeopardise consumer gains are naturally a consideration that will need to be taken into account by the regulator.
WHY YOU SHOULD REMAIN WITH PT
PT Has Been a Substantial Contributor to the Development of Portuguese Society
PT has an extensive history of developing innovative products and services which have made telecommunication services more accessible to Portuguese consumers, including: (i) being the first prepaid mobile operator in Europe; (ii) introducing the low-cost UZO mobile brand; (iii) establishing flat-rate voice pricing plans; and (iv) current initiatives to offer VoIP and HDTV services.
Consumers in the Portuguese market further enjoy attractive pricing relative to others in Europe for leading telecommunication services, such as broadband, pay-TV and mobile services, which has resulted in above-European average penetration levels in each of those areas.
At the same time, PT has been a positive contributor to the establishment of a fully competitive environment in Portugal, by offering lower-than-average European wholesale prices for ULL services and leased lines, thereby facilitating an attractive market opportunity for new entrants.
However, Sonaecom has failed to take advantage of this opportunity, having achieved inferior results to date in mobile services compared to other European third entrants and having failed to establish a position as the #1 alternative operator in Portugal in any of the fixed line market segments: direct access, indirect access and broadband. How Sonaecom will reverse its history of underperformance in telecommunications as a result of an acquisition of PT has not been made clear to date since Sonaecom has not disclosed its strategy for a combined PT-Sonaecom and has never previously managed an operation of PT's magnitude. Similarly, Sonaecom has not disclosed key information regarding its plans for PT in terms of transaction financing, future investments, asset disposals and international partnerships. It is also unclear to what extent France Telecom will be a key driver of a pro-forma PT-Sonaecom strategy going forward. Finally, Sonaecom's Offer is conditioned on the removal of the restrictions in the by-laws and, consequently, it will be important to understand if Sonaecom expects preferential treatment in relation to these restrictions.
PT Has a Strong Track Record of Operational and Financial Performance . . .
PT has demonstrated outstanding operational and financial performance over the last five years, while also playing a key role in promoting innovation, launching technologically advanced products and services, and developing the Portuguese debt and equity markets.
PT's historical track record speaks for itself. PT has consistently delivered strong cash flow growth, achieving a 17% total increase over the 2001-2005 period in EBITDA and a 92% expansion in operating cash flow. PT has just released its 2005 results, which again confirmed its execution ability in challenging market conditions.
. . . And Has Built a Solid Portfolio of International Assets
PT has historically sought to leverage its proven operating capabilities and natural advantages by expanding its footprint internationally in search of enhanced growth and value creation opportunities. As a result, PT has succeeded in establishing a portfolio of high quality international investments in a variety of markets that we believe feature superior growth potential to the Portuguese telecom sector. This portfolio of international assets today represents significant value for PT and offers significant potential to create
3
shareholder value. PT has previously demonstrated its commitment to monetise its international investments appropriately through sales of Mascom, Primseys and UOL (stake monetised in IPO).
PT Has Delivered Attractive Shareholder Value So Far . . .
PT's strong operational performance and financial flexibility has been reflected in its share price appreciation and has allowed the Company to deliver significant amounts of cash to its shareholders via highly attractive dividend and share buyback policies, while continuing to invest in its core businesses in Portugal and abroad.
Even without taking into account the impact of the Offer announcement, on a trailing 3-year basis, PT's share price has increased by approximately 25%. Additionally, PT has returned considerable cash to shareholders over this period in the form of: (i) dividends of approximately €863 million; and (ii) share buybacks of approximately €944 million. As a result, PT has returned over €1.8 billion (or 22% of its market capitalisation at the beginning of the three-year period) to shareholders over the last three years. Total shareholder return has been approximately 36% during this same period.
. . . And Has a Plan To Deliver Even More Through Sharp Focus on Execution
PT's management team has established an operating plan which will create substantial value for shareholders going forward. The key elements of this plan include: (i) enhancing the performance of PT's operations in the evolving domestic competitive landscape, including initiatives such as aggressively rolling out triple-play VoIP offers and offering differentiated broadband services; (ii) segregating wireline access, which potentially represents the first step towards monetisation and regulatory relief; (iii) seeking to promote a model of shared utilisation of mobile networks, which would facilitate the further penetration of 3G services and rapid deployment of mobile TV capabilities; (iv) continuing PT's existing partnerships and seeking to manage PT's international assets in a proactive and pragmatic manner in selected markets where PT has a clear competitive advantage; (v) continuing PT's focus on the operational enhancement of VIVO; and (vi) seeking to concentrate and crystallise the value of selected assets in Africa. This plan will be efficiently implemented by PT's management team, which features a proven value creation ability.
PT's Targets
PT's plan should result in considerable value creation for shareholders, and is expected to produce €150 million in annual cost savings through streamlining operations and other efficiencies, and €100 million in annual savings from capex and working capital optimisation to be implemented progressively until 2008.
As a result, PT expects to generate 3.0 to 5.0% EBITDA growth and €5.0 to 5.5 billion in operating cash flow over the next 3 years (at current exchange rates).
In combination with an optimisation of its capital structure position while still maintaining an investment grade rating, this translates into a commitment of total shareholder remuneration in excess of €3.0 billion between 2006 and 2008 (equivalent to approximately €2.66 per share). This will take the form of: (i) an ordinary dividend per share of €0.475 for 2005; (ii) a continuation of our progressive dividend policy going forward; and (iii) an extraordinary return of capitalvia share buybacks, dividends or a combination thereofundertaken within 12 months following the rejection of the Offer.
Recommendation
As demonstrated herein, Sonaecom's Offer significantly undervalues the Company. The Board is committed to maximising shareholder value and believes that the PT management team's plan will continue to deliver superior value to shareholders going forward.
