LIBERTY GLOBAL ACQUIRES 93.23% OF TELENET GROUP HOLDING NV AND WILL REOPEN ITS OFFER ON 24 AUGUST 2023
DENVER, Colorado-(BUSINESS WIRE)-Jul 19, 2023-
Liberty Global plc ( Liberty Global ) (NASDAQ: LBTYA, LBTYB and LBTYK) announces today the results of the initial acceptance period of the voluntary and conditional public takeover bid by its indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, Liberty Global Belgium Holding B.V. (the Offeror ) for all the shares of Telenet Group Holding NV ( Telenet ) that the Offeror does not already own or that are not held by Telenet (the Offer ).
During the initial acceptance period, which ended on 12 July 2023, 34,676,001 shares of Telenet were tendered. As a result, the Offeror will own a total of 101,018,038 shares of Telenet as from 26 July 2023 (the Payment Date ). Taking into account the 3,500,526 treasury shares already held by Telenet, the Offeror will directly or indirectly own a total of 93.23% of the shares of Telenet as from the Payment Date.
Payment of the offer price for the tendered shares (EUR 21.00 per share after deduction of the EUR 1.00 gross dividend approved by Telenet’s ordinary general meeting of 26 April 2023 and paid on 5 May 2023) will take place on the Payment Date, 26 July 2023.
The Offeror waives the condition of owning, together with Telenet, at least 95% of the outstanding shares in Telenet. Since the Offeror, together with Telenet, will own more than 90% of all Telenet shares following the transfer of such shares on the Payment Date, the Offer will be mandatorily reopened at 9:00am CET on Thursday 24 August 2023. This subsequent acceptance period will close on Wednesday 13 September 2023. Shareholders who have not yet accepted the Offer will thus be able to accept the Offer in this period.
After the initial acceptance period, the free float of the Telenet shares will be limited to 6.77%. The reopening gives investors who missed the initial acceptance period or those seeking additional liquidity the opportunity to still accept the Offer.
The results of the subsequent acceptance period will be announced on or around 20 September 2023. Payment of the offer price of the shares tendered during the subsequent acceptance period will be made on or around 27 September 2023.
If, following the Offer, the Offeror, together with Telenet, owns at least 95% of the shares of Telenet and has acquired, by acceptance of the Offer, at least 90% of the shares that are the subject of the Offer, the Offer will be followed by a simplified squeeze-out bid subject to the same financial conditions as the Offer.
The prospectus, approved in English and translated into Dutch and French, the response memorandum, approved in Dutch and translated into English and French, the independent expert report, available in English, and the acceptance forms, available in English, Dutch and French, are available on the following websites:
- https://shareholder-offer.be/en/, a microsite dedicated to the Offer which is also accessible via ( www.telenetgroup.be ) and LG plc ( https://www.libertyglobal.com/investors/telenet/ )
- www.bnpparibasfortis.be/epargneretplacer (in French and in English) and www.bnpparibasfortis.be/sparenenbeleggen (in Dutch and in English)
- U.S. shareholders may also call the following toll free number: +1 303-220-6600 (US) or email ir@libertyglobal.com to request a copy of the prospectus.
ABOUT LIBERTY GLOBAL
Liberty Global (NASDAQ: LBTYA, LBTYB and LBTYK) is a world leader in converged broadband, video and mobile communications services. We deliver next-generation products through advanced fiber and 5G networks, and currently provide over 86 million* connections across Europe and the United Kingdom. Our businesses operate under some of the best-known consumer brands, including Virgin Media-O2 in the United Kingdom, VodafoneZiggo in The Netherlands, Telenet in Belgium, Sunrise in Switzerland, Virgin Media in Ireland and UPC in Slovakia. Through our substantial scale and commitment to innovation, we are building Tomorrow’s Connections Today, investing in the infrastructure and platforms that empower our customers to make the most of the digital revolution, while deploying the advanced technologies that nations and economies need to thrive.
Liberty Global’s consolidated businesses generate annual revenue of more than $7 billion, while the VodafoneZiggo JV and the VMO2 JV generate combined annual revenue of more than $17 billion.**
Liberty Global Ventures, our global investment arm, has a portfolio of more than 75 companies and funds across content, technology and infrastructure, including strategic stakes in companies like Televisa Univision, Plume, Lionsgate and the Formula E racing series.
* Represents aggregate consolidated and 50% owned non-consolidated fixed and mobile subscribers. Includes wholesale mobile connections of the VMO2 JV and B2B fixed subscribers of the VodafoneZiggo JV.
** Revenue figures above are provided based on full year 2022 Liberty Global’s consolidated results (excluding revenue from Poland) and the combined as reported full year 2022 results for the VodafoneZiggo JV and full year 2022 U.S. GAAP results for the VMO2 JV.
Telenet, the VMO2 JV, the VodafoneZiggo JV and Sunrise UPC deliver mobile services as mobile network operators. Virgin Media Ireland delivers mobile services as a mobile virtual network operator through third-party networks.
Liberty Global plc is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbols “LBTYA”, “LBTYB” and “LBTYK”.
Liberty Global Belgium Holding is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Liberty Global plc, and is a private limited liability company incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands.
For more information, please visit www.libertyglobal.com or contact: