Table of Contents

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form 20-F

 

 

o

REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

OR

 

þ

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended: March 31, 2016

 

OR

 

o

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

OR

 

o

SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Date of event requiring this shell company report:                   

 

For the transition period from:                       to                    

 

Commission file number: 001-10086

 

VODAFONE GROUP PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

England

(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

 

Vodafone House, The Connection, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2FN, England

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

Rosemary Martin (Group General Counsel and Company Secretary)

tel +44 (0) 1635 33251, fax +44 (0) 1635 580 857

 

Vodafone House, The Connection, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2FN, England

(Name, Telephone, E-mail and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact Person)

 

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

 

Title of each class

  

Name of each exchange

on which registered

See Schedule A

  

See Schedule A

 

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

 

None

Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act:

 



Table of Contents

 

None

 

Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report.

 

 

 

 

Ordinary Shares of 20 20 / 21 US cents each

26,558,570,312

  

7% Cumulative Fixed Rate Shares of £1 each

50,000

  

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act

 

Yes   þ     No   o

 

If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

Yes   o     No   þ

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days:

 

Yes   þ     No   o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

 

    Yes   o     No   o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

 

Large accelerated filer   þ

 

Accelerated filer   o

 

Non-accelerated filer   o

 

Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:

 

 

US GAAP   o

 

International Financial
Reporting  
þ

 

Other   o

 

 

Standards as issued by the

 

 

 

 

International Accounting

 

 

 

 

Standards Board

 

 

 

If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow

 

Item 17   o     Item 18   o

 

If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

 

Yes   o     No   þ

 

 



Table of Contents

 

SCHEDULE A

 

 

Title of each class

  

Name of each exchange
on which registered

Ordinary shares of 20 20/21 US cents each

  

NASDAQ Global Select Market *

American Depositary Shares (evidenced by American Depositary Receipts) each representing ten ordinary shares

  

NASDAQ Global Select Market

5.625% Notes due February 2017

  

New York Stock Exchange

1.625% Notes due March 2017

  

New York Stock Exchange

1.25% Notes due September 2017

  

New York Stock Exchange

1.5% Notes due February 2018

  

New York Stock Exchange

4.625% Notes due July 2018

  

New York Stock Exchange

5.450% Notes due June 2019

  

New York Stock Exchange

4.375% Notes due March 2021

  

New York Stock Exchange

2.5% Notes due September 2022

  

New York Stock Exchange

2.95% Notes due February 2023

  

New York Stock Exchange

6.25% Notes due November 2032

  

New York Stock Exchange

6.15% Notes due February 2037

  

New York Stock Exchange

4.375% Notes due February 2043

  

New York Stock Exchange

 

*

Listed, not for trading, but only in connection with the registration of American Depositary Shares, pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 


 


Table of Contents

 

 Confidence in the future Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016

 


Table of Contents

 

At Vodafone, we create connections. We’re helping people confidently connect to their families, friends, customers and content through any service, anywhere, at any time. And with our focus on being a high-quality provider we’re well -placed to continue this success. Find out how we’re… Overview Strategy Strategy Responding to a changing world… Managing our people and impact… Building a great platform for growth… Pages 02–09 Pages 10–17 Pages 18–29 Performance Governance Financials Performing Creating and Delivering across all our markets… maintaining the right culture… results for shareholders… Pages 30–37 Pages 38–74 Pages 75–162 This constitutes the annual report on Form 20-F of Vodafone Group Plc (the ‘Company’) in accordance with the requirements of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (the ‘SEC’) for the year ended 31 March 2016 and is dated 10 June 2016. This document contains certain information set out within the Company’s annual report in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (‘IFRS’) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (‘IASB’) and with those parts of the UK Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies reporting under IFRS, dated 17 May 2016, as updated or supplemented if necessary. The content of the Group’s website (www.vodafone.com) should not be considered to form part of this annual report on Form 20-F. The production of this year’s report reflects our “Fit for Growth” programme – our commitment to driving cost efficiencies through the business without compromising our ability to deliver excellence. Whilst remaining focused on publishing high-quality communications and disclosures in our reporting, we have minimised the production costs of this document. More on Cost efficiency and “Fit for Growth”: Pages 14 and 15 Vodafone today We confidently connect more and more people each year. Today we have 462 million mobile customers, 13 million fixed broadband customers and 9.5 million TV customers. Why do they choose us? Because we are a leader in network quality, offer excellent customer experience and provide integrated, worry-free solutions. www.vodafone.com

 


Table of Contents

 

Contents

 

Welcome to our

2016 Annual Report

 

 

 

 

 

The Overview, Strategy Review and Performance sections constitute the Strategic Report.

These are based on an assessment of our performance using the key strategic areas as set out on page 10.

 

Overview

 

 

Strategy

 

 

Performance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An introduction to the report covering who we are, the Chairman’s reflections on the year, notable events, and a snapshot of where and how we do business.

 

 

A summary of the changing landscape we operate in, and how that has shaped our strategy and financial position. Plus a review of performance against our goals and our approach to running a sustainable business.

 

 

Commentary on the Group’s operating performance.

30

Operating results

36

Financial position and resources

02

Performance highlights

 

 

03

Chairman’s statement

 

 

10

Chief Executive’s strategic review

 

 

 

 

04

At a glance

 

 

14

Chief Financial Officer’s review

 

 

 

 

06

Our business model

 

 

16

Key performance indicators

 

 

 

 

08

Market overview

 

 

18

Our people

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

20

Sustainable business

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

22

Principal risk factors and uncertainties

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Governance

 

 

Financials

 

 

Additional Information

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An explanation of how we are organised, what the Board has focused on and how it has performed, our diversity practices, how we communicate with our shareholders and how our Directors are rewarded.

 

 

The statutory financial statements of the Group and the Company and associated audit reports.

 

 

Find out about our shares, information on our history and development, regulatory matters impacting our business and other statutory financial information.

75

Contents

76

Directors’ statement of responsibility

175

Shareholder information

38

Chairman’s introduction

 

 

78

Risk mitigation

 

 

182

History and development

39

Our governance framework

 

 

82

Report of independent registered public accounting firm

 

 

183

Regulation

40

Board of Directors

 

 

 

 

190

Non-GAAP information

42

Executive Committee

 

 

87

Consolidated financial statements and financial commentary

 

 

195

Form 20-F cross reference guide

44

Board activities

 

 

 

 

198

Forward-looking statements

45

Board evaluation, induction and training

 

 

168

This page is intentionally left blank

 

 

200

Definition of terms

46

Shareholder engagement

 

 

 

 

 

 

202

Selected financial data

47

Board committees

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 2.3

 

Exhibit 4.8

 

 

54

Compliance with the 2014 UK Corporate Governance Code

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 2.4

 

Exhibit 4.9

 

Exhibit 12

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 2.5

 

Exhibit 4.10

 

Exhibit 13

56

Our US listing requirements

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 4.2

 

Exhibit 4.32

 

Exhibit 15.1

57

Directors’ remuneration

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 4.6

 

Exhibit 4.35

 

Exhibit 15.2

74

Directors’ report

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 4.7

 

Exhibit 7

 

Exhibit 15.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unless otherwise stated references to “year” or “2016” mean the financial year ended 31 March 2016, to “2015” or “previous year” mean the financial year ended 31 March 2015, and to the “fourth quarter” or “Q4” are to the quarter ended 31 March 2016. For other references please refer to page 35.

 

All amounts marked with an “*” represent “organic growth”, which presents performance on a comparable basis, both in terms of merger and acquisition activity as well as in terms of movements in foreign exchange rates. See definition on page 191 for more information. Definitions of terms used throughout the report can be found on pages 200 and 201.

 

The terms “Vodafone”, the “Group”, “we”, “our” and “us” refer to the Company and, as applicable, its subsidiaries and/or interests in joint ventures and associates.

 

Website references are for informational purposes only and are not incorporated by reference into our Annual Report on Form 20-F.

 



Table of Contents

 

P erformance highlights Further improvement in our performance We have returned to organic growth in both revenue and adjusted EBITDA Revenue Reported revenue decreased by 3.0% over the year. On an organic basis, which adjusts for certain items*, revenue grew by 2.3% reflecting underlying improvement. Our improved operational performance is encouraging steady customer growth Mobile customers 16 million customers joined our networks last year, mainly driven by growth in emerging markets. Internet of Things 02 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 47m 4G customers 26 million more customers used our superfast 4G during the year. 13.4m Fixed broadband customers rose by over one million, supported by the expansion of our broadband reach. 38m connections are up by 37% over the year, driven by our global scale and reach. £11.6bn Adjusted EBITDA on a reported basis fell by 2.5%. On an organic basis it grew 2.7%. £1.4bn Operating profit declined due to reduction in adjusted EBITDA (2015: £2.0bn). £8.6bn Capital expenditure remained high due to our Project Spring investment (2015: £9.2bn). 11.45p Dividends per share up 2.0% over last year (2015: 11.22p).

 


Table of Contents

 

Ch airman’s statement A year of solid progress This has been a year of continued strategy implementation and improved operational execution, with a return to growth enabling consistent attractive returns to shareholders. Our Project Spring investment programme is bearing fruit have started to address some of these issues, impacts of mobile communications are continued pressures from regulatory and represents an excellent long-term investment are hampering economic development. with the piecemeal release of new spectrum, in networks, and this is exacerbated by other 2017 and beyond, dividends will be declared US dollars. This is consistent with the change Vodafone Foundation, the Group platform single Foundation, but a unique network programmes in Vodafone markets. We have since its formation in helping charities and goals, more recently providing connectivity women in Tanzania, and emergency support many other causes. The Foundation remains around the world to save lives and improve Gerard Kleisterlee With the advent of new technologies designed outdated copper infrastructures, the risk of investment in 21st century fibre networks. trying to use exclusive content ownership 03 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Good progress. Financial improvement is following The financial year 2016 has been a year of solid progress, both with respect to the further implementation of our strategy as well as regarding our focus on customer experience excellence and operational execution. Vodafone has been undergoing a substantial transformation over the last five years. While historically we developed as a business that was almost exclusively focused on mobile voice and text services, we now cover most of our markets with advanced mobile data networks, we reach 72 million homes in Europe with Vodafone-branded high speed broadband services, of which 41% are on our own fibre or cable networks, and we offer a broad portfolio of market-leading, integrated fixed and mobile communications services across a footprint of 26 countries. Vittorio covers this progress in more detail in his review on pages 10 to 13. Our progress has come about through significant organic investment and acquisitions. Our total spend in the last three years – across capital expenditure, spectrum licences and acquisitions – has exceeded £47 billion. We have funded this through the sale of valuable but non-controlled assets such as Verizon Wireless, while still maintaining a strong balance sheet and paying an attractive and growing dividend. This is one of the key roles of the Board: finding the right balance between long-term investment to secure the sustainability of the business; a strong credit position to weather uncertain economic times; and a regular and reliable return for shareholders. The crucial next step for Vodafone is to translate these investments into improving financial performance, and I am extremely pleased to report that Vodafone returned to organic growth this year in both revenue and adjusted EBITDA, aided by our Project Spring investment programme which completed in March 2016. Our performance will be further enhanced by our Customer eXperience eXcellence programme (CXX), which we launched last year and which, with Vittorio’s personal leadership, will continue to have the highest attention from the Board. These improvements are necessary to maintain our strong financial framework and underpin our dividend policy. Nick sets out in more detail our plans for continued growth, supported by increasing efficiency, on pages 14 and 15. The Board continues to view the dividend as the key element of shareholder returns and consistent with this policy we have raised the dividend per share by 2% to 11.45 pence for the year. For the financial year ending 31 March in euros and paid in euros, pounds sterling and in the Group’s reporting currency to euros from pounds sterling. The regulatory agenda is still unresolved in key areas At Vodafone we are aiming for a regulatory environment that enables investment, innovation and returns for business, while always maintaining adequate levels of competition to provide customers choice and value for money. So far in several geographies we are still some way from such a position and this will remain a point of concern for the Board when making its investment decisions. In Europe, inconsistent industry regulations and spectrum policies, exacerbated by overly fragmented market structures, have led to a steep deterioration in return on capital employed over recent years. to squeeze higher broadband speeds from of “re-monopolisation” is rising, at the expense Additionally, a number of incumbents are as a further lever to limit competition. Recent initiatives by the European Commission but we believe more needs to be done. In emerging markets, the positive economic well documented, but there too we face fiscal intervention. For example, while India opportunity, the present regulatory challenges Spectrum auction structures, combined leave less capital available for investment ongoing regulatory and fiscal burdens. Vodafone Foundation This year we are celebrating 25 years of the for charitable giving. In reality it is not one of 27 local foundations and social investment raised and invested over £560 million philanthropic organisations to achieve their in refugee camps, access to healthcare for for victims of domestic violence, among committed to connecting communities the livelihood and education of children. /s/ Gerard Kleisterlee Chairman

 


Table of Contents

 

At a glance What we offer In recent years we have taken advantage of growth opportunities to move from being a pure mobile operator to delivering a broad mix of communication services including mobile, fixed broadband, video content, cloud & hosting and Internet of Things offerings. We believe the future is in converging these services to be a unified communications provider and we are well positioned to deliver on this trend. Fixed Enterprise 5% wholesale incl 6% (wholesale incl. partner markets) 13 million are TV customers. voice, broadband and TV services to our enterprise customers, including Private Networks). 04 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Our services Mobile 462 million customers of which 43% are active data users. We provide a range of mobile services, enabling customers to call, text and access the internet, stream music and watch videos whether at home or travelling abroad. Fixed fixed broadband customers and 9.5 million We provide a range of services including to consumers and a wider range of services cloud & hosting and IP-VPN (Virtual Pages 10 to 13 Other services Includes Partner Markets and Common Functions (see page 5); Mobile Virtual Network Operators (‘MVNOs’) who are mobile providers that rent capacity from mobile operators to sell onto their customers; Internet of Things (‘IoT’) which is communication between devices via mobile technologies; international voice transit and roaming. Converged services In many of our markets, there is a growing trend towards the convergence of fixed and mobile services (also known as unified communications). For customers and operators this provides many benefits including lower bills for users and higher customer loyalty towards operators. We believe this trend will continue to advance in Europe and start gaining traction in our AMAP region and that we are well positioned to take advantage and win market share. Today, we have nearly three million converged customers taking combined fixed and mobile services. More on our strategy: Fixed services increasingly important in line with trend to convergence… Enterprise continues to be a key growth driver of our business… 1% Split of service revenue 74%MVNOs, IoT and Mobile partner markets) 28% Split of service revenue Consumer Other MVNOs and 2 Fi it of

 


Table of Contents

 

Where we operate Our business is organised into two geographic regions: Europe, and Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific (‘AMAP’), which includes our emerging markets. Our reach and scale Vodacom 9% Germany 19% 32% India 12% AMAP Split of service Other AMAP 11% UK 16% revenue 66% Italy 10% Other Europe 12% 2% Europe Spain 9% Other (partner markets and common functions1) We provide mobile networks in 26 countries (including joint ventures and associates) and fixed services in 17 of these. There are 57 markets where we hold no equity interest but have partnership agreements with local mobile operators for them to use our products and services and in some cases our brand. revenue comes Notes: 1 Common functions include revenue from services provided centrally or offered outside our operating company footprint, including some markets where we have a licensed network operation, for example offering IP-VPN services in Singapore. 2 3 4 5 Vodafone revenue share estimates at end December 2015. Customer share for Spain. Democratic Republic of Congo (‘DRC’), Lesotho, Mozambique, South Africa and Tanzania. South Africa. Fixed broadband markets. 05 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information of our service revenue comes from Europe MobileMobileFixed Core markets customers market share2 market share2 Germany5 30.3m 33% 20% UK5 18.2m 24% 5% Italy5 24.1m 32% 6% Spain5 14.3m 28% 22% Also operating in: Albania Hungary Netherlands5 Czech Republic5 Ireland5 Portugal5 Greece5 Malta5 Romania5 of our service from AMAP MobileMobile Core markets customers market share2 India5198.0m 22% Vodacom3,5 70.4m 50%4 Also operating in: Australia Egypt5 Kenya (associate) Qatar5 (joint venture) Ghana5 New Zealand5 Turkey5

 


Table of Contents

 

Our business model Investing in a great platform for the future Our global scale and reach, leading network quality, and the breadth of services we offer helps differentiate us from our peers. Our business model is simple – maintain a virtuous circle of high investment, to maintain a superior network and customer experience, leading to strong cash generation so that we can reinvest and reward our shareholders. Superior network infrastructure y (‘IT’) My Vodafone app users (account self-service) countries have cloud & hosting capability range of services we provide. Note: 1 Europe. returned to shareholders in the last 3 years 06 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Investment and returns to shareholders £47bn re-investing in our business We’ve invested £47 billion in capital expenditure, new acquisitions and spectrum and licences in the last three years. This has enhanced our networks, and competitive position and enabled us to generate substantial returns for shareholders. £19bn Project Spring Project Spring was our two year £19 billion programme of accelerated investment in mobile and fixed networks, IT systems, products and services, and our retail platform. It aims to secure a premium position in most of our markets, and sustain strong cash flows and growing shareholder returns. £11bn We recognise that our shareholders regard the dividend as an important form of return on their investment. That is why we have consistently increased the dividend per share every year for the last 16 years and returned over £11 billion in normal cash dividends in the last three years. Spectrum and Mobile Network Fixed network Information Technolog £7.7bn spent on spectrum in the last 3 years 300,000 base station sites We acquire spectrum and licences to use radio frequencies that deliver mobile services. We have steadily increased our spectrum holdings to boost network quality and our capacity to carry more data. We also have one of the world’s largest footprints of mobile base station sites, across 26 countries. More on spectrum holdings: Pages 187 which means… we can provide customers with wide coverage, both indoors and outdoors, a reliable connection, high-speed data transmission, and ample data capacity. 72m1 homes reached with high speed broadband £15bn spent acquiring fixed businesses in recent years Our fixed capabilities comprise cable, fibre and copper networks to enable TV, broadband and voice services. These depend on either building our own fixed line infrastructure, renting from incumbent operators or acquiring cable companies. which means… we can already reach around half of European households with high speed broadband over 30 Mbps. 25m 12 Our IT estate provides our data centres, customer relationship capability, customer billing services and online resources. Over the last three years we have invested £4.2 billion to upgrade our IT systems and to standardise and simplify our processes. This has enhanced customer services at all touchpoints – in-store, on the phone and online – and expanded the which means… we can provide new offerings, such as single bills for converged fixed and mobile price plans, and cloud & hosting for business users for more flexible working.

 


Table of Contents

 

Breadth of services s call centres in all European markets retail customer service staff Page 18 Note: 1 Includes employees, contractors and third parties. customer service, so we have launched a customer service excellence programme. The goal “Network satisfaction with no surprises” better service” ask only once” 07 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Customer eXperience eXcellence We want to show customers we CARE Page 10 While Project Spring has built better networks, we know that our customers also want great is simple: to substantially enhance the quality of service we provide and to be the Net Promoter Score leader in every single market in which we operate. Our programme has four simple pillars: Connectivity – that Always in controlRewarding loyalty Easy access is reliable and secure“Control your costs“Extra rewards and“Always available, guaranteed” We’re continually trying to improve our customer service, and we are pleased to be the leader or co-leader in mobile network quality tests and Net Promoter Scores in the majority of our markets. More on focusing on our customers: A wide range of services to meet customers’ need Simple customer service Convenient sales channels 38m Internet of Things connections Although our roots are in mobile we now enable a much wider range of communication including TV, fixed broadband and landline calls. But we haven’t stopped there. We also provide enhanced services such as mobile money services, cloud & hosting and connected machines via our IoT services. More on our mobile money service, M-Pesa: Page 11 which means… we unify communications, bringing together fixed and mobile services. 16,000 exclusive branded shops globally 4,900 stores upgraded to new format in last 3 years 92% of our customers are individuals or families. We reach them through a variety of channels including branded stores, distribution partners, third-party retailers, and increasingly, online services. 8% of our customers are enterprises – from small shop owners to multinationals. We reach these customers via our direct sales teams, indirect partners, and telesales channels. which means… it is easy for our customers to get in touch wherever and however is convenient for them. 24/7 41,0001 We have a broad customer base comprising individuals, domestic businesses of all sizes, multinationals and public sector departments, with a wide range of communications needs. Our highly-trained and diverse workforce of employees from over 130 countries help provide these different services. More on People and Diversity: which means… our customer satisfaction ranking, which we measure through our Net Promoter Score, makes us the leader in 13 out of 21 markets. 25m mobile money users 9.5m TV customers

 


Table of Contents

 

Mar ket overview Understanding our marketplace Our customers are demanding higher network speeds, reliable and secure data connections, and a better customer experience. Against this background, we can see great opportunities to create value, while managing risks. A fast-moving industry generating many new opportunities As more communities connect there has been money transfer, video and entertainment, Operators are upgrading their mobile 450 Mbps. This is allowing customers to do more – moving from simply mobile-momentum is coming from growth in to now increasingly connecting cars, homes, commercially available around 2020, with latency and allow faster connections and devices connected to the Internet of Things expected to grow significantly, which will allow customers to use these new services Regulators and policy makers continue Page 183 08 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 fixed connections by 2020 What’s the scale and structure of our market? The communications market is growing as more communities around the globe gain access to new technology. The growth in the number of mobile users continues its momentum, now at 7.6 billion, up half a billion since last year, generating US$1 trillion in annual service revenue. Much of the emerging markets such as Africa and Asia due to the combination of large and relatively young populations, fast GDP growth, increased data usage and limited fixed line infrastructure. Global fixed market The global fixed market has two billion connections, generating US$678 billion in 2015, up 0.4% from 2014. This year revenue from fixed voice continued its decline as users switched to using fixed broadband and mobile. We are also seeing an increased take-up of pay TV, aligned to fixed broadband growth. These trends provide opportunities for differentiation, as not all operators are well-positioned to sustain the levels of investment needed for higher-speed networks, providing higher quality services for customers. Competition The industry is highly competitive with a large number of providers in both fixed line and mobile segments. There are 12 major telecom providers that are able to gain advantages by leveraging size and scale. In addition to competition between networks, over-the-top applications have enabled companies to offer data services via apps, increasing the number of competitors further. In this environment, Vodafone has differentiated its service through high-quality network performance, and also through converged offerings (mobile, fixed line, broadband, TV), allowing us to compete more effectively. Innovation more investment in innovations such as mobile and the Internet of Things (formerly M2M). networks, providing 4G speeds of up to working with smartphones and tablets and cities. We anticipate 5G will become speeds of up to 1 Gbps. This will reduce response times. As we look to the future the number of (via mobile and other technologies) is massively expand the demand for data and to increase their productivity. In the fixed broadband sector, operators are investing in more high-speed fibre broadband, which provides data speeds typically up to 1 Gbps, compared with up to 24 Mbps on copper-based ADSL broadband. Regulation to have a significant impact on the structure and performance of the industry. Regulators continue to lower mobile termination rate (‘MTR’) fees, which are the fees mobile companies charge for calls received from other companies’ networks, and to limit the amount that operators can charge for mobile roaming services. These two areas represent 10% of Vodafone’s service revenue, down 11% from last year. More on Regulation: Notes: 1 Compound annual growth rate.The industry data on these pages, unless stated, is from the 2 Vodafone’s benchmark tests.following sources: GSMA, Analysys Mason, Ampere Analysis, 3 Vodafone, “The Connected Future for SMEs”.Ovum and Strategy Analytics. Global market potential 8.5bn m obile users expected by 2020 US$1.1tn predicted mobile market in 2020 Growth in mobile data usage petabytes (calendar year) 2015 2016 2017 2.2bn US$690bn fixed service revenue by 2020 Growth in pay TV customers million (calendar year) 2015 2016 2017 Actual 875 Estimate 910 =Estimate939 Actual 36,000 Estimate 52,000 Estimate 72,000

 


Table of Contents

 

Adapting and evolving our response We live in a fast-paced world where our customers’ needs are constantly evolving. In order to compete we are responding to key market trends, and building a stronger product offering for our customers. More on our strategy to respond to these trends: Pages 10 to 13 Focusing on services that will make a difference to our customers What’s the trend? How we are responding? to evolve rapidly as demand for improvements in performance, experience. As we move towards continue around mobile and fixed faster, more flexible and highly driven by faster fixed and mobile networks with greater more advanced handsets with larger screens, increased use media, messaging, video choosing simplicity – either line to their mobile service. one customer service, and one intense for basic mobile of Europe’s SMEs say and provide flexibility for 09 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Improving business environment 80%3 communication technologies are fundamental to how they operate today. Market competition remains and fixed communications. Regardless of size, enterprise customers are progressively adopting digital ways of working to improve their competitiveness their workforce. Enterprise Customers are increasingly looking for pre-integrated fixed, mobile and cloud services with simple, predictable and transparent pricing. We have invested in building these service offerings at scale helping us achieve a commercial advantage across our footprint. More on Enterprise: Page 13 Growth in demand for converged services 56% of households in Spain use converged services Customers are increasingly adding mobile to their fixed line services, or adding fixed They want one provider, with simple interaction. Convergence We’re evolving to meet customer needs across all converged services, first adding fixed-line and then television service offerings for homes and businesses. Customers can access Vodafone services and content across multiple platforms, at their convenience. With the rapid growth of the Internet of Things (‘IoT’), we expect to see more demand for converged services across wearable devices, and in the transport, retail and healthcare sectors, amongst others. Growing importance of data, emerging markets and other new revenue areas 40% CAGR1 mobile data usage growth by 2021 Demand for data is being geographic reach and capacity, faster processing power and of applications such as social streaming and general browsing. Data 50% of our European mobile data traffic is carried on 4G networks Vodafone was rated best or co-best for data services in 15 of 20 markets2. Our AMAP region now accounts for almost half of all data traffic carried in the 2016 financial year, compared to 30% three years ago. Demand for continued network innovation 450 Mbps today’s peak performance for downloads, up from less than 1 Mbps in 2004 Network innovation continues data increases, offering significant efficiency and customer a “gigabit society”, innovation will access solutions that enable even secure exchanges of data. Network With the completion of Project Spring we are ready to take on the significant data growth demanded by customers. We now have 73 million 3G customers in emerging markets and 47 million 4G customers in total using speeds of up to 450 Mbps. Our high-speed fibre broadband has speeds up to 1 Gbps. We are working with industry and universities on the next set of 5G standards, so we can continue to improve speed and user experience.

 


Table of Contents

 

Chi ef Executive’s strategic review Responding to a changing world It has been a year of continued progress, with signs of recovery in Europe and continued growth in emerging markets. Our Project Spring investment programme is now complete. Executing our strategy to capture growth opportunities speed broadband to 72 million homes own infrastructure a Further expansion in enterprise products to 70 countries, IoT connectivity platform to 12 countries up our focus on improving our customers’ service, in order to bring to life the clear As measured by Net Promoter Score, of 21 markets and improved in 15 of these to do to build clear differentiation. Data Convergence Enterprise 10 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Our strategy We aim to be a converged communications leader, investing to provide our customers with differentiated network access and excellent customer service. Together with capturing the scale and efficiency benefits of our global presence, we aim to generate attractive returns, enabling us to sustain our investment levels, further increase our network differentiation and meet our customers’ high expectations. Review of the year We have made good progress on a number of fronts in the last year. We have significantly expanded our mobile and fixed data network coverage and quality, leading to strong growth in data usage; we have maintained encouraging commercial momentum, with consistent customer growth; and we have returned to organic growth in both revenue and adjusted EBITDA, thanks in part to strong cost efficiency. In emerging markets, we are achieving sustained growth supported by the strength of our brand, our networks and our distribution. In Europe, the majority of our markets have returned to growth, reflecting a more stable regulatory and macroeconomic environment and better competitive performance than in recent years. Our key strategic drivers – data, convergence and enterprise – are at the heart of this continued improvement. Project Spring, our two year £19 billion investment programme, which was designed to place Vodafone at the forefront of the growth in mobile data and the increasing trend towards the convergence of fixed and mobile services, came to its close in March 2016. Highlights include: a 4G population coverage of 87% in our European markets, up from just 32% in September 2013 a Extensive modernisation and capacity improvements, with 93% of our European network now ‘single RAN’ and 90% with high capacity backhaul a 3G population coverage of 95% in targeted urban areas in India, and 4G launched in the last few months a 91% of all customer data sessions in Europe now at speeds of 3 Mbps or better – the rate needed for high definition video streaming a Dropped call rates down by 40% since September 2013 – so customers on average now only lose one call in 217 a Fibre networks that provide high in Europe; including 30 million on our and services, with IP-VPN extended to 30 countries and cloud & hosting During the year we also significantly stepped experience of our network and customer customer benefits of our investments. we ended the year as the leader in 13 out markets: good progress, but still much /s/ Vittorio Colao Vittorio Colao Chief Executive

 


Table of Contents

 

positive results in our major markets, with best overall in Italy and Spain, best network overall in Germany. to 99% and 4G coverage to 58% – significantly pricing plans that make data affordable This has been further boosted by the success tablets. With these products, we are able at a much reduced price point, opening customers for the first time. to 47 million, with average usage typically in data over the last few years since the launch extended our 3G network by 40,000 base We now have 27 million 3G customers out progress, only 27% of our European customers for further growth. M-Pesa, our money transfer service, now has more than 25 million active customers, an increase of 27% in the year, Ghana and supported by a network of more 11 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information We are witnessing various drivers of data growth across our markets: the increasing penetration of smartphones, both in Europe and emerging markets; high speed 3G and 4G networks, delivering consistent high-definition video to customers on the move; bigger screen sizes for a richer experience; the proliferation of “over-the-top” video services; and the rapid migration of social media from the desktop to mobile. Customers increasingly expect high speed data coverage as much as they expect reliable voice services. Our data strategy is simple: to build high quality mobile data networks, to encourage worry-free usage at fair prices, and to offer products and services tailored to specific needs and accessible to a wide range of users. Total data traffic across our network grew 71% in the year, mainly reflecting the increased take-up of 4G. Driven by Project Spring, we now offer 4G services in 21 of our markets, with India, Turkey and Albania added during the year. Our 4G customer base grew by 126% doubling when customers migrate from 3G to 4G. From a commercial perspective, we are focusing on offering customers worry-free data usage, with bigger data bundles and more inclusive roaming. We now have the most extensive 4G roaming network in the world, reaching over 90 countries. Despite this strong are using 4G, giving us significant opportunity Our network investments are yielding very a number of independent tests demonstrating improvements in data coverage and performance, and placing us very clearly in the top tier of network operators. We ranked in London, and a strong number two network In AMAP, progress has been equally strong. In South Africa, we have built 3G coverage ahead of our competitors. We have developed for customers across every demographic. of Vodafone-branded mobile phones and to bring the same quality and functionality as well-known phone brands to the market up mobile data services for low income In India, we have experienced strong growth of 3G in 2011. Through Project Spring, we have station sites to 55,000 since September 2013. of a total base of 198 million mobile users. Enhancing customer services boosted by market launches in Albania and than 261,000 agents in 11 countries. Data High speed, worry-free Context a As smartphone penetration increases, customers want faster and more reliable data services a Customers have multiple mobile devices and want a single, worry free bill a Customers who are on the move demand high-definition video capabilities and low latency speeds (fast reaction time) for a more enjoyable experience What we’re aiming for a We’re encouraging customers to use 4G to give them a better user experience. The number of 4G customers more than doubled to 47 million in the year a We are driving data usage by bundling content with 4G. Data usage grew 71% in the year, and video usage accounts for around one-third of data traffic a Increasing smartphone penetration also helps drive data usage. 58% of our customers have a smartphone in Europe, compared to 52% last year a We want our customers to use our services wherever they are. Our 4G roaming network reaches 93 countries Average smartphone usage in Europe MB/month 2014 2015 2016 197m of our customers use data, representing 43% of all customers, up from 40% last year 473 755 1,120

 


Table of Contents

 

Chief Executive’s strategic review (continued) of 3.5% in fixed line during the year, and 26% customers taking high speed services on fibre In February 2016 we made another important business with Ziggo, the cable operator owned with 99% 4G coverage and over 90% cable compete head-to-head with the incumbent present value of €3.5 billion. increasingly important parts of our offering, of a bundle with broadband. In the year increasingly important content where our customers value it. costs. We will also encourage regulators content – in addition to their dominance 12 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Convergence Connectivity and content, wherever you are Context a Customers are increasingly converging or unifying communications by sharing content between their fixed and mobile devices – phone, tablet, laptop or TV a Television and content, when bundled with broadband, are becoming increasingly important drivers of customer demand a The growing demand for converged services drives data usage, which in turn requires the combination of mobile and fibre infrastructure What we’re aiming for a We expect fixed revenue to continue to gain in importance to us, driven by convergence a We are aiming to increase our market share in fixed from a low level today a We seek to roll out more high-speed fibre or cable. We already reach 72 million households in Europe, up from 41 million last year a We’re aiming to expand our TV services, to support the take up of broadband. We already have TV services in seven markets Fixed broadband customers million 2014 2015 2016 21% of our service revenue comes from fixed services In many of our markets, there is a growing trend towards the convergence of fixed and mobile services (also known as unified communications). This trend provides many benefits to both customers and operators. For customers, there is the convenience of a single bill, the likelihood of lower overall prices compared to buying services individually, and the potential of enhancements to the service: using your TV subscription on multiple mobile devices as well as your big screen at home, for example. For the provider, there is an important network benefit from the combination of mobile and fibre infrastructure, which is increasingly necessary as the volume of data continues to grow strongly. The bundling of services also increases customer loyalty and provides opportunities to sell additional services or sign-up more members of a household. We have transformed our presence in converged or unified communications in the last four years, particularly in Europe. With several significant acquisitions, capital investment in fibre networks and strong growth in customers, we are now a major player in high speed fixed broadband. With the ability to market fibre and cable broadband services to 72 million homes in Europe, 41% of these on our own next-generation networks, our reach is very broad. We achieved organic service revenue growth of all our European service revenue now comes from the provision of fixed line and TV. Our broadband customer base grew 11% year-on-year to 13 million – with 48% of these or cable. The launch of broadband in the UK during 2015 means we now provide fixed services in most of our European countries, as well as significant growth markets such as Turkey and Egypt. strategic move with the announcement of our intention to form a 50:50 joint venture in the Netherlands, combining our strong mobile by Liberty Global. This will create a business footprint in one of our key European markets. This combination enables us to provide excellent converged services to customers, operator, and realise synergies with a net Television and content are becoming with customers often looking to buy as part we launched TV services in Ireland and now offer TV in seven markets. We have 9.5 million TV customers, with 0.4 million added this year. Television and content are becoming Our goal is to ensure access to premium In several markets, incumbents have sought to gain exclusive access to key content rights. In this scenario we will compete to secure access, which may increase our to prevent incumbents from using in fixed access markets – as a lever to reduce competition. 9.2 12.0 13.4

 


Table of Contents

 

to reach £10 billion in the year, or 28% of total look to procure fixed and mobile from a single international presence over the last two years: data networks) in 70 countries, with 268 points capabilities in 12 countries. Both of these & Wireless Worldwide in 2012. serves our biggest multi-national customers, by emerging markets. Our IoT unit achieved rise in connections to 38 million. We are the for IoT, in both scale and expertise, with and we are evolving our model from simple and vehicle tracking) to capture more of the which now operates as Vodafone Automotive, converged communications offer One It has also enabled us to increase our points 13 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Enterprise communications is a substantial and growing market. In a digital world, it is vital for companies big and small to be always connected with each other, their customers and their suppliers. They want to do so in a seamless, cost-effective way, without managing multiple suppliers across many borders. They need to have a mobile and digital strategy: it is no longer simply about equipping a workforce with mobile phones. Our customers are assessing how new services such as the Internet of Things can enhance their customer proposition and simplify their businesses. Plain connectivity, whether mobile or fixed, is becoming more commoditised: enterprise communications providers increasingly need to be experts in a wider range of services to address these changing needs. Vodafone has positioned itself well in this changing marketplace. Enterprise has always been at the centre of our strategy, and we continue to enjoy strong market share in mobile enterprise across all our major markets. Enterprise customers value our trusted brand, network quality and wide geographic reach, and this has been a strong foundation on which to build our expansion into fixed-line and value-added data and managed services. With an estimated Enterprise market share in Europe of 33% in mobile and only 6% in non-mobile, the long-term growth opportunity is significant. Our Enterprise service revenue grew 2.1%* Group service revenue. All of our strategic growth areas performed well, supported by Project Spring investments. Enterprise fixed revenue grew 4.4%*, as customers increasingly provider. We have substantially expanded our we now offer IP-VPN services (secure private of presence. In Cloud & Hosting, we now have specialisms build on our acquisition of Cable Vodafone Global Enterprise (‘VGE’), which saw revenue growth of 5.9%* in the year driven service revenue growth of 29%*, with a 37% acknowledged world leading mobile provider a global SIM available in over 200 countries, connectivity (for example, smart meters value chain. The acquisition of Cobra in 2014, has significantly extended the breadth and value of our services in the automotive sector, and we see similar opportunities in other industry sectors. Project Spring has strengthened our Enterprise business Project Spring has helped scale our Net, which is now available in 30 countries. of presence by 57% to 268 and double our IP-VPN geographic coverage to 70 countries. Enterprise Context a Businesses are increasingly searching for one communications provider to supply both fixed and mobile to their workforce a It is important for communication service providers to offer businesses reliable connectivity to employees, customers and suppliers What we’re aiming for a We want to maintain our strong mobile market share in enterprise, which has been earned from our trusted brand, global footprint and service quality a We aim to increase our market share in fixed enterprise services, by building on Project Spring investments a We intend to continue to invest in the growth areas of converged communications, cloud & hosting services, and the Internet of Things Internet of Things connections million 2014 2015 2016 28% of our service revenue is from enterprise customers 20.2 27.8 38.0

 


Table of Contents

 

Chief Fin ancial Officer’s review Meeting our objectives This has been a strong year of execution for the Group, meeting our strategic goals and delivering returns to shareholders. of accelerated investment was Spring customer experience targets have in the quality of our services compared data sessions above three megabits per on page 10, the mobile build phase was quality video) and dropped call rates were network, delivering a much improved respectively. In AMAP, our dropped call than 0.9%. In terms of progress against our operational A key strategic focus for the Group is to gain competitive fixed networks Combined annual cost and capex converged services. Part of the execution €6.3bn cable companies, were acquired we expected to generate combined annual cost and capex acquisition by the 2018 financial year, mainly from Vodafone DSL customers migrated 2.9m (mostly KDG and Ono) onto our own infrastructure and and procurement. I am pleased to say that 14 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 My priorities When I became CFO I highlighted three clear priorities which I believe will have a significant impact on our future financial performance: the execution of Project Spring according to the financial plan; the integration of acquisitions, most notably Kabel Deutschland (‘KDG’) and Ono; and a continued focus on cost efficiency. I believe that we have made good progress in all three areas and in the coming financial year it will be important to build on the improving execution seen during the 2016 financial year as we continue to monetise our Project Spring investments. Additionally, we intend to continue to pursue incremental operating efficiencies across all of our operating companies. During the year we initiated an ambitious cost efficiency project called “Fit for Growth” which we anticipate will deliver significant long-term benefits in terms of both cost savings and enhanced strategic flexibility. Executing these programmes with minimal disruption to customers is a priority. Our results are reviewed in more detail later in this report, but overall I am satisfied that we have made important progress in improving the financial performance of the business. More on our performance: Pages 30 to 37 Cost efficiency Project Spring execution Acquisition integration Project Spring execution Our £19 billion, two-year programmeI am pleased to say that all of our Project designed to deliver tangible differencesbeen met. In Europe, targets for both to competitors. As Vittorio highlighted second (the threshold for high-definition completed and we now have a modernised achieved: above 90% and less than 0.5% customer experience. rate target has also been achieved at less plan we are ahead overall, achieving 108% On the financial front, capital investment of the build targets. In our AMAP region was broadly, as planned, £19 billion taking we delivered our mobile build targets three into account foreign exchange movements months ahead of plan. In Europe we areand timing differences. Consequently this slightly behind. In particular our 4G build has, as expected, depressed our cash flows was impacted by rollout delays in the over the last two years. Looking forward, UK and Germany.we continue to expect that the level of capital spending will return to a more normalised level of capital intensity and we will generate the expected £1 billion of incremental cash flow by the 2019 financial year. KDG and Ono acquisition integration €600m to meet the growing demand for synergies by 2018 (previously €540m)of this strategy is to acquire companies where we can see a clear return on that investment. KDG and Ono, two leading Net Present Value of synergies (was €5.0bn)in 2013 and 2014 respectively. In total 242,000 synergies of approximately €540 million migrating fixed and mobile customers combining backhaul and core networks converged services customers and rationalisation of back office functions progress on integration has been better than expected and we now aim to deliver annual synergies totalling €600 million.

 


Table of Contents

 

financial year guidance Based on guidance foreign exchange rates, of the mobile build target met was £11.9 billion, in line with the £11.5 billion same basis our free cash flow was £1.0 billion, flow guidance. The key goals for the year ahead are to build last year, further enhance customer service, continue our focus on cost efficiency and grow to better align with the geographic split of the is now targeted to be in the mid-teens we previously anticipated, as we believe that available to further accelerate our growth and The Board intends to grow dividends per and beyond, dividends will be declared in euros and paid in euros, pounds sterling and returns with the primary currency in which /s/ Nick Read Chief Financial Officer opportunities for savings in procurement and 1 Before the impact of M&A, spectrum purchases and 15 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information 108% 87% Europe 4G coverage, slightly behind >90% target £1bn incremental cash flow from Spring by 2019 In Spain the integration of Ono has proceeded successfully. We have so far connected over 800 mobile base station sites to Ono’s fibre to save on backhaul costs. In addition, the launch last May of Vodafone One, our fully converged cable, mobile and TV service, has attracted 1.5 million customers. Overall we have already secured 100% of the original €240 million of cost and capex synergies targeted. We now expect to deliver €300 million of annualised savings. We have also made solid progress in Germany, and we have already managed to secure 80% of the original €300 million synergy target. We have migrated 242,000 customers off our DSL platform (on which we pay high monthly fees) onto KDG’s cable infrastructure. In November, we launched Vodafone Red One, our converged offer, which now has 54,000 customers. Finally, we have identified further opportunities for savings in procurement and other efficiency measures and as a result we are now targeting synergies with a NPV of €3.5 billion, up from €3.0 billion previously. Fit for Growth net savings from zero based Performance against 2016 adjusted EBITDA for the 2016 financial year to £12.0 billion range set in May 2015. On the consistent with our positive free cash Looking ahead on the improving commercial execution evident monetise the Project Spring investments, the dividend to shareholders. With effect from 1 April 2016, our presentation currency will change from sterling to the euro Group’s operations. We expect adjusted EBITDA to grow organically by 3–6%; this implies a range of €15.7 billion to €16.2 billion at guidance exchange rates. We expect free cash flow of at least €4 billion1. Total capital expenditure as a percentage of annual revenue; this is higher than the 13%–14% range that there are attractive investment opportunities improve our long-term strategic positioning. share annually. For the 2017 financial year US dollars, aligning the Group’s shareholder we generate free cash-flow. Nick Read Note: restructuring costs. Cost efficiency We continued to make good progress on costs this year within the scope of our Fit for Growth programme. As a result we were able to reduce overall customer costs through commercial efficiencies and drive down the support cost base in Europe. This helped offset increased network costs driven by the Project Spring roll-out, and inflationary pressures in our high growth markets in AMAP. Our Group-wide initiatives are driving a meaningful improvement in our cost base. These include a focus on direct cost optimisation; commercial efficiencies; network & IT transformation opportunities; centralised procurement and shared services; zero-based budgeting; and cost & capex synergy savings at acquired companies, combined with comprehensive local market initiatives. We introduced a zero-based budgeting methodology for the first time this year of which there were three key components. The first was an absolute cost reduction across Group functions, which was fully implemented in March 2016, delivering an annual net saving of £100m. Secondly, for Group operational units such as data centres and Shared Services we established productivity targets to drive efficiencies further across the organisation. And thirdly, we set multi-year targets for each of our local markets to drive margin expansion. The revenue growth combined with our strict cost control and efficiency measures is enabling us to achieve greater operational leverage and begin to expand margins. £100m budgeting in Group functions 80% Procurement spend centralised by 2019

 


Table of Contents

 

Key performance indicators Measuring our performance to keep us on track We track our performance against strategic, financial and operational metrics which allows the business and key stakeholders to assess our short term performance and enables us to see where we can do better. Strategic performance Changes to KPIs this year We have updated our Key Performance Indicators (‘KPI’s) this year to align better to our strategy and areas of investment. Enterprise is an engine of growth for the Group and contributes 28% of the Group’s revenues. We have included Enterprise in our KPIs as a reflection of its growing importance. With 4G and fixed broadband becoming more important in our emerging markets, we have adopted a Group metric for 4G customers and fixed broadband customers. Paying for performance The incentive plans used to reward the performance of our Directors and our senior managers, with some local variances, include measures linked to our KPIs. More on rewards for performance in the Remuneration Report: Pages 57 to 73 Convergence million homes passed Enterprise % Notes: 1 2 Based on Android and iPhone devices. Next Generation Network providing high-speed broadband over 30 Mbps. Before the impact of M&A, spectrum purchases and restructuring costs. 3 16 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Fixed as a percentage of enterprise service revenue Fixed services have become more important as businesses increasingly look to procure fixed and mobile from a single provider. Enterprise fixed revenue grew 4.4% in the year and we expect that this will increase as we continue to invest in our global fixed line footprint. Achieved 2014 2015 2016 23 25 27 Fixed broadband customers million Convergence As we expand our fixed broadband coverage we have successfully been able to increase our broadband base. We have added 1 million broadband customers across Europe and 266,000 customers across AMAP during the year, and expect to continue to grow our base this year and beyond. Achieved 2014 2015 2016 9.2 12.0 13.4 Europe NGN coverage (owned assets)2 As customers move towards converged services we have been investing in either building fibre or acquiring cable networks so we can offer high-speed broadband to our consumer and enterprise customers. We can now reach 30 million homes across Europe with high-speed broadband (72 million when including our wholesale access deals). Achieved 2014 2015 2016 16 26 30 Europe average monthly smartphone data usage1 MB Data A key goal in Europe is to ensure customers are using more data which will support revenue growth in the years ahead. Average smartphone usage has almost tripled over the last two years, helped by the uptake of 4G and content packages. Achieved 2014 2015 2016 473 755 1,120 4G customers Data million To ensure we get a return on our Project Spring 4G investment it is important that we migrate and attract new customers onto our 4G network. We more than doubled the number of our 4G customers in the year to 47 million and we expect this to continue to grow significantly. Achieved 2014 2015 2016 4.9 20.7 46.8 Europe 4G coverage Data % One of our main objectives of Project Spring was to roll out rapidly 4G across our European markets with a target to reach over 90% coverage by March 2016. We have now reached 87% coverage across our European markets, slightly behind our target of over 90%, which we expect to reach shortly. More work to do 2014 2015 2016 46 72 87

 


Table of Contents

 

performance in both revenue and adjusted EBITDA for the first time since 2008. With the recovery of our by 2.0% to 11.45 pence. Page 30 17 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Financial performance Operational Financial indicators This has been a strong year of execution for the Group, delivering a return to organic growth European performance and the continued strong growth in AMAP, we met our financial guidance for both adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow and increased our dividend per share More on Financial performance: a combination of the pride, loyalty and motivation We increased our employee engagement score quartile position. the proportion each year. Percentage of women in senior management % Diversity increases the range of skills and styles in our business, and increased female representation across our senior management (top c.1,500 managers) is one measure of diversity. Our goal is to increase We have made progress on this metric this year, with the proportion increasing slightly. More work to do 2014 2015 2016 24 23 24 Dividend per share pence The ordinary dividend remains the primary method of shareholder return. We intend to increase the dividend per share annually. We increased our dividend per share to 11.45 pence in the year. Our intention remains to grow the dividend per share annually. Achieved 2014 2015 2016 11.00 11.22 11.45 Free cash flow3 £ billion Cash generation is key to delivering strong shareholder returns. Our guidance was for positive free cash flow after all capital expenditure. Free cash flow fell slightly during the year due to elevated capital expenditures for Project Spring. On a guidance basis, free cash flow was £1.0 billion, consistent with the guidance range. Achieved 2014 2015 2016 4.4 1.1 1.0 Employee engagement index The employee engagement score measures of our workforce. Our goal here is to retain our top quartile position. by two points this year, and we retained a top Achieved 2014 2015 2016 77 77 79 Adjusted EBITDA £ billion Growth in adjusted EBITDA supports our free cash flow which helps fund investment and shareholder returns. Our guidance was for adjusted EBITDA of £11.5 billion to £12 billion in the year. Adjusted EBITDA fell 2.5% to £11.6 billion (up 2.7% on an organic basis). On a guidance basis, adjusted EBITDA was £11.9 billion, in line with the guidance range. Achieved 2014 2015 2016 11.1 11.9 11.6 Organic service revenue growth % Growth in revenue demonstrates our ability to increase our customer base and stabilise or raise ARPU. Our aim was to return to service revenue growth. We returned to service revenue growth supported by our Project Spring investment programme and achieved stabilisation in our European businesses. Achieved 2014 2015–1.6 2016 –2.6 +1.5 Consumer mobile net promoter score out of 21 markets We use Net Promoter Scores (‘NPS’) to measure the extent to which our customers would recommend us to friends and family. This year we increased the number of markets where we are ranked number one, but have more work to do in the UK and Germany. Achieved 2014 2015 2016 9 11 13

 


Table of Contents

 

Our peo ple The people behind our business Our people are behind every aspect of our strategy and execution, so it is important that we attract, develop and retain exceptional people who are empowered to use their best judgement in every situation. Building a high-performing culture This year we employed an average of 108,000 people from 138 countries as well as over 26,000 contractors. Our senior leadership team includes 21 nationalities, bringing together a diverse set of experiences and opinions to help us achieve our goals by better understanding the needs of our customers. Increasing employee engagement We engage our employees on issues related to our strategy, our people agenda, our products and services and changes happening in the Company in a variety of ways, including executive video updates, events and forums, our intranet, emails, texts, as well as through individual team leaders. Every year all our employees are invited to participate in a global survey which allows us to measure engagement levels, identify ways to improve how we do things, and compare ourselves with 30 other large companies. This year our engagement index, which measures how committed our employees are, their desire to continue working for us and their willingness to recommend Vodafone as an employer, increased by two points to 79, which is three points higher than other comparable companies. Our employee net promoter score, which indicates employees’ commitment to promoting our products and services, rose eight points to 59 (17 points higher than other large companies). The increase showed the growing levels of employee confidence that Project Spring and our Customer eXperience eXcellence programme are delivering. Training and developing future leaders We empower our people to contribute to our business success by tailoring their training and development to their individual capabilities and ambitions. We provide a combination of formal training, on the job experiences, and regular feedback from managers. This year we trained around 50,000 people through our global academies which enable our employees to develop world class capabilities within their core discipline and support their career development. These academies have won several industry awards for innovation and quality. Our global employee survey showed that 80% of employees feel they can learn the skills and knowledge to do their jobs well. We conduct regular talent reviews to identify high-potential future leaders. Each year we provide 60 of those with the opportunity for an accelerated development through our “Inspire” programme. The programme offers development and executive coaching and may include an assignment to another Vodafone market or function. Focusing on our customers Over the last year more than 14,000 retail store managers and sales advisers received training in the Vodafone Way of Retail programme. To date, more than 31,000 retail customer service employees and third-party staff have received training to enhance the services provided to our customers. We have standardised the recruitment process across all of our local markets to improve the quality of new recruits to our stores and have developed a new assessment approach for all customer facing employees. Our Group and local market senior leadership teams took part in the Customer Experience Leadership programme – a two-day workshop focused on listening to customers, external best practices, driving simplicity, and action planning. Making progress on Diversity and Inclusion We are committed to treating all employees fairly and offering equal opportunities in all aspects of employment and advancement. This year’s global employee survey showed that 89% of employees believe that Vodafone treats people fairly. Last year we launched a new global maternity policy, providing mandatory minimum maternity benefits, including 16 weeks of full pay followed by full pay for a 30-hour week for the first six months after employees return to work. This year, our CEO, Vittorio Colao, signed up to be a UN HeforShe Impact Champion, making significant commitments to gender equality for Vodafone. 37,000 colleagues, suppliers, and customers have already joined the campaign, which promotes gender equality – socially, economically and politically. In 2015 we developed a new unconscious bias training for all leadership teams to highlight the key decisions and everyday situations that may be affected by bias. In addition, employee networks in the areas of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (‘LGBT’), disability and gender have expanded globally and these serve a critical purpose in supporting these communities. 18 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016

 


Table of Contents

 

Our “Discover” programme for graduates accelerates the careers of high performing graduates, with over 700 people recruited onto this programme during the year. After the programme, a number of “Discovers” join an international programme, “Columbus” with the purpose of building leadership skills through a challenging two-year assignment outside of their home market. This year we launched a mobile app and website so employees can access topics such as anti-bribery, conflict of interest, speak up, privacy, security and competition law via their phone when they are out of the office. 33% Creating a safe place to work We want everyone working with Vodafone – employees and contractors – to return home safely every day. We start with the wellbeing of our employees: we launched our third annual Global Wellbeing Challenge on World Heart Day in October 2015. Around 5,000 employees took part in a wide range of exercise activities including cycling, dancing, running, swimming, and Zumba. Together, they covered a total of over 245,507 miles – equivalent to going around the world 10 times. For our safety campaign we focus on our top five risks: occupational road risk, working with electricity, working at height, control of contractors, and laying cables in the ground. Our efforts start at the top and our senior executives are personally involved, we train our people and suppliers, and we participate in best practice sharing with industry partners. Despite all our efforts, we deeply regret that 12 people2 lost their lives during the year. Traffic accidents involving contractors in India and Africa continue to be our main area of exposure. We have robust policies and processes to manage risks, and if incidents occur we work hard to identify and address the root causes. For more on Health & Safety read our sustainability report at www.vodafone.com/sustainability Recognising performance We reward people based on their performance, potential and contribution to our success. This year, we simplified the process by directly empowering our line managers to make performance decisions without a higher level approval. We continue to benchmark roles regularly to ensure competitive, fair remuneration in every country in which we operate. We also offer competitive retirement and other benefit provisions which vary depending on conditions and practices in local markets. Global short-term incentive plans are offered to a large percentage of employees and global long-term incentive plans are offered to our senior managers. Our incentive arrangements are subject to company performance measures, comprising both financial and strategic metrics, and individual performance measures. During the year we introduced a Customer Appreciation metric into our Global short-term incentive plan. See page 57 for more on remuneration. Doing what’s right We recognise that ethical conduct is just as important as high performance, and failure to operate ethically will impact our business success. Our “Code of Conduct” sets out our business principles and what we expect from employees to ensure they protect themselves as well as the Company’s reputation and assets. 1,700 women went on maternity leave this year and were eligible for our new global maternity policy Notes: 1 Employee numbers are shown on a full time employee basis. A statutory view is provided on page 140. 2 There were 12 fatalities, one was an employee, three were members of the public and eight were contractors. 19 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Employees by location % Spain 5% Italy 6% Vodacom Other 7% Germany 14% India 20%UK 15% Monthly average employees1 number 2014 2015 2016 Employee engagement index 2014 2015 2016 Employee turnover rate% 2014 2015 2016 Nationalities in top senior leadership roles 2014 2015 2016 Gender of employees % Female Male 36%64% 24 24 21 15 18 19 77 77 79 92,812 101,443 107,667

 


Table of Contents

 

Sus tainable business Sustainable business Mobile and digital technologies are a powerful social good, enhancing citizens’ understanding of, and ability to participate in, the world around them, and transforming the workplace, boosting productivity for businesses of all sizes in every industry. A new strategic approach Our businesses play an integral role in the daily lives of our more than 462 million mobile customers and are a vital part of the national infrastructure upon which the economies of our countries of operation depend. During 2016, we developed a new sustainable business strategy to ensure an even closer alignment between our core commercial goals and the maximum possible social and economic benefits achievable at scale as a consequence of those goals. Under that strategy, we have identified three areas where we believe our business activities can have the greatest positive societal impact: In parallel, we will focus our ongoing corporate transparency programme on those aspects of our business that are the source of greatest Energy innovation and greenhouse gas emissions There is clear evidence that global temperatures are rising quickly and a very strong consensus among scientists and policymakers that carbon dioxide emissions from hydrocarbon fuels such as coal, oil and gas – together with other greenhouse gases – are having a direct impact on the climate. The information, communications and technology (‘ICT’) industry requires significant amounts of electricity to connect billions of people, devices and machines and transmit vast amounts of data every second. Most power is supplied “on-grid” by national power generation companies whose predominant energy source is hydrocarbons, especially coal. Telecommunications operators also rely on hydrocarbons – in the form of diesel used in on-site generators – to power infrastructure “off-grid” in remote locations or areas of unreliable on-grid power. Vodafone is a signatory to the Paris Pledge for Action which recognises that climate change threatens future generations and calls for strong action to reduce emissions and achieve a safe and stable climate in which temperature rises are limited to well below 2ºC. Our networks account for most of the energy consumption in our businesses and are therefore the main source of our greenhouse gas emissions. As customer demand for data increases every year, our power requirements also grow; energy efficiency programmes (and, consequently, emissions reduction) are therefore an important priority. We collaborate closely with our major equipment suppliers to ensure that energy efficiency is integral to the design specification for new infrastructure. We have deployed highly efficient Single Radio Access Network (‘SRAN’) technologies (which allow 2G, 3G and 4G services to be run from a single piece of equipment) at more than 211,800 sites. We are also exploring a number of on-grid and off-grid renewable energy options. public debate and concern, specifically: a Taxation and total economic contribution, building on our existing commitment to transparency in corporate taxation including country-by-country reporting a Supply chain integrity and safety, providing insights into our efforts to ensure responsible and ethical behaviour among our suppliers and sub-suppliers and to ensure safety in our operations a Women’s empowerment, extending the benefits of mobile to more women in emerging markets while striving to become the world’s best employer for women by 2025 a Mobile, masts and health, addressing public concern regarding electromagnetic frequency (‘EMF’) emissions from mobile phones and base stations a Digital rights and freedoms, building on our commitment to transparency in law enforcement assistance, censorship, privacy and data protection matters a Energy innovation, optimising energy efficiency in, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from, our activities while helping our customers reduce their own emissions We are also committed to explaining how we put our principles into practice to ensure that our businesses operate responsibly. Further details of our approach are set out in the Group’s annual Sustainable Business Report, published on the same day as this Report. a Youth skills and jobs, using our technologies and expertise to help young adults enhance their skills and secure job opportunities in countries with high levels of youth unemployment Connecting women to healthcare In 2016, 164,000 women subscribed to Vodafone Turkey’s health and wellbeing SMS service which sends twice-weekly texts offering information and advice about prenatal, antenatal and infant care and women’s health. An interactive app with information about child development has also been downloaded 160,000 times. 20 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016

 


Table of Contents

 

Our total greenhouse gas emissions in 2016 were 4% higher than in 2015 at 2.57 million tonnes of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent), as a consequence of a 71% increase in the volume of data carried across our mobile networks. However, our measure of greenhouse gas efficiency improved greatly: annual greenhouse gas emissions per petabyte of data carried by our mobile networks were 40% lower than in 2015, dropping to an average of 1,900 tonnes CO2e/ petabyte. Our technologies and services also provide our customers with the means to make a meaningful reduction in their own emissions, most notably through the deployment of Internet of Things (‘IoT’) applications – a field in which we are the world’s leading mobile provider. Using network intelligence to optimise energy use in a wide variety of machines, devices and processes could account for a 20% reduction in projected global CO2e emissions by 2030 – enabling emissions to remain at 2015 levels1. In 2015, we announced a new goal under which we would seek to help our customers reduce their CO2e emissions by two tonnes for every one tonne of emissions from our own operations. We aim to achieve that goal by the end of March 2018. As of the end of March 2016, we were well on track to do so, helping our customers to save 1.74 tonnes of CO2e for every tonne of CO2e generated through our activities. We estimate that more than 30% of the 38 million IoT connections operated by Vodafone directly enable our customers to reduce their emissions. The total emissions avoided as a consequence of our IoT technologies and services in 2016 increased by 29%, over the same period in 2015, to reach 4.5 million tonnes CO2e. We provide further details of our approach to energy innovation in our annual Sustainable Business Report. Human Rights Communications technologies play an important role in underpinning human rights, enabling citizens to share information and exercise freedom of expression. However, many governments are concerned that these technologies are also empowering people intent on harm, such as criminals and terrorists; conversely, civil society groups are concerned that state actions to address the malign use of communications technologies have the effect of eroding the individual’s right to privacy. Human rights that extend in to the digital realm are important priorities for Vodafone – as can be seen in our Law Enforcement Disclosure Report. However, we are also fully mindful of other human rights risks in our operations – as our Code of Conduct makes clear – which are the focus of senior management scrutiny across all of our businesses. These include labour rights (particularly with regard to our supply chain) and economic, social and cultural rights. Details of our principles, rules and compliance programmes in response to those risks are set out in our annual Sustainable Business Report including a statement – as stipulated under the UK Modern Slavery Act (2015) – summarising our actions to address the risk of modern slavery within our own operations and those of our suppliers and sub-suppliers. The Report also provides details of our ongoing work with our suppliers and other industry stakeholders to improve ethical, labour and environmental standards across our supply chain. Note: 1 Smarter Report 2030, Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI) June 2015. 21 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Greenhouse gas (‘GHG’) emissions million tonnes of CO2e 2014 2015 2016 Scope 1 emissions (over which we have direct control) Scope 2 emissions (from purchased electricity) Total of Scope 1 and Scope 2 Note: Calculated using local market actual or estimated data sourced from invoices, purchasing requisitions, direct data measurement and estimations. Carbon emissions calculated in line with GHG Protocol standards. The 2014 and 2015 values have been re-based in accordance with revised Scope 2 guidance. Scope 2 emissions are reported using the market-based methodology. For full methodology see our Sustainable Business Report 2016. Greenhouse gas emissions per petabyte of data carried by our mobile networks tonnes of CO2e 2014 2015 2016 Note: Figures include all data carried by our mobile networks with an adjustment to include only part of the data carried in India, where only base stations under Vodafone’s operational control are included in our greenhouse gas emissions totals. Ratio of GHG emission savings for customers to our own GHG footprint 2014 2015 2016 2018 Note: 2014 figures have been extrapolated from actuals for 2013 and 2015. Emissions savings for customers have been calculated based on GeSI’s ICT Enablement Methodology. Our Sustainable Business Report 2016: www.vodafone.com/sustainability/ report 2016 1.19 1.41 1.74 Target 2.00 8,200 3,100 1,900 0.34 2.04 2.38 0.37 2.10 2.47 0.41 2.16 2.57

 


Table of Contents

 

Principal risk factors and uncertainties Identifying our risks We have a clear framework for identifying and managing risk, both at an operational and strategic level. Our risk identification processes have been designed to be responsive to the ever-changing environments in which we operate. 22 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Our risk management framework Vodafone needs to take risks and assume exposures to achieve its Vodafone has recently introduced an enhanced global framework strategy. Risk, within agreed and defined parameters, is essential to the designed to identify risks; set risk appetite: put in place appropriate success of Vodafone. Equally, failure to suitably manage risk may have measures to ensure risks are properly managed and monitored; an adverse impact upon Vodafone’s strategic goals and objectives. and facilitate informed decision making. The framework, as set out in the diagram, ensures we have one, company-wide approach to risk management, with local oversight and approvals. versus appetite views shared with Report a Inform the Board and Executive Committee on how effectively risks are being managed a Group-wide, consolidated risk managers Monitor a Integrated assurance mapping identifies all levels of control and oversight in place a Effectiveness of control and oversight is tested across the “three lines of defence”1 Manage a Controls and mitigating actions identified and measured a Risk action plans created to control risks outside of appetite Measure a Risk appetites set by the Board for all principal risks and cascaded down a Standardised scoring and categorisation allows consolidation and escalation across Group Identify a Risks identified in each Vodafone local market and entity a Strategic risk reviews with Senior Leadership a Group principal risks reviewed and agreed with the Board

 


Table of Contents

 

Oversight of risks The Board has overall responsibility for the Group’s risk management and internal controls system. The Audit and Risk Committee, under delegation from the Board, monitors the nature and extent of risk exposure against risk appetite for our principal risks. Details of the activities of the Audit and Risk Committee are set out on pages 47 to 52 of this report. At an operational level, risks are reviewed and managed by the Executive Committee and through its delegated sub-committee, the Risk and Compliance Committee. Details of the activities of the Risk and Compliance Committee are set out on page 39 of this report. Our principal risks The risk management framework covers all risks to our business but includes a process to identify the principal risks to our strategic objectives through the integration of bottom-up and top-down exercises. The bottom-up exercise identifies and consolidates all of the priority risks raised by local markets and entities. The top-down exercise involves interviews with around 30 senior executives. The aggregated results from these exercises are used to form the principal risks which are approved by the Executive Committee, prior to submission to the Audit and Risk Committee and the Board. Each principal risk is assigned to a senior executive who is responsible for managing the risk and reporting on progress to the Executive Committee. Vodafone’s principal risks are similar to those reported last year, although with some changes to the driving force behind the risks, and one new risk regarding legal and regulatory requirements. What is the risk? A successful cyber-attack or internal event could result in us not being able to deliver service to our customers and/or failing to protect their data. This could include a terrorist attack, state sponsored hacking, hacktivists or threats from individuals. 23 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Cyber threat

 


Table of Contents

 

Principal risk factors and uncertainties (continued) What is the risk? Vodafone operates under licence in most markets. Increased financial pressures on governments may lead them to target foreign investors for further licence fees or to charge unreasonably high prices to obtain or renew spectrum. Similarly we could be exposed to additional liabilities if we faced a new challenge from tax or competition authorities or if local or international tax laws were to change, for example as a result of the OECD’s recommendations on base erosion and profit shifting or the proposed EU tax and financial reporting Directives. 24 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Adverse political measures Failure to deliver on convergence What is the risk? We face competition from providers who have the ability to sell converged services (combinations of fixed line, broadband, TV content and mobile) on their existing infrastructure. If we fail to deliver converged services in key markets, due to inability to access infrastructure or content at a reasonable price, this could potentially lead to higher customer churn and/or significant downward pressure on our prices.

