Weather Investments
Encyclopedia
Wind Telecom S.p.A. is a privately held telecommunications investment company previously 97% controlled by the Sawiris family (and Mr. Naguib Sawiris
) and now owned by the Russian telecomunication company VimpelCom Ltd.
.
Wind Telecom owns 100% of Wind Telecomunicazioni S.p.A
(“Wind”), the third largest mobile operator and second largest fixed line operator in Italy, with more than 19 million mobile subscribers and over 2.9 million direct fixed line subscribers as of November 2010. Wind Telecom also controls and owns 50% plus one share of Orascom Telecom Holding s.a.e.
(“OTH”). OTH is a leading international telecommunications company operating GSM networks in seven high growth markets in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, having a total population under license of approximately 460 million with an average mobile telephony penetration of approximately 29% as at Match 31, 2007. OTH operates GSM network in Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iraq Pakistan and Zimbabwe. OTH had over 56 million subscribers as of March 2007. OTH owns 19.3% of Hutchinson Telecommunication International, a leading telecommunication services provider operating in eight countries. OTH is traded on the Cairo and Alexandria stock exchange (ORTE.CA ORAT EY) and has GDRs traded on the London Stock Exchange (ORTEq.l, OTLD LI).
Wind Telecom S.p.A. is a leading international telecommunications company offering mobile, fixed, Internet and international communication services to about 100 million subscribers in Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Italy, Pakistan and North Korea. Wind Telecom subsidiary Orascom Telecom Holding s.a.e.
has an indirect equity ownership in Globalive Wireless
which has been granted a spectrum license in Canada. Wind Telecom operates through its subsidiaries Orascom Telecom Holding s.a.e.
and Wind Telecomunicazioni S.p.A
(Italy). Wind Telecom is the entry point of choice for both technically advanced attractive markets and high growth, and under penetrated emerging markets.
In June 2005, the company (named "Weather Investments S.p.A.") bought Wind Telecomunicazioni S.p.A., the third largest Italian mobile phone operator, The total value of the transaction was EUR
12.2 billion. The telecom operator offers its services under the brand name Wind
.
Also in June 2005, 50% plus 1 share of Orascom Telecom Holding
was transferred to Weather Investments.
In 2007 the company acquired the Greek mobile carrier TIM Hellas
from Apax Partners
and Texas Pacific Group (now TPG Capital) and rebranded it Wind Hellas in a deal worth EUR 3.4 billion (GBP 2.4 billion). Unfortunately, the Greek crisis brought the carrier in deep financial troubles, forcing Sawiris to sell the assets of the holding company (Weather Finance III) to a group of creditors, the SSN Ad-Hoc Committee. The transaction has been completed in December 2010. However the Wind brand is still used by the Greek carrier.
In early 2008 the company acquired the license to operate mobile services in North Korea under the name Koryolink
making history by being the first mobile operator there.
In December 2009 Globalive Wireless
started its mobile services in Canada under Wind Mobile
name (styled as WIND), operating in Toronto, Calgary and Edmonton.
In January 2011, the company decided to change it's name, switching from "Weather Investments S.p.A." to "Wind Telecom S.p.A.", due to the intention to bring a new image to the group, focusing to the strong points as leading subject in telecommunications and capitalizing all the value and success achieved by the Wind brand in recent years, as declared by Khaled Bichara
.
Also in January 2011, Orascom Telecom Holding
completed its sale of Tunisian carrier Tunisiana
to Qatar Telecom (QTel), in a deal worth $1.2 billion, leaving its previously owned 50 percent of Tunisiana
through both Orascom Tunisia Holding and Carthage Consortium.
In March 2011, Wind Telecom officially became part of VimpelCom Ltd.
, the third wireless company in Russia: its shareholders board definitely approved the prevented fusion between the Egyptian and the Russian company with 53.3% of participating votes, although Telenor
, one of the main shareholders, opposed the deal. Consequently, the operation gave birth to the 6th largest telecomunication company worldwide, where Wind Telecom investors owned 20% of VimpelCom shares outstanding and about 31% of voting rights. Telenor stake has lowered to 31.7% from 39.6% and decrease its voting proportion to 25%. Altimo
, the other main shareholder, had its stake diluted to 31.4% from 39.2%. Altimo voting rights has been reduced to 31%.
Wind Telecom S.p.A. Operator Companies include Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Canada, North Korea, Italy, Pakistan, Burundi, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Central African Republic (CAR).
Naguib Sawiris
Naguib Onsi Sawiris is an Egyptian businessman and politician. He was executive chairman of the telecommunications companies Wind Telecom and Orascom Telecom Holding before turning to politics in May 2011...