PT's board is firmly of the view that the Offer is inadequate and strongly recommends that you reject the Offer.
Yours Sincerely,
Ernâni Rodrigues Lopes Chairman of the Board of Directors |
Miguel Horta e Costa Chief Executive Officer |
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In the United States, Portugal Telecom, SGPS, S.A. (the "Company" or "PT") will file a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") following commencement of a tender offer within the meaning of Rule 14d-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Investors are urged to read the Company's Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 when it becomes available, as it will contain important information. The Solicitation/Recommendation Statement and other public filings made from time to time by the Company with the SEC are available without charge from the SEC's website at www.sec.gov and at the Company's principal executive offices in Lisbon, Portugal.
This communication includes statements that constitute "forward-looking statements." These statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of our management and on information available to management at the time such statements were made. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (a) information concerning possible or assumed future results of our operations, earnings and industry conditions; (b) information or statements concerning potential disadvantages of the tender offer; and (c) statements that are preceded by, followed by or include the words "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "is confident," "plans," "estimates," "may," "might," "could," "would," the negatives of such terms or similar expressions.
Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. They involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Although we make such statements based on assumptions that we believe to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from our expectations. Many of the factors that will determine these results are beyond our ability to control or predict. We do not intend to review or revise any particular forward-looking statements referenced in this communication in light of future events or to provide reasons why actual results may differ. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements.
Any of the following important factors, and any of those important factors described in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2004 or in other of our SEC filings, among other things, could cause our results to differ from any results that might be projected, forecast or estimated by us in any such forward-looking statements:
This communication is not for publication, release or distribution in any jurisdiction where it would otherwise be prohibited.
5
Portugal Telecom |
Board of Directors Report PORTUGAL TELECOM, SGPS, SA Public Company Registered Office: Av. Fontes Pereira de Melo, no. 40, Lisboa Legal Entity: 503 215 058 Share Capital: 1,128,856,500 Euros Registered with: Lisbon Commercial Registry Office under no. 3602/940706 Pursuant to and for the purposes of paragraph 1 of article 181 of the Portuguese Securities Code, the Board of Directors of Portugal Telecom, SGPS, SA (hereinafter PT), after a careful analysis of the draft offer announcement and the draft prospectus relating to the public tender offer for the acquisition of shares and convertible bonds of PT launched by SONAECOM - SGPS, SA, public company, with registered office at Lugar do Espido, Via Norte, Maia, legal entity no. 502 028 351, registered with the Maia Commercial Registry Office under no. 45 466, share capital 296,526, 868 Euros (according to the notice disclosed by SONAECOM - SGPS, SA at the CMVMs information disclosure system on January 11, 2006, FRANCE TELECOM S.A. indirectly owns 23.7% of the voting rights of SONAECOM, SGPS, SA) and SONAECOM - BV, with registered office at De Boelelaan, 7, 1083 HJ, Amsterdam, Netherlands, registered with the Amsterdam Commerce Chamber under no. 34 243 137, share capital of 100,000 Euros (the Offerors will be hereinafter jointly referred as Sonaecom), which was preliminarily announced on February 6th, 2006, hereby submits its report on the opportunity and the conditions of the Offer, as follows: ii |
Important Notice Board Report This Report includes forecasts on the economic and financial situation of PT (the Forecasts). These Forecasts were produced according to the best knowledge and belief of the Board of Directors of PT (which has taken reasonable care to ensure that such is the case) and were based on the information available at the time such Forecasts were made. Additionally, the assumptions, criteria and consistency of said Forecasts were subject to a written opinion of an auditor dully registered by CMVM. Accordingly, no representation, warranty or undertaking is made nor is any liability accepted by the Board of Directors of PT as to the results forecasted herein. See sources and bases for calculation of information presented. In the United States, Portugal Telecom, SGPS, S.A. (the Company or PT) will file a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) following commencement of a tender offer within the meaning of Rule 14d-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Investors are urged to read the Companys Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 when it becomes available, as it will contain important information. The Solicitation/Recommendation Statement and other public filings made from time to time by the Company with the SEC are available without charge from the SECs website at www.sec.gov and at the Companys principal executive offices in Lisbon, Portugal. This communication includes statements that constitute forward-looking statements. These statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of our management and on information available to management at the time such statements were made. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (a) information concerning possible or assumed future results of our operations, earnings and industry conditions; (b) information or statements concerning potential disadvantages of the tender offer; and (c) statements that are preceded by, followed by or include the words believes, expects, anticipates, intends, is confident, plans, estimates, may, might, could, would, the negatives of such terms or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. They involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Although we make such statements based on assumptions that we believe to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from our expectations. Many of the factors that will determine these results are beyond our ability to control or predict. We do not intend to review or revise any particular forward-looking statements referenced in this communication in light of future events or to provide reasons why actual results may differ. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Any of the following important factors, and any of those important factors described in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2004 or in other of our SEC filings, among other things, could cause our results to differ from any results that might be projected, forecast or estimated by us in any such forward-looking statements: material adverse changes in economic conditions in Portugal or Brazil; exchange rate fluctuations in the Brazilian Real and the U.S. dollar; risks and uncertainties related to national and supranational regulation; increased competition resulting from the liberalisation of the telecommunications sector in Portugal and Brazil; the development and marketing of new products and services and market acceptance of such products and services; and the adverse determination of disputes under litigation. This communication is not for publication, release or distribution in any jurisdiction where it would otherwise be prohibited. iii |
