Millicom (Tigo) completes acquisition of Telefónica in Uruguay, strengthening its regional footprint in South America Luxembourg, October 7, 2025 – Millicom International Cellular S.A. (“Millicom”) today announced that, following final approval from the Government of Uruguay, it has completed the acquisition of 100% of Telefónica Móviles del Uruguay S.A. (Movistar) for an enterprise value of USD 440 million. With this milestone transaction, Millicom officially enters the Uruguayan market, further consolidat ...

Industry Overview - The Zacks Wireless Non-US industry is facing challenges such as high capital expenditures for infrastructure upgrades, margin erosion, supply-chain disruptions, and geopolitical conflicts, but healthy demand trends in the digital age are expected to benefit the industry long-term [1][4]. Key Players - KDDI Corporation, Vodafone Group, and Millicom International Cellular are positioned to benefit from the rising demand for scalable infrastructure due to the proliferation of IoT and accelerated 5G deployment [2]. Industry Description - The industry includes mobile telecommunications and broadband service providers that offer voice services, value-added services like IoT, content streaming, and mobile payment solutions, as well as IT solutions and cable/satellite pay television subscriptions [3]. Current Challenges - Profit margins are being affected by high raw material prices, prolonged geopolitical tensions, and proposed tariffs, leading to a demand-supply imbalance and increased operational costs [4]. - The rise of over-the-top service providers is intensifying price-sensitive competition, which may limit customer retention and impact financial results [4]. Network Developments - There is a significant demand for network convergence, requiring traditional carriers to invest heavily in advanced networking architecture to meet the growing demand for coverage and quality [5]. - Continuous network upgrades are necessary to maintain performance standards, as telecom services are considered necessities and show weak correlation to macroeconomic factors [5]. Evolving Business Models - Increased spending on infrastructure upgrades is compromising short-term margins, leading companies to diversify from legacy services to business and enterprise opportunities [6]. - Companies are investing in software-defined networks and new Cloud Core architecture to enhance their service offerings [6]. Industry Performance - The Zacks Wireless Non-US industry currently holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 166, indicating it is in the bottom 33% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting bearish near-term prospects [7][8]. - Over the past year, the industry has gained 20.2%, outperforming the S&P 500's 16.1% but lagging behind the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector's 21.9% [9]. Valuation Metrics - The industry has a trailing 12-month Price/Book ratio of 1.22X, significantly lower than the S&P 500's 8.37X and the sector's 9.92X [11]. Notable Companies - **KDDI Corporation**: Focuses on 5G communications and aims for growth in finance, energy, and healthcare, with a stock gain of 12.6% over the past year [14]. - **Vodafone Group**: Engages in telecommunications across Europe and has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 20.1%, with a stock gain of 20.4% [15]. - **Millicom International Cellular**: Provides a range of digital services in Latin America and has seen a stock gain of 74.7% in the past year [19].

Core Insights - Millicom (Tigo) has reached a strategic agreement with Empresas Públicas de Medellín (EPM) to facilitate its acquisition strategy in Colombia and advance the integration of Tigo-UNE and Colombia Telecomunicaciones (ColTel) [1][3] Group 1: Agreement Details - The agreement is a significant milestone for Millicom's strategy in Colombia, emphasizing the company's commitment to long-term investment in the country's digital ecosystem and infrastructure [3] - Millicom plans to present an offer in EPM's Law 226 sale process, with a minimum price set at COP$418,741 per share of Tigo-UNE, amounting to approximately USD $520 million [5] - EPM has secured an extension of its existing exit rights if the Law 226 sale process fails due to external factors, and has agreed to consent to the future merger between Tigo-UNE and ColTel under certain conditions [5] Group 2: Company Overview - Millicom is a leading provider of fixed and mobile telecommunications services in Latin America, operating under the TIGO® and Tigo Business® brands [4] - The company offers a variety of digital services, including mobile financial services, local entertainment, pay TV, high-speed data, and business-to-business solutions [4] - As of June 30, 2025, Millicom employed approximately 14,000 people and served over 46 million customers, with a fiber-cable footprint covering more than 14 million homes [4]