) and now owned by the Russian telecomunication company VimpelCom Ltd.
Beeline (telecommunications)
Beeline is the trademark of the third largest Russian telecommunication operator, VimpelCom . Its headquarters are located in Moscow. Beeline's brand was designed by Wolff Olins as a re-brand for their old corporate identity, assisted by Marina Willerr.-Activity:...
.
Wind Telecom owns 100% of Wind Telecomunicazioni S.p.A
WIND (Italy)
Wind Telecomunicazioni SpA is an Italian telecom operator which offers integrated mobile, fixed and IPTV and Internet services and has also a sister network in Greece: WIND Hellas...
(“Wind”), the third largest mobile operator and second largest fixed line operator in Italy, with more than 19 million mobile subscribers and over 2.9 million direct fixed line subscribers as of November 2010. Wind Telecom also controls and owns 50% plus one share of Orascom Telecom Holding s.a.e.
Orascom Telecom Holding
Orascom Telecom Holding S.A.E. is a leading international telecommunications company operating GSM networks in the Middle East, Africa, Canada and Asia. It started its operations in Egypt by launching the first egyptian mobile operator in 1998, ....
(“OTH”). OTH is a leading international telecommunications company operating GSM networks in seven high growth markets in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, having a total population under license of approximately 460 million with an average mobile telephony penetration of approximately 29% as at Match 31, 2007. OTH operates GSM network in Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iraq Pakistan and Zimbabwe. OTH had over 56 million subscribers as of March 2007. OTH owns 19.3% of Hutchinson Telecommunication International, a leading telecommunication services provider operating in eight countries. OTH is traded on the Cairo and Alexandria stock exchange (ORTE.CA ORAT EY) and has GDRs traded on the London Stock Exchange (ORTEq.l, OTLD LI).
Wind Telecom S.p.A. is a leading international telecommunications company offering mobile, fixed, Internet and international communication services to about 100 million subscribers in Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Italy, Pakistan and North Korea. Wind Telecom subsidiary Orascom Telecom Holding s.a.e.
Orascom Telecom Holding
Orascom Telecom Holding S.A.E. is a leading international telecommunications company operating GSM networks in the Middle East, Africa, Canada and Asia. It started its operations in Egypt by launching the first egyptian mobile operator in 1998, ....
has an indirect equity ownership in Globalive Wireless
Globalive
Globalive Communications Corporation is a Canadian telecommunications provider based in Toronto. Originally founded in 1998 by offering services over pre-established telephone networks, it is best known for its "Yak" and "LooneyCall" long-distance plans....
which has been granted a spectrum license in Canada. Wind Telecom operates through its subsidiaries Orascom Telecom Holding s.a.e.
Orascom Telecom Holding
Orascom Telecom Holding S.A.E. is a leading international telecommunications company operating GSM networks in the Middle East, Africa, Canada and Asia. It started its operations in Egypt by launching the first egyptian mobile operator in 1998, ....
and Wind Telecomunicazioni S.p.A
WIND (Italy)
Wind Telecomunicazioni SpA is an Italian telecom operator which offers integrated mobile, fixed and IPTV and Internet services and has also a sister network in Greece: WIND Hellas...
(Italy). Wind Telecom is the entry point of choice for both technically advanced attractive markets and high growth, and under penetrated emerging markets.
In June 2005, the company (named "Weather Investments S.p.A.") bought Wind Telecomunicazioni S.p.A., the third largest Italian mobile phone operator, The total value of the transaction was EUR
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
12.2 billion. The telecom operator offers its services under the brand name Wind
WIND (Italy)
Wind Telecomunicazioni SpA is an Italian telecom operator which offers integrated mobile, fixed and IPTV and Internet services and has also a sister network in Greece: WIND Hellas...
.
Also in June 2005, 50% plus 1 share of Orascom Telecom Holding
Orascom Telecom Holding
Orascom Telecom Holding S.A.E. is a leading international telecommunications company operating GSM networks in the Middle East, Africa, Canada and Asia. It started its operations in Egypt by launching the first egyptian mobile operator in 1998, ....
was transferred to Weather Investments.