Dont let Sonaecom take your cash flows and future value Sonaecoms offer of 9.50 per share is low and inadequate, significantly undervaluing PT Sonaecom plans to use your cash flows to finance its excessively leveraged offer and has no industrial rationale for the transaction Sonaecoms offer is highly uncertain as it is conditional on regulatory approval of unprecedented concentration PT has delivered top tier performance, both operationally and in terms of shareholder remuneration PTs strategy will generate more value and cash flow for shareholders with less execution risk PTs management commits to return in excess of 3 billion cash to shareholders between 2006 and 2008 Reject the Sonaecom offer iv |
Sonaecoms offer is inadequate and significantly undervalues PT and is at a significant discount to precedent change of control multiples in the telecom industry the premium is less than one half of precedent transactions in Europe Precedent Transaction Multiples - Firm Value to Last Twelve Months EBITDA Premium on Share Price Prior to Offer Sonaecoms arguments are not convincing. The value of the offer is low v |
PTs cash flow belongs to you. Why should you finance Sonaecoms offer? Sonaecom has a market capitalisation of 1.2bn, less than 1/9 the size of PT and generated only 62 million of free cash flow in 2004, less than 1/14 of PTs Equity contribution by Sonaecom to the offer is only up to 1.5 billion, less than 10% of the offer value how would the remaining > 90% (14.8 billion) be funded? By mortgaging PTs assets and cash flows? Will PTs cash flows be used exclusively to service Sonaecoms debt? PTs cash flow should be used for the benefit of all shareholders, not to finance Sonaecoms offer vi |
Sonaecoms offer is conditional on regulatory approval of unprecedented concentration Would create the only mobile duopoly in EU, with over 65% market share and would establish a substantially enlarged presence in the Portuguese voice market The Portuguese regulator is required to look at each market segment individually Increase in market share concentration is contrary to national and EU regulators guidelines and precedents Mobile Subscribers Market Share Market Share of Voice Minutes in Portugal vii Combined Market Share of 77% |
Portuguese consumers have enjoyed declining telecom costs Water, Electricity, Gas To date, consumers have benefited from competition in the Portuguese telecom market +19% Transport +24% Health +16% Food +14% Telecoms -8% viii |
but concentration could jeopardise consumer gains Broadband Prices (/month) Broadband Penetration (%) Mobile Prices (/min) Mobile Penetration (%) Portuguese consumers are at the forefront of Europe in terms of prices and penetration of services Portugal enjoys higher broadband penetration than Spain, UK, Germany and Italy Portugal has the second highest mobile penetration in Europe Pay-TV Prices (/month) Pay-TV Penetration (%) Portugal has one of the highest Pay-TV penetrations in Europe ix |
PT operates in a competitive environment ULL Installation Fee () ULL Monthly Fee () Termination Fee ( cents) Wholesale Line Rental Monthly Fee For Competitors () PT has contributed towards a positive environment for competitors vs. other European countries Leased Lines Prices () ULL Margin for Competitors (/month) x Competitors have cheap access to PTs local network Wholesale pricing enables higher margin in comparison to European average When compared to European average, the access cost to the wholesale network allows higher margins |
in which Sonaecom has failed to become a leading alternative to PT Despite favourable asymmetric economics Sonaecom has underperformed despite significantly lower spectrum fees and being able to charge higher termination rates Fixed to Mobile Termination Rates ( cents) Mobile Spectrum Fees 01-05 ( million) -53% Optimus vs Selected 3rd Entrants Market Share of Leading Alternative Operators and Optimus underperformed vs selected 3rd entrants Sonaecom is not even the #1 alternative operator +36% xi |
Does Sonaecom have a strategy for PT? Sonaecom says it has a better strategy for PT why hasnt it articulated it? Sonaecom has provided very few details on its financing for the offer or a clear strategy for PT What management expertise will Sonaecom bring? Track record of Sonae in telecoms is unproven and lacks consistent strategy Neither Sonaecom nor Sonae have ever managed a company the size of PT What innovation has Sonaecom brought to the Portuguese telecom market that was not already offered by PT? How will the highly leveraged Sonaecom offer allow for future capital expenditure and international expansion? What international track record does Sonaecom have in telecoms? Sonaecom has already changed its strategy for PT it initially wanted to sell Vivo and then considered acquiring full control. How will it acquire control? What is its international strategy? What role will France Telecom play in PTs future strategy? Sonaecoms offer is conditional upon amendment of the by-laws. Is Sonaecom seeking preferential treatment in relation to the existing by-law restrictions? xii |
PT |
PT has a strong track record of operational and financial performance Revenues ( million) Growth: 11% EBITDA ( million) Growth: 17% OCF ( million) Growth: 92% Broadband Subscribers (000) Growth: 1,330% Pay-TV Subscribers (000) Growth: 28% Wireless Subscribers (000) Growth: 85% PT once again delivered in 2005 xiv |
and has built a solid portfolio of international assets Significant value with potential for crystallisation Sold: Mascom, Primesys and UOL (stake monetised through IPO) xv Ex-Vivo, 26% international EBITDA growth in 2005 (proportionate consolidation) |
PT has delivered attractive value PT has consistently demonstrated strong commitment to shareholder remuneration PT returned 22% of its market capitalisation to shareholders over the last 3 years while Sonaecom returned nothing 3 Year Total Share Return (%) 3 Year Total Shareholder Remuneration ( million) xvi |
The 9.50 offer undervalues PT and shareholders should reject it PT is delivering even more Performance Enhancement Network Optimisation International Strategy 3. Seek to promote a model of shared utilisation of mobile networks 1. Optimise domestic operations in accordance with the evolving business landscape 2. Segregate and seek to monetise wireline access against regulatory relief Wireline PT Multimedia TMNGroup 5. Plans to concentrate and monetise certain African assets and focus on operational enhancement of Vivo 4. Pragmatic management focused on selected markets where PT has competitive advantages xvii PT has and will continue to deliver more services, more innovation, more value |
through continuous sharp focus on execution Voice: Flat-price products Broadband: de-commoditised (beyond price and speed); exclusive content and value added services IPTV: Aggressive triple-play offers roll-out Corporate: Value service propositions with integrated IS/IT service offer Costs: Optimisation through reintegrating of processes Penetration: Focus on under-penetrated regions Content: Provide higher quality pay-TV content by promoting Portuguese language programming Broadband: Differentiated /repackaged with VAS products (de-commoditised) VoIP: Aggressive triple-play offers roll-out to tap voice opportunity and underpin penetration of broadband Restructuring: Complete operational and quality of service turnaround programmes having upgraded networks and IT systems 3G: Innovative data and video services TV: Mobile TV offer with PTM Retail market: New commercial strategy focused on marketing, distribution and customer care UZO: Consolidate leadership position Corporate market: Complete turnaround program to regain leadership position Cost cutting ongoing initiatives include: Streamline central costs Further optimise centralised procurement Centralise working capital management Continue optimisation of real estate portfolio Pension fund: 1bn expected to be contributed over 3 years in the context of a new framework for labour relations Management compensation is already aligned with shareholders' interests and returns Wireline PT Multimedia TMN Group xviii Initiatives approved by the Board amount up to 250m of additional annual operating cash flow, to be realised by 2008 |
Our targets 150 million annual cost savings
to be achieved progressively by 2008 100 million annual savings from
capex and working capital optimisation to be achieved progressively by 2008 3% to 5% EBITDA growth and 5.0 to 5.5 billion in
operating cash flow generated over the next 3 years at current exchange rate Optimising balance sheet strength while maintaining
investment grade rating Committed to shareholder
remuneration in excess of 3 billion1
between 2006 and 2008: |
Reject |
APPENDIX 1: BASES OF CALCULATION AND SOURCES OF INFORMATION
1. General
2. Page references
The relevant bases of calculation and sources of information are provided below in the order in which the relevant information appears in this document and by reference to page numbers in this document. Where such information is repeated in this document, the underlying bases and sources are not.
Page 1
Page 2
A-1
Page v
Date |
Target |
Acquiror |
||
---|---|---|---|---|
31/11/2005 | TDC | Nordic Telephone Company | ||
31/10/2005 | O2 | Telefonica | ||
18/07/2005 | Versatel | Tele2 | ||
07/07/2005 | Saunalahti | Elisa Communications | ||
08/11/2004 | Infonet | BT Group | ||
14/09/2004 | Song Networks | TDC | ||
01/04/2003 | Sense Comm Intl | Reitangruppen | ||
02/07/2001 | Eircom | Valentia Group | ||
21/03/2001 | Soon Communications | Elisa Communications | ||
24/07/2000 | SEC | Netcom | ||
23/06/2000 | NetCom | Telia | ||
17/04/2000 | Detron Group | Landis Group | ||
11/01/2000 | Esat Telecom | BT | ||
14/11/1999 | Mannesmann | Vodafone AirTouch | ||
20/10/1999 | Orange | Mannesmann | ||
09/07/1999 | Debitel | Swisscom | ||
20/02/1999 | Telecom Italia | Ing C Olivetti & Co |
Date |
Target |
Acquiror |
||
---|---|---|---|---|
26/01/2004 | Aventis | Sanofi-Synthelabo | ||
29/11/1999 | National Westminster Bank | Royal Bank of Scotland Group | ||
14/11/1999 | Mannesmann | Vodafone AirTouch | ||
14/09/1999 | INA | Assicurazioni Generali | ||
05/07/1999 | Elf Aquitaine | Totalfina | ||
09/03/1999 | Paribas | BNP | ||
20/02/1999 | Telecom Italia | Ing C Olivetti & Co | ||
20/01/1995 | Wellcome | Glaxo Holdings |
Date |
Target |
Acquiror |
||
---|---|---|---|---|
06/15/2000 | Cimpor | Investor Group | ||
07/19/1999 | BPSM | BCP | ||
06/18/1999 | Mundial Confiança | BCP |
A-2
affiliates. PT's EBITDA 2005 is calculated based on PT's 2005 results and adjusted for post retirement benefits.
Page vi
Page vii
Page viii
Page ix
Page x
A-3
Page xi
Page xiv
Page xv
Page xvi
Page xix
A-4
€ | The lawful currency of the European Economic Union | |
$ |
The lawful currency of the United States |
|
Average Revenue Per User ("ARPU") |
Average monthly revenue per customer. Monthly average service revenues per average number of users in the period |
|
Capex |
Total amount of contracted acquisitions of goods and services that will be accounted as tangible or intangible assets |
|
Carrier Pre-Selection ("CPS") |
CPS allows telephony subscribers who are directly connected to the network of a telecommunications provider to access another telecommunication provider's voice telephony services, directly or by dialing a prefix |
|
Direct-to-Home ("DTH") |
Direct-to-Home satellite television. Technology used to provide pay-TV services in areas not covered by Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) networks |
|
EBITDA of PT |
Income before Financial Results and Taxes + Depreciation and Amortisation + Impairment Losses + Work Force Reduction Programme Costs +/ Losses and Gains on Disposals of Fixed Assets + Other Non-Recurring Items |
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EPS |
Earnings per share |
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Firm Value or FV |
Used to indicate the value of a company by multiplying the number of shares outstanding by the current share price less proceeds from options, warrants, convertible preferred and convertible debt, plus interest bearing debt and minority interests, less investment in unconsolidated affiliates, tax assets and cash and marketable securities |
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Market Capitalisation |
Used to indicate the value of a company by multiplying the number of shares in issue by the current share price |
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Firm Value to EBITDA (or FV/EBITDA) |
A measurement of a company's value, calculated by dividing the Firm Value by the annual EBITDA |
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Pension Liabilities |
NPV of PT's pension liabilities as reported by the Company |
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Offer Documents |
The documents filed on 27 February 2006 by Sonaecom containing the terms and conditions of Sonaecom's offer |
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Offer Price |
The price offered for Portugal Telecom shares as set forth in the Offer Documents |
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Operating Cash Flow ("OCF") |
EBITDA minus Capex |
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Portugal Telecom or PT or Company |
Portugal Telecom, SGPS, S.A. |
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Portugal Telecom Shares |
The ordinary shares of Portugal Telecom |
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Shareholder |
A registered holder of Portugal Telecom shares |
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Tax Assets |
Book value of tax assets as reported in company filings |
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Unbundled Local Loop ("ULL") |
Ability to access the "last mile" network infrastructure owned by the incumbent telecommunications operator for a fee by competitors |
A-5
PT-Multimédia - Serviços de Telecomunicações e Multimédia, SGPS, S.A.