 


Table of Contents

 

What is the risk? Concerns have been expressed that electromagnetic signals emitted by mobile telephone handsets and base stations may pose health risks. Authorities, including the World Health Organization (‘WHO’) agree there is no evidence that convinces experts that exposure to radio frequency fields from mobile devices and base stations operated within guideline limits has any adverse health effects. A change to this view could result in a range of impacts from a change to national legislation, to a major reduction in mobile phone usage or to major litigation. What is the risk? We have a number of high-value, ongoing contracts with corporate customers, including some government agencies and departments. Successful and profitable delivery of our major enterprise contracts is dependent on complex technologies deployed across multiple geographies, as well as relative stability in the requirements, strategies and businesses of our customers. 25 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Major enterprise contracts EMF related health risks

 


Table of Contents

 

Principal risk factors and uncertainties (continued) What is the risk? We face increased competition from a variety of new technology providers, new market entrants and competitor consolidation. 26 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Market disruption Unstable economic conditions What is the risk? As a multinational business, we operate in many countries and currencies, so changes to global economic conditions can impact us. This could be because another global crisis would result in reduced spending power for customers or because a relative strengthening or weakening of the major currencies in which we transact could impact our profitability. As a UK business, the UK leaving the European Union may impact us, and it could lead to wider concerns about the stability of the Eurozone.

 


Table of Contents

 

What is the risk? If our network or IT systems fail, voice, video or data transmissions may be significantly interrupted. We need to ensure that our critical assets are protected and our systems are resilient, so that impact on our customers is minimised, particularly during our major IT transformation projects. What is the risk? Vodafone must comply with a multitude of local and international laws as well as regulations. These encompass but are not limited to, licence requirements, customer registration, data privacy, anti-money laundering, competition law, anti-bribery and economic sanctions. Non-compliance with these requirements exposes Vodafone to financial and reputational risk. 27 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Non-compliance with laws and regulation Network/IT infrastructure failure

 


Table of Contents

 

Principal risk factors and uncertainties (continued) What is the risk? If we fail to deliver a differentiated and superior experience to our customers in store, online and on the phone, this could diminish our brand and reputation, weakening our relationship with customers and reducing their loyalty to Vodafone. 28 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Customer Experience

 


Table of Contents

 

This page is intentionally left blank 29 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information

 


Table of Contents

 

Operating results Our financial performance This section presents our operating performance, providing commentary on how the revenue and the adjusted EBITDA performance of the Group and its operating segments have developed over the last year. Group1 % change Europe £m AMAP £m Other2 Eliminations 2016 £m 2015 £m £m £m £ Organic Notes: 1 2016 results reflect average foreign exchange rates of £1:€1.37, £1:INR 98.61 and £1:ZAR 20.72. 2 The “Other” segment primarily represent the results of the partner markets and the net result of unallocated central Group costs. Revenue Group revenue decreased 3.0% to £41.0 billion and service revenue decreased by 3.5% to £37.2 billion. Reported growth includes the full year impact from the acquisitions of Hellas Online (‘HOL’) and Cobra Automotive (‘Cobra’) in the prior year. In Europe, organic service revenue declined 0.6%* reflecting continued competitive pressures in a number of markets, with improving trends throughout the year. In AMAP, organic service revenue increased by 6.9%* continuing its sustained track record of strong organic growth. Amortisation of intangible assets in relation to customer bases and brands are recognised under accounting rules after we acquire businesses and decreased to £979 million (2015: £1,269 million) due to the acquisition of Ono. Including the above items, operating profit decreased by £0.6 billion to £1.4 billion as the £0.45 billion impairment charge, £0.3 billion reduction in adjusted EBITDA and £0.1 billion increase in restructuring costs were partly offset by £0.1 billion of lower depreciation and amortisation charges and £0.1 billion higher contribution from associates and joint ventures. Adjusted EBITDA Group adjusted EBITDA declined 2.5% to £11.6 billion, with organic growth in Europe and AMAP and the acquisitions of HOL and Cobra being more than offset by foreign exchange movements. On an organic basis, adjusted EBITDA rose 2.7%* and the Group’s adjusted EBITDA margin stabilised at 28.3%. Net financing costs 2016 £m 2015 £m Operating profit Adjusted operating profit excludes certain income and expenses that we have identified separately to allow their effect on the results of the Group to be assessed (see page 190). The items that are included in operating profit but are excluded from adjusted operating profit are discussed below. An impairment loss of £450 million was recognised in the current financial year (2015: £nil). Further detail is provided in note 4 to the Group’s consolidated financial statements. Restructuring costs of £236 million (2015: £157 million) have been incurred to improve future business performance and reduce costs. 30 Note: 1 Comprises foreign exchange rate differences in relation to certain intercompany balances. Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Investment income 300 883 Financing costs (2,124) (1.736) Net financing costs (1,824) (853) Analysed as: Net financing costs before interest on settlement of tax issues (1,107) (1,160) Interest (expense)/credit arising on settlement of outstanding tax issues (15) 4 (1,122) (1,156) Mark-to-market losses (247) (134) Foreign exchange1 (455) 437 (1,824) (853) Revenue 26,71813,2081,160(113)40,973 42,227(3.0)2.3 Service revenue 24,46111,843968(113)37,159 38,497(3.5)1.5 Other revenue 2,2571,365192–3,814 3,730 Adjusted EBITDA 7,6864,042(116)–11,612 11,915(2.5)2.7 Adjusted operating profit 1,4091,813(105)– 3,117 3,507(11.1)(3.9) Adjustments for: Impairment loss (450) – Restructuring costs (236) (157) Amortisation of acquired customer bases and brand intangible assets (979) (1,269) Other income and expense (75) (114) Operating profit 1,377 1,967 Non-operating income and expense (2) (19) Net financing costs (1,824) (853) Income tax (expense)/credit (3,369) 4,765 (Loss)/profit for the financial year from continuing operations (3,818) 5,860 Profit for the financial year from discontinued operations – 57 (Loss)/profit for the financial year (3,818) 5,917

 


Table of Contents

 

Earnings per share Adjusted earnings per share, which excludes the reduction in the tax losses in Luxembourg following the revaluation of investments in the local statutory accounts in the current period and the recognition of deferred tax assets in respect of tax losses in Luxembourg in the prior year, was 5.04 pence, a decrease of 9.2% year-on-year, reflecting the Group’s lower adjusted operating profit for the year. Basic earnings per share was a loss of 15.08 pence primarily due to the reduction in deferred tax on losses, as described above, which has been excluded from adjusted earnings per share. Net financing costs, excluding mark-to-market losses and foreign exchange differences in relation to certain intercompany balances, decreased by 3% primarily due to the impact of foreign exchange losses on financing costs. Taxation 2016 £m 2015 £m 2016 £m 2015 £m The deferred tax on revaluation of investments in Luxembourg for the year ended 31 March 2016 includes the use of Luxembourg losses in the year of £423 million (2015: £439 million) and a reduction in the deferred tax asset in the period of £3,207 million (2015: recognition of an additional asset of £2,127 million) arising from the tax treatment of the revaluation of investments based upon the local GAAP financial statements at 31 March 2016. These items reduce the amount of losses we have available for future use against our profits in Luxembourg and do not affect the amount of tax we pay in other countries. In addition, the tax rate in the year ended 31 March 2015 includes the impact of the recognition of an additional £3,341 million deferred tax asset in respect of the Group’s historic tax losses in Luxembourg. The losses were recognised as a consequence of the acquisition of Ono. 2016 £m 2015 £m The statutory effective tax rate for the year ended 31 March 2016 was (750.3)% compared to (440.4)% in the prior year. The difference is primarily due to the effect of the reduction in deferred tax assets in Luxembourg based upon the local statutory accounts at 31 March 2016 this year compared to the recognition of deferred tax assets in Luxembourg the prior year and the lower loss before tax. 31 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Total tax (expense)/credit (3,369) 4,822 Loss before tax: Continuing operations (449) 1,095 Discontinued operations – – Total profit before tax (449) 1,095 Effective tax rate -750.3% -440.4% (Loss)/profit attributable to owners of the parent (4,024) 5,761 Adjustments: Impairment loss 450 – Amortisation of acquired customer base and brand intangible assets 979 1,269 Restructuring costs 236 157 Other income and expense 75 114 Non-operating income and expense 2 19 Investment income and financing costs 449 (437) 2,191 1,122 Taxation 3,194 (5,334) Discontinued operations – (57) Non-controlling interests (17) (21) Adjusted profit attributable to owners of the parent 1,344 1,471 Income tax expense: Continuing operations before deferred tax on revaluation of investments in Luxembourg (162) (703) Discontinued operations – 57 Total income tax expense (162) (646) Deferred tax on revaluation of investments in Luxembourg – continuing operations (3,207) 5,468 Total tax (expense)/credit (3,369) 4,822

 


Table of Contents

 

Operating results (continued) Europe1 Restated 2015 £m % change Germany £m Italy £m UK £m Spain Other Europe Eliminations £m Europe £m £m £m £ Organic Note: 1 The Group has amended its reporting to reflect changes in the internal management of its Enterprise business. The primary change has been that on 1 April 2015 the Group redefined its segments to report international voice transit service revenue within Common Functions rather than within the service revenue amount disclosed for each country and region. The service revenue amounts presented for the year ended 31 March 2015 have been restated onto a comparable basis together with all disclosed organic service revenue growth rates. There is no impact on total Group service revenue or costs. Revenue decreased 3.5% for the year. M&A activity, including HOL and Cobra, contributed a 1.3 percentage point positive impact, while foreign exchange movements contributed a 5.2 percentage point negative impact. On an organic basis, service revenue decreased by 0.6%*, reflecting continued competitive pressures in a number of markets. Adjusted EBITDA decreased 2.6%, including a 1.2 percentage point positive impact from M&A activity and a 5.5 percentage point negative impact from foreign exchange movements. On an organic basis adjusted EBITDA increased 1.7%* driven by good cost control in a number of our Germany Service revenue declined 0.4%* for the year, but returned to growth in Q4 (Q3: -0.4%*; Q4: 1.6%*) led by improvements in consumer mobile and fixed trends and aided by an accounting reclassification in fixed line. Mobile service revenue declined 1.6%*. Consumer contract revenue stabilised in the year, supported by consistent growth in contract net adds (+594,000 for the year). This performance has been driven by an increased focus on direct channels and our ‘Otelo’ second brand; during Q4, higher competition in indirect channels weighed on our contract net additions. The Enterprise market became increasingly competitive during the year, leading to a deteriorating revenue trend as falling ARPU more than offset good contract wins. We have made further strong progress on network investment, with 87% 4G coverage and dropped call rates declining 25% year-on-year to an all-time low of 0.44%. In November, the independent “Connect” test confirmed the premium quality of our voice network in Germany and a strong second and most improved data position. Fixed service revenue growth was 1.5%*, with continued strong growth in cable and a slowing decline in DSL-related revenue. Cable net adds growth continued to be strong throughout the year, supplemented by ongoing migrations from the DSL base; in the second half of the year DSL net adds also turned positive, with growing customer demand for VDSL. Broadband ARPU was down year-on-year in a promotional market, with improvements in cable offset by DSL declines, although the pace of decline began to moderate during H2. The integration of KDG has been completed; we expect cost synergies to meet the initial targets set out at the time of acquisition, and now expect further upside potential longer-term. In November, we launched Vodafone Red One, our fully integrated fixed, mobile and TV service combining high speed mobile and fixed; as of 31 March 2016 we had 54,000 customers. Adjusted EBITDA grew 2.1%*, with adjusted EBITDA margin improving by 0.8* percentage points. The impact of lower revenues and increased Project Spring network opex was more than offset by opex efficiencies (including KDG synergies), savings in commercial costs (aided by our increased focus on direct channels) and a change in commission processes. markets, as well as the benefits of acquisition integrations. Organic change % Other activity1 pps Foreign exchange pps Reported change % Revenue – Europe 0.4 1.3 (5.2) (3.5) Service revenue Germany (0.4) – (6.7) (7.1) Italy (0.8) – (6.7) (7.5) UK (0.3) (0.4) (0.1) (0.8) Spain (3.5) 8.7 (6.6) (1.4) Other Europe 1.5 1.9 (6.8) (3.4) Europe (0.6) 1.3 (5.1) (4.4) Adjusted EBITDA Germany 2.1 – (6.7) (4.6) Italy 3.1 – (6.8) (3.7) UK 1.2 (5.4) – (4.2) Spain 4.2 19.6 (6.8) 17.0 Other Europe (1.5) 1.3 (6.5) (6.7) Europe 1.7 1.2 (5.5) (2.6) Europe adjusted =operating profit (12.9)(0.2)(5.6)(18.7) Note: 1 “Other activity” includes the impact of M&A activity. Refer to “Organic growth” on page 191 for further detail. 32 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Year ended 31 March 2016 Revenue 7,7874,405 6,1733,633 4,835(115)26,718 27,687(3.5)0.4 Service revenue 7,1973,758 5,8493,274 4,494(111) 24,461 25,588(4.4)(0.6) Other revenue 590647 324359 341(4) 2,257 2,099 Adjusted EBITDA 2,5371,478 1,289915 1,467–7,686 7,894(2.6)1.7 Adjusted operating profit 378590 (69)53 457–1,409 1,733(18.7)(12.9) Adjusted EBITDA margin 32.6%33.6% 20.9% 25.2% 30.3%28.8% 28.5%

 


Table of Contents

 

Italy Service revenue declined 0.8%* for the year, but returned to growth in Q4 (Q3: -0.3%*; Q4: 1.3%*), aided by the leap-year benefit. The mobile business is on a steady recovery path, while fixed line performance continues to be positive despite increased competition in recent months. Mobile service revenue declined 1.1%*, as a recovery in ARPU supported by prepaid price increases only partially offset the year-on-year decline in the customer base. Mobile number portability in the market has reduced in recent quarters and the customer base decline stabilised during the year, aided by market-leading NPS scores in mobile following our Project Spring investments. Consumer trends improved faster than Enterprise, where competitive intensity has increased in H2. As of 31 March 2016 we have 95% population coverage on our 4G network and 6.5 million 4G customers (September 2015: 4.0 million). Fixed service revenue was up 1.2%*, driven by sustained commercial momentum. We added 168,000 broadband customers during the year, a strong performance, and in Q4 50% of our gross adds have taken a fibre-based service. Of our base of 2.0 million broadband customers, 297,000 are fibre customers. We have now built out our own fibre network to over 16,000 cabinets, enabling us to reach 3.6 million households. Our high speed broadband rollout in Italy will be enhanced by our commercial agreement with Enel, which plans to roll out Fibre-To-The-Home (FTTH) to 224 cities nationwide, providing access on competitive commercial terms. In these areas Enel will be our exclusive fibre partner going forward. Adjusted EBITDA was up 3.1%*, as we successfully offset the decline in service revenue with savings in commercial costs and operating expenses. The adjusted EBITDA margin was stable year-on-year due principally to higher handset revenues. Fixed service revenue grew 1.1%*. Excluding carrier services, fixed service revenue grew 2.4%* in the second half of the year including an improving performance in Enterprise. After regional trials during the summer, we began to offer our consumer broadband service to 24 million premises across the UK (98% of BT’s fibre footprint) in October, securing 38,000 customers by 31 March 2016. Our new TV service is in field trials with plans to launch later in the current calendar year. Adjusted EBITDA grew 1.2%*, with a 0.2* percentage point increase in the adjusted EBITDA margin driven by continued operational efficiencies. Reported adjusted EBITDA benefited from one-off settlements with other network operators in the first half of the year. Spain Service revenue declined 3.5%* (Q3: -3.1%*; Q4: -3.2%*), with mobile revenue recovering steadily despite the negative effect of handset financing, and continued positive momentum in fixed. Excluding handset financing effects, service revenues declined by 0.3%* in the year. Mobile service revenue fell 8.0%*. The contract customer base continued to grow in a more stable market, despite increased promotional activity around the start of the new football season. We are seeing signs that ARPU is beginning to stabilise, aided by our market-leading NPS scores in mobile and our ‘more-for-more’ pricing strategy, in which customers receive higher data allowances and additional features (e.g. free European roaming) together with an increase in the monthly tariff. Our 4G population coverage reached 91% at 31 March 2016 and we have 5.4 million 4G customers. Fixed service revenue rose 7.8%*, supported by consistent growth in broadband net additions. The integration of Ono has proceeded successfully and we have already achieved 100% of the original €240 million of cost and capex synergies targeted. We now expect to be able to deliver €300 million of annualised run-rate savings over the original timeframe. In part this reflects the very successful launch in May of Vodafone One, our fully integrated cable, mobile and TV service, which has already reached 1.5 million customers. Including our joint fibre network build with Orange, we now reach 8.5 million premises with cable or fibre. Our recent agreement with Mediapro together with the wholesale obligations imposed on the incumbent provide us with access to a full range of premium TV channels for the coming years, albeit at an increased cost. Adjusted EBITDA increased 4.2%* year-on-year with a 1.3* percentage point increase in the adjusted EBITDA margin, as strong cost control, the benefit to margin from handset financing and the cost synergies from the Ono acquisition more than offset rising TV costs. UK Service revenue declined 0.3%* for the year (Q3: -0.7%*; Q4: -0.1%*), with improving trends in fixed line offset by a slowdown in mobile, reflecting operational challenges following a billing system migration. Q4 growth benefited from strong carrier services activity; excluding this, underlying trends were stable. The organic growth rate for the year excludes one-off settlements with other network operators in Q2. Mobile service revenue declined 0.7%*. Contract customer growth slowed in Q4, impacted partly by higher churn in relation to the billing system migration. Revenue trends were also impacted by the pricing and usage of 08XX numbers following the introduction of Non-Geographic Call Services regulation, and a focus on giving customers more control of their out-of-bundle data spend. As a result, in-bundle revenue and demand for data add-ons continued to grow. Enterprise mobile trends remained relatively stable despite increased competition. National 4G coverage reached 91% (based on the OFCOM definition), and 99.5% in London; based on our estimations, 4G coverage was 84%, and despite some delays the pace of 4G coverage expansion in conjunction with our network sharing partner is now accelerating. We achieved significant growth in 4G customers, with 7.0 million at the period end (September 2015: 5.3 million). Other Europe Service revenue rose 1.5%* (Q3: 1.6%*; Q4: 2.1%*), with all markets except Greece achieving growth during the year. In Q4, Romania (7.7%*), Portugal (3.5%*) and the Czech Republic enjoyed an improvement in top-line growth. 33 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information

 


Table of Contents

 

Operating results (continued) In the Netherlands, service revenue increased 0.3%*, with growth moving into decline during H2 (Q3: 0.2%*; Q4: -1.3%*) as continued gains in fixed line (partly aided by a Q4 accounting reclassification) were offset by a decline in mobile contract ARPU. In Portugal, fixed service revenue continues to grow strongly and mobile is recovering as ARPU and churn pressure from the shift towards convergent pricing begins to moderate. Our FTTH network now reaches 2.4 million homes. Ireland returned to service revenue growth in Q2, with strong momentum in fixed line Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific1 and an improving trend in mobile. The initial 4G roll-out is complete with 95% population coverage. In Greece macroeconomic conditions remained a drag, however good cost control led to improved margins. The integration of HOL is progressing according to plan. Adjusted EBITDA declined 1.5%*, with a 1.0* percentage point decline in adjusted EBITDA margin, mainly driven by lower margins in Portugal and Romania. Restated 2015 £m % change India £m Vodacom £m Other AMAP £m Eliminations £m AMAP £m £ Organic Note: 1 The Group has amended its reporting to reflect changes in the internal management of its Enterprise business. The primary change has been that on 1 April 2015 the Group redefined its segments to report international voice transit service revenue within Common Functions rather than within the service revenue amount disclosed for each country and region. The service revenue amounts presented for the year ended 31 March 2015 have been restated onto a comparable basis together with all disclosed organic service revenue growth rates. There is no impact on total Group service revenues or costs. India Service revenue increased 5.0%* (Q3: 2.3%*; Q4: 5.3%*) as customer base growth and strong demand for 3G data was partially offset by a number of regulatory changes, including MTR cuts, roaming price caps and an increase in service tax. Excluding these impacts, service revenue growth was 10.0%*. Q4 growth recovered versus Q3 as voice price competition moderated during the quarter and regulatory impacts began to reduce in March. We added 14.1 million customers during the year, taking the total to 197.9 million. Growth in total minutes of use continued, but this was offset by a decline in average revenue per minute as a result of ongoing competition on voice business. Data growth continues to be very strong, with data usage over the network up 64% year-on-year, and the active data customer base increasing by 3.8 million to 67.5 million. The 3G customer base grew to 27.4 million, up 41.4% year-on-year, and smartphone penetration in our four biggest urban areas is now 52.8%. In Q4, browsing revenue represented 19.2% of local service revenue, up from 14.9% in the equivalent quarter last year. Since the launch of Project Spring we have added over 37,700 new 3G sites, taking the total to 55,500 and our population coverage to 95% of target urban areas. We have launched 4G in five key circles and plan to expand to cover over 60% of our data revenues in the coming year, ahead of the upcoming spectrum auction. Our M-Pesa business continues to expand, with 1.3 million active customers at March 2016, and approximately 120,000 agents. In August, the Reserve Bank of India granted us ‘in principle’ approval to set up a payments bank. Adjusted EBITDA grew 4.1%*, with a 0.2* percentage point deterioration in adjusted EBITDA margin as the benefits of service revenue growth were offset by the ongoing increase in operating costs related to Project Spring, higher acquisition costs and the translation effects of non-rupee operating costs. Market conditions remain competitive and may be further impacted by the forthcoming spectrum auctions and a new entrant. Preparations continue for a potential IPO of Vodafone India. Revenue decreased 1.3%, with strong organic growth offset by a 7.7 percentage point adverse impact from foreign exchange movements, particularly with regards to the South African rand, Turkish lira and Egyptian pound. On an organic basis, service revenue was up 6.9%* driven by growth in the customer base, increased voice and data usage, and continued good commercial execution. Overall growth was negatively impacted by MTR cuts and other regulatory charges, mainly in India. Adjusted EBITDA decreased 1.1%, including a 7.9 percentage point adverse impact from foreign exchange movements. On an organic basis, adjusted EBITDA grew 7.2%*, driven by growth in all major markets. Organic change % Other activity1 pps Foreign exchange pps Reported change % Revenue – AMAP 7.0 (0.6) (7.7) (1.3) Service revenue India 5.0 – (0.2) 4.8 Vodacom 5.4 – (12.7) (7.3) Other AMAP 10.1 (1.9) (9.3) (1.1) AMAP 6.9 (0.7) (7.0) (0.8) Adjusted EBITDA India 4.1 – (0.3) 3.8 =Vodacom 12.7 –(15.5)(2.8) Other AMAP 4.5 (1.3) (7.1) (3.9) AMAP 7.2 (0.4) (7.9) (1.1) AMAP adjusted operating profit 11.7 (1.1) (10.0) 0.6 Note: 1 “Other activity” includes the impact of M&A activity. Refer to “Organic growth” on page 191 for further detail. 34 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Year ended 31 March 2016 Revenue 4,516 3,8874,814(9) 13,208 13,382(1.3)7.0 Service revenue 4,497 3,2334,122(9) 11,843 11,935(0.8)6.9 Other revenue 19 654692– 1,365 1,447 Adjusted EBITDA 1,331 1,4841,227– 4,042 4,086(1.1) 7.2 Adjusted operating profit 469 992352– 1,813 1,8020.611.7 Adjusted EBITDA margin 29.5% 38.2%25.5%30.6% 30.5%

 


Table of Contents

 

Vodacom Vodacom Group service revenue increased 5.4%* (Q3: 7.2%*; Q4: 6.3%*), supported by strong momentum in both South Africa and the International operations. In South Africa, organic service revenue grew 4.7%* (Q3: 7.2%*; Q4: 6.5%*), with the consumer and enterprise businesses both performing well. We continued to focus on building brand and network differentiation, with our performance driven by strong demand for data. We further enhanced our leading network position, more than doubling our LTE/4G sites to over 6,000, taking coverage to 58.2% on LTE/4G and 98.9% on 3G. Data revenue growth remained strong at 18.8*% in Q4 and data is now 36.3% of local service revenue. Our pricing transformation strategy is making good progress, with 85% of contract customers now on integrated price plans and churn falling to our lowest levels at 6.9% in Q4. Total bundle sales reached 1.1 billion, supported by our ‘Just 4 U’ personalised offers. Service revenue growth in Vodacom’s International operations outside South Africa was 10.0%*, driven by increased voice revenue as a result of pricing strategies and bundle offerings, data take-up and M-Pesa. Active data customers reached 10.1 million, 37% of total customers, and active M-Pesa customers totalled 6.8 million in Q4, all benefiting from sustained network investment. Vodacom Group adjusted EBITDA increased 12.7%*, significantly faster than revenues, with a 3.6* percentage point improvement in adjusted EBITDA margin. This strong performance partly reflected a change in accounting for certain transactions in the indirect channel, which depressed equipment sales and total revenues with no impact on adjusted EBITDA. Excluding this effect, adjusted EBITDA margins rose driven by operating leverage, tight cost control and a tailwind from foreign exchange gains. Section 219 SEC filings of interest Vodafone Group Plc (‘Vodafone’) does not have any subsidiaries, other equity investments, assets, facilities or employees located in Iran, and Vodafone has made no capital investment in Iran. To the best of its knowledge, no U.S. persons, including any U.S. affiliates of Vodafone, are involved in the activities described below. Except as specified below, to the best of Vodafone’s knowledge, neither it, its subsidiaries, nor its affiliates have engaged in any conduct needing to be disclosed under Section 13(r) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Roaming and interconnect Vodafone has wholesale roaming and interconnect arrangements with mobile and fixed line operators in Iran. Vodafone has, or has had, relationships with telecommunications operators in Iran in connection with such roaming and interconnect arrangements, some of which it believes are or may be government controlled entities. The approximate total gross revenues attributable to the arrangements mentioned above for the financial year ended 31 March 2016 were £676,000. EPEG Project Vodafone Global Network Limited (‘VGN’) is a member of a consortium made up of Telecommunication Infrastructure Company of Iran (‘TIC’) (an entity controlled by the government of Iran), Rostelecom and Omantel, that has built a high speed cable network from a landing point in Oman to Germany. Each member of the consortium is responsible for funding, building and maintaining its section of the cable, with VGN owning and being responsible for the segment from the Ukrainian border with Russia to Frankfurt, Germany. No capacity sales have been made on this high speed cable network yet; consequently there are no EPEG revenues or profits associated with the EPEG project. Vodafone intends to continue its involvement in the EPEG Project. Intellectual Property Vodafone, through one of its subsidiaries, also makes some insignificant payments to Iran in order to register certain domain names, register and renew certain trademarks, and protect its brand globally. Vodafone paid annual registration fees of £48 to IRNIC for the registration of three domain names. Vodafone paid £60 (2.6 million Iranian Rial) to the Iranian trademarks office in order to renew one of its trade marks during the fiscal year ended 31 March 2016. During the fiscal year ended 31 March 2016, Vodafone, through one of its subsidiaries, also made payments of: Other AMAP Service revenue increased 10.1%* (Q3: 10.8%*; Q4: 12.1%*), with strong growth in Turkey, Egypt and Ghana partially offset by a decline in Qatar. Service revenue in Turkey was up 19.7%*, reflecting continued strong growth in consumer contract and Enterprise revenue, and we launched 4G services in April 2016. Fixed line momentum was strong, almost quadrupling the fixed broadband customer base to 363,000 at the end of the period. In Egypt, service revenue was up 8.9%* driven by continued strong growth in data. New Zealand returned to modest growth, with solid mobile contract customer trends and improving fixed line ARPU. Adjusted EBITDA grew 4.5%*, with a 2.1* percentage point contraction in adjusted EBITDA margin. A strong revenue performance and improved margins in Turkey were partly offset by higher costs for imported goods post foreign exchange rate devaluations across the region. Associates and joint ventures Indus Towers, the Indian towers company in which Vodafone has a 42% interest, achieved local currency revenue growth of 5.8%. Indus Towers owned 119,881 towers as at 31 March 2016, with a tenancy ratio of 2.25. Our share of Indus Towers adjusted EBITDA was £305 million and its contribution to the Group’s adjusted operating profit was £74 million. Safaricom, Vodafone’s 40% associate which is the leading mobile operator in Kenya, saw local currency service revenue growth of 13.8% for the year, with local currency adjusted EBITDA up 16.8%, driven by an increase in the customer base leading to growth across all revenue streams, predominantly mobile data and M-Pesa. 4G coverage is now in 20 out of 47 counties. Vodafone Hutchison Australia (‘VHA’), in which Vodafone owns a 50% stake, is performing solidly in an intensely competitive environment, with service revenues (excluding MTR impact) returning to growth after five years in decline. adjusted EBITDA growth was driven by an increase in revenue and improved cost management. a £2,934 to UAE law firm Cedar White Bradley’s UAE bank account, for legal advice provided by UAE lawyers relating to trade mark infringement matters in Iran. a £843 to Iranian law firm Raysan Patent and Trademark Agents’ UK bank account for legal services (trade mark searching and investigation) provided by Iranian lawyers relating to trade mark infringement matters in Iran. These funds were not used to pay the Iranian trademarks office or any party outside of Raysan Patent and Trademark Agents. Notes: References to “Q4” are to the quarter ended 31 March 2016 unless otherwise stated. References to “Q3” are to the quarter ended 31 December 2015 unless otherwise stated. References to the “second half of the year” or “H2” are to the six months ended 31 March 2016 unless otherwise stated. References to the “year” or “financial year” are to the financial year ended 31 March 2016 and references to the “prior financial year” are to the financial year ended 31 March 2015 unless otherwise stated. All amounts marked with an “*” represent “organic growth”, which presents performance on a comparable basis, both in terms of merger and acquisition activity as well as in terms of movements in foreign exchange rates. See page 191 “Non-GAAP information” for further details. 35 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information

 


Table of Contents

 

Financial position and resources Consolidated statement of financial position The consolidated statement of financial position is set out on page 88. Details on the major movements of both our assets and liabilities in the year are set out below: Assets Goodwill and other intangible assets Goodwill and other intangible assets increased by £3.3 billion to £46.8 billion. The increase primarily arose as a result of £7.3 billion of additions, including £5.4 billion for spectrum purchased in India, Germany, Turkey, Spain, Italy and the UK, plus £2.3 billion of favourable movements in foreign exchange rates which were partly offset by £4.3 billion of amortisation, £1.7 billion transferred to assets held for resale and £0.5 billion of goodwill impairment. Property, plant and equipment Property, plant and equipment increased by £1.5 billion to £28.1 billion, principally due to £6.7 billion of additions driven by investment in the Group’s networks as a result of Project Spring plus £1.0 billion of favourable foreign exchange movements, partly offset by £5.2 billion of depreciation charges and £0.9 billion transferred to assets held for resale. Other non-current assets Other non-current assets decreased by £2.0 billion to £30.7 billion, mainly due to decrease in deferred tax assets primarily due to the reduction of tax losses in Luxembourg (see note 6 for further details). Current assets Current assets increased by £8.3 billion to £28.1 billion, mainly due to a £3.3 billion increase in cash and cash equivalents, £2.9 billion of assets held for resale and a £1.1 billion increase in trade receivables. Total equity and liabilities Total equity Total equity decreased by £0.4 billion to £67.3 billion as the £2.8 billion of proceeds from the convertible bonds was offset by £3.2 billion of dividends paid to equity shareholders and non-controlling interests and the total comprehensive loss for the year of £0.1 billion. Non-current liabilities Non-current liabilities increased by £7.1 billion to £33.0 billion, primarily due to a £6.9 billion increase in long-term borrowings. Current liabilities Current liabilities decreased by £4.5 billion to £33.4 billion, mainly due to £3.4 billion of additional short-term borrowings and a £0.8 billion increase in trade and other payables. Trade payables at 31 March 2016 were equivalent to 45 days (2015: 43 days) outstanding, calculated by reference to the amount owed to suppliers as a proportion of the amounts invoiced by suppliers during the year. It is our policy to agree terms of transactions, including payment terms, with suppliers and it is our normal practice that payment is made accordingly. Contractual obligations and commitments A summary of our principal contractual financial obligations and commitments is shown below. Payments due by period £m Contractual obligations and commitments1 Total < 1 year 1–3 years 3–5 years >5 years Borrowings2 53,816 16,188 9,999 7,215 20,414 Operating lease commitments3 7,862 1,527 2,084 1,429 2,822 Capital commitments3,4 2,051 1,839 178 32 2 Purchase commitments5 6,952 3,857 2,697 274 124 Total 70,681 23,411 14,958 8,950 23,362 Notes: 1 This table includes commitments in respect of options over interests in Group businesses held by non-controlling shareholders (see “Potential cash outflows from option agreements and similar arrangements” on page 133) and obligations to pay dividends to non-controlling shareholders (see “Dividends from associates and to non-controlling shareholders” on page 133). The table excludes current and deferred tax liabilities and obligations under post employment benefit schemes, details of which are provided in notes 6 “Taxation” and 26 “Post employment benefits” respectively. The table also excludes the contractual obligations of associates and joint ventures. See note 21 “Borrowings”. See note 29 “Commitments”. Primarily related to spectrum and network infrastructure. Primarily related to device purchase obligations. 2 3 4 5 Dividends We provide returns to shareholders through equity dividends and historically have generally paid dividends in February and August in each year. The Directors expect that we will continue to pay dividends semi-annually. The £3.0 billion equity dividend in the current year comprises £2.0 billion in relation to the final dividend for the year ended 31 March 2015 and £1.0 billion for the interim dividend for the year ended 31 March 2016. The interim dividend of 3.68 pence per share announced by the Directors in November 2015 represented a 2.2% increase over last year’s interim dividend. The Directors are proposing a final dividend of 7.77 pence per share. Total dividends for the year increased by 2.0% to 11.45 pence per share. Liquidity and capital resources Our liquidity and working capital may be affected by a material decrease in cash flow due to a number of factors as outlined in “Principal risk factors and uncertainties” on pages 22 to 28. We do not use non-consolidated special purpose entities as a source of liquidity or for other financing purposes. 36 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016

 


Table of Contents

 

In addition to the commentary on the Group’s consolidated statement of cash flows below, further disclosure in relation to the Group’s objectives, policies and processes for managing its capital; its financial risk management objectives; details of its financial instruments and hedging activities; and its exposures to credit risk and liquidity risk can be found in “Borrowings”, “Liquidity and capital resources” and “Capital and financial risk management” in notes 21, 22 and 23 respectively to the consolidated financial statements. Cash flows A reconciliation of cash generated by operations to free cash flow, a non-GAAP measure used by management is shown on Cash generated by operations Excluding restructuring and other costs, cash generated by operations increased 2.6% to £11.4 billion as lower adjusted EBITDA was offset by working capital movements. Capital expenditure Capital expenditure decreased £0.6 billion to £8.6 billion primarily driven by the completion of the Project Spring investment programme. Free cash flow Free cash flow was £1.0 billion, a decrease of £0.1 billion from the prior year, as higher cash generated by operations excluding restructuring and other costs and working capital movements in respect of capital expenditure were offset by lower capital expenditure and lower dividends received from Indus Towers. Licence and spectrum payments Payments for licences and spectrum include amounts relating to the purchase of spectrum in Germany of £1.4 billion, £0.6 billion in India, £0.6 billion in Turkey, £0.2 billion in Italy and £0.1 billion in the UK. Acquisitions and disposals Payments for acquisitions and disposals for the year ended 31 March 2015 primarily included £2,945 million in relation to the acquisition of the entire share capital of Ono plus £2,858 million of associated net debt acquired and £563 million in relation to the acquisition of the remaining 10.97% equity interest in Vodafone India. Convertible issue and foreign exchange A foreign exchange loss of £2.0 billion was recognised on net debt as losses on the euro and rupee offset favourable foreign exchange movements on the South African rand. This was offset by £2.8 billion of proceeds from the issue of £2.9 billion of mandatory convertible bonds in February 2016, £2.8 billion of which have been classified as equity after taking into account the cost of future coupon payments. The Group also holds $5.0 billion (2015: $5.25 billion) of Verizon loan notes, and has the potential to utilise the proceeds from these notes to repurchase the shares issued to satisfy the mandatory convertible bonds. pages 190 and 191. The reconciliation to net debt is shown below. 2016 £m 2015 £m Notes: 1 Operating free cash flow for the year ended 31 March 2016 excludes £186 million (2015: £336 million) of restructuring costs, £nil (2015: £365 million) UK pensions contribution payment and £nil (2015; £116 million) of KDG incentive scheme payments that vested upon acquisition. 2 Other cash flows for the year ended 31 March 2016 include £2,020 million (2015: £nil) of debt recognised in respect of spectrum in India and Germany, £186 million (2015: £336 million) of restructuring costs, £nil (2015: £365 million) UK pensions contribution payment, £nil (2015: £359 million) of Verizon Wireless tax dividends received after the completion of the disposal, £nil (2015: £328 million) of interest paid on the settlement of the Piramal option, £nil (2015: £116 million) of KDG incentive scheme payments that vested upon acquisition, £nil (2015: £176 million) tax refund relating to the rationalisation and reorganisation of our non-US assets prior to the disposal of our stake in Verizon Wireless and a £50 million (2015: £100 million) payment in respect of the Group’s historic UK tax settlement. 3 Includes cash and cash equivalents of £14 million (2015: £nil) in respect of assets held for sale. 37 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information This year’s report contains the strategic report on pages 1 to 37, which includes an analysis of our performance and position, a review of the business during the year, and outlines the principal risks and uncertainties we face. The strategic report was approved by the Board and signed on its behalf by the Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer. /s/ Vittorio Colao /s/ Nick Read Vittorio Colao Nick Read Chief Executive Chief Financial Officer 17 May 2016 Adjusted EBITDA 11,612 11,915 Working capital (386) (121) Capital expenditure (8,599) (9,197) Disposal of property, plant and equipment 140 178 Other 117 88 Operating free cash flow1 2,884 2,863 Taxation (689) (758) Dividends received from associates and investments 67 224 Dividends paid to non-controlling shareholders in subsidiaries (223) (247) Interest received and paid (1,026) (994) Free cash flow1 1,013 1,088 Licence and spectrum payments (2,944) (443) Acquisitions and disposals (96) (7,040) Equity dividends paid (2,998) (2,927) Foreign exchange (1,968) 895 Convertible issue 2,754 – Other2 (2,665) (144) Net debt increase (6,904) (8,571) Opening net debt (22,271) (13,700) Closing net debt3 (29,175) (22,271)

 


Table of Contents

 

Our approach to governance Creating long-term value A commitment to act with integrity at all times is integral to the creation of shareholder value. We fully complied with the 2014 UK Corporate Governance Code during the year. to the Board? David is a highly experienced business leader with extensive financial levels in Vodafone is also a priority. This includes diversity of skills background and belief. coming year? We intend to sustain that positive trend although, it should be noted, the Group. Chairman 38 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 What were the Board’s main priorities during the year? The Board’s role is to define the long-term strategic objectives for the Group and then evaluate progress against those objectives while ensuring there is a strong and effective system of corporate governance in place at all levels. 2016 was another important transitional year for Vodafone: as I explain in my introduction on page 3, our expansion across 4G, cable and fibre networks and TV and content services is transforming our businesses. A key priority during the year was to ensure that the significant investments involved were allocated in a manner most likely to maximise returns to shareholders over time as well as enhance our customers’ experience. We also continued to focus on measures to mitigate the wide range of operating and commercial risks that are inherent to our industry and which are summarised on pages 22 to 28. How would you describe the decision making culture of the Board? Highly collaborative and collegiate with a strong emphasis on open and honest debate involving all of the Directors. As Chairman, I strive to ensure that Vodafone has a Board that works effectively and where all can contribute freely. We are fortunate to be able to draw on a diverse range of professional skills and backgrounds around the boardroom table and I encourage each Director to share their intuitions to enrich the Board’s collective understanding. We seek to ensure that every Director has the facts and background context necessary to reach informed conclusions on the matters before the Board. We provide an insight into our induction process for new Directors on page 45. All Directors have access to training and specialist briefing opportunities to ensure they remain fully aware of major developments in this highly complex and dynamic industry. Contents 38 Chairman’s introduction 47 Board committees 39 Our governance framework 54 Compliance with the 2014 40 Board of Directors UK Corporate Governance Code 42 Executive Committee 56 Our US listing requirements 44 Board activities 57 Directors’ remuneration 45 Board evaluation, induction 74 Directors’ report and training 46 Shareholder engagement We comply with the corporate governance statement requirements pursuant to the FCA’s Disclosure and Transparency Rules by virtue of the information included in this “Governance” section of the Annual Report together with information contained in the “Shareholder information” section on pages 175 to 181. What do the Non-Executive Directors bring It is essential to ensure that the composition of the Board reflects the strategic priorities of the Group and provides a variety of informed insights to determine the appropriate approach to the management of risk. Each of the Directors brings a particular perspective to every discussion, shaped by their backgrounds in a number of industries and roles over many years, which underpins the Board’s commitment as a whole to rigorous scrutiny and analysis of the Group’s key issues and opportunities. We provide a summary of each Director’s experience on pages 40 and 41. During the year, we were pleased to welcome David Nish to the Board. expertise and capital markets skills. Enhancing diversity in the boardroom, the executive team and at all and experience, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, cultural I am pleased to report that 25% of our Board roles are held by women. Our ambition over the coming years is to increase that proportion further. Details of our commitment to increase the number of women in executive roles (and to empower our female customers) are set out in our 2016 Sustainable Business Report. What are the Board’s key objectives for the In March 2016 we concluded the largest organic investment programme in Vodafone’s history. Project Spring was designed to bring about a material enhancement to the quality of the networks and services relied on by 462 million mobile customers and 13 million fixed broadband customers and as we explain on pages 10 and 14, that goal has largely been achieved. The priority for the year ahead will be to ensure that the Group’s momentum post-Project Spring translates into stronger financial performance as well as a much better experience for our customers. Our return to growth after more than six years of significant macroeconomic pressure in Europe is very welcome. we continue to face a number of challenges in some markets. We will also maintain our focus on the effective management of risk and on compliance with the high standards of corporate governance across /s/ Gerard Kleisterlee Gerard Kleisterlee 17 May 2016

 


Table of Contents

 

Our governance framework How we are governed We have a strong and effective governance system throughout the Group. Responsibility for good governance lies with your Board. Responsible for the overall conduct of the Group’s business and: of the business. Page 44 Committee the implementation of that policy 39 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Chairman Gerard Kleisterlee a Is responsible for leadership of the Board a Sets the Board’s agenda a Meets regularly with the Chief Executive and other key executives to stay informed Board a is responsible for the long-term success of the Company; a sets the Group strategy; a is responsible for ensuring the effectiveness of and reporting on our system of corporate governance; and a is accountable to shareholders for the proper conduct More on: website vodafone.com/governance Audit and Risk Committee a Provides effective governance over the Group’s financial results a Reviews the activity and performance of the internal audit function and external auditor a Reviews the integrity, adequacy and effectiveness of the Group’s system of internal control including the risk management framework and related compliance activities More on: Pages 47 to 52 Nominations and Governance Committee a Evaluates and makes recommendations regarding Board and committee composition, succession planning and diversity a Oversees matters relating to corporate governance More on: Page 53 Remuneration a Sets, reviews and recommends the Group’s overall remuneration policy and strategy and reviews and strategy More on: Page 57 The Matters Reserved for the Board can be found on our Chief Executive Vittorio Colao a Leads the business and implements strategy and policy a Chairs the Executive Committee Executive Committee a Focuses on strategy implementation, financial and competitive performance, commercial and technological developments, succession planning and organisational development Disclosure Committee a Oversees the accuracy and timeliness of Group disclosures and approves controls and procedures in relation to the public disclosure of financial information Risk and Compliance Committee a Assists the Executive Committee to fulfil its accountabilities with regard to risk management and policy compliance

 


Table of Contents

 

Board of Directors Experienced, effective and diverse leadership Our business is led by our Board of Directors (the ‘Board’). Biographical details of the Directors and senior management as at 17 May 2016 are as follows (with further information available at vodafone.com/board). Key to Committee membership: A Audit and Risk N Nominations and Governance R Remuneration R Red background denotes Committee Chairman Independent services to publishing and information. to Board discussions. a Oxford University, trustee and member Dr Mathias Döpfner Independent Non-Executive Director Dame Clara Furse Independent Non-Executive Director Valerie Gooding cbe Independent Non-Executive Director Renee James Independent Non-Executive Director R A R N R Tenure: 1 year Nationality: German Tenure: 1 year Nationality: British and Canadian Tenure: 2 years Nationality: British Tenure: 5 years Nationality: American Skills and experience: Mathias brings wide-ranging experience within the global digital media industry to his role. Having led his business, Axel Springer SE, through a highly successful transition into digital and international markets, he provides a digital perspective to the Board’s strategy. Other current appointments: a Axel Springer SE, chairman and chief executive officer a Time Warner and Warner Music Group, member of the board of directors a Business Insider Inc., chairman of the board of directors a American Academy, American Jewish Committee and the European Publishers Council, holds honorary offices a St John’s College, University of Cambridge, member Skills and experience: Valerie brings a wealth of international business experience obtained at companies with high levels of customer service including British Airways and as chief executive of BUPA which, together with her focus on leadership and talent, is greatly valuable to Board discussions. Other current appointments: a Premier Farnell plc, non-executive chairman a TUI Group, non-executive director a English National Ballet, trustee a Historic Royal Palaces, trustee a Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, trustee Skills and experience: Renee brings comprehensive knowledge of the high technology sector developed from her long career at Intel Corporation where she was appointed president. Her extensive experience of international management and the development and implementation of corporate strategy is an asset to the Board and Remuneration Committee. Other current appointments: a US President’s National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee, vice chair a C200, member a Carlyle Group, operating executive a Oracle Corporation, non-executive director a Citigroup Inc., non-executive director a Sabre Corporation, non-executive director a University of Oregon, College of Arts, advisory board member Skills and experience: Dame Clara brings to the Board a deep understanding of international capital markets, regulation, services industries and business transformation developed from her previous roles as chief executive of the London Stock Exchange Group plc and Credit Lyonnais Rouse Ltd. Her financial proficiency is highly valued as a member of the Audit and Risk Committee. In 2008 she was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. Other current appointments: a Bank of England, Financial Policy Committee member a Nomura Holdings Inc, non-executive director a Amadeus IT Holdings SA, non-executive director 40 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Gerard Kleisterlee N Chairman Tenure: 5 years Nationality: Dutch Skills and experience: Gerard has extensive experience of senior leadership of global businesses in both the developed and emerging markets. He brings to the Group a deep understanding of the consumer electronics, technology and lifestyle industries gained from his career with Philips Electronics spanning over 30 years and continues to use this experience to oversee the development of Vodafone’s strategy and the effectiveness of its operations as a total communications company. Other current appointments: a Royal Dutch Shell, non-executive director and member of the audit committee a IBEX Global Solutions plc, non-executive director a ASML, Chairman of supervisory board Vittorio Colao Chief Executive – Executive Director Tenure: 9 years Nationality: Italian Skills and experience: With over 20 years’ experience working in the telecoms industry, Vittorio has extensive leadership skills developed within both Vodafone and the wider industry and is widely recognised as an outstanding leader in the telecoms sector. Other current appointments: a European Round Table of Industrialists, vice chairman a Unilever Plc, non-executive director Nick Read Chief Financial Officer – Executive Director Tenure: 2 years Nationality: British Skills and experience: Nick combines strong operational leadership with a detailed understanding of the industry and its challenges and opportunities. Nick has wide-ranging experience in senior finance roles at both Vodafone and other multinational companies including United Business Media plc and Federal Express Worldwide. Other current appointments: None Sir Crispin Davis A Non-Executive Director Tenure: 1 year Nationality: British Skills and experience: Sir Crispin has broad-ranging experience as a business leader in international content and technology markets from his roles as chief executive of Reed Elsevier and the digital agency Aegis Group plc and group managing director of Guinness PLC (now Diageo plc). He was knighted in 2004 for He brings a strong commercial perspective Other current appointments: of the university board a CVC Capital Partners, adviser

 


Table of Contents

 

Senior Independent Director N Other current appointments: Investment Trust PLC, a The Francis Crick Institute, director of the a Computacenter Plc, non-executive director Accountants of Scotland, member 33% Tenure 56% Philip Yea 5/5 Stephen Pusey1 2/2 Nick Read 7/7 Directors) Nominations and Mathias Döpfner 5/7 Director Attendance 4–6 years Valerie Gooding 7/7 Valerie Gooding4 3/3 Samuel Jonah 7/7 Luc Vandevelde1 2/2 Remuneration Committee3 David Nish2 2/2 Media Valerie Gooding 5/5 Philip Yea 6/7 41 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Attendance at scheduled meetings Audit and Risk Committee Board analysis of the Board in the 2016 financial year Director Attendance Director Attendance Nick Land 5/5 Gerard Kleisterlee 7/7 Sir Crispin Davis 5/5 Vittorio Colao 7/7 Dame Clara Furse 4/5 7+ years 0–3 years (Non-Executive Sir Crispin Davis 7/7 Governance Committee Dame Clara Furse 6/7 Gerard Kleisterlee 5/5 11% Renee James 7/7 Philip Yea 5/5 Sector experience5 Nick Land 7/7 Consumer Goods Luc Vandevelde1 2/2 Director Attendance Technology Luc Vandevelde 12/2 Telecoms Renee James 5/5 Finance Samuel Jonah 5/5 Emerging markets Notes: 1 Stephen Pusey and Luc Vandevelde stepped down from the Board at the annual general meeting on 28 July 2015. 2 David Nish joined the Board on 1 January 2016. 3 Dr Mathias Döpfner joined the Remuneration Committee on 1 April 2016. 4 Valerie Gooding joined the Nominations and Governance Committee on 2 November 2015. 5 Some Directors have expertise in more than one sector. 3 2 3 3 5 1 Samuel Jonah kbe R Independent Non-Executive Director Tenure: 7 years Nationality: Ghanaian Skills and experience: Samuel brings experience and understanding of business operations in emerging markets, particularly Africa. Previously executive president of AngloGold Ashanei Ltd and member of the Advisory Council of the President of the African Development Bank, he provides an international, commercial perspective to Board discussions. Other current appointments: a Iron Mineral Benefication Services, non-executive chairman a Jonah Capital (Pty) Limited, executive chairman a Metropolitan Insurance Company Limited, chairman a Presidents of Togo and Nigeria, adviser a The Investment Climate Facility, member of trustee board Nick Land A Independent Non-Executive Director Tenure: 9 years Nationality: British Skills and experience: After a career spanning 36 years at Ernst & Young UK where Nick was executive chairman, he brings strong financial expertise and experience of dealing with major corporations in many parts of the world to the Board and to his role as Chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee. Other current appointments: a Ashmore Group plc, non-executive director a Financial Reporting Council, non-executive director a The Vodafone Foundation, Chairman of the Board of Trustees a Dentons UKMEA LLP, adviser a Silicon Valley Bank, London, adviser David Nish Independent Non-Executive Director Tenure: <1 year Nationality: British Skills and experience: David has wide-ranging operational and strategic experience as a senior leader and has a strong understanding of financial and capital markets through his previous directorships which include chief executive officer and chief financial officer of Standard Life plc and chief financial officer of Scottish Power plc. Other current appointments: a HSBC Holdings Plc, non-executive director a London Stock Exchange Group Plc, non-executive director a Zurich Insurance Group, board member a UK Green Investment Bank Plc, non-executive director a Council of the Institute of Chartered Philip Yea A Tenure: 10 years Nationality: British Skills and experience: Philip’s experience as chief financial officer of Diageo plc and in the private equity industry at Investcorp and 3i Group plc, together with his knowledge of the Vodafone Group, makes him a valued member of the Board. Philip’s financial expertise is an asset to his role as member of the Audit and Risk Committee. a Aberdeen Asian Smaller Companies non-executive director trustee board a Greene King Plc, chairman

 


Table of Contents

 

Executive Committee Delivering our strategy, driving performance Chaired by Vittorio Colao, the Executive Committee focuses on managing Vodafone’s business affairs as a whole, which includes the delivery of a competitive strategy, developing our financial structure and planning, driving financial performance and ensuring good succession planning. Group Business Warren has responsibility for managing and business development strategy. in 1988 as well as leading the recent sale He will retire from the Executive Committee Previous roles include: and head of European Technology (1985–1995) Nick Jeffery Group Enterprise Chief Executive Officer Matthew Kirk Group External Affairs Director Rosemary Martin Group General Counsel and Company Secretary Ronald Schellekens Group Human Resources Director Tenure: 3 years Nationality: British Tenure: 7 years Nationality: British Tenure: 6 years Nationality: British Tenure: 7 years Nationality: Dutch Responsibilities: Nick is responsible for Vodafone’s strategy and execution in the Enterprise market worldwide, and has responsibility for a portfolio which includes: Vodafone Global Enterprise, Vodafone Carrier Services, The Internet of Things, Cloud & Hosting Services, Enterprise Marketing and Sales Operations as well as Enterprise Products and Operations and Enterprise Security Services. Previous roles include: a Cable & Wireless Worldwide, chief executive (2012–2013) a Vodafone Global Enterprise, Chief Executive (2006–2012) Responsibilities: Matthew leads Vodafone’s engagement with external stakeholders (including governments, regulators, international institutions, the media and industry commentators) in order to project Vodafone’s position on the contribution of our industry to broader policy objectives and on issues of importance to our customers and to the communities in which Vodafone operates. Matthew is also responsible for security, and for the Vodafone Foundation, of which he is a Trustee. Previous roles include: a British Ambassador to Finland (2002–2006) a Member of the British Diplomatic Service (20+ years) Responsibilities: Rosemary has responsibility for managing Vodafone’s legal risk and for providing legal and company secretariat services to the Group. Previous roles include: a Practical Law Company, chief executive (2008) a Reuters Group Plc, various governance roles including group general counsel and company secretary (1997–2008) a Rowe & Maw, partner (1990–1997) Responsibilities: Ronald has responsibility for leading Vodafone’s people and organisation strategy which includes developing strong talent and leadership, effective organisations, strategic capabilities and an engaging culture and work environment, thereby building strong capabilities in Vodafone to deliver growth. Previous roles include: a Royal Dutch Shell, HR executive vice president (2003–2008) a PepsiCo, senior vice president (1994–2003) a AT&T Network Systems, various human resources roles (1986–1994) 42 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Membership The Committee includes the Executive Directors and the senior managers as detailed below. Committee Meetings The Committee meets 11 times a year and typical agenda items include: a strategy; a substantial business developments and projects; a Chief Executive’s update on the business and the business environment; a updates on business performance; a Group function heads’ updates; a talent; a presentations on various topics, for example, from the Group Financial Controller, the Group Audit Director and the Group Risk and Compliance Director; and a competitor performance analysis. Each year the Committee conducts a strategy review to identify key strategic issues facing Vodafone to be presented to the Board. The agreed strategy is then used as a basis for developing the upcoming budget and three-year operating plans. Vittorio Colao Chief Executive (See page 40) Nick Read Chief Financial Officer (See page 40) Paolo Bertoluzzo Group Chief Commercial Operations & Strategy Officer Tenure: 3 years Nationality: Italian Responsibilities: Paolo has responsibility for Vodafone’s global commercial operations and strategy, as well as innovation and transformation projects, including the Customer eXperience eXcellence programme. Previous roles include: a Vodafone Group, Regional Chief Executive Officer, Southern Europe (2012–2013) a Vodafone Italy, Chief Executive Officer (2008–2013) a Vodacom Group, Board Director (2010–2012) Warren Finegold Development Director Tenure: 10 years Nationality: British Responsibilities: Vodafone’s mergers and acquisitions Warren worked on Vodafone’s initial IPO of Vodafone’s interest in Verizon Wireless. on 30 June 2016. a UBS Investment Bank, managing director a Goldman Sachs, executive director

 


Table of Contents

 

Ametsreiter Officers are responsible for: Chief Executive Officer – brand differentiation; 43 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Executive Officers who also joined the Executive Committee Dr Hannes Aldo Bisio local markets in accordance with Group a executing the strategic vision into Tenure: <1 year Nationality: Austrian Previous roles include: a ensuring delivery against key Previous roles include:officer/managing director (2008–2013) In carrying out their role, they: executive officer (2009–2015)(2007–2008) a own the end-to-end accountabilitya Mobilkom Austria/Telkom Austria, chiefa RCS Quotidiani, managing director balance sheet performance and local stakeholders, protecting compliance, and ensuring Vodafone organisation through the direction and Chief Executive Officer –Chief Executive Officer –Chief Executive Officer – a Vodafone Portugal, Chief Executive a Vodafone UK, Enterprise Business Unit Responsibilities: member (1995–2009)(2010–2012)Vodafone’s operations in the Netherlands, President (2005–2007)management positions (1998–2010)Republic, Hungary, Albania and Malta. (2004)a Vodafone Netherlands, Chief Executive Serpil Timuray Regional Chief Executive Officer – Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific Region (AMAP) Tenure: 2 years Nationality: Turkish Responsibilities: As Regional Chief Executive Officer of AMAP, Serpil oversees Vodafone’s operations in the Vodacom Group, India, Australia, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Qatar, New Zealand and Turkey. Previous roles include: a Vodafone Turkey, Chief Executive Officer (2009–2013) a Danone Turkey, chief executive officer (2002–2008) a Danone Turkey, marketing director with additional sales director role (1999–2002) a Procter & Gamble Turkey, various marketing roles including executive committee member (1991–1999) Johan Wibergh Group Technology Officer Tenure: 1 year Nationality: Swedish Responsibilities: Johan has responsibility for defining and leading Vodafone’s global technology organisation which includes the organic investment programme and Project Spring. He is integral to developing Vodafone’s convergence strategy on a global scale. Previous roles include: a Ericsson, various roles including executive VP (1996–2015) European Chief In October 2015, the Chief Executive Officers of our four large European markets became Executive Committee members. The remaining European markets are represented by Rob Shuter in October 2015. The Chief Executive a defining Vodafone strategy in their Chief Executive Officer –Vodafone Italy strategy and operating models; Vodafone Germany Tenure: 2 years Nationality: Italian commercial plans; and a Ariston Thermo Group, chief executive performance indicators.a Telkom Austria Group, group chief a McKinsey & Company, senior partner a A1 Telekom, chief executive officer (2009) for in-country profit and loss, marketing officer (2001–2009)(2004–2006) a manage relationships with Vodafone’s reputation, legal is contributing to the development of its local community; and a define the culture and values of the communication of business objectives, vision and mission, and by developing people’s talents and competences. Tenure refers to the length of service in role. António Coimbra Jeroen Hoencamp Rob Shuter Vodafone Spain Vodafone UK Netherlands and Europe Cluster Tenure: 3 years Nationality: Portuguese Tenure: 2 years Nationality: Dutch Tenure: <1 year Nationality: British and Previous roles include: Previous roles include: South African Officer (2009–2012)Director (2013)As Chief Executive Officer for Netherlands a Vodafone Portugal, Executive Committee a Vodafone Ireland, Chief Executive Officer and Europe cluster, Rob oversees a Apritel (on behalf of Vodafone Portugal),a Vodafone Netherlands, various senior Portugal, Ireland, Greece, Romania, Czech a Vodafone Japan, Chief Marketing Officer Previous roles include: Officer (2012–2015) a Vodacom Group, Finance Director (2009–2012) a Nedbank Retail, managing director (2000–2009)

 


Table of Contents

 

Board activities Key areas of focus for your Board Board activities are structured to assist the Board in achieving its goal to support and advise executive management on the delivery of the Group’s strategy within a transparent governance framework. More on strategic More on strategic 57 to 73 on performance of operations in Europe, of the Group; 30 to 37 a assessment of risks and internal controls; 23, 51 and 52 a reports on compliance and litigation; and quarterly market share metrics; and 16 and 17 149 to 152 of the external evaluation of the The Board continued to focus on overseeing the execution a reviewing and approving the revisions to the a received regular business and the Matters Reserved for the Board. 54 and 55 People a discussed progress of the Customer combination of Vodafone and Liberty The Board received presentations on the following topics: a held a strategy day, focusing on the evolution UK and India; 32 to 35 industry trends, competitor strategies and 44 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Board’s visit to Munich Offsite Board meetings give the Board further insights into the business. In September 2015 the Board held its annual strategy meeting in Munich. As part of this visit, the Board received a presentation from local management of Vodafone Germany and KDG, visited a Vodafone Germany retail store and received a presentation on 5G communication. A Board meeting and an Audit and Risk Committee meeting were also held whilst in Munich. Governance in action: What the Board did in 2016 Data Convergence Enterprise Link to Link to pages objectives pages objectives Performance (financial and operational)Governance Throughout the year the Board received and discussed: The Board dealt with corporate governance matters, including: a reports from the Chief Executive a reports from the Board Committees; 47 to 53, AMAP and Enterprise; 10 to 13 a the appointment of new Board members; 53 a information on the financial performance 10 to 15, a the Annual Report; 76 and 77 a network and customer satisfaction updates54 and 55, a the annual budget and operating plan. 14 and 15 a the conclusions and recommendations Strategy Board’s performance; and 45 of our strategy. The Board: terms of reference of the Board Committees development reports; 10 to 13 eXperience eXcellence programme and The Group HR Director updated the Board twice during the year on: commercial priority reports; 7, 10 to 13 a talent capability and diversity; 18 and 19 a received updates on content strategy;11 and 12 a health and safety; and19 a discussed and approved the strategic a other HR matters. 18 and 19 Global’s Dutch operations; and12, 149 Deep dives and sustainability of Vodafone’s strategy,a local market focus on Spain, Vodacom, our organisation and governance. 10 to 13 a Germany and Turkey spectrum auctions; 37, 183, 186 a potential initial public offering of Vodafone India; and 35 a Vodafone UK’s TV offering. 33

 


Table of Contents

 

Board evaluation, induction and training Evaluating our performance and keeping up to date The Board recognises that it continually needs to monitor and improve its performance. This is achieved through annual performance evaluation, full induction of new Board members and ongoing Board development activities. The Chairman is responsible for ensuring that all Non-Executive Executive Directors are conscious of the need to keep themselves in 2016 were the Enterprise business, technology, share dealing rules market visit with Vittorio Colao to Vodafone Italy. They attended fibre presentation. Committee during the year covering key themes surrounding financial Company Secretary on current legal and governance issues. 45 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information business opportunities and risks marketing, external affairs, finance, investor relations and risk; Board Development Directors receive ongoing training and development. Our Non-properly briefed and informed about current issues. Specific areas covered at sessions attended by Vodafone Directors and corporate governance. In June 2015, Val Gooding went on a local customer focus groups, a Customer eXperience eXcellence session run by local management, visited three retail stores, and received a 4G and Specific and tailored updates, delivered by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, were also provided to the members of our Audit and Risk and narrative reporting, and accounting and auditing standards. The Board also received reports from the Group General Counsel and David Nish’s induction Expertise a Financial expertise and capital markets skills Focus areas a Learn about Vodafone and our business lines a Learn about Vodafone’s markets, competitions, customers, a Meet senior management across the Group Overview of induction programme David’s induction includes the following: a meetings with the members of the Executive Committee to discuss our business, strategy and operations; a presentations from the management teams of the Europe cluster, AMAP and Enterprise; a visits to the headquarters of Vodafone UK, a Vodafone UK store and Vodafone’s call centre in Stoke-on-Trent (UK); a meetings with various Group senior managers to discuss Group strategy, people strategy and remuneration, technology and a training on his duties as a director and on Vodafone’s governance structure; a meeting with the Chairs of the Board Committees and the Chairman; and a meeting key Group advisers. Governance in action: Board Evaluation Progress against recommendations set in 2015 Recommendation: The Board should continue to develop its understanding of the future challenges and trends in Vodafone’s sector, especially convergence, technology trends and the regulatory environment. Action taken in 2016: The Board received relevant training and carried out deep dives into these areas which were considered at Board meetings throughout the year. Recommendation: The Board should increase its focus on customers’ experience and it should continue to monitor management’s success in delivering operational strategic objectives. Action taken in 2016: The Board regularly reviewed the progress of the Customer eXperience eXcellence programme and continued to focus on the execution of our strategy. This year’s process In accordance with our three-year cycle, our 2016 Board evaluation was externally facilitated by Ffion Hague of Independent Board Evaluation which has no other connection with Vodafone. The evaluation included a series of one-on-one interviews with all Directors and key senior managers, and observations of Board, Audit and Risk, Remuneration, and Nominations and Governance Committee meetings. Ffion Hague discussed her initial findings with the Chairman and presented the final results to the Board in March 2016. Conclusions from this year’s review The conclusions of this year’s review have been positive and have confirmed that the Board and its Committees operate effectively and that each Director contributes to the overall effectiveness and success of the Group. The recommendations in this year’s review included: a reviewing the Board induction and development programme to focus on strategically significant areas; a increasing transparency around Board and executive succession plans; a clarifying expectations on an overall strategic framework; and a creating more opportunities for Board members to spend informal time together. The Board will address these recommendations during the 2017 financial year and will report on progress in our 2017 Annual Report.