In 2007 the company acquired the Greek mobile carrier TIM Hellas
Tim Hellas
WIND Hellas, formerly STET Hellas, is an integrated telecommunications provider headquartered in Athens, Greece. WIND is the 3rd largest mobile operator in Greece with more than 4.4 million active subscribers ....
from Apax Partners
Apax Partners
Apax Partners LLP is a global private equity and venture capital firm, headquartered in London. The company also operates out of eight other offices in New York, Hong Kong, Mumbai, Tel-Aviv, Madrid, Stockholm, Milan and Munich. The firm, including its various predecessors, have raised...
and Texas Pacific Group (now TPG Capital) and rebranded it Wind Hellas in a deal worth EUR 3.4 billion (GBP 2.4 billion). Unfortunately, the Greek crisis brought the carrier in deep financial troubles, forcing Sawiris to sell the assets of the holding company (Weather Finance III) to a group of creditors, the SSN Ad-Hoc Committee. The transaction has been completed in December 2010. However the Wind brand is still used by the Greek carrier.
In early 2008 the company acquired the license to operate mobile services in North Korea under the name Koryolink
Koryolink
Koryolink , a joint venture between Egyptian company Orascom Telecom Holding and the state-owned Korea Post and Telecommunications Corporation , is North Korea's only mobile operator. According to Orascom quoted in BusinessWeek, the company had 125,661 subscribers in May 2010. By March 2011, the...
making history by being the first mobile operator there.
In December 2009 Globalive Wireless
Globalive
Globalive Communications Corporation is a Canadian telecommunications provider based in Toronto. Originally founded in 1998 by offering services over pre-established telephone networks, it is best known for its "Yak" and "LooneyCall" long-distance plans....
started its mobile services in Canada under Wind Mobile
Wind Mobile
Wind Mobile is a Canadian wireless telecommunications provider operated by Globalive Communications Corporation. The company initially launched mobile data and voice services in Toronto on December 16, 2009 and two days later in Calgary...
name (styled as WIND), operating in Toronto, Calgary and Edmonton.
In January 2011, the company decided to change it's name, switching from "Weather Investments S.p.A." to "Wind Telecom S.p.A.", due to the intention to bring a new image to the group, focusing to the strong points as leading subject in telecommunications and capitalizing all the value and success achieved by the Wind brand in recent years, as declared by Khaled Bichara
Khaled Bichara
Khaled Bichara is the current Group President and Chief Operating Officer of VimpelCom Ltd., as well as Group Executive Chairman of Orascom Telecom Holding....
.
Also in January 2011, Orascom Telecom Holding
Orascom Telecom Holding
Orascom Telecom Holding S.A.E. is a leading international telecommunications company operating GSM networks in the Middle East, Africa, Canada and Asia. It started its operations in Egypt by launching the first egyptian mobile operator in 1998, ....
completed its sale of Tunisian carrier Tunisiana
Tunisiana
Tunisiana is a private telecommunications company in Tunisia.Set up with capital of 330 million Tunisian dinars, it was founded on 11 May 2002....
to Qatar Telecom (QTel), in a deal worth $1.2 billion, leaving its previously owned 50 percent of Tunisiana
Tunisiana
Tunisiana is a private telecommunications company in Tunisia.Set up with capital of 330 million Tunisian dinars, it was founded on 11 May 2002....
through both Orascom Tunisia Holding and Carthage Consortium.
In March 2011, Wind Telecom officially became part of VimpelCom Ltd.
Beeline (telecommunications)
Beeline is the trademark of the third largest Russian telecommunication operator, VimpelCom . Its headquarters are located in Moscow. Beeline's brand was designed by Wolff Olins as a re-brand for their old corporate identity, assisted by Marina Willerr.-Activity:...
, the third wireless company in Russia: its shareholders board definitely approved the prevented fusion between the Egyptian and the Russian company with 53.3% of participating votes, although Telenor
Telenor
Telenor Group is the incumbent telecommunications company in Norway, with headquarters located at Fornebu, close to Oslo. Today, Telenor Group is mostly an international wireless carrier with operations in Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and Asia, working predominantly under the Telenor brand...
, one of the main shareholders, opposed the deal. Consequently, the operation gave birth to the 6th largest telecomunication company worldwide, where Wind Telecom investors owned 20% of VimpelCom shares outstanding and about 31% of voting rights. Telenor stake has lowered to 31.7% from 39.6% and decrease its voting proportion to 25%. Altimo
Altimo
Altimo is the telecoms investment arm of Russia's Alfa Group Consortium, controlled by Russian oligarch Mikhail Fridman. Altimo invests in Russia, the CIS and Turkey, operating in the field of mobile and fixed-line communications. Altimo was launched in London on 1 December 2005. Before then,...
, the other main shareholder, had its stake diluted to 31.4% from 39.2%. Altimo voting rights has been reduced to 31%.
Wind Telecom S.p.A. Operator Companies include Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Canada, North Korea, Italy, Pakistan, Burundi, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Central African Republic (CAR).