Public Company
Registered Office: Av. 5 de Outubro, no. 208, Lisbon
Legal Entity: 504 453 513
Share Capital: 77.274.207 Euros
Registered with: Lisbon Commercial Registry Office under no. 8357
Letter to the owners of PT Multimedia
6 March 2006
Dear Shareholder,
On 7 February 2006, SonaecomSGPS, S.A. and Sonaecom, BV (hereinafter named jointly as "Sonaecom") made a preliminary announcement of an unsolicited tender offer (the "Offer") for your company. Having carefully reviewed the draft offer announcement and the draft prospectus (the "Offer Documents"), the Board of Directors (the "Board") of PT MultimédiaServiços de Telecomunicações e Multimédia, SGPS, S.A. ("PTM" or the "Company") believes that the Offer undervalues the Company and is, therefore, not in your best interest as a shareholder of PTM. Accordingly, this letter and the accompanying presentation provide the principal arguments setting out the basis on which your Board recommends that you reject the Offer, notably:
Sonaecom's Offer does not reflect PTM's current strong strategic position and attractive future prospects.
In the United States, Portugal Telecom, SGPS, S.A. ("Portugal Telecom" or "PT"), the parent company of PTM will file a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") following commencement of a tender offer within the meaning of Rule 14d-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Investors are urged to read PT's Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 when it becomes available, as it will contain important information. The Solicitation/Recommendation Statement and other public filings made from time to time by PT with the SEC are available without charge from the SEC's website at www.sec.gov and at PT's principal executive offices in Lisbon, Portugal.
1
WHY YOU SHOULD REJECT THE OFFER
Sonaecom's Offer undervalues PTM and does not attempt to offer shareholders a fair price
Sonaecom's Offer versus PTM share price performance over the last six months
Sonaecom's Offer versus equity analyst price targets
2
Sonaecom is not offering a control premium for your shares. This is inconsistent with market practice, where bidders acquiring control of public companies offer a premium to the target's trading price in order to reflect strategic benefits of control. When assessing Sonaecom's Offer price, shareholders should compare the Offer premium with the premia paid in relevant precedent transactions as set out below:
Premia paid on relevant transactions compared to the Offer premium
Sonaecom characterises the Offer as mandatory, but is avoiding the minimum offer price required under the Portuguese Securities Code, which is expected to be higher than the price of the Offer
The Board of Directors has received a legal opinion confirming that Sonaecom's Offer for PTM does not follow the minimum offer price rule under the Portuguese Securities Code. Sonaecom incorrectly argues that the six month reference period for the minimum offer price has been triggered by the preliminary announcement of the Offer. The mandatory offer, and hence the minimum offer price reference period, is only triggered upon the completion of the acquisition by Sonaecom of over one third or one half of PTM's voting rights under Article 20 of the Portuguese Securities Code, as explained below:
3
offer. Sonaecom should not be allowed to unlawfully offer a price below the minimum legal requirement;
In addition, in the event that Sonaecom is able to acquire over 90% of PTM's voting rights and uses the squeeze-out mechanism under the Portuguese Securities Code to acquire the remaining PTM minority shares, Sonaecom would be legally required to pay the higher of: (i) the highest price paid by Sonaecom in the six months prior to the squeeze-out, and (ii) the weighted average price of PTM shares in the six months prior to the squeeze-out being undertaken.
Furthermore, by pre-empting the mandatory offer requirements at a moment when it is not under a legal duty to launch a mandatory offer, Sonaecom is attempting to impose limitations on PTM's management for an unjustifiably long period.
Sonaecom does not present a strategy or plan for PTM in its Offer Documents
Sonaecom in its Offer Documents does not outline any coherent strategy for PTM. The Offer Documents provide minimal information on how it will refinance this acquisition. Any financial constraints are likely to impair PTM's ability to invest in the network and in the roll-out of innovative services for its customers.
4
PTM IS A STRATEGIC ASSET WITH A CLEARLY DEFINED GROWTH STRATEGY
PTM has a leading position in the Portuguese Pay-TV and is number two in the broadband access market
Through CATVPTelevisão por Cabo, S.A., PTM is the leading Pay-TV operator with 1,479 thousand Pay-TV customers and 83% market share in subscriber terms. Through its brand "Netcabo', PTM is the number two broadband internet access provider in Portugal with 348 thousand broadband customers, and a 29% market share.
PTM is well positioned to seize a substantial share of the continuing growth in the Portuguese Pay-TV market
Portugal still has significant upside in Pay-TV penetration. PTM has several key advantages that makes it best positioned to seize a substantial share of the additional growth in the market. Its cable network coverage should increase from the current 70%+ of homes passed to as much as 85%+ by the end of 2007. Additionally, PTM also owns a DTH platform in Portugal. Through these two platforms, PTM covers 100% of Portuguese households. Furthermore, PTM has a strong advantage given its scale, well established brands and high density of distribution networks.
PTM has further potential to increase revenues per subscriber
PTM's current ARPU is lower than in a number of other European markets. PTM has further room to increase ARPU through the migration of its subscriber base to higher tier packages. Additionally, take-up of premium channels by PTM cable customers is low relative to other European markets, thus providing significant room for growth.
PTM has the opportunity to increase its broadband subscriber base
Although broadband penetration over PC households in Portugal is one of the highest in Europe, expansion of PC penetration, one of the lowest in Europe, should provide room for future growth. In addition, leading cable operators in European countries and the US show penetration rates over their total customer base of up to 53%, suggesting significant upside potential for PTM, which stands at a 32% penetration level.
PTM has yet to tap the voice opportunity
PTM is planning the commercial launch of VoIP in late Q3 2006, subject to regulatory approval. There is significant potential for growth in additional voice revenues, as well as for improving Pay-TV and broadband penetration and reducing churn.
PTM's infrastructure will support continuous introduction of additional innovative services with better quality and at competitive prices
Continued investment in its network and information systems, which over the last three years amounted to €286 million, has enabled PTM to offer high speed broadband and digital Pay-TV services to more than 2.6 million homes. During the course of 2006 and 2007, the network will be expanded further to cover 3.2 million homes whilst the implementation of fibre to the hub architecture will enable the improvement in the quality of service and the roll out of new interactive services.
5
PTM is well positioned to continue growing EBITDA
PTM has delivered consistent revenue, EBITDA and cash flow growth over the past four years. PTM is well positioned to continue to deliver growth given the revenue opportunities outlined above. Top line growth would result in higher absorption of fixed costs. Moreover, a number of incremental revenue opportunities such as Pay-TV ARPU increases, further broadband penetration and the impact of triple play, including voice revenues and reduction of churn rates, carry relatively low marginal costs and thus should lead to margin expansion in the future.
PTM is committed to maintaining high levels of shareholder remuneration
PTM has invested over €300 million in its business over the last three years in order to develop a strong platform for growth in number of customers and quality of service. In parallel, PTM has been increasing its cash flow generation and has consistently demonstrated strong commitment to shareholder remuneration.
In 2005, PTM paid a dividend of €77.3 million (compared to €12.6 million in 2004) and undertook a €91.5 million share buy-back, providing total shareholder remuneration for 2005 of €168.8 million. In 2006, the proposed dividend to be paid in relation to fiscal year 2005 earnings will amount to €85.0 million (€0.275 per share, a 10% increase over dividends per share paid in 2004). This is equivalent to a 2.8% dividend yield based on PTM's market capitalisation as of 31 December 2005.
Furthermore, in its last meeting, and in light of 2005 results and the existing distributable reserves, the Board agreed to submit to the next annual general shareholders meeting a proposal for a capital increase through the incorporation of reserves followed by a capital reduction. Upon completion of these transactions, distributable reserves are expected to increase by €220 million, resulting in total distributable reserves of approximately €300 million after the payment of the proposed 2005 dividend. PTM continues to be committed to returning cash to shareholders, and aligning management and employee compensation with shareholder interests and returns.
Recommendation
Your Board believes that Sonaecom's Offer undervalues the Company. In addition, the Offer does not present a strategy or plan for the future development of PTM.
Your Board is committed to maximising shareholder value and believes that PTM's clearly defined business strategy, prospects and sharp focus on execution will continue to deliver superior shareholder value.
Your Board firmly believes that the Offer is inadequate and strongly recommends that you reject the Offer.
Yours Sincerely,
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---|---|---|
Miguel Horta e Costa Chairman of the Board |
Zeinal Bava Chief Executive Officer |
6
This communication includes statements that constitute "forward-looking statements." These statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of our management and on information available to management at the time such statements were made. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (a) information concerning possible or assumed future results of our operations, earnings and industry conditions; (b) information or statements concerning potential disadvantages of the tender offer; and (c) statements that are preceded by, followed by or include the words "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "is confident," "plans," "estimates," "may," "might," "could," "would," the negatives of such terms or similar expressions.
Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. They involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Although we make such statements based on assumptions that we believe to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from our expectations. Many of the factors that will determine these results are beyond our ability to control or predict. We do not intend to review or revise any particular forward-looking statements referenced in this communication in light of future events or to provide reasons why actual results may differ. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements.
Any of the following important factors, and any of those important factors described in PT's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2004 or in other of PT's SEC filings, among other things, could cause our results to differ from any results that might be projected, forecast or estimated by us in any such forward-looking statements:
This communication is not for publication, release or distribution in any jurisdiction where it would otherwise be prohibited.
7
1. General
2. Page references
The relevant bases of calculation and sources of information are provided below in the order in which the relevant information appears in this document and by reference to page numbers in this document. Where such information is repeated in any of the documents, the underlying bases and sources are not repeated.
Page 2
The sources for equity analyst price targets are equity research reports, Bloomberg and Datastream.