Core Insights - Millicom reported a decline in revenue for Q2 2025, with total revenue of $1.372 billion, down 5.9% year-over-year, but showed organic growth of 1.9% [4] - The company achieved a significant increase in net profit, reaching $676 million compared to $78 million in Q2 2024, marking a notable improvement [4][6] - Millicom's adjusted EBITDA margin reached a record 46.7%, with nearly half of its operations exceeding a 50% margin [5] Financial Performance - Total revenue for H1 2025 was $2.746 billion, a decrease of 6.8% from H1 2024, with organic growth of 0.2% [4] - Operating profit for Q2 2025 was $357 million, up 3.4% from Q2 2024, while H1 operating profit increased by 16.7% to $780 million [4] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q2 2025 was $641 million, reflecting a 1.1% increase year-over-year, with H1 adjusted EBITDA at $1.277 billion, up 0.9% [4] Capital Expenditures and Cash Flow - Capital expenditures (Capex) for Q2 2025 were $155 million, a 15.1% increase from Q2 2024, with H1 Capex totaling $286 million, up 15.8% [4] - Operating cash flow for Q2 2025 was $487 million, down 2.6% from the previous year, while H1 operating cash flow was $990 million, a decrease of 2.8% [4] - Equity free cash flow (EFCF) for Q2 2025 was $218 million, down 18.8% year-over-year, but H1 EFCF increased by 46.7% to $395 million [4] Strategic Developments - The company signed an agreement to acquire Telefónica's operations in Uruguay and Ecuador, enhancing its market presence [5] - Millicom completed a partial closing of its infrastructure transaction with SBA, generating over $500 million in proceeds, which supported a special interim dividend of $2.50 per share [5][8] - The company aims for a 2025 EFCF target of around $750 million and plans to maintain year-end leverage below 2.5x [6] Subsequent Events - A special interim dividend of $2.50 per share was approved, to be distributed in two installments of $1.25 per share on October 15, 2025, and April 15, 2026 [8] - Millicom hosted a video conference for the global financial community to discuss the Q2 2025 results [8]

Core Points - Millicom International Cellular S.A. has approved an interim dividend of $2.50 per share, to be paid in two installments of $1.25 each on October 15, 2025, and April 15, 2026 [1][4] - The first installment will be paid to shareholders registered in the U.S. with Broadridge on October 8, 2025, with an ex-dividend date of October 7, 2025 [2][3] - The second installment will be paid to shareholders registered in the U.S. with Broadridge on April 8, 2026, with an ex-dividend date of April 7, 2026 [3][4] - The dividends will be paid in U.S. dollars and will be subject to a 15% withholding tax as per Luxembourg income tax law [5] Company Overview - Millicom is a leading provider of fixed and mobile telecommunications services in Latin America, operating under the TIGO® and Tigo Business® brands [7] - The company offers a variety of digital services, including mobile financial services, local entertainment, pay TV, high-speed data, voice, and business-to-business solutions [7] - As of March 31, 2025, Millicom employed approximately 14,000 people and served over 46 million customers, with a fiber-cable footprint covering over 14 million homes [7]

Company Overview - Millicom (NASDAQ: TIGO) is a leading provider of fixed and mobile telecommunications services in Latin America, offering a wide range of digital services and products under the TIGO® and Tigo Business® brands [4] - The company provides mobile financial services through TIGO Money, local entertainment via TIGO Sports, pay TV with TIGO ONEtv, and business-to-business solutions including cloud and security [4] - As of March 31, 2025, Millicom employed approximately 14,000 people and served over 46 million customers with a fiber-cable footprint covering more than 14 million homes [4] Upcoming Financial Results - Millicom is set to announce its second quarter 2025 results on August 7, 2025, through a press release [1] - A video conference for the global financial community will be held on the same day at 14:00 pm (Stockholm) / 13:00 (London) / 08:00 (Miami) [1] Event Participation - Registration for the interactive video conference is required, and participants will receive a confirmation email with joining details [2] - Participants wishing to ask questions during the live event must notify the Investor Relations team via email after the event starts [2] - The conference can also be joined in listen-only mode by dialing specific international numbers and entering the Webinar ID [3]

