Digicel Concludes Last Significant Milestone in Process to Reduce Debt
- Reduces debt by approximately $1.6 billion and lowers annual cash interest costs by approximately $125 million
- Acknowledges key role of stakeholders in putting Digicel on sustainable footing
- Outcome to benefit 13 million customers in 32 markets as Digicel continues its evolution from network operator to digital lifestyle partner
Jun 18, 2020, 08:55 ET
KINGSTON, Jamaica, June 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Digicel, a leading communications and entertainment provider with a standout brand, exceptional people and strong market positions across 32 markets in the Caribbean, Central America and Asia Pacific today announces that Digicel Group One Limited's ("DGL1") scheme of arrangement (the "Scheme") is effective.
This announcement marks the conclusion of the last significant milestone in the comprehensive debt reduction process that Digicel announced on April 1, 2020 which followed extensive prior engagement with a number of large bondholders. The debt reduction process is expected to be complete next week following consummation of the previously announced offers to exchange existing debt of Digicel Group Two Limited for various new securities.
Effective completion of the Scheme follows overwhelming stakeholder support for the debt reduction process, including the sanctioning of the Scheme by the Bermuda Supreme Court on June 8, 2020 and the entry of an order by a federal United States court on June 17, 2020 recognizing DGL1's proceedings in Bermuda and giving full force and effect to the Scheme in the United States.
The comprehensive debt reduction process leaves Digicel well positioned for future growth. Key outcomes of the debt reduction measures include:
- reducing debt by approximately $1.6 billion to approximately $5.4 billion;
- reducing annual cash interest costs by $125 million;
- extending key debt maturities; and
- enhancing liquidity and operational flexibility for continued growth and monetization of Digicel's well-invested infrastructure.
Commenting, Denis O'Brien, Chairman, Digicel, said:
"We are very grateful for the support of our bondholders and other stakeholders in delivering a transformative outcome that underpins our ability to further enhance our services to our 13 million customers across 32 markets."
"To date, Digicel has invested over $7 billion providing state of the art infrastructure in 32 markets, including over $2.2 billion of this over the past five years. Our journey and investment encompassed a wide range of emerging markets some of which had little or no telecommunications infrastructure prior to Digicel commencing operations. In other markets we drove competition and services to challenge dominant incumbents, reducing prices and delivering fast-track high speed services. Our next phase will be as a digital lifestyle partner across all our markets."
Commenting, Jean Yves Charlier, Chief Executive, Digicel said:
"Whilst the deleveraging process has been underway over recent months the day to day job of providing exceptional services, planning for the future and managing the human and logistical challenges posed by COVID-19, is being progressed by our exceptional teams, colleagues and partners across our 32 markets. I could not be more proud of what has been achieved and I applaud your work for our great business but also for the communities in which you live and work."
"In light of the severe impact that COVID-19 has had on the global economy and in many of our markets, we anticipate a continuing impact on our revenue, at least through the remainder of calendar 2020. We have implemented significant measures to help us mitigate a portion of the revenue impact through new cost savings initiatives and I would like to acknowledge our staff for agreeing to accept pay reductions during this period and similarly our Board, for agreeing to suspend a proportion of their remuneration and fees for the year."
"COVID-19's impact has been both positive and negative in the first fiscal quarter of FY21. We have seen increased demand for connectivity and content services. However there has been pressure on mobile prepaid, roaming and in-store sales in the consumer segment, and the Tourism Sector, SME's and Governments in our Business Solutions segment. Year-over-Year, on a reported basis, we expect Service Revenues to be down by a high single-digit percentage in the first quarter of FY21."
"Our Caribbean markets, including Jamaica and Trinidad have been most impacted by COVID-19 while Haiti and the Pacific markets, including Papua New Guinea have been the most resilient."
"The last number of months have also seen us partnering with Governments across our markets to ensure that people can stay connected as they work, learn and interact from home due to social distancing. In line with our #therewithyou promise to customers, our support has included zero rating of Government and educational websites so that people can access them without using their data allotments; partnering on and delivering a host of e-learning initiatives; providing toll free Government hot lines; providing free or discounted services to vulnerable and disadvantaged students; donating devices and connectivity services to frontline workers; and offering COVID-19 digital tracing and digital curfew management tools to Governments."
No Offer or Solicitation
Nothing in this press release constitutes an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote of approval, nor shall it constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale is unlawful. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration. The securities to be issued in the context of the Scheme have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the securities laws of the United States or any state thereof or the applicable laws of any other jurisdiction.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to release publicly the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements which may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, including, without limitation, changes in our business or acquisition strategy or planned capital expenditures, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
About Digicel
Digicel Group is a total communications and entertainment provider with operations in 32 markets in the Caribbean, Central America and Asia Pacific. After 18 years of operation, total investment to date stands at over US$7 billion worldwide.
Digicel also runs a host of community-based initiatives across its markets and has set up Digicel Foundations in Haiti, Jamaica, Papua New Guinea and Trinidad and Tobago which focus on educational, cultural and social development programmes.
Contact:
Antonia Graham
Head of Group Communications
Digicel
+1-876-564-1708 (Jamaica)
[email protected]
SOURCE Digicel Group Limited