Page 3
The premium for Portuguese transactions is calculated as the average premia paid in selected unsolicited takeover bids in Portugal with a transaction value above €500 million. The sample of precedent transactions has been chosen based on the comparability of the transaction and includes the following:
Date |
Target |
Acquiror |
||
---|---|---|---|---|
06/15/00 | Cimpor | Investor Group | ||
07/19/99 | BPSM | BCP | ||
07/19/99 | Mundial Confiança | BCP |
Precedent European cable, telecoms and Pay-TV transactions include those since 1 January 2004 with a deal value larger than €500 million. The sample of precedent transactions has been chosen based on the comparability of the transaction and includes the following:
Date |
Target |
Acquiror |
||
---|---|---|---|---|
31/10/05 | O2 | Telefónica | ||
30/11/05 | TDC | Nordic Telephone | ||
03/10/05 | Telewest Global | NTL | ||
05/12/05 | Virgin Mobile Holdings(UK) | NTL | ||
04/04/05 | TIM Hellas Telecommunications | Troy GAC Telecom | ||
17/07/05 | Versatel Telecom International | Tele2 | ||
14/09/04 | Song Networks Holding | TDC | ||
02/11/05 | Sogecable | PRISA |
8
Page 5
PTM's Pay TV market share calculation is based on 1,479 thousand TV Cabo subscribers compared with estimated total subscribers of 300 thousand for the remaining competition. PTM's broadband market share is based on 348 thousand broadband customers compared with an estimated total of 860 thousand for the remaining competition. Netcabo is the number 2 broadband supplier based on subscriber numbers. All these estimates were produced by the PTM management team.
The network coverage of PTM's cable network is based on an estimated 3,655 thousand total TV households and 2,666 thousand homes passed and an expansion of coverage as per PTM expansion plan.
PTM currently generates an ARPU level of €20.6 and €26.7 on its cable and satellite businesses, respectively. The relative ARPU level of PTM has been reviewed against selected comparable companies across Europe. The following sources form the basis of this comparison:
Take up rates for premium channels as per PTM's company information and market estimates.
Broadband penetration calculated for Portugal based on an estimated 3,655 thousand total households and an estimated 1,207 thousand broadband subscribers. Average for Western Europe is sourced from the following research report by Merrill Lynch: "The risks of a low market share in broadband", 11 January 2006.
The market data on penetration of PC households in Portugal and Europe, as well as the data relating to the expansion of PC penetration, are sourced from the following research report by Merrill Lynch: "The risks of a low market share in broadband", 11 January 2006.
Comparison with other leading cable operators in Europe and the United States with respect to the broadband penetration over total customers is sourced and/or calculated as follows:
9
Definitions:
DTHDirect-to-Home
ARPUAverage Revenue per User
PVRPersonal Video Recorder
HDTVHigh Definition Television
VoDVideo on Demand
VoIPVoice over Internet Protocol
10
Offer
Undervalues PTM No Premium Offered PTM Will Continue to Deliver Growth PT Multimedia Response to Sonaecoms
Offer |
Board of Directors Report PT-Multimédia - Serviços de Telecomunicações e Multimédia, SGPS, SA Public Company Registered Office: Av. 5 de Outubro, no. 208, Lisbon Legal Entity: 504 453 513 Share Capital: 77,274,207 Euros Registered with: Lisbon Commercial Registry Office under no. 8357 Pursuant to and for the purposes of paragraph 1 of article 181, of the Portuguese Securities Code, the Board of Directors of PT-Multimédia - Serviços de Telecomunicações e Multimédia, SGPS, S.A. (hereinafter PTM or the Company), after a careful analysis of the draft offer announcement and the draft prospectus relating to the public tender offer for the acquisition of all shares of PTM launched by SONAECOM - SGPS, S.A., public company, with registered office at Lugar do Espido, Via Norte, Maia, legal entity no. 502 028 351, registered with the Maia Commercial Registry Office under no. 45 466, share capital 296,526,868 Euros and SONAECOM, BV, with registered office at De Boelelaan, 7, 1083 HJ, Amsterdam, Netherlands, registered with the Amsterdam Commerce Chamber under no. 34 243 137, share capital of 100,000 Euros (the Offerors will be hereinafter jointly referred as Sonaecom), which was preliminarily announced on February 7th, 2006, hereby submits its report on the opportunity and the conditions of the Offer, as follows: |
Important Notice Board Report See sources and bases of information presented. In the United States, Portugal Telecom, SGPS, S.A. (Portugal Telecom or PT), the parent company of PTM, will file a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) following commencement of a tender offer within the meaning of Rule 14d-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Investors are urged to read PTs Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 when it becomes available, as it will contain important information. The Solicitation/Recommendation Statement and other public filings made from time to time by PT with the SEC are available without charge from the SECs website at www.sec.gov and at PTs principal executive offices in Lisbon, Portugal. This communication includes statements that constitute forward-looking statements. These statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of our management and on information available to management at the time such statements were made. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (a) information concerning possible or assumed future results of our operations, earnings and industry conditions; (b) information or statements concerning potential disadvantages of the tender offer; and (c) statements that are preceded by, followed by or include the words believes, expects, anticipates, intends, is confident, plans, estimates, may, might, could, would, the negatives of such terms or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. They involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Although we make such statements based on assumptions that we believe to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from our expectations. Many of the factors that will determine these results are beyond our ability to control or predict. We do not intend to review or revise any particular forward-looking statements referenced in this communication in light of future events or to provide reasons why actual results may differ. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Any of the following important factors, and any of those important factors described in PTs Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2004 or in other of PTs SEC filings, among other things, could cause our results to differ from any results that might be projected, forecast or estimated by us in any such forward-looking statements: material adverse changes in economic conditions in Portugal; risks and uncertainties related to regulation; actions of our competitors; the development and marketing of new products and services and market acceptance of such products and services; and the adverse determination of disputes under litigation. This communication is not for publication, release or distribution in any jurisdiction where it would otherwise be prohibited. |