 


Table of Contents

 

Shareholder engagement Communicating with our shareholders We are committed to communicating our strategy and activities clearly to all our shareholders. shareholder groups and financial analysts to discuss the business mix of Directors and senior management, including our Chairman, the Investor Relations team. Institutional investors also meet with the us this year debt and dividend cover; emerging markets; We launched a quick, simple dealing service for Vodafone than 1,000 shares in February 46 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Launch of our low-cost share dealing programme and economical share shareholders with no more 2016. This service ran until 23 May 2016 and allowed shareholders to sell all their Vodafone shares or buy more shares either free of dealing costs or at a competitive rate. Over 27% of such shareholders chose to use this service. Governance in action: Our investor calendar Set out below is a calendar of our investor events throughout the year. Boston, Toronto, Paris and in London and New York January 2016 October 2015 and Italy and Frankfurt road shows November 2015 May 2015 September 2015 December 2015 a Preliminary results published a Investor meeting about regulation a Investor conference in New York a London, New York, a Several investor conferences Edinburgh road shows a Investor meetings in Spain June 2015 a 5G webinar a Annual Report published a Investor conference in Germany February 2016 a Switzerland, Netherlands, Spain a Q3 Trading Statement published a Investor conference in London a Half-year results published March 2016 a Investor meetings in Spain, Turkey a London, New York, Boston, a Investor conference in Miami and Italy Edinburgh, Paris, Toronto, a Investor conference in London a Chairman’s London road show Switzerland and a Investor meeting with Enterprise Netherlands roadshows July 2015 a Investor conference in Barcelona a Q1 Trading Statement published a Annual general meeting in London a Investor meetings in India How we communicate with our shareholders We maintained an active dialogue with our shareholders throughout the year through a planned programme of investor relations activities. We also respond to daily queries from shareholders and analysts through our Investor Relations team and have a section of our website which is dedicated to shareholders and analysts: vodafone.com/ investor. Our registrars, Computershare, and BNY Mellon (as custodians of our American Depositary Receipts (‘ADR’) programme) also have a team of people to answer shareholder and ADR holder queries in relation to technical aspects of their holdings such as dividend payments and shareholding balances. All of our financial results presentations are available on our website at vodafone.com/investor. Our annual general meeting and our roadshows Our annual general meeting is attended by our Board and Executive Committee members and is open to all our shareholders to attend. A summary presentation of financial results is given before the Chairman deals with the formal business of the meeting. All shareholders present can question the Board during the meeting. We hold meetings with major institutional investors, individual performance and strategy. These are attended by the appropriate Chief Executive, Executive Committee members, senior leaders and Chairman to discuss matters of governance. What our shareholders have asked Common topics raised by our institutional and individual shareholders include: a 4G and data; a shareholder returns; a cash flow, capital expenditure, a regulation in Europe and a fixed broadband and TV strategy; a spectrum renewal costs; a performance outlook; a integration of KDG and Ono; and a Project Spring strategy; a administration of shareholding.

 


Table of Contents

 

Board committees Membership The membership of the Committee has been selected with the aim of providing the range of financial and commercial expertise necessary to meet its responsibilities. Given my experience, I continue to be designated as the financial expert on the Committee for the purposes of the US Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the UK Corporate Governance Code. There were no changes to the membership of the Committee during the year, all of whom are Non-Executive Directors of the Company. How the Committee operates The Committee met five times during the year under its standard schedule of meetings, an increase from the four meetings in the last financial year, a change reflecting its increased responsibilities particularly in relation to risk management. Meetings of the Committee generally take place the day before a Board meeting to maximise the efficiency of interaction with the Board and I report to the Board, as a separate agenda item, on the activity of the Committee and matters of particular relevance to the Board in the conduct of its work. The external auditor, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, is invited to each meeting together with the Chief Executive, the Chief Financial Officer, the Deputy Chief Financial Officer, the Group Financial Reporting Director, the Group Audit Director, the Group Risk and Compliance Director, and the Group General Counsel and Company Secretary. The Committee also regularly meets separately with each of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Chief Financial Officer and the Group Audit Director without others being present. In the year, the Board appointed an external company to perform an independent review of the Committee which concluded that the Board members considered the Committee to be fully effective in meeting its objectives. Financial reporting The Committee’s primary responsibility in relation to the Group’s financial reporting is to review with both management and the external auditor the appropriateness of the half-year and annual financial statements concentrating on, amongst other matters: a the quality and acceptability of accounting policies and practices; a material areas in which significant judgements have been applied or where significant issues have been discussed with the external auditor; a the clarity of the disclosures and compliance with financial reporting standards and relevant financial and governance reporting requirements, including the 2014 UK Corporate Governance Code; a any correspondence from regulators in relation to our financial reporting; and a an assessment of whether the Annual Report, taken as a whole, is fair, balanced and understandable and provides the information necessary for shareholders to assess the Company’s position and performance, business model and strategy. This assessment forms the basis of the advice given to the Board to assist them in making the statement required by the 2014 UK Corporate Governance Code. 47 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Audit and Risk Committee The Committee continued to focus its work on the Group’s financial reporting, financial control and risk management and compliance processes. The Committee’s role was expanded this year to provide assistance to the Board with assessing compliance with elements of the 2014 UK Corporate Governance Code. Chairman and financial expert Nick Land Independent Non-Executive Director Responsibilities: The Board has approved terms of reference for the Committee which are available at vodafone.com/governance. These provided the framework for the Committee’s work in the year and can be summarised into four primary sets of activities. These are o=versight of the: a appropriateness of the Group’s external financial reporting; a relationship with, and performance of, the external auditor; a Group’s system of internal control, including risk management framework and the work of the internal audit function; and a Group’s system of compliance activities. The 2016 financial year has seen the Committee’s activities and terms of reference reviewed and expanded to reflect the Group’s adoption of the 2014 UK Corporate Governance Code, to cover: a providing advice to the Board on the assessment, management and mitigation of the principal risks facing the Group; a monitoring the Group’s risk management system and its effectiveness; and a providing advice on how the Group’s prospects have been assessed in order to make the new longer-term viability statement. Key objectives: The provision of effective governance over the appropriateness of the Group’s financial reporting, including the adequacy of related disclosures, the performance of both the internal audit function and the external auditor and oversight over the Group’s system of internal control including risk management and compliance activities.

 


Table of Contents

 

Board committees (continued) Accounting policies and practices The Committee received reports from management in relation to the identification of critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty, significant accounting policies and proposed disclosure of these in the 2016 Annual Report. This disclosure also includes qualitative details in relation to IFRS 15 “Revenue from contracts with customers” and IFRS 16 “Leases”, both of which are likely to have a substantial effect on the Group’s accounting when adopted. Following discussions with management and the external auditor, the Committee approved these critical accounting judgements, significant accounting policies and disclosures which are set out in note 1 “Basis of preparation” to the consolidated financial statements. Regulators and our financial reporting There has been no correspondence from regulators in relation to our financial reporting during the 2016 financial year. The Committee is committed to improving the effectiveness and clarity of the Group’s corporate reporting and has continued to encourage management to consider, and adopt where appropriate, initiatives by regulatory bodies which would enhance our reporting, such as the FRC Lab projects on the use of digital media in corporate reporting, the disclosure of dividends and business model reporting. Significant judgements and issues The significant areas of focus considered by the Committee in relation to the 2016 accounts, and how these were addressed, are outlined below. We have discussed these with the external auditor during the year. revenue in their detailed audit plan, which identified the primary Committee received reporting from it on these matters. 48 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Significant judgements and issues Matter considered Action Revenue recognition The timing of revenue recognition, the recognition of revenue on a gross or net basis, the treatment of discounts, incentives and commissions and the accounting for arrangements with multiple deliverables are complex areas of accounting. See note 1 “Basis of preparation” for further detail. In addition there is heightened risk in relation to the accounting for revenue as a result of the inherent complexity of systems and changing pricing models. An in-depth review of revenue accounting was undertaken by the Committee during the previous financial year. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP shared its approach to the audit of risks attaching to the audit of revenue to be (a) the controls over the underlying accuracy of billing systems and (b) presumed fraud risk, and reported on the results of its audit work in this area to the Committee at both the half-year and year end. The Committee received reporting from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in relation to revenue recognition and discussed a number of judgements in relation to the presentation of revenue and commissions. The Committee was satisfied with the appropriateness of the revenue recognised in the financial statements. Taxation The Group is subject to a range of tax claims and related legal actions across a number of jurisdictions where it operates. The most material claim continues to be from the Indian tax authorities in relation to our acquisition of Vodafone India Limited in 2007, further details of which are included in note 30 “Contingent liabilities and legal proceedings”. Further, the Group has extensive accumulated tax losses as detailed in note 6 “Taxation”, and a key management judgement is whether a deferred tax asset should be recognised in respect of these losses. As at 31 March 2016, the Group had recognised a £22,382 million deferred tax asset primarily in respect of these tax losses. The Group Tax Director presented on both provisioning and disclosure of tax contingencies and deferred tax asset recognition at the November 2015 and May 2016 Committee meetings. He also provided an update on upcoming changes in the wider tax landscape that were potentially relevant to the Group. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP also identified this as an area of higher audit effort and the The Committee challenged both management and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP on the legal judgements underpinning both the provisioning and disclosure stance adopted in relation to material elements of tax contingent liabilities and the IFRS basis of, and operating assumptions underlying, the deferred tax assets recognised at the period end. The Committee was satisfied with the approach adopted in the financial statements by management for each matter.

 


Table of Contents

 

primarily to the assumptions underlying the calculation of the value in reviews these claims and relevant legal advice received by the Group, and disclosure in the financial statements for both matters. of these key business and IT controls and they reported to the 49 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Significant judgements and issues Matter considered Action Goodwill impairment testing This is an area of focus for the Committee given the materiality of the Group’s goodwill balances (£22.8 billion at 31 March 2016) and the inherent subjectivity in impairment testing. The judgements in relation to goodwill impairment continue to relate use of the business, being the achievability of the long-term business plan and the macroeconomic and related modelling assumptions underlying the valuation process. See note 4 “Impairment losses” for further detail. The Committee received detailed reporting from management and challenged the appropriateness of the assumptions made, including: a the consistent application of management’s methodology; a the achievability of the business plans; a assumptions in relation to terminal growth in the businesses at the end of the plan period; and a discount rates. This remains an area of audit focus and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP provided detailed reporting on these matters to the Committee, including sensitivity testing. The Committee was satisfied with both the appropriateness of the analysis performed by management that indicated a goodwill impairment charge of £450 million in relation to Vodafone Romania, and the impairment related disclosures set out in note 4 to the financial statements. Liability provisioning The Group is subject to a range of claims and legal actions from a number of sources, including competitors, regulators, customers, suppliers and on occasion fellow shareholders in Group subsidiaries. The level of provisioning for contingent and other liabilities is an issue where management and legal judgements are important and accordingly an area of Committee focus. See note 30 “Contingent liabilities and legal proceedings” for further detail. The Committee received a presentation from the Group’s General Counsel and Company Secretary and the Director of Litigation in both November 2015 and May 2016 on management’s assessment of the most significant claims. As this is an area of audit focus, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP also to form a view on the appropriateness of the level of provisioning that is shared with the Committee. The Committee challenged both management and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP on the level of provisioning for legal claims and was satisfied that the amounts recorded appropriately reflected the risk of loss. Significant one-off transactions The Committee reviewed the accounting and reporting of a number of material one-off transactions. These included: a The recognition of spectrum assets and a corresponding liability of £2.7 billion during the 2016 financial year in relation to Vodafone India. See note 22 “Liquidity and capital resources” for further detail. a The issue by the Group in February 2016 of £2.9 billion of mandatory convertible bonds. See note 22 “Liquidity and capital resources” for further detail. Management outlined the key accounting and disclosure impacts in relation to these transactions. The Committee received detailed reporting from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP on their assessment of the accounting and disclosures made by management in both the half-year and annual financial statements and were satisfied with the accounting Key business controls The Group has continued to devote considerable resources to the development of key business and related IT controls to ensure a robust system of internal control. During the year, this focused on ongoing work programmes over general ledger account controls and user access to the Group’s core Enterprise Resource Planning (‘ERP’) system as well as new activity, including a multi-year project to implement a suite of standard controls over the Group’s core financial processes and managing the business and IT control implications of changes to the scope of the Group’s section 404 of the US Sarbanes-Oxley compliance activities. The Committee reviewed the work performed by management in relation to the implementation and maintenance of these controls, including the degree to which they operated effectively throughout the year and at the year end. This was supplemented by the results of related reviews performed by Internal Audit. The audit scope of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP included certain Committee the results of their audit testing in these areas. The Committee was satisfied with the basis of management’s report on internal control over financial reporting as required by section 404 of the US Sarbanes-Oxley Act and with management’s ongoing focus on enhancements to the internal control environment.

 


Table of Contents

 

Board committees (continued) External audit The Committee has primary responsibility for overseeing the relationship with, and performance of, the external auditor. This includes making the recommendation on the appointment, reappointment and removal of the external auditor, assessing their independence on an ongoing basis and for negotiating the audit fee. Auditor appointment PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP were appointed as the Group’s external auditor in July 2014 following an audit tender and, in accordance with the 2014 UK Corporate Governance Code, the Group will be required to put the external audit contract out to tender by 2024. In addition, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP will be required to rotate the audit partner responsible for the Group audit every five years and, as a result, the current lead audit partner will be required to change in 2019. The Committee continues to review the auditor appointment and the need to tender the audit, ensuring the Group’s compliance with the 2014 UK Corporate Governance Code and the reforms of the audit market by the UK Competition and Markets Authority. Accordingly, the Company confirms that it complied with the provisions of the Competition and Markets Authority’s Order for the financial year under review. For the financial year ending 31 March 2017, the Committee has recommended to the Board that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP be reappointed under the current external audit contract and the Directors will be proposing the reappointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP at the annual general meeting in July 2016. Audit risk At the start of the audit cycle for the new financial year we received from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP a detailed audit plan identifying their audit scope, planning materiality and their assessment of key risks. The audit risk identification process is considered a key factor in the overall effectiveness of the external audit process, and the key risks for the 2016 financial year, which were unchanged from the previous year, were as follows: Other matters The Committee also undertook a range of further activities in relation to the Group’s accounting and external reporting in the year: Adoption of recent accounting developments The Committee received regular reporting from management on the Group’s implementation of IFRS 15 “Revenue from contracts with customers”, which will be adopted in the financial year ending 31 March 2019, focusing on the key decision points relating to the choice of IT system for generating the necessary accounting entries, systems integration, the methodology in which the standard would be adopted and programme resourcing. The Committee will also review the Group’s implementation of IFRS 16 “Leases”, which will be adopted in either the financial years ending 31 March 2019 or 2020, once management has more fully assessed the impact of the changes. Fair, balanced and understandable As part of the Committee’s assessment of whether the Annual Report, taken as a whole, is fair, balanced and understandable and provides the information necessary for shareholders to assess the Company’s position and performance, business model and strategy, it draws on the work of the Group’s Disclosure Committee and has discussions with senior management. The processes and controls that nderpin our consideration include ensuring that: u= a all contributors are fully briefed on the fair, balanced and understandable requirement; a a dedicated and experienced core team is responsible for the coordination of content submissions, verification, detailed review and challenge; a senior management confirms that the content in respect of their areas of responsibility is considered to be fair, balanced and understandable; a the Disclosure Committee reviews and assesses the Annual Report as a whole; and a the Committee receives an early draft of the Annual Report to enable timely review and comment. a Taxation matters, including a provisioning claim for withholding tax in India and the recognition and recoverability of deferred tax assets in Luxembourg and Germany. These processes allowed us to provide positive assurance to the Board to assist them in making the statement required by the 2014 UK Corporate Governance Code. Long-term viability statement Following the adoption of the 2014 UK Corporate Governance Code during the current financial year, the Committee’s terms of reference were extended to include providing advice to the Board on the form and basis underlying the longer term viability statement. The Committee reviewed the process and assessment of the Group’s prospects made by management, including: a Carrying value of goodwill. a Provisions and contingent liabilities. a Revenue recognition. a Accounting for significant one-off transactions. a Capitalisation and asset lives. a Management override of internal controls. These risks are regularly reviewed by the Committee to ensure the external auditor’s areas of audit focus remain appropriate. Working with the auditor We hold private meetings with the external auditor at each Committee meeting to provide additional opportunity for open dialogue and feedback from the Committee and the auditor without management being present. Matters typically discussed include the external auditor’s assessment of business risks, the transparency and openness of interactions with management, confirmation that there has been no restriction in scope placed on them by management, the independence of their audit and how they have exercised professional scepticism. I also meet with the external lead audit partner outside the formal Committee process throughout the year. a the review period and alignment with the Group’s internal long-term forecasts; a the assessment of the capacity of the Group to remain viable after consideration of future cash flows, expected debt service requirements, undrawn facilities and access to capital markets; and a the modelling of the financial impact of certain of the Group’s principal risks materialising using severe but plausible scenarios. Management also sought independent external advice on best practice to ensure appropriate compliance with the requirements of the 2014 UK Corporate Governance Code. 50 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016

 


Table of Contents

 

Effectiveness of the external audit process The Committee reviewed the quality of the external audit throughout the year and considered the performance of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, taking into account the Committee’s own assessment, the results of a detailed survey of senior finance personnel across the Group focusing on a range of factors we considered relevant to audit quality, feedback from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP on their performance against their own performance objectives and the firm-wide audit quality inspection report issued by the FRC in May 2015. Based on this review, the Committee concluded that there had been appropriate focus and challenge on the primary areas of audit focus and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP had applied robust challenge and scepticism throughout the audit. Independence and objectivity In its assessment of the independence of the auditor and in accordance with the US Public Company Accounting Oversight Board’s standard on independence, the Committee receives details of any relationships between the Company and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP that may have a bearing on their independence and receives confirmation that they are independent of the Company within the meaning of the securities laws administered by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (‘SEC’). As one of the ways in which it seeks to protect the independence and objectivity of the external auditor, the Committee has a policy governing the engagement of the external auditor to provide non-audit services. This precludes PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP from providing certain services such as valuation work or the provision of accounting services and also sets a presumption that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP should only be engaged for non-audit services where there is no legal or practical alternative supplier. For certain specific permitted services, the Committee has pre-approved that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP can be engaged by management, subject to the policies set out above, and subject to a £50,000 fee limit for individual engagements, a £500,000 total fee limit for services where there is no legal alternative and a £500,000 total fee limit for services where there is no practical alternative supplier. For all other services or those permitted services that exceed these specified fee limits, I, as Chairman, or in my absence another Committee member, can pre-approve permitted services. Following the publication by the Competition and Markets Authority of its final order in relation to the responsibilities of the audit committee, the Board approved amendments to the Committee’s terms of reference during the 2016 financial year such that only the Committee can negotiate and approve the statutory audit fee, the scope of the statutory audit and approval of the appointment of the lead audit engagement partner. In addition, the Committee assessed the impact of further expected UK regulation restricting non-audit services that auditors can provide, including a cap on the amount of non-audit fees that can be billed and a list of prohibited services. Consequently, the Group’s policy on non-audit fees will be amended to reflect these additional restrictions during the financial year ending 31 March 2017 for implementation in the financial year ending 31 March 2018. For the 2016 financial year, the Committee considered the ongoing fee proposal included as part of the audit tender, negotiated audit scope changes for the 2016 financial year and, following the receipt of formal assurance that their fees were appropriate for the scope of the work required, agreed a charge from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and related member firms of £12 million for statutory audit services. In addition to the statutory audit fee, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and related member firms charged the Group £1 million for audit-related and other assurance services primarily in connection with local regulatory filings where we were legally required to appoint them by virtue of their position as statutory auditor. Further details of the fees paid, for audit and non-audit services to both PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for the 2016 and 2015 financial years and to Deloitte LLP for the 2014 financial year, can be found in note 3 to the consolidated financial statements. Internal control and risk management The Committee has the primary responsibility for the oversight of the Group’s system of internal control, including the risk management framework and the work of the internal audit function. Assessment of Group’s system of internal control, including risk management framework The Group’s risk assessment process and the way in which significant business risks are managed is a key area of focus for the Committee. Our activity here was driven primarily by the Group’s assessment of its principal risks and uncertainties, as set out on pages 22 to 28. A range of mitigations for risks faced by the Group are included on pages 78 to 81. This year, the Committee performed a detailed review of the Company’s new risk management framework document which is designed to: clarify roles and responsibilities for risk management and oversight, set out a consistent end-to-end process for managing risk across the business, provide the Board with a clear line of sight over the principal risks, and provide an overview of how the principal risks are being managed. Our review included reports from the Group Risk and Compliance Director on the Group’s risk evaluation process as well as a review of changes to significant risks identified at both operating entity and Group levels. The Committee also maintains a programme of in-depth reviews into specific financial, operational and regulatory areas of the business. These reviews are critical to the role of the Committee, as they allow us to meet key business leaders responsible for these areas and provide independent challenge to their activities. During the 2016 financial year, the areas reviewed included: a the integration of KDG into Vodafone Germany and the transition to Vodafone compliance standards; a changes to the Group’s Enterprise operations to improve service and delivery to customers; a the risk and control framework associated with implementation of a new billing system in the Netherlands; a the Group’s cyber security strategy, covering network, IT and retail systems; and a the Group’s network resilience policy and the ability to recover from a significant fault or challenge to normal operations. The Group has in place an internal control environment to protect the business from the material risks which have been identified. Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal controls over financial reporting and we have responsibility for ensuring the effectiveness of these controls. 51 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information

 


Table of Contents

 

Board committees (continued) Compliance activities The Committee is responsible for the oversight of the Group’s compliance programme and held a number of deep dive This year, the Group implemented an integrated assurance mapping process to improve the coordination of assurance activities across the Group and to provide a framework that allowed a comprehensive assessment of the assurance and compliance activities for the Group’s significant risks. The mapping process was piloted in the UK and Irish operating companies before being rolled out to all business units during the second half of the 2016 financial year. We reviewed the process by which the Group evaluated its control environment. Our work here was driven primarily by the Group Audit Director’s reports on the effectiveness of internal controls, significant identified frauds and any identified fraud that involved management or employees with a significant role in internal controls. Oversight of the Group’s compliance activities in relation to section 404 of the US Sarbanes-Oxley Act also falls within the Committee’s remit. The Committee has completed its review of the effectiveness of the Group’s system of internal control, including risk management, during the year and up to the date of this Annual Report, in accordance with the requirements of the Guidance on Risk Management, Internal Control and related Financial and Business Reporting published by the FRC. It confirms that no significant failings or weaknesses were identified in the review for the 2016 financial year and allowed us to provide positive assurance to the Board to assist them in making the statements required by the 2014 UK Corporate Governance Code. Where areas for improvement were identified, processes are in place to ensure that the necessary action is taken and that progress is monitored. Internal audit Monitoring and review of the scope, extent and effectiveness of the activity of the Group Internal Audit department is an agenda item at each Committee meeting. We approve the annual audit plan prior to the start of each financial year and receive updates from the Group Audit Director on audit activities, progress against the approved Group audit plan, the results of any unsatisfactory audits and the action plans to address these areas. I play a major role in setting the Group Audit Director’s annual objectives and we meet regularly to discuss the team’s activities and any significant issues arising from their work. Compliance with section 404 of the US Sarbanes-Oxley Act The Committee takes an active role in monitoring the Group’s compliance activities in respect of section 404 of the US Sarbanes-Oxley Act, receiving reports from management in the year covering: sessions on compliance-related matters in the year. These focused on: a changes to the control environment, including the creation of two new management controls governance committees and a redefined finance operating model providing greater clarity of roles and responsibilities; a updates to the Group’s Code of Conduct, which is reviewed every three years; a the results from the annual Policy Compliance Review which tests the extent to which local markets and Group entities are compliant with our high risk policies; a the results from our “Doing What’s Right” employee awareness and e-learning programmes and other measures designed to assess the culture of the organisation; a the results of the use of “Speak Up” channels in place to enable employees to raise concerns about possible irregularities in financial reporting or other issues and the outputs of any resulting investigations; and a the methodology for fraud reporting and investigations into known or suspected fraudulent activities by both third parties and employees. /s/ Nick Land Nick Land On behalf of the Audit and Risk Committee 17 May 2016 a financial control governance; a changes to the section 404 programme, including scoping, the development of a standard controls framework and the development of a quality assurance programme; and a the enhancement of the wider control environment in response to ongoing business developments. The external auditor reported the status of their work in relation to this matter in each of their reports to the Committee. 52 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016

 


Table of Contents

 

Assessment of the independence of the Non-Executive Directors The Committee reviewed the independence of all the Non-Executive Directors and in particular Philip Yea and Nick Land, who have both served on the Board for over nine years. The Committee considered their length of tenure on the Board, independence and other external commitments. As a result of its assessment, the Committee is confident that Philip and Nick continue to demonstrate qualities of independence and judgement in carrying out their roles. In addition, the Committee believes that Philip’s and Nick’s external commitments have not negatively impacted their commitment to Vodafone and therefore recommended to the Board that Philip and Nick stand for reappointment at the 2016 annual general meeting. All of the Non-Executive Directors are considered independent. Board evaluation The Committee oversaw the external evaluation of the Board and Committees. A description of the process and conclusions of the evaluation is set out on page 45. Succession planning The Committee received several presentations throughout the year from the Chief Executive and Group Human Resources Director. The presentations provided details of the changes to the Vodafone organisational structure in order to deliver our strategy as well as succession planning for senior management. Potential successors have been identified for the top senior management positions and the Committee reviewed the profiles for all of these positions during the year. The Committee also monitors a schedule on the length of tenure of the Chairman and Non-Executive Directors and the mix and skills of the Directors. The Committee is satisfied that adequate succession planning is currently in place for the Executive Directors and senior executives, but will keep succession planning under review and monitor the progress and success of the development plans which have been established for relevant employees. Diversity Vodafone acknowledges the importance of diversity and inclusion to the effective functioning of the Board. This includes diversity of skills and experience, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, cultural background or belief. 25% of our Board roles are held by women and our ambition over the coming years is to increase that proportion further. Diversity extends beyond the boardroom. The Board supports management in its efforts to build a diverse organisation and endorses the Group’s “Recruiting and Managing People” policy, one of the objectives of which is to “attract and develop a highly qualified and diverse workforce and ensure that all selection decisions are based on merit”. Governance The Committee reviewed Vodafone’s compliance with the 2014 UK Corporate Governance Code and was satisfied that Vodafone complied with the Code during the year. It also received updates on corporate governance developments during the year and considered the impact of these developments on Vodafone. /s/ Gerard Kleisterlee Gerard Kleisterlee On behalf of the Nominations and Governance Committee 17 May 2016 Committee meetings The Committee met five times during the year. I invite other individuals and external advisers to attend all or part of any meeting, as and when appropriate. I report to the Board, as a separate agenda item, on the activities of the Committee at the following Board meeting. David Nish’s appointment The Committee reviewed the mix and skills of the Board and identified that it would be valuable for a Non-Executive Director to be appointed who had financial expertise and capital markets skills as well as experience as a chief executive. A description of the role and capabilities required for this appointment was prepared. Sciteb, an external search consultancy, was appointed, which has no other connection to Vodafone and has signed up to the voluntary Code of Conduct for Executive search firms. David was identified as a suitable candidate. He was invited to meet with the members of the Committee and following those meetings, the Committee recommended to the Board that he be invited to become a Non-Executive Director. The Board accepted the recommendation and David accepted the Board’s invitation and became a Non-Executive Director with effect from 1 January 2016. Changes to the Board and Committees The changes made to the composition of the Board and Committees during the year are set out on page 54. 53 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Nominations and Governance Committee The Committee continues its work of ensuring the Board composition is right and that our governance is effective. Chairman Gerard Kleisterlee Chairman of the Board – Independent on appointment Responsibilities: a assessing the composition of the Board and making recommendations on appointments to the Board and senior executive succession planning; a overseeing the performance evaluation of the Board, its committees and individual Directors; and a overseeing all matters relating to corporate governance, bringing any issues to the attention of the Board. The terms of reference of the Committee are available on vodafone.com/governance. Key objective: To make sure the Board comprises individuals with the necessary skills, knowledge and experience to ensure that it is effective in discharging its responsibilities and to have oversight of all matters relating to corporate governance.

 


Table of Contents

 

Compliance with the 2014 UK Corporate Governance Code Throughout the financial year and to the date of this document, we complied with the provisions and applied the main principles of the 2014 version of the UK Corporate Governance Code (the ‘Code’). The Code can be found on the Financial Reporting Council website (frc.org.uk). This table sets out how we have applied the main principles of the Code, cross referring to other parts of this Annual Report. This table is intended to assist with the evaluation of our compliance during the year and should be read alongside the Governance section as a whole. Headings correspond to the headings in the Code. The auditor’s report on the corporate governance statement is on page 86. A. Leadership A.1 – The role of the Board The Board’s responsibilities are set out on page 39 along with a statement of how it operates. The Board held seven scheduled meetings during the year and holds additional meetings, as required. All Directors are expected, wherever possible, to attend all Board and relevant Committee meetings. Details of such attendance are on page 41. A.2 and A.3 – Division of responsibilities and the role of the Chairman The roles of the Chairman and Chief Executive are separate: their key responsibilities are set out on page 39. Board meetings are arranged to ensure sufficient time is available for the discussion of all items. The Chairman was independent on appointment. A.4 – Non-Executive Directors Philip Yea has been Senior Independent Director since July 2015 when he took over from Luc Vandevelde who stepped down from the Board. Philip: B. Effectiveness B.1 – The composition of the Board The Board consists of 12 Directors, (nine Non-Executive Directors, the Chairman and two Executive Directors). 11 Directors served throughout the year. Changes made to the composition of the Board and Committees during the year were as follows: a Philip Yea became Senior Independent Director on 28 July 2015 after Luc Vandevelde stepped down from the Board. Stephen Pusey also stepped down from the Board in July 2015; a Valerie Gooding became Chairman of the Remuneration Committee on 28 July 2015; and a Valerie Gooding joined the Nominations and Governance Committee on 2 November 2015. Dr Mathias Döpfner joined the Remuneration Committee on 1 April 2016. It is expected that David Nish will join the Audit and Risk Committee on 29 July 2016. The balance and independence of the Board is kept under review by the Nominations and Governance Committee. Its terms of reference are available at vodafone.com/governance. Philip Yea, Nick Land and Samuel Jonah have served on the Board for ten, nine and seven years respectively. The Board has determined that they, along with all of the Non-Executive Directors, continue to demonstrate qualities of independence and judgement in carrying out their roles, supporting the Executive Directors and senior management in an objective manner. Their length of service and resulting experience are of great benefit to the Board. B.2 – Appointments to the Board David Nish was appointed as a Non-Executive Director from 1 January 2016. Further details on the appointment process are set out on page 53, which also includes the Board’s policy on diversity. B.3 – Commitment The Board is satisfied that the external commitments of its Chairman and other Non-Executive Directors (set out on pages 40 and 41) do not conflict with their duties and commitments as Directors of the Company. Directors must: a acts as a sounding board for the Chairman and as an intermediary for the other Directors; a report any changes to their commitments to the Board; a complete an annual conflicts questionnaire. Any conflicts identified are considered and, as appropriate, authorised by the Board. If authorised, it is recorded in a register and reviewed periodically; and a is available to shareholders if they have concerns which they have not been able to otherwise resolve; a reviews the performance of the Chairman annually; and a notify the Company of actual or potential conflicts or a change in circumstances relating to an existing authorisation. a if necessary, convenes meetings of the Non-Executive Directors. The Executive Directors’ service contracts and Non-Executive Directors’ appointment letters are available for inspection at our registered office and at our annual general meeting. B.4 – Development Details of Board induction and training and development are set out on page 45. The Non-Executive Directors are responsible for using their skills, experience and independent judgement to: a constructively challenge the strategy proposed by the Executive Directors; a scrutinise and challenge performance and risk management across the Group’s business; and a assess the risk and integrity of the financial information and controls. The Chairman met with just the Non-Executive Directors at every Board meeting this year. 54 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016

 


Table of Contents

 

B.5 – Information and support There is a procedure to enable Directors to take independent legal and/ or financial advice at the Company’s expense, managed by the Group General Counsel and Company Secretary. No such independent advice was sought in the 2016 financial year. The Group General Counsel and Company Secretary also: Further information can be found in the Directors’ statement of responsibility on pages 76 and 77 and in the Audit and Risk Committee report on pages 47 to 52 (which also covers the oversight and monitoring of the system, and its effectiveness). C.3 – Audit Committee and auditor The Audit and Risk Committee is responsible for governance around both the internal audit function and external auditor and for oversight of the Group’s systems of internal controls. Further details on the Audit and Risk Committee and its activities are set out on pages 47 to 52. Its terms of reference are available at vodafone.com/governance. a assists the Chairman by organising induction and training programmes and ensuring that all Directors have full and timely access to all relevant information; a ensures that the correct Board procedures are followed; and a advises the Board on corporate governance matters. D. Remuneration D.1 and D.2 – The level and components of remuneration and procedure The removal of the Group General Counsel and Company Secretary is a matter for the Board as a whole. B.6 – Evaluation Information on Board evaluation is set out on page 45. B.7 – Election/Re-election All Directors have submitted themselves for re-election at the 2016 annual general meeting with the exception of David Nish who will be elected for the first time in accordance with our Articles of Association. The Nominations and Governance Committee confirmed to the Board that the contributions made by the Directors continue to be effective and that the Company should support their re-election. The biographies for our Directors can be found on pages 40 and 41. a The Remuneration Committee is responsible for determining the policy on remuneration of the Chairman, executives and senior management team. More information is set out on pages 57 to 73. a The Chairman of the Board and the Remuneration Committee’s Chairman are also responsible for maintaining contact with the Company’s principal shareholders about remuneration. Full details are set out in its terms of reference, available at vodafone.com/governance. E. Relations with shareholders E.1 – Dialogue with shareholders The Chairman ensures that there is effective communication with investors and that the Board understands the views of major shareholders on matters such as governance and strategy. He is available to meet shareholders for this purpose. The other members of the Board are also available to meet major investors on request. Further information is set out on page 46. E.2 – Constructive use of the annual general meeting Our annual general meeting will be held on 29 July 2016 and is an opportunity for shareholders to vote on certain aspects of Group business and present questions to the Board. C. Accountability C.1 – Financial and business reporting The following statements can be found in this Annual Report Statement Pages The Directors’ statement of responsibility regarding the financial statements, including the going concern assessment. 76 and 77 A statement confirming that the Board considers that the Annual Report and accounts, taken as a whole, is fair, balanced and understandable and provides the information necessary for shareholders to assess the Company’s position and performance, business model and strategy. 76 a A summary presentation of the full year results is given before the Chairman deals with the formal business of the meeting. An explanation of the Company’s business model and the strategy for delivering the objectives of the Company. 6 to 13 a All shareholders can question any member of the Board both during the meeting and informally afterwards. The Board encourages participation of investors at the meeting. C.2 – System of risk management and internal control An overview of the Group’s framework for identifying risk is on pages 22 to 28. The Board has overall responsibility for the system of risk management and internal control (and for reviewing its effectiveness) and has conducted a robust assessment of the principal risks facing the Company, including those that would threaten its business model, future performance, solvency or liquidity. Such a system is designed to manage rather than eliminate business risks and can only provide reasonable and not absolute assurance against material mistreatment or loss. The Board has implemented in full the FRC “Guidance on Risk Management Internal Control and related Financial and Business Reporting” for the year and to the date of this Annual Report. The resulting procedures, which are subject to regular monitoring and review, provide an ongoing process for identifying, evaluating and managing the Company’s principal risks. a The meeting is also broadcast live and on demand on our website at vodafone.com/agm. a Voting on all resolutions is on a poll. The proxy votes cast, including details of the votes withheld, are disclosed to those in attendance at the meeting and the results are published on our website and announced via the Regulatory News Service. a A copy of our notice of meeting can be found at vodafone.com/agm. 55 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information

 


Table of Contents

 

Our US listing requirements As Vodafone’s American depositary shares are listed on NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (‘NASDAQ’), we are required to disclose a summary of any material differences between the corporate governance practices we follow and those of US companies listed on NASDAQ. Vodafone’s corporate governance practices are primarily based on UK requirements but substantially conform to those required of US companies listed on NASDAQ. The material differences are set out in the following table: 56 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Board member independence Different tests of independence for Board members are applied under the Code and the NASDAQ listing rules. The Board is not required to take into consideration NASDAQ’s detailed definitions of independence as set out in the NASDAQ listing rules. The Board has carried out an assessment based on the independence requirements of the Code and has determined that, in its judgement, each of Vodafone’s Non-Executive Directors is independent within the meaning of those requirements. Committees The NASDAQ listing rules require US companies to have a nominations committee, an audit committee and a compensation committee, each composed entirely of independent directors, with the nominations committee and the audit committee each required to have a written charter which addresses the committee’s purpose and responsibilities, and the compensation committee having sole authority and adequate funding to engage compensation consultants, independent legal counsel and other compensation advisers. a Our Nominations and Governance Committee is chaired by the Chairman of the Board and its other members are independent Non-Executive Directors. a Our Remuneration Committee is composed entirely of independent Non-Executive Directors. a Our Audit and Risk Committee is composed entirely of Non-Executive Directors, each of whom (i) the Board has determined to be independent based on the independence requirements of the Code and (ii) meets the independence requirements of the Securities Exchange Act 1934. a We have terms of reference for our Nominations and Governance Committee, Audit and Risk Committee and Remuneration Committee, each of which complies with the requirements of the Code and is available for inspection on our website at vodafone.com/governance. a These terms of reference are generally responsive to the relevant NASDAQ listing rules, but may not address all aspects of these rules. Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct Under the NASDAQ listing rules, US companies must adopt a Code of Conduct applicable to all directors, officers and employees that complies with the definition of a “code of ethics” set out in section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. a We have adopted a Code of Ethics that complies with section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act which is applicable only to the senior financial and principal executive officers, and which is available on our website at vodafone.com/governance. a We have also adopted a separate Code of Conduct which applies to all employees. Quorum The quorum required for shareholder meetings, in accordance with our articles of association, is two shareholders, regardless of the level of their aggregate share ownership, while US companies listed on NASDAQ are required by the NASDAQ listing rules to have a minimum quorum of 33.33% of the shareholders of ordinary shares for shareholder meetings. Related party transactions In lieu of obtaining an independent review of related party transactions for conflicts of interests in accordance with the NASDAQ listing rules, we seek shareholder approval for related party transactions that (i) meet certain financial thresholds or (ii) have unusual features in accordance with the Listing Rules issued by the FCA in the United Kingdom (the ‘Listing Rules’), the Companies Act 2006 and our articles of association. Further, we use the definition of a transaction with a related party as set out in the Listing Rules, which differs in certain respects from the definition of related party transaction in the NASDAQ listing rules. Shareholder approval When determining whether shareholder approval is required for a proposed transaction, we comply with both the NASDAQ listing rules and the Listing Rules. Under the NASDAQ listing rules, whether shareholder approval is required for a transaction depends on, among other things, the percentage of shares to be issued or sold in connection with the transaction. Under the Listing Rules, whether shareholder approval is required for a transaction depends on, among other things, whether the size of a transaction exceeds a certain percentage of the size of the listed company undertaking the transaction.

 


Table of Contents

 

Directors’ remuneration Committee Letter from the Remuneration Committee Chairman Dear shareholder On behalf of the Board, I present our 2016 Directors’ Remuneration Report – my first as Chairman of the Remuneration Committee. This report sets out both our policy, as approved by shareholders at the 2014 annual general meeting, and how this policy was implemented during 2016. Last year’s report received a vote in favour from shareholders of over 97% – indicating support for the Committee’s focus on implementing the key principles of our executive remuneration approach. The Committee remains committed to ensuring that all of our decisions are guided by the principles of: a offering competitive and fair rates of pay and benefits; a ensuring our remuneration policy, and the manner in which it is implemented, drives the behaviours that support our strategy and business objectives; a maintaining a “pay for performance” approach to remuneration which ensures our incentive plans only deliver significant rewards if and when they are justified by business performance; and a aligning the interests of our senior management team with those of shareholders by developing an approach to share ownership that helps to maintain commitment over the long term. Project Spring during 2016 The year under review saw operational progress made under Project Spring. In AMAP this was reflected through continued customer and data growth whilst in Europe our progress was evident in the fact that c.70% of our markets returned to service revenue growth. Our improved financial performance was complemented by significant steps being made in the “Customer eXperience eXcellence” phase of Project Spring. This saw us increase the number of markets where we are Consumer NPS leader by 2, to 13 out of 21. In addition to the above, the combined impact of these results has led to a number of notable achievements this year, including: a doubling the number of our 4G customers to 47m; a increasing our fixed broadband base to 13.4m (an increase of 1.3m); a returning to full year growth in both adjusted EBITDA and service revenue; a strong enterprise performance; and a meeting targets in Europe for dropped call rates of less than 0.5% and for data sessions above three megabits per second of above 90%. 57 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Remuneration During the year the Committee has continued to ensure its work supports our long-term strategic goals and that remuneration levels fairly reflect ongoing performance in the context of wider market conditions and shareholder views. Chairman Valerie Gooding Independent Non-Executive Director Responsibilities: a determining, on behalf of the Board, the policy on the remuneration of the Chairman of the Board, the Executive Directors and the senior management team; a determining the total remuneration packages for these individuals including any compensation on termination of office; a operating within recognised principles of good governance; and a preparing an Annual Report on Directors’ remuneration. Contents of the Remuneration Report Remuneration policy Page 59 The remuneration policy table Page 60 Chairman and Non-Executive Directors’ remuneration Page 64 Annual Report on remuneration Page 65 Remuneration Committee Page 65 2016 remuneration Page 66 2017 remuneration Page 72 Further remuneration information Page 73 Key objective: To assess and make recommendations to the Board on the policies for executive remuneration and reward packages for the individual Executive Directors.

 


Table of Contents

 

Directors’ remuneration (continued) Remuneration outcomes during 2016 Annual bonus performance during the year was assessed against both financial and strategic measures. The former constituted 60% of maximum opportunity and was comprised of service revenue, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted cash flow (all equally weighted). Our strategic measure was comprised of Customer Appreciation KPIs, reflecting our focus on customer experience excellence and included Net Promoter Score and Brand Consideration, as well as consideration of other factors such as customer churn. During the year, performance under all of the financial measures exceeded target performance, with cash flow in particular recording strong results. These results reflected both a stabilisation of performance in our European markets, with outcomes for this region ranging from slightly below to slightly above financial targets, and continued strong performance in our AMAP markets where financial performance across all three measures was significantly above targets. Performance under the Customer Appreciation KPIs element of the bonus was slightly above on target performance highlighting that whilst there has been a positive start to our customer experience excellence focus, there still remain further gains to be made. We will be looking closely at underlying local market performance to ensure that all of our customers, regardless of where they are in the world, feel the benefit of our significant investment in this area. Further details about how this measure was assessed is provided on page 66. As part of our commitment to full and open disclosure we have, for several years, published details of the performance required to achieve a target payout under the GSTIP for the year under review. This year we have sought to further reflect best practice by disclosing full target ranges of which further details can also be found on page 66. Performance against these targets during the year resulted in an overall payout of 58.4% of maximum. In terms of long-term incentives, the 2014 GLTI award was measured over the three financial years ending 31 March 2016 and was assessed against both Free Cash Flow and TSR performance. Over the course of the performance period, the Free Cash Flow measure exceeded threshold performance, which was complemented by a slight outperformance of the median of the TSR comparator group. This resulted in a combined payout of 23.2% of maximum. Application of policy for the year ahead Following the Committee’s annual review of the current policy it was agreed that no changes would be made in respect of the year ahead. Similarly, it was determined that the current balance of performance measures, following last year’s introduction of the Customer Appreciation KPIs measure under the GSTIP, remains appropriate. As part of this annual review, the Committee also contacted our top 20 shareholders to consult on the proposed application of the policy for the year ahead. This included the decision to increase the base salary of the Chief Financial Officer by 2.0% in light of business performance, salary increases for other UK employees and external market information. The Chief Executive Officer requested not to be considered for a salary increase during the year, and the Committee respected this request. The Committee appreciates the importance of consulting with shareholders on matters of executive remuneration and was therefore pleased with the high level of engagement and support shown by investors. During the year the Committee also completed a risk assessment of the current incentive plans. Although such an assessment is conducted annually, the Committee saw the review as particularly important this year given the current external environment. Following the assessment, the Committee remains satisfied that the current incentive plans do not promote undue risk. This will therefore constitute the third financial year in which the current policy has been in place – a reflection of its success in providing an effective framework which has demonstrated the flexibility to meet our changing strategic priorities over the last three years. In line with the reporting requirements our Policy Report will be put forward to a binding shareholder vote at the 2017 annual general meeting. The Committee is therefore in the process of conducting a full review of our existing arrangements to ensure that the Policy Report put forward for shareholder approval is appropriately positioned to support our executive remuneration programme over the next three years. Conclusion The success of Project Spring was always going to require more than financial investment. Indeed, our latest results show how our significant investment in infrastructure has been matched by a contribution from all our colleagues to improving our customers’ experience. Continuous improvement for customers will be crucial in maximising the benefits from Project Spring for years to come. Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Dr Mathias Döpfner to the Remuneration Committee and thank my predecessor, Luc Vandevelde, who stepped down from both the Committee and the Board following the 2015 annual general meeting, for his hard work and support during his tenure. I look forward to ensuring that the Committee continues to maintain and develop an executive remuneration framework that supports the opportunities ahead. /s/ Valerie Gooding Valerie Gooding Chairman of the Remuneration Committee 17 May 2016 58 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016

 


Table of Contents

 

Remuneration policy No changes have been made to our policy since its approval at the 2014 annual general meeting which was held on 29 July 2014. Our approved Policy Report is available on our website at vodafone.com, and has been reproduced below exactly as it was set out in the 2014 Annual Report. As such, a few phrases (e.g. references to the 2014 annual general meeting) are now out of date. 59 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information REMUNERATION POLICY (FIRST PUBLISHED IN THE 2014 ANNUAL REPORT) In this forward-looking section we describe our remuneration policy for the Board. This includes our considerations when determining policy, a description of the elements of the reward package and an indication of the potential future value of this package for each of the executive directors. In addition we describe our policy applied to the Chairman and non-executive directors. We will be seeking shareholder approval for our remuneration policy at the 2014 AGM and we intend to implement at that point. We do not envisage making any changes to our policy over the next three years, however, we will review it each year to ensure that it continues to support our Company strategy. If we feel it is necessary to make a change to our policy within the next three years, we will seek shareholder approval. Considerations when determining remuneration policy Our remuneration principles which are outlined on page 57 are the context for our policy. Our principal consideration when determining remuneration policy is to ensure that it supports our Company strategy and business objectives. The views of our shareholders are also taken into account when determining executive pay. In advance of asking for approval for the remuneration policy we have consulted with our major shareholders. We invited our top 20 shareholders to comment on remuneration at Vodafone and several meetings between shareholders and the Remuneration Committee Chairman took place. The main topics of consultation were as follows: a new share plan rules for which we will seek shareholder approval at the 2014 annual general meeting; a changes to executive remuneration arrangements (reduction of maximum long-term incentive vesting levels and pension provision); and a impact of Project Spring on Free Cash Flow performance under the global long-term incentive plan (‘GLTI’). We have not consulted with employees on the executive remuneration policy nor is any fixed remuneration comparison measurement used. However, when determining the policy for Executive Directors, we have been mindful of the pay and employment conditions of employees in Vodafone Group as a whole, with particular reference to the market in which the executive is based. Further information on our remuneration policy for other employees is given on page 62. Performance measures and targets Our Company strategy and business objectives are the primary consideration when we are selecting performance measures for our incentive plans. The targets within our incentive plans that are related to internal financial measures (such as revenue, profit and cash flow) are typically determined based on our budgets. Targets for strategic and external measures (such as competitive performance and Total Shareholder Return (‘TSR’)) are set based on Company objectives and in light of the competitive marketplace. The threshold and maximum levels of performance are set to reflect minimum acceptable levels at threshold and very stretching but achievable levels at maximum. As in previous remuneration reports we will disclose the details of our performance targets for our short and long-term incentive plans. However, our annual bonus targets are commercially sensitive and therefore we will only disclose our targets in the remuneration report following the completion of the financial year. We will disclose the targets for each long-term award in the remuneration report for the financial year preceding the start of the performance period. At the end of each performance period we review performance against the targets, using judgement to account for items such as (but not limited to) mergers, acquisitions, disposals, foreign exchange rate movements, changes in accounting treatment, material one-off tax settlements etc. The application of judgement is important to ensure that the final assessments of performance are fair and appropriate. In addition, the Remuneration Committee reviews the incentive plan results before any payments are made to executives or any shares vest and has full discretion to adjust the final payment or vesting downwards if they believe circumstances warrant it. In particular, the Committee may use discretion to clawback any unvested share award (or vested but unexercised options) as it sees appropriate, in which case the award may lapse wholly or in part, may vest to a lesser extent than it would otherwise have vested or vesting may be delayed. R y

 


Table of Contents

 

Directors’ remuneration (continued) Remuneration policy (continued) The remuneration policy table The table below summarises the main components of the reward package for Executive Directors. Purpose and link to strategy Operation a Performance over the financial year is measured against targets set at the start of the financial year. a Long-term incentive base awards consist of performance based on Group operational and external performance. 60 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Base salary a To attract and retain the best talent. a Salaries are usually reviewed annually and fixed for 12 months commencing 1 July. Decision is influenced by: a level of skill, experience and scope of responsibilities of individual; a business performance, scarcity of talent, economic climate and market conditions; a increases elsewhere within the Group; and a external comparator groups (which are used for reference purposes only) made up of companies of similar size and complexity to Vodafone. Pension a To remain competitive within the marketplace. a Executive Directors may choose to participate in the defined contribution pension scheme or to receive a cash allowance in lieu of pension. Benefits a To aid retention and remain competitive within the marketplace. a Travel related benefits. This may include (but is not limited to) company car or cash allowance, fuel and access to a driver where appropriate. a Private medical, death and disability insurance and annual health checks. a In the event that we ask an individual to relocate we would offer them support in line with Vodafone’s relocation or international assignment policies. This may cover (but is not limited to) relocation, cost of living allowance, housing, home leave, education support, tax equalisation and advice. a Legal fees if appropriate. a Other benefits are also offered in line with the benefits offered to other employees for example, all-employee share plans, mobile phone discounts, maternity/paternity benefits, sick leave, paid holiday, etc. Annual Bonus – Global Short-Term Incentive Plan (‘GSTIP’) a To drive behaviour and communicate the key priorities for the year. a To motivate employees and incentivise delivery of performance over the one year operating cycle. a The financial metrics are designed to both drive our growth strategies whilst also focusing on improving operating efficiencies. Measuring competitive performance with its heavy reliance on net promoter score (‘NPS’) means providing a great customer experience remains at the heart of what we do. a Bonus levels and the appropriateness of measures and weightings are reviewed annually to ensure they continue to support our strategy. stretching financial and non-financial performance a The annual bonus is usually paid in cash in June each year for performance over the previous year. Long-Term Incentive – Global Long-Term Incentive Plan (‘GLTI’) base awards and co-investment awards (further details can be found in the notes that follow this table) a To motivate and incentivise delivery of sustained performance over the long term. a To support and encourage greater shareholder alignment through a high level of personal financial commitment. a The use of free cash flow as the principal performance measure ensures we apply prudent cash management and rigorous capital discipline to our investment decisions, whilst the use of TSR along with a performance period of not less than three years means that we are focused on the long-term interests of our shareholders. a Award levels and the framework for determining vesting are reviewed annually to ensure they continue to support our strategy. shares which are granted each year. a Individuals must co-invest in Vodafone shares and hold them in trust for at least three years in order to receive the full target award. a All awards vest not less than three years after the award a Dividend equivalents are paid in cash after the vesting date.

 


Table of Contents

 

Opportunity Performance metrics 61 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information a Average salary increases for existing Executive Committee members (including Executive Directors) will not normally exceed average increases for employees in other appropriate parts of the Group. Increases above this level may be made in specific situations. These situations could include (but are not limited to) internal promotions, changes to role, material changes to the business and exceptional company performance. None. a The pension contribution or cash payment is equal to 30% of annual gross salary. In light of pension levels elsewhere in the Group we have decided to reduce the pension benefits level from 30% to no more than 24% from November 2015. None. a Benefits will be provided in line with appropriate levels indicated by local market practice in the country of employment. a We expect to maintain benefits at the current level but the value of benefit may fluctuate depending on, amongst other things, personal situation, insurance premiums and other external factors. None. a Bonuses can range from 0–200% of base salary, with 100% paid for on-target performance. Maximum is only paid out for exceptional performance. a Performance over each financial year is measured against stretching targets set at the beginning of the year. a The performance measures normally comprise of a mix of financial and strategic measures. Financial measures may include (but are not limited to) profit, revenue and cash flow with a weighting of no less than 50%. Strategic measures may include (but are not limited to) competitive performance metrics such as net promoter score and market share. a The basic target award level is 137.5% of base salary for the Chief Executive (110% for other Executive Directors). a The target award level may increase up to 237.5% of base salary for the Chief Executive (or 210% for others) if the individual commits to a co-investment in shares equal in value to their base salary. a Minimum vesting is 0% of target award level, threshold vesting is 50% and maximum vesting is 250% of the target award level. a Maximum long-term incentive face value at award of 594% of base salary for the Chief Executive (237.5% x 250%) and 525% for others. a The awards that vest accrue cash dividend equivalents over the three year vesting period. a Awards vest to the extent performance conditions are satisfied. There is a mandatory holding period where 50% of the post-tax shares are released after vesting, a further 25% after the first anniversary of vesting, and the remaining 25% will be released after the second anniversary. a Performance is measured against stretching targets set at the beginning of the performance period. a Vesting is determined based on a matrix of two measures: a adjusted free cash flow as our operational performance measure; and a relative TSR against a peer group of companies as our external performance measure.

 


Table of Contents

 

Directors’ remuneration (continued) 62 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Remuneration policy (continued) Notes to the remuneration policy table Existing arrangements We will honour existing awards to Executive Directors, and incentives, benefits and contractual arrangements made to individuals prior to their promotion to the Board. This will last until the existing incentives vest (or lapse) or the benefits or contractual arrangements no longer apply. Long-Term Incentive (‘GLTI’) When referring to our long-term incentive awards we use the financial year end in which the award was made. For example, the ‘2013 award’ was made in the financial year ending 31 March 2013. The awards are usually made in the first half of the financial year (the 2013 award was made in July 2012). The extent to which awards vest depends on two performance conditions: a underlying operational performance as measured by adjusted free cash flow; and a relative Total Shareholder Return (‘TSR’) against a peer group median. Adjusted free cash flow The free cash flow performance is based on the cumulative adjusted free cash flow figure over the performance period. The detailed targets and the definition of adjusted free cash flow are determined each year as appropriate. The target adjusted free cash flow level is set by reference to our long-range plan and market expectations. We consider the targets to be critical to the Company’s long-term success and its ability to maximise shareholder value, and to be in line with the strategic goals of the Company. The Remuneration Committee sets these targets to be sufficiently demanding with significant stretch where only outstanding performance will be rewarded with a maximum payout. The cumulative adjusted free cash flow vesting levels as a percentage of target are shown in the table below (with linear interpolation between points): Performance Vesting percentage Below threshold 0% Threshold 50% Target 100% Maximum 125% TSR outperformance of a peer group median We have a limited number of appropriate peers and this makes the measurement of a relative ranking system volatile. As such, the outperformance of the median of a peer group is felt to be the most appropriate TSR measure. The peer group for the performance condition is reviewed each year and amended as appropriate. The relative TSR position determines the performance multiplier. This will be applied to the adjusted free cash flow vesting percentage. There will be no multiplier until TSR performance exceeds median. Above median, the following table will apply (with linear interpolation between points): Multiplier Median No increase Percentage outperformance of the peer group median equivalent to 65th percentile 1.5 times Percentage outperformance of the peer group median equivalent to 80th percentile 2.0 times In order to determine the percentages for the equivalent outperformance levels above median, the Remuneration Committee seeks independent external advice. Combined vesting matrix The combination of the two performance measures gives a combined vesting matrix as follows (with linear interpolation between points): TSR outperformance Up to 65th percentile 80th percentile Adjusted free cash flow measure Median equivalent equivalent Below threshold 0% 0% 0% Threshold 50% 75% 100% Target 100% 150% 200% Maximum 125% 187.5% 250% The combined vesting percentages are applied to the target number of shares granted. Outstanding awards For the awards made in the 2013 and 2014 financial years (vesting in July 2015 and June 2016 respectively) the award structure is as set out above, except that the maximum vesting percentage for cumulative adjusted free cash flow was 150% leading to an overall maximum of 300% of target award. Remuneration policy for other employees While our remuneration policy follows the same fundamental principles across the Group, packages offered to employees reflect differences in market practice in the different countries, role and seniority. For example, the remuneration package elements for our Executive Directors are essentially the same as for the other Executive Committee members, with some small differences, for example higher levels of share awards. The remuneration for the next level of management, our senior leadership team, again follows the same principles but with differences such as local and individual performance aspects in the annual bonus targets and performance share awards. They also receive lower levels of share awards which are partly delivered in restricted shares.

