NJJ Holding acquired Datagroup-Volia and lifecell, creating a powerful telecom player in Ukraine with an investment of $435 million from the EBRD and IFC. The combined company will reach more than 10 million mobile subscribers and 4 million households.
Telecom giant of Ukraine
Large-scale deal
French investment NJJ Holding, headed by telecom tycoon Xavier Niel, announced the completion of the acquisition of "Datagroup-Volia" and lifecell - the third largest mobile operator in Ukraine.
Official confirmation
Information about the successful completion of the transaction was published by Horizon Capital, an investor of "Datagroup-Volia", on its website. They emphasized that all pre-conditions have been met, including obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals.
Historic moment
This deal became the largest in the Ukrainian telecommunications sector since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, paving the way for the merger of telecom - titans "Datagroup-Volia" and Lifecell.
Financial support
Horizon Capital announced the next stage - the signing of documents and the provision of a joint financial package of $435 million from the European Bank Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC). Both institutions received the necessary approvals from their respective boards of directors after the deal was announced at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin in June 2024.
New management
Mykhailo Shelemba, the current CEO of Datagroup, will head the combined Datagroup-Volia-lifecell platform . Pierre Danon will retain the position of Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the combined structure. The newly created company will provide mobile communication services to more than 10 million Ukrainians, and its fixed network will cover more than 4 million households throughout the country.
Glossary
- NJJ Holding - a French investment company founded by Xavier Niel
- Datagrup-Volia - a united Ukrainian telecommunications company
- lifecell - the third largest mobile operator of Ukraine
- EBRD - European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
- IFC - International Finance Corporation
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Discussion of the topic – French telecom giant NJJ Holding captures the Ukrainian market: acquisition of Datagroup-Volia and lifecell
The investment company NJJ Holding, owned by the French telecom entrepreneur Xavier Niel, officially announced the acquisition of "Datagroup-Volia" and lifecell, the third largest mobile operator of Ukraine. This news can significantly affect the telecommunications market of Ukraine.
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Olena
Wow! This is really great news for Ukrainian Telecom! 😮 I wonder how this will affect the quality of services and prices for consumers?
Markus
I agree, Olena! This could be a game changer. It is especially interesting how they plan to invest $1.5 billion. Maybe we will finally see real 5G in Ukraine? 🚀
Sophie
This is really impressive! 🤩 But I'm worried about whether this will lead to monopolization of the market? Although on the other hand, it may help to restore and modernize the infrastructure faster after the destruction...
Viktor
Oh, those big mergers again. Nothing good will come of this. Prices will rise, but the quality will remain the same. It would be better to do something useful than to redistribute the market.
Isabella
Viktor, don't be such a pessimist! 😄 It can bring a lot of innovation. Imagine how this could improve communication in remote areas. As for prices, the competition will not go anywhere, other operators are not sleeping either.
Andriy
I wonder how this will affect the development of IoT in Ukraine? With such investments and combined infrastructure, we can see a real breakthrough in smart technologies! 🏙️
Sophie
Andriy, great idea! 👍 I would like to see more smart city projects. Maybe this agreement will help speed up the digitization of cities and villages?
Markus
Absolutely agree! And let's not forget about the opportunities for startups. With such a strong infrastructure and investment, we can see a surge in innovation in the field of telecommunications and IT. This could be a new stage for Ukraine as an IT hub! 💻🚀