Note 01: Business combinations and disposals
The following significant acquisitions and disposals have taken place in 2005 and 2004. Each business combination is recorded using the acquisition method of accounting. The summary does not include capital increases or other types of financing by Telenor.
| Significant acquisitions in 2005 | |||||
| NOK in millions Company |
Country | Change in interest % | Business | Purchase price | |
| DTAC/UCOM | Thailand | 3.5%/61.3% | Mobil telecommunications | 2 664 | |
| Bredbandsbolaget | Sweden | 100% | Broadband operation | 4 452 | |
| Cybercity | Denmark | 100% | Broadband operation | 1 313 | |
Business combinations
Three significant business combinations have been effected in 2005, while one
significant business combination was effected in the beginning of 2006.
Total Access Communication Ltd (DTAC) / United Communication
Industy Pcl (UCOM)
Prior to 26 October 2005, Telenor owned 29.9% of the issued shares in DTAC.
UCOM owned 41.6% of the issued shares in DTAC. On 26 October 2005 Telenors
subsidiary Thai Telco Holding Ltd purchased shares in UCOM and increased Telenors
economic stake in UCOM by 39.9 to 64.7% for a cash consideration of NOK 1.5
billion.
As of 31 December 2005, after the tender offers for DTAC and UCOM shares expired, Telenors direct and indirect economic stake in UCOM increased by 21.5% to 86.2% and the direct and indirect ownership in DTAC by 18.2% to 75%, for a total cash consideration of NOK 1.2 billion. The only operations in UCOM to be continued are the ownership in DTAC and the holding of interest bearing liabilities. The minority interests in DTAC as of 31 December 2005 were 25% directly and 5.7% indirectly through UCOM.
As of 31 December 2005 net interest-bearing debt in the companies was NOK 7.3 billion. The companies were consolidated from the date of acquisition, and the operations in UCOM, excluding the ownership in DTAC and the holding of interest bearing liabilities, were reported as a discontinued operations in the financial statements as of 31 December 2005.
DTAC is one of the leading mobile operators in Thailand and offers GSM mobile services. The value was set based on a fair value after negotiations between relevant parties and stock exchange regulations in Thailand and Singapore.
The initial purchase price allocation, which is performed by independent financial experts, has been determined to be provisional pending the completion of the final valuation of the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The preliminary net assets acquired in the transactions, and the goodwill arising, are as follows:
| Estimated fair values | ||||
| Deferred tax assets | 799 | |||
| Customer Base | 1 278 | |||
| Consession Rights | 6 118 | |||
| Trademarks | 1 030 | |||
| Software | 247 | |||
| Roaming agreements | 753 | |||
| Property, plant & equipment | 738 | |||
| Non-current financial assets | 147 | |||
| Currents assets excluding cash and cash equivalents | 1 639 | |||
| Assets held for sale | 531 | |||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 200 | |||
| Deferred tax liability | 43 | |||
| Non-current liabilities | 5 752 | |||
| Current liabilities | 3 473 | |||
| Liabilities held for sale | 285 | |||
| Net assets | 3 927 | |||
| Goodwill | 2 243 | |||
| Total | 6 170 | |||
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| Total consideration, satisfied by cash | 2 664 | |||
| Book value as associated companies at the date of consolidation | 940 | |||
| Increased values in business combination recorded against equity | 1 274 | |||
| Minorities at fair values | 1 292 | |||
| Total | 6 170 | |||
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Useful life of intangible assets at the date of consolidation were estimated on average to: customer base of 3 years, concession rights of 13 years, trademarks of 13 years, administrative software systems of 3 years and roaming-agreements of 13 years. The goodwill arising on the acquisition of DTAC is attributable to the anticipated profitability of its operations. DTAC is involved in several disputes, most of which commenced several years ago. Only insignificant values were attributed to these contingent liabilities in the purchase price allocation.
DTAC/UCOM contributed NOK 1,191 million in revenues and NOK 29 million to the Telenor Groups profit from total operations for the period between the date of consolidation and 31 December 2005. This does not include Telenors interest expenses related to the financing of the acquisition.
In the period 1 January 2005 to the acquisition date, when DTAC/UCOM were accounted for as associated companies, they contributed to a profit from total operations of NOK 94 million.
Bredbandsbolaget, Sweden
On 8 July 2005, Telenor acquired 100% of the issued share capital of Bredbandsbolaget
(Bredbandsbolaget Holding AB and its subsidiaries) for a cash consideration
of NOK 4.5 billion. The value was set based on fair value after negotiations
between the parties. The transaction has been accounted for by the acquisition
method of accounting.
Bredbandsbolaget offers high-speed broadband for Internet access, telephony, digital-TV and add-on broadband services.
The initial purchase price allocation, which is performed by independent financial experts, has been determined to be provisional pending the completion of the final valuation of the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The preliminary net assets acquired in the transaction, and the goodwill arising, are as follows:
| NOK in millions | Estimated fair values | |||
| Customer Base | 313 | |||
| Trademarks | 140 | |||
| Software/Other intangible assets | 321 | |||
| Property, plant & equipment | 205 | |||
| Currents assets excluding cash and cash equivalents | 345 | |||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 239 | |||
| Deferred tax liability | 11 | |||
| Non-current liabilities | 1 050 | |||
| Current liabilities | 459 | |||
| Net assets | 43 | |||
| Goodwill | 4 409 | |||
| Total consideration, satisfied by cash | 4 452 | |||
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Useful lives of intangible assets at the date of consolidation were estimated on average to: customer base of 5 years, trademark of 15 years and administrative software systems of 3 years.
The goodwill included deferred tax assets that did not meet recognition criteria to be capitalized in the balance sheet. In addition the goodwill arising on the acquisition of Bredbandsbolaget is attributable to the anticipated profitability of its operations and to the anticipated synergies.
Bredbandsbolaget contributed NOK 665 million in revenues and NOK 19 million to the Telenor Groups profit from total operations for the period between the date of acquisition and 31 December 2005. This does not include Telenors interest expenses related to the financing of the acquisition.
Cybercity, Denmark
On 5 July, Telenor acquired 100% of the issued share capital of Esplanaden Holding
A/S for a cash consideration of NOK 1.3 billion. The value was set based on
fair value after negotiations between the parties. Esplanaden Holding A/S owns
100% of the shares in Cybercity A/S. The transaction has been accounted for
by the acquisition method of accounting.
Cybercity develops, manages and sells broadband solutions and network-based products such as security and VPN products for residential and business customers in Denmark.
The initial purchase price allocation, which is performed by independent financial experts, has been determined to be provisional pending the completion of the final valuation of the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The preliminary net assets acquired in the transaction, and the goodwill arising, are as follows:
| NOK in millions | Estimated fair values | |||
| Customer Base | 235 | |||
| Trademarks | 90 | |||
| Software | 91 | |||
| Property, plant & equipment | 45 | |||
| Currents Assets excluding cash and cash equivalents | 186 | |||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 42 | |||
| Deferred tax liability | 78 | |||
| Non-current liabilities | 155 | |||
| Current liabilities | 200 | |||
| Net assets | 256 | |||
| Goodwill | 1 057 | |||
| Total consideration, satisfied by cash | 1 313 | |||
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Useful lives of intangible assets at the date of consolidation were estimated on average to: customer base of 5 years, trademark of 15 years and administrative software systems of 3 years.
The goodwill included deferred tax assets that did not meet recognition criteria to be capitalized in the balance sheet. In addition the goodwill arising on the acquisition of Cybercity is attributable to the anticipated profitability of its operations and to the anticipated synergies.
Cybercity contributed NOK 306 million in revenues and NOK 26 million to the Telenor Groups profit from total operations for the period between the date of acquisition and 31 December 2005. This does not include Telenors interest expenses related to the financing of the acquisition.
Vodafone, Sweden
On 5 January 2006, Telenor acquired 100% of the issued share capital of Vodafone
AB Sweden for a cash consideration of approximately NOK7.5 billion. The value
was set based on fair value after negotiations between the parties. The transaction
is not included in the financial statement of 2005. The transaction will be
accounted for by the acquisition method of accounting.
Vodafone offers mobile services to residential and business customers in Sweden.
The initial purchase price allocation, which is performed by independent financial experts, has been determined to be provisional pending the completion of the final valuation of the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The preliminary net assets acquired in the transaction, and the goodwill arising, are as follows:
| NOK in millions | Estimated fair values | |||
| Deferred tax assets | 41 | |||
| Roaming agreements | 584 | |||
| Terminal supply contracts | 337 | |||
| Software | 965 | |||
| Property, plant & equipment | 5 251 | |||
| Non-current financial assets | 148 | |||
| Currents assets excluding cash and cash equivalents | 1 808 | |||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 176 | |||
| Deferred tax liabilities | 1 075 | |||
| Non-current liabilities | 1 168 | |||
| Current liabilities | 1 142 | |||
| Net assets | 5 925 | |||
| Goodwill | 1 612 | |||
| Total consideration, satisfied by cash | 7 537 | |||
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The goodwill arising on the acquisition of Vodafone is attributable to the anticipated profitability of its operations.
Disposals in 2005
At the end of 2005 the Group entered into agreements to sell 100% of the shares
in Fixed Czech and Slovakia for a consideration of Euro 18.1 million in cash.
The transactions were effected on 30 January 2006. Losses on disposal of NOK
63 million were recorded in 2005 due to reduction of the disposal group to fair
value less costs to sell. The assets and liabilities are reported as current
assets and liabilities held for sale as of 31 December 2005. The major classes
of assets and liabilities comprising the disposal group classified as held for
sale are as follows:
| Intangible assets | 34 | |
| Property, plant & equipment | 71 | |
| Current assets excluding cash and cash equivalents | 37 | |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 23 | |
| Total assets | 165 | |
| Non-current liabilities | 29 | |
| Current liabilities | 3 | |
| Total liabilities | 32 | |
As of 18 September 2005 the Group sold the remaining part of EDB Business Partner ASAs Telecom business for a consideration of NOK 133 million. Gains on disposal of NOK 37 million before taxes were recorded in 2005.
None of these disposals are regarded as discontinued operations according to IFRS 5 as they do not, separately or in aggregate, represent a major line of business or geographical area of operations.
Discontinued Operations
At the same time as the Group increased its shareholding in UCOM, UCOM received
irrevocable purchase offers for the company's core assets from parties external
to the Group. These assets and liabilities are primarily organized in separate
subsidiaries of the company, and are regarded as disposal groups that meet the
criteria to be classified as held for sale and discontinued operations on acquisition
according to IFRS 5. The disposals were approved by the General Meeting of UCOM
in January and effected in February 2006.
Pro forma Information (unaudited)
The following unaudited pro forma financial information presents results as
if the acquisition of DTAC, Bredbandsbolaget and Cybercity had occurred at the
beginning of the respective periods
| NOK in millions, except per share data | 2005 | 2004 |
| Pro forma revenues | 75 532 | 68 435 |
| Pro forma profit before taxes and minority interest | 12 563 | 9 460 |
| Pro forma net income | 7 473 | 5 900 |
| Pro forma net income per share in NOK | 4.37 | 3.37 |
The pro forma results are adjusted for Telenors interest expenses and the results in the period prior to acquisition. These pro forma figures have been prepared for comparative purposes only and are not necessarily indicative of the result of operations which actually would have resulted had the acquisitions been in effect in the respective periods or of future results.
