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The Groups “Caisse de Dépôt et de Gestion” (CDG), FinanceCom and France Telecom have agreed upon a strategic partnership in which France Telecom will acquire an initial stake of 40% in Médi Télécom, Morocco's second largest telecoms operator

Fipar-Holding (CDG group), FinanceCom and France Telecom today signed a memorandum of understanding with a view to France Telecom acquiring a 40% share of Médi Télécom’s capital and voting rights. France Telecom will consolidate this stake into its accounts by way of global integration from the fiscal year 2015.

Médi Télécom is the second biggest global telecoms operator in Morocco, with licences for fixed, mobile and 3G telephony, and has been active in the telecoms sector since 1999. Over the years Médi Télécom has built an international reputation for its expertise and know-how, capitalising chiefly on the quality of its Moroccan human resources and its perceptive development strategy. 

With over 10 million mobile subscribers and a market share of 37%, Médi Télécom published sales of over 5.3 billion dirham (465 million euros) in 2009 with an EBITDA margin of 40% and an operational cash-flow of around 1.4 billion dirham (131 million euros).

Through this partnership, France Telecom intends to leverage its marketing, commercial and technical expertise to contribute to the strategic development of Médi Télécom in value-added sectors such as mobile voice and data communications, content as well as in the B2B market.

Stéphane Richard, France Telecom’s CEO, said: “The acquisition of this stake in Médi Télécom is the first concrete step in our new policy of expansion outside Europe, and contributes to our stated aim of doubling our revenues in Africa and the Middle-East over the next five years. I am delighted to contribute to this strategic partnership, which can only strengthen Médi Télécom's profile as a dynamic and solid company”.

Othman Benjelloun and Anass Houir Alami, respectively President of the FinanceCom Group and CEO of CDG, see this partnership as a strategic alliance that will strengthen the position of Médi Télécom in Morocco and will provide it with a platform for opening out across the Maghreb region and Africa.

The transaction involves a sum of 640 million euros for a share of 40% of Médi Télécom’s capital and voting rights, corresponding to a company value of 2,140 million euros. On the transaction date, France Telecom will also take over 40% of Médi Télécom’s shareholder accounts, which amounts to around 78 million euros.

The transaction will create value for all Médi Télécom shareholders, who will receive all its available cash-flow as a dividend. It will be accretive for France Telecom from 2011 in terms of cash-flow per share and profit per share.

The CDG, FinanceCom and France Telecom groups have agreed to float Médi Télécom on the Casablanca stock exchange in the short to medium term.

The signing of the final documents and the closing of the transaction is expected to take place by the end of 2010. The final closing of the agreement remains conditional to the prior approval of the Moroccan regulatory body (ANRT).