Reject the Sonaecom offer The Offer is inappropriate The Offer does not attempt to provide fair value and is at a discount to market Sonaecoms 9.03 offer tries to circumvent the minimum share price requirement PTM is a strategic asset, hence it deserves a premium valuation PTMs management team is committed to delivering shareholder value and better services to customers Therefore the Offer is not in your best interest |
The Offer is at a discount to market Sonaecom proposes a discount and is not offering a premium to minority shareholders Pre-Announcement Share Price Comparison Offer at Discount to Equity Analysts Price Targets Offer does not represent a premium to market price Discount to broker price targets prior to the Offer, which exclude any strategic premium Premium to Sonaecom Offer (%) (7.6) - 9.6 10.7 10.7 11.4 18.5 8.9 Nov-05 7-Feb-06 Jan-06 Jan-06 Jan-05 Aug-05 Nov-05 |
Sonaecom tries to circumvent legal requirements, aiming to lock in a lower price The Offer tries to circumvent the minimum share price requirement Sonaecom characterises the Offer as mandatory The Offer contravenes the minimum price rule for public mandatory offers In fact, Sonaecoms mandatory offer for PTM would only be triggered if Sonaecom acquired at least 50.01% of Portugal Telecom The mandatory offer price should be calculated only after, and if, Sonaecom acquires at least 50.01% of Portugal Telecom Therefore, the correct legal mandatory offer price is likely to be substantially higher than 9.03 As an example, if Sonaecoms mandatory offer were legally triggered in six months time and if the current share price were to remain constant throughout the period, the legal minimum offer price would be 10.35 |
PTM will deliver higher |
PTM has an impressive track record of service and innovation Launch of operations in a fully liberalised market in 1993 More than 2.6 million homes passed DTH platform enabling 100% coverage of Portugal First to launch premium sports and movie channels, and first Portuguese news channels Significant investment in Portuguese content First to launch Digital TV and interactive services Full digitalisation of premium content by the end of 2Q06 First to launch broadband access in Portugal First pre-paid broadband service Broadband portal with access to high quality premium content VoIP soft phones and remote PC helpdesk Network ready to offer VoIP Real VoD and HDTV trials underway PVRs being developed and expected to be offered in 2006 Mobile TV offer to be launched soon TV Internet New Services PTM will continue to drive the development of leading edge communication and entertainment services |
PTM has delivered
strong operational performance
Homes Passed (000) Pay TV Subscribers
(000) 12% Broadband Subscribers
(000)
consistent growth in Pay-TV subscribers
as well as broadband
subscriber growth Strong investment in network expansion
PTM has a track record of |
leading to impressive financial results... PTM management committed to delivering operational growth and shareholder returns PTM has demonstrated capacity for top line growth margin expansion Revenues (MM) EBITDA (MM) and shareholder returns 24% 3 Year Total Share Return (%) |
..and will continue delivering value through sharp focus on execution Take advantage of significant growth opportunities for Pay-TV by building on current 48% penetration level Increase ARPUs on Pay-TV by accelerating take up of digital and premium services and broadband access Enhance take up of broadband by leveraging on network upgrades to improve quality of service and provide higher speeds Fully capture growth potential of Pay-TV and broadband by launching VoIP and triple play offers which will underpin ARPU appreciation whilst reducing churn Network upgrade for digital service and two way services largely completed High capacity IP backbone is deployed to support internet services with speeds of up to 16 Mbps by year end Further expand network to increase number of homes passed to 3.2 million, out of 3.7 million TV households in Portugal, by end of 2007 Implementation of a significant part of the fibre to the hub architecture, to be completed in 2006, to cover almost 75% of customer base and, allowing even higher bandwidth Systems upgrade being completed, allowing for effective centralised management of customer information and faster deployment of new products and services Evaluate launch of new promising technologies such as HDTV, wideband Docsis, Wimax, among others Optimise capital structure and deliver attractive returns to shareholders Foster EBITDA performance in the future through revenue growth and cost discipline Align management and employee compensation with shareholder interests and returns Management committed to providing better quality services to customers |
PTM has a bright future Best positioned to seize a substantial share of the expected growth in the Portuguese Pay-TV market Broadband subscriber base expected to grow significantly Capture the voice opportunity by launching VoIP in late third quarter 2006 Scope to significantly increase revenues per subscriber underpinned by Pay-TV, premium content, interactive services and VoIP Continue to drive substantial growth in the future by providing its customers with leading edge and innovative services with superior quality and at competitive prices PTM offers substantial upside and superior value |
PTM will continue to deliver value to all shareholders through its defined strategy and sharp execution This Offer is not in your best interest Offer at a discount to the market share price No premium for control Tries to circumvent legal requirements aiming to offer you a lower price Unclear in its strategy, objectives and goals for PTM Imposes limitations on PTMs management for an unjustifiably long period Reject the Offer |
Reject |
Sources and bases Page 5 The premium for Portuguese transactions is calculated as the average premia paid in comparable unsolicited takeover bids in Portugal with a transaction value above 500 million, from 1999 to 2004. Precedent European cable and Pay TV transactions include those since 1 January 2004 with a deal value larger than 500 million. Source: Thomson Financial/SDC from 2004 to 2005. Page 6 PTM share price as of close of market on 3 March 2006 was 10.35 (Source: Bloomberg) Page 10 Revenue and EBITDA figures pro forma for the disposal of the Media business in August 2005 and of PT Multimédia.com Serviços de Acesso à Internet, SGPS, S.A. in October 2002 Page 11 Number of households with TV in Portugal: Source is National Institute of Statistics (Instituto Nacional de Estatística) Definitions: DTH: Direct-to-Home or Satellite ARPU: Average Revenue Per User PVR: Personal Video Recorder HDTV: High Definition Television VoD: Video on Demand VoIP: Voice over Internet Protocol |