TDE.L Regulatory News (TDE)

30 Jun 2006 10:05

Cesky Telecom A.S.30 June 2006 - PRESS RELEASE - 30.06.2006 TOMORROW: THE FIRST INTEGRATED OPERATOR IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC: TELEFONICA O2CZECH REPUBLIC Summer holidays this year will kick off with the start of the first integratedoperator in the Czech Republic. Telefonica O2 Czech Republic a.s., which willarise from the convergence of the country's most prominent fixed line operator,CESKY TELECOM, a.s., and strongest mobile operator, Eurotel, spol. s.r.o., willbe entered into the Commercial Registry from Saturday, July 1, 2006. "As of July 1, 2006 the employees of Eurotel and Cesky Telecom become theemployees of the new Company - Telefonica O2 Czech Republic. By putting thisintegration into effect, a unique company based on the convergence of fixed andmobile services will emerge. New opportunities are opening up, enabling us totake advantage of the best of O2's experience and the strength of the TelefonicaGroup, and to provide better services together not only to our customers butalso to our employees and shareholders." Both CESKY TELECOM and Eurotel announced their intention to join forces in March2006. In April 2006, this was then approved by the General Meeting of CESKYTELECOM's shareholders. Upon completion of preliminary and legal steps,Telefonica O2 Czech Republic was able to be entered into the CommercialRegistry. The day of this entry, and with it the birth of the new company, isJuly 1, 2006. On July 1, 2006, three main changes will be entered into the CommercialRegistry: - the takeover of Eurotel by its sole proprietor, CESKY TELECOM(Eurotel Praha is removed from the Commercial Registry and is dissolved withoutliquidation) - a change in the composition of the statutory and supervisory organsof CESKY TELECOM in accordance with what was approved by the General Meeting onApril 27 - the company's name change from CESKY TELECOM, a.s., to Telefonica O2Czech Republic, a.s. From July 1, 2006, the old commercial names of Eurotel Praha, spol. s.r.o., andCESKY TELECOM, a.s. will no longer be used. For a certain period of time, the new company will continue to use formercommercial brands for naming and identifying products, advertising objectivesand the like. In the future, Telefonica O2 Czech Republic will use the O2 brand supplementedby Telefonica in all communications. The new brand - specifically, its uses andforms in the Czech Republic - will be prepared and presented to the public overthe course of 2006. It will primarily come out of the experience and bestpractices of O2 and Telefonica and from thorough analysis of the Czechenvironment and our market's needs. For further information, please contact: MARTIN ZABKA Press SpokesmanTel: +420 271 463 359Fax: +420 271 469 896e-mail: martin.zabka@ct.cz CESKY TELECOM, a. s., a member of the Telefonica Group, is the leadingtelecommunications company in the Czech Republic. In co-operation with itssubsidiary company Eurotel Praha, spol. s r.o., the country's biggest mobileoperator, it offers the most comprehensive portfolio of voice and data serviceson the Czech market, supported by a unique combination of fixed and mobiletelephony. More detailed information about the firm and the services it offersis available at www.telecom.cz, which was rated as BestWeb 2003 in the WebTop100survey. Signum Temporis has consistently awarded CESKY TELECOM for being one of thedomestic capital market's most transparent firms in terms of providinginformation. Based on an open vote of specialists, members of the press and anine-member committee, CESKY TELECOM placed first in 2003, just as it did in2001. CESKY TELECOM ranks among the most prominent firms on the Czech capital marketin terms of capitalization and trading volumes. Its shares are also traded onthe London Stock Exchange in the form of GDRs. CESKY TELECOM's credit rating isthe highest a Czech corporation can receive from top international ratingagencies. About Telefonica Telefonica is Europe's leading integrated telecom company and second biggest inthe world. Its activities are centred mainly on the fixed and mobile telephonybusinesses with broadband as the key tool for the development of both of these. The company is operating in 40 countries and together with CESKY TELECOM has acustomer base that amounts to more than 140 million access. Telefonica has astrong presence in Latin America, where the company concentrates part of itsgrowth strategy. Telefonica is a 100% listed company, with more than 1.5 million directshareholders. Its share capital currently comprises 4,921,130,397 ordinaryshares traded on the Spanish Stock Market (Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao andValencia) and on those in London, Paris, Frankfurt, Tokyo, New York, Lima,Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo and the SEAQ International Exchange in London. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange