3 Oct 2016 08:03
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Not for distribution directly or indirectly in the United States, Canada, Australia, Italy or Japan.
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Release to the Shareholders of Orascom Telecom Media and Technology Holding S.A.E.
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Cairo, October 3rd, 2016: In line withĀ theĀ abidanceĀ by the disclosure rules and regulations ofĀ the Egyptian Stock ExchangeĀ ,Ā Orascom Telecom Media and TechnologyĀ Holding S.A.E. ("OTMT" or "theĀ Company")Ā announces that it has received aĀ noticeĀ from its majorĀ shareholder, OTMTĀ AcquisitionĀ s.a.r.lĀ ("OTMTĀ Acquisition")Ā which holdsĀ 51.7% ownership stake inĀ OTMT and fromĀ Orascom TMT Investments S.A.R.L. ("OTMT Investments")Ā whichĀ holds 100%Ā ownership stake inĀ OTMT AcquisitionĀ (the "Major Shareholder"),Ā disclosingĀ the Non-conclusion ofĀ the reconciliation withĀ the Egyptian Financial Supervisory Authority ("EFSA")Ā concerningĀ the breaches attributed toĀ both companies as detailed below :Ā
1)Ā The dispute between the MajorĀ Shareholder and EFSA started Six months ago, when theĀ majority owned subsidiary of OTMT,Ā Beltone Financial HoldingĀ S.A.E.Ā ("Beltone"),Ā requestedĀ to obtainĀ aĀ "non-objection" certificate fromĀ EFSA to AcquireĀ CI Capital HoldingĀ S.A.E.Ā ("CI Capital")Ā on MarchĀ 10th, 2016.
2)Ā EFSA has attributed toĀ the Major ShareholderĀ theĀ breachĀ ofĀ the undertaking madeĀ byĀ OTMTĀ Investments on NovemberĀ 2011,Ā when EFSA approvedĀ for the first timeĀ theĀ demerger of Orascom Telecom Holding S.A.E.,Ā statingĀ notĀ toĀ transferĀ the ownership of theĀ Majority SharesĀ toĀ third partyĀ without obligating the new buyer to exercise a mandatory tenderĀ offer. This is based on the allocation of the majorityĀ shares ofĀ OTMT to OTMT Acquisition, a fullyĀ owned subsidiary of OTMT investments, during the demerger on February 2012 that has beenĀ disclosed to EGX on April 2012 and periodically since that date.Ā
3)Ā Both companies confirm thatĀ despiteĀ theĀ submission ofĀ the ratified documents thatĀ proveĀ that no sale has occurred on the major shareholder's shares in OTMT, andĀ that theĀ MajorĀ ShareholderĀ still has theĀ control over the shares since the undertaking until date,Ā which proves theĀ nonĀ existenceĀ of anyĀ breachĀ related to the undertaking, andĀ although the companies exertedĀ goodĀ faithĀ in theĀ ongoing disclosures since April 2012 to date,Ā andĀ the breachesĀ attributed toĀ the major shareholderĀ are subjectĀ to the statute of limitation,Ā theĀ MajorĀ ShareholderĀ has submittedĀ an officialĀ request to EFSA to reconcile the breachesĀ attributedĀ onĀ May 22,Ā 2016,Ā in orderĀ toĀ protectĀ OTMT andĀ all of itsĀ shareholders, especially the minorityĀ shareholders, andĀ toĀ maintainĀ the stability of the Egyptian Stock Market.
4)Ā Notwithstanding the submission of all the necessary documents by theĀ MajorĀ Shareholder and thatĀ almost six monthsĀ has passedĀ since EFSA started to address theĀ CompaniesĀ in thisĀ regard, EFSA was not able to make a decision to reconcile and concludeĀ the procedures necessary for theĀ reconciliationĀ until date,Ā which had a negative effectĀ on the Major Shareholder,Ā theĀ Company and itsĀ remaining shareholders, as well asĀ the complications resulting from hindering theĀ acquisition ofĀ CI Capital.
5) Based on all the above, the MajorĀ Shareholder has notified EFSA thatĀ remainingĀ in theĀ same situation and the non-conclusion of the reconciliation willĀ have a very badĀ effect onĀ the MajorĀ Shareholder, OTMT, the subsidiaries and its shareholders,Ā especially the rights of the minority shareholders who own more than 48% of OTMT'sĀ stocks, as theĀ Company has stoppedĀ performingĀ its core business in a normal manner, which isĀ the investment in companies or contributing in their capital increases,Ā sinceĀ sixĀ months.Ā
6)Ā Thus,Ā and driven by the sense of responsibility and abiding by the disclosure rules, theĀ MajorĀ Shareholder will ask theĀ Company's Board of Directors to convene at the earliestĀ possibilityĀ to discuss howĀ the CompanyĀ willĀ continueĀ itsĀ businessĀ given its currentĀ inabilityĀ to expand andĀ performĀ its core business normally. The Major Shareholder confirmsĀ that this is without prejudice to any ofĀ hisĀ rights andĀ that he sticksĀ to allĀ the defenseĀ and arguments submittedĀ to the EFSA.
OTMT is releasing this notice based on theĀ MajorĀ Shareholder's request and on itsĀ responsibility and abidance to the disclosure rules and requirements stated in clause 51Ā ofĀ the listingĀ rules, noting that theĀ Company has addressed EFSA to clarify the status of the reconciliationĀ offered by the MajorĀ Shareholder.Ā
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About OTMT
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OTMTĀ is a holding company that has investments in companies with operations mainly in Egypt, North Korea, Lebanon, Pakistan and other North African and Middle-Eastern countries. The activities of OTMT are mainly divided into its GSM, Media and Technology, and Cable businesses, having recently expanded its lines of operations intoĀ the new fields of Energy, Transport & Logistics, and Telecom infrastructure. The GSM activities include mobile telecommunications operations in Egypt, North Korea and Lebanon. The Cable business focuses on the management of cable networks. The new field of Energy includes its operations in the power projects in Egypt.
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Press contacts:
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Orascom Telecom Media and Technology: Investor Relations
2005A Nile City Towers - South Tower, 26th Floor - Corniche El Nile,
Ramlet Beaulac, Cairo, Egypt
E-mail: otmtinvestorrelations@otmt.com
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Disclaimer
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The distribution of this press release may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions. Persons into whose possession this document comes are required to inform themselves about and to observe any such restrictions.
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This press release does not, and shall not, in any circumstances constitute a public offering of shares, or global depositary shares representing such shares, in OTMT ("OTMT Securities"), nor an invitation to the public in connection with any offer. The acquisition of the OTMT Securities may be subject to specific legal or regulatory restrictions in certain jurisdictions. OTMT takes no responsibility for any violation of any such restrictions by any person.
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