France Telecom joins the Consortium formed by The Blackstone Group, CVC Capital Partners and Providence Equity Partners Inc. to Participate in the Tender Process for Cesky Telecom
Paris, March 2 , 2005 – France Telecom and the consortium of The Blackstone Group, CVC Capital Partners and Providence Equity Partners Inc. have announced today that they will join forces to participate in the tender process of the National Property Fund (NPF) of the Czech Republic for the sale of its 51 per cent equity interest in Cesky Telecom.
France Telecom brings to the consortium formed by the three private equity firms vast operating experience and a highly successful track record as an integrated telecom operator. Should the consortium be successful in acquiring the NPF stake, France Telecom would enter into a strategic partnership with Cesky Telecom supported by a minority stake in the consortium. Through this partnership, Cesky Telecom would get access to “best-in-class” technological and operational expertise, as well as to France Telecom portfolio of brands, services and platforms.
About The Blackstone Group
The Blackstone Group, a private investment and advisory firm with offices in New York, Atlanta, Boston, London, Hamburg, and Paris, was founded in 1985. The firm has raised a total of approximately $32 billion for alternative asset investing since its formation. Over $14 billion of that has been for private equity investing, including Blackstone Capital Partners IV, the largest institutional private equity fund ever raised at $6.45 billion. In addition to Private Equity Investing, The Blackstone Group’s core businesses are Private Real Estate Investing, Corporate Debt Investing, Marketable Alternative Asset Management, Corporate Advisory, and Restructuring and Reorganization Advisory.
For more information please visit www.blackstone.com
About CVC Capital Partners
CVC Capital Partners is a leading independent private equity provider in Continental Europe and the UK, specialising in large scale leveraged buy-outs. Founded in 1981 as Citicorp’s European private equity arm, CVC completed its own management buy-out in 1993 and is independently owned by its management. CVC closed its most recent European fund of US$ 4.0 billion in 2001 and currently has total funds under management of over US$ 9 billion. CVC has 12 European offices operating in Amsterda, Brussels, Copehagen, Frankfurt, Jersey, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Stockholm and Zurich. Since 1981, CVC has completed 218 transactions with a total transaction value in excess of Euro 28 billion. CVC’s current European portfolio has a combined turnover in excess of EUR 28 billion. Significant recent investments include Debenhams, the AA, BDS/ANI, CSM Confectionery and Mivisa.
For more information please visit www.cvceurope.com.
About Providence Equity Partners Inc.
Providence Equity Partners Inc. is one of the world’s leading private investment firms specializing in equity investments in media and communications companies. The principals of Providence Equity manage funds with over $9 billion in equity commitments and have invested in more than 80 companies operating in over 20 countries since the firm’s inception in 1991. Current and previous areas of investment include cable television content and distribution, wireless and wireline telephony, publishing, radio and television broadcasting and other media and communications sectors. Significant investments include VoiceStream Wireless, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Warner Music Group, PanAmSat, AT&T Canada, eircom, Casema, Kabel Deutschland, Language Line, F&W Publications, ProSiebenSat.1, and Bresnan Broadband Holdings. The firm has offices in Providence, New York and London.
For more information please visit www.provequity.com