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LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE: FIB
Fibernet
is a communications solutions company. Our goal is to help our customers
improve their profitability. We help them to achieve this by delivering
individually designed managed network services designed to help improve
the effectiveness of communication between systems and between employees.
We use our own national and metropolitan fibre optic networks plus the
knowledge and skills we have developed in over 16 years of high performance
data network design, installation and management to help our customers
achieve this single goal.
Global
Crossing Acquires Fibernet PRNewswire FLORHAM PARK, New Jersey and LONDON
October 11
FLORHAM PARK, New Jersey
and LONDON, October 11 /PRNewswire/ --
- Transaction values Fibernet
equity at US$94.6 million.
- Acquisition expected to
generate more than US$30 million in annual Adjusted EBITDA after integration.
- Fibernet's roster of finance,
insurance and retail focused customers complements Global Crossing's strength
in rail and government sectors.
Global Crossing Limited (Nasdaq:
GLBC) today announced that its subsidiary, GC Acquisitions UK Limited ("GC
Acquisitions UK"), has formally acquired Fibernet Group Plc (LSE: FIB).
GC Acquisitions UK will pay Fibernet shareholders 78 pence (approximately
US$1.48) per share, for a total equity value of approximately 49.8 million
British pounds sterling (US$94.6 million).
In response to its offer
to Fibernet shareholders on September 14, 2006, GC Acquisitions UK has
received acceptances as to 91 percent of Fibernet's issued shares. Having
declared the offer unconditional in all respects and having thereby acquired
and taken control of Fibernet, GC Acquisitions UK has ensured its ability
to acquire all of the remaining shares through the UK's compulsory share
acquisition process.
"The addition of Fibernet
makes us an even stronger competitor, both in the UK and globally, contributing
positively to Global Crossing's leadership position as a next-generation
communications provider," said John Legere, chief executive officer of
Global Crossing. "This acquisition will further accelerate the performance
of our 'invest and grow' segment with the addition of Fibernet's valuable
enterprise and Internet service provider customers and the opportunity
to serve their future requirements with Global Crossing's broader portfolio
of
innovative IP solutions."
Fibernet's roster of enterprise
and carrier customers in the financial, insurance and retail segments complements
Global Crossing's market position in the UK government and rail sectors.
These customers, Fibernet's
world class customer-focused team and its innovative access capabilities
are a superb match to Global Crossing's portfolio of advanced IP solutions.
Fibernet and Global Crossing
have had a long-standing commercial relationship, which is expected to
facilitate a smooth transition for customers of both companies.
Global Crossing plans rapidly
to integrate Fibernet's business into its UK operations, and it expects
that Fibernet will add more than US$80 million in annual revenue after
elimination of US$10 million of inter-company revenue. After completion
of integration and achievement of operating cost reductions, Fibernet is
expected to add more than US$30 million in annual Adjusted Earnings Before
Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA). Additionally,
Global Crossing expects synergies in the form of reduced capital expenditures
of as much as US$10 million. Operating and capital expense synergies are
expected to be achieved by eliminating duplicative operating and administrative
staff and costs, public company expenses, and duplicative leased operating
and administrative facilities, and lowering capital requirements through
the use of Global Crossing's network. Integration is expected to take 12
to 18 months and to have a one-time cost of up to US$10 million.
"Acquiring Fibernet strengthens
Global Crossing's financials and moves us further past the Adjusted EBITDA
breakeven point," continued Legere. "Our participation in industryconsolidation
demonstrates that we're successfully executing our strategy to be an industry
leader in the provisioning of IP services to global enterprises through
both organic and inorganic growth."
Hawkpoint Partners Limited
was Global Crossing's sole financial advisor and Latham and Watkins provided
legal counsel on the transaction.
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA is net income
plus interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, other income/(expense),
gain on pre-confirmation contingencies, reorganization items, net income
from discontinued operations, and preferred stock dividends for the consolidated
business of Global Crossing. Global Crossing's calculation of its Adjusted
EBITDA measure may not be consistent with EBITDA measures of other companies.
Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA is a relevant indicator of operating
performance, especially in a capital-intensive
industry such as telecommunications.
Adjusted EBITDA is an important aspect of the company's internal reporting
and is also used by the investment community in assessing financialperformance.
This non-GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) financial measure
should be used in addition to, but not as a substitute for, the analysis
provided in the statement of operations, including the net income metric,
which is the most directly comparable GAAP measure.
ABOUT GLOBAL CROSSING
Global Crossing (Nasdaq:
GLBC) provides telecommunications solutions over the world's first integrated
global IP-based network. Its core network connects more than 300 cities
in 28 countries worldwide, and delivers services to more than 600 cities
in 60 countries and 6 continents around the globe. The company's global
sales and support model matches thenetwork footprint and, like the network,
delivers a consistent customer experience worldwide.
Global Crossing IP services
are global in scale, linking the world's enterprises, governments and carriers
with customers, employees and partners worldwide in a secure environment
that is ideally suited for IP-based business applications, allowing e-commerce
to thrive. The company offers a full range of managed data and voice products
including Global Crossing IP VPN Service, Global Crossing Managed Solutions
and Global Crossing VoIP services, to 36 percent of the Fortune 500, as
well as 700 carriers, mobile operators and ISPs.
Please visit http://www.globalcrossing.com
for more information about Global Crossing.
This press release contains
statements about expected future events and financial results that are
forward-looking and subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause
the actual results to differ materially, including: Global Crossing's ability
to successfully integrate the Fibernet business and realize anticipated
operational and capital expense synergies; Global Crossing's history of
substantial operating losses and the fact that, in the near term, funds
from operations will not satisfy cash requirements; legal and contractual
restrictions on the inter-company transfer of funds by the company's subsidiaries;
the company's ability to continue to connect its network to incumbent carriers'
networks or maintain Internet peering arrangements on
favorable terms; the consequences
of any inadvertent violation of the company's Network Security Agreement
with the U.S. Government; increased competition and pricing pressures resulting
from technology advances and regulatory changes; competitive disadvantages
relative to competitors with superior resources; political, legal and other
risks due to the company's substantial international operations; risks
arising out of the company's material weaknesses in internal controls and
possible difficulties and delays in improving such controls;
the concentration of revenue
in a limited number of customers, and the rights of such customers to terminate
their contracts or to simply cease purchasing services thereunder; exposure
to contingent liabilities; and other risks referenced from time to time
in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Global
Crossing undertakes no duty to update information contained in this press
release or in other public disclosures at any time.
CONTACT GLOBAL CROSSING:
Press Contacts Becky Yeamans +1-973-937-0155 PR@globalcrossing.com Tisha
Kresler +1-973-937-0146 PR@globalcrossing.com Mish
Desmidt Europe +44-1256-732-866
EuropePR@globalcrossing.com Analysts/Investors Contact Laurinda Pang +1-800-836-0342
+1-973-937-0435 glbc@globalcrossing.com
IR/PR1
Web site: http://www.globalcrossing.com
Global Crossing Limited
Becky Yeamans, +1-973-937-0155,
PR@globalcrossing.com, or Tisha Kresler, +1-973-937-0146, PR@globalcrossing.com,
or Mish Desmidt, +44-1256-732-866,
EuropePR@globalcrossing.com,
or Analyst\Investor - Laurinda Pang, 1-800-836-0342, +1-973-937-0435, glbc@globalcrossing.com,
all of Global Crossing Limited |