 


Table of Contents

 

63 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Estimates of total future potential remuneration from 2015 pay packages The tables below provide estimates of the potential future remuneration for each of the Executive Directors based on the remuneration opportunity granted in the 2015 financial year and therefore do not reflect the latest remuneration information. Potential outcomes based on different performance scenarios are provided for each Executive Director. The assumptions underlying each scenario are described below. Fixed Consists of base salary, benefits and pension. Base salary is at 1 July 2014. Benefits are valued using the figures in the total remuneration for the 2014 financial year table on page 78 (of the 2014 report) and on a similar basis for Nick Read (promoted to the Board on 1 April 2014). Pensions are valued by applying cash allowance rate of 30% of base salary at 1 July 2014. Base Benefits Pension Total fixed (£’000)(£’000)(£’000)(£’000) Chief Executive1, 150383451, 533 Chief Financial Officer 67523203901 Chief Technology Officer 60021180801 On target Based on what a Director would receive if performance was in line with plan. The target award opportunity for the annual bonus (‘GSTIP’) is 100% of base salary. The target award opportunity for the long-term incentive (‘GLTI’) is 237.5% of base salary for the Chief Executive and 210% for others. We assumed that TSR performance was at median. Maximum Two times the target award opportunity is payable under the annual bonus (‘GSTIP’). The maximum levels of performance for the long-term incentive (‘GLTI’) are 250% of target award opportunity. We assumed that TSR performance was at or above the 80th percentile equivalent. All scenarios Each executive is assumed to co-invest the maximum allowed under the long-term incentive (‘GLTI’), 100% of salary, and the long-term incentive (‘GLTI’) award reflects this. Long-term incentives consist of share awards only which are measured at face value i.e. no assumption for increase in share price or cash dividend equivalents payable. Vittorio Colao, Chief Executive£’000 Nick Read, Chief Financial Officer (appointed 1 April 2014) £’000 0 Fixed On target Maximum 0 Fixed On target Maximum ¢ Salary and benefits ¢ Annual bonus ¢ Long-term incentive¢ Salary and benefits ¢ Annual bonus ¢ Long-term incentive Stephen Pusey, Chief Technology Officer £’000 23% 0 Fixed On target Maximum ¢ Salary and benefits ¢ Annual bonus ¢ Long-term incentive Recruitment remuneration Our approach to recruitment remuneration is to pay no more than is necessary and appropriate to attract the right talent to the role. The remuneration policy table (pages 60 and 61) sets out the various components which would be considered for inclusion in the remuneration package for the appointment of an Executive Director. Any new Director’s remuneration package would include the same elements, and be subject to the same constraints, as those of the existing Directors performing similar roles. This means a potential maximum bonus opportunity of 200% of base salary and long-term incentive maximum face value of opportunity at award of 594% of base salary. When considering the remuneration arrangements of individuals recruited from external roles to the Board, we will take into account the remuneration package of that individual in their prior role. We only provide additional compensation to individuals for awards foregone. If necessary we will seek to replicate, as far as practicable, the level and timing of such remuneration, taking into account also any remaining performance requirements applying to it. This will be achieved by granting awards of cash or shares that vest over a timeframe similar to those forfeited and if appropriate based on performance conditions. A commensurate reduction in quantum will be applied where it is determined that the new awards are either not subject to performance conditions or subject to performance conditions that are not as stretching as those of the awards forfeited. 12,000 10,000 8,000 6,000 61% £5,151 4,000 47% £2,661 2,000 £801 23% 30% 16% 12,000 10,000 8,000 £5,795 6,000 61% 4,000 47% £2,994 23% 2,000 £901 23% 30% 16% 12,000 64% £10,661 10,000 8,000 £5,414 6,000 51% 4,000 £1,533 21% 22% 2,000 28% 14%

 


Table of Contents

 

Directors’ remuneration (continued) loss of office in (if the executive continues to work during the notice period or is on gardening leave) or they will be made under plan rules to determine that awards should not vest in the case of a ‘bad leaver’ which may include, at their absolute 64 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Remuneration policy (continued) Service contracts of Executive Directors After an initial term of up to two years Executive Directors’ contracts have rolling terms and are terminable on no more than 12 months’ notice. The key elements of the service contract for executives relate to remuneration, payments on loss of office (see below), and restrictions during active employment (and for 12 months thereafter). These restrictions include non-competition, non-solicitation of customers and employees etc. Additionally, all of the Company’s share plans contain provisions relating to a change of control. Outstanding awards and options would normally vest and become exercisable on a change of control to the extent that any performance condition has been satisfied and pro-rated to reflect the acceleration of vesting. Payments for departing executives In the table below we summarise the key elements of our policy on payment for loss of office. We will of course, always comply both with the relevant plan rules and local employment legislation. Provision Policy Notice period and a 12 months’ notice from the Company to the Executive Director. compensation fora Up to 12 months’ base salary (in line with the notice period). Notice period payments will either be made as normal service contracts as monthly payments in lieu of notice (subject to mitigation if alternative employment is obtained). Treatment of annual bonus a The annual bonus will be pro-rated for the period of service during the financial year and will reflect the extent (‘GSTIP’) on termination to which Company performance has been achieved. under plan rules a The Remuneration Committee has discretion to reduce the entitlement to an annual bonus to reflect the individual’s performance and the circumstances of the termination. Treatment of unvested a An Executive Director’s award will vest in accordance with the terms of the plan and satisfaction of performance long-term incentive awards conditions measured at the normal completion of the performance period, with the award pro-rated for the (‘GLTI’) and co-investment proportion of the vesting period that had elapsed at the date of cessation of employment. awards on termination a The Remuneration Committee has discretion to vary the level of vesting as deemed appropriate, and in particular discretion, departure in case of poor performance, departure without the agreement of the Board, or detrimental competitive activity. Pension and benefits a Generally pension and benefit provisions will continue to apply until the termination date. a Where appropriate other benefits may be receivable, such as (but not limited to) payments in lieu of accrued holiday and legal fees or tax advice costs in relation to the termination. a Benefits of relative small value may continue after termination where appropriate, such as (but not limited to) mobile phone provision. In exceptional circumstances, an arrangement may be established specifically to facilitate the exit of a particular individual albeit that any such arrangement would be made within the context of minimising the cost to the Group. We will only take such a course of action in exceptional circumstances and where it is considered to be in the best interests of shareholders. Chairman and Non-Executive Directors’ remuneration Our policy is for the Chairman to review the remuneration of Non-Executive Directors annually following consultation with the Remuneration Committee Chairman. Fees for the Chairman are set by the Remuneration Committee. Element Policy Fees a We aim to pay competitively for the role including consideration of the time commitment required. We benchmark the fees against an appropriate external comparator group. We pay fees to our Chairman and Senior Independent Director that include fees for chairmanship of any committees. We pay a fee to each of our other Non-Executive Directors and they receive an additional fee if they chair a committee. Non-executive fee levels are set within the maximum level as approved by shareholders as part of our articles of association. Allowancesa An allowance is payable each time a non-Europe-based Non-Executive Director is required to travel to attend Board and committee meetings to reflect the additional time commitment involved. Incentives a Non-Executive Directors do not participate in any incentive plans. Benefits a Non-Executive Directors do not participate in any benefit plans. The Company does not provide any contribution to their pension arrangements. The Chairman is entitled to the use of a car and a driver whenever and wherever he is providing his services to or representing the Company. We have been advised that for Non-Executive Directors, certain travel and accommodation expenses in relation to attending Board meetings should be treated as a taxable benefit therefore we also cover the tax liability for these expenses. Non-Executive Director service contracts Non-Executive Directors are engaged on letters of appointment that set out their duties and responsibilities. The appointment of Non-Executive Directors may be terminated without compensation. Non-Executive Directors are generally not expected to serve for a period exceeding nine years. For further information refer to the “Nomination and Governance Committee” section of the Annual Report (pages 69 and 70).

 


Table of Contents

 

Annual Report on remuneration Remuneration Committee In this section we give details of the composition of the Remuneration Committee and activities undertaken during the 2016 financial year. The Committee is comprised to exercise independent judgement and consists only of the following independent Non-Executive Directors: Chairman: Valerie Gooding (from 28 July 2015) Committee members: Renee James and Samuel Jonah The Committee regularly consults with Vittorio Colao, the Chief Executive, and Ronald Schellekens, the Group HR Director, on various matters relating to the appropriateness of awards for Executive Directors and senior executives, though they are not present when their own compensation is discussed. In addition, Adrian Jackson, the Group Reward and Policy Director, provides a perspective on information provided to the Committee, and requests information and analysis from external advisers as required. Rosemary Martin, the Group General Counsel and Company Secretary, advises the Committee on corporate governance guidelines and acts as secretary to the Committee. External advisers The Remuneration Committee seeks and considers advice from independent remuneration advisers where appropriate. The appointed advisers, Willis Towers Watson, were selected through a thorough process led by the Chairman of the Remuneration Committee and were appointed by the Committee in 2007. The Chairman of the Remuneration Committee has direct access to the advisers as and when required, and the Committee determines the protocols by which the advisers interact with management in support of the Committee. The advice and recommendations of the external advisers are used as a guide, but do not serve as a substitute for thorough consideration of the issues by each Committee member. Advisers attend Committee meetings occasionally, as and when required by the Committee. Willis Towers Watson is a member of the Remuneration Consultants’ Group and, as such, voluntarily operates under the Remuneration Consultants’ Group Code of Conduct in relation to executive remuneration consulting in the UK. This is based upon principles of transparency, integrity, objectivity, competence, due care and confidentiality by executive remuneration consultants. Willis Towers Watson has confirmed that it adheres to that Code of Conduct throughout the year for all remuneration services provided to Vodafone and therefore the Committee is satisfied that it is independent and objective. The Remuneration Consultants’ Group Code of Conduct is available at remunerationconsultantsgroup.com. Fees for services provided to the Committee £’0001 Adviser Appointed by Services provided to the Committee Other services provided to the Company Willis Towers Watson Remuneration Committee in 2007 Advice on market practice; governance; provision of market data on executive reward; reward consultancy; and performance analysis. £102 Reward and benefits consultancy; provision of benchmark data; pension administration; and insurance consultancy services. Note: 1 Fees are determined on a time spent basis. 2015 annual general meeting – Remuneration Report voting results At the 2015 annual general meeting there was an advisory vote on our Remuneration Report. Details of the voting outcomes are provided in the table below. Votes for % Votes against % Total votes Withheld Remuneration Report 17,072,436,151 97.19 493,289,470 2.81 17,565,725,621 553,520,692 2014 annual general meeting – Remuneration Policy voting results At the 2014 annual general meeting there was a binding vote on our Remuneration Policy. Details of the voting outcomes are provided in the table below. Votes for % Votes against % Total votes Withheld Remuneration Policy 16,620,036,145 95.97 698,459,069 4.03 17,318,495,214 227,447,313 Meetings The Remuneration Committee had seven formal meetings during the year. In addition, informal conference calls can also take place. The principal agenda items at the formal meetings were as follows: Meeting Agenda items May 2015 a 2015 annual bonus achievement and 2016 targets and ranges a 2012 long-term incentive award vesting and 2016 targets and ranges a 2015 Directors’ Remuneration Report June 2015 a Re-organisation of Europe region July 2015 a 2016 long-term incentive awards a Large local market CEO remuneration a 2015 grant of co-investment awards September 2015 a 2016 reward strategy a Annual review of remuneration policy a Corporate governance matters November 2015 a 2016 annual bonus framework January 2016 March 2016 a 2016 reward packages for the Executive Committee a Non-Executive Director fee levels a Chairman’s fees a 2016 Directors’ Remuneration Report a Committee’s Terms of Reference a Risk assessment 65 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information

 


Table of Contents

 

Directors’ remuneration (continued) Annual Report on remuneration (continued) 2016 remuneration In this section we summarise the pay packages awarded to our Executive Directors for performance in the 2016 financial year versus 2015. Specifically we have provided a table that shows all remuneration that was earned by each individual during the year and computed a single total remuneration figure for the year. The value of the annual bonus (‘GSTIP’) reflects what was earned in respect of the year but will be paid out in cash in the following year. Similarly the value of the long-term incentive (‘GLTI’) reflects the share awards which will vest in June 2016 as a result of the performance through the three year period ended at the completion of our financial year on 31 March 2016. The Remuneration Committee reviews all incentive awards prior to payment and uses judgement to ensure that the final assessments of performance are fair and appropriate. If circumstances warrant it, the Committee may adjust the final payment or vesting downwards. On this occasion, based on the fact that final annual bonus payout and final vesting level long-term incentives awards GLTI were deemed to be an accurate reflection of performance and were considered fair and appropriate, the Committee did not use its discretion to adjust final outcomes. 2016 annual bonus (‘GSTIP’) payout In the table below we disclose our achievement against each of the performance measures and targets in our annual bonus (‘GSTIP’) and the resulting total annual bonus payout level for the year ended 31 March 2016 of 116.7%. This is applied to the target bonus level of 100% of base salary for each executive. Commentary on our performance against each measure is provided below the table. Payout at target performance 100% Payout at maximum performance 200% Threshold performance level £bn Target performance level £bn Maximum performance level £bn Actual performance level1 £bn Actual payout % Performance measure Service revenue 20% 40% 20.7% 37.2 39.2 41.1 39.2 Adjusted EBITDA 20% 40% 23.7% 11.4 12.2 13.1 12.4 Adjusted free cash flow 20% 40% 30.7% 0.1 0.7 1.3 1.0 Customer Appreciation KPIs 40% 80% 41.6% See below for further details Total annual bonus payout level 100% 200% 116.7% Note: 1 These figures are adjusted to include the removal of the impact of M&A, foreign exchange movements and any changes in accounting treatment. During the year under review, service revenue performance was slightly above budget, with both Europe and AMAP regions recording above target performances. Adjusted EBITDA results also demonstrated above target performance, with both Europe and AMAP again recording equally strong performances. With regards to Adjusted Free Cash Flow, overall performance reflected particularly strong AMAP performance, with our Europe region recording below target results. An assessment of performance under the Customer Appreciation KPIs measure was conducted on a market by market basis, with these scores then being subject to a revenue-weighted average to give an overall performance achievement. Performance was primarily judged against an assessment of net promoter score and brand consideration for both consumer and enterprise operations, where applicable, within each market. Additional consideration was then given to other relevant factors including customer churn rates and revenue market share. Group performance for the year was slightly above target reflecting our position as Consumer NPS leader in 13 out of 21 markets – an increase from our previous position as leader in 11 markets. 66 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Total remuneration for the 2016 financial year Vittorio Colao Stephen Pusey1 Nick Read 2016 £’000 2015 £’000 2016 £’000 2015 £’000 2016 £’000 2015 £’000 Salary/fees 1,150 1,140 200594 694675 Taxable benefits2 32 40 721 2628 Annual bonus: GSTIP (see below for further detail) 1,342 1,287 233671 817755 Total long-term incentive: 2,429 – 754– 1,412– GLTI vesting during the year3 2,102 – 653– 861– Cash in lieu of GLTI dividends4 327 – 101– 134– GLTR vesting during the year5 – – –– 380– GLTR dividend equivalent shares6 – – –– 37– Cash in lieu of pension 316 342 60178 191203 Other7 1 1 –– 11 Total 5,270 2,810 1,2541,464 3,1411,662 Notes: 1 Stephen Pusey stepped down from the Board following the AGM held on 28 July 2015 and retired on 31 July 2015. 2 Taxable benefits include amounts in respect of: – Private healthcare (2016: £1,946; 2015: £1,854); – Cash car allowance £19,200 p.a.; and – Travel (2016: Vittorio Colao £10,764, Nick Read £4,546; 2015: Vittorio Colao £18,022; Nick Read £7,164). 3 The value shown in the 2016 column is the award which vests on 26 June 2016 and is valued using an average of closing share price over the last quarter of the 2016 financial year of 216.59 pence. 4 Participants also receive a cash award, equivalent in value to the dividends that would have been paid during the vesting period on any shares that vest. The cash in lieu of dividend value shown in 2016 relates to the award which vests on 26 June 2016. 5 On 26 June 2013, prior to his appointment to the Board, Nick Read was granted a GLTR share award which was subject to a continued employment condition. This award subsequently vested on June 2015 following the fulfilment of the continued employment condition. The value shown in the 2016 column in respect of Nick Read is based on the execution share price on 26 June 2015 of 238.09 pence. 6 Nick Read received an award of 15,620 dividend equivalent shares in respect of the GLTR share award which vested on 26 June 2015. 7 Reflects the value of the SAYE benefit which is calculated as £250 x 12 months x 20% to reflect the discount applied based on savings made during the year.

 


Table of Contents

 

Base salary £’000 Target bonus % of base salary 2016 payout % of target Actual payment £’000 2016 annual bonus (‘GSTIP’) amounts Vittorio Colao 1,150 100% 116.7% 1,342 Stephen Pusey1 600 100% 116.7% 233 Nick Read 700 100% 116.7% 817 Note: 1 The actual payment figure for Stephen Pusey reflects the pro-rated amount paid in respect of time served. Long-term incentive (‘GLTI’) award vesting in June 2016 The 2014 long-term incentive (‘GLTI’) awards which were made in June 2013 will partially vest in June 2016. The performance conditions for the three year period ending in the 2016 financial year are as follows: TSR outperformance TSR peer group AT&T Orange 0.0% (Up to median) 4.5% (65th percentile equivalent) 9.0% (80th percentile equivalent) Adjusted free cash flow measure £bn BT Group Telecom Italia Below threshold <12.4 0% 0% 0% Deutsche Telekom Telefónica Threshold 12.4 50% 75% 100% Emerging markets composite Target 14.4 100% 150% 200% Maximum 16.4 150% 225% 300% The adjusted free cash flow for the three year period ended on 31 March 2016, having removed the impact of the investment made under Project Spring as set out in our 2014 Annual Remuneration Report, was £13.1 billion. This compares with a threshold of £12.4 billion and a target of £14.4 billion. The chart to the right shows that our TSR performance against our peer group for the same period resulted in an outperformance of the median by 0.4% a year. Using the combined payout matrix above, this performance resulted in a payout of 69.6% of target. The combined vesting percentages are applied to the target number of shares granted as shown below. 170 154 137 145 Adjusted free cash flow performance payout % of target Maximum number of shares Target number of shares Value of shares vesting (’000) Overall vesting % of target Number of shares vesting 2014 GLTI performance share awards vesting in June 2016 TSR multiplier Vittorio Colao 4,185,370 1,395,123 66.6% 1.05 times 69.6% 970,586 £2,102 Stephen Pusey1 1,904,846 634,948 66.6% 1.05 times 69.6% 301,272 £653 Nick Read 1,713,392 571,130 66.6% 1.05 times 69.6% 397,335 £861 Note: 1 The number and value of shares vesting for Stephen Pusey reflect the pro-rated amount paid in respect of time served. These share awards will vest on 26 June 2016. Specified procedures are performed by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP over the adjusted free cash flow to assist with the Committee’s assessment of performance. The performance assessment in respect of the TSR outperformance of the peer group median is undertaken by Willis Towers Watson. Details of how the plan works can be found on pages 60 to 62. Long-term incentive (‘GLTI’) awarded during the year The performance conditions for the 2016 long-term incentive awards made in June 2015 and September 2015 are a combination of adjusted free cash flow and TSR performance as follows: TSR outperformance TSR peer group Bharti Orange 0.0% (Up to median) 4.5% (65th percentile equivalent) 9.0% (80th percentile equivalent) Adjusted free cash flow measure £bn BT Group Telecom Italia Below threshold <7.3 0% 0% 0% Deutsche Telekom Telefónica Threshold 7.3 50% 75% 100% MTN Target 9.0 100% 150% 200% Maximum 10.7 125% 187.5% 250% The combined vesting percentages are applied to the target number of conditional shares granted. 67 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information 2013 GLTI award: TSR performance (growth in the value of a hypothetical US$100 holding over the performance period, six-month averaging) 180175171 160149150150 150138139 140130137135 130117129 120107121 110 100100103 9003/1309/1303/1409/1403/1509/1503/16 Vodafone Group Median of peer groupOutperformance of median of 9% p.a.

 


Table of Contents

 

Directors’ remuneration (continued) Annual Report on remuneration (continued) In order to participate fully in this award, executives had to co-invest personal shares worth 100% of salary. The resulting awards to Executive Directors were as follows: Number of shares awarded Face value of shares awarded 1 Proportion of maximum award vesting at minimum performance Target vesting level (40% of max) Maximum vesting level Target vesting level Maximum vesting level Performance period end 2016 GLTI performance share awards made in June 2015 and September 2015 Vittorio Colao 1,215,662 3,039,156 £2,731,579 £6,828,949 1/5th 31 Mar 2018 Nick Read 635,986 1,589,967 £1,417,652 £3,544,135 1/5th 31 Mar 2018 Note: 1 Face value calculated based on target awards of 137.5 % of salary for Vittorio Colao and 110% of salary for Nick Read made in June 2015 using a share price for the awards of 239.4 pence and, following co-investment at the end of the close period, target awards of 100% of salary in September 2015 for both Executive Directors, using a share price for the awards of 207.2 pence (i.e. closing share price for the day prior to each grant). Dividend equivalents on the shares that vest are paid in cash after the vesting date. All-employee share plans The Executive Directors are also eligible to participate in the UK all-employee plans. Summary of plans Sharesave The Vodafone Group 2008 Sharesave Plan is an HM Revenue & Customs (‘HMRC’) approved scheme open to all staff permanently employed by a Vodafone Company in the UK as of the eligibility date. Options under the plan are granted at up to a 20% discount to market value. Executive Directors’ participation is included in the option table on page 69. Share Incentive Plan The Vodafone Share Incentive Plan (‘SIP’) is an HMRC approved plan open to all staff permanently employed by a Vodafone Company in the UK. Participants may contribute up to a maximum of £125 per month (or 5% of salary if less) which the trustee of the plan uses to buy shares on their behalf. An equivalent number of shares are purchased with contributions from the employing company. UK-based Executive Directors are eligible to participate. Pensions (audited) The Executive Directors received a cash allowance of 30% of base salary in lieu of pension contributions until 31 October 2015. From 1 November 2015, cash allowance in lieu of pension contributions for Vittorio Colao and Nick Read were reduced to 24% of base salary. No Executive Directors accrued benefits under any defined contribution pension plans during the year or have participated in a defined benefits scheme while an Executive Director. The Executive Directors are provided benefits in the event of death in service. They also have an entitlement under a long-term disability plan from which two-thirds of base salary, up to a maximum benefit determined by the insurer, would be provided until normal retirement date (aged 60). In respect of the Executive Committee members, the Group has made aggregate contributions of £130,806 (2015: £43,000) into defined contribution pension schemes. Alignment to shareholder interests All of our Executive Directors have shareholdings in excess of their goals. Current levels of ownership by the Executive Directors, and the date by which the goal should be or should have been achieved, are shown below. The values are calculated using an average share price over the six months to 31 March 2016 of 216.09 pence. Goal as a % of salary Current % of salary held % of goal achieved Number of shares Value of shareholding Date for goal to be achieved At 31 March 2016 Vittorio Colao 400% 2,049% 512% 10,906,223 £23.6m July 2012 Stephen Pusey (position at retirement) 300% 569% 190% 1,579,543 £3.4m June 2014 Nick Read 300% 644% 215% 2,086,257 £4.5m April 2019 Collectively the Executive Committee including the Executive Directors own more than 24 million Vodafone shares, with a value of over £52.3 million. None of the Executive Committee members’ shareholdings amounts to more than 1% of the issued shares in that class of share, excluding treasury shares. Directors’ interests in the shares of the Company A summary of interests in shares and scheme interests of the Directors who served during the year is given below. More details of the performance shares and options follows. Share plans Share options SAYE (unvested without performance conditions) Unvested GLTI shares (with performance conditions) Total number of interests in shares GIP (vested) At 31 March 2016 Executive Directors Vittorio Colao 21,490,367 10,574,537 9,607 – Stephen Pusey (position at retirement) 4,317,502 2,737,959 – – Nick Read 8,120,116 5,096,027 10,389 927,443 Total 33,927,985 18,408,523 19,996 927,443 The total number of interests in shares includes interests of connected persons, unvested share awards and share options. 68 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016

 


Table of Contents

 

Total number of interests in shares At 31 March 2016 Non-Executive Directors Sir Crispin Davis 34,500 Dr Mathias Döpfner 11,500 Dame Clara Furse 25,000 Valerie Gooding1 4,038 Renee James 27,272 Samuel Jonah 30,190 Gerard Kleisterlee 107,078 Nick Land 42,090 David Nish 21,227 Luc Vandevelde (position at retirement on 28 July 2015) 75,474 Philip Yea 33,408 Note: 1 On 17 May 2016, Valerie Gooding acquired an interest in a further 7,962 shares resulting in a total interest in 12,000 shares as at 17 May 2016. At 17 May 2016 and during the period from 1 April 2016 to 17 May 2016, no Director had any interest in the shares of any subsidiary company. Other than those individuals included in the tables above who were Board members at 31 March 2016, members of the Group’s Executive Committee at 31 March 2016 had an aggregate beneficial interest in 11,188,246 ordinary shares of the Company. At 17 May 2016 the Directors had an aggregate beneficial interest in 13,336,745 ordinary shares of the Company and the Executive Committee members had an aggregate beneficial interest in 11,197,712 ordinary shares of the Company, which includes awards made under the Vodafone Share Incentive Plan after 31 March 2016 and share purchases made after the year-end outside of the close period. None of the Directors or the Executive Committee members had an individual beneficial interest amounting to greater than 1% of the Company’s ordinary shares. With the exception of the acquisition of an interest in 7,962 ordinary shares by Valerie Gooding as outlined above, the Directors’ total number of interests in shares did not change during the period from 1 April 2016 to 17 May 2016. Performance shares The maximum number of outstanding shares that have been awarded to Directors under the long-term incentive (‘GLTI’) plan are currently as follows: 2014 award Awarded: June 2013 and September 20131 Performance period ending: March 2016 Vesting date: June 2016 Share price at grant: 180.2 pence and 202.5 pence 2015 award Awarded: June 2014 Performance period ending: March 2017 Vesting date: June 2017 2016 award Awarded: June 2015 and September 20151 Performance period ending: March 2018 Vesting date: June 2018 GLTI performance share awards Share price at grant: 189.9 pence Share price at grant: 239.4 pence and 207.2 pence Vittorio Colao 4,185,370 3,350,011 3,039,156 Stephen Pusey 1,904,846 833,113 – Nick Read 1,713,392 1,792,668 1,589,967 Note: 1 Due to a close period, Executive Directors were not able to make co-investment commitments at the time of the main award in June 2013 and 2015 and therefore part of the award was made in September 2013 and 2015 respectively. For details of the performance conditions please see page 62. Share options The following information summarises the Executive Directors’ options under the Vodafone Group 2008 Sharesave Plan (‘SAYE’), the Vodafone Group Incentive Plan (‘GIP’) and the Vodafone Group Plc 1999 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (‘LTSIP’). HMRC approved awards may be made under all of the schemes mentioned. No other Directors have options under any schemes and, other than under the SAYE, no options have been granted since 2007. Options under the Vodafone Group 2008 Sharesave Plan were granted at a discount of 20% to the market value of the shares at the time of the grant. No other options may be granted at a discount. Options granted during the 2016 financial year Options exercised during the 2016 financial year Options lapsed during the 2015 financial year At 1 April 2015 or date of appointment Options held at 31 March 2016 Market price on exercise Option price Date from which exercisable Number of shares Number of shares Number of shares Number of shares Number of shares Gain on exercise Grant date Pence1 Expiry date Pence Notes: 1 The closing trade share price on 31 March 2016 was 221.20 pence. The highest trade share price during the year was 255.35 pence and the lowest price was 200.20 pence. 2 The options granted in July 2005 were subject to a three year cumulative growth in adjusted earnings per share performance condition. The options vested 100% in July 2008. 3 The options granted in July 2007 were subject to a three year cumulative growth in adjusted earnings per share performance condition. The options vested 100% in July 2010. 69 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Vittorio Colao SAYE Jul 20149,607––– 9,607 156.13 Sep 2019 Feb 2020–– Total9,607 9,607 Nick Read LTSIP2Jul 2005257,838–257,838– – 136.00Jul 2008 Jul 2015 206.89 £182,786 GIP3 Jul 2007927,443––– 927,443 167.80Jul 2010 Jul 2017–– SAYE Jul 201210,389––– 10,389 144.37 Sep 2017 Feb 2018–– Total1,195,670 937,832

 


Table of Contents

 

Directors’ remuneration (continued) Annual Report on remuneration (continued) At 17 May 2016 there had been no change to the Directors’ interests in share options from 31 March 2016. Other than those individuals included in the table above, at 17 May 2016 members of the Group’s Executive Committee held options for 26,501 ordinary shares at prices ranging from 156.1 pence to 189.2 pence per ordinary share, with a weighted average exercise price of 174.3 pence per ordinary share exercisable at dates ranging from 1 September 2017 to 1 September 2020. Hannes Ametsreiter, Paolo Bertoluzzo, Aldo Bisio, António Coimbra, Warren Finegold, Ronald Schellekens, Robert Shuter and Serpil Timuray held no options at 17 May 2016. Loss of office payments Stephen Pusey retired on 31 July 2015 having worked 9 months of his 12 month notice period. Stephen was entitled to receive payments in lieu of notice each month for the remainder of his notice period subject to mitigation. In total, Stephen received the equivalent of 3 months salary (£150,000) and an amount equivalent to the pro-rated annual leave that had not been taken during his employment in the year (£16,846). Since Stephen was employed for part of the 2016 financial year his annual bonus payment (as disclosed on page 67) was pro-rated for time served (i.e. to 31 July 2015). Stephen’s 2014 GLTI award, the final vesting of which is described on page 67, will also be pro-rated for time worked and will vest at the normal vesting date. Stephen’s outstanding 2015 GLTI award will be pro-rated on a time worked basis and will vest, subject to performance, at the normal vesting date, in accordance with our share plan rules. Stephen will receive no further benefits aside from the provision of a SIM card for his personal use at the Company’s expense for a period of three years commencing on 1 August 2015. Payments to past Directors During the 2016 financial year Lord MacLaurin received benefit payments in respect of security costs as per his contractual arrangements. These costs exceeded our de minimis threshold of £5,000 p.a. and, including the tax paid, were £9,411. Fees retained for external non-executive directorships Executive Directors may hold positions in other companies as non-executive directors and retain the fees. With effect from 1 July 2015, Vittorio Colao was appointed to the boards of Unilever N.V. and Unilever PLC as a non-executive director. During the year ended 31 March 2016 Vittorio retained fees of £63,783 in respect of this role. With effect from 1 April 2015, Stephen Pusey was appointed to the board of Centrica plc as a non-executive director. During the period up to his retirement on 31 July 2015, Stephen retained fees of £24,000 in respect of this role. Assessing pay and performance In the table below we summarise the Chief Executive’s single figure remuneration over the past seven years, as well as how our variable pay plans have paid out in relation to the maximum opportunity. This can be compared with the historic TSR performance over the same period. The chart below shows the performance of the Company relative to the STOXX Europe 600 Index over a six year period. The STOXX Europe 600 Index was selected as this is a broad-based index that includes many of our closest competitors. It should be noted that the payout from the long-term incentive plan is based on the TSR performance shown in the chart on page 67 and not this chart. 322 310 170 193 Financial year remuneration for Chief Executive (Vittorio Colao) 20101 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Single figure of total remuneration £’000 3,350 7,022 15,767 11,099 8,014 2,810 5,270 Annual variable element (actual award versus maximum opportunity) 64% 62% 47% 33% 44% 56% 58% Long-term incentive (vesting versus maximum opportunity) 25% 31% 100% 57% 37% 0% 23% Note: 1 The single figure reflects share awards which were granted in 2006 and 2007, prior to his appointment to Chief Executive in 2008. 70 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Seven-year historical TSR performance (growth in the value of a hypothetical €100 holding over seven years) 325 267 275279 215245 225190227 175155168167 125100137 7503/0903/1003/1103/1203/1303/1403/1503/16 Vodafone Group STOXX Europe 600 Index

 


Table of Contents

 

Change in the Chief Executive’s remuneration In the table below we show the percentage change in the Chief Executive’s remuneration (salary, taxable benefits and annual bonus payment) between the 2015 and 2016 financial years compared to the average for other Vodafone Group employees who are measured on comparable business objectives and who have been employed in the UK since 2015 (per capita). Vodafone has employees based all around the world and some of these individuals work in countries with very high inflation therefore a comparison to Vodafone’s UK-based Group employees is more appropriate than to all employees. Percentage change from 2015 to 2016 Other Vodafone Group employees employed in the UK Item Chief Executive: Vittorio Colao Base salary 0.9% 5.1% Taxable benefits -20.0% 0.4% Annual bonus 4.3% 15.4% Relative spend on pay The chart below shows both the dividends distributed in the year and the total cost of remuneration in the Group. For more details on dividends and expenditure on remuneration for all employees, please see pages 111 and 140 respectively. 2016 remuneration for the Chairman and Non-Executive Directors Salary/fees Benefits1 Total 2016 £’000 2015 £’000 2016 £’000 2015 £’000 2016 £’000 2015 £’000 Notes: 1 We have been advised that for Non-Executive Directors, certain travel and accommodation expenses in relation to attending Board meetings should be treated as a taxable benefit. The table above includes these travel expenses and the corresponding tax contribution. 2 Salary/fees include an additional allowance of £6,000 per meeting for Directors based outside Europe. 71 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Chairman Gerard Kleisterlee 625625 7766 702 691 Senior Independent Director Philip Yea 128115 1– 129 115 Non-Executive Directors Sir Crispin Davis (appointed 28 July 2014) 11578 –26 115 104 Dr Mathias Döpfner (appointed 1 April 2015) 115– 1– 116 – Dame Clara Furse (appointed 1 September 2014) 11567 –– 115 67 Valerie Gooding 132115 65 138 120 Renee James2 133145 1011 143 156 Samuel Jonah2 151151 175 168 156 Nick Land 140140 11 141 141 David Nish (appointed 1 January 2016) 29– 7– 36 – Former Non-Executive Directors Alan Jebson2 (retired 31 July 2014) –56 –32 – 88 Omid Kordestani2 (retired 31 December 2014) –116 –14 – 130 Anne Lauvergeon (retired 31 July 2014) –38 –1 – 39 Luc Vandevelde (retired 28 July 2015) 53160 196 72 166 Anthony Watson (retired 31 July 2014) –38 –4 – 42 Total 1,7361,844 139171 1,875 2,015 Relative importance of spend on pay£m 5,000 4,194 4,411 4,000 2,930 2,998 3,000 2,000 1,000 02015201620152016 Distributed by way of dividendsOverall expenditure on remuneration for all employees

 


Table of Contents

 

Directors’ remuneration (continued) Annual Report on remuneration (continued) 2017 remuneration Details of how the remuneration policy will be implemented for the 2017 financial year are set out below. 2017 base salaries The Remuneration Committee considered business performance, salary increases for other UK employees and external market information and decided to increase the salary of the Chief Financial Officer by 2.0% which is in line with the average salary increase budget for all employees across the UK. The Chief Executive requested not to be considered for a salary increase during the review. The average salary increase for Executive Committee members will be 2.5%; this compares to a budget of 2.4% which is based on an average of the relevant local market budget for each Executive Committee member. The annual salaries for 2017 (effective 1 July 2016) are as follows: a Chief Executive: Vittorio Colao £1,150,000; and a Chief Financial Officer: Nick Read £714,000. 2017 annual bonus (‘GSTIP’) The performance measures and weightings for 2017, which remain unchanged from 2016, are as follows: a service revenue (20%); a Adjusted EBITDA (20%); a adjusted free cash flow (20%); and a customer appreciation KPIs (40%). This includes an assessment of net promoter score (‘NPS’) and brand consideration measures. In respect of the measures included under the customer appreciation KPIs, net promoter score is used as a measure of the extent to which our customers would recommend us, whilst brand consideration acts as a measure of the percentage of people who would consider using a certain brand as their telecoms provider. Both measures utilise data collected in our local markets which is validated for quality and consistency by independent third party agencies. The data is sourced from studies involving both our own customers and customers of our competitors for the NPS measure, and both Vodafone users and non-users for the brand consideration measure. In formulating a final assessment of performance under the customer appreciation KPIs, the Committee will also consider other relevant customer factors such as churn, customer growth and service levels. Due to the potential impact on our commercial interests, annual bonus targets are considered commercially sensitive and therefore will be disclosed in the 2017 remuneration report following the completion of the financial year. Long-term incentive (‘GLTI’) awards for 2017 As described in our policy on pages 60 to 62 the performance conditions are a combination of adjusted free cash flow and TSR performance. The details for the 2017 award are provided in the table below (with linear interpolation between points). Following the annual review of the performance measure, the Committee decided that for the 2017 award the TSR outperformance range should remain unchanged. The Committee will keep the calibration of the range under review and continue to only make changes where there is sufficient evidence to suggest this is appropriate. TSR outperformance TSR peer group Bharti Orange 0.0% (Up to median) 4.5% (65th percentile equivalent) 9.0% (80th percentile equivalent) Adjusted free cash flow measure £bn1 BT Group Telecom Italia Below threshold <9.95 0% 0% 0% Deutsche Telekom Telefónica Threshold 9.95 50% 75% 100% MTN Target 11.80 100% 150% 200% Maximum 13.65 125% 187.5% 250% Note: 1 In line with the decision to change the Group’s reporting currency to euros from pounds sterling, as outlined in the Chairman’s statement on page 3, the equivalent targets in euros, based on internal foreign exchange rate assumptions, including €1.38 : £1, will be a threshold of €13.75bn, a target of €16.30bn and a maximum of €18.85bn. The combined vesting percentages are applied to the target number of shares granted. 2016 remuneration for the Chairman and Non-Executive Directors For the 2016 review, the fees for our Chairman and non-executives have been benchmarked against a comparator group of the FTSE 30 companies (excluding Financial Services). Following the review it was agreed that the additional fee for the Senior Independent Director should be increased by £5,000 which brings it in line with other fees for additional responsibilities. Fee payable £’000 From 1 April 2016 Position/role Chairman 1 625 Non-Executive Director 115 Additional fee for Senior Independent Director 25 Additional fee for Chairmanship of Audit, Remuneration and Risk Committees 25 Note: 1 The Chairman’s fee also includes the fee for the Chairmanship of the Nominations and Governance Committee. 72 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016

 


Table of Contents

 

For 2017, the allowance payable each time a non-Europe-based Non-Executive Director is required to travel to attend Board and Committee meetings to reflect the additional time commitment involved is £6,000. Further remuneration information Dilution All awards are made under plans that incorporate dilution limits as set out in the guidelines for share incentive schemes published by the Investment Association. The current estimated dilution from subsisting executive awards is approximately 2.8% of the Company’s share capital at 31 March 2016 (3.0% at 31 March 2015), whilst from all-employee share awards it is approximately 0.5% (0.5% at 31 March 2015). This gives a total dilution of 3.3% (3.5% at 31 March 2015). Service contracts The terms and conditions of appointment of our Directors are available for inspection at the Company’s registered office during normal business hours and at the annual general meeting (for 15 minutes prior to the meeting and during the meeting). The Executive Directors have notice periods in their service contracts of 12 months. The Non-Executive Directors’ letters of appointment do not contain provision for notice periods or for compensation if their appointments are terminated. This report on remuneration has been approved by the Board of Directors and signed on its behalf by: /s/ Valerie Gooding Valerie Gooding Chairman of the Remuneration Committee 17 May 2016 73 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information

 


Table of Contents

 

Directors’ report The Directors of the Company present their report together with the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2016. This report has been prepared in accordance with requirements outlined within The Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and forms part of the management report as required under Disclosure & Transparency Rule (‘DTR’) 4. Certain information that fulfils the requirements of the Directors’ report can be found elsewhere in this document and is referred to below. This information is incorporated into this Directors’ report by reference. Responsibility statement As required under the DTR a statement made by the Board regarding the preparation of the financial statements is set out on pages 76 and 77 which also provides details regarding the disclosure of information to the Company’s auditor and management’s report on internal control over financial information. Going concern The going concern statement required by the Listing Rules and the Code is set out in the “Directors’ statement of responsibility” on pages 76 and 77. Corporate governance statement The corporate governance statement setting out how the Company complies with the Code and which includes a description of the main features of its internal control and risk management arrangements in relation to the financial reporting process is set out on pages 54 and 55. The information required by DTR 7.2.6R can be found in the “shareholder information” section on pages 175 to 181. A description of the composition and operation of the Board and its Committees is set out on pages 38 to 73. Strategic Report The Strategic Report is set out on pages 2 to 37 and is incorporated into this Directors’ report by reference. Directors and their interests The Directors of the Company who served during the financial year ended 31 March 2016 and up to the date of signing the financial statements are as follows: Gerard Kleisterlee, Vittorio Colao, Nick Read, Sir Crispin Davis, Dr Mathias Döpfner, Dame Clara Furse, Valerie Gooding, Renee James, Samuel Jonah, Nick Land, Philip Yea and David Nish. Luc Vandevelde and Stephen Pusey stepped down during the financial year ended 31 March 2016. Details of Directors’ interests in the Company’s ordinary shares, options held over ordinary shares, interests in share options and long-term incentive plans are set out on pages 66 to 72. Directors’ conflicts of interest Established within the Company is a procedure for managing and monitoring conflicts of interest for Directors. Details of this procedure are set out on page 54. Directors’ indemnities In accordance with our Articles of Association and to the extent permitted by law, Directors are granted an indemnity from the Company in respect of liability incurred as a result of their office. In addition, we maintained a Directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy throughout the year. Neither our indemnity nor the insurance provides cover in the event that a Director is proven to have acted dishonestly or fraudulently. Disclosures required under Listing Rule 9.8.4 The information on the amount of interest capitalised and the treatment of tax relief can be found in notes 5 and 6 to the consolidated financial statements respectively. The remaining disclosures required by Listing Rule 9.8.4 are not applicable to Vodafone. Capital structure and rights attaching to shares All information relating to the Company’s capital structure, rights attaching to shares, dividends, the policy to repurchase the Company’s own shares and other shareholder information is contained on pages 175 to 181. Change of control Details of change of control provisions in the Company’s revolving credit facilities is set out on page 130. Information on agreements between the Company and its Directors providing for compensation for loss of office of employment (including details of change of control provisions in share schemes) is set out on page 64. Subject to that, there are no agreements between the Company and its employees providing for compensation for loss of office of employment that occurs because of a takeover bid. Dividends Full details of the Company’s dividend policy and proposed final dividend payment for the year ended 31 March 2016 are set out on pages 17 and 36 and note 9 to the consolidated financial statements. Sustainability Information about the Company’s approach to sustainability risks and opportunities is set out on pages 20 and 21. Also included on these pages are details of our greenhouse gas emissions. Political donations No political donations or contributions to political parties under the Companies Act 2006 have been made during the financial year. The Group policy is that no political donations be made or political expenditure incurred. Financial risk management objectives and policies Disclosures relating to financial risk management objectives and policies, including our policy for hedging are set out in note 23 to the consolidated financial statements and disclosures relating to exposure to price risk, credit risk, liquidity risk and cash flow risk are outlined in note 23. Important events since the end of the financial year Details of those important events affecting the Group which have occurred since the end of the financial year are set out in the Strategic Report and note 32 to the consolidated financial statements. Future developments within the Group The Strategic Report contains details of likely future developments within the Group. Group policy compliance Each Group policy is owned by a member of the Executive Committee so that there is clear accountability and authority for ensuring the associated business risk is adequately managed. Regional chief executives and the senior leadership team member responsible for each Group function have primary accountability for ensuring compliance with all Group policies by all our markets and entities. Our Group compliance team and policy champions support the policy owners and local markets in implementing policies and monitoring compliance. Code of Conduct All of the key Group policies have been consolidated into the Vodafone Code of Conduct. This is a policy document applicable to all employees and those who work for or on behalf of Vodafone. It sets out the standards of behaviour expected in relation to areas such as insider dealing, bribery and raising concerns through the whistle-blowing process (known internally as “Speak Up”). Branches The Group, through various subsidiaries, has branches in a number of different jurisdictions in which the business operates. Employee disclosures Our disclosures relating to the employment of disabled persons, women in senior management roles, employee engagement and policies are included in “Our people” on pages 18 and 19. By Order of the Board /s/ Rosemary Martin Rosemary Martin Group General Counsel and Company Secretary 17 May 2016 74 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016

 


Table of Contents

 

Contents financial statements: financial information: 96 2. Segmental analysis 170 This page is intentionally left blank 100 4. Impairment losses financing costs 172 This page is intentionally left blank 173 This page is intentionally left blank 109 7. Discontinued operations and assets 76 Directors’ statement 111 8. Earnings per share B-1 Separate financial statements 114 11. Property, plant and equipment public accounting firm public accounting firm 84 This page is intentionally left blank joint arrangements 122 16. Trade and other payables 87 Consolidated statement 124 18. Called up share capital 88 Consolidated statement 125 19. Reconciliation of net cash flow from 89 Consolidated statement of changes 125 20. Cash and cash equivalents 90 Consolidated statement of cash flows 130 22. Liquidity and capital resources 75 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Financials 91 Notes to the consolidated 163 Other unaudited 911. Basis of preparation163 Prior year operating results Income statement 168 This page is intentionally left blank 993. Operating profit/(loss)169 This page is intentionally left blank 1045. Investment income and 171 This page is intentionally left blank 1056. Taxation held for sale 174 This page is intentionally left blank of responsibility 1119. Equity dividendsrequired by Rule 3-09 of 78 Risk mitigation Financial position Regulation S-X 82 Report of independent registered 112 10. Intangible assets B-3 Report of independent registered 116 12. Investments in associates and 85 This page is intentionally left blank 119 13. Other investments 86 This page is intentionally left blank 120 14. Inventory 87 Consolidated financial statements:121 15. Trade and other receivables 87 Consolidated income statement 123 17. Provisions of comprehensive income Cash flows of financial position operating activities in equity126 21. Borrowings 134 23. Capital and financial risk management Employee remuneration 139 24. Directors and key management compensation 140 25. Employees 141 26. Post employment benefits 145 27. Share-based payments Additional disclosures 147 28. Acquisitions and disposals 148 29. Commitments 149 30. Contingent liabilities and legal proceedings 153 31. Related party transactions 153 32. Subsequent events 154 33. Related undertakings 162 34. Subsidiaries exempt from audit Reporting our financial performance We continue to review the format of our consolidated financial statements with the aim of making them clear and easier to follow. This year, we have changed the order of certain notes to the financial statements so as to incorporate a full listing of all the Group’s related undertakings, including subsidiaries, joint arrangements and associates, in note 33, as now required by Company Law. We hope these changes help you to navigate to the information that is important to you.

 


Table of Contents

 

Directors’ statement of responsibility The Directors are responsible for preparing the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations and keeping proper accounting records. Detailed below are statements made by the Directors in relation to their responsibilities, disclosure of information to the Company’s auditor, going concern and management’s report on internal control over financial reporting. Financial statements and accounting records Company law of England and Wales requires the Directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company and of the Group at the end of the financial year and of the profit or loss of the Group for that period. In preparing those financial statements the Directors are required to: The Directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report in accordance with applicable law and regulations. Having taken advice from the Audit and Risk Committee, the Board considers the report and accounts, taken as a whole, is fair, balanced and understandable and that it provides the information necessary for shareholders to assess the Company’s position and performance, business model and strategy. Neither the Company nor the Directors accept any liability to any person in relation to the Annual Report except to the extent that such liability could arise under English law. Accordingly, any liability to a person who has demonstrated reliance on any untrue or misleading statement or omission shall be determined in accordance with section 90A and schedule 10A of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. a select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently; a make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; a present information, including accounting policies, in a manner that provides relevant, reliable, comparable and understandable information; a state whether the consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (‘IFRS’) as adopted for use in the EU and Article 4 of the EU IAS Regulations. The Directors also ensure that the consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IFRS as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (‘IASB’); Disclosure of information to the auditor Having made the requisite enquiries, so far as the Directors are aware, there is no relevant audit information (as defined by section 418(3) of the Companies Act 2006) of which the Company’s auditor is unaware and the Directors have taken all the steps they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the Company’s auditor is aware of that information. a state for the Company financial statements whether applicable UK accounting standards have been followed; and Going concern The Group’s business activities, performance, position and principal risks and uncertainties and how these are managed are set out in the strategic report on pages 1 to 37. A range of mitigations for risks faced by the Group are included on pages 78 and 81. In addition, the financial position of the Group is included in “Borrowings”, “Liquidity and capital resources” and “Capital and financial risk management” in notes 21, 22 and 23 respectively to the consolidated financial statements, which include disclosure in relation to the Group’s objectives, policies and processes for managing its capital; its financial risk management objectives; details of its financial instruments and hedging activities; and its exposures to credit risk and liquidity risk. The Group believes it adequately manages or mitigates its solvency and liquidity risks through two primary processes, described below. Business planning process and performance management The Group’s forecasting and planning cycle consists of three in-year forecasts, a budget and a long-range plan. These generate income statement, cash flow and net debt projections for assessment by Group management and the Board. Each forecast is compared with prior forecasts and actual results so as to identify variances and understand the drivers of the changes and their future impact so as to allow management to take action where appropriate. Additional analysis is undertaken to review and sense check the key assumptions underpinning the forecasts. a prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Company and the Group will continue in business. The Directors are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Company and of the Group and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006 and for the consolidated financial statements, Article 4 of the EU IAS Regulation. They are also responsible for the system of internal control, for safeguarding the assets of the Company and the Group and, hence, for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The Directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the Company’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions. Directors’ responsibility statement Each of the Directors, whose names and functions are listed on pages 40 and 41 confirm that, to the best of their knowledge: a the consolidated financial statements, prepared in accordance with IFRS as issued by the IASB and IFRS as adopted by the EU, give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit of the Group; a the parent company financial statements, prepared in accordance with United Kingdom generally accepted accounting practice, give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit of the Company; and a the strategic report includes a fair review of the development and performance of the business and the position of the Group together with a description of the principal risks and uncertainties that it faces. 76 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016

 


Table of Contents

 

Cash flow and liquidity reviews The business planning process provides outputs for detailed cash flow and liquidity reviews, to ensure that the Group maintains adequate liquidity throughout the forecast periods. The prime output is a one year liquidity forecast which is prepared and updated on a daily basis which highlights the extent of the Group’s liquidity based on controlled cash flows and the headroom under the Group’s undrawn revolving credit facility (‘RCF’). The key inputs into this forecast are: Any internal control framework, no matter how well designed, has inherent limitations including the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of the controls and procedures, and may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or because the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Management has assessed the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting at 31 March 2016 based on the updated Internal Control – Integrated Framework, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (‘COSO’) in 2013. Based on management’s assessment, management has concluded that internal control over financial reporting was effective at 31 March 2016. During the period covered by this document, there were no changes in the Group’s internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect the effectiveness of the internal controls over financial reporting. The Group’s internal control over financial reporting at 31 March 2016 has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm who also audit the Group’s consolidated financial statements. Their audit report on internal control over financial reporting is on page 82. By Order of the Board /s/ Rosemary Martin Rosemary Martin Group General Counsel and Company Secretary 17 May 2016 a free cash flow forecasts, with the first three month’s inputs being sourced directly from the operating companies (analysed on a daily basis), with information beyond this taken from the latest forecast/budget cycle; a bond and other debt maturities; and a expectations for shareholder returns, spectrum auctions and M&A activity. The liquidity forecast shows two scenarios assuming either maturing commercial paper is refinanced or no new commercial paper issuance. The liquidity forecast is reviewed by the Group Chief Financial Officer and included in each of his reports to the Board. In addition, the Group continues to manage its foreign exchange and interest rate risks within the framework of policies and guidelines authorised and reviewed by the Board, with oversight provided by the Treasury Risk Committee. Conclusion The Group has considerable financial resources, and the Directors believe that the Group is well placed to manage its business risks successfully. Accordingly, the Directors continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the Annual Report and accounts. Disclosure controls and procedures The Directors, the Chief Executive and the Chief Financial Officer have evaluated the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, including those defined in the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Rule 13a–15(e), and, based on that evaluation, have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the end of the period covered by this report. Management’s report on internal control over financial reporting As required by section 404 of the US Sarbanes-Oxley Act, management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for the Group. The Group’s internal control over financial reporting includes policies and procedures that: a pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect transactions and dispositions of assets; a are designed to provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit the preparation of financial statements in accordance with IFRS, as adopted by the EU and IFRS as issued by the IASB, and that receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorisation of management and the Directors of the Company; and a provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorised acquisition, use or disposition of the Group’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. 77 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information

 


Table of Contents

 

Risk mitigation Mitigations for risks faced by the Group include: How could it impact us? This risk could have major customer, financial, reputational and regulatory impact in all markets in which we operate. As some systems operate at Group level and support more than one market, we could be affected in multiple markets at one time and for both consumer and enterprise customers, magnifying the impact. Changes from 2015 This risk combines two risks from our previous annual report; malicious attack causing service disruption; and customer data breach. We have merged these to reflect that a single cyber-attack could result in both outcomes. How do we manage it? a We have a global security strategy that is risk-based and approved by the Executive Committee a We have a global security function that sets policies and processes. Security controls are implemented centrally and in local markets, and we have a continuous improvement programme to mitigate the changing threats we face a We manage the risk of malicious attacks on our infrastructure using our global security operations centre that provides 24/7 proactive monitoring of our global infrastructure, responds to incidents and manages recovery from those incidents a Applications or infrastructure that store or transmit confidential personal and business voice and data traffic have layers of security control applied a We have an assurance programme that incorporates both internal reviews and reviews of third parties that hold data on our behalf. Vodafone holds internationally recognised certifications for its information security processes a We regularly provide mandatory security and privacy awareness training to Vodafone employees How could it impact us? Our own convergence strategy may be compromised if we are unable to obtain regulated or equivalent access to infrastructure and content, or acquire, rent or build the right assets, or if we are unable to effectively integrate those businesses we do acquire into our existing operations. Changes from 2015 This risk has slightly increased as regulation is failing to deliver a level playing field across fixed and content markets leading to potential re-monopolisation by incumbent operators. How do we manage it? a We actively look for opportunities, in all markets, to provide services beyond mobile through organic investment, acquisition, partnerships, or joint ventures. In key European and some non-European markets we are already providing converged services a Timely and coordinated intervention with regulatory and competition authorities to ensure that dominant infrastructure access and content providers cannot discriminate or restrict competition a Integration plans ensure that cost synergies and revenue benefits are delivered and acquired businesses are successfully integrated through the alignment of policies, processes and systems How could it impact us? If we are not licensed to operate, we cannot serve our customers. If the cost of operations were to significantly increase, directly or indirectly, this would impact Vodafone’s profitability and returns to shareholders. Additionally, disputes in regards to the level of tax payable and any related penalties could be significant, as reflected in our ongoing dispute in India. Changes from 2015 There have been no significant changes over the last 12 months. How do we manage it? a We work with governments and regulators, nationally and internationally, to help shape any proposals that impact our business a We maintain constructive but robust engagement with the tax authorities, relevant government representatives and non-governmental organisations as well as active engagement with a wide range of international companies and business organisations with similar issues a Where appropriate, we engage advisers and legal counsel to obtain opinions on tax legislation and principles 78 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Adverse political measures Failure to deliver on convergence Cyber threat Unaudited information

 


Table of Contents

 

How could it impact us? This is an unlikely risk; however, it would have a major impact on services used by our customers in all our markets – particularly in countries that have a very low tolerance for environmental and health-related risks. Changes from 2015 There have been no significant changes to this risk over the last 12 months. How do we manage it? a We have a global health and safety policy that includes standards for electromagnetic fields (‘EMF’) that are mandated in all our local markets. Compliance to this policy is monitored and overseen by the Risk and Compliance Committee a We have a Group EMF Board that manages potential risks through cross sector initiatives and which oversees a coordinated global programme to respond to public concern, and develop appropriate advocacy related to possible precautionary legislation a We monitor scientific developments and engage with relevant bodies to support the delivery and transparent communication of the scientific research agenda set by the WHO How could it impact us? Failure to deliver these enterprise services may lead to a reduction in our expected revenue and could impact our credibility to deliver on large, complex deals. Delivery challenges for any nationally critical service would have a particularly adverse impact on our reputation. Changes from 2015 We are facing new competitors for our Enterprise customers, specifically from major technology companies. Despite this, and the new business brought in over the last 12 months, the risk remains stable. How do we manage it? a Our Group Enterprise customer operations are now consolidated within one function, aligned to industry best practice which will deliver a standard service model to our customers a We have implemented a single process across Group Enterprise that ensures alignment, visibility and control across the entire customer experience, from sales governance and commercial risk through to service delivery, billing and in-life operations. This is supported by globally standardised “ways of working” frameworks a We have an investment plan in implementation to digitise service operations, with investment having started in the 2016 financial year and set to conclude in the 2018 financial year. This plan is aimed at lifting our Enterprise customer experience into a market leadership position How could it impact us? The potential for another global financial crisis may lead to further economic instability and subsequent reductions in corporate and consumer confidence and spending. It could also have a prolonged impact on capital markets that may restrict our financing. Changes from 2015 Eurozone stability has improved but low commodity prices, in part a consequence of reduced forecast growth in China, means the threat of another global financial crisis remains a significant risk factor, given the inability of central banks to reduce interest rates much further. How do we manage it? a We monitor closely economic and currency situations in both our AMAP and European markets a We include contingencies in our business plans to cater for negative operational impacts that could arise from a variety of causes including the impact of lower economic growth than is generally expected a We have credit facilities with 30 relationship banks that are committed for a minimum of five years and which total £5.8 billion. Such facilities could be used in the event of a prolonged disruption to the capital markets a Our exposure to any depreciation of sterling, for example from the UK leaving the EU, is limited by the fact that the vast majority of our income is denominated in other currencies 79 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Unstable economic conditions Major enterprise contracts EMF related health risks

 


Table of Contents

 

How could it impact us? There are two ways in which this risk could occur. First, advances in offerings of over the top (‘OTT’) services could reduce demand for our traditional voice and text services and impact revenue. Secondly, new entrants investing heavily or the consolidation of competitors could result in price wars in key markets. The threat from OTT competition is relevant for all markets where alternative services are commonly available and has the potential for major impact on service revenues. The risk of competitor disruption is higher in new and emerging markets. Changes from 2015 This risk previously included supplier concentration. Improvements in how we manage key supplier groups and ensuring competitive tendering have reduced this risk. How do we manage it? a We have developed strategies which strengthen our relationships with customers through integrated voice, messaging and data price plans to avoid customers reducing their out of bundle usage through internet/Wi-Fi based substitution. The loss of voice and messaging revenue is partially offset by the increase in data revenue a We monitor the competitor landscape in all markets, and react appropriately, working to make sure each market has a fair and competitive environment How could it impact us? For the majority of network and IT infrastructure failures, the associated impacts would be confined to a single market. There are, however, some exceptions where data centres and critical network sites serve multiple markets. There are a number of causes for failure such as major incidents caused by suppliers, natural disasters, deliberate attacks or a failure as a result of an internal project or transformation. Failure to successfully implement key IT transformation projects would also increase the risk of IT systems being unable to support our strategic objectives. Changes from 2015 During 2016 a number of major projects to improve key IT systems are taking place in some of our markets, which increases this risk, during the project implementation phase. How do we manage it? a Specific back-up and resilience policy requirements are built into our network and IT infrastructure a We monitor our ability to replace strategic equipment promptly in the event of end-of-life failure, and for high risk components we maintain dedicated back-up equipment ready for use a A blueprinted approach to geographic resilience, where the secondary IT location is expected to be in a different country, has been developed with external market specialists. This will be used for business applications which require this degree of location resilience a Network and IT contingency plans are in place to cover residual risks that cannot be mitigated a A crisis management team and escalation processes are in place both nationally and internationally. Crisis simulations are conducted annually 80 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Network/IT infrastructure failure Market disruption

 


Table of Contents

 

How could it impact us? Non-compliance with legislation or regulatory requirements could lead to reputational damage, financial penalties and/or suspension of our licence to operate. Changes from 2015 Now included in our principal risks due to changes in laws and their enforcement. How do we manage it? a We have subject matter experts in legal and regulatory teams at a local and global level who manage risk across the Group a Our Compliance team monitors all high risk policies and tracks remedial actions for non-compliance or partial compliance a We train our employees in “Doing what’s right”, our training and awareness programme which defines and reinforces our ethical culture across the organisation How could it impact us? This risk is relevant to all our markets in both our consumer and enterprise businesses. Differentiation based on a superior customer experience involves a number of areas, including those that directly deal with customers and others that look after our network and IT systems. Changes from 2015 We have now completed one year of our Customer eXperience eXcellence programme. In the 2016 financial year we achieved improvements in our consumer Net Promoter Score (‘NPS’) position in 15 out of 20 of our Local Markets. Vodafone is now ranked number one in 13 out of 21 markets. In nine out of 13 of these markets we increased our gap over our closest competitor, supporting our ambition to become a clear customer experience leader. In most of the remaining markets we significantly decreased the gap between Vodafone and the leader. This marks Vodafone’s best annual improvement in overall NPS to date. How do we manage it? a Customer experience has been prioritised as a key component of our strategy. Our customer experience programme has been implemented across the business to deliver a range of system capability improvements to support an enhanced customer experience a We track and monitor our performance in delivering a superior customer experience through a range of KPIs; the most critical being our NPS and Brand Consideration metrics a We communicate with our customers clearly and transparently particularly around tariffs and roaming costs a We provide a leading customer experience through our My Vodafone app and online channels Strengthening our approach to risk management To support the implementation of this framework, the following actions have been put in place during the 2016 financial year. a Created a Group Risk function reporting to the Group Risk & Compliance Director a Brought together a global risk community from local markets and specialist risk areas to support the delivery of the framework and share best practices a Completed an integrated assurance mapping project to identify and enable oversight into the mitigations and level of assurance in place for the key risks in all local markets and entities a Assigned Executive Committee owners and Senior Leadership champions for each principal risk Further enhancements are planned during the 2017 financial year, including the implementation of a Risk & Integrated Assurance platform that can bring the framework to life and support the ongoing development of integrated assurance across the “three lines of defence”1. Note: 1 A term used to describe the systematic approach to how we manage risk and provide assurance to the Board that risks are managed effectively. The first line of defence typically sits in the business operations (e.g. Technology), the second line of defence has oversight over the first line of defence (e.g. Compliance or Risk Management), and the third line of defence are the independent assurance providers (e.g. Internal Audit). 81 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Customer Experience Non-compliance with laws and regulation