Core Insights - Millicom has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Telefónica's telecommunications operations in Ecuador for USD 380 million, aligning with Telefónica's strategy to reshape its Latin American portfolio and providing Millicom with a strategic opportunity to enhance its presence in South America [2][4] - The acquisition is expected to significantly enhance Millicom's regional footprint and commercial reach, supporting innovation, digital inclusion, and long-term growth in Ecuador's telecommunications sector [3][8] - Ecuador's stable, dollarized economy, characterized by favorable macroeconomic fundamentals, presents a compelling platform for Millicom to drive digital transformation and long-term value creation [4][9] Company Overview - Millicom is a leading provider of fixed and mobile telecommunications services in Latin America, operating under the TIGO® and Tigo Business® brands, offering a wide range of digital services [8][10] - As of March 31, 2025, Millicom employed approximately 14,000 people and provided services to over 46 million customers, with a fiber-cable footprint covering more than 14 million homes [10] Industry Context - Ecuador's telecommunications sector is experiencing consistent growth, with mobile services increasing by 1.4% and fixed broadband services by 3.6% [9] - The country has a population of approximately 18.5 million, with a median age of 32.4 years and 66% of the population living in urban areas, indicating a growing market for digital services [9] - Recent economic reforms supported by the IMF and World Bank are enhancing transparency and governance, particularly in infrastructure, energy, and telecommunications, contributing to a resilient telecom sector [9]

Core Points - Millicom International Cellular S.A. has announced the partial closing of its infrastructure deal with SBA Communications, generating approximately $600 million in proceeds from the sale of LATI International S.A. [1] - The total transaction is valued at approximately $975 million, with the remaining amount expected to close in Q3 2025 [1] - Following the Q2 results, Millicom's Board intends to approve a special interim cash dividend of $2.50 per share, representing around 45% of the net proceeds from the transaction [2] - The special dividend will be distributed in two equal installments of $1.25 per share, scheduled for October 15, 2025, and April 15, 2026 [2] - This special dividend is in addition to Millicom's previously announced annual dividend of $3.00 per share, reflecting the company's commitment to shareholder remuneration [3] - The transaction underscores Millicom's strategy to monetize infrastructure assets, enhance financial flexibility, and generate sustainable shareholder returns while maintaining a leverage target range of 2.0-2.5x [3] Company Overview - Millicom is a leading provider of fixed and mobile telecommunications services in Latin America, operating under the TIGO® and Tigo Business® brands [5] - The company offers a variety of digital services, including mobile financial services, local entertainment, pay TV, high-speed data, voice, and business-to-business solutions [5] - As of March 31, 2025, Millicom employed approximately 14,000 people and served over 46 million customers, with a fiber-cable footprint covering more than 14 million homes [5]

Core Viewpoint - Millicom International Cellular S.A. has announced the acquisition of Telefónica Móviles del Uruguay S.A. for an enterprise value of USD 440 million, which is part of its strategy to strengthen its position in South America [2][5]. Strategic Rationale - The acquisition is expected to be EFCF accretive as early as 2026, driven by operational efficiencies and integration with Millicom's existing regional operations [3][8]. - The deal diversifies Millicom's cash flow sources and is supported by Uruguay's stable macroeconomic environment and investment-grade credit rating of BBB+ [4][10]. - Marcelo Benitez, CEO of Millicom, emphasized the company's commitment to investing in mobile infrastructure and improving service quality in Uruguay [5]. Market Outlook - Uruguay has the highest GDP per capita in Latin America at USD 22,400 (2024), with a stable currency and favorable regulatory environment for foreign investment [10]. - The telecommunications market in Uruguay is competitive, with three mobile network operators and a growing mobile market, which has been expanding at approximately 4% annually since 2022 [10]. Operational Synergies - The acquisition of Telefónica Uruguay, the second-largest mobile operator in the country, is expected to create significant synergies across network, operations, and commercial integration with Millicom's existing operations in Paraguay and Bolivia [9][10]. - The transaction is anticipated to enhance Millicom's digital ecosystem, enabling improved service bundling and innovation [9].

Core Viewpoint - Millicom International Cellular S.A. has approved the cancellation of 3,096,305 treasury shares, reducing its issued share capital to USD 253,500,000 represented by 169,000,000 shares [1][2]. Company Overview - Millicom is a leading provider of fixed and mobile telecommunications services in Latin America, operating under the TIGO® and Tigo Business® brands [3]. - The company offers a variety of digital services, including mobile financial services (TIGO Money), local entertainment (TIGO Sports), pay TV (TIGO ONEtv), high-speed data, voice services, and business-to-business solutions such as cloud and security [3]. - As of March 31, 2025, Millicom employed approximately 14,000 people and served over 46 million customers, with a fiber-cable footprint covering more than 14 million homes [3]. - Founded in 1990, Millicom is headquartered in Luxembourg, with principal executive offices located in Doral, Florida [3].