Telefonica expects $2bn by selling shares in its German unit

PanARMENIAN.Net - Telefonica hopes to raise around 1.5 billion euros ($2 billion) by selling shares in its O2-branded German unit on the stock market, barely denting the telecom firm's 58 billion euro debt, Reuters reported.

Europe's largest telecoms company by revenue has already said it could sell subsidiaries in Latin America as it tries to cut debt and hang on to its prized investment-grade rating, under pressure from the euro crisis in its Spanish home market.

Telefonica plans to list up to 23.2 percent of its German subsidiary at between 5.25 euros and 6.50 euros per share, the company said on Tuesday, Oct 16, which at the mid-point values the stake at about 1.52 billion euros.

Telefonica agreed to sell its Atento call center business to U.S. private equity firm Bain Capital for around 1 billion euros, including debt, last week and sold a stake in China Unicom earlier this year.

Telefonica Deutschland's initial public offering on the German stock market values the whole company around 6.6 billion euros, calculated from the mid-point of the price range.

After months of inactivity, the European IPO market has started to show signs of life. British insurer Direct Line and Germany's Talanx are among those whose shares have risen on stock market debuts this month.

Telefonica Deutschland has attempted to woo investors with the prospect of a 500 million euro dividend next year, contrasting with its parent's decision to cancel its payout for 2012.

Telefonica must raise between 7 billion euros and 8 billion euros a year through 2015 to cover debt repayments and risks rising refinancing costs if its credit ratings are cut.

Telefonica said it will set the final price for the German listing on October 29, with the shares expected to begin trading on October 30.

The company will offer 225 million shares and a greenshoe, or overallotment, option of 33.75 million shares. The offer period will last from October 17 to October 29.