 


Table of Contents

 

Report of independent registered public accounting firm To the Board of directors and shareholders of Vodafone Group Plc In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated statement of financial position and the related consolidated income statement, consolidated statement of comprehensive income, consolidated statement of changes in equity and consolidated statement of cash flows present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position Vodafone Group Plc and its subsidiaries (“the Company”) at 31 March 2016 and 31 March 2015, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the years ended 31 March 2016 and 31 March 2015 in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board and in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of 31 March 2016, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework 2013 issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (‘COSO’). The Company’s management is responsible for these financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in Management’s report on internal control over financial reporting. Our responsibility is to express opinions on these financial statements and on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our integrated audit. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and International Standards on Auditing. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. We have audited the adjustments to the 2014 financial statements to reflect retrospectively the change in presentation of the segment information, as described in note 2. Our audit procedures that were applied to the restated disclosures for comparative 2014 reportable segments included: (i) agreeing the adjusted amounts of each segment to the underlying records obtained from management, and (ii) determining the mathematical accuracy of the reconciliations of segment amounts to the consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, such adjustments are appropriate and have been properly applied. We were not engaged to audit, review, or apply any procedures to the 2014 financial statements of the Company other than with respect to the adjustments and, accordingly, we do not express an opinion or any other form of assurance on the 2014 financial statements taken as a whole. /s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP London, United Kingdom 17 May 2016 82 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016

 


Table of Contents

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm to the members of Vodafone Group Plc We have audited, before the effects of the retrospective adjustments to the segment disclosures in note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the accompanying consolidated income statement, consolidated statement of comprehensive income, consolidated statement of changes in equity and consolidated statement of cash flows for the year ended 31 March 2014 (the 2014 consolidated financial statements before the effects of the retrospective adjustments to the segment disclosures in note 2 to the consolidated financial statements are not presented herein). These financial statements are the responsibility of the Group’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial statements based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion. In our opinion, such 2014 consolidated financial statements, before the effects of the retrospective adjustments to the segment disclosures in note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, present fairly, in all material respects, the results of its operations and cash flows for the year ended 31 March 2014, in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. We were not engaged to audit, review, or apply any procedures to the retrospective adjustments made in 2015 and 2016 to the segment disclosures in note 2 to the consolidated financial statements and, accordingly, we do not express an opinion or any other form of assurance about whether such retrospective adjustments are appropriate and have been properly applied. Those retrospective adjustments were audited by other auditors. /s/ Deloitte LLP Deloitte LLP London, United Kingdom 20 May 2014 83 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information

 


Table of Contents

 

This page is intentionally left blank 84 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016

 


Table of Contents

 

This page is intentionally left blank 85 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information

 


Table of Contents

 

This page is intentionally left blank 86 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016

 


Table of Contents

 

Consolidated income statement for the years ended 31 March 2016 £m 2015 £m 2014 £m Note Note: 1 Profit attributable to non-controlling interests solely derives from continuing operations. for the years ended 31 March 2016 £m 2015 £m 2014 £m Note Further details on items in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income can be found in the consolidated statement of changes in equity on page 89. 87 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information (Loss)/profit for the financial year (3,818) 5,91759,420 Other comprehensive income: Items that may be reclassified to profit or loss in subsequent years: (Losses)/gains on revaluation of available-for-sale investments, net of tax (2) 4(119) Foreign exchange translation differences, net of tax 3,540 (6,516)(4,104) Foreign exchange losses/(gains) transferred to the income statement 70 (1) 1,493 Fair value gains transferred to the income statement – (9)(25) Other, net of tax 34 7– Total items that may be reclassified to profit or loss in subsequent years 3,642 (6,515)(2,755) Items that will not be reclassified to profit or loss in subsequent years: Net actuarial gains/(losses) on defined benefit pension schemes, net of tax 26 126 (212)37 Total items that will not be reclassified to profit or loss in subsequent years 126 (212)37 Other comprehensive income/(expense) 3,768 (6,727)(2,718) Total comprehensive expense/(income) for the year (50) (810)56,702 Attributable to: – Owners of the parent (123) (1,076)56,711 – Non-controlling interests 73 266(9) (50) (810)56,702 Consolidated statement of comprehensive income Revenue 2 40,973 42,22738,346 Cost of sales (30,435) (30,882)(27,942) Gross profit 10,538 11,34510,404 Selling and distribution expenses (3,570) (3,455)(3,033) Administrative expenses (5,110) (5,746) (4,245) Share of results of equity accounted associates and joint ventures 44 (63) 278 Impairment losses 4 (450) –(6,600) Other income and expense (75) (114)(717) Operating profit/(loss)3 1,377 1,967(3,913) Non-operating income and expense (2) (19) (149) Investment income 5 300 883346 Financing costs 5 (2,124) (1,736)(1,554) (Loss)/profit before taxation (449) 1,095(5,270) Income tax (expense)/credit 6 (3,369) 4,76516,582 (Loss)/profit for the financial year from continuing operations (3,818) 5,86011,312 Profit for the financial year from discontinued operations 7 – 57 48,108 (Loss)/profit for the financial year (3,818) 5,91759,420 Attributable to: – Owners of the parent (4,024) 5,76159,254 – Non-controlling interests 1 206 156166 (Loss)/profit for the financial year (3,818) 5,91759,420 (Loss)/earnings per share From continuing operations: – Basic (15.08)p 21.53p 42.10p – Diluted (15.08)p 21.42p 41.77p Total Group: – Basic 8 (15.08)p 21.75p 223.84p – Diluted 8 (15.08)p 21.63p 222.07p

 


Table of Contents

 

Consolidated statement of financial position at 31 March 31 March 2016 £m 31 March 2015 £m Note The consolidated financial statements on pages 87 to 162 were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 17 May 2016 and were signed on its behalf by: /s/ Vittorio Colao Vittorio Colao Chief Executive /s/ Nick Read Nick Read Chief Financial Officer 88 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Non-current assets Goodwill10 22,789 22,537 Other intangible assets10 23,979 20,953 Property, plant and equipment11 28,082 26,603 Investments in associates and joint ventures 12 (82) (3) Other investments 13 3,662 3,757 Deferred tax assets6 22,382 23,845 Post employment benefits26 177 169 Trade and other receivables15 4,580 4,865 105,569 102,726 Current assets Inventory14 565 482 Taxation recoverable 1,109 575 Trade and other receivables15 9,141 8,053 Other investments 13 4,220 3,855 Cash and cash equivalents20 10,218 6,882 Assets held for sale 7 2,891 – 28,144 19,847 Total assets 133,713 122,573 Equity Called up share capital18 3,792 3,792 Additional paid-in capital 119,925 117,054 Treasury shares (6,940) (7,045) Accumulated losses (56,608) (49,471) Accumulated other comprehensive income 5,716 1,815 Total attributable to owners of the parent 65,885 66,145 Non-controlling interests 1,437 1,595 Put options over non-controlling interests (5) (7) Total non-controlling interests 1,432 1,588 Total equity 67,317 67,733 Non-current liabilities Long-term borrowings21 29,327 22,435 Deferred tax liabilities6 446 595 Post employment benefits26 447 567 Provisions17 1,280 1,082 Trade and other payables16 1,501 1,264 33,001 25,943 Current liabilities Short-term borrowings21 16,020 12,623 Taxation liabilities 540 599 Provisions17 757 767 Trade and other payables16 15,732 14,908 Liabilities for sale7 346 – 33,395 28,897 Total equity and liabilities 133,713 122,573

 


Table of Contents

 

Consolidated statement of changes in equity for the years ended 31 March Equity share-holders’ funds £m Other comprehensive income Additional paid-in capital2 £m Non-controlling interests £m Share capital1 £m Treasury shares £m Retained losses £m Currency reserve3 £m Pensions reserve £m Investment Revaluation reserve4 £m surplus5 £m Other6 £m Total £m 1 April 2013 3,866 154,279 (9,029) (88,834) 10,600 (648) 135 1,040 68 71,477 1,011 72,488 Issue or reissue of shares – 2 194 (173) – – – – – 23 – 23 Redemption or cancellation of shares (74) 74 1,648 (1,648) – – – – – – – – Capital reduction and creation of B and C shares 16,613 (37,470) – 20,857 – – – – – – – – Cancellation of B shares (16,613) – – 1,115 – – – – – (15,498) – (15,498) 887 Share-based payments – – – – – – – –88 – 88 Transactions with non-controlling interests in subsidiaries – – – (1,451) – – – – –(1,451) 260 (1,191) Dividends – – – (40,566) – – – – – (40,566) (284) (40,850) Comprehensive income – – – 59,254 (2,436) 37 (119) – (25) 56,711 (9) 56,702 Other – – – 18 – – – – – 18 1 19 31 March 2014 3,792 116,973 (7,187) (51,428) 8,164 (611) 16 1,040 43 70,802 979 71,781 Issue or reissue of shares – 2 142 (126) – – – – – 18 – 18 957 Share-based payments – – – – – – – – 95 – 95 Transactions with non-controlling interests in subsidiaries – – – (756) – – – – – (756) 605 (151) Dividends – – – (2,930) – – – – – (2,930) (262) (3,192) Comprehensive income – – – 5,761 (6,627) (212) (5) – 7 (1,076) 266 (810) Other – (16) – 8 – – – – – (8) – (8) 31 March 2015 3,792 117,054 (7,045) (49,471) 1,537 (823) 11 1,040 50 66,145 1,588 67,733 Notes: 1 See note 18 “Called up share capital”. 2 Includes share premium, capital reserve, capital redemption reserve, merger reserve and share-based payment reserve. The merger reserve was derived from acquisitions made prior to 31 March 2004 and subsequently allocated to additional paid-in capital on adoption of IFRS. 3 The currency reserve is used to record cumulative translation differences on the assets and liabilities of foreign operations. The cumulative translation differences are recycled to the income statement on disposal of the foreign operation. 4 The investment reserve is used to record the cumulative fair value gains and losses on available-for-sale financial assets. The cumulative gains and losses are recycled to the income statement on disposal of the assets. 5 The revaluation surplus derives from acquisitions of subsidiaries made before the Group’s adoption of IFRS 3 (Revised) on 1 April 2010 and comprises the amounts arising from recognising the Group’s pre-existing equity interest in the acquired subsidiary at fair value. 6 Includes the impact of the Group’s cash flow hedges with £267 million net gain deferred to other comprehensive income during the year (2015: £607 million net gain; 2014: £129 million net loss) and £233 million net gain (2015: £649 million net gain; 2014: £171 million net loss) recycled to the income statement. 7 Includes £3 million tax credit (2015: £7 million tax credit; 2014: £12 million charge). 8 Includes the equity component of mandatory convertible bonds which are compound instruments issued in the year. 89 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Issue or reissue of shares –1105(93) –––––13–13 Share-based payments –1167–– –––––116–116 Issue of mandatory convertible bonds8 –2,754–– –––––2,754–2,754 Transactions with non-controlling interests in subsidiaries –––(31) –––––(31) (13) (44) Dividends –––(2,998) ––––– (2,998) (238) (3,236) Comprehensive income –––(4,024) 3,743126(2) –34(123)73(50) Profit –––(4,024) –––––(4,024)206 (3,818) OCI – before tax –––– 3,789156(3) –463,988(130) 3,858 OCI – taxes –––– (116)(30) 1–(12)(157)(3) (160) Transfer to the income statement –––– 70––––70–70 Other –––9 –––––92231 31 March 2016 3,792 119,925 (6,940) (56,608) 5,280(697)9 1,04084 65,885 1,432 67,317 Profit–––5,761–––––5,7611565,917 OCI – before tax–––– (6,842) (269) 4–12(7,095) 113 (6,982) OCI – taxes––––21657––(5) 268(3) 265 Transfer to the income statement ––––(1) –(9)––(10) –(10) Profit–––59,254––––– 59,254166 59,420 OCI – before tax–––– (3,932)57(119)–3 (3,991)(172) (4,163) OCI – taxes––––3(20) ––(3)(20) (3)(23) Transfer to the income statement ––––1,493–––(25) 1,468–1,468

 


Table of Contents

 

Consolidated statement of cash flows for the years ended 31 March 2016 £m 2015 £m 2014 £m Note During the year ended 31 March 2014 there were a number of material non-cash investing and financing activities that arose in relation to the disposal of our interest in Verizon Wireless, the acquisition of the remaining 23% of Vodafone Italy and the return of value to shareholders. Full details of these material non-cash transactions are included in note 28 to the consolidated financial statements. 90 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Inflow from operating activities 19 10,481 9,7156,227 Cash flows from investing activities Purchase of interests in subsidiaries, net of cash acquired28 (43) (3,093)(4,279) Purchase of interests in associates and joint ventures (2) (85) (11) Purchase of intangible assets10 (5,018) (2,315)(2,327) Purchase of property, plant and equipment11 (6,836) (6,568)(4,396) Purchase of investments13 (77) (207)(214) Disposal of interests in associates and joint ventures 12 – 2734,919 Disposal of property, plant and equipment11 140 17879 Disposal of investments13 1,357 8991,483 Dividends received from associates and joint ventures 67 5834,897 Dividends received from investments – –10 Interest received 261 254582 (Outflow)/inflow from investing activities (10,151) (10,327)30,743 Cash flows from financing activities Issue of ordinary share capital and reissue of treasury shares18 13 1838 Net movement in short-term borrowings 5 4,722(2,887) Proceeds from issue of long-term borrowings 7,504 2,4321,060 Repayment of borrowings (2,738) (4,070)(9,788) Purchase of treasury shares – –(1,033) B and C share payments – –(14,291) Issue of subordinated mandatory convertible bonds 2,754 –– Equity dividends paid9 (2,998) (2,927)(5,076) Dividends paid to non-controlling shareholders in subsidiaries (223) (247)(264) Other transactions with non-controlling shareholders in subsidiaries (48) (718)(111) Other movements in loans with associates and joint ventures (22) (52) – Interest paid (1,287) (1,576)(1,897) Inflow/(outflow) from financing activities 2,960 (2,418)(34,249) Net cash inflow/(outflow) 3,290 (3,030)2,721 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the financial year20 6,861 10,1127,506 Exchange gain/(loss) on cash and cash equivalents 58 (221) (115) Cash and cash equivalents at end of the financial year20 10,209 6,86110,112

 


Table of Contents

 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements . Basis of preparatio This section describes the critical accounting judgements that management has identified as having a potentially material impact on the Group’s consolidated financial statements and sets out our significant accounting policies that relate to the financial statements as a whole. Where an accounting policy is generally applicable to a specific note to the financial statements, the policy is described within that note. We have also detailed below the new accounting pronouncements that we will adopt in future years and our current view of the impact they will have on our financial reporting. The consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (‘IFRS’) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (‘IASB’) and are also prepared in accordance with IFRS adopted by the European Union (‘EU’), the Companies Act 2006 and Article 4 of the EU IAS Regulations. The consolidated financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. A discussion on the Group’s critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty is detailed below. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period; they are recognised in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods. Amounts in the consolidated financial statements are stated in pounds sterling. With effect from 1 April 2016, the presentation currency of the Group will change from sterling to the euro to better align with the geographic split of the Group’s operations. Vodafone Group Plc is incorporated and domiciled in England and Wales (registration number 1833679). The registered address of the Company is Vodafone House, The Connection, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 2FN, England. IFRS requires the Directors to adopt accounting policies that are the most appropriate to the Group’s circumstances. These have been applied consistently to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated. In determining and applying accounting policies, Directors and management are required to make judgements in respect of items where the choice of specific policy, accounting estimate or assumption to be followed could materially affect the Group’s reported financial position, results or cash flows; it may later be determined that a different choice may have been more appropriate. Management has identified accounting estimates and assumptions relating to revenue recognition, taxation, business combinations and goodwill, joint arrangements, finite lived intangible assets, property, plant and equipment, post employment benefits, provisions and contingent liabilities and impairment that it considers to be critical due to their impact on the Group’s financial statements. These critical accounting judgements, assumptions and related disclosures have been discussed with the Company’s Audit and Risk Committee. Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty Revenue recognition Arrangements with multiple deliverables In revenue arrangements where more than one good or service is provided to the customer, customer consideration is allocated between the goods and services using relative fair value principles. The fair values determined for deliverables may impact the timing of the recognition of revenue. Determining the fair value of each deliverable can require complex estimates. The Group generally determines the fair value of individual elements based on prices at which the deliverable is regularly sold on a stand-alone basis after considering any appropriate volume discounts. Gross versus net presentation When the Group sells goods or services as a principal, income and payments to suppliers are reported on a gross basis in revenue and operating costs. If the Group sells goods or services as an agent, revenue and payments to suppliers are recorded in revenue on a net basis, representing the margin earned. Whether the Group is considered to be the principal or an agent in the transaction depends on analysis by management of both the legal form and substance of the agreement between the Group and its business partners; such judgements impact the amount of reported revenue and operating expenses but do not impact reported assets, liabilities or cash flows. Taxation The Group’s tax charge on ordinary activities is the sum of the total current and deferred tax charges. The calculation of the Group’s total tax charge involves estimation and judgement in respect of certain matters where the tax impact is uncertain until a conclusion is reached with the relevant tax authority or through a legal process. The final resolution of some of these items may give rise to material profits, losses and/or cash flows. Resolving tax issues can take many years as it is not always within the control of the Group and often depends on the efficiency of legal processes in the relevant tax jurisdiction. Recognition of deferred tax assets Significant items on which the Group has exercised accounting estimation and judgement include the recognition of deferred tax assets in respect of losses in Luxembourg, Germany, Spain and India and capital allowances in the United Kingdom. The recognition of deferred tax assets, particularly in respect of tax losses, is based upon whether it is probable that there will be sufficient and suitable taxable profits in the relevant legal entity or tax group against which to utilise the assets in the future. Judgement is required when determining probable future taxable profits. The Group assesses the availability of future taxable profits using the same undiscounted five year forecasts for the Group’s operations as are used in the Group’s value in use calculations (see “Impairment reviews” below). Where tax losses are forecast to be recovered beyond the five year period, the availability of taxable profits is assessed using the cash flows and long-term growth rates used for the value in use calculations. 91 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information 1 n

 


Table of Contents

 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements (continued) 1. Basis of preparation (continued) The cash flows inherent in these forecasts include the unsystematic risks of operating in the telecommunications business including the potential impacts of changes in the market structure, trends in customer pricing, the costs associated with the acquisition and retention of customers, future technological evolutions and potential regulatory changes, such as our ability to acquire and/or renew spectrum licences. Changes in the assumptions which underpin the Group’s forecasts could have an impact on the amount of future taxable profits and could have a significant impact on the period over which the deferred tax asset would be recovered. The Group only considers substantively enacted tax laws when assessing the amount and availability of tax losses to offset against the future taxable profits. See note 6 “Taxation” to the consolidated financial statements. Business combinations and goodwill When the Group completes a business combination, the fair values of the identifiable assets and liabilities acquired, including intangible assets, are recognised. The determination of the fair values of acquired assets and liabilities is based, to a considerable extent, on management’s judgement. If the purchase consideration exceeds the fair value of the net assets acquired then the incremental amount paid is recognised as goodwill. If the purchase price consideration is lower than the fair value of the assets acquired then the difference is recorded as a gain in the income statement. Allocation of the purchase price between finite lived assets (discussed below) and indefinite lived assets such as goodwill affects the subsequent results of the Group as finite lived intangible assets are amortised, whereas indefinite lived intangible assets, including goodwill, are not amortised. On transition to IFRS the Group elected not to apply IFRS 3 “Business combinations” retrospectively as the difficulty in applying these requirements to business combinations completed by the Group between incorporation and 1 April 2004 exceeded any potential benefits. Goodwill recorded before the date of transition to IFRS amounted to £78,753 million. If the Group had elected to apply IFRS 3 retrospectively it may have led to an increase or decrease in goodwill, licences, customer bases, brands and related deferred tax liabilities recognised on acquisition. See note 28 “Acquisitions and disposals” to the consolidated financial statements for further details. Joint arrangements The Group participates in a number of joint arrangements where control of the arrangement is shared with one or more other parties. A joint arrangement is classified as a joint operation or as a joint venture, depending on management’s assessment of the legal form and substance of the arrangement. The classification can have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements. The Group’s share of assets, liabilities, revenue, expenses and cash flows of joint operations are included in the consolidated financial statements on a line-by-line basis, whereas the Group’s investment and share of results of joint ventures are shown within single line items in the consolidated statement of financial position and consolidated income statement respectively. See note 12 “Investments in associates and joint arrangements” to the consolidated financial statements. Finite lived intangible assets Other intangible assets include amounts spent by the Group acquiring licences and spectrum, customer bases and brands and the costs of purchasing and developing computer software. Where intangible assets are acquired through business combinations and no active market for the assets exists, the fair value of these assets is determined by discounting estimated future net cash flows generated by the asset. Estimates relating to the future cash flows and discount rates used may have a material effect on the reported amounts of finite lived intangible assets. Estimation of useful life The useful life over which intangible assets are amortised depends on management’s estimate of the period over which economic benefit will be derived from the asset. Reducing the useful life will increase the amortisation charge in the consolidated income statement. Useful lives are periodically reviewed to ensure that they remain appropriate. The basis for determining the useful life for the most significant categories of intangible assets is discussed below. Licence and spectrum fees The estimated useful life is generally the term of the licence unless there is a presumption of renewal at negligible cost; this is adjusted if necessary, for example taking into account the impact of any expected changes in technology. Customer bases The estimated useful life principally reflects management’s view of the average economic life of the customer base and is assessed by reference to customer churn rates. An increase in churn rates may lead to a reduction in the estimated useful life and an increase in the amortisation charge. Capitalised software For computer software, the useful life is based on management’s view, considering historical experience with similar products as well as anticipation of future events which may impact their life such as changes in technology. The useful life will not exceed the duration of a licence. Property, plant and equipment Property, plant and equipment represents 21.0% (2015: 21.7%) of the Group’s total assets; estimates and assumptions made may have a material impact on their carrying value and related depreciation charge. See note 11 “Property, plant and equipment” to the consolidated financial statements for further details. Estimation of useful life The depreciation charge for an asset is derived using estimates of its expected useful life and expected residual value, which are reviewed annually. Increasing an asset’s expected life or residual value would result in a reduced depreciation charge in the consolidated income statement. Management determines the useful lives and residual values for assets when they are acquired, based on experience with similar assets and taking into account other relevant factors such as any expected changes in technology. The useful life of network infrastructure is assumed not to exceed the duration of related operating licences unless there is a reasonable expectation of renewal or an alternative future use for the asset. 92 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016

 


Table of Contents

 

Post employment benefits Management judgement is exercised when determining the Group’s liabilities and expenses arising for defined benefit pension schemes. Management is required to make assumptions regarding future rates of inflation, salary increases, discount rates and longevity of members, each of which may have a material impact on the defined benefit obligations that are recorded. Further details, including a sensitivity analysis, are included in note 26 “Post employment benefits” to the consolidated financial statements. Provisions and contingent liabilities The Group exercises judgement in measuring and recognising provisions and the exposures to contingent liabilities related to pending litigation or other outstanding claims subject to negotiated settlement, mediation, arbitration or government regulation, as well as other contingent liabilities (see note 30 “Contingent liabilities and legal proceedings” to the consolidated financial statements). Judgement is necessary to assess the likelihood that a pending claim will succeed, or a liability will arise, and to quantify the possible range of any financial settlement. The inherent uncertainty of such matters means that actual losses may materially differ from estimates. Impairment reviews IFRS requires management to perform impairment tests annually for indefinite lived assets and, for finite lived assets, if events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Impairment testing requires management to judge whether the carrying value of assets can be supported by the net present value of future cash flows that they generate. Calculating the net present value of the future cash flows requires assumptions to be made in respect of highly uncertain matters including management’s expectations of: a growth in adjusted EBITDA, calculated as adjusted operating profit before depreciation and amortisation; a timing and amount of future capital expenditure, licence and spectrum payments; a long-term growth rates; and a appropriate discount rates to reflect the risks involved. Management prepares formal five year forecasts for the Group’s operations, which are used to estimate their value in use. In certain developing markets ten year forecasts are used if it is considered that the fifth year of a forecast is not indicative of expected long-term future performance as operations may not have reached maturity. For operations where five year forecasts are used for the Group’s value in use calculations, a long-term growth rate into perpetuity has been determined as the lower of: a the nominal GDP growth rates for the country of operation; and a the long-term compound annual growth rate in adjusted EBITDA in years six to ten estimated by management. For operations where ten year forecasts are used for the Group’s value in use calculations, a long-term growth rate into perpetuity has been determined as the lower of: a the nominal GDP growth rates for the country of operation; and a the compound annual growth rate in adjusted EBITDA in years nine to ten of the management plan. Changing the assumptions selected by management, in particular the discount rate and growth rate assumptions used in the cash flow projections, could significantly affect the Group’s impairment evaluation and hence reported assets and profits or losses. Further details, including a sensitivity analysis, are included in note 4 “Impairment losses” to the consolidated financial statements. 93 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information

 


Table of Contents

 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements (continued) 1. Basis of preparation (continued) Significant accounting policies applied in the current reporting period that relate to the financial statements as a whole Accounting convention The consolidated financial statements are prepared on a historical cost basis except for certain financial and equity instruments that have been measured at fair value. Basis of consolidation The consolidated financial statements incorporate the financial statements of the Company, subsidiaries controlled by the Company (see note 33 “Related undertakings” to the consolidated financial statements) and joint operations that are subject to joint control (see note 12 “Investments in associates and joint arrangements” to the consolidated financial statements). Foreign currencies The consolidated financial statements are presented in sterling, which was the parent company’s functional currency. Each entity in the Group determines its own functional currency and items included in the financial statements of each entity are measured using that functional currency. With effect from 1 April 2016 the functional currency of the Company changed from sterling to the euro. The euro is now the primary currency in which the Company’s financing activities and investment returns are denominated. The consolidated financial statements are presented in sterling. With effect from 1 April 2016, the Group’s presentation currency will change from sterling to the euro to better align with the geographic split of the Group’s operations. The change of presentation and functional currency will not change either the Group’s or Company’s foreign exchange management strategy. Transactions in foreign currencies are initially recorded at the functional currency rate prevailing at the date of the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated into the respective functional currency of the entity at the rates prevailing on the reporting period date. Non-monetary items carried at fair value that are denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the rates prevailing on the initial transaction dates. Non-monetary items measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency are not retranslated. Changes in the fair value of monetary securities denominated in foreign currency classified as available-for-sale are analysed between translation differences and other changes in the carrying amount of the security. Translation differences are recognised in the income statement and other changes in carrying amount are recognised in equity. Translation differences on non-monetary financial assets, such as investments in equity securities classified as available-for-sale, are reported as part of the fair value gain or loss and are included in equity. For the purpose of presenting consolidated financial statements, the assets and liabilities of entities with a functional currency other than sterling are expressed in sterling using exchange rates prevailing at the reporting period date. Income and expense items and cash flows are translated at the average exchange rates for the period and exchange differences arising are recognised directly in equity. On disposal of a foreign entity, the cumulative amount previously recognised in equity relating to that particular foreign operation is recognised in profit or loss. Goodwill and fair value adjustments arising on the acquisition of a foreign operation are treated as assets and liabilities of the foreign operation and translated accordingly. In respect of all foreign operations, any exchange differences that have arisen before 1 April 2004, the date of transition to IFRS, are deemed to be nil and will be excluded from the determination of any subsequent profit or loss on disposal. The net foreign exchange loss recognised in the consolidated income statement for the year ended 31 March 2016 is £802 million (31 March 2015: £273 million gain; 2014: £1,688 million loss). The net gains and net losses are recorded within operating profit (2016: £2 million credit; 2015: £8 million charge; 2014: £16 million charge), other income and expense and non-operating income and expense (2016: £70 million charge; 2015: £1 million credit; 2014: £1,493 million charge), investment and financing income (2016: £726 million charge; 2015: £276 million credit; 2014: £180 million charge) and income tax expense (2016: £8 million charge; 2015: £4 million credit; 2014: £1 million credit). The foreign exchange gains and losses included within other income and expense and non-operating income and expense arise on the disposal of interests in joint ventures, associates and investments from the recycling of foreign exchange gains previously recorded in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income. New accounting pronouncements adopted on 1 April 2015 On 1 April 2015 the Group adopted the following new accounting policies to comply with amendments to IFRS. The accounting pronouncements, none of which is considered by the Group as significant on adoption, are: a Amendments to IAS 19 “Defined Benefit Plans: Employee Contributions”; a “Improvements to IFRS 2010–2012 cycle” amendment to IFRS 8 “Operating Segments”; and a “Improvements to IFRS 2011–2013 cycle”. 94 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016

 


Table of Contents

 

New accounting pronouncements to be adopted on 1 April 2016 The following pronouncements which are potentially relevant to the Group have been issued by the IASB are effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2016 and have been endorsed for use in the EU: a Amendments to IAS 1 “Disclosure Initiative”; a Amendments to IAS 16 and IAS 38 “Clarification of Acceptable Methods of Depreciation and Amortisation”; a Amendments to IFRS 11 “Accounting for Acquisitions of Interests in Joint Operations”; and a “Improvements to IFRS: 2012–2014 cycle”. The Group’s financial reporting will be presented in accordance with the new standards above, which are not expected to have a material impact on the consolidated results, financial position or cash flows of the Group, from 1 April 2016. New accounting pronouncements to be adopted on or after 1 April 2017 On 1 April 2017 the Group will adopt “Recognition of Deferred Tax Assets for Unrealised Losses, Amendments to IAS 12” and “Disclosure Initiative, Amendments to IAS 7” which are effective for accounting periods on or after 1 January 2017 and which have not yet been endorsed by the EU. The Group is currently confirming the impacts of the above new pronouncements on its results, financial position and cash flows, which are not expected to be material. IFRS 15 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” IFRS 15 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” was issued in May 2014 and subsequent amendments, “Clarifications to IFRS 15”, were issued in April 2016. IFRS 15, as amended, is effective for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2018; it has not yet been adopted by the EU. IFRS 15 will have a material impact on the Group’s reporting of revenue and costs as follows: a IFRS 15 will require the Group to identify deliverables in contracts with customers that qualify as “performance obligations”. The transaction price receivable from customers must be allocated between the Group’s performance obligations under the contracts on a relative stand-alone selling price basis. Currently revenue allocated to deliverables is restricted to the amount that is receivable without the delivery of additional goods or services; this restriction will no longer be applied under IFRS 15. The primary impact on revenue reporting will be that when the Group sells subsidised devices together with airtime service agreements to customers, revenue allocated to equipment and recognised when control of the device passes to the customer will increase and revenue recognised as services are delivered will reduce. Where additional up-front unbilled revenue is recorded for the sale of devices, this will be reflected in the balance sheet as a contract asset. a Under IFRS 15, certain incremental costs incurred in acquiring a contract with a customer will be deferred on the balance sheet and amortised as revenue is recognised under the related contract; this will generally lead to the later recognition of charges for some commissions payable to third party dealers and employees. a Certain costs incurred in fulfilling customer contracts will be deferred on the balance sheet under IFRS 15 and recognised as related revenue is recognised under the contract. Such deferred costs are likely to relate to the provision of deliverables to customers that do not qualify as performance obligations and for which revenue is not recognised; currently such costs are generally expensed as incurred. The Group is continuing to assess the impact of these and other accounting changes that will arise under IFRS 15; however, the changes highlighted above will have a material impact on the consolidated income statement and consolidated statement of financial position after the Group adopts IFRS 15 on 1 April 2018. When IFRS 15 is adopted, it can be applied either on a fully retrospective basis, requiring the restatement of the comparative periods presented in the financial statements, or with the cumulative retrospective impact of IFRS 15 applied as an adjustment to equity on the date of adoption; when the latter approach is applied it is necessary to disclose the impact of IFRS 15 on each line item in the financial statements in the reporting period. The Group currently intends to reflect the cumulative impact of IFRS 15 in equity on the date of adoption. IFRS 9 “Financial Instruments” IFRS 9 “Financial Instruments” was issued in July 2014 to replace IAS 39 “Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement”. The standard is effective for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2018 with early adoption permitted but has not yet been endorsed for use in the EU. The standard will impact the classification and measurement of the Group’s financial instruments and will require certain additional disclosures. The changes to recognition and measurement of financial instruments and changes to hedge accounting rules are not currently considered likely to have any major impact on the Group’s current accounting treatment or hedging activities. The Group will not consider early adoption of IFRS 9 until the standard has been endorsed by the EU which is currently expected in the second half of 2016. IFRS 16 “Leases” IFRS 16 “Leases” was issued in January 2016 to replace IAS 17 “Leases”. The standard is effective for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2019 with early adoption permitted if IFRS 15 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” has been adopted. IFRS 16 has not yet been adopted by the EU. IFRS 16 will primarily change lease accounting for lessees; lease agreements will give rise to the recognition of an asset representing the right to use the leased item and a loan obligation for future lease payables. Lease costs will be recognised in the form of depreciation of the right to use asset and interest on the lease liability. Lessee accounting under IFRS 16 will be similar to existing IAS 17 accounting for finance leases, but will be substantively different for operating leases where rental charges are currently recognised on straight-line basis and no lease asset or lease loan obligation is recognised. Lessor accounting under IFRS 16 is similar to existing IAS 17 accounting. The Group is assessing the impact of the accounting changes that will arise under IFRS 16; however, the changes are expected to have a material impact on the consolidated income statement and consolidated statement of financial position. The Group has not yet decided whether to adopt IFRS 16 when IFRS 15 is adopted, on 1 April 2018, or on 1 April 2019. 95 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information

 


Table of Contents

 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements (continued) 2. Segmental analysis The Group’s businesses are managed on a geographical basis. Selected financial data is presented on this basis below. The Group’s operating segments are established on the basis of those components of the Group that are evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Group has a single group of related services and products, being the supply of communications services and products. Revenue is attributed to a country or region based on the location of the Group company reporting the revenue. Transactions between operating segments are charged at arm’s-length prices. Segment information is provided on the basis of geographic areas, being the basis on which the Group manages its worldwide interests, with each country in which the Group operates treated as an operating segment. The aggregation of operating segments into the Europe and AMAP regions reflects, in the opinion of management, the similar economic characteristics within each of those regions as well the similar products and services offered and supplied, classes of customers and the regulatory environment. In the case of the Europe region this largely reflects membership of the European Union, while for the AMAP region this largely includes emerging and developing economies that are in the process of rapid growth and industrialisation. Certain financial information is provided separately within the Europe region for Germany, Italy, the UK and Spain, and within the AMAP region for India and Vodacom, as these operating segments are individually material for the Group. During the year ended 31 March 2016, the Group amended its segmental reporting to reflect changes in the internal management of its Enterprise business. The primary change has been that on 1 April 2015, the Group redefined its segments to report international voice transit revenue and costs within common functions rather than within the results disclosed for each country and region. The results presented for the years ended 31 March 2015 and 31 March 2014 have been restated onto a comparable basis. There is no impact on total Group revenue or cost. Accounting policies Revenue Revenue is recognised to the extent the Group has delivered goods or rendered services under an agreement, the amount of revenue can be measured reliably and it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the Group. Revenue is measured at the fair value of the consideration receivable, exclusive of sales taxes and discounts. The Group principally obtains revenue from providing mobile and fixed telecommunication services including: access charges, voice and video calls, messaging, interconnect fees, fixed and mobile broadband and related services such as providing televisual and music content, connection fees and equipment sales. Products and services may be sold separately or in bundled packages. Revenue for access charges, voice and video calls, messaging and fixed and mobile broadband provided to contract customers is recognised as services are performed, with unbilled revenue resulting from services already provided accrued at the end of each period and unearned revenue from services to be provided in future periods deferred. Revenue from the sale of prepaid credit is deferred until such time as the customer uses the airtime, or the credit expires. Revenue from interconnect fees is recognised at the time the services are performed. Revenue for the provision of televisual and music content is recognised when or as the Group performs the related service and, depending on the nature of the service, is recognised either at the gross amount billed to the customer or the amount receivable by the Group as commission for facilitating the service. Customer connection revenue is recognised together with the related equipment revenue to the extent that the aggregate equipment and connection revenue does not exceed the fair value of the equipment delivered to the customer. Any customer connection revenue not recognised together with related equipment revenue is deferred and recognised over the period in which services are expected to be provided to the customer. Revenue for device sales is recognised when the device is delivered to the end customer and the significant risks and rewards of ownership have transferred. For device sales made to intermediaries, revenue is recognised if the significant risks associated with the device are transferred to the intermediary and the intermediary has no general right to return the device to receive a refund. If the significant risks are not transferred, revenue recognition is deferred until sale of the device to an end customer by the intermediary or the expiry of any right of return. In revenue arrangements including more than one deliverable, the arrangements are divided into separate units of accounting. Deliverables are considered separate units of accounting if the following two conditions are met: (i) the deliverable has value to the customer on a stand-alone basis and (ii) there is evidence of the fair value of the item. The arrangement consideration is allocated to each separate unit of accounting based on its relative fair value. Revenue allocated to deliverables is restricted to the amount that is receivable without the delivery of additional goods or services. This restriction typically applies to revenue recognised for devices provided to customers, including handsets. Commissions Intermediaries are given cash incentives by the Group to connect new customers and upgrade existing customers. For intermediaries who do not purchase products and services from the Group, such cash incentives are accounted for as an expense. Such cash incentives to other intermediaries are also accounted for as an expense if: a the Group receives an identifiable benefit in exchange for the cash incentive that is separable from sales transactions to that intermediary; and a the Group can reliably estimate the fair value of that benefit. Cash incentives that do not meet these criteria are recognised as a reduction of the related revenue. 96 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016

 


Table of Contents

 

Segmental revenue and profit Segment revenue £m Intra-region revenue £m Regional revenue £m Inter-region revenue £m Group revenue £m Adjusted EBITDA £m 31 March 2015 restated Germany 8,384 (16) 8,368 (22) 8,346 2,659 Italy 4,587 (13) 4,574 (1) 4,573 1,535 UK 6,199 (13) 6,186 (2) 6,184 1,345 Spain 3,614 (18) 3,596 (2) 3,594 782 Other Europe 4,993 (30) 4,963 (1) 4,962 1,573 Europe 27,777 (90) 27,687 (28) 27,659 7,894 India 4,309 (11) 4,298 (15) 4,283 1,282 Vodacom 4,341 – 4,341 – 4,341 1,527 Other AMAP 4,743 – 4,743 (10) 4,733 1,277 AMAP 13,393 (11) 13,382 (25) 13,357 4,086 Common Functions 1,257 – 1,257 (46) 1,211 (65) Group 42,427 (101) 42,326 (99) 42,227 11,915 31 March 2014 restated Germany 8,220 (9) 8,211 (11) 8,200 2,688 Italy 518 (1) 517 – 517 181 UK 6,248 (9) 6,239 (3) 6,236 1,398 Spain 3,471 (14) 3,457 (2) 3,455 786 Other Europe 5,514 (9) 5,505 (3) 5,502 1,735 Europe 23,971 (42) 23,929 (19) 23,910 6,788 India 3,939 – 3,939 (3) 3,936 1,135 Vodacom 4,718 – 4,718 – 4,718 1,716 Other AMAP 4,730 – 4,730 (9) 4,721 1,279 AMAP 13,387 – 13,387 (12) 13,375 4,130 Common Functions 1,065 – 1,065 (4) 1,061 166 Group 38,423 (42) 38,381 (35) 38,346 11,084 Discontinued operations Verizon Wireless 2 9,955 4,274 Notes: 1 With effect from 1 April 2015, Vodacom changed its accounting for the acquisition of handsets by certain customers through Vodacom SA’s indirect distribution channels. This had the effect of reducing equipment revenue and decreasing direct expenses, with no impact on profits or cash flows. The impact on prior years is not material. 2 Discontinued operations comprise our US group whose principal asset was a 45% interest in Verizon Wireless, which was sold on 21 February 2014. Refer to note 7 “Discontinued operations and assets held for sale” to the consolidated financial statements for further details. Total revenue recorded in respect of the sale of goods for the year ended 31 March 2016 was £3,269 million (2015: £3,211 million, 2014: £2,660 million). The Group’s measure of segment profit, adjusted EBITDA, excludes depreciation, amortisation, impairment loss, restructuring costs, loss on disposal of fixed assets, the Group’s share of results in associates and joint ventures and other income and expense. A reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to operating profit/(loss) is shown overleaf. For a reconciliation of operating profit/(loss) to profit for the financial year, see the consolidated income statement on page 87. 97 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information 31 March 2016 Germany 7,787(26) 7,761(7) 7,7542,537 Italy 4,405(15) 4,390(1) 4,3891,478 UK 6,173(13) 6,160(7) 6,1531,289 Spain 3,633(19) 3,614(1) 3,613915 Other Europe 4,835(42) 4,793(3) 4,7901,467 Europe 26,833(115)26,718(19)26,6997,686 India 4,516(9)4,507(14) 4,4931,331 Vodacom1 3,887–3,887–3,8871,484 Other AMAP 4,814–4,814(15) 4,7991,227 AMAP 13,217(9)13,208(29)13,179 4,042 Common Functions 1,160–1,160(65) 1,095(116) Group 41,210(124)41,086(113)40,97311,612

 


Table of Contents

 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements (continued) 2. Segmental analysis (continued) 2016 £m 2015 £m 2014 £m Segmental assets and cash flow Other expenditure on intangible assets £m Depreciation and amortisation £m Restated Operating free cash flow3 £m Non-current assets1 £m Capital expenditure2 £m Impairment loss £m 31 March 2015 Germany 19,521 2,003 3 2,574 – 992 Italy 6,938 1,105 95 1,334 – 542 UK 7,759 980 15 1,363 – 185 Spain 8,154 858 – 954 – (30) Other Europe 8,189 1,083 193 1,017 – 541 Europe 50,561 6,029 306 7,242 – 2,230 India 8,599 882 140 863 – 332 Vodacom 4,712 745 2 566 – 762 Other AMAP 4,915 919 35 900 – 398 AMAP 18,226 2,546 177 2,329 – 1,492 Common Functions 1,306 622 1 (6) – (859) Group 70,093 9,197 484 9,565 – 2,863 31 March 2014 Germany 22,780 1,312 3 2,036 4,900 1,695 Italy 7,984 180 – 164 – 251 UK 8,031 932 – 1,290 – 602 Spain 3,653 511 – 587 800 254 Other Europe 8,736 800 273 1,047 900 978 Europe 51,184 3,735 276 5,124 6,600 3,780 India 7,824 633 1,938 828 – 811 Vodacom 4,560 663 3 593 – 1,174 Other AMAP 4,850 711 11 932 – 605 AMAP 17,234 2,007 1,952 2,353 – 2,590 Common Functions 1,121 571 – 83 – 209 Group 69,539 6,313 2,228 7,560 6,600 6,579 Notes: 1 Comprises goodwill, other intangible assets and property, plant and equipment. 2 Includes additions to property, plant and equipment and computer software, reported within intangibles. Excludes licences and spectrum additions. 3 The Group’s measure of segment cash flow is reconciled to the closest equivalent GAAP measure cash generated by operations, on page 191. 98 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 31 March 2016 Germany 22,306 1,737 1,501 2,443– 651 Italy 7,748 1,123 170 1,223– 373 UK 7,508 890 103 1,393– 265 Spain 9,148 867 355 1,060– (111) Other Europe 5,984 1,015 6 1,004450 409 Europe 52,694 5,632 2,135 7,123450 1,587 India 11,115 812 2,731 937– 544 Vodacom 4,183 621 17 530– 792 Other AMAP 5,381 864 593 859– 385 AMAP 20,679 2,297 3,341 2,326– 1,721 Common Functions 1,477 670 – 49– (424) Group 74,850 8,599 5,476 9,498450 2,884 Adjusted EBITDA 11,612 11,91511,084 Depreciation, amortisation and loss on disposal of fixed assets (8,539) (8,345)(7,098) Share of results in associates and joint ventures 44 (63) 324 Adjusted operating profit 3,117 3,5074,310 Impairment loss (450) –(6,600) Restructuring costs (236) (157)(355) Amortisation of acquired customer based and brand intangible assets (979) (1,269)(551) Other income and expense (75) (114)(717) Operating profit/(loss) 1,377 1,967(3,913)

 


Table of Contents

 

3. Operating profit/(loss) Detailed below are the key amounts recognised in arriving at our operating profit/(loss) 2016 £m 2015 £m 2014 £m The total remuneration of the Group’s auditor, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and other member firms of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited, for services provided to the Group during the year ended 31 March 2016 is analysed below. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP was appointed as the Group’s auditor for the year ended 31 March 2015. Accordingly, comparative figures in the table below for the year ended 31 March 2014 are in respect of remuneration paid to the Group’s previous auditor, Deloitte LLP and other member firms of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited. 2016 £m 2015 £m 2014 £m Notes: 1 2 Relates to fees for statutory and regulatory filings. Amount for 2014 primarily arose from regulatory filings and shareholder documentation requirements in respect of the disposal of Verizon Wireless and the acquisition of the outstanding minority stake in Vodafone Italy. At the time of the Board decision to recommend PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the statutory auditor for the year ended 31 March 2015 in February 2014, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP were providing a range of services to the Group. All services that were prohibited by the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘SEC’) for a statutory auditor to provide, ceased by 31 March 2014. All engagements that are not prohibited by the SEC, but would not have met the Group’s own internal approval policy for non-audit services, ceased by 30 June 2014 to enable a transition to alternative suppliers, where required. These services had a value of approximately £3 million through to completion and are included in the table above. 3 99 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Parent company 2 21 Subsidiaries 10 108 Audit fees: 12 12 9 Audit-related fees1 1 11 Other assurance services2, 3 – 13 Tax fees3 – 2– Non-audit fees: 1 4 4 Total fees 13 16 13 Net foreign exchange (gains)/losses (2) 816 Depreciation of property, plant and equipment (note 11): Owned assets 5,189 5,0023,990 Leased assets 57 4448 Amortisation of intangible assets (note 10) 4,252 4,5193,522 Impairment of goodwill in subsidiaries, associates and joint arrangements (note 4) 450 –6,600 Staff costs (note 25) 4,411 4,1943,875 Operating lease rentals payable 2,315 2,3032,153 Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets 20 4985 Own costs capitalised attributable to the construction or acquisition of property, plant and equipment (562) (547)(455)

 


Table of Contents

 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements (continued) 4. Impairment losses Impairment occurs when the carrying value of assets is greater than the present value of the net cash flows they are expected to generate. We review the carrying value of assets for each country in which we operate at least annually. For further details of our impairment review process see “Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty” in note 1 “Basis of preparation” to the consolidated financial statements. Accounting policies Goodwill Goodwill is not subject to amortisation but is tested for impairment annually or whenever there is an indication that the asset may be impaired. For the purpose of impairment testing, assets are grouped at the lowest levels for which there are separately identifiable cash flows, known as cash-generating units. If the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit is less than the carrying amount of the unit, the impairment loss is allocated first to reduce the carrying amount of any goodwill allocated to the unit and then to the other assets of the unit pro-rata on the basis of the carrying amount of each asset in the unit. Impairment losses recognised for goodwill are not reversible in subsequent periods. The recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs to sell and value in use. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset for which the estimates of future cash flows have not been adjusted. The Group prepares and approves formal five year management plans for its operations, which are used in the value in use calculations. In certain developing markets the fifth year of the management plan may not be indicative of the long-term future performance as operations may not have reached maturity. For these operations, the Group may extend the plan data for an additional five year period. Property, plant and equipment and finite lived intangible assets At each reporting period date, the Group reviews the carrying amounts of its property, plant and equipment and finite lived intangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent, if any, of the impairment loss. Where it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount of an individual asset, the Group estimates the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs. If the recoverable amount of an asset or cash-generating unit is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of the asset or cash-generating unit is reduced to its recoverable amount and an impairment loss is recognised immediately in the income statement. Where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying amount of the asset or cash-generating unit is increased to the revised estimate of its recoverable amount, not to exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognised for the asset or cash-generating unit in prior years and an impairment loss reversal is recognised immediately in the income statement. Impairment losses Following our annual impairment review, the impairment charges recognised in the consolidated income statement within operating profit in respect of goodwill are stated below. The impairment losses were based on value in use calculations. 2016 £m 2015 £m 2014 £m Cash-generating unit Reportable segment Goodwill The remaining carrying value of goodwill at 31 March was as follows: 2016 £m 2015 £m 100 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Germany 9,867 9,019 Italy 2,889 2,641 Spain 3,015 2,755 15,771 14,415 Other 7,018 8,122 22,789 22,537 Germany Germany – –4,900 Spain Spain – –800 Portugal Other Europe – –500 Czech Republic Other Europe – –200 Romania Other Europe 450 –200 450 –6,600

 


Table of Contents

 

Key assumptions used in the value in use calculations The key assumptions used in determining the value in use are: Assumption How determined Budgeted adjusted EBITDA Budgeted adjusted EBITDA has been based on past experience adjusted for the following: a voice and messaging revenue is expected to benefit from increased usage from new customers, especially in emerging markets, the introduction of new services and traffic moving from fixed networks to mobile networks, though these factors will be offset by increased competitor activity, which may result in price declines, and the trend of falling termination and other regulated rates; a non-messaging data revenue is expected to continue to grow as the penetration of 3G (plus 4G where available) enabled devices and smartphones rise along with higher data bundle attachment rates, and new products and services are introduced; and a margins are expected to be impacted by negative factors such as the cost of acquiring and retaining customers in increasingly competitive markets and the expectation of further termination rate cuts by regulators and by positive factors such as the efficiencies expected from the implementation of Group initiatives. Budgeted capital expenditure The cash flow forecasts for capital expenditure are based on past experience and include the ongoing capital expenditure required to roll out networks in emerging markets, to provide voice and data products and services and to meet the population coverage requirements of certain of the Group’s licences. Capital expenditure includes cash outflows for the purchase of property, plant and equipment and computer software. Budgeted licence and spectrum payments The cash flow forecasts for licence and spectrum payments for each operating company for the initial five years include amounts for expected renewals and newly available spectrum. Beyond that period, a long-run cost of spectrum is assumed. Long-term growth rate For businesses where the five year management plans are used for the Group’s value in use calculations, a long-term growth rate into perpetuity has been determined as the lower of: a the nominal GDP rates for the country of operation; and a the long-term compound annual growth rate in adjusted EBITDA in years six to ten estimated by management. Pre-tax risk adjusted discount rate The discount rate applied to the cash flows of each of the Group’s operations is generally based on the risk free rate for ten year bonds issued by the government in the respective market. Where government bond rates contain a material component of credit risk, high quality local corporate bond rates may be used. These rates are adjusted for a risk premium to reflect both the increased risk of investing in equities and the systematic risk of the specific Group operating company. In making this adjustment, inputs required are the equity market risk premium (that is the required increased return required over and above a risk free rate by an investor who is investing in the market as a whole) and the risk adjustment, beta, applied to reflect the risk of the specific Group operating company relative to the market as a whole. In determining the risk adjusted discount rate, management has applied an adjustment for the systematic risk to each of the Group’s operations determined using an average of the betas of comparable listed mobile telecommunications companies and, where available and appropriate, across a specific territory. Management has used a forward-looking equity market risk premium that takes into consideration both studies by independent economists, the average equity market risk premium over the past ten years and the market risk premiums typically used by investment banks in evaluating acquisition proposals. Year ended 31 March 2016 During the year ended 31 March 2016 impairment charges of £450 million were recorded in respect of the Group’s investments in Romania. The impairment charge relates solely to goodwill. The recoverable amount of Romania is £0.7 billion. The impairment charges were driven by lower projected cash flows within the business plans resulting in our reassessment of expected future business performance in the light of the current trading environment. The table below shows key assumptions used in the value in use calculations. Assumptions used in value in use calculation Romania % Germany % Spain % Pre-tax risk adjusted discount rate 9.7 8.2 9.7 Long-term growth rate 1.0 0.5 1.5 Budgeted adjusted EBITDA1 (0.3) 3.1 8.8 Budgeted capital expenditure2 11.5–18.8 14.5–15.6 11.2–19.7 Notes: 1 Budgeted adjusted EBITDA is expressed as the compound annual growth rates in the initial five years for all cash-generating units of the plans used for impairment testing. 2 Budgeted capital expenditure, which excludes licences and spectrum, is expressed as the range of capital expenditure as a percentage of revenue in the initial five years for all cash-generating units of the plans used for impairment testing. 101 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information

 


Table of Contents

 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements (continued) 4. Impairment losses (continued) Sensitivity analysis Other than as disclosed below, management believes that no reasonably possible change in any of the above key assumptions would cause the carrying value of any cash-generating unit to materially exceed its recoverable amount. The estimated recoverable amounts of the Group’s operations in Romania, Germany and Spain are equal to, or not materially greater than, their carrying values; consequently, any adverse change in key assumptions would, in isolation, cause a further impairment loss to be recognised. The estimated recoverable amounts of the Group’s operations in Germany and Spain exceed their carrying values by £1.6 billion and £0.8 billion respectively. Change required for carrying value to equal the recoverable amount Germany pps Spain pps Pre-tax risk adjusted discount rate 0.5 0.6 Long-term growth rate (0.5) (0.8) Budgeted adjusted EBITDA1 (0.9) (1.2) Budgeted capital expenditure2 4.4 4.8 The changes in the following table to assumptions used in the impairment review would have, in isolation, led to an (increase)/decrease to the aggregate impairment loss recognised in the year ended 31 March 2016. Romania Increase by 2pps £bn Decrease by 2pps £bn Pre-tax risk adjusted discount rate (0.2) 0.3 Long-term growth rate 0.3 (0.1) Budgeted adjusted EBITDA1 0.2 (0.2) Budgeted capital expenditure2 – – Notes: 1 Budgeted adjusted EBITDA is expressed as the compound annual growth rates in the initial five years for all cash-generating units of the plans used for impairment testing. 2 Budgeted capital expenditure, which excludes licences and spectrum, is expressed as the range of capital expenditure as a percentage of revenue in the initial five years for all cash-generating units of the plans used for impairment testing. Year ended 31 March 2015 During the year ended 31 March 2015, no impairment charges were recorded in respect of the Group’s goodwill balances. The table below shows key assumptions used in the value in use calculations. Assumptions used in value in use calculation Germany % Italy % Spain % Pre-tax risk adjusted discount rate 8.2 10.5 9.8 Long-term growth rate 0.5 1.0 1.5 Budgeted adjusted EBITDA1 3.2 0.8 11.0 Budgeted capital expenditure2 11.6–21.7 12.5–25.6 11.5–23.3 Notes: 1 Budgeted adjusted EBITDA is expressed as the compound annual growth rates in the initial five years for all cash-generating units of the plans used for impairment testing. 2 Budgeted capital expenditure, which excludes licences and spectrum, is expressed as the range of capital expenditure as a percentage of revenue in the initial five years for all cash-generating units of the plans used for impairment testing. Sensitivity analysis Other than as disclosed below, management believed that no reasonably possible change in any of the above key assumptions would cause the carrying value of any cash-generating unit to materially exceed its recoverable amount. The estimated recoverable amounts of the Group’s operations in Germany, Italy and Spain exceeded their carrying values by £2.2 billion, £1.3 billion and £0.3 billion respectively. Change required for carrying value to equal the recoverable amount Germany pps Italy pps Spain pps Pre-tax risk adjusted discount rate 0.8 1.6 0.3 Long-term growth rate (0.9) (1.8) (0.3) Budgeted adjusted EBITDA1 (7.3) (7.5) (2.6) Budgeted capital expenditure2 2.1 2.9 0.7 Notes: 1 Budgeted adjusted EBITDA is expressed as the compound annual growth rates in the initial five years for all cash-generating units of the plans used for impairment testing. 2 Budgeted capital expenditure, which excludes licences and spectrum, is expressed as a percentage of revenue in the initial five years for all cash-generating units of the plans used for impairment testing. 102 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016

 


Table of Contents

 

Year ended 31 March 2014 During the year ended 31 March 2014 impairment charges of £4,900 million, £800 million, £500 million, £200 million and £200 million were recorded in respect of the Group’s investments in Germany, Spain, Portugal, Czech Republic and Romania respectively. The impairment charges related solely to goodwill. The recoverable amounts of Germany, Spain, Portugal, Czech Republic and Romania were £23.0 billion, £3.3 billion, £1.3 billion, £0.6 billion and £1.2 billion respectively. The impairment charges were driven by lower projected cash flows within the business plans resulting in our reassessment of expected future business performance in the light of current trading and economic conditions. The table below shows key assumptions used in the value in use calculations. Assumptions used in value in use calculation Germany % Italy % Spain % Portugal % Czech Republic % Romania % Greece % Pre-tax risk adjusted discount rate 7.7 10.5 9.9 11.1 8.0 11.0 24.3 Long-term growth rate 0.5 1.0 1.9 1.5 0.8 1.0 1.0 Budgeted adjusted EBITDA1 2.8 (2.2) (0.7) (0.8) (0.6) 1.7 4.7 Budgeted capital expenditure2 12.5–21.7 11.1–25.5 9.0–23.5 11.0–28.3 15.9–21.2 10.5–17.3 7.6–12.2 Notes: 1 Budgeted adjusted EBITDA is expressed as the compound annual growth rates in the initial five years for all cash-generating units of the plans used for impairment testing. 2 Budgeted capital expenditure, which excludes licences and spectrum, is expressed as the range of capital expenditure as a percentage of revenue in the initial five years for all cash-generating units of the plans used for impairment testing. Sensitivity analysis Other than as disclosed below, management believed that no reasonably possible change in any of the above key assumptions would cause the carrying value of any cash-generating unit to exceed its recoverable amount. The estimated recoverable amounts of the Group’s operations in Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania and Greece were equal to, or not materially greater than, their carrying values; consequently, any adverse change in key assumptions would, in isolation, have caused a further impairment loss to be recognised. The changes in the following table to assumptions used in the impairment review would, in isolation, have led to an (increase)/decrease to the aggregate impairment loss recognised in the year ended 31 March 2014. Germany Spain Portugal Increase by 2pps £bn Decrease by 2pps £bn Increase by 2pps £bn Decrease by 2pps £bn Increase by 2pps £bn Decrease by 2pps £bn Pre-tax risk adjusted discount rate (7.1) 4.9 (0.9) 0.8 (0.3) 0.4 Long-term growth rate 4.9 (5.2) 0.8 (0.8) 0.4 (0.2) Budgeted adjusted EBITDA1 0.8 (0.8) 0.2 (0.2) 0.1 (0.1) Budgeted capital expenditure2 (2.4) 2.4 (0.8) 0.8 (0.2) 0.2 Czech Republic Romania Increase by 2pps £bn Decrease by 2pps £bn Increase by 2pps £bn Decrease by 2pps £bn Pre-tax risk adjusted discount rate (0.2) 0.2 (0.2) 0.2 Long-term growth rate 0.2 (0.2) 0.2 (0.2) Budgeted adjusted EBITDA1 – – 0.1 (0.1) Budgeted capital expenditure2 – – – – Notes: 1 Budgeted adjusted EBITDA is expressed as the compound annual growth rates in the initial five years for all cash-generating units of the plans used for impairment testing. 2 Budgeted capital expenditure is expressed as a percentage of revenue in the initial five years for all cash-generating units of the plans used for impairment testing. 103 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information

 


Table of Contents

 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements (continued) 5. Investment income and financing costs Investment income comprises interest received from short-term investments, bank deposits, government bonds and results from foreign exchange contracts which are used to hedge net debt. Financing costs mainly arise from interest due on bonds and commercial paper issued, bank loans and the results of hedging transactions used to manage foreign exchange and interest rate movements. 2016 £m 2015 £m 2014 £m Notes: 1 Amounts for 2016 include net foreign exchange losses of £433 million (2015: £526 million gain; 2014: £21 million gain) arising from net foreign exchange movements on certain intercompany balances. The Group capitalised £179 million of interest expense in the year (2015: £142 million; 2014: £3 million) predominantly in relation to interest on India spectrum licence debt with a capitalisation rate of 10% (2015: 10%) Amounts for 2016 include net foreign exchange losses of £293 million (2015: £250 million; 2014: £201 million). Amounts for 2016 include an increase in provision for potential interest on tax issues. Amounts for 2015 and 2014 includes reductions of the provision for potential interest on tax issues. Includes amounts in relation to the Group’s arrangements with its non-controlling interests. 2 3 4 5 104 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Investment income: Available-for-sale investments: Dividends received – –10 Loans and receivables at amortised cost 293 324184 Fair value through the income statement (held for trading): Derivatives – foreign exchange contracts – –82 Other1 7 55970 300 883 346 Financing costs: Items in hedge relationships: Other loans 171 245265 Interest rate and cross currency interest rate swaps (96) (123)(196) Fair value hedging instrument (106) (461)386 Fair value of hedged item 125 418(363) Other financial liabilities held at amortised cost: Bank loans and overdrafts2 669 842557 Bonds and other loans3 767 677770 Interest charge/(credit) on settlement of tax issues4 15 (4) (15) Equity put rights and similar arrangements5 – 11143 Fair value through the income statement (held for trading): Derivatives – forward starting swaps and futures 146 1311 Other1 433 –6 2,124 1,7361,554 Net financing costs 1,824 853 1,208

 


Table of Contents

 

