European Event-Driven Analyst

Patryk Basiewicz

PGB Research

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/telefonica-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21299:1" rel="noopener">Telefonica SA (TEF SM)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/liberty-global-plc-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15261:1" rel="noopener">Liberty Global Plc A (LBTYA US)</a> are in talks to merge their UK operations. We do not know what will happen to the Irish bit</li>
<li>The street, as do I, assume this will be a 50:50 JV, similar to the deal Liberty did with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/vodafone-group-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22204:1" rel="noopener">Vodafone (VOD LN)</a> in the Netherlands. </li>
<li>
<p>This transaction will fundamentally, perhaps, permanently, and, perhaps, conclusively reshape the UK telco market. Clearly other market players are currently considering their options with regards to both O2 UK and Liberty as a whole, or the Virgin Media (VMed) part.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Ultimately, both Telefonica and Liberty Global want to sell those assets too. In my view, this transaction is made with a view to IPO the JV in 2-3 years. This view also informs how we should look at value creation in the deal.</p>
</li>
</ul>



Telefonica SA (TEF SM) and Liberty Global Plc A (LBTYA US) are in talks to merge their UK operations. We do not know what will happen to the Irish bit
The street, as do I, assume this will be a 50:50 JV, similar to the deal Liberty did with Vodafone (VOD LN) in the Netherlands. 

This transaction will fundamentally, perhaps, permanently, and, perhaps, conclusively reshape the UK telco market. Clearly other market players are currently considering their options with regards to both O2 UK and Liberty as a whole, or the Virgin Media (VMed) part.


Ultimately, both Telefonica and Liberty Global want to sell those assets too. In my view, this transaction is made with a view to IPO the JV in 2-3 years. This view also informs how we should look at value creation in the deal.



O2 UK / Telefonica (TEF SM) / Liberty (LBTYA): Can You Create Value from Assets that Nobody Wants?