WorldStage Newsonline— Teleology Holdings Ltd has announced plan to pay $500 million in the next 90 days to take full ownership of 9mobile.
The company has deposited a non-refundable 50 million dollars for the telecommunications company to beat the deadline stipulated under the bid process.
A reliable source had told the WorldStage Newsonline on March 20 that the winner of the bid will still be announced before the end of this month despite the delays linked to untidy job by Barclays Africa, the financial adviser for the exercise.
Teleology disclosed the new development in a statement signed by Mr Adrian Wood, Teleology’s Director and pioneer Managing Director of MTN Nigeria.
He said the payment underscored Teleology’s financial capability and readiness to revive the organisation, adding it was set to aggregate a 10-point to turn 9mobile around.
“The Nigerian telecom sector is set to witness a new era of innovation and vibrancy as Teleology puts finishing touches to its acquisition of 9mobile, Nigeria’s 4th telecom services provider.
“In the last few days, key executives of the organisation have been deep in meetings with the Nigerian bank syndicate, the regulatory authorities and advisors.
“These meetings have culminated in the signing of the Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) and other contractual documents pertaining to the acquisition.
“Ahead of the March 22 deadline set by the Financial Advisers, Teleology has also transferred a non-refundable completion deposit of 50 million dollars to the trustees of the bank syndicate presently holding ownership of 9Mobile.
“Equally important, Teleology has detailed an ambitious plan of action that will guide its rapid overhaul not only of the network but all aspects of the operations,” he said.
According to Wood, 9mobile is transiting into a new phase that will be defined by optimal value delivery: value to our employees, value to our customers, value to local communities and indeed to all stakeholders.
He added that the new organisation to emerge would be “engineering- led and brand-driven”.
He said in delivering service, it would strive to ensure that 9Mobile operations delivered fulfillment to the customers, empowerment to local communities, protection to the vulnerable and excellent rewards not only to the shareholders but to all stakeholders.
Wood said the company planned to double the 9Mobile network with new 3G/4G specific cell sites as well as a several thousands of kilometers of fiber optic cable across the country.
He said it would drive a special programme of rural internet coverage, focusing on 4G with broadband access planned for all of Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.
He said youth engagement and employment programmes were also planned with all build contractors, distributors and consultants, while investment in broadband internet access technologies which were completely new to Nigeria was also planned.
“Very importantly, the 9Mobile network will be optimised for high speed and high capacity data including imaging, video, games, music, IPTV and more.
“Any three-point plan or three-dimension idea is naïve and completely missing the scope and complexity of the urgent Nigerian need to be brought into the 21st century broadband era.
“Teleology envisages an increase of 50 per cent in direct employment in the new 9Mobile.
“There is also an active plan to introduce within the first year, several million 4G-capable premium quality smartphones, at exceedingly affordable pricing.
“Nigerians should look forward to a new regime of intensely exciting and innovative brand loyalty rewards programmes, from the new 9Mobile,” he said.
He said that Teleology had entered into an alliance with Safaricom, the largest network operator in East Africa, famous for its global “mpesa” mobile financial services system.
He said the system advances financial inclusion and supports the network with the highest operating efficiencies in Africa.
He said that Teleology’s coming at a period when competition in the Nigerian telecom industry had for some years been limited to price wars between the various GSM companies, clearly, would herald a new era of intense competition and market share.
He said that Teleology was promoted by a group of 12 telecom industry veterans with considerable experience not only in Nigeria and Africa but in the global telecom space as well.
Wood commended the Barclays Africa, the Financial Advisers to the transaction, the Nigerian bank syndicate, the fulsome backing and support of the Nigeria Communications Commission and CBN which made 9Mobile’s survival possible.
He also commended the loyal 9Mobile management and staff who carried on in the face of skepticism, doubt and negative market sentiment.
He assured that additional details including formal relaunch plans would be unveiled in due course.
Teleology emerged as the new owner of 9mobile ahead of Smile, which had been the only other bidder in the final round of the takeover bid.
The attempted sale of the mobile operator last year had attracted over 16 bidders which were later trimmed to two- Teleology and Smile technologies, but the failure to agree on a new owner by the end of December 2017 as proposed has created uncertainty with the brand rapidly losing its subscribers.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had earlier dismissed reports that Teleology emerged the preferred bidder for the company, saying it was yet be properly informed of any new owner.
NCC had in February announced a new timeline of March 2018 for the completion of the sale.
NCC and Central Bank of Nigeria in a joint letter in November 2017 accused Barclay Africa of unwillingness to follow due process in handling the bid process.
They called for openness and fairness to ensure that a viable investor emerges to rescue the once fast growing telco.
Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, NCC, Sunday Dare said in February that the Commission would not take the interest of a particular bidder above others, but that “the Commission would be glad if 9mobile is eventually sold to a financially capable investor that is willing to invest in it.
Dare also believed that false speculations surrounding the sale of 9Mobile had reduced the company’s subscriber base from 21 million to 17 million.
9Mobile’s customers had dropped from 20,521,952 in January 2017 to 17,075,813 in November 2017.
NCC’s Monthly Internet Subscribers data for December 2017 also showed that 9mobile lost 68,341 internet users while competitors like MTN, Airtel and Globacom gained 2,642.666; 911,040 and 87,538 respectively. The 9mobile’s loss reduced its internet users to 11,338.839 as against 11,407,180 in November same year.
The telco problem started when its owners defaulted in the repayment of about $1.2 billion loan secured from some top local banks. The development led to their divestment and takeover by the lenders.