6. Taxation This note explains how our Group tax charge arises. The deferred tax section of the note also provides information on our expected future tax charges and sets out the tax assets held across the Group together with our view on whether or not we expect to be able to make use of these in the future. Accounting policies Income tax expense represents the sum of the current and deferred taxes. Current tax payable or recoverable is based on taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from profit as reported in the income statement because some items of income or expense are taxable or deductible in different years or may never be taxable or deductible. The Group’s liability for current tax is calculated using UK and foreign tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting period date. Deferred tax is the tax expected to be payable or recoverable in the future arising from temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial statements and the corresponding tax bases used in the computation of taxable profit. It is accounted for using the statement of financial position liability method. Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for all taxable temporary differences and deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that temporary differences or taxable profits will be available against which deductible temporary differences can be utilised. Such assets and liabilities are not recognised if the temporary difference arises from the initial recognition (other than in a business combination) of assets and liabilities in a transaction that affects neither the taxable profit nor the accounting profit. Deferred tax liabilities are not recognised to the extent they arise from the initial recognition of non-tax deductible goodwill. Deferred tax liabilities are recognised for taxable temporary differences arising on investments in subsidiaries and associates, and interests in joint arrangements, except where the Group is able to control the reversal of the temporary difference and it is probable that the temporary difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future. The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at each reporting period date and adjusted to reflect changes in the Group’s assessment that sufficient taxable profits will be available to allow all or part of the asset to be recovered. Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the period when the liability is settled or the asset realised, based on tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting period date. Tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally enforceable right to set off current tax assets against current tax liabilities and when they either relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority on either the same taxable entity or on different taxable entities which intend to settle the current tax assets and liabilities on a net basis. Tax is charged or credited to the income statement, except when it relates to items charged or credited to other comprehensive income or directly to equity, in which case the tax is recognised in other comprehensive income or in equity. Income tax expense 2016 £m 2015 £m 2014 £m Notes: 1 Relates to a claim under international conventions for the avoidance of double taxation. 2 The income statement tax charge includes tax relief on capitalised interest. UK operating profits are more than offset by statutory allowances for capital investment in the UK network and systems plus ongoing interest costs including those arising from the £6.8 billion of spectrum payments to the UK Government in 2000 and 2013. 105 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information United Kingdom corporation tax income/(expense): Current year1 (94) –– Adjustments in respect of prior years 49 1117 (45) 11 17 Overseas current tax expense: Current year 609 8463,114 Adjustments in respect of prior years (329) (149)(25) 280 697 3,089 Total current tax expense 235 708 3,106 Deferred tax on origination and reversal of temporary differences: United Kingdom deferred tax (20) (39) 57 Overseas deferred tax 3,154 (5,434)(19,745) Total deferred tax expense/(income) 3,134 (5,473)(19,688) Total income tax expense/(income)2 3,369 (4,765)(16,582)

 


Table of Contents

 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements (continued) 6. Taxation (continued) Tax on discontinued operations 2016 £m 2015 £m 2014 £m Tax (credited)/charged directly to other comprehensive income 2016 £m 2015 £m 2014 £m Tax (credited)/charged directly to equity 2016 £m 2015 £m 2014 £m Factors affecting the tax expense for the year The table below explains the differences between the expected tax expense at the UK statutory tax rate of 20% (2015: 21% and 2014: 23%), and the Group’s total tax expense for each year. 2016 £m 2015 £m 2014 £m Notes: 1 See commentary regarding deferred tax asset recognition in Luxembourg and Germany on page 108. 2 Amounts for 2014 include the US tax charge of £2,210 million on the rationalisation and reorganisation of non-US assets prior to the disposal of our interest in Verizon Wireless. 106 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Continuing (loss)/profit before tax as shown in the consolidated income statement (449) 1,095(5,270) Expected income tax (income)/expense at UK statutory tax rate (90) 230(1,212) Effect of different statutory tax rates of overseas jurisdictions 142 138(328) Impairment losses with no tax effect 90 –1,958 Disposal of Group investments – –211 Effect of taxation of associates and joint ventures, reported within profit before tax 21 2561 Derecognition/(recognition) of deferred tax assets for losses including Luxembourg and Germany1 1,001 (3,341)(19,318) Deferred tax charge/(credit) following revaluation of investments in Luxembourg1 2,277 (2,127) – Tax charge on rationalisation and re-organisation of non-US assets prior to VZW disposal2 – –1,365 Previously unrecognised temporary differences we expect to use in the future – (40) (164) Previously unrecognised temporary differences we used in the year (6) –– Current year temporary differences (including losses) that we currently do not expect to use 119 342215 Adjustments in respect of prior year tax liabilities (32) (245)(43) Restructuring and simplification of our Indian business (340) –– Impact of tax credits and irrecoverable taxes (43) 6637 Deferred tax on overseas earnings 14 384 Effect of current year changes in statutory tax rates on deferred tax balances 72 118158 Expenses not deductible for tax purposes 248 148210 Tax on income derived from discontinued operations – –418 Exclude taxation of associates and joint ventures (104) (117)(154) Income tax expense/(income) 3,369 (4,765)(16,582) Current tax (5) (4) 12 Deferred tax 2 (3) – Total tax (credited)/charged directly to equity (3) (7)12 Current tax (58) 2– Deferred tax 218 (267)23 Total tax charged/(credited) directly to other comprehensive income 160 (265)23 Tax (credit)/charge on profit from ordinary activities of discontinued operations – (57) 1,709 Total tax (credit)/charge on discontinued operations – (57)1,709

 


Table of Contents

 

Deferred tax Analysis of movements in the net deferred tax balance during the year: £m Deferred tax assets and liabilities, before offset of balances within countries, are as follows: Amount (charged)/ credited in income statement £m Net recognised deferred tax (liability)/ asset £m Gross deferred tax asset £m Gross deferred tax liability £m Less amounts unrecognised1 £m Note: 1 Other unrecognised temporary differences include £141 million relating to Minimum Alternative Tax credits in India, of which £47 million expire within 0–5 years and £94 million expire within 6–10 years. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are analysed in the statement of financial position, after offset of balances within countries, as follows: £m At 31 March 2015, deferred tax assets and liabilities, before offset of balances within countries, were as follows: Amount credited/ (charged) in income statement £m Net recognised deferred tax (liability)/ asset £m Gross deferred tax asset £m Gross deferred tax liability £m Less amounts unrecognised £m Accelerated tax depreciation 382 1,183 (1,355) (61) (233) Intangible assets 195 107 (1,704) 13 (1,584) Tax losses 4,866 28,080 – (4,430) 23,650 Deferred tax on overseas earnings (38) – (40) – (40) Other temporary differences 68 1,695 (94) (144) 1,457 31 March 2015 5,473 31,065 (3,193) (4,622) 23,250 At 31 March 2015 deferred tax assets and liabilities were analysed in the statement of financial position, after offset of balances within countries, as follows: £m Deferred tax asset 23,845 Deferred tax liability (595) 31 March 2015 23,250 Factors affecting the tax charge in future years The Group’s future tax charge, and effective tax rate, could be affected by several factors including; tax reform in countries around the world, including any arising from the implementation of the OECD’s BEPS actions and European Commission initiatives such as the proposed anti-tax avoidance directive, tax and financial reporting directive or as a consequence of state aid investigations, future corporate acquisitions and disposals, any restructuring of our businesses and the resolution of open tax issues (see below). The Group is routinely subject to audit by tax authorities in the territories in which it operates and, specifically, in India these are usually resolved through the Indian legal system. We consider each issue on its merits and, where appropriate, hold provisions in respect of the potential tax liability that may arise. However, the amount ultimately paid may differ materially from the amount accrued and could therefore affect the Group’s overall profitability and cash flows in future periods. See note 30 “Contingent liabilities and legal proceedings” to the consolidated financial statements. 107 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Deferred tax asset 22,382 Deferred tax liability (446) 31 March 2016 21,936 Accelerated tax depreciation 2431,264 (1,309)(37) (82) Intangible assets 2767 (1,610)12(1,531) Tax losses (3,588)26,929 –(4,828)22,101 Deferred tax on overseas earnings (14) – (53) –(53) Other temporary differences 1981,818 (98) (219)1,501 31 March 2016 (3,134)30,078 (3,070)(5,072)21,936 1 April 2015 23,250 Exchange movements 2,043 Charged to the income statement (continuing operations) (3,134) Charged directly to OCI (218) Charged directly to equity (2) Reclassifications 8 Arising on acquisition and disposals (11) 31 March 2016 21,936

 


Table of Contents

 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements (continued) 6. Taxation (continued) At 31 March 2016, the gross amount and expiry dates of losses available for carry forward are as follows: Expiring within 5 years £m Expiring within 6–10 years £m Unlimited £m Total £m At 31 March 2015, the gross amount and expiry dates of losses available for carry forward were as follows: Expiring within 5 years £m Expiring within 6–10 years £m Unlimited £m Total £m Losses for which a deferred tax asset is recognised 104 64 87,246 87,414 Losses for which no deferred tax is recognised 1,124 543 16,084 17,751 1,228 607 103,330 105,165 Deferred tax assets on losses in Luxembourg Included in the table above are losses of £64,186 million (2015: £70,576 million) that have arisen in Luxembourg companies, principally as a result of revaluations of those companies’ investments for local GAAP purposes. These losses do not expire. A deferred tax asset of £18,931 million (2015: £20,755 million) has been recognised in respect of these losses as we conclude it is probable that the Luxembourg entities will continue to generate taxable profits in the future against which we can utilise these losses. The Luxembourg companies’ income is derived from the Group’s internal financing and procurement and roaming activities. The Group has reviewed the latest forecasts for the Luxembourg companies, including their ability to continue to generate income beyond the forecast period under the tax laws substantively enacted at the balance sheet date. The assessment also considered whether the structure of the Group would continue to allow the generation of taxable income. Based on this the Group concludes that it is probable that the Luxembourg companies will continue to generate taxable income in the future. Based on the current forecasts the losses will be fully utilised over the next 50 to 60 years. A 5%–10% change in the forecast income in Luxembourg would change the period over which the losses will be fully utilised by 2–6 years. Any future changes in tax law or the structure of the Group could have a significant effect on the use of losses, including the period over which the losses are utilised. In February 2016 the Luxembourg Government announced their intention to reduce the corporate tax rate (including municipal business tax) to 27.1% for the year ending 31 March 2017 and 26.1% for the year ending 31 March 2018. The announced decrease in the corporate tax rate would reduce the value of our deferred tax assets by approximately £2.1 billion. During the current year we utilised £2,277 million of our deferred tax asset as a result of the revaluation of investments based upon the local GAAP financial statements at 31 March 2016 (2015: recognition of an additional asset of £2,127 million). The revaluation of investments for local GAAP purposes, which are based on the Group’s value in use calculations, can give rise to impairments or the reversal of previous impairments. These can result in a significant change to our deferred tax assets and the period over which these assets will be utilised. During the year the Group de-recognised a deferred tax asset of £930 million relating to losses in Luxembourg as a result of the absence of complete clarity on the tax treatment of certain revaluations of investments for Luxembourg GAAP purposes, combined with the length of time which would be likely to elapse before these losses would be utilised. We also have £7,642 million (2015: £7,642 million) of Luxembourg losses in a former Cable & Wireless Worldwide Group company, for which no deferred tax asset has been recognised as it is uncertain whether these losses will be utilised. Deferred tax assets on losses in Germany The Group has tax losses of £14,597 million (2015: £13,600 million) in Germany arising on the write down of investments in Germany in 2000. The losses are available to use against both German federal and trade tax liabilities and they do not expire. A deferred tax asset of £2,260 million (2015: £2,086 million) has been recognised in respect of these losses as we conclude it is probable that the German business will continue to generate taxable profits in the future against which we can utilise these losses. The Group has reviewed the latest forecasts for the German business which incorporate the unsystematic risks of operating in the telecommunications business (see pages 22 to 28). In the period beyond the 5 year forecast we have reviewed the profits inherent in the terminal period and based on these and our expectations for the German business we believe it is probable the German losses will be fully utilised. Based on the current forecasts the losses will be fully utilised over the next 10 to 15 years. A 5%–10% change in the forecast profits of the German business would change the period over which the losses will be fully utilised by one year. Deferred tax assets on losses in Spain During the 2015 year end, the Group acquired Grupo Corporativo Ono S.A. which had tax losses of £2,375 million in Spain and which are available to offset against the future profits of the Spanish business. The losses do not expire. A deferred tax asset of £673 million (2015: £603 million) has been recognised in respect of Ono’s losses as we conclude it is probable that the Spanish business will continue to generate taxable profits in the future against which we can utilise these losses. The Group has reviewed the latest forecasts for the Spanish business which incorporate the unsystematic risks of operating in the telecommunications business (see pages 22 to 28). In the period beyond the 5 year forecast we have reviewed the profits inherent in the value in use calculations and based on these and our expectations for the Spanish business we believe it is probable the losses will be fully utilised. Based on the current forecasts the losses will be fully utilised over the next 8 to 10 years. A 5%–10% change in the forecast profits of the Spanish business would not significantly alter the utilisation period. 108 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Losses for which a deferred tax asset is recognised 564482,63082,730 Losses for which no deferred tax is recognised 27851 18,88719,216 334 95 101,517101,946

 


Table of Contents

 

Other tax losses The Group has losses amounting to £6,724 million (2015: £6,735 million) in respect of UK subsidiaries which are only available for offset against future capital gains and since it is uncertain whether these losses will be utilised, no deferred tax asset has been recognised, in line with the prior year. The remaining losses relate to a number of other jurisdictions across the Group. There are also £384 million (2015: £310 million) of unrecognised other temporary differences. The Group holds a deferred tax liability of £53 million (2015: £40 million) in respect of deferred taxation that would arise if temporary differences on investments in subsidiaries, associates and interests in joint ventures were to be realised after the balance sheet date (see table above). No deferred tax liability has been recognised in respect of a further £14,106 million (2015: £14,925 million) of unremitted earnings of subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures because the Group is in a position to control the timing of the reversal of the temporary difference and it is probable that such differences will not reverse in the foreseeable future. It is not practicable to estimate the amount of unrecognised deferred tax liabilities in respect of these unremitted earnings. 7. Discontinued operations and assets held for sale Discontinued operations On 21 February 2014 we completed the sale of our US group whose principal asset was its 45% interest in Verizon Wireless. The results of these discontinued operations are detailed below. Income statement and segment analysis of discontinued operations 2016 £m 2015 £m 2014 £m Gain on disposal of discontinued operations 2016 £m 2015 £m 2014 £m Note: 1 Includes dividends received from Verizon Wireless after the date of the announcement of the disposal. Profit for the financial year from discontinued operations 2016 £m 2015 £m 2014 £m Earnings per share from discontinued operations 2016 Pence per share 2015 Pence per share 2014 Pence per share Total comprehensive income for the financial year from discontinued operations 2016 £m 2015 £m 2014 £m Cash flows from discontinued operations1 2016 £m 2015 £m 2014 £m Note: 1 During the year ended 31 March 2015, the Group received a final tax distribution from Verizon Wireless of £359 million and a taxation refund of £84 million in relation to our disposed US Group. 109 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Net cash flows from operating activities – –(2,617) Net cash flows from investing activities – –4,830 Net cash flows from financing activities – –(2,225) Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents – –(12) Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the financial year – –– Exchange gain on cash and cash equivalents – –12 Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the financial year – –– Attributable to owners of the parent – 57 48,108 – Basic – 0.22p 181.74p – Diluted – 0.21p 180.30p Profit for the financial year from discontinued operations – 571,509 Net gain on disposal of discontinued operations – –46,599 Profit for the financial year from discontinued operations – 57 48,108 Gain on disposal of discontinued operations before taxation (see note 28) – –44,996 Other items arising from the disposal1 – –1,603 Net gain on disposal of discontinued operations – –46,599 Share of result in associates – –3,191 Net financing income – –27 Profit before taxation – –3,218 Taxation relating to performance of discontinued operations – 57(1,709) Post-tax profit from discontinued operations – 57 1,509

 


Table of Contents

 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements (continued) 7. Discontinued operations and assets held for sale (continued) Assets held for sale On 15 February 2016 the Group agreed with Liberty Global Europe Holding B.V. to merge operations in the Netherlands as a 50:50 joint venture. As a part of the agreement, Vodafone agreed to pay cash consideration totalling €1 billion to equalise ownership in the joint venture. Assets and liabilities relating to our operations in the Netherlands have been classed as held for sale on the Statement of Financial Position. The relevant assets and liabilities are detailed in the table below. Assets and liabilities held for sale 2016 £m 110 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Non-current assets Goodwill 680 Other intangible assets 1,099 Plant, property and equipment 847 Trade and other receivables 27 2,653 Current assets Inventory 25 Taxation recoverable 6 Trade and other receivables 193 Cash and cash equivalents 14 238 Total assets held for sale 2,891 Non-current liabilities Deferred tax liabilities 6 Provisions for liabilities and charges 14 20 Current liabilities Provisions for liabilities and charges 4 Trade and other payables 322 326 Total liabilities held for sale 346

 


Table of Contents

 

8. Earnings per share Basic earnings per share is the amount of profit generated for the financial year attributable to equity shareholders divided by the weighted average number of shares in issue during the year. 2016 Millions 2015 Millions 2014 Millions 2016 £m 2015 £m 2014 £m On 19 February 2014, we announced a “6 for 11” share consolidation effective 24 February 2014. This had the effect of reducing the number of shares in issue from 52,821,751,216 ordinary shares (including 4,351,833,492 ordinary shares held in Treasury) as at the close of business on 18 February 2014 to 28,811,864,298 new ordinary shares in issue immediately after the share consolidation on 24 February 2014. 9. Equity dividends Dividends are one type of shareholder return, historically paid to our shareholders in February and August. 2016 £m 2015 £m 2014 £m On 2 September 2013 Vodafone announced that it had reached agreement to dispose of its US group whose principal asset was its 45% interest in Verizon Wireless (‘VZW’) to Verizon Communications Inc. (‘Verizon’), for a total consideration of US$130 billion (£79 billion). At a General Meeting of the Company on 28 January 2014, shareholders approved the transactions and following completion on 21 February 2014, Vodafone shareholders received all of the Verizon shares and US$23.9 billion (£14.3 billion) of cash (the ‘Return of Value’) totalling US$85.2 billion (£51.0 billion). The Return of Value was carried out in the form of a B share scheme pursuant to a Court-approved scheme of arrangement and associated reduction of capital (the ‘Scheme’). The Scheme provided shareholders (other than shareholders in the United States and certain other jurisdictions) with the flexibility to receive their proceeds as either an income or capital return. Under the Scheme, Vodafone shareholders were issued unlisted, non-voting bonus shares, which were shortly thereafter either cancelled in consideration of the relevant amount of Verizon shares and cash or the holders received the relevant amount of Verizon shares and cash in satisfaction of a special distribution on the bonus shares, depending on shareholder elections and subject to applicable securities laws. 111 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Declared during the financial year: Final dividend for the year ended 31 March 2015: 7.62 pence per share (2014: 7.47 pence per share, 2013: 6.92 pence per share) 2,020 1,9753,365 Interim dividend for the year ended 31 March 2016: 3.68 pence per share (2015: 3.60 pence per share, 2014: 3.53 pence per share) 978 9551,711 Special dividend for the year ended 31 March 2016: nil (2015: nil, 2014: 172.94 US cents per share – see below) – –35,490 2,998 2,93040,566 Proposed after the end of the reporting period and not recognised as a liability: Final dividend for the year ended 31 March 2016: 7.77 pence per share (2015: 7.62 pence per share, 2014: 7.47 pence per share) 2,064 2,0201,975 Basic (loss)/earnings per share (15.08)p 21.75p 223.84p Diluted (loss)/earnings per share (15.08)p 21.63p 222.07p (Loss)/earnings for basic and diluted earnings per share (4,024) 5,76159,254 Weighted average number of shares for basic earnings per share 26,692 26,48926,472 Effect of dilutive potential shares: restricted shares and share options – 140210 Weighted average number of shares for diluted earnings per share 26,692 26,62926,682

 


Table of Contents

 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements (continued) 10. Intangible assets Our statement of financial position contains significant intangible assets, mainly in relation to goodwill and licences and spectrum. Goodwill, which arises when we acquire a business and pay a higher amount than the fair value of its net assets primarily due to the synergies we expect to create, is not amortised but is subject to annual impairment reviews. Licences and spectrum are amortised over the life of the licence. For further details see “Critical accounting judgements” in note 1 “Basis of preparation” to the consolidated financial statements. Accounting policies Identifiable intangible assets are recognised when the Group controls the asset, it is probable that future economic benefits attributed to the asset will flow to the Group and the cost of the asset can be reliably measured. Goodwill Goodwill arising on the acquisition of an entity represents the excess of the cost of acquisition over the Group’s interest in the net fair value of the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities of the entity recognised at the date of acquisition. Goodwill is initially recognised as an asset at cost and is subsequently measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses. Goodwill is not subject to amortisation but is tested for impairment or whenever there is evidence that it may be required. Goodwill is denominated in the currency of the acquired entity and revalued to the closing exchange rate at each reporting period date. Negative goodwill arising on an acquisition is recognised directly in the income statement. On disposal of a subsidiary or a jointly controlled entity, the attributable amount of goodwill is included in the determination of the profit or loss recognised in the income statement on disposal. Goodwill arising before the date of transition to IFRS, on 1 April 2004, has been retained at the previous UK GAAP amounts, subject to being tested for impairment at that date. Goodwill written off to reserves under UK GAAP prior to 1998 has not been reinstated and is not included in determining any subsequent profit or loss on disposal. Finite lived intangible assets Intangible assets with finite lives are stated at acquisition or development cost, less accumulated amortisation. The amortisation period and method is reviewed at least annually. Changes in the expected useful life or the expected pattern of consumption of future economic benefits embodied in the asset are accounted for by changing the amortisation period or method, as appropriate, and are treated as changes in accounting estimates. Licence and spectrum fees Amortisation periods for licence and spectrum fees are determined primarily by reference to the unexpired licence period, the conditions for licence renewal and whether licences are dependent on specific technologies. Amortisation is charged to the income statement on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives from the commencement of related network services. Computer software Computer software comprises computer software purchased from third parties as well as the cost of internally developed software. Computer software licences are capitalised on the basis of the costs incurred to acquire and bring into use the specific software. Costs that are directly associated with the production of identifiable and unique software products controlled by the Group, and are probable of producing future economic benefits, are recognised as intangible assets. Direct costs of software development include employee costs and directly attributable overheads. Software integral to an item of hardware equipment is classified as property, plant and equipment. Costs associated with maintaining computer software programs are recognised as an expense when they are incurred. Internally developed software is recognised only if all of the following conditions are met: a an asset is created that can be separately identified; a it is probable that the asset created will generate future economic benefits; and a the development cost of the asset can be measured reliably. Amortisation is charged to the income statement on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life from the date the software is available for use. Other intangible assets Other intangible assets, including brands and customer bases, are recorded at fair value at the date of acquisition. Amortisation is charged to the income statement, over the estimated useful lives of intangible assets from the date they are available for use, on a straight-line basis, with the exception of customer relationships which are amortised on a sum of digits basis. The amortisation basis adopted for each class of intangible asset reflects the Group’s consumption of the economic benefit from that asset. 112 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016

 


Table of Contents

 

Estimated useful lives The estimated useful lives of finite lived intangible assets are as follows: a Licence and spectrum fees 3–25 years a Computer software 3–5 years a Brands 1–10 years a Customer bases 2–10 years Licences and spectrum £m Computer software £m Goodwill £m Other £m Total £m Cost: 1 April 2014 77,121 30,592 10,212 5,332 123,257 Exchange movements (8,756) (1,235) (1,036) (542) (11,569) Arising on acquisition 1,634 – 48 905 2,587 Additions – 467 1,844 17 2,328 Disposals – – (464) (12) (476) Other – (20) 11 – (9) 31 March 2015 69,999 29,804 10,615 5,700 116,118 Accumulated impairment losses and amortisation: 1 April 2014 53,806 13,420 6,864 2,479 76,569 Exchange movements (6,344) (717) (707) (234) (8,002) Amortisation charge for the year – 1,751 1,491 1,277 4,519 Disposals – – (454) (12) (466) Other – – 8 – 8 31 March 2015 47,462 14,454 7,202 3,510 72,628 Net book value: 31 March 2015 22,537 15,350 3,413 2,190 43,490 Note: 1 Disposals of licences and spectrum comprise the removal of fully amortised assets that have expired. For licences and spectrum and other intangible assets, amortisation is included within the cost of sales line within the consolidated income statement. Licences and spectrum with a net book value of £1,124 million (2015: £2,059 million) have been pledged as security against borrowings. The net book value and expiry dates of the most significant licences are as follows: 2016 £m 2015 £m Expiry date The remaining amortisation period for each of the licences in the table above corresponds to the expiry date of the respective licence. A summary of the Group’s most significant spectrum licences can be found on pages 187 and 188. 113 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Germany 2016/2020/2025/2033 4,267 2,843 Italy 2018/2021/2029 1,262 1,094 UK 2023/2033 2,779 3,050 India 2016–2035 6,437 3,994 Qatar 2028/2029 942 987 Netherlands 2020/2029/2030 932 940 31 March 2016 22,789 18,8543,7971,32846,768 Exchange movements 4,078 467 481 735,099 Amortisation charge for the year – 1,707 1,559 9864,252 Impairment losses (note 4) 450 – – –450 Disposals – (2,362)1 (410) (2) (2,774) Transfer of assets held for resale – (722) (209) (7) (938) Other – – 17 –17 31 March 2016 51,990 13,544 8,640 4,56078,734 Exchange movements 5,443 1,136 688 1627,429 Arising on acquisition 17 – 5 2749 Additions – 5,474 1,850 107,334 Disposal – (2,362)1 (445) (2) (2,809) Transfer of assets held for resale (680) (1,654) (374) (9)(2,717) Other – – 98 –98 31 March 2016 74,779 32,398 12,437 5,888125,502

 


Table of Contents

 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements (continued) 11. Property, plant and equipment We make significant investments in network equipment and infrastructure – the base stations and technology required to operate our networks – that form the majority of our tangible assets. All assets are depreciated over their useful economic lives. For further details on the estimation of useful economic lives, see “Critical accounting judgements” in note 1 “Basis of preparation” to the consolidated financial statements. Accounting policies Land and buildings held for use are stated in the statement of financial position at their cost, less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. Amounts for equipment, fixtures and fittings, which includes network infrastructure assets and which together comprise an all but insignificant amount of the Group’s property, plant and equipment, are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. Assets in the course of construction are carried at cost, less any recognised impairment losses. Depreciation of these assets commences when the assets are ready for their intended use. The cost of property, plant and equipment includes directly attributable incremental costs incurred in their acquisition and installation. Depreciation is charged so as to write off the cost of assets, other than land, using the straight-line method, over their estimated useful lives, as follows: Land and buildings a Freehold buildings 25–50 years a Leasehold premises the term of the lease Equipment, fixtures and fittings a Network infrastructure and other 1–35 years Depreciation is not provided on freehold land. Assets held under finance leases are depreciated over their expected useful lives on the same basis as owned assets or, where shorter, the term of the relevant lease. The gain or loss arising on the disposal or retirement of an item of property, plant and equipment is determined as the difference between any sale proceeds and the carrying amount of the asset and is recognised in the income statement. 114 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016

 


Table of Contents

 

Equipment, fixtures and fittings £m Land and buildings £m Total £m Cost: 1 April 2014 1,646 48,563 50,209 Exchange movements (117) (4,107) (4,224) Arising on acquisition 7 3,443 3,450 Additions 172 7,181 7,353 Disposals (52) (1,664) (1,716) Other 13 14 27 31 March 2015 1,669 53,430 55,099 Accumulated depreciation and impairment: 1 April 2015 732 26,626 27,358 Exchange movements (62) (2,296) (2,358) Charge for the year 118 4,928 5,046 Disposals (24) (1,550) (1,574) Other (10) 34 24 31 March 2015 754 27,742 28,496 Net book value: 31 March 2015 915 25,688 26,603 The net book value of land and buildings and equipment, fixtures and fittings includes £27 million and £592 million respectively (2015: £24 million and £468 million) in relation to assets held under finance leases. Included in the net book value of land and buildings and equipment, fixtures and fittings are assets in the course of construction, which are not depreciated, with a cost of £26 million and £1,527 million respectively (2015: £85 million and £1,705 million). Property, plant and equipment with a net book value of £nil (2015: £nil) has been pledged as security against borrowings. 115 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information 31 March 2016 990 27,09228,082 Exchange movements 311,3751,406 Charge for the year 1315,1155,246 Disposals (26) (1,488)(1,514) Transfer of assets held for resale (2) (922)(924) Other 14(18) (4) 31 March 2016 902 31,80432,706 Exchange movements 332.3822,415 Additions 1336,6086,741 Disposals (37) (1,583)(1,620) Transfer of assets held for resale (2) (1,769)(1,771) Other 96(172)(76) 31 March 2016 1,89258,89660,788

 


Table of Contents

 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements (continued) 12. Investments in associates and joint arrangements We hold interests in several associates where we have significant influence, with the most significant being Safaricom Limited following the disposal of Verizon Wireless on 21 February 2014 as well as interests in a number of joint arrangements where we share control with one or more third parties. For further details see “Critical accounting judgements” in note 1 “Basis of preparation” to the consolidated financial statements. Accounting policies Interests in joint arrangements A joint arrangement is a contractual arrangement whereby the Group and other parties undertake an economic activity that is subject to joint control; that is, when the relevant activities that significantly affect the investee’s returns require the unanimous consent of the parties sharing control. Joint arrangements are either joint operations or joint ventures. Joint operations A joint operation is a joint arrangement whereby the parties that have joint control have the rights to the assets, and obligations for the liabilities, relating to the arrangement or that other facts and circumstances indicate that this is the case. The Group’s share of assets, liabilities, revenue, expenses and cash flows are combined with the equivalent items in the financial statements on a line-by-line basis. Any goodwill arising on the acquisition of the Group’s interest in a jointly controlled entity is accounted for in accordance with the Group’s accounting policy for goodwill arising on the acquisition of a subsidiary. Joint ventures A joint venture is a joint arrangement whereby the parties that have joint control have the rights to the net assets of the arrangement. At the date of acquisition, any excess of the cost of acquisition over the Group’s share of the net fair value of the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities of the joint venture is recognised as goodwill. The goodwill is included within the carrying amount of the investment. The results and assets and liabilities of joint ventures are incorporated in the consolidated financial statements using the equity method of accounting. Under the equity method, investments in joint ventures are carried in the consolidated statement of financial position at cost as adjusted for post-acquisition changes in the Group’s share of the net assets of the joint venture, less any impairment in the value of the investment. The Group’s share of post-tax profits or losses are recognised in the consolidated income statement. Losses of a joint venture in excess of the Group’s interest in that joint venture are recognised only to the extent that the Group has incurred legal or constructive obligations or made payments on behalf of the joint venture. Associates An associate is an entity over which the Group has significant influence and that is neither a subsidiary nor an interest in a joint venture. Significant influence is the power to participate in the financial and operating policy decisions of the investee but do not have control or joint control over those policies. At the date of acquisition, any excess of the cost of acquisition over the Group’s share of the net fair value of the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities of the associate is recognised as goodwill. The goodwill is included within the carrying amount of the investment. The results and assets and liabilities of associates are incorporated in the consolidated financial statements using the equity method of accounting. Under the equity method, investments in associates are carried in the consolidated statement of financial position at cost as adjusted for post-acquisition changes in the Group’s share of the net assets of the associate, less any impairment in the value of the investment. The Group’s share of post-tax profits or losses are recognised in the consolidated income statement. Losses of an associate in excess of the Group’s interest in that associate are recognised only to the extent that the Group has incurred legal or constructive obligations or made payments on behalf of the associate. Joint operations The Company’s principal joint operation has share capital consisting solely of ordinary shares and is indirectly held, and principally operates in the UK. The financial and operating activities of the operation are jointly controlled by the participating shareholders and are primarily designed for all but an insignificant amount of the output to be consumed by the shareholders. Country of incorporation or registration Percentage1 shareholdings Name of joint operation Principal activity Cornerstone Telecommunications Infrastructure Limited Network infrastructure UK 50.0 Note: 1 Effective ownership percentages of Vodafone Group Plc at 31 March 2016 rounded to the nearest tenth of one percent. 116 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016

 


Table of Contents

 

Joint ventures and associates 2016 £m 2015 £m Joint ventures The financial and operating activities of the Group’s joint ventures are jointly controlled by the participating shareholders. The participating shareholders have rights to the net assets of the joint ventures though their equity shareholdings. Unless otherwise stated, the Company’s principal joint ventures all have share capital consisting solely of ordinary shares and are all indirectly held. The country of incorporation or registration of all joint ventures is also their principal place of operation. Country of incorporation or registration Percentage1 shareholdings Name of joint venture Principal activity Indus Towers Limited2 Network infrastructure India 42.0 Vodafone Hutchison Australia Pty Limited3 Network operator Australia 50.0 Notes: 1 Effective ownership percentages of Vodafone Group Plc at 31 March 2016 rounded to the nearest tenth of one percent. 2 42% of Indus Towers Limited is held by Vodafone India Limited (‘VIL’). 3 Vodafone Hutchison Australia Pty Limited has a year end of 31 December. Joint ventures included the results of the Vodafone Omnitel B.V. until 21 February 2014. On 21 February 2014 the Group acquired the remaining 23.1% interest upon which date the results of the wholly-acquired entity were consolidated in the Group’s financial statements. The following table provides aggregated financial information for the Group’s joint ventures as it relates to the amounts recognised in the income statement, statement of comprehensive income and statement of financial position. (Loss)/profit from continuing operations Other comprehensive income Total comprehensive (expense)/income Investment in joint ventures 2016 £m 2015 £m 2014 £m 2016 £m 2015 £m 2014 £m 2016 £m 2015 £m 2014 £m 2016 £m 2015 £m 2014 £m Note: 1 Prior to 21 February 2014 the other participating shareholder held substantive veto rights such that the Group did not unilaterally control the financial and operating policies of Vodafone Omnitel B.V. The summarised financial information for each of the Group’s material equity accounted joint ventures on a 100% ownership basis is set out below. Vodafone Hutchison Australia Pty Limited Vodafone Omnitel B.V.1 Indus Towers Limited 2016 £m 2015 £m 2014 £m 2016 £m 2015 £m 2014 £m 2016 £m 2015 £m 2014 £m Note: 1 Prior to 21 February 2014 the other participating shareholder held substantive veto rights such that the Group did not unilaterally control the financial and operating policies of Vodafone Omnitel B.V. The Group did not receive a dividend in the year to 31 March 2016 (2015: £166 million; 2014: £26 million) from Indus Towers Limited. 117 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Income statement and statement of comprehensive income Revenue – – 4,931 1,669 1,580 1,547 1,722 1,838 2,032 Depreciation and amortisation – –(937) (358) (407)(507) (379) (415)(423) Interest income – –1 7 2920 2 210 Interest expense – –(15) (62) (75) (124) (197) (228)(212) Income tax (expense)/income – –(174) (137) (182)39 – –1 Profit or loss from continuing operations – –339 176 4451 (225) (320)(132) Other comprehensive (expense)/income – –– – –– (1) 2– Total comprehensive income/(expense) – –339 176 4451 (226) (318)(132) Statement of financial position Non-current assets – – 1,494 1,482 2,119 2,285 Current assets – – 239 278 395 424 Non-current liabilities – – (519) (686) (2,591) (3,473) Current liabilities – – (461) (487) (1,735) (743) Equity shareholders’ funds – – (753) (587) 1,812 1,507 Cash and cash equivalents within current assets – – 37 6 123 90 Non-current liabilities excluding trade and other payables and provisions – – (301) (481) (2,532) (3,325) Current liabilities excluding trade and other payables and provisions – – (170) (188) (1,152) (90) Vodafone Omnitel B.V.1 – –– – –261 – –– – –261 Indus Towers Limited 316 247373 74 1821 – –– 74 1821 Vodafone Hutchison Australia Pty Limited (816) (667)(559) (112) (160)(66) (1) 1– (113) (159) (66) Other 62 8928 (29) (9)5 – –– (29) (9)5 Total (438) (331) (158) (67) (151)221 (1) 1 – (68) (150)221 Investment in joint ventures (438) (331) Investment in associates 356 328 31 March (82) (3)

 


Table of Contents

 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements (continued) 12. Investments in associates and joint arrangements (continued) Associates Unless otherwise stated, the Company’s principal associates all have share capital consisting solely of ordinary shares and are all indirectly held. The country of incorporation or registration of all associates is also their principal place of operation. Country of incorporation or registration Percentage1 shareholdings Name of associate Principal activity Safaricom Limited2,3 Network operator Kenya 40.0 Notes: 1 Effective ownership percentages of Vodafone Group Plc at 31 March 2016 rounded to the nearest tenth of one percent. 2 The Group also holds two non-voting shares. 3 At 31 March 2016 the fair value of Safaricom Limited was KES 270 billion (£1,851 million) based on the closing quoted share price on the Nairobi Stock Exchange. On 21 February 2014 the Group disposed of its 45% interest in Cellco Partnership which traded under the name Verizon Wireless. Results from discontinued operations are disclosed in note 7 “Discontinued operations and assets held for resale” to the consolidated financial statements. The Group received £4,828 million of dividends in the year to 31 March 2014 from Cellco Partnership. The following table provides aggregated financial information for the Group’s associates as it relates to the amounts recognised in the income statement, statement of comprehensive income and consolidated statement of financial position. Profit from continuing operations Other comprehensive expense Total comprehensive expense Investment in associates 2016 £m 2015 £m 2014 £m 2016 £m 2015 £m 2014 £m 2016 £m 2015 £m 2014 £m 2016 £m 20152014 £m £m The summarised financial information for the Group’s former material equity accounted associate on a 100% ownership basis is set out below. Cellco Partnership 2016 £m 2015 £m 2014 £m 118 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Income statement and statement of comprehensive income Revenue – – 22,122 Depreciation and amortisation – –(2,186) Interest income – –1 Interest expense – –(38) Income tax (expense)/income – –(111) Post-tax profit from discontinued operations – –7,092 Other comprehensive expense – –(2) Total comprehensive income – –7,090 Statement of financial position Non-current assets – – Current assets – – Non-current liabilities – – Current liabilities – – Equity shareholders’ funds – – Cash and cash equivalents within current assets – – Non-current liabilities excluding trade and other payables and provisions – – Current liabilities excluding trade and other payables and provisions – – Cellco Partnership – –– – –– – –(1) – –3,190 Other 356 328272 111 8857 – –– 111 8857 Total 356 328 272 111 88 57 – –(1) 111 88 3,247

 


Table of Contents

 

13. Other investments We hold a number of other listed and unlisted investments, mainly comprising US$5.0 billion of loan notes from Verizon Communications Inc. Accounting policies Other investments are recognised and derecognised on a trade date where a purchase or sale of an investment is under a contract whose terms require delivery of the investment within the timeframe established by the market concerned, and are initially measured at fair value, including transaction costs. Other investments classified as held for trading and available-for-sale are stated at fair value. Where securities are held for trading purposes, gains and losses arising from changes in fair value are included in net profit or loss for the period. For available-for-sale investments, gains and losses arising from changes in fair value are recognised directly in equity, until the security is disposed of or is determined to be impaired, at which time the cumulative gain or loss previously recognised in equity, determined using the weighted average cost method, is included in the net profit or loss for the period. Other investments classified as loans and receivables are stated at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less any impairment. 2016 £m 2015 £m The listed and unlisted securities are classified as available-for-sale. Public debt and bonds are classified as held for trading, and other debt and bonds which are not quoted in an active market, are classified as loans and receivables. Unlisted equity investments are recorded at fair value where appropriate. Other debt and bonds includes loan notes of US$5.0 billion (£3,481 million) issued by Verizon Communications Inc. as part of the Group’s disposal of its interest in Verizon Wireless all of which is recorded within non-current assets. The carrying amount of these loan notes approximates fair value. Current other investments comprise the following: 2016 £m 2015 £m Public debt and bonds are classified as held for trading. Cash held in restricted deposits are classified as loans and receivables and include amounts held in qualifying assets by Group insurance companies to meet regulatory requirements. Other debt and bonds includes £967 million (2015: £2,016 million) of assets held for trading in managed investment funds with liquidity of up to 90 days and £1,574 million (2015: £38 million) of assets classified as loans and receivables comprising collateral paid on derivative financial instruments. Collateral passed in 2016 includes £1,460 million in relation to put options issued with regard to the mandatory convertible bonds’ hedging strategy. Current public debt and bonds include government bonds of £659 million (2015: £830 million) which consist of highly liquid index linked gilts with less than two years to maturity held on an effective floating rate basis. For public debt and bonds, other debt and bonds and cash held in restricted deposits, the carrying amount approximates fair value. 119 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Included within current assets: Debt securities: Public debt and bonds 888 982 Other debt and bonds 2,541 2,223 Cash and other investments held in restricted deposits 791 650 4,220 3,855 Included within non-current assets: Equity securities: Listed 3 4 Unlisted 82 222 Debt securities: Public debt and bonds 95 148 Other debt and bonds 3,482 3,383 3,662 3,757

 


Table of Contents

 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements (continued) 14. Inventory Our inventory primarily consists of mobile handsets and is presented net of an allowance for obsolete products. Accounting policies Inventory is stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Cost is determined on the basis of weighted average costs and comprises direct materials and, where applicable, direct labour costs and those overheads that have been incurred in bringing the inventories to their present location and condition. 2016 £m 2015 £m Inventory is reported net of allowances for obsolescence, an analysis of which is as follows: 2016 £m 2015 £m 2014 £m Cost of sales includes amounts related to inventory of £5,427 million (2015: £5,701 million; 2014: £5,340 million). 120 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 1 April (74) (88) (89) Exchange movements (3) 86 Amounts (debited)/credited to the income statement (22) 6(5) 31 March (99) (74)(88) Goods held for resale 565 482

 


Table of Contents

 

15. Trade and other receivables Our trade and other receivables mainly consist of amounts owed to us by customers and amounts that we pay to our suppliers in advance. Trade receivables are shown net of an allowance for bad or doubtful debts. Derivative financial instruments with a positive market value are reported within this note. Accounting policies Trade receivables do not carry any interest and are stated at their nominal value as reduced by appropriate allowances for estimated irrecoverable amounts. Estimated irrecoverable amounts are based on the ageing of the receivable balances and historical experience. Individual trade receivables are written off when management deems them not to be collectible. 2016 £m 2015 £m The Group’s trade receivables are stated after allowances for bad and doubtful debts based on management’s assessment of creditworthiness, an analysis of which is as follows: 2016 £m 2015 £m 2014 £m The carrying amounts of trade and other receivables approximate their fair value and are predominantly non-interest bearing. The fair values of the derivative financial instruments are calculated by discounting the future cash flows to net present values using appropriate market interest rates and foreign currency rates prevailing at 31 March. 2016 £m 2015 £m 121 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Included within “Derivative financial instruments”: Fair value through the income statement (held for trading): Interest rate swaps 2,027 2,378 Cross currency interest rate swaps 236 218 Options 36 – Foreign exchange contracts 231 33 2,530 2,629 Designated hedge relationships: Interest rate swaps 384 88 Cross currency interest rate swaps 1,390 1,288 4,304 4,005 1 April 802 589770 Exchange movements 4 (60) (67) Amounts charged to administrative expenses 498 541347 Other (209) (268)(461) 31 March 1,095 802 589 Included within non-current assets: Trade receivables 371 288 Amounts owed by associates and joint ventures 96 85 Other receivables 493 190 Prepayments 130 566 Derivative financial instruments 3,490 3,736 4,580 4,865 Included within current assets: Trade receivables 4,401 3,944 Amounts owed by associates and joint ventures 173 133 Other receivables 954 930 Prepayments 1,040 938 Accrued income 1,759 1,839 Derivative financial instruments 814 269 9,141 8,053

 


Table of Contents

 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements (continued) 16. Trade and other payables Our trade and other payables mainly consist of amounts we owe to our suppliers that have been invoiced or are accrued. They also include taxes and social security amounts due in relation to our role as an employer. Derivative financial instruments with a negative market value are reported within this note. Accounting policies Trade payables are not interest bearing and are stated at their nominal value. 2016 £m 2015 £m The carrying amounts of trade and other payables approximate their fair value. The fair values of the derivative financial instruments are calculated by discounting the future cash flows to net present values using appropriate market interest and foreign currency rates prevailing at 31 March. 2016 £m 2015 £m 122 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Included within “Derivative financial instruments”: Fair value through the income statement (held for trading): Interest rate swaps 885 672 Cross currency interest rate swaps 347 229 Options 64 11 Foreign exchange contracts 59 46 1,355 958 Designated hedge relationships Interest rate swaps 22 10 Cross currency interest rate swaps 187 16 1,564 984 Included within non-current liabilities: Other payables 98 86 Accruals 144 161 Deferred income 130 123 Derivative financial instruments 1,129 894 1,501 1,264 Included within current liabilities: Trade payables 5,867 5,054 Amounts owed to associates and joint ventures 53 44 Other taxes and social security payable 1,040 1,028 Other payables 760 621 Accruals 6,022 6,408 Deferred income 1,555 1,663 Derivative financial instruments 435 90 15,732 14,908

 


Table of Contents

 

17. Provisions A provision is a liability recorded in the statement of financial position, where there is uncertainty over the timing or amount that will be paid, and is therefore often estimated. The main provisions we hold are in relation to asset retirement obligations, which include the cost of returning network infrastructure sites to their original condition at the end of the lease, and claims for legal and regulatory matters. For further details see “Critical accounting judgements” in note 1 “Basis of preparation” to the consolidated financial statements. Accounting policies Provisions are recognised when the Group has a present obligation (legal or constructive) as a result of a past event, it is probable that the Group will be required to settle that obligation and a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation. Provisions are measured at the Directors’ best estimate of the expenditure required to settle the obligation at the reporting date and are discounted to present value where the effect is material. Asset retirement obligations In the course of the Group’s activities, a number of sites and other assets are utilised which are expected to have costs associated with de-commissioning. The associated cash outflows are substantially expected to occur at the dates of exit of the assets to which they relate, which are long-term in nature, primarily in periods up to 25 years from when the asset is brought into use. Legal and regulatory The Group is involved in a number of legal and other disputes, including notifications of possible claims. The Directors of the Company, after taking legal advice, have established provisions after taking into account the facts of each case. The timing of cash outflows associated with the majority of legal claims are typically less than one year, however, for some legal claims the timing of cash flows may be long-term in nature. For a discussion of certain legal issues potentially affecting the Group see note 30 “Contingent liabilities and legal proceedings” to the consolidated financial statements. Other provisions Other provisions comprises various provisions including those for restructuring costs and property. The associated cash outflows for restructuring costs are primarily less than one year. The timing of the cash flows associated with property is dependent upon the remaining term of the associated lease. Asset retirement obligations £m Legal and regulatory £m Other £m Total £m 1 April 2014 485 557 767 1,809 Exchange movements (34) (18) (47) (99) Arising on acquisition – 26 59 85 Amounts capitalised in the year 58 – – 58 Amounts charged to the income statement – 277 270 547 Utilised in the year - payments (13) (51) (385) (449) Amounts released to the income statement (30) (100) (96) (226) Other – 143 (19) 124 31 March 2015 466 834 549 1,849 123 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Exchange movements 21 193070 Amounts capitalised in the year 31 ––31 Amounts charged to the income statement – 172386558 Utilised in the year - payments (38) (60) (260)(358) Amounts released to the income statement (15) (58) (76) (149) Transfer of liabilities held for resale (14) (1)(3) (18) Other – 55(1) 54 31 March 2016 451 961 625 2,037

 


Table of Contents

 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements (continued) 17. Provisions (continued) Provisions have been analysed between current and non-current as follows: 31 March 2016 Asset retirement obligations £m Legal and regulatory £m Other £m Total £m 31 March 2015 Asset retirement obligations £m Legal and regulatory £m Other £m Total £m Current liabilities 14 311 442 767 Non-current liabilities 452 523 107 1,082 466 834 549 1,849 18. Called up share capital Called up share capital is the number of shares in issue at their par value. A number of shares were allotted during the year in relation to employee share schemes. Accounting policies Equity instruments issued by the Group are recorded at the amount of the proceeds received, net of direct issuance costs. 2016 2015 Number £m Number £m Note: 1 At 31 March 2016, the Group held 2,254,825,696 (2015: 2,300,749,013) treasury shares with a nominal value of £297 million (2015: £303 million). The market value of shares held was £4,988 million (2015: £5,072 million). During the year 45,923,317 (2015: 71,213,894) treasury shares were reissued under Group share schemes. Allotted during the year Nominal value £m Net proceeds £m Number On 19 February 2016, we announced the placing of subordinated mandatory convertible bonds totalling £1.44 billion with an 18 months maturity date due in 2017 and £1.44 billion with a 3 year maturity due in 2019. The bonds are convertible into a total of 1,325,356,650 ordinary shares with a conversion price of £2.1730 per share. For further details see note 22 “Liquidity and capital resources”. 124 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 UK share awards –– – US share awards 608,910– 1 Total share awards 608,910 – 1 Ordinary shares of 2020 21 US cents each allotted, issued and fully paid:1 1 April 28,812,787,0983,792 28,811,923,1283,792 Allotted during the year 608,910– 863,970– 31 March 28,813,396,0083,792 28,812,787,0983,792 Current liabilities 12242 503757 Non-current liabilities 439719 1221,280 451 961 625 2,037

 


Table of Contents

 

19. Reconciliation of net cash flow from operating activities The table below shows how our profit for the year from continuing operations translates into cash flows generated from our operating activities. 2016 £m 2015 £m 2014 £m Notes 20. Cash and cash equivalents The majority of the Group’s cash is held in bank deposits, money market funds or in repurchase agreements which have a maturity of three months or less to enable us to meet our short-term liquidity requirements. Accounting policies Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash in hand and call deposits, and other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value. 2016 £m 2015 £m Cash and cash equivalents are held by the Group on a short-term basis with all having an original maturity of three months or less. The carrying amount approximates their fair value. Cash and cash equivalents of £1,284 million (2015: £1,722 million) are held in countries with restrictions on remittances but where the balances could be used to repay subsidiaries’ third party liabilities. Of the balance at 31 March 2015, INR 57,863 million (£623 million) was used to settle India spectrum licence obligations on 8 April 2015. 125 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Cash at bank and in hand 1,737 2,379 Money market funds 5,781 2,402 Repurchase agreements 2,700 2,000 Commercial paper – 101 Cash and cash equivalents as presented in the statement of financial position 10,218 6,882 Bank overdrafts (9) (21) Cash and cash equivalents as presented in the statement of cash flows 10,209 6,861 (Loss)/profit for the financial year (3,818) 5,91759,420 Profit for the financial year from discontinued operations7 – (57) (48,108) (Loss)/profit for the financial year from continuing operations (3,818) 5,86011,312 Non-operating income and expense 2 19149 Investment income (300) (883)(346) Financing costs 2,124 1,7361,554 Income tax expense /(credit)6 3,369 (4,765)(16,582) Operating profit/(loss) 1,377 1,967(3,913) Adjustments for: Share-based payments27 117 8892 Depreciation and amortisation10, 11 9,498 9,5657,560 Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets3 20 4985 Share of result of equity accounted associates and joint ventures 12 (44) 63(278) Impairment losses4 450 –6,600 Other income and expense 75 114620 (Increase)/decrease in inventory 14 (98) (73) 4 (Increase)/decrease in trade and other receivables15 (547) (230)526 Increase/(decrease) in trade and other payables16 372 (1,146) 851 Cash generated by operations 11,220 10,39712,147 Net tax paid (739) (682)(5,920) Net cash flow from operating activities 10,481 9,7156,227

 


Table of Contents

 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements (continued) 21. Borrowings The Group’s sources of borrowing for funding and liquidity purposes come from a range of committed bank facilities and through short-term and long-term issuances in the capital markets including bond and commercial paper issues and bank loans. We manage the basis on which we incur interest on debt between fixed interest rates and floating interest rates depending on market conditions using interest rate derivatives. The Group enters into foreign exchange contracts to mitigate the impact of exchange rate movements on certain monetary items. Accounting policies Capital market and bank borrowings Interest bearing loans and overdrafts are initially measured at fair value (which is equal to cost at inception), and are subsequently measured at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method, except where they are identified as a hedged item in a designated hedge relationship. Any difference between the proceeds net of transaction costs and the amount due on settlement or redemption of borrowings is recognised over the term of the borrowing. Where bonds issued with certain conversion rights are identified as compound instruments they are initially measured at fair value with the nominal amounts recognised as a component in equity and the fair value of future coupons included in borrowings. These are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method. Carrying value and fair value information 2016 2015 Short-term borrowings £m Long-term borrowings £m Short-term borrowings £m Long-term borrowings £m Total £m Total £m Notes: 1 At 31 March 2016, amount includes £2,837 million (2015: £2,542 million) in relation to collateral support agreements. 2 Includes a £1.4 billion (2015: £1.3 billion) liability for payments due to holders of the equity shares in Kabel Deutschland AG under the terms of a domination and profit and loss transfer agreement. Amount also includes £50 million (2015: £nil) and £69 million (2015: £nil) in short and long-term borrowings respectively in relation to the debt component of the mandatory convertible bonds maturing on 25 August 2017 and 25 February 2019. These are compound instruments with nominal values recorded in equity. The initial fair value of future coupons is recognised as debt and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method. Bank loans include INR 629 billion (£6.6 billion) (2015: INR 457 billion (£4.9 billion)) of loans held by Vodafone India Limited (‘VIL’) and its subsidiaries (the “VIL Group”). The VIL Group has a number of security arrangements supporting certain licences secured under the terms of agreements between the Group, the Department of Telecommunications and the Government of India including certain pledges of the shares within the VIL Group. The terms and conditions of the security arrangements mean that, should members of the VIL Group not meet all of their loan payment and performance obligations, the lenders may sell the pledged shares and enforce rights over the certain licences under the terms of the tri-party agreements to recover their losses, with any remaining sales proceeds being returned to the VIL Group. Each of the eight legal entities within the VIL Group provide cross guarantees to the lenders in respect of debt contracted by the other entities. The fair value and carrying value of the Group’s short-term borrowings are as follows: Sterling equivalent nominal value Fair value Carrying value 2016 £m 2015 £m 2016 £m 2015 £m 2016 £m 2015 £m Note: 1 Amounts for 2016 include £50 million in relation to the short -term debt component of the mandatory convertible bonds. 126 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost1 13,737 10,689 13,995 10,843 13,987 10,837 Bonds: 395 1,265 399 1,309 412 1,297 5.125% euro 500 million bond due April 2015 – 361 – 362 – 379 6.25% euro 1,250 million bond due January 2016 – 904 – 947 – 918 4.75% euro 500 million bond due June 2016 395 – 399 – 412 – Bonds in designated hedge relationships: 1,598 489 1,637 489 1,621 489 2.15% Japanese yen 3,000 million bond due April 2015 – 17 – 17 – 17 Floating rate note US dollar 700 million due February 2016 – 472 – 472 – 472 5.625% US dollar 1,300 million bond due February 2017 903 – 939 – 927 – 1.625% US dollar 1,000 million bond due March 2017 695 – 698 – 694 – Short-term borrowings 15,730 12,443 16,031 12,641 16,020 12,623 Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost: Bank loans 2,2546,9579,211 1,8765,1287,004 Bank overdrafts 9–9 21–21 Commercial paper 7,396–7,396 5,077–5,077 Bonds 41211,28711,699 1,2976,6847,981 Other liabilities1,2 4,3282354,563 3,8631333,996 Bonds in designated hedge relationships 1,62110,84812,469 48910,49010,979 16,020 29,327 45,347 12,62322,43535,058

 


Table of Contents

 

The fair value and carrying value of the Group’s long-term borrowings are as follows: Sterling equivalent nominal value Fair value Carrying value 2016 £m 2015 £m 2016 £m 2015 £m 2016 £m 2015 £m Note: 1 Amounts for 2016 include £69 million in relation to the long-term debt component of the mandatory convertible bonds. Fair values of bonds and financial liabilities measured at amortised cost are based on level 1 and 2 of the fair value hierarchy respectively, using quoted market prices or discounted cash flows with a discount rate based upon forward interest rates available to the Group at the reporting date. Further information can be found in note 23 “Capital and financial risk management”. 127 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost: 5,533 5,306 7,260 5,346 7,192 5,261 Bank loans 5,298 5,173 7,025 5,213 6,957 5,128 Other liabilities1 235 133 235 133 235 133 Bonds: 10,707 6,002 11,475 6,908 11,287 6,684 4.75% euro 500 million bond due June 2016 – 268 – 283 – 287 5.375% sterling 600 million bond due December 2017 549 549 583 605 566 568 5% euro 750 million bond due June 2018 593 542 656 622 617 564 8.125% sterling 450 million bond due November 2018 450 450 524 553 473 476 Floating rate note euro 1,750 million bond due February 2019 1,384 – 1,397 – 1,386 – 1% euro 1,750 million bond due September 2020 1,384 1,265 1,402 1,283 1,383 1,263 0% convertible sterling 600 million bond due November 2020 600 – 600 – 553 – 0.875% euro 750 million bond due November 2020 593 – 597 – 591 – Floating rate note US dollar 60 million bond due March 2021 42 – 42 – 41 – 1.25% euro 1,250 million bond due August 2021 988 – 1,012 – 985 – 4.65% euro 1,250 million bond due January 2022 988 904 1,192 1,129 1,157 1,081 5.375% euro 500 million bond due June 2022 395 361 497 475 513 484 1.75% euro 1,250 million bond due August 2023 988 – 1,026 – 986 – 1.875% euro 1,000 million bond due September 2025 791 723 817 768 790 721 5.625% sterling 250 million bond due December 2025 250 250 299 313 335 343 5.9% sterling 450 million bond due November 2032 450 450 545 592 647 656 2.75% euro 332 million bond due December 2034 262 240 286 285 264 241 Bonds in designated hedge relationships: 9,680 9,397 10,218 10,201 10,848 10,490 5.625% US dollar 1,300 million bond due February 2017 – 876 – 946 – 920 1.625% US dollar 1,000 million bond due March 2017 – 674 – 679 – 672 1.25% US dollar 1,000 million bond due September 2017 695 674 693 670 694 672 1.5% US dollar 1,400 million bond due February 2018 973 943 973 942 972 941 4.625% US dollar 500 million bond due July 2018 347 337 369 367 376 375 5.45% US dollar 1,250 million bond due June 2019 868 842 957 955 957 938 4.375% US dollar 500 million bond due March 2021 347 337 379 371 363 346 2.5% US dollar 1,000 million bond due September 2022 695 674 694 654 713 667 2.95% US dollar 1,600 million bond due February 2023 1,112 1,078 1,100 1,066 1,199 1,121 3.125% norwegian krona 850 million bond due November 2025 71 – 78 – 72 – 2.2% euro 1,750 million bond due August 2026 1,384 – 1,451 – 1,379 – 6.6324% euro 50 million bond due December 2028 40 36 115 109 102 86 7.875% US dollar 750 million bond due February 2030 521 505 665 711 781 771 6.25% US dollar 495 million bond due November 2032 344 333 399 410 454 445 6.15% US dollar 1,700 million bond due February 2037 1,181 1,145 1,327 1,392 1,615 1,578 4.375% US dollar 1,400 million bond due February 2043 973 943 886 929 1,040 958 5.35% US dollar 186 million bond due December 2045 129 – 132 – 131 – Long-term borrowings 25,920 20,705 28,953 22,455 29,327 22,435

 


Table of Contents

 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements (continued) 21. Borrowings (continued) Maturity of borrowings and other financial liabilities The maturity profile of the anticipated future cash flows including interest in relation to the Group’s non-derivative financial liabilities on an undiscounted basis which, therefore, differs from both the carrying value and fair value, is as follows: Loans in designated hedge relationships £m Bank loans £m Commercial paper £m Other liabilities £m Bonds £m Total £m Within one year 1,928 5,092 1,588 3,885 873 13,366 In one to two years 831 – 610 18 1,256 2,715 In two to three years 1,090 – 831 11 2,650 4,582 In three to four years 920 – 1,191 12 626 2,749 In four to five years 862 – 135 12 1,101 2,110 In more than five years 1,660 – 4,958 115 8,118 14,851 7,291 5,092 9,313 4,053 14,624 40,373 Effect of discount/financing rates (287) (15) (1,332) (36) (3,645) (5,315) 31 March 2015 7,004 5,077 7,981 4,017 10,979 35,058 The maturity profile of the Group’s financial derivatives (which include interest rate swaps, cross currency interest rate swaps and foreign exchange swaps) using undiscounted cash flows, is as follows: 2016 2015 Payable £m Receivable £m Payable £m Receivable £m Payables and receivables are stated separately in the table above as settlement is on a gross basis. The net effect of discount/financing rates is £1,183 million (2015: £3,073 million), leaving a £2,740 million (2015: £3,021 million) net receivable in relation to financial instruments. This is split £1,564 million (2015: £984 million) within trade and other payables and £4,304 million (2015: £4,005 million) within trade and other receivables. Gains and losses recognised in the hedging reserve in equity on cross currency interest rate swaps as at 31 March 2016 will be continuously released to the income statement within financing costs until the repayment of certain bonds classified as loans designated in hedge relationships in the table of maturities of non-derivative financial liabilities above. The currency split of the Group’s foreign exchange derivatives (which includes cross currency interest rate swaps and foreign exchange swaps) is as follows: 2016 2015 Payable £m Receivable £m Payable £m Receivable £m Payables and receivables are stated separately in the table above as settlement is on a gross basis. The net effect of discount/financing rates is £40 million (2015: £192 million), leaving a £1,264 million (2015: £1,248 million) net receivable in relation to foreign exchange financial instruments. This is split £593 million (2015: £291 million) within trade and other payables and £1,857 million (2015: £1,539 million) within trade and other receivables. 128 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Sterling 17,890 14,253 11,46112,578 Euro 11,672 19,369 8,1586,228 US dollar 7,748 10,178 5,5989,908 Japanese yen 673 – 59417 Other 5,388 795 3,2381,374 43,371 44,595 29,04930,105 Within one year 25,990 26,912 2,6473,537 In one to two years 8,429 8,632 5,4574,005 In two to three years 3,807 4,147 4,1794,617 In three to four years 2,088 2,363 1,4301,942 In four to five years 1,913 2,050 1,1452,164 In more than five years 18,851 20,897 13,17717,864 61,078 65,001 28,03534,129 Within one year 2,4447,4057034,3381,30416,194 In one to two years 1,257– 88957 2,7874,990 In two to three years 1,599– 2,68143 6865,009 In three to four years 1,297– 18014 1,1752,666 In four to five years 1,106– 2,79815 6304,549 In more than five years 4,716– 5,816141 9,74120,414 12,4197,405 13,0674,608 16,32353,822 Effect of discount/financing rates (3,208)(9) (1,368)(36) (3,854)(8,475) 31 March 2016 9,2117,396 11,6994,572 12,46945,347

 


Table of Contents

 