| Significant acquisitions in 2004 | |||||
| NOK in millions Company |
Country | Change in interest % | Business | Purchase price | |
| Sonofon Holding A/S | Denmark | 46.5 | Mobile Communication | 3 639 | |
| European Telecom Luxemburg SA. (ProMonte) | Montenegro | 55.9 | Mobile Communication | 541 | |
| GrameenPhone Ltd. | Bangladesh | 11.0 | Mobile Communication | 298 | |
| CBB A/S | Denmark | 100.0 | Mobile Communication | 147 | |
| GMPCS Personal Communication Inc | USA | 100.0 | Satellite Mobile Communications | 85 | |
| Utfors AB 1) | Sweden | 8.3 | Telecommunication | 70 | |
| IT-operation 2) | Norway/Sweden | 100.0 | Operation and application services | 738 | |
| 1) Telenor owned 100% of the shares in the company as of 31 December 2004. | |||||
| 2) Asset purchased by EDB Business Partner ASA. | |||||
Acquisition of Sonofon Holding A/S in 2004
On 12 February 2004, Telenor acquired the remaining 46.5% of the outstanding
common shares in Sonofon Holding A/S that we did not already own. Prior to the
acquisition Sonofon was regarded as a joint venture with BellSouth and was accounted
for using the equity method. After completion of the acquisition, Telenor owns
100% of the outstanding common shares and the result of operations has been
included in the consolidated financial statements from that date. Sonofon Holding
A/S is one of the leading mobile operators in Denmark and offers GSM voice and
data communication services on 900 and 1800 MHz frequency in addition to fixed
line telephony and Internet access primarily to the business market based on
Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) Technology. This acquisition was part
of Telenor's strategy to gain control of operations to take advantage of synergies
stemming from coordinated activities in a number of markets. The aggregate cost
of the business combination was approximately NOK 4.4 billion of which NOK 3.6
billion was paid in cash and liabilities of NOK 0.8 billion assumed from the
former owner of the remaining 46.5% shares. The value was set based on a fair
value after negotiations between the parties. The allocation of the purchase
price has been based on independent financial experts estimates of the
fair values of assets and liabilities acquired.
The following table summarizes the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of consolidation 1):
| NOK in millions | Estimated fair values | |||
| Property, plant & equipment | 2 717 | |||
| Customer base | 1 158 | |||
| Licences | 48 | |||
| Trademarks | 801 | |||
| Software | 1 130 | |||
| Roaming agreements | 534 | |||
| Currents assets excluding cash and cash equivalents | 1 137 | |||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 52 | |||
| Deferred tax liability | 990 | |||
| Non-current liabilities | 3 041 | |||
| Current liabilities | 1 825 | |||
| Net assets | 1 721 | |||
| Goodwill | 6 512 | |||
| Total | 8 233 | |||
| Total consideration, satisfied by cash 2) | 3 639 | |||
| Book value as an associated company at the date of consolidation | 3 985 | |||
| Increased values in business combination recorded against equity | 609 | |||
| Total | 8 233 | |||
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| 1) These figures include consideration for the last acquisition and the carrying value for the prior investment, when the company was accounted for using the equity method. They reflect the final purchase price allocation that differs in some respects from the preliminary allocation. | ||||
| 2) Does not include assumed liabilities of NOK 0.8 billion from the former owner of the shares. | ||||
Useful life of intangible assets at the date of consolidation were estimated on average to: customer base of 4 years, roaming-agreements of 8 years, trademarks of 15 years, licenses of 8 years and administrative software systems of 5 years.
The goodwill arising on the acquisition of Sonofon is attributable to the anticipated profitability of its operations and to the anticipated synergies. See note 17 for information regarding the write-down of goodwill in Sonofon in 2004.
Pro forma information (unaudited)
The following unaudited pro forma financial information presents results as
if the acquisition of Sonofon Holding A/S, European Telecom Luxemburg SA (ProMonte
GSM D.O.O.), CBB A/S, GMPCS Communication Inc and IT operations had occurred
at the beginning of 2004:
| NOK in millions, except per share data | 2004 |
| Pro forma revenues | 62 407 |
| Pro forma profit before taxes and minority interests | 9 674 |
| Pro forma net income | 5 964 |
| Pro forma net income per share in NOK | 3.41 |
The pro forma results are adjusted for Telenor's interest expenses and the results in the period prior to the acquisitions. These pro forma figures have been prepared for comparative purposes only and are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations which actually would have resulted had the acquisitions been in effect in the respective periods or of future results.
Disposals in 2004
Telenor sold 100% of its shares in Securinet AS, which was owned by Telenor
Venture III AS, and at the end of 2004, Telenor sold 100% of its shares in Telenor
Venture III AS. Total consideration was NOK 394 million. A gain of NOK 135 million
before taxes was recorded. Telenor sold 100% of its shares in Transacty Slovakia
j.s.c for a consideration of NOK 133 million and recorded a gain before taxes
of NOK 71 million. Telenors subsidiary EDB Business Partner ASA sold part
of its telecom business during 2004 for NOK 400 million and recorded a gain
of NOK 295 million.
None of these disposals are regarded as discontinued operations as they do not, separately or in aggregate, represent a major line of business or geographical area of operations.