The present value of minimum lease payments under finance lease arrangements under which the Group has leased certain of its equipment is included within other liabilities and is analysed as follows: 2016 £m 2015 £m Interest rate and currency of borrowings is as follows: Total borrowings £m Floating rate borrowings £m Fixed rate borrowings1 £m Other borrowings2 £m Currency Sterling 2,108 55 2,046 7 Euro 19,531 4,252 13,972 1,307 US dollar 7,962 7,782 180 – Other 5,457 2,898 2,559 – 31 March 2015 35,058 14,987 18,757 1,314 Notes: 1 The weighted average interest rate for the Group’s sterling denominated fixed rate borrowings is 4.6% (2015: 6.3%). The weighted average time for which these rates are fixed is 6.4 years (2015: 8.1 years). The weighted average interest rate for the Group’s euro denominated fixed rate borrowings is 2.7% (2015: 3.4%). The weighted average time for which the rates are fixed is 6.5 years (2015: 7.5 years). The weighted average interest rate for the Group’s US dollar denominated fixed rate borrowings is 3.6% (2015: 2.8%). The weighted average time for which the rates are fixed is 2.0 years (2015: 3.5 years). The weighted average interest rate for the Group’s other currency fixed rate borrowings is 9.4% (2015: 9.6%). The weighted average time for which the rates are fixed is 6.8 years (2015: 0.6 years). 2 At 31 March 2016 other borrowings of £1,554 million (2015: £1,314 million) include a £1.4 billion (2015: £1.3 billion) liability for payments due to holders of the equity shares in Kabel Deutschland AG under the terms of a domination and profit and loss transfer agreement. The figures shown in the tables above take into account interest rate swaps used to manage the interest rate profile of financial liabilities. Interest on floating rate borrowings is generally based on national LIBOR equivalents or government bond rates in the relevant currencies. Additional protection from euro interest rate movements is provided by fixing interest rates or reducing floating interest rates using interest rate swaps or interest rate futures1. 2016 2015 Interest rate futures £m Interest rate swaps £m Interest rate futures £m Interest rate swaps £m Notes: 1 In the table above, figures shown as positive indicate an increase in fixed interest debt and figures shown in brackets indicate a reduction in fixed interest debt. 2 Figures shown as “in more than five years” relate to the periods from March 2021 to March 2022 (2015: March 2020 to March 2021). 129 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Within one year (2,953)1,696 (2,282)655 In one to two years 2,7001,518 1,659– In two to three years 1,6071,429 3,000– In three to four years –5,625 1,687– In four to five years –(1,429) (20) 4,782 In more than five years2 –(2,411) –(5,258) Sterling 2,789 902,575124 Euro 29,900 11,62116,8491,430 US dollar 5,632 5,443189– Other 7,026 2,3814,645– 31 March 2016 45,347 19,53524,2581,554 Within one year 12 14 In two to five years 50 40 In more than five years 109 85

 


Table of Contents

 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements (continued) 21. Borrowings (continued) Borrowing facilities Committed facilities expiry 2016 2015 Drawn £m Undrawn £m Drawn £m Undrawn £m At 31 March 2016, the Group’s most significant committed facilities comprised two revolving credit facilities which remained undrawn throughout the year of US$4.1 billion (£2.8 billion) and €4.0 billion (£3.2 billion) maturing in five years. Under the terms of these bank facilities, lenders have the right, but not the obligation, to cancel their commitment 30 days from the date of notification of a change of control of the Company and have outstanding advances repaid on the last day of the current interest period. The facility agreements provide for certain structural changes that do not affect the obligations of the Company to be specifically excluded from the definition of a change of control. This is in addition to the rights of lenders to cancel their commitment if the Company has committed an event of default. The terms and conditions of the Group’s drawn facilities obtained in relation to projects in its Italian, German, Turkish and Romanian operations of €1.2 billion in aggregate (£0.9 billion) and the undrawn facilities in the Group’s UK and Irish operations totalling £0.5 billion and the undrawn facility in the German operation of €0.4 billion (£0.3 billion) are similar to those of the US dollar and euro revolving credit facilities. Further information on these facilities can be found in note 22 “Liquidity and capital resources”. 22. Liquidity and capital resources This section includes an analysis of net debt, which we use to manage capital, and committed borrowing facilities. Net debt Net debt was £29.2 billion at 31 March 2016 and includes liabilities for amounts payable under the domination agreement in relation to Kabel Deutschland AG (£1.4 billion) and deferred spectrum licence costs in India (£4.1 billion). This increased by £6.9 billion in the year as a result of payments for spectrum licences and equity shareholder dividends which outweighed positive free cash flow. Net debt represented 45.8% of our market capitalisation at 31 March 2016 compared to 35.1% at 31 March 2015. Average net debt at month end accounting dates over the 12 month period ended 31 March 2016 was £25.9 billion and ranged between net debt of £22.3 billion and £30.8 billion. Our consolidated net debt position at 31 March was as follows: 2016 £m 2015 £m Notes: 1 2 At 31 March 2016 US$471 million was drawn under the US commercial paper programme and €8,907 million and US$38 million were drawn under the euro commercial paper programme. Includes a £1.4 billion (2015: £1.3 billion) liability for payments due to holders of the equity shares in Kabel Deutschland AG under the terms of a domination and profit and loss transfer agreement. At 31 March 2016 the amount includes £2,837 million (2015: £2,542 million) in relation to cash received under collateral support agreements. Amount also includes £50 million (2015: £nil) in relation to the short-term debt component of the mandatory convertible bonds maturing on 25 August 2017 and 25 February 2019. At 31 March 2016 the amount includes £69 million (2015: £nil) in relation to the long -term debt component of the mandatory convertible bonds maturing on 25 August 2017 and 25 February 2019. Comprises mark-to-market adjustments on derivative financial instruments which are included as a component of trade and other receivables £4,304 million (2015: £4,005 million) and trade and other payables £1,564 million (2015: £984 million). Amount also includes short-term investments primarily in index linked government bonds and managed investment funds included as a component of other investments and cash paid as collateral £3,200 million (2015: £2,884 million). 3 4 5 130 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Cash and cash equivalents 10,218 6,882 Short-term borrowings Bonds (2,033) (1,786) Commercial paper1 (7,396) (5,077) Put options over non-controlling interests2 (1,430) (1,307) Bank loans (2,254) (1,876) Other short-term borrowings3 (2,907) (2,577) (16,020) (12,623) Long-term borrowings Put options over non-controlling interests (5) (7) Bonds, loans and other long-term borrowings4 (29,322) (22,428) (29,327) (22,435) Other financial instruments5 5,940 5,905 Net debt (29,189) (22,271) Within one year 1,317 1,816 1,065– In one to two years 694 9 431– In two to three years 971 7 736– In three to four years 691 230 757573 In four to five years 662 5,855 3172,790 In more than five years 609 280 1,0653,257 31 March 4,944 8,197 4,3716,620

 


Table of Contents

 

At 31 March 2016 we had £10,218 million of cash and cash equivalents which are held in accordance with the counterparty and settlement risk limits of the Board approved treasury policy. The main forms of liquid investment at 31 March 2016 were managed investment funds, money market funds, UK index linked government bonds, tri-party repurchase agreements and bank deposits. The cash received from collateral support agreements mainly reflects the value of our interest rate swap and cross currency interest rate swap portfolios which are substantially net present value positive. See note 23 “Capital and financial risk management” for further details on these agreements. Commercial paper programmes We currently have US and euro commercial paper programmes of US$15 billion and £8 billion respectively which are available to be used to meet short-term liquidity requirements. At 31 March 2016 amounts external to the Group of €8,907 million (£7,043 million) and US$38 million (£26 million) were drawn under the euro commercial paper programme and US$471 million (£327 million) were drawn down under the US commercial paper programme, with such funds being provided by counterparties external to the Group. At 31 March 2015 amounts external to the Group of €3,928 million (£2,839 million) were drawn under the euro commercial paper programme and US$3,321 million (£2,237 million) were drawn down under the US commercial paper programme, with such funds being provided by counterparties external to the Group. The commercial paper facilities were supported by US$4.1 billion (£2.8 billion) and €4.0 billion (£3.2 billion) of syndicated committed bank facilities (see “Committed facilities” below). No amounts had been drawn under either bank facility. Bonds We have a €30 billion euro medium-term note programme and a US shelf programme which are used to meet medium to long-term funding requirements. At 31 March 2016 the total amounts in issue under these programmes split by currency were US$14.1 billion, £2.3 billion, €12.9 billion and NOK 850 million. At 31 March 2016 we had bonds outstanding with a nominal value of £22,380 million (2015: £17,153 million). In the year ended 31 March 2016 bonds with a nominal value equivalent of £129 million and £5,450 million were issued under the US shelf programme and euro medium-term note programme respectively. The bonds issued in the year were: Nominal amount m Sterling equivalent £m Date of bond issue Maturity of bond Programme Currency On 26 November 2015, the Group issued £600 million zero-coupon equity linked bonds maturing on 26 November 2020. On 25 February 2016, the Group issued £2.9 billion of subordinated mandatory convertible bonds issued in two tranches, with the first £1.4 billion maturing on 25 August 2017 and a further £1.4 billion maturing on 25 February 2019 with coupons of 1.5% and 2.0% respectively. At the initial conversion price of £2.1730, at maturity the bonds will convert to 1, 325,356,650 Vodafone Group Plc shares representing approximately 5% of Vodafone’s share capital. The mandatory bonds are compound instruments with nominal values of £2.8 billion recognised as a component of shareholders’ funds in equity. The initial fair value of future coupons of £0.1 billion is recognised as a financial liability in borrowings and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method. Refer to the consolidated statement of changes in equity on page 89. The Group has hedged its exposure under the subordinated mandatory convertible bonds to any future movements in its share price by an option strategy designed to hedge the economic impact of share price movements during the term of the bonds. Should the Group decide to buy back ordinary shares to mitigate the dilution resulting from the conversion, the hedging strategy will provide a hedge for the repurchase price. Own shares The Group held a maximum of 2,300,749,013 of its own shares during the year which represented 8.0 % of issued share capital at that time. 131 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information 25 February 201625 February 2019EMTN Euro 1,750 1,384 17 November 201517 November 2020EMTN Euro 750 593 30 March 201630 March 2021EMTN US dollar 60 42 25 February 201625 August 2021EMTN Euro 1,250 988 25 February 201625 August 2023EMTN Euro 1,250 988 27 November 201527 November 2025EMTN Norwegian krona 850 71 25 February 201625 August 2026EMTN Euro 1,750 1,384 3 December 20153 December 2045US shelf US dollar 186 129

 


Table of Contents

 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements (continued) 22. Liquidity and capital resources (continued) Committed facilities In aggregate we have committed facilities of approximately £13,141 million, of which £8,197 million was undrawn and £4,944 million was drawn at 31 March 2016. The following table summarises the committed bank facilities available to us at 31 March 2016. Committed bank facilities Amounts drawn Terms and conditions 28 March 2014 €4.0 billion syndicated revolving credit facility, maturing 28 March 2021. No drawings have been made against this facility. The facility supports our commercial paper programmes and may be used for general corporate purposes including acquisitions. Lenders have the right, but not the obligation, to cancel their commitments and have outstanding advances repaid no sooner than 30 days after notification of a change of control. This is in addition to the rights of lenders to cancel their commitment if we commit an event of default; however, it should be noted that a material adverse change clause does not apply. The facility matures on 28 March 2021. From 28 March 2020 the facility size will be €3.9 billion as one lender did not extend the facility as per the request from the Company. 27 February 2015 US$4.1 billion syndicated revolving credit facility, maturing 27 February 2021. No drawings have been made against this facility. The facility supports our commercial paper programmes and may be used for general corporate purposes including acquisitions. Lenders have the right, but not the obligation, to cancel their commitments and have outstanding advances repaid no sooner than 30 days after notification of a change of control. This is in addition to the rights of lenders to cancel their commitment if we commit an event of default; however, it should be noted that a material adverse change clause does not apply. The facility matures on 27 February 2021, with each lender having the option to extend the facility for a further year prior to the second anniversary of the facility, if requested by the Company. From 27 February 2020 the facility size will be US$3.9 billion as one lender did not extend the facility as per the request from the Company. 27 November 2013 £0.5 billion loan facility, maturing 12 December 2021. This facility was drawn down in full in euros, as allowed by the terms of the facility, on 12 December 2014. As per the syndicated revolving credit facilities with the addition that, should our UK and Irish operating companies spend less than the equivalent of £0.9 billion on capital expenditure, we will be required to repay the drawn amount of the facility that exceeds 50% of the capital expenditure. 15 September 2009 €0.4 billion loan facility, maturing 30 July 2017. This facility was drawn down in full on 30 July 2010. As per the syndicated revolving credit facilities with the addition that, should our German operating company spend less than the equivalent of €0.8 billion on VDSL related capital expenditure, we will be required to repay the drawn amount of the facility that exceeds 50% of the VDSL capital expenditure. 29 September 2009 US$0.7 billion export credit agency loan facility, final maturity date 19 September 2018. This facility is fully drawn down and is amortising. As per the syndicated revolving credit facilities with the addition that the Company was permitted to draw down under the facility based upon the eligible spend with Ericsson up until the final draw down date of 30 June 2011. Quarterly repayments of the drawn balance commenced on 30 June 2012 with a final maturity date of 19 September 2018. 8 December 2011 €0.4 billion loan facility, maturing on 5 June 2020. This facility was drawn down in full on 5 June 2013. As per the syndicated revolving credit facilities with the addition that, should our Italian operating company spend less than the equivalent of €1.3 billion on capital expenditure, we will be required to repay the drawn amount of the facility that exceeds 50% of the capital expenditure. 20 December 2011 €0.3 billion loan facility, maturing 18 September 2019. This facility was drawn down in full on 18 September 2012. As per the syndicated revolving credit facilities with the addition that, should our Turkish and Romanian operating companies spend less than the equivalent of €1.3 billion on capital expenditure, we will be required to repay the drawn amount of the facility that exceeds 50% of the capital expenditure. 4 March 2013 €0.1 billion loan facility, maturing 4 December 2020. This facility was drawn down in full on 4 December 2013. 132 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016

 


Table of Contents

 

Committed bank facilities Amounts drawn Terms and conditions 2 December 2014 US$0.85 billion loan facility, maturing 2 June 2018. US$ 0.8 billion was drawn from the facility on 8 June 2015. The remaining US$ 0.05 billion was cancelled on the same date. As per the syndicated revolving credit facilities with the addition that the expenditure should be spent on projects involving Canadian domiciled entities. 17 December 2014 €0.35 billion loan facility, maturing on the seven year anniversary of the first drawing. This facility is undrawn and has an availability period of 18 months. The facility is available to finance a project to upgrade and expand the mobile network in Germany. As per the syndicated revolving credit facilities with the addition that, should our German operating company spend less than the equivalent of €0.7 billion on capital expenditure, we will be required to repay the drawn amount of the facility that exceeds 50% of the capital expenditure. 9 September 2015 US$1.0 billion loan facility, maturing 8 September 2016. No drawings have been made against this facility. The facility supports our commercial paper programmes and may be used for general corporate purposes including acquisitions. As per the syndicated revolving credit facilities. 9 November 2015 US$1.0 billion loan facility, maturing 8 November 2016. No drawings have been made against this facility. The facility supports our commercial paper programmes and may be used for general corporate purposes including acquisitions. As per the syndicated revolving credit facilities. Furthermore, certain of our subsidiaries are funded by external facilities which are non-recourse to any member of the Group other than the borrower. These facilities may only be used to fund their operations. At 31 March 2016, Vodafone India had facilities of INR242 billion (£2.5 billion) of which INR236 billion (£2.5 billion) was drawn. Vodafone Egypt had undrawn revolving credit facilities of US$120 million (£83 million) and EGP4 billion (£313 million). Vodacom had a fully drawn facility of US$184 million (£128 million) and a facility of ZAR3.5 billion (£166 million) of which ZAR2.2 billion (£102 million) was drawn. Ghana had fully drawn facilities of US$192 million (£134 million) and GHS60 million (£11 million). Dividends from associates and to non-controlling shareholders Dividends from our associates are generally paid at the discretion of the Board of Directors or shareholders of the individual operating and holding companies, and we have no rights to receive dividends except where specified within certain of the Group’s shareholders’ agreements. Similarly, other than ongoing dividend obligations to the KDG minority shareholders should they continue to hold their minority stake, we do not have existing obligations under shareholders’ agreements to pay dividends to non-controlling interest partners of our subsidiaries or joint ventures. The amount of dividends received and paid in the year are disclosed in the consolidated statement of cash flows. Potential cash outflows from option agreements and similar arrangements Under the terms of the sale and purchase agreement governing the disposal of the US Group, including the 45% interest in Verizon Wireless, the Group retains the responsibility for any tax liabilities of the US Group, excluding those relating to the Verizon Wireless partnership, for periods up to the completion of the transaction on 21 February 2014. Put options issued as part of the hedging strategy for the mandatory convertible bonds permit the holders to exercise against the Group if there is decrease in our share price. Under the terms of the options, settlement must be made in cash which will equate to the reduced value of shares from the initial conversion price on 1,325 million shares. Off-balance sheet arrangements We do not have any material off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in item 5.E.2. of the SEC’s Form 20-F. Please refer to notes 29 and 30 for a discussion of our commitments and contingent liabilities. 133 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information

 


Table of Contents

 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements (continued) 23. Capital and financial risk management This note details our treasury management and financial risk management objectives and policies, as well as the exposure and sensitivity of the Group to credit, liquidity, interest and foreign exchange risk, and the policies in place to monitor and manage these risks. Accounting policies Financial instruments Financial assets and financial liabilities, in respect of financial instruments, are recognised on the Group’s statement of financial position when the Group becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument. Financial liabilities and equity instruments Financial liabilities and equity instruments issued by the Group are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into and the definitions of a financial liability and an equity instrument. An equity instrument is any contract that provides a residual interest in the assets of the Group after deducting all of its liabilities and includes no obligation to deliver cash or other financial assets. The accounting policies adopted for specific financial liabilities and equity instruments are set out below. Put option arrangements over non-controlling interest The potential cash payments related to put options issued by the Group over the equity of subsidiary companies are accounted for as financial liabilities when such options may only be settled by exchange of a fixed amount of cash or another financial asset for a fixed number of shares in the subsidiary. The amount that may become payable under the option on exercise is initially recognised at present value within borrowings with a corresponding charge directly to equity. The charge to equity is recognised separately as written put options over non-controlling interests, adjacent to non-controlling interests in the net assets of consolidated subsidiaries. The Group recognises the cost of writing such put options, determined as the excess of the present value of the option over any consideration received, as a financing cost. Such options are subsequently measured at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method, in order to accrete the liability up to the amount payable under the option at the date at which it first becomes exercisable; the charge arising is recorded as a financing cost. In the event that the option expires unexercised, the liability is derecognised with a corresponding adjustment to equity. Derivative financial instruments and hedge accounting The Group’s activities expose it to the financial risks of changes in foreign exchange rates and interest rates which it manages using derivative financial instruments. The use of financial derivatives is governed by the Group’s policies approved by the Board of Directors, which provide written principles on the use of financial derivatives consistent with the Group’s risk management strategy. Changes in values of all derivatives of a financing nature are included within investment income and financing costs in the income statement unless designated in an effective cash flow hedge relationship or a hedge of a net investment in foreign operations when changes in value are deferred to other comprehensive income or equity respectively. The Group does not use derivative financial instruments for speculative purposes. Derivative financial instruments are initially measured at fair value on the contract date and are subsequently remeasured to fair value at each reporting date. The Group designates certain derivatives as: a hedges of the change of fair value of recognised assets and liabilities (“fair value hedges”); or a hedges of highly probable forecast transactions or hedges of foreign currency or interest rate risks of firm commitments (“cash flow hedges”); or a hedges of net investments in foreign operations. Hedge accounting is discontinued when the hedging instrument expires or is sold, terminated or exercised, or no longer qualifies for hedge accounting, or if the Company chooses to end the hedging relationship. Fair value hedges The Group’s policy is to use derivative instruments (primarily interest rate swaps) to convert a proportion of its fixed rate debt to floating rates in order to hedge the interest rate risk arising, principally, from capital market borrowings. The Group designates these as fair value hedges of interest rate risk with changes in fair value of the hedging instrument recognised in the income statement for the period together with the changes in the fair value of the hedged item arising from the hedged risk, to the extent the hedge is effective. Gains or losses relating to any ineffective portion are recognised immediately in the income statement. Cash flow hedges Cash flow hedging is used by the Group to hedge certain exposures to variability in future cash flows. The portion of gains or losses relating to changes in the fair value of derivatives that are designated and qualify as effective cash flow hedges is recognised in other comprehensive income; gains or losses relating to any ineffective portion are recognised immediately in the income statement. When the hedged item is recognised in the income statement, amounts previously recognised in other comprehensive income and accumulated in equity for the hedging instrument are reclassified to the income statement. However, when the hedged transaction results in the recognition of a non-financial asset or a non-financial liability, the gains and losses previously recognised in other comprehensive income and accumulated in equity are transferred from equity and included in the initial measurement of the cost of the non-financial asset or non-financial liability. When hedge accounting is discontinued, any gain or loss recognised in other comprehensive income at that time remains in equity and is recognised in the income statement when the hedged transaction is ultimately recognised in the income statement. If a forecast transaction is no longer expected to occur, the gain or loss accumulated in equity is recognised immediately in the income statement. 134 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016

 


Table of Contents

 

Net investment hedges Exchange differences arising from the translation of the net investment in foreign operations are recognised directly in equity. Gains and losses on those hedging instruments (which include bonds, commercial paper, cross currency swaps and foreign exchange contracts) designated as hedges of the net investments in foreign operations are recognised in equity to the extent that the hedging relationship is effective; these amounts are included in exchange differences on translation of foreign operations as stated in the statement of comprehensive income. Gains and losses relating to hedge ineffectiveness are recognised immediately in the income statement for the period. Gains and losses accumulated in the translation reserve are included in the income statement when the foreign operation is disposed of. Capital management The following table summarises the capital of the Group at 31 March: 2016 £m 2015 £m The Group’s policy is to borrow centrally using a mixture of long-term and short-term capital market issues and borrowing facilities to meet anticipated funding requirements. These borrowings, together with cash generated from operations, are loaned internally or contributed as equity to certain subsidiaries. The Board has approved three internal debt protection ratios being: net interest to operating cash flow (plus dividends from associates); retained cash flow (operating cash flow plus dividends from associates less interest, tax, dividends to non-controlling shareholders and equity dividends) to net debt; and operating cash flow (plus dividends from associates) to net debt. These internal ratios establish levels of debt that the Group should not exceed other than for relatively short periods of time and are shared with the Group’s debt rating agencies being Moody’s, Fitch Ratings and Standard & Poor’s. Financial risk management The Group’s treasury function provides a centralised service to the Group for funding, foreign exchange, interest rate management and counterparty risk management. Treasury operations are conducted within a framework of policies and guidelines authorised and reviewed by the Board, most recently on 3 November 2015. A treasury risk committee comprising the Group’s Chief Financial Officer, Group General Counsel and Company Secretary, Group Financial Controller, Group Treasury Director and Director of Financial Reporting meets three times a year to review treasury activities and its members receive management information relating to treasury activities on a quarterly basis. The Group’s accounting function, which does not report to the Group Treasury Director, provides regular update reports of treasury activity to the Board. The Group’s internal auditor reviews the internal control environment regularly. The Group uses a number of derivative instruments for currency and interest rate risk management purposes only that are transacted by specialist treasury personnel. The Group mitigates banking sector credit risk by the use of collateral support agreements. Credit risk The Group considers its exposure to credit risk at 31 March to be as follows: 2016 £m 2015 £m 135 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Bank deposits 1,737 2,379 Repurchase agreements 2,700 2,000 Cash held in restricted deposits 791 650 UK government bonds 659 830 Money market fund investments 5,781 2,402 Derivative financial instruments 4,304 4,005 Other investments – debt and bonds 6,347 5,906 Trade receivables 4,772 4,232 Other receivables and accrued income 3,206 2,959 30,297 25,363 Financial assets: Cash and cash equivalents (10,218) (6,882) Fair value through the income statement (held for trading) (4,160) (5,513) Loans and receivables (1,570) – Derivative instruments in designated hedge relationships (1,774) (1,376) Financial liabilities: Fair value through the income statements (held for trading) 1,355 958 Derivative instruments in designated hedge relationships 209 26 Financial liabilities held at amortised cost 45,347 35,058 Net debt 29,189 22,271 Equity 67,317 67,733 Capital 96,506 90,004

 


Table of Contents

 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements (continued) 23. Capital and financial risk management (continued) The Group invested in UK index linked government bonds on the basis that they generated a floating rate return in excess of £ LIBOR and are amongst the most creditworthy of investments available. The Group has two managed investment funds. These funds hold fixed income sterling securities and the average credit quality is high double A. Money market investments are in accordance with established internal treasury policies which dictate that an investment’s long-term credit rating is no lower than mid BBB. Additionally, the Group invests in AAA unsecured money market mutual funds where the investment is limited to 10% of each fund. The Group has investments in repurchase agreements which are fully collateralised investments. The collateral is sovereign and supranational debt with at least one AAA rating denominated in euros, sterling and US dollars and can be readily converted to cash. In the event of any default, ownership of the collateral would revert to the Group. Detailed below is the value of the collateral held by the Group at 31 March: 2016 £m 2015 £m In respect of financial instruments used by the Group’s treasury function, the aggregate credit risk the Group may have with one counterparty is limited by (i) reference to the long-term credit ratings assigned for that counterparty by Moody’s, Fitch Ratings and Standard & Poor’s; (ii) that counterparty’s five year credit default swap (‘CDS’) spread; and (iii) the sovereign credit rating of that counterparty’s principal operating jurisdiction. Furthermore, collateral support agreements were introduced from the fourth quarter of 2008. Under collateral support agreements the Group’s exposure to a counterparty with whom a collateral support agreement is in place is reduced to the extent that the counterparty must post cash collateral when there is value due to the Group under outstanding derivative contracts that exceeds a contractually agreed threshold amount. When value is due to the counterparty the Group is required to post collateral on identical terms. Such cash collateral is adjusted daily as necessary. In the event of any default, ownership of the cash collateral would revert to the respective holder at that point. Detailed below is the value of the cash collateral, which is reported within short-term borrowings, held by the Group at 31 March: 2016 £m 2015 £m The majority of the Group’s trade receivables are due for maturity within 90 days and largely comprise amounts receivable from consumers and business customers. At 31 March 2016 £3,227 million (2015: £2,869 million) of trade receivables were not yet due for payment. Overdue trade receivables consisted of £1,293 million (2015: £1,141 million) relating to the Europe region, and £252 million (2015: £222 million) relating to the AMAP region. Financial statements are monitored by management and provisions for bad and doubtful debts raised where it is deemed appropriate. The following table presents ageing of receivables that are past due and provisions for doubtful receivables that have been established: 2016 2015 Gross receivables £m Less provisions £m Net receivables £m Gross receivables £m Less provisions £m Net receivables £m Concentrations of credit risk with respect to trade receivables are limited given that the Group’s customer base is large and unrelated. Due to this, management believes there is no further credit risk provision required in excess of the normal provision for bad and doubtful receivables. Amounts charged to administrative expenses during the year ended 31 March 2016 were £498 million (2015: £541 million; 2014: £347 million) (see note 15 “Trade and other receivables”). As discussed in note 30 “Contingent liabilities and legal proceedings”, the Group has covenanted to provide security in favour of the trustee of the Vodafone Group UK Pension Scheme in respect of the funding deficit in the scheme. The security takes the form of an English law pledge over UK index linked government bonds. 136 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 30 days or less 727(272)455 417(61) 356 Between 31 and 60 days 261(69)192 231(35) 196 Between 61 and 180 days 394(89) 305 288(67) 221 Greater than 180 days 1,108(515)593 1,205(615)590 2,490(945)1,545 2,141(778)1,363 Cash collateral 2,837 2,542 Sovereign 2,700 1,977 Supranational – 23 2,700 2,000

 


Table of Contents

 

Liquidity risk At 31 March 2016 the Group had €4.0 billion and US$4.1 billion syndicated committed undrawn bank facilities which support the US$15 billion and £8 billion commercial paper programme available to the Group. The Group uses commercial paper and bank facilities to manage short-term liquidity and manages long-term liquidity by raising funds in the capital markets. The euro syndicated committed facility has a maturity date of 28 March 2021. From 28 March 2020 the facility will be downsized to €3.9 billion as one lender did not exercise the option to extend the facility for a further year as requested by the Company. The US$ syndicated committed facility has a maturity date of 27 February 2021 with each lender having the option to extend the facility for a further year prior to the second anniversary of the facility, if requested by the Company. From 27 February 2020 the facility will be downsized to US$3.9 billion as one lender did not exercise the option to extend the facility for a further year as requested by the Company. Both facilities have remained undrawn throughout the financial year and since year end and provide liquidity support. The Group manages liquidity risk on long-term borrowings by maintaining a varied maturity profile with a cap on the level of debt maturity in any one calendar year, therefore minimising refinancing risk. Long-term borrowings mature between one and 29 years. Liquidity is reviewed daily on at least a 12 month rolling basis and stress tested on the assumption that all commercial paper outstanding matures and is not reissued. The Group maintains substantial cash and cash equivalents which at 31 March 2016 amounted to £10,218 million (2015: £6,882 million). Market risk Interest rate management Under the Group’s interest rate management policy, interest rates on monetary assets and liabilities denominated in euros, US dollars and sterling are maintained on a floating rate basis except for periods up to six years where interest rate fixing has to be undertaken in accordance with treasury policy. Where assets and liabilities are denominated in other currencies interest rates may also be fixed. In addition, fixing is undertaken for longer periods when interest rates are statistically low. For each one hundred basis point fall or rise in market interest rates for all currencies in which the Group had borrowings at 31 March 2016 there would be an increase or decrease in profit before tax by approximately £23 million (2015: increase or decrease by £36 million) including mark-to-market revaluations of interest rate and other derivatives and the potential interest on outstanding tax issues. There would be no material impact on equity. Foreign exchange management As Vodafone’s primary listing is on the London Stock Exchange its share price is quoted in sterling. Since the sterling share price represents the value of its future multi-currency cash flows, principally in euro, South African rand, Indian rupee and sterling, the Group maintains the currency of debt and interest charges in proportion to its expected future principal multi-currency cash flows and has a policy to hedge external foreign exchange risks on transactions denominated in other currencies above certain de minimis levels. At 31 March 2016, 109% of net debt was denominated in currencies other than sterling (59% euro, 26% India rupee, 10% US dollar and 14% other) while 9% of net debt had been purchased forward in sterling in anticipation of sterling denominated shareholder returns via dividends. This allows euro, US dollar and other debt to be serviced in proportion to expected future cash flows and therefore provides a partial hedge against income statement translation exposure, as interest costs will be denominated in foreign currencies. Under the Group’s foreign exchange management policy, foreign exchange transaction exposure in Group companies is generally maintained at the lower of €5 million per currency per month or €15 million per currency over a six month period. The Group recognises foreign exchange movements in equity for the translation of net investment hedging instruments and balances treated as investments in foreign operations. However, there is no net impact on equity for exchange rate movements on net investment hedging instruments as there would be an offset in the currency translation of the foreign operation. At 31 March 2016 the Group held financial liabilities in a net investment against the Group’s consolidated euro net assets. Sensitivity to foreign exchange movements on the hedging liabilities, analysed against a strengthening of the euro by 8% (2015: 5%) would result in a decrease in equity of £1,350 million (2015: £876 million) which would be fully offset by foreign exchange movements on the hedged net assets. The following table details the Group’s sensitivity of the Group’s adjusted operating profit to a strengthening of the Group’s major currency in which it transacts. The percentage movement applied to the currency is based on the average movements in the previous three annual reporting periods. Amounts are calculated by retranslating the operating profit of each entity whose functional currency is euro. 2016 £m 2015 £m Note: 1 Operating profit before impairment losses and other income and expense. At 31 March 2016 the Group’s sensitivity to foreign exchange movements, analysed against a strengthening of the US dollar by 8% (2015: 9%) on its external US dollar exposure, would decrease the profit before tax by £60 million (2015: £71 million). Foreign exchange on certain internal balances analysed against a strengthening of the US dollar of 8% (2015: 9%) and euro of 8% (2015: 5%) would increase the profit before tax by £0.8 million (2015: decrease profit by £65 million) and decrease profit before tax by £318 million (2015: £186 million) for US dollar and euro respectively. Equity risk There is no material equity risk relating to the Group’s equity investments which are detailed in note 13 “Other investments”. The Group has hedged its exposure under the subordinated mandatory convertible bonds to any future movements in its share price by an option strategy designed to hedge the economic impact of share price movements during the term of the bonds. As at 31 March 2016 the Group’s sensitivity to a movement of 5% in its share price would result in an increase or decrease in profit before tax of approximately £144 million. 137 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Euro 8% (2015: 5%) change – Operating profit1 109 81

 


Table of Contents

 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements (continued) 23. Capital and financial risk management (continued) Fair value of financial instruments The table below sets out the valuation basis1 of financial instruments held at fair value by the Group at 31 March. Level 12 Level 23 Total 2016 £m 2015 £m 2016 £m 2015 £m 2016 £m 2015 £m Notes: 1 There were no changes made during the year to valuation methods or the processes to determine classification and no transfers were made between the levels in the fair value hierarchy. 2 Level 1 classification comprises financial instruments where fair value is determined by unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. 3 Level 2 classification comprises items where fair value is determined from inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Derivative financial instrument fair values are present values determined from future cash flows discounted at rates derived from market sourced data. 4 Listed and unlisted securities are classified as held for sale financial assets and fair values are derived from observable quoted market prices for similar items. Details are included in note 13 “Other investments”. Fair value and carrying value information The fair values and carrying values of the Group’s financial assets and financial liabilities held at amortised cost are set out in the table below1. Unless otherwise stated, the valuation basis is level 2, comprising financial instruments where fair value is determined from inputs other than quoted prices observable for the asset or liability either directly or indirectly. The fair value of bonds are based on level 1 of the fair value hierarchy, using unadjusted quoted market prices for identical assets or liabilities. Fair value Carrying value 2016 £m 2015 £m 2016 £m 2015 £m Notes: 1 2 3 4 5 The Group’s trade and other receivables and trade and other payables are not shown in the table above. The carrying amounts of both categories approximate their fair values. Cash and cash equivalents are held by the Group on a short-term basis with all having a maturity of three months or less. The carrying value approximates their fair value. Other debt and bonds is predominantly comprised of loan notes from Verizon Communications Inc. (refer to note 13 “Other investments”) and collateral paid on derivative financial instruments. The Group’s bonds are held at amortised cost with fair values available from market observable prices. Commercial paper and other banks loans are held at amortised cost with fair values calculated from market observable data where appropriate. 138 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 (28,923) (24,013) (29,286) (23,975) Cash and cash equivalents2 10,218 6,882 10,218 6,882 Cash and other investments held in restricted deposits2 791 650 791 650 Other debt and bonds3 5,052 3,551 5,052 3,551 16,061 11,083 16,061 11,083 Short-term borrowings: Bonds4 (2,036) (1,798) (2,033) (1,786) Commercial paper5 (7,396) (5,077) (7,396) (5,077) Bank loans and other short-term borrowings5 (6,599) (5,766) (6,591) (5,760) (16,031) (12,641) (16,020) (12,623) Long-term borrowings: Bonds4 (21,693) (17,109) (22,135) (17,174) Bank loans and other long-term borrowings5 (7,260) (5,346) (7,192) (5,261) (28,953) (22,455) (29,327) (22,435) Financial assets: Fair value through the income statement – – 1,950 3,184 1,950 3,184 Derivative financial instruments: Interest rate swaps – – 2,411 2,466 2,411 2,466 Cross currency interest rate swaps – – 1,626 1,506 1,626 1,506 Interest rate options – – 36 – 36 – Foreign exchange contracts – – 231 33 231 33 Interest rate futures – – 4 8 4 8 – – 6,258 7,197 6,258 7,197 Financial investments available-for-sale: Listed equity securities4 3 4 – – 3 4 Unlisted equity securities4 – – 82 222 82 222 3 4 82 222 85 226 3 4 6,340 7,419 6,343 7,423 Financial liabilities: Derivative financial instruments: Interest rate swaps – – 907 682 907 682 Cross currency interest rate swaps – – 534 245 534 245 Interest rate options – – 64 11 64 11 Foreign exchange contracts – – 59 46 59 46 – – 1,564 984 1,564 984

 


Table of Contents

 

Net financial instruments The table below shows the Group’s financial assets and liabilities that are subject to offset in the balance sheet and the impact of enforceable master netting or similar agreements. At 31 March 2016 Related amounts not set off in the balance sheet Amounts presented in balance sheet £m Right of set off with derivative counterparties £m Gross amount £m Amount set off £m Cash collateral £m Net amount £m At 31 March 2015 Related amounts not set off in the balance sheet Amounts presented in balance sheet £m Right of set off with derivative counterparties £m Gross amount £m Amount set off £m Cash collateral £m Net amount £m Derivative financial assets 4,005 – 4,005 (726) (2,542) 737 Derivative financial liabilities (984) – (984) 726 30 (228) Total 3,021 – 3,021 – (2,512) 509 Financial assets and liabilities are offset and the amount reported in the consolidated balance sheet when there is a legally enforceable right to offset the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously. Derivative financial instruments that do not meet the criteria for offset could be settled net in certain circumstances under ISDA (International Swaps and Derivatives Association) agreements where each party has the option to settle amounts on a net basis in the event of default from the other. Collateral may be offset and net settled against derivative financial instruments in the event of default by either party. The aforementioned collateral balances are recorded in “other short-term investments” or “short-term debt” respectively. 4. Directors and key management compensatio This note details the total amounts earned by the Company’s Directors and members of the Executive Committee. Directors Aggregate emoluments of the Directors of the Company were as follows: 2016 £m 2015 £m 2014 £m Notes: 1 Excludes gains from long-term incentive plans. 2 Includes the value of the cash allowance taken by some individuals in lieu of pension contributions. The aggregate gross pre-tax gain made on the exercise of share options in the year ended 31 March 2016 by one Director who served during the year was £0.2 million (2015: one Director, <£0.1 million; 2014: three Directors, £4.0 million). Key management compensation Aggregate compensation for key management, being the Directors and members of the Executive Committee, was as follows: 2016 £m 2015 £m 2014 £m 139 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Short-term employee benefits 22 1817 Share-based payments 20 1821 42 36 38 Salaries and fees 4 44 Incentive schemes1 2 32 Other benefits2 1 11 7 8 7 2 n Derivative financial assets 4,304–4,304 (1,216)(2,837) 251 Derivative financial liabilities (1,564)–(1,564) 1,216110 (238) Total 2,740–2,740 –(2,727) 13

 


Table of Contents

 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements (continued) 25. Employees This note shows the average number of people employed by the Group during the year, in which areas of our business our employees work and where they are based. It also shows total employment costs. 2016 Employees 2015 Employees 2014 Employees The cost incurred in respect of these employees (including Directors) was: 2016 £m 2015 £m 2014 £m The Group has dialogue with recognised labour unions if required. In particular, there are regular meetings with the Vodafone European Employee Consultative Council (the ‘EECC’). The delegates of this body are locally elected Vodafone employee representatives, most of them union and works council members. There has been no material disruption to operations as a result of union activity during the financial year. 140 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Wages and salaries 3,632 3,4693,261 Social security costs 455 442364 Other pension costs (note 26) 207 195158 Share-based payments (note 27) 117 8892 4,411 4,1943,875 By activity: Operations 18,869 17,60214,947 Selling and distribution 38,325 35,62931,342 Customer care and administration 54,490 52,06942,857 111,684 105,30089,146 By segment: Germany 14,862 14,52010,623 Italy 6,676 6,7571,123 Spain 5,935 5,3243,552 UK 13,323 12,43712,979 Other Europe 16,058 15,19015,392 Europe 56,854 54,22843,669 India 13,346 12,30311,925 Vodacom 7,515 7,2607,176 Other Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific 14,262 14,31216,002 Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific 35,123 33,87535,103 Non-Controlled Interests and Common Functions 19,707 17,19710,374 Total 111,684 105,30089,146

 


Table of Contents

 

26. Post employment benefits We operate a number of defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans for our employees. The Group’s largest defined benefit scheme is in the UK. For further details see “Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty” in note 1 “Basis of preparation” to the consolidated financial statements. Accounting policies For defined benefit retirement plans, the difference between the fair value of the plan assets and the present value of the plan liabilities is recognised as an asset or liability on the statement of financial position. Scheme liabilities are assessed using the projected unit funding method and applying the principal actuarial assumptions at the reporting period date. Assets are valued at market value. Actuarial gains and losses are taken to the statement of comprehensive income as incurred. For this purpose, actuarial gains and losses comprise both the effects of changes in actuarial assumptions and experience adjustments arising because of differences between the previous actuarial assumptions and what has actually occurred. The return on plan assets, in excess of interest income, is also taken to other comprehensive income. Other movements in the net surplus or deficit are recognised in the income statement, including the current service cost, any past service cost and the effect of any settlements. The interest cost less the expected interest income on assets is also charged to the income statement. The amount charged to the income statement in respect of these plans is included within operating costs or in the Group’s share of the results of equity accounted operations, as appropriate. Cumulative actuarial gains and losses at 1 April 2004, the date of transition to IFRS, were recognised in the statement of financial position. The Group contributions to defined contribution pension plans are charged to the income statement as they fall due. Background At 31 March 2016 the Group operated a number of pension plans for the benefit of its employees throughout the world, with varying rights and obligations depending on the conditions and practices in the countries concerned. The Group’s pension plans are provided through both defined benefit and defined contribution arrangements. Defined benefit schemes provide benefits based on the employees’ length of pensionable service and their final pensionable salary or other criteria. Defined contribution schemes offer employees individual funds that are converted into benefits at the time of retirement. The Group operates defined benefit schemes in Germany, Ghana, India, Ireland, Italy, the UK and the United States. Defined contribution pension schemes are currently provided in Australia, Egypt, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, South Africa, Spain and the UK. Income statement expense 2016 £m 2015 £m 2014 £m 141 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Defined contribution schemes 163 155124 Defined benefit schemes 44 207 4034 Total amount charged to income statement (note 25) 195 158

 


Table of Contents

 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements (continued) 26. Post employment benefits (continued) Defined benefit schemes The Group’s main defined benefit scheme is in the UK, being the Vodafone UK Group Pension Scheme (‘Vodafone UK plan’). There are two segregated sections of the Vodafone UK plan, the pre-existing assets and liabilities of the Vodafone UK plan in the Vodafone Section and the former Cable & Wireless Worldwide Retirement Plan (‘CWWRP’) assets and liabilities, which were transferred into the Vodafone UK plan on 6 June 2014, in the CWW Section, with the CWWRP then being wound up. The pre-existing Vodafone UK plan and the former CWWRP plan closed to future accrual on 31 March 2010 and 30 November 2013 respectively. Until 30 November 2013 the CWWRP allowed employees to accrue a pension at a rate of 1/85th of their final salary for each year of service until the retirement age of 60 with a maximum pension of two thirds of final salary. Employees contributed 5% of their salary into the scheme. The defined benefit plans are administered by Trustee Boards that are legally separated from the Group. The Trustee Board of each pension fund consists of representatives who are employees, former employees or are independent from the Company. The Boards of the pension funds are required by law to act in the best interest of the plan participants and are responsible for setting certain policies, such as investment and contribution policies, and the governance of the fund. The defined benefit pension schemes expose the Group to actuarial risks such as longer than expected longevity of members, lower than expected return on investments and higher than expected inflation, which may increase the liabilities or reduce the value of assets of the plans. The UK pensions environment is regulated by the Pensions Regulator whose statutory objectives are set out in legislation and include promoting and improving understanding of the good administration of work-based pensions, protecting member benefits and regulating occupational defined benefit and contribution schemes. The Pensions Regulator is a non-departmental public body established under the Pensions Act 2004 and sponsored by the Department for Work And Pensions, operating within a legal regulatory framework set by the UK Parliament. The Pensions Regulator’s statutory objectives and regulatory powers are described on its website at thepensionsregulator.gov.uk. The Vodafone UK plan is registered as an occupational pension plan with HMRC and is subject to UK legislation and oversight from the Pensions Regulator. UK legislation requires that pension schemes are funded prudently and that valuations are undertaken at least every three years. Separate valuations are required for the Vodafone Section and CWW Section. Within 15 months of each valuation date, the plan trustees and the Group must agree any contributions required to ensure that the plan is fully funded over time on a suitably prudent measure. The publication by the International Accounting Standards Board in June 2015 of its Exposure Draft of amendments to IFRIC 14 IAS 19 – The Limit on a Defined Benefit Asset, Minimum Funding Requirements and their Interaction, has provided additional clarity on the role of trustees’ rights in an assessment of the recoverability of a surplus in an employee pension fund. The trustees of the Vodafone UK plan have neither a unilateral right to wind up the plan and purchase annuities nor a unilateral right to improve members’ benefits and consequently the Exposure Draft as currently proposed is not expected to have a material impact on the Group’s results. The most recent valuations for the Vodafone and CWWRP sections of the Vodafone UK plan were carried out as at 31 March 2013 by independent actuaries appointed by the plan trustees. These valuations revealed a total deficit of £437 million on the schemes’ funding basis. Following the valuation, the Group paid special one-off contributions totalling £365 million in April 2014 (£325 million into the Vodafone Section and £40 million into the CWW Section). These lump sum contributions represented accelerated funding amounts that would otherwise have been due over the period to 31 March 2020. No further contributions were therefore due to the Vodafone UK plan for the period to 31 March 2016. The next valuation, which is being performed as at 31 March 2016, will be completed during the 2017 financial year after which the position of the scheme will be reassessed. Funding plans are individually agreed for each of the Group’s defined benefit pension schemes with the respective trustees, taking into account local regulatory requirements. It is expected that ordinary contributions relating to future service of £39 million will be paid into the Group’s defined benefit pension schemes during the year ending 31 March 2017. The main UK defined benefit scheme will be carrying out a Pension Increase Exchange (‘PIE’) exercise between May and August 2016. All eligible pensioners will be given the opportunity to exchange future increases on part or all of their pension and receive a higher pension immediately. If they accept the offer (after taking financial advice), they will no longer receive future increases on that part of their pension. It is expected that this exercise will reduce the future liabilities of the scheme which will be reflected in next year’s accounts The Group has also provided certain guarantees in respect of the Vodafone UK plan; further details are provided in note 30 “Contingent liabilities and legal proceedings” to the consolidated financial statements. Actuarial assumptions The Group’s scheme liabilities are measured using the projected unit credit method using the principal actuarial assumptions set out below: 2016 % 2015 % 2014 % Notes: 1 Figures shown represent a weighted average assumption of the individual schemes. 2 The rate of increase in pensions in payment and deferred payment is the rate of inflation. Mortality assumptions used are based on recommendations from the individual scheme actuaries which include adjustments for the experience of the Group where appropriate. The Group’s largest scheme is the Vodafone UK plan. Further life expectancies assumed for the UK schemes are 24.0/25.3 years (2015: 24.5/25.8 years; 2014: 23.3/24.7 years) for a male/female pensioner currently aged 65 and 26.6/28.1 years (2015: 27.1/28.7 years; 2014: 25.9/27.5 years) from age 65 for a male/female non-pensioner member currently aged 40. 142 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Weighted average actuarial assumptions used at 31 March1: Rate of inflation2 2.8 3.03.2 Rate of increase in salaries 2.6 2.83.1 Discount rate 3.2 3.04.2

 


Table of Contents

 

Charges made to the consolidated income statement and consolidated statement of comprehensive income (‘SOCI’) on the basis of the assumptions stated above are: 2016 £m 2015 £m 2014 £m Note: 1 Amounts disclosed in the SOCI are stated net of £30 million of tax (2015: £57 million; 2014: £20 million). Fair value of the assets and present value of the liabilities of the schemes The amount included in the statement of financial position arising from the Group’s obligations in respect of its defined benefit schemes is as follows: Assets £m Liabilities £m Net deficit £m 1 April 2014 3,842 (4,391) (549) Service cost – (37) (37) Interest income/(cost) 176 (179) (3) Return on plan assets excluding interest income 721 – 721 Actuarial losses arising from changes in financial assumptions – (982) (982) Actuarial losses arising from experience adjustments – (8) (8) Employer cash contributions 404 – 404 Member cash contributions 9 (9) – Benefits paid (95) 95 – Exchange rate movements (83) 116 33 Other movements (18) 41 23 31 March 2015 4,956 (5,354) (398) An analysis of net (deficit)/assets is provided below for the Group as a whole. 2016 £m 2015 £m 2014 £m 2013 £m 2012 £m Note: 1 Pension assets are deemed to be recoverable and there are no adjustments in respect of minimum funding requirements as future economic benefits are available to the Company either in the form of future refunds or, for plans still open to benefit accrual, in the form of possible reductions in future contributions. 143 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Analysis of net deficit: Total fair value of scheme assets 4,925 4,9563,8423,7231,604 Present value of funded scheme liabilities (5,129) (5,288)(4,325)(4,239)(1,853) Net deficit for funded schemes (204) (332)(483)(516)(249) Present value of unfunded scheme liabilities (66) (66) (66) (12)(12) Net deficit (270) (398)(549)(528)(261) Net deficit is analysed as: Assets1 177 169355231 Liabilities (447) (567)(584)(580)(292) Service cost –(36) (36) Interest income/(cost) 149(157)(8) Return on plan assets excluding interest income (151)–(151) Actuarial gains arising from changes in demographic assumptions –7171 Actuarial gains arising from changes in financial assumptions –276276 Actuarial losses arising from experience adjustments –(40) (40) Employer cash contributions 27–27 Member cash contributions 7(7) – Benefits paid (118)118– Exchange rate movements 59(84)(25) Other movements (4) 1814 31 March 2016 4,925(5,195)(270) Current service cost 36 3714 Net interest charge 8 320 Total included within staff costs 44 40 34 Actuarial (gains)/losses recognised in the SOCI1 (156) 269(57)

 


Table of Contents

 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements (continued) 26. Post employment benefits (continued) An analysis of net assets/(deficit) is provided below for the Group’s largest defined benefit pension scheme in the UK, which is a funded scheme. Following the merger of the Vodafone UK plan and the CWWRP plan on 6 June 2014 the assets and liabilities of the CWW Section are segregated from the Vodafone Section and hence are reported separately below. CWW Section1 Vodafone Section2 2016 £m 2015 £m 2014 £m 2013 £m 2016 £m 2015 £m 2014 £m 2013 £m 2012 £m Notes: 1 Cable & Wireless Worldwide Retirement Plan until 6 June 2014. 2 Vodafone UK plan until 6 June 2014. 3 Pension assets are deemed to be recoverable and there are no adjustments in respect of minimum funding requirements as future economic benefits are available to the Company either in the form of future refunds or, for plans still open to benefit accrual, in the form of possible reductions in future contributions. Duration of the benefit obligations The weighted average duration of the defined benefit obligation at 31 March 2016 is 22.3 years (2015: 22.7 years; 2014: 21.7 years). Fair value of pension assets 2016 £m 2015 £m Note: 1 Derivatives include collateral held in the form of cash. The schemes have no direct investments in the Group’s equity securities or in property currently used by the Group. Each of the plans manages risks through a variety of methods and strategies including equity protection, to limit downside risk in falls in equity markets, inflation and interest rate hedging and, in the CWW Section of the Vodafone UK plan, a substantial insured pensioner buy-in policy. The actual return on plan assets over the year to 31 March 2016 was a loss of £2 million (2015: £897 million return). Sensitivity analysis Measurement of the Group’s defined benefit retirement obligation is sensitive to changes in certain key assumptions. The sensitivity analysis below shows how a reasonably possible increase or decrease in a particular assumption would, in isolation, result in an increase or decrease in the present value of the defined benefit obligation as at 31 March 2016. Rate of inflation Rate of increase in salaries Discount rate Life expectancy Decrease by 0.5% £m Increase by 0.5% £m Decrease by 0.5% £m Increase by 0.5% £m Decrease by 0.5% £m Increase by 0.5% £m Increase by 1 year Decrease by 1 year £m £m (Decrease)/increase in present value of defined obligation (395) 448 (4) 4 597 (511) 126 (126) The sensitivity analysis may not be representative of an actual change in the defined benefit obligation as it is unlikely that changes in assumptions would occur in isolation of one another. In presenting this sensitivity analysis, the change in the present value of the defined benefit obligation has been calculated on the same basis as prior years using the projected unit credit method at the end of the reporting period, which is the same as that applied in calculating the defined benefit obligation liability recognised in the statement of financial position. 144 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Cash and cash equivalents 87 97 Equity investments: With quoted prices in an active market 1,487 1,489 Without quoted prices in an active market 157 154 Debt instruments: With quoted prices in an active market 2,747 2,567 Property: With quoted prices in an active market 8 7 Without quoted prices in an active market 15 12 Derivatives:1 With quoted prices in an active market (292) 99 Without quoted prices in an active market – – Investment fund 231 – Annuity policies – Without quoted prices in an active market 485 531 Total 4,925 4,956 Analysis of net assets/(deficit): Total fair value of scheme assets 2,184 2,2511,7801,827 1,904 1,9121,3431,3281,218 Present value of scheme liabilities (2,011) (2,085)(1,732)(1,874) (2,015) (2,133) (1,677) (1,647)(1,444) Net assets/(deficit) 173 166 48 (47) (111) (221)(334)(319)(226) Net assets/(deficit) are analysed as: Assets3 173 16648– – –––– Liabilities – ––(47) (111) (221) (334)(319)(226)

 


Table of Contents

 

27. Share-based payments We have a number of share plans used to award shares to Directors and employees as part of their remuneration package. A charge is recognised over the vesting period in the consolidated income statement to record the cost of these, based on the fair value of the award on the grant date. Accounting policies The Group issues equity-settled share-based payments to certain employees. Equity-settled share-based payments are measured at fair value (excluding the effect of non-market-based vesting conditions) at the date of grant. The fair value determined at the grant date of the equity-settled share-based payments is expensed on a straight-line basis over the vesting period, based on the Group’s estimate of the shares that will eventually vest and adjusted for the effect of non-market-based vesting conditions. A corresponding increase in retained earnings is also recognised. Some share awards have an attached market condition, based on total shareholder return (‘TSR’), which is taken into account when calculating the fair value of the share awards. The valuation for the TSR is based on Vodafone’s ranking within the same group of companies, where possible, over the past five years. The fair value of awards of non-vested shares is equal to the closing price of the Group’s shares on the date of grant, adjusted for the present value of the delay in receiving dividends where appropriate. The maximum aggregate number of ordinary shares which may be issued in respect of share options or share plans will not (without shareholder approval) exceed: a 10% of the ordinary share capital of the Company in issue immediately prior to the date of grant, when aggregated with the total number of ordinary shares which have been allocated in the preceding ten year period under all plans; and a 5% of the ordinary share capital of the Company in issue immediately prior to the date of grant, when aggregated with the total number of ordinary shares which have been allocated in the preceding ten year period under all plans, other than any plans which are operated on an all-employee basis. Share options Vodafone Group executive plans No share options have been granted to any Directors or employees under the Company’s discretionary share option plans in the year ended 31 March 2016. There are options outstanding under the Vodafone Group 1999 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan and the Vodafone Global Incentive Plan. These options are normally exercisable between three and ten years from the date of grant. The vesting of some of these options was subject to satisfaction of performance conditions. Grants made to US employees are made in respect of American Depositary Shares (‘ADS’). Vodafone Group Share save Plan The Vodafone Group 2008 Share save Plan enables UK staff to acquire shares in the Company through monthly savings of up to £250 over a three and/or five year period, at the end of which they may also receive a tax free bonus. The savings and bonus may then be used to purchase shares at the option price, which is set at the beginning of the invitation period and usually at a discount of 20% to the then prevailing market price of the Company’s shares. Share plans Vodafone Group executive plans Under the Vodafone Global Incentive Plan awards of shares are granted to Directors and certain employees. The release of these shares is conditional upon continued employment and, for some awards, achievement of certain performance targets measured over a three year period. Vodafone Share Incentive Plan The Vodafone Share Incentive Plan enables UK staff to acquire shares in the Company through monthly purchases of up to £125 per month or 5% of salary, whichever is lower. For each share purchased by the employee, the Company provides a free matching share. 145 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information

 


Table of Contents

 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements (continued) 27. Share-based payments (continued) Movements in outstanding ordinary share and ADS options ADS options Ordinary share options 2016 Millions 2015 Millions 2014 Millions 2016 Millions 2015 Millions 2014 Millions Summary of options outstanding and exercisable at 31 March 2016 Outstanding Exercisable Weighted average remaining contractual life Months Weighted average remaining contractual life Months Weighted average exercise price Weighted average exercise price Outstanding shares Millions Exercisable shares Millions Share awards Movements in non-vested shares are as follows: 2016 2015 2014 Weighted average fair value at grant date Weighted average fair value at grant date Weighted average fair value at grant date Millions Millions Millions Other information The total fair value of shares vested during the year ended 31 March 2016 was £58 million (2015: £84 million; 2014: £90 million). The compensation cost included in the consolidated income statement in respect of share options and share plans was £117 million (2015: £88 million; 2014: £92 million) which is comprised principally of equity-settled transactions. The average share price for the year ended 31 March 2016 was 224.2 pence (2015: 212.7 pence; 2014: 212.2 pence). 146 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 1 April 217£1.56 243£1.44294£1.27 Granted 63£2.22 83£1.6384£1.58 Vested (32) £1.80 (62) £1.35(81) £1.11 Forfeited (50) £1.40 (47) £1.35(54) £1.19 31 March 198 £1.77 217 £1.56243 £1.44 Vodafone Group savings related and Share save Plan: £1.01–£2.00 23£1.62 29–– – Vodafone Group 1999 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan: £1.01–£2.00 1£1.68 161£1.68 16 1 April – 25 2740 Granted during the year – –– 7 712 Forfeited during the year – –– (1) (2) (1) Exercised during the year – –– (5) (6) (22) Expired during the year – –– (2) (1) (2) 31 March – –– 24 25 27 Weighted average exercise price: 1 April – –US$22.16 £1.49 £1.42£1.41 Granted during the year – –– £1.89 £1.56£1.49 Forfeited during the year – –– £1.54 £1.45£1.34 Exercised during the year – –US$29.31 £1.42 £1.25£1.43 Expired during the year – –– £1.59 £1.45£1.37 31 March – –– £1.62 £1.49£1.42

 


Table of Contents

 

28. Acquisitions and disposals We completed a number of small acquisitions during the year. The note below provides details of these transactions as well as those in the prior year including, most significantly, the acquisition of Grupo Corporativo Ono, S.A. (‘Ono’). For further details see “Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty” in note 1 “Basis of preparation” to the consolidated financial statements. Accounting policies Business combinations Acquisitions of subsidiaries are accounted for using the acquisition method. The cost of the acquisition is measured at the aggregate of the fair values at the date of exchange of assets given, liabilities incurred or assumed and equity instruments issued by the Group. Acquisition-related costs are recognised in the income statement as incurred. The acquiree’s identifiable assets and liabilities are recognised at their fair values at the acquisition date. Goodwill is measured as the excess of the sum of the consideration transferred, the amount of any non-controlling interests in the acquiree and the fair value of the Group’s previously held equity interest in the acquiree, if any, over the net amounts of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date. The interest of the non-controlling shareholders in the acquiree may initially be measured either at fair value or at the non-controlling shareholders’ proportion of the net fair value of the identifiable assets acquired, liabilities and contingent liabilities assumed. The choice of measurement basis is made on an acquisition-by-acquisition basis. Acquisition of interests from non-controlling shareholders In transactions with non-controlling parties that do not result in a change in control, the difference between the fair value of the consideration paid or received and the amount by which the non-controlling interest is adjusted is recognised in equity. Acquisitions The aggregate cash consideration in respect of purchases of interests in subsidiaries, net of cash acquired, is as follows: £m Acquisitions During the 2016 financial year, the Group completed a number of acquisitions for an aggregate net cash consideration of £43 million. The aggregate fair values of goodwill, identifiable assets and liabilities of the acquired operations were £17 million, £38 million and £12 million respectively. In addition, the Group completed the acquisition of certain non-controlling interests for a net cash consideration of £48 million. Grupo Corporativo Ono, S.A. (‘Ono’) On 23 July 2014, the Group acquired the entire share capital of Ono for a cash consideration of £2,945 million. The primary reason for acquiring the business was to create a leading integrated communications operator in Spain, offering customers unified communication services. The purchase price allocation is set out in the table below: Fair value £m Notes: 1 Identifiable intangible assets of £777 million consisted of customer contracts and relationships of £710 million, brand of £33 million and software of £34 million. 2 The goodwill arising on acquisition is principally related to the synergies expected to arise following the integration of the Ono business. These principally relate to synergies expected to arise following integration of the respective networks, operating cost rationalisation and revenue synergies driven by the larger network footprint and incremental revenue streams from integrated services. 3 Transaction costs of £11 million were charged in the Group’s consolidated income statement in the year ended 31 March 2015. 147 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Net assets acquired: Identifiable intangible assets1 777 Property, plant and equipment 3,272 Other investments 7 Trade and other receivables 156 Cash and cash equivalents 143 Current and deferred taxation 647 Short and long-term borrowings (3,001) Trade and other payables (391) Provisions (83) Net identifiable assets acquired 1,527 Non-controlling interests (5) Goodwill2 1,423 Total consideration3 2,945 Cash consideration paid: Acquisitions completed during the year 44 Net cash acquired (1) 43

 


Table of Contents

 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements (continued) 28. Acquisitions and disposals (continued) Vodafone Omnitel B.V. (‘Vodafone Italy’) On 21 February 2014 the Group acquired a 100% interest in Vodafone Italy, having previously held a 76.9% stake which was accounted for as a joint venture. The Group acquired the additional 23.1% equity as part of the consideration received for the disposal of the Group’s interests in Verizon Wireless (see “Disposals” below). There was no observable market for Verizon shares and so the fair value of consideration paid by the Group for the acquisition was considered to be more reliably determined based on the acquisition-date fair value of Group’s existing equity interest in Vodafone Italy. Using a value in use basis, the consideration paid for the acquisition was determined to be £7,121 million, comprising £5,473 million for the Group’s existing 76.9% equity interest and £1,648 million for the additional 23.1% equity interest. Disposals Verizon Wireless (‘VZW’) On 21 February 2014 the Group sold its US sub-group which included its entire 45% shareholding in VZW to Verizon Communications Inc. for a total consideration of £76.7 billion before tax and transaction costs, comprising cash of £35.2 billion, shares in Verizon Communications Inc. of £36.7 billion, loan notes issued by Verizon Communications Inc. of £3.1 billion and a 21.3% interest in Vodafone Italy valued at £1.7 billion. The Group recognised a net gain on disposal of £44,996 million, reported in profit for the financial year from discontinued operations. 29. Commitments A commitment is a contractual obligation to make a payment in the future, mainly in relation to leases and agreements to buy assets such as network infrastructure and IT systems. These amounts are not recorded in the consolidated statement of financial position since we have not yet received the goods or services from the supplier. The amounts below are the minimum amounts that we are committed to pay. Accounting policies Leases are classified as finance leases whenever the terms of the lease transfer substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership of the asset to the lessee. All other leases are classified as operating leases. Assets held under finance leases are recognised as assets of the Group at their fair value at the inception of the lease or, if lower, at the present value of the minimum lease payments as determined at the inception of the lease. The corresponding liability to the lessor is included in the statement of financial position as a finance lease obligation. Lease payments are apportioned between finance charges and reduction of the lease obligation so as to achieve a constant rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability. Finance charges are recognised in the income statement. Rentals payable under operating leases are charged to the income statement on a straight-line basis over the term of the relevant lease. Benefits received and receivable as an incentive to enter into an operating lease are also spread on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Operating lease commitments The Group has entered into commercial leases on certain properties, network infrastructure, motor vehicles and items of equipment. The leases have various terms, escalation clauses, purchase options and renewal rights, none of which are individually significant to the Group. Future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases comprise: 2016 £m 2015 £m The total of future minimum sublease payments expected to be received under non-cancellable subleases is £397 million (2015: £358 million). Capital commitments Company and subsidiaries Share of joint operations Group 2016 £m 2015 £m 2016 £m 2015 £m 2016 £m 2015 £m Note: 1 Commitment includes contracts placed for property, plant and equipment and intangible assets. Capital commitments at 31 March 2015 included £2,682 million in relation to spectrum acquired in 12 telecom circles in India, the purchase of which was completed during the year. 148 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Contracts placed for future capital expenditure not provided in the financial statements1 1,954 4,871 97 86 2,051 4,957 Within one year 1,527 1,403 In more than one year but less than two years 1,096 925 In more than two years but less than three years 988 797 In more than three years but less than four years 797 698 In more than four years but less than five years 632 550 In more than five years 2,822 2,207 7,862 6,580

 


Table of Contents

 

Acquisition commitments On 15 February 2016 Vodafone announced that Liberty Global Europe Holding B.V. and Vodafone International Holdings B.V. had reached an agreement to merge their operating businesses in the Netherlands to form a 50:50 joint venture. The joint venture will operate under both the Vodafone and Ziggo brands and will create a nationwide integrated communications provider in the Netherlands. Based upon the enterprise value of each business, and after deducting Ziggo’s €7.3 billion of net debt, Vodafone will make a cash payment to Liberty Global of €1 billion to equalise ownership in the JV, reflecting the €2 billion difference in the two companies’ equity value. Vodafone Netherlands will be contributed to the JV on a debt and cash free basis. The transaction is expected to close around the end of 2016 and is subject to regulatory approvals and consultations with the Works Councils. During the year ended 31 March 2016 Vodafone agreed to acquire You Broadband (India) Private Limited and You System Integration Private Limited in India for £35 million. The transaction, which is expected to close later this year, is subject to regulatory approval by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board. 30. Contingent liabilities and legal proceedings Contingent liabilities are potential future cash outflows, where the likelihood of payment is considered more than remote, but is not considered probable or cannot be measured reliably. 2016 £m 2015 £m Notes: 1 Performance bonds require the Group to make payments to third parties in the event that the Group does not perform what is expected of it under the terms of any related contracts or commercial arrangements. 2 Other guarantees principally comprise Vodafone Group Plc’s guarantee of the Group’s 50% share of an AUD 1.7 billion loan facility and a US$3.5 billion loan facility of its joint venture, Vodafone Hutchison Australia Pty Limited. UK pension schemes The Group’s main defined benefit scheme is the Vodafone UK Group Pension Scheme which has two segregated sections, the Vodafone Section and the CWW Section, as detailed in note 26. The Group has covenanted to provide security in favour of the Vodafone UK Group Pension Scheme – Vodafone Section whilst there is a deficit in this section. The deficit is measured on a prescribed basis agreed between the Group and Trustee. In 2010 the Group and Trustee agreed security of a charge over UK index linked gilts (‘ILG’) held by the Group. The level of the security has varied since inception in line with the movement in the Scheme deficit. At the 31 March 2016 the Scheme retains security over £264.5 million (notional value) 2017 ILGs and £76.3 million (notional value) 2016 ILGs. The security may be substituted either on a voluntary or mandatory basis. As and when alternative security is provided, the Group has agreed that the security cover should include additional headroom of 33%, although if cash is used as the security asset the ratio will revert to 100% of the relevant liabilities or, where the proposed replacement security asset is listed on an internationally recognised stock exchange in certain core jurisdictions, the trustee may decide to agree a lower ratio than 133%. The Company has also provided two guarantees to the Vodafone Section of the scheme for a combined value up to £1.25 billion to provide security over the deficit under certain defined circumstances, including insolvency of the employers. The Company has also agreed a similar guarantee of up to £1.25 billion for the CWW Section. An additional smaller UK defined benefit scheme, the THUS Plc Group Scheme, has a guarantee from the Company for up to £110 million. Legal proceedings The Company and its subsidiaries are currently, and may from time to time become, involved in a number of legal proceedings, including inquiries from, or discussions with, governmental authorities that are incidental to their operations. However, save as disclosed below, the Company does not believe that it or its subsidiaries are currently involved in (i) any legal or arbitration proceedings (including any governmental proceedings which are pending or known to be contemplated) which may have, or have had in the 12 months preceding the date of this report, a material adverse effect on the financial position or profitability of the Company or its subsidiaries; or (ii) any material proceedings in which any of the Company’s Directors, members of senior management or affiliates are either a party adverse to the Company or its subsidiaries or have a material interest adverse to the Company or its subsidiaries. Due to inherent uncertainties, the Company cannot make any accurate quantification of any cost, or timing of such cost, which may arise from any of the legal proceedings referred to in this Annual Report. Telecom Egypt arbitration In October 2009 Telecom Egypt began an arbitration against Vodafone Egypt in Cairo alleging breach of non-discrimination provisions in an interconnection agreement as a result of lower interconnection rates paid to Vodafone Egypt by Mobinil. Telecom Egypt also sought to join Vodafone International Holdings BV (‘VIHBV’), Vodafone Europe BV (‘VEBV’) and Vodafone Group Plc to the arbitration. In January 2015 the arbitral tribunal issued its decision. It held unanimously that it had no jurisdiction to arbitrate the claim against VIHBV, VEBV and Vodafone Group Plc. The tribunal also held by a three to two majority that Telecom Egypt had failed to establish any liability on the part of Vodafone Egypt. Telecom Egypt applied to the Egyptian court to set aside the decision. On 15 March 2016 the Court of Appeal dismissed Telecom Egypt’s application to annul the arbitration award. Telecom Egypt had 60 days to appeal to the Cour de Cassation, which has now expired. Vodafone Egypt has applied for a certificate to confirm that no appeal has been filed. 149 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Performance bonds1 849 766 Other guarantees and contingent liabilities2 2,543 2,539

 


Table of Contents

 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements (continued) 30. Contingent liabilities and legal proceedings (continued) Indian tax case In August 2007 and September 2007, Vodafone India Limited (‘VIL’) and VIHBV respectively received notices from the Indian tax authority alleging potential liability in connection with an alleged failure by VIHBV to deduct withholding tax from consideration paid to the Hutchison Telecommunications International Limited group (‘HTIL’) in respect of HTIL’s gain on its disposal to VIHBV of its interests in a wholly-owned subsidiary that indirectly holds interests in VIL. In January 2012 the Indian Supreme Court handed down its judgement, holding that VIHBV’s interpretation of the Income Tax Act 1961 was correct, that the HTIL transaction in 2007 was not taxable in India, and that consequently, VIHBV had no obligation to withhold tax from consideration paid to HTIL in respect of the transaction. The Indian Supreme Court quashed the relevant notices and demands issued to VIHBV in respect of withholding tax and interest. On 20 March 2012 the Indian Government returned VIHBV’s deposit of INR 25 billion and released the guarantee for INR 85 billion, which was based on the demand for payment issued by the Indian tax authority in October 2010, for tax of INR 79 billion plus interest. On 28 May 2012 the Finance Act 2012 became law. The Finance Act 2012 contained provisions intended to tax any gain on transfer of shares in a non-Indian company, which derives substantial value from underlying Indian assets, such as VIHBV’s transaction with HTIL in 2007. Further it seeks to subject a purchaser, such as VIHBV, to a retrospective obligation to withhold tax. VIHBV received a letter on 3 January 2013 reminding it of the tax demand raised prior to the Indian Supreme Court’s judgement and purporting to update the interest element of that demand to a total amount of INR 142 billion. On 17 January 2014, VIHBV served an amended trigger notice on the Indian Government under the Dutch-India Bilateral Investment Treaty (‘Dutch BIT’), supplementing a trigger notice filed on 17 April 2012, immediately prior to the Finance Act 2012 becoming effective, to add claims relating to an attempt by the Indian Government to tax aspects of the transaction with HTIL under transfer pricing rules. VIHBV arbitration proceedings On 17 April 2014, VIHBV served its notice of arbitration under the Dutch BIT, formally commencing the Dutch BIT arbitration proceedings. An arbitrator has been appointed by VIHBV. The Indian Government has also appointed its arbitrator. The two party-appointed arbitrators failed to appoint a chairman. Consequently, the President of the International Court of Justice will now appoint the third arbitrator who will act as the presiding arbitrator. On 15 June 2015, Vodafone Group Plc and Vodafone Consolidated Holdings Limited served a trigger notice on the Indian Government under the United Kingdom-India Bilateral Investment Treaty (’UK BIT’) in respect of retrospective tax claims under the Finance Act 2012. On 4 February 2016, VIHBV received a reminder of an outstanding tax demand of INR 221 billion. The latest reminder threatens enforcement action if the demand is not satisfied. Separate proceedings in the Bombay High Court taken against VIHBV to seek to treat it as an agent of HTIL in respect of its alleged tax on the same transaction, as well as penalties of up to 100% of the assessed withholding tax for the alleged failure to have withheld such taxes, were listed for hearing at the request of the Indian Government on 21 April 2016 despite the issue having been ruled upon by the Indian Supreme Court. The hearing was adjourned to a date yet to be listed. Should a further demand for taxation be received by VIHBV or any member of the Group as a result of the retrospective legislation, we believe it is probable that we will be able to make a successful claim under the Dutch BIT and/or UK BIT. We did not carry a provision for this litigation or in respect of the retrospective legislation at 31 March 2016, or at previous reporting dates. Other Indian tax cases VIL and Vodafone India Services Private Limited (‘VISPL’) (formerly 3GSPL) are involved in a number of tax cases with total claims exceeding £1.4 billion plus interest, and penalties of up to 300% of the principal. VISPL tax claims VISPL has been assessed as owing tax of approximately £223 million (plus interest of £123 million) in respect of (i) a transfer pricing margin charged for the international call centre of HTIL prior to the 2007 transaction with Vodafone for HTIL assets in India; (ii) the sale of the international call centre by VISPL to HTIL; and (iii) the acquisition of and/or the alleged transfer of options held by VISPL for VIL. The first two of the three heads of tax are subject to an indemnity by HTIL. The larger part of the potential claim is not subject to any indemnity. VISPL unsuccessfully challenged the merits of the tax demand in the statutory tax tribunal and the jurisdiction of the tax office to make the demand in the High Court. The Tax Appeal Tribunal heard the appeal and ruled in the Tax Office’s favour. VISPL lodged an appeal (and stay application) in the Bombay High Court which was concluded in early May 2015. On 13 July 2015 the tax authorities issued a revised tax assessment reducing the tax VISPL had previously been assessed as owing in respect of (i) and (ii) above. In the meantime, (i) a stay of the tax demand on a deposit of £20 million and (ii) a corporate guarantee by VIHBV for the balance of tax assessed remain in place. On 8 October 2015, the Bombay High Court ruled in favour of Vodafone in relation to the options and the call centre sale. The Tax Office has recently appealed to the Supreme Court of India. Indian regulatory cases Litigation remains pending in the Telecommunications Dispute Settlement Appellate Tribunal (‘TDSAT’), High Courts and the Indian Supreme Court in relation to a number of significant regulatory issues including mobile termination rates (‘MTRs’), spectrum and licence fees, licence extension and 3G intra-circle roaming (‘ICR’). Public interest litigation: Yakesh Anand v Union of India, Vodafone and others The Petitioner brought a special leave petition in the Indian Supreme Court on 30 January 2012 against the Government of India and mobile network operators, including VIL, seeking recovery of the alleged excess spectrum allocated to the operators, compensation for the alleged excess spectrum held in the amount of approximately €4.7 billion and a criminal investigation of an alleged conspiracy between government officials and the network operators. A claim with similar allegations was dismissed by the Indian Supreme Court in March 2012, with an order that the Petitioner should pay a fine for abuse of process. The case is pending before the Indian Supreme Court and is expected to be called for hearing at some uncertain future date. 150 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016

 


Table of Contents

 

3G inter-circle roaming: Vodafone India and others v Union of India In April 2013, the Indian Department of Telecommunications (‘DoT’) issued a stoppage notice to VIL’s operating subsidiaries and other mobile operators requiring the immediate stoppage of the provision of 3G services on other operators’ mobile networks in an alleged breach of licence claim. The DoT also imposed a fine of approximately €5.5 million. VIL applied to the Delhi High Court for an order quashing the DoT’s notice. Interim relief from the notice has been granted (but limited to existing customers at the time with the effect that VIL was not able to provide 3G services to new customers on other operators’ 3G networks pending a decision on the issue). The dispute was referred to the TDSAT for decision, which ruled on 28 April 2014 that VIL and the other operators were permitted to provide 3G services to their customers (current and future) on other operators’ networks. The DoT has appealed the judgement and sought a stay of the tribunal’s judgement. The DoT’s stay application was rejected by the Indian Supreme Court. The matter is pending before the Indian Supreme Court. One time spectrum charges: VIL v Union of India The Indian Government has sought to impose one time spectrum charges of approximately €525 million on certain operating subsidiaries of VIL. VIL filed a petition before the TDSAT challenging the one time spectrum charges on the basis that they are illegal, violate VIL’s licence terms and are arbitrary, unreasonable and discriminatory. The tribunal stayed enforcement of the Government’s spectrum demand pending resolution of the dispute. The matter is due to go for final hearing before the Indian Supreme Court, and will be listed in due course. Other public interest litigation Three public interest litigations have been initiated in the Indian Supreme Court against the Indian Government and private operators on the grounds that the grant of additional spectrum beyond 4.4/6.2 MHz has been illegal. The cases seek appropriate investigation and compensation for the loss to the exchequer. Adjusted Gross Revenue (‘AGR’) dispute before the Indian Supreme Court: VIL and others v Union of India VIL has challenged the tribunal’s judgement dated 23 April 2015 to the extent that it dealt with the calculation of AGR, upon which license fees and spectrum usage charges are based. The cumulative impact of the inclusion of these components is approximately Rs. 2,200 Crores. The DoT also moved cross appeals challenging the tribunal’s judgement. In the hearing before the Indian Supreme Court, the Court orally directed the DoT not to take any coercive steps in the matter, which was adjourned. On 29 February 2016, the Supreme Court ordered that the DoT may continue to raise demands for fees and charges, but may not enforce them until a final decision on the matter. Other cases in the Group Germany: Patent litigation The telecoms industry is currently involved in significant levels of patent litigation brought by non-practicing entities (‘NPEs’) which have acquired patent portfolios from current and former industry companies. Vodafone is currently a party to patent litigation cases in Germany brought against Vodafone Germany by IPCom, St Lawrence Communications LLC (a subsidiary of Acacia Research Corporation), and by Intellectual Ventures, all NPEs. Vodafone has contractual indemnities from suppliers which have been invoked in relation to the alleged patent infringement liability. Germany: Mannesman and Kabel Deutschland takeover – class actions The German courts are determining the adequacy of the mandatory cash offer made to minority shareholders in Vodafone’s takeover of Mannesman. This matter has been ongoing since 2001. The German courts are also determining whether “squeeze out” compensation is payable to affected Mannesman shareholders in a similar proceeding. In September 2014, the German courts awarded compensation to minority shareholders of Mannesman in the amount of €229.58 per share, which would result in a pay-out of €19 million (plus €10 million of accrued interest). The German courts also ruled that the “squeeze out” compensation should amount to €251.31 per share, which would result in a pay-out of €43.8 million (plus interest of €23 million of accrued interest). Vodafone has appealed these decisions. Similar proceedings were initiated by 80 Kabel Deutschland shareholders. This proceeding is in its early stages, and, accordingly, Vodafone believes that it is too early to assess the likely quantum of any claim (however, Vodafone does not expect that the quantum of any such claim to be material). The next oral hearing is scheduled for 18 May 2016. Italy: British Telecom (Italy) v Vodafone Italy The Italian Competition Authority concluded an investigation in 2007 when Vodafone Italy gave certain undertakings in relation to allegations that it had abused its dominant position in the wholesale market for mobile termination. In 2010, British Telecom (Italy) brought a civil damages claim against Vodafone Italy on the basis of the Competition Authority’s investigation and Vodafone Italy’s undertakings. British Telecom (Italy) seeks damages in the amount of €280 million for abuse of dominant position by Vodafone Italy in the wholesale fixed to mobile termination market for the period from 1999 to 2007. A court appointed expert delivered an opinion to the Court that the range of damages in the case should be in the region of €10 million to €25 million which was reduced in a further supplementary report published in September 2014 to a range of €8 million to €11 million. Judgement was handed down by the court in August 2015, awarding €12 million, (including interest) to British Telecom (Italy). British Telecom (Italy) has appealed the amount of the damages to the Court of Appeal of Milan. In addition, British Telecom (Italy) has asked again for a reference to the European Court of Justice for an interpretation of the European community law on antitrust damages. Vodafone Italy has filed an appeal. Italy: FASTWEB v Vodafone Italy The Italian Competition Authority concluded an investigation in 2007 when Vodafone Italy gave certain undertakings in relation to allegations it had abused its dominant position in the wholesale market for mobile termination. In 2010, FASTWEB brought a civil damages claim against Vodafone Italy on the basis of the Competition Authority’s investigation and Vodafone Italy’s undertakings. FASTWEB sought damages in the amount of €360 million for abuse of dominant position by Vodafone Italy in the wholesale fixed to mobile termination market. A court appointed expert delivered an opinion to the Court that the range of damages in the case should be in the region of €0.5 million to €2.3 million. On 15 October 2014, the Court decided to reject FASTWEB’s damages claim in its entirety. FASTWEB appealed the decision and the first appeal hearing took place in September 2015. The Court has scheduled a final hearing for September 2016. 151 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information

 


Table of Contents

 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements (continued) 30. Contingent liabilities and legal proceedings (continued) Italy: Telecom Italia v Vodafone Italy (Teletu) Telecom Italia brought civil claims against Vodafone Italy in relation to TeleTu’s alleged anti-competitive retention of customers. Telecom Italia seeks damages in the amount of €101 million. The Court decided on 9 June 2015 to appoint an expert to verify whether TeleTu has put in place anticompetitive retention activities. The experts’ work is now underway, and the parties have been invited by the Court to consider settlement. Greece: Papistas Holdings SA, Mobile Trade Stores (formerly Papistas SA) and Athanasios and Loukia Papistas v Vodafone Greece, Vodafone Group Plc and certain Directors and Officers of Vodafone. In December 2013, Mr and Mrs Papistas, and companies owned or controlled by them, brought three claims in the Greek court in Athens against Vodafone Greece, Vodafone Group Plc and certain Directors and officers of Vodafone Greece and Vodafone Group Plc for purported damage caused by the alleged abuse of dominance and wrongful termination of a franchise arrangement with a Papistas company. Approximately €1.0 billion of the claim is directed exclusively at one former and one current Director of Vodafone Greece. The balance of the claim (approximately €285.5 million) is sought from Vodafone Greece and Vodafone Group Plc on a joint and several basis. Both cases have been adjourned until September 2018, but it is possible that Papistas may re-file his claim under the new Greek civil procedure regime (which aims to hear trials within one year). Netherlands: Consumer credit/handset case In February 2016, the Dutch Supreme Court ruled on the Dutch implementation of the EU Consumer Credit Directive and “instalment sales agreements” (a Dutch law concept), holding that bundled ‘all-in’ mobile subscription agreements (i.e. Device along with mobile services) are considered consumer credit agreements. As a result Vodafone Netherlands, together with the industry, has been working with the Ministry of Finance and the Competition Authority on compliance requirements going forward for such offers. The ruling also has retrospective effect and a claim has been submitted by a claims organisation, which is currently being reviewed by Vodafone Netherlands. South Africa: GH Investments (GHI) v Vodacom Congo Vodacom Congo contracted with GHI to install ultra-low cost base stations on a revenue share basis. After rolling out three sites, GHI stopped and sought to renegotiate the terms. Vodacom Congo refused. GHI accused it of bad faith and infringement of intellectual property rights. In April 2015, GHI issued a formal notice for a claim of US$1.16 billion, although there does not seem to be a proper basis nor any substantiation for the compensation claimed. The dispute has been submitted to mediation under the International Chamber of Commerce. A mediator was appointed in September 2015 who convened a first meeting which took place in early November 2015. A follow-up mediation meeting was scheduled for December 2015, but has been postponed without a new date having been fixed. South Africa: CWN v Vodacom There are various legal matters relating to Vodacom’s investment in Vodacom Congo (DRC) SA (‘VDRC‘), the most recent of which is a claim brought by Mr Alieu Badara Mohamed Conteh (‘Conteh’) in the Commercial Court of Kinshasa/Gombe against Vodacom International Limited (‘VCOMIL’) and VDRC. Conteh is the controlling shareholder of Congolese Wireless Network s.a.r.l (‘CWN’), a company incorporated in the DRC. CWN is a minority shareholder in VDRC. These proceedings seek to invalidate a court decision removing Conteh as the statutory manager of CWN, as well as the liquidation of VDRC and the payment of various sums to CWN and Conteh. The action also includes an unsubstantiated claim for US$14 billion against VCOMIL for its alleged role in helping to undermine Conteh’s position as former statutory manager of CWN. The Court of Appeal of Kinshasa/Gombe in December 2015 dismissed Conteh’s case against VCOMIL on the grounds of a lack of proper service of legal process. South Africa: Makate v Vodacom (Proprietary) Limited (‘Vodacom’) In 2008, Mr Makate instituted legal proceedings to claim compensation for a business idea that led to a product known as ‘Please Call Me’. On 1 July 2014, the South Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg (‘the High Court’) found that Mr Makate had proven the existence of a contract. However, the High Court ruled that the Company was not bound by that contract because the responsible director of product development and services did not have authority to enter into any such agreement on the Company’s behalf. The High Court also rejected Mr Makate’s claim on the basis that it had lapsed in terms of the Prescription Act 68 of 1969. The High Court and Supreme Court of Appeal turned down Mr Makate’s application for leave to appeal on 11 December 2014 and 2 March 2015, respectively. Mr Makate applied for leave to appeal in the Constitutional Court. On 26 April 2016, after having heard the application on 1 September 2015, the Constitutional Court granted leave to appeal and upheld Mr Makate’s appeal. In doing so, the Constitutional Court ordered that: (i) the Company is bound by the agreement concluded between Mr Makate and the then director of product development and services; (ii) the Company is to commence negotiations in good faith with Mr Makate to determine reasonable compensation; and (iii) in the event of the parties failing to agree on the reasonable compensation, the matter must be submitted to Vodacom’s Chief Executive Officer for determination of the amount within a reasonable time. Negotiations between the Company and Mr Makate will commence in accordance with the order of the Constitutional Court. 152 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016

 


Table of Contents

 

31. Related party transactions The Group has a number of related parties including joint arrangements and associates, pension schemes and Directors and Executive Committee members (see note 12 “Investments in associates and joint arrangements”, note 26 “Post employment benefits” and note 24 “Directors and key management compensation”). Transactions with joint arrangements and associates Related party transactions with the Group’s joint arrangements and associates primarily comprise fees for the use of products and services including network airtime and access charges, fees for the provision of network infrastructure and cash pooling arrangements. No related party transactions have been entered into during the year which might reasonably affect any decisions made by the users of these consolidated financial statements except as disclosed below. 2016 £m 2015 £m 2014 £m Note: 1 Amounts arise primarily through Vodafone Italy, Vodafone Hutchison Australia, Indus Towers Limited and Cornerstone Telecommunications Infrastructure Limited. Interest is paid in line with market rates. Dividends received from associates and joint ventures are disclosed in the consolidated statement of cash flows. Transactions with Directors other than compensation During the three years ended 31 March 2016, and as of 17 May 2016, no Director nor any other executive officer, nor any associate of any Director or any other executive officer, was indebted to the Company. During the three years ended 31 March 2016 and as of 17 May 2016, the Company has not been a party to any other material transaction, or proposed transactions, in which any member of the key management personnel (including Directors, any other executive officer, senior manager, any spouse or relative of any of the foregoing or any relative of such spouse) had or was to have a direct or indirect material interest. 32. Subsequent events Euro reporting With effect from 1 April 2016 the functional currency of the Company has been changed from pounds sterling to the euro. The euro is now the primary currency in which the Company’s financing activities and investment returns are denominated. Similarly, with effect from 1 April 2016, the Group’s presentation currency has been changed from pounds sterling to the euro to better align with the geographic split of the Group’s operations. 153 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Sales of goods and services to associates 30 32231 Purchase of goods and services from associates 92 85109 Sales of goods and services to joint arrangements 16 612 Purchase of goods and services from joint arrangements 598 566570 Net interest income receivable from joint arrangements1 66 7975 Trade balances owed: by associates 1 33 to associates 3 43 by joint arrangements 183 18282 to joint arrangements 55 48170 Other balances owed by joint arrangements1 85 6157 Other balances owed to joint arrangements1 84 5463

 


Table of Contents

 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements (continued) 33. Related undertakings A full list of all of our subsidiaries, joint arrangements and associated undertakings is detailed below. A full list of subsidiaries, joint arrangements and associated undertakings (as defined in the Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008) as at 31 March 2016 is detailed below. The registered office address for each entity is also disclosed as additional information. No subsidiaries are excluded from the Group consolidation. Unless otherwise stated the Company’s subsidiaries all have share capital consisting solely of ordinary shares and are indirectly held. The percentage held by Group companies reflect both the proportion of nominal capital and voting rights unless otherwise stated. Subsidiaries Accounting policies A subsidiary is an entity controlled by the Company. Control is achieved where the Company has existing rights that give it the current ability to direct the activities that affect the Company’s returns and exposure or rights to variable returns from the entity. The results of subsidiaries acquired or disposed of during the year are included in the consolidated income statement from the effective date of acquisition or up to the effective date of disposal, as appropriate. Where necessary, adjustments are made to the financial statements of subsidiaries to bring their accounting policies into line with those used by the Group. All intra-group transactions, balances, income and expenses are eliminated on consolidation. Non-controlling interests in the net assets of consolidated subsidiaries are identified separately from the Group’s equity therein. Non-controlling interests consist of the amount of those interests at the date of the original business combination and the non-controlling shareholder’s share of changes in equity since the date of the combination. Total comprehensive income is attributed to non-controlling interests even if this results in the non-controlling interests having a deficit balance. % held by Group companies % held by Group companies % held by Group companies Company name Share class Company name Share class Company name Share class Albania Brazil Congo, The Democratic Republic of the Vodacash s.p.r.l.3 Vodafone M-PESA SH.P.K. 99.94 Ordinary shares 33.15 Ordinary shares Cobra do Brasil Serviços de Telemàtica ltda. 70.00 Ordinary shares Vodacom Congo (RDC) SA3,4 Vodafone Albania Sh.A 99.94 Ordinary shares 33.15 Ordinary shares, 4% redeemable preference shares Angola Côte d’Ivoire Vodafone Serviços Empresariais Brasil Ltda. 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodacom Business Limitada3 65.00 Ordinary shares Argentina Vodacom Business Cote D’ivoire S.A.R.L.3 65.00 Ordinary shares Datora Mobile Telecomunicacoes S.A10 N/A N/A CWGNL S.A. 100.00 Ordinary shares Cyprus Cameroon Australia Vodafone Mobile Operations Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodacom Business Cameroon SA365.00 Ordinary shares Bluefish Australia Pty Ltd 100.00 Ordinary shares Czech Republic Canada Vodafone Enterprise Australia Pty Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Cable & Wireless Canada Inc 100.00 Common shares Vodafone Czech Republic A.S. 100.00 Ordinary shares Cayman Islands Oskar Mobil S.R.O. 100.00 Basic capital shares Quickcomm Pty Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares, Redeemable convertible preference shares CGP Investments (Holdings) Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Nadace Vodafone Česká republika 100.00 Ordinary shares PPL Pty Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Chile Vodafone Enterprise Europe (UK) Limited – Czech Branch 100.00 Branch Talkland Australia Pty Limited100.00 Ordinary shares VAPL No. 2 Pty Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Enterprise Chile SA 100.00 Regular nominative shares Denmark Austria China Vodafone Enterprise Denmark A/S 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Enterprise Austria GmbH 100.00 Ordinary shares Cobra (Beijing) Automotive Technologies Co, Ltd 100.00 Ordinary shares Bahrain Avenue, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100004, China Vodafone Enterprise Bahrain W.L.L. 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone China Limited (China) 100.00Equity interest shares Belgium Vodafone Belgium SA/NV 100.00 Ordinary shares Cable & Wireless Communications Technical Services (Shanghai) Co. Ltd 100.00 Ordinary shares Ipergy Communications NV 100.00 Ordinary shares 154 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Zaventemsesteenweg 162 1831 Diegem, Belgium Malta House, rue Archimède 25, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium Unit 558-560, Regus SCB Tower, No. 210 Century Avenue, Pudong District, Shanghai, 200120, China Unit 3626, China World Tower 1, No. 1 Jianguomenwai Office 304, Building 60 Falcon Tower, Road 1701, Diplomatic Area, Manama, 317, Bahrain Building 21, 11, Kangding St., BDA, Beijing, 100176 - China, Kohlmarkt 8-10, 1010, Wien, Austria c/o BDO, Havneholmen 29, 1561, København V, Denmark 222 Miraflores, P.28, Santiago, Metrop 97-763 Olbrachtova 1980/5, Krč, 140 00 Praha 4, Czech Republic Level 7, 40 Mount Street, North Sydney NSW 2060, Australia náměstí Junkových 2, Praha 5, Stodůlky, 155 00, Czech Republic 190 Elgin Avenue, George Town, Grand Cayman, KY1-9005, Cayman Islands Level 7, 210 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia Náměstí Junkových 2, Prague 5, Czech Republic, 13000, Czech Republic 53 Glenellen Drive East, Etobicoke ON M8Y 2G7, Canada Level 12, 210 George Street, Sydney NSW 2001, Australia HLB Mann Judd (NSW) Pty Ltd, Level 19, 207 Kent Street, Sydney NSW NSW 2000, Australia Ali Rıza Efendi Caddesi No:33/A Ortaköy, Lefkoşa, Cyprus Porte 201A 3eme Etage Entree C, immeuble SOCAR, Boulevard de la liberte, Akwa, Douala, Cameroon Cerrito 348, 5to B, C1010AAH, Buenos Aires, Argentina Rua Iguatemi, 1521. 29 anddar, Sao Paulo, Brazil No 62, Rue du Docteur Blanchard, Zone 4C, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire Avenida Che Guevara, No 49, Maculusso, Luanda, Angola Avenida Cidade Jardim, 400, 7th and 20th Floors, Jardim Paulistano, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 01454-000, Brazil 292 Avenue de la Justice, Commune de la Gombe, Kinshasa, Congo Av José Rocha Bonfim, 214, Cond Praça Capital – Edifício Toronto, sls 228/229 13080-900 Jardim Santa Genebra, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil Autostrada Tirane-Durres, Rruga: “Pavaresia”, Nr 61, Kashar, Tirana, Albania

 


Table of Contents

 

% held by Group companies % held by Group companies % held by Group companies Company name Share class Company name Share class Company name Share class Egypt India Kabelfernsehen Munchen Servicenter GmbH & Co. KG7 23.18 Ordinary shares Sarmady Communications 54.91 Ordinary shares Ag Mercantile Company Private Limited 100.00 Equity shares Urbana Teleunion Rostock GmbH 53.69 Ordinary shares Misrfone Trading Company LLC 54.38 Ordinary shares Co.KG & Jaykay Finholding (India) Private Limited 100.00 Equity shares Verwaltung “Urbana Teleunion” Rostock GmbH7 38.35 Ordinary shares Nadal Trading Company Private Limited 100.00 Equity shares Vodafone Data 54.93 Ordinary shares Omega Telecom Holdings Private Limited 100.00 Equity shares KABELCOM Wolfsburg Gesellschaft Fur Breitbandkabel-Kommunikation Mit Beschrankter Haftung7 76.70 Ordinary shares Vodafone International Services LLC 54.93 Ordinary shares Plustech Mercantile Company Private Limited 100.00 Equity shares SMMS Investments Pvt Limited 100.00 Equity shares Vodafone Egypt Telecommunications S.A.E. 54.93 Ordinary shares Vodafone Kabel Deutschland Field 76.70 Ordinary shares Telecom Investments India Private100.00 Limited Equity shares Services GmbH7 Ghana Starnet 54.93 Ordinary shares France UMT Investments Limited 100.00 Equity shares Usha Martin Telematics Limited 100.00 Equity shares Vodacom Business (Ghana) Limited3 65.00 Ordinary shares and non-voting, irredeemable, non-cumulative preference shares Vodafone Automotive Telematics Development S.A.S 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Mobile Services Limited 100.00 Equity shares Vodafone Towers Limited 100.00 Equity shares Vodafone Automotive France S.A.S 50.94 Ordinary shares Ghana Telecommunications Company Limited 70.00 Ordinary shares MV Healthcare Services Private Limited 100.00 Equity shares Vodafone Enterprise France SAS 100.00 New euro shares National Communications Backbone Company Limited 70.00 Ordinary shares Germany ND Callus Info Services Private Limited 100.00 Equity shares Greece Scorpios Beverages Pvt. Ltd 100.00 Equity shares TKS Telepost Kabel-Service Kaiserslautern Beteiligungs GmbH7 76.70 Ordinary shares Vodafone Global Enterprise Telecommunications (Hellas) A.E. 100.00 Ordinary shares TKS Telepost Kabel-Service Kaiserslautern GmbH & Co. KG7 76.70 Ordinary shares Vodafone Global Services Private Limited 100.00 Equity shares Vodafone-Panafon Hellenic Telecommunications Company S.A. 99.87 Ordinary shares Kabel Deutschland Holding AG7 76.70 Ordinary shares Kabel Deutschland Holding Erste 76.70 Ordinary shares Vodafone India Limited 100.00 Equity shares 7 B=eteiligungs GmbH Hellas Online S.A. 99.87 Ordinary shares Vodafone m-pesa Limited 100.00 Equity shares Kabel Deutschland Holding Zweite 76.70 Ordinary shares 7 B eteilgungs GmbH Vodafone Technology Solutions Limited 100.00 Equity shares Kabel Deutschland Siebte Beteiligungs GmbH7 76.70 Ordinary shares Victus Networks S.A. 50.00 Ordinary shares Mobile Commerce Solutions Limited 100.00 Equity shares Vodafone Kabel Deutschland GmbH7 76.70 Ordinary shares Zelitron S.A. 99.87 Ordinary shares Vodafone Foundation 100.00 Equity shares Vodafone Kabel Deutschland Kundenbetreuung GmbH7 76.70 Ordinary shares 360 Connect S.A. 99.87 Ordinary shares Cable & Wireless Global (India) Private Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Hong Kong Vodafone Automotive Deutschland GmbH 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Global Enterprise (Hong Kong) Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Bluefish Communications GmbH 100.00 Ordinary shares Connect (India) Mobile Technologies Private Limited 100.00 Equity shares Vodafone Erste 100.00 Ordinary shares Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH odafone GmbH V= 100.00 Ordinary A shares Vodafone China Limited (Hong Kong)1 100.00 Ordinary shares Cable & Wireless Networks India Private Limited 74.00 Equity shares Vodafone Group Services GmbH 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Institut für Gesellschaft und Kommunikation GmbH 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Stiftung Deutschland Gemeinnutzige GmbH7 76.70 Ordinary shares Vodafone Enterprise Global Network HK Ltd 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Business Services Limited 100.00 Equity shares Vodafone Vierte Verwaltungs AG 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Enterprise Hong Kong Ltd 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone India Services Private Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vouchercloud GmbH 82.89 Ordinary shares Hungary VSSB Vodafone Shared Services Budapest Private Limited Company 100.00 Registered ordinary shares KABELCOM Braunschweig Gesellschaft Fur Breitbandkabel-Kommunikation Mit Beschrankter Haftung7 76.70 Ordinary shares TESCO MBL Telecommunications Company Limited by Shares9 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Enterprise Germany GmbH 100.00 Ordinary shares, Vodafone Magyarorszag Mobile Tavkozlesi Zartkoruen Mukodo Reszvenytarsasag2 100.00 Series A registered common shares Ordinary #2 shares 155 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Landsberger Strasse 155, 80687 Munich, Germany 6 Lechner Ödön fasor, Budapest, 1096, Hungary 40-44 Hungaria Krt. Budapest, H-1087, Hungary Friedrich-Wilhelm-Strasse 2, 38100, Braunschweig, Germany Vodafone House, Corporate Road, Prahladnagar, Off S. G. Highway, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 380051, India Level 24, Dorset House, Taikoo Place, 979 King’s Road, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong Unit 2B, Creator, Itpl, Whitefield Road, Bangalore, Bangalore, Karnataka, 560066, India 35th Floor, Bank of China Tower, 1 Garden Road, Central Hong Kong, Hong Kong Ferdinand-Braun-Platz 1, 40549, Duesseldorf, Germany Skyline Ikon, 1st Floor, 86/92, Andheri Kurla Road, Marol Naka, Andheri East, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400059, India 2207-08, 22/F, St. George’s Building, No. 2 Ice House Street, Central, Hong Kong Buschurweg 4, 76870 Kandel, Germany Unit 1A & 1B Creator ITPL Whitefield Road Bangalore KA 56006 Pireos 74A Avenue, Neo Faliro, Neo Faliro, 18547, Greece Parnithos 43 & Dilou, Metamorfosi, Athens Marathonos Ave 18 km & Pylou, Pallini, Attica, Pallini, Attica, 15351, Greece 2 Adrianiou & Papada, Athens, 115 25, Greece Peninsula Corporate Park, Ganpatrao Kadam Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400013, India Betastraße 6-8, 85774 Unterföhring, Germany Flat No.6, 3rd Floor, Plot No. 22, Dsk, Nishigandh, Opp. Joshi Sweets, Erandwane, Pune-411038 India 1-3 Tzavella str, 152 31 Halandri, Athens, Greece Altes Forsthaus 2, 67661, Kaiserslautern, Germany Tour Neptune – 20, Place de Seine, 92400 Courbevoie, France First Floor, Annexe Building, 30,Nizamuddin East, New Delhi, 110013, India Telecom House, Nswam Road, Accra-North, Greater Accra Region, PMB 221, Ghana 144, Avenue Roger Salengro, 92372 – Chaville Cedex, France C-48, Okhla Industrial Estate, Phase - II, New Delhi, 110 020, India 1300 route de Cretes, Le WTC, Bat I1, 06560, Valbonne Soph, France 25 Sir Arku Korsah Road, Airport Residential Area, Accra, Ghana 8th Floor, RDB Boulevard, Plot K-1, Block-EP & GP, Sector - V, Saltlake City, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700091, India 37 Kaser El Nil St, 4th. Floor, Cairo, Egypt Sudwestpark 15, 90449, Nurnberg, Germany Site No 15/3C, Central Axis, 6th October City, Egypt Piece No. 1215, Plot of Land No. 1/14A, 6th October City, Egypt Seilerstrasse 18, 38440, Wolfsburg, Germany 2 Building, 36 Central road, Giza, Egypt 17 Port Said Street, Maadi El Sarayat, Cairo, Egypt Nobelstrasse 55, 18059, Rostock, Germany 127, Maker Chamber III, Nariman Point, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400021, India 14 Wadi el Nile ST, Dokki, Giza, Egypt, Egypt Medienallee 24, 85774, Unterfohring, Germany

 


Table of Contents

 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements (continued) 33. Related undertakings (continued) % held by Group companies % held by Group companies % held by Group companies Share class Company name Share class Company name Share class Company name Ireland Japan Malaysia Siro Limited 50.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Global Enterprise (Japan) K.K. 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Global Enterprise 100.00 Ordinary shares (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd Vodafone Ireland Marketing Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Malta Vodafone Japan K.K 100.00 Ordinary shares Cable & Wireless (Ireland) Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Cable & Wireless GN Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Cable & Wireless U.K. - Japan Branch 100.00 Branch Multi Risk Benefits Limited 100.00 Ordinary A shares, ordinary B shares Vodafone Ireland Property Holdings Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Kenya Multi Risk Indemnity Company Limited 100.00 A shares, B shares, ordinary A shares Cable & Wireless Services (Ireland) Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Multi Risk Limited 100.00 Ordinary A shares, ordinary B shares Energis Communications (Ireland) Limited8 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodacom Business (Kenya) Limited3 52.00 Ordinary shares and ordinary B shares Vodafone Malta Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Person To Person Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Stentor Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Mauritius Talk To Me Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares M-PESA Holding Co. Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Enterprise Global Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Kenya Limited 100.00 Ordinary voting shares Mobile Wallet VM13 65.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Global Network Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodacom International Limited3 65.00 Ordinary shares, non cumulative preference shares Vodafone Ireland Distribution Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares M-PESA Foundation 100.00 N/A Mobile Wallet VM23 65.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Ireland Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares VBA (Mauritius) Limited3 65.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Ireland Retail Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Korea, Republic of Vodafone Ireland Sales Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Al-Amin Investments Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Western Cellular Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Automotive Korea Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Array Holdings Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Interfusion Networks Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Asian Telecommunication Investments (Mauritius) Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Complete Network Technology Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares CCII (Mauritius), Inc. 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Group Services Ireland Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares VGE South Korea Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares CGP India Investments Ltd. 100.00 Ordinary shares Lesotho Italy Euro Pacific Securities Ltd. 100.00 Ordinary shares Mobilvest 100.00 Ordinary shares Prime Metals Ltd. 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodacom Lesotho (Pty) Limited3 52.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Automotive Italia S.p.A 100.00 Ordinary shares Trans Crystal Ltd. 100.00 Ordinary shares Luxembourg Vodafone Mauritius Ltd. 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Automotive Electronic Systems S.r.L 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Telecommunications (India) Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Asset Management Services S.à r.l. 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Automotive SpA 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Tele-Services (India) Holdings Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Enterprise Global Businesses S.à r.l. 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Enterprise Italy S.r.L 100.00 Euro shares Mexico Vodafone International 1 S.à r.l. 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Gestioni S.p.A. 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone International M S.à r.l. 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Empresa México S.de R.L. de C.V. 100.00 Corporate certificate series A shares, corporate certificate series B shares Vodafone Servizi E Tecnologie S.R.L. 100.00 Equity shares Vodafone Investments Luxembourg S.à r.l. 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Luxembourg 5 S.à r.l. 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Global Enterprise (Italy) S.R.L. 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Luxembourg S.à r.l. 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Payment Solutions S.à r.l. 100.00 Ordinary shares Morocco Vodafone Procurement Company S.à r.l. 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Italia S.p.A. 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Maroc SARL 79.75 Ordinary shares Vodafone Roaming Services S.à r.l. 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Enterprise Luxembourg S.A. 100.00 Ordinary shares 156 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 129 Rue du Prince Moulay, Abdellah, Casablanca, Morocco Via Jervis 13, 10015, Ivrea, Tourin, Italy Viale Bianca Maria 23, 20122, Milan, Italy Ejercito Nacional 904, Piso 12, Polanco Los Morales, Miguel Hidalgo, C.P, 11510 MEXICO D.F, Mexico Via Lorenteggio 240, 20147, Milan, Italy Via Battistotti Sassi 11, 20133, Milano, Italy 15 rue Edward Steichen, Luxembourg, 2540, Luxembourg Via Astico 41, 21100 Varese, Italy Block B, Level 7, Development House, Kingsway Road, Maseru, Lesotho SS 33 del Sempione KM 35, 212, 21052 Busto Arsizio (VA), Italy Seocho-dong, Gangnam Building, 16th Floor, 396, Seocho-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul 3rd Floor, 54 Gongse-ro, Gieheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea, Republic of Fifth Floor, Ebene Esplanade, 24 Cybercity, Ebene, Mauritius 8th floor, Lonrho House, Standard Street, Nairobi, LR No 209/, Kenya DTOS Ltd 10th Floor, Raffles Tower, 19, Cybercity, Ebene, Mauritius 6th Floor, ABC Towers, ABC Place, Waiyaki Way, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya 3rd Floor, The Rahimtulla Towers, Upper Hill Road, Nairobi, Kenya 1-1-1 Uchisaiwai cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 111-0011 Japan SkyParks Business Centre, Malta International Airport, Luqa, LQA 4000, Malta KAKiYa building, 9F, 2-7-17 Shin-Yokohama, Kohoku-ku, Yokoha-City, Kanagawa, 222-0033, Japan Mountainview, Leopardstown, Dublin 18, Ireland Level 18, The Gardens North Tower, Mid Valley City, Lingkaran Syed Putra, 59200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 5-2-32 Minami-azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 106-0047, Japan 27 Lower Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin 2, Ireland

 


Table of Contents

 

% held by Group companies % held by Group companies % held by Group companies Company name Share class Company name Share class Company name Share class Mozambique Qatar South Africa Vodafone And Qatar Foundation L.L.C 51.00 Ordinary shares VM, SA3 55.25 Ordinary shares and redeemable preference shares XLink Communications (Proprietary) Limited3 73.23 Ordinary A shares Vodafone Qatar Q.S.C.4 22.95 Ordinary shares Romania Netherlands Cable and Wireless Worldwide South Africa (Pty) Ltd 65.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Libertel B.V. 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Shared Services Romania SRL 100.00 Ordinary shares Waterberg Lodge (Proprietary) Limited3 65.00 Ordinary shares Wiericke B.V. 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Holdings (SA) Proprietary Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone România Technologies SRL 100.00 Ordinary shares mITE Systems B.V. 100.00 Ordinary shares Judet Ilfov, Romania Vodafone Investments (SA) Proprietary Limited 100.00 Ordinary A shares, “B” ordinary no par value shares Cable & Wireless Aspac BV 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone România M - Payments SRL 52.32 Ordinary shares European Networks B.V. 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Enterprise Netherlands BV 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Europe B.V. 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Romania S.A 100.00 Nominactive shares, Ordinary shares GS Telecom (Pty) Limited3 65.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone International Holdings B.V. 100.00 Ordinary shares Motifpros 1 (Proprietary) Limited3 60.94 Ordinary shares Vodafone Panafon International Holdings B.V. 100.00 Ordinary shares Russian Federation Scarlet Ibis Investments 23 (Pty) Limited3 60.94 Ordinary shares XM Mobile B.V. 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodacom (Pty) Limited3 60.94 Ordinary shares Cable & Wireless Internet Service Provider B.V. 100.00 Ordinary shares Cable & Wireless CIS Svyaz LLC 100.00 Charter Capital shares Vodacom Business Africa Group 65.00 Ordinary shares (Pty) Limited3 New Zealand Vodacom Financial Services (Proprietary) Limited3 60.94 Ordinary shares Vodafone Global Enterprise Russia LLC 100.00 Equity shares Vodacom Group Limited3 65.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Mobile NZ Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodacom Insurance Administration Company (Proprietary) Limited3 60.94 Ordinary shares Seychelles Vodafone New Zealand Foundation Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodacom Insurance Company(RF) Limited3 65.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone New Zealand Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Cavalry Holdings Ltd3 31.85 Ordinary A and Ordinary B shares Vodafone Next Generation Services Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodacom International Holdings (Pty) Limited3 65.00 Ordinary shares East Africa Investment (Mauritius) 31.85Ordinary A and 3 L=imited Ordinary B shares Vodacom Life Assurance Company 60.94 Ordinary shares (RF) Limited 3 Sierra Leone TNAS Limited 50.00 Ordinary shares Vodacom Payment Services (Proprietary) Limited3 60.94 Ordinary shares Nigeria Vodacom Properties No 1 (Proprietary) Limited3 60.94 Ordinary shares VBA International (SL) Limited3 65.00 Ordinary shares Spar Aerospace (Nigeria) Limited3 65.00 Ordinary shares Vodacom Properties No.2 (Pty) Limited3 60.94 Ordinary shares Singapore Vodacom Business Africa (Nigeria) Limited3 65.00 Ordinary shares and preference shares Wheatfields Investments 276 (Proprietary) Limited3 65.00 Ordinary shares Bluefish Apac Communications 100.00 Ordinary shares Wheatfields Investments No 261 (Proprietary) Limited3 65.00 Ordinary shares Pte. Ltd C &W Worldwide Nigeria Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Enterprise Global Network Pte. Ltd. 100.00 Ordinary shares Jupicol (Proprietary) Limited3 42.65 Ordinary shares Norway Mezzanine Ware Proprietary Limited (RF)3 45.07 Ordinary shares Vodafone Enterprise Regional Business Singapore Pte.Ltd. 100.00 Ordinary shares Storage Technology Services (Pty) Limited3 31.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Enterprise Singapore Pte.Ltd 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Enterprise Norway AS 100.00 Ordinary shares Portugal Slovakia Vodafone Global Network Limited – Slovakia Branch 100.00 Branch Oni Way – Infocomunicacoes, S.A 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Portugal – Comunicacoes Pessoais, S.A.1 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Enterprise Spain, S.L.U. – Portugal Branch 100.00 Branch 157 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Av. da República, 50 - 10º, 1069-211, Lisboa, Portugal Namestie, SNP15, Bratislava, 811 06, Slovakia Av. D. Joao II, Lote 1.04.01, 8 Piso, Parques Das Nacoes, 1990-093 Lisboa, Portugal Sørkedalsveien 6 in Oslo, post address is PB. Box. 7000, Majorstuen, 0306 Oslo ICT Lawyers & Consultants, 2nd Floor, Oakland Center, Plot 2940, Aguyi Ironi Street, Maitama, Abuja, Nigeria Asia Square Tower 2, 12 Marina View, #17-01, Singapore, 018961, Singapore 3A Aja Nwachukwu Close, Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria 12 White Street, Brookfield, Off Railway Line, Freetown, Sierra Leone Level 1, Building C, 14-22 Triton Drive, Albany, New Zealand F20, 1st Floor, Eden Plaza, Eden Island, Seychelles Level 1, 20 Viaduct Harbour Avenue, Auckland, 1010, New Zealand Sadovnicheskaya st. 82, bld.2, 115035, Moscow, Russian Federation Chayanova ulitsa 14/10, stroenye 2, 125047 Moscow, Russia Vodacom Corporate Park, 082 Vodacom Boulevard, Midrand, 1685, South Africa Sector 1, 15 Charles de Gaulle Piata, Bucharest, Romania Oraş Voluntari, Şoseaua Pipera, Tunari, Nr. 2/II, Etaj 5, 9 Kinross Street, PO Box 4119, Germiston South, 1411, Germiston South, 1401, South Africa Rivium Quadrant 173, 15th Floor, 2909 LC, Capelle Aan Den Ijssel, Netherlands Kronenburgplantsoen 10, 3401 BP, Ijsselstein, Netherlands 9 Kinross Street, Germiston South, 1401, South Africa Oraş Voluntari, Şoseaua Pipera, Tunari, Nr. 2/II, Etaj 3, Ilfov, Oras Voluntari, Romania Klipperaak 2 D, 2411 ND, Bodegraven, Netherlands 76 Maude Street, Sandton, Johannesberg, 2196, South Africa Avenue Ceramique 300, 6221 KX, Maastricht, Netherlands 15 Charles de Gaulle Square, 10 floor, Bucharest, District 1, Romania 319 Frere Road, Glenwood, 4001, South Africa 15 Burnside Island, 410 Jan Smuts Avenue, Craighall, 2024, South Africa P.O. Box 27727, Doha, Qatar Rua dos Desportistas, Numero 649, Cidade de Maputo, Mozambique

 


Table of Contents

 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements (continued) 33. Related undertakings (continued) % held by Group companies % held by Group companies % held by Group companies Company name Share class Company name Share class Company name Share class Cable & Wireless a-Services Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Spain United Kingdom Cable & Wireless Aspac Holdings Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Automotive Espana S.L 100.00 Ordinary shares Cable & Wireless Capital Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Thus Group Holdings Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Cable & Wireless CIS Services Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Thus Profit Sharing Trustees Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Grupo Corporativo ONO, S.A.U. 100.00 Ordinary shares Cable & Wireless Communications Data Network Services Limited 100.00 ‘A’ Ordinary shares, ‘B’ Ordinary shares Vodafone Espana S.A.U. 100.00 Ordinary shares Thus Group Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Holdings Europe S.L.U. 100.00 Ordinary shares Cable & Wireless Communications Starclass Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone ONO, S.A.U. 100.00 Ordinary A shares Vodafone Enabler España, S.L. 100.00 Ordinary shares Cable & Wireless Europe Holdings Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Cable & Wireless Worldwide Pension Trustee Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Enterprise Spain SLU 100.00 Ordinary shares Cable & Wireless Global Business Services Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Tenaria, S.A.U. 100.00 Ordinary shares Apollo Submarine Cable System Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Cable & Wireless Global Holding Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Sweden Cable & Wireless Global Telecommunication Services Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Talkmobile Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Enterprise Sweden AB 100.00 Ordinary shares Cable & Wireless Holdco Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Switzerland Cable & Wireless U.K. 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Automotive UK Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Cable & Wireless UK Holdings Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Enterprise Switzerland AG 100.00 Ordinary shares Cable & Wireless UK Services Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone (NI) Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Automotive Telematics S.A 100.00 Ordinary shares Cable & Wireless Waterside Holdings Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Taiwan Cable & Wireless Worldwide plc 100.00 Ordinary shares Pinnacle Cellular Group Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Cable & Wireless Worldwide Services Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Pinnacle Cellular Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone (Scotland) Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Global Enterprise Taiwan Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Cable & Wireless Worldwide Voice Messaging Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Woodend Cellular Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Tanzania, United Republic of Woodend Communications Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Cable and Wireless (India) Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Woodend Group Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Cable and Wireless Nominee Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Woodend Holdings Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Cellops Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Gateway Communications Tanzania Limited3 65.00 Ordinary shares Cellular Operations Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Energis (Ireland) Limited 100.00 A Ordinary shares, B Ordinary shares Central Communications Group Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares, Ordinary A shares Vodacom Tanzania Limited3 53.40 Ordinary shares Central Telecom (Northern) Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodacom Tanzania Limited Zanzibar3 53.40 Ordinary shares Chelys Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Navtrak Ltd 100.00 Ordinary shares City Cable (Holdings) Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares CT Networks Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Mirambo Limited3 31.85 Ordinary shares CWW Operations Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodacom Business Africa Group Services Limited3 65.00 Ordinary shares and preference shares Turkey Dataroam Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares, Ordinary A shares Vodacom UK Limited3 65.00 Ordinary shares, ordinary A shares Digital Island (UK) Ltd 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Holding A.S. 100.00 Registered shares Emtel Europe Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Dagitim Hizmetleri A.S. 100.00 Registered shares Energis Communications Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Net İletişim Hizmetleri A.Ş. 100.00 Ordinary shares Energis Holdings Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares AAA (Euro) Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Elektronik Para Ve Ödeme Hizmetleri A.Ş. 100.00 Registered shares Energis Local Access Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares AAA (MCR) Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Energis Management Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares AAA (UK) Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Telekomunikasyon A.S 100.00 Registered shares Energis Squared Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Acorn Communications Limited100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Bilgi Ve Iletisim Hizmetleri AS 100.00 Registered shares Erudite Systems Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Aspective Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares, A preference shares, B preference shares and C preference shares Eurocall Holdings Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Flexphone Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Teknoloji Hizmetleri A.S. 100.00 Registered shares FM Associates (UK) Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Astec Communications Limited100.00 Ordinary shares Ukraine General Mobile Corporation Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Bluefish Communications Limited 100.00 Ordinary B shares, ordinary A shares, ordinary C shares, ordinary D shares Generation Telecom Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares LLC Vodafone Enterprise Ukraine 100.00 Ordinary shares Global Cellular Rental Limited 50.00 Ordinary shares United Arab Emirates Business Serve Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares How2 Telecom Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares C.S.P. Solutions Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Intercell Communications Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Intercell Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Cable & Wireless Access Limited 100.00 Ordinary-A shares, ordinary-B shares, series A convertible preference shares Vodafone Enterprise Europe (UK) Limited – DUBAI BRANCH 100.00 Branch Internet Network Services Limited100.00 Ordinary shares Invitation Digital Limited 82.89 Ordinary shares, series A preferred shares 158 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Premises 2120, Floor 21, Building AL Shatha Tower, Dubai, United Arab Emirates 01033, Kyiv, Haydar Street 50, Ukraine İTÜ Ayazağa Kampüsü, Koru Yolu, Arı Teknokent Arı 3 Binası, Maslak, İstanbul, 586553, Turkey Vodafone House, The Connection, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 2FN, United Kingdom Büyükdere Cad. No:251 Maslak, Şişli, İstanbul, Turkey, 34398, Turkey Staple Court, 11 Staple Inn Building, London, WC1V 7QH, United Kingdom Plot No 77, Kipawa industrial area, P. O. Box 40985, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Shuttleworh House, 21 Bridgewater Close, Network 65 Business Park, Hapton, Burnley, Lancashire, England, BB11 5TE, United Kingdom Mlimani City Office Park, Mlimani City, Sam Nujoma Road, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, United Republic of Quarry Corner, Dundonald, Belfast, BT16 1UD, Northern Ireland 3rd Floor, Maktaba (Library), ComplexBibi, Titi Mohaned Road, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, United Republic of 13F, No. 156, Sec. 3, Minsheng E. Rd., Songshan District, Taipei City 10596, Taiwan (R.O.C.) Leven House, 10 Lochside Place, Edinburgh Park, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH12 9RG, United Kingdom Via Franscini 10, 6850 Mendrisio, Switzerland Imperial House, 4–10 Donegall Square East, Belfast, BT1 5HD BDO Ltd, Fabrikstrasse 50, CH-8031, Zurich, Switzerland Crossgate House, Cross Street, Sale, Cheshire, M33 7FT, United Kingdom c/o Hellström advokatbyrå, Box 7305, 103 90, Stockholm, Sweden Avon House, Horizon West, Canal View Road, Newbury, Berkshire, RG15 5XF, United Kingdom 90 Long Acre, London, WC2E 9NP, England Ctra. Zaragoza, Km. 3, 31191, Cordovilla, Navarra, Spain 5th Floor Legal Department, Group Corporate Secretariat, 1 Kingdom Street, Paddington, London, England, W26BY, United Kingdom Avenida de América 115, 28042, Madrid, Spain 1-2 Berkeley Square, 99 Berkeley Street, Glasgow, G3 7HR, Scotland Antracita, 7 – 28045, Madrid CIF B-91204453, Spain

 


Table of Contents

 

% held by Group companies % held by Group companies % held by Group companies Company name Share class Company name Share class Company name Share class Vodafone Connect 2 Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Panafon UK 100.00 Ordinary shares United Kingdom (continued) Vodafone Connect Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Partner Services Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Consolidated Holdings Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Property Investments Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Isis Telecommunications Management Limited 100.00 A ordinary shares, C ordinary shares, Vodafone Corporate Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Retail (Holdings) Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares B ordinary shares Vodafone Corporate Secretaries 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Retail Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares imited1 L= Jaguar Communications Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Sales & Services Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone DC Pension Trustee Company Limited1 100.00 Ordinary shares Legend Communications Plc 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Satellite Services Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares London Hydraulic Power Company 100.00 Ordinary shares, 5% non-cumulative Vodafone Specialist Communications Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Distribution Holdings Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone UK Content Services Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares preference shares Vodafone Enterprise Equipment Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares MetroHoldings Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone UK Investments Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Enterprise Europe (UK) Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares ML Integration Group Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone UK Limited1 100.00 Ordinary shares ML Integration Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Euro Hedging Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Ventures Limited1 100.00 Ordinary shares ML Integration Services Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Euro Hedging Two 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Worldwide Holdings 100.00 Ordinary shares Mobile Phone Centre Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Limited Vodafone Europe UK 100.00 Ordinary shares Mobiles 4 Business.com Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Yen Finance Limited100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone European Investments1 100.00 Ordinary shares Nat Comm Air Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone-Central Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone European Portal Limited1 100.00 Ordinary shares Netforce Group Public Limited Company 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodaphone Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Finance Limited1 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodata Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Finance Luxembourg Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Oxygen Solutions Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares, redeemable preference shares, participating preference shares Your Communications Group Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Finance Sweden 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Finance UK Limited100.00 Ordinary shares P.C.P. (North West) Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Financial Operations 100.00 Ordinary shares FB Holdings Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Global Content Services Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Peoples Phone Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Project Telecom Holdings Limited1 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Global Enterprise Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares PT Network Services Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Silver Stream Investments Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares PTI Telecom Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Group (Directors) Trustee Limited1 100.00 Ordinary shares Quickcomm UK Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Le Bunt Holdings Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Group Pension Trustee Limited1 100.00 Ordinary shares Rian Mobile Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Singlepoint (4U) Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Group Services Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares, deferred shares VBA Holdings Limited3 65.00 Ordinary shares And non-voting irredeemable non-cumulative preference Singlepoint Payment Services Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Group Services No.2 Limited1 100.00 Ordinary shares Stentor Communications Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares T.W. Telecom Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Group Share Trustee Limited1 100.00 Ordinary shares VBA International Limited 3 65.00 Ordinary shares And non-voting irredeemable non-convertible non-cumulative Preference T3 Telecommunications Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Hire Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Talkland Airtime Services Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Holdings Luxembourg Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Talkland Communications Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Talkland International Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Intermediate Enterprises Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Talkland Midlands Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Aztec Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Telecommunications Europe Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone International Holdings Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Globe Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Ternhill Communications Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares, non C redeemable preference shares Vodafone International Operations Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Plex Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vizzavi Finance Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Investment UK 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Holdings (Jersey) Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares The Eastern Leasing Company Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Investments Australia Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone International 2 Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares The Old Telecom Sales Co. Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Investments Limited1 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Jersey Dollar Holdings Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Thus Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone IP Licensing Limited1 100.00 Ordinary shares Townley Communications Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Leasing Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Jersey Finance 100.00 Ordinary shares Uniqueair Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Jersey Yen Holdings 100.00 Limited liability Vizzavi Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Unlimited shares Vodafone M.C. Mobile Services Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Voda Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodacall Limited1 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Marketing UK 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone (New Zealand) Hedging Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Mobile Commerce Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone 2. 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Mobile Communications Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone 4 UK 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Mobile Enterprises Limited 100.00 A ordinary shares, ordinary shares, Vodafone 5 Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone 5 UK 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Mobile Network Limited 100.00 A ordinary shares, ordinary shares Vodafone 6 UK 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Americas 4 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Multimedia Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Benelux Limited 100.00 Preference shares, ordinary shares Vodafone Nominees Limited1 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Oceania Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Business Services Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Old Show Ground Site Management Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Business Solutions Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Overseas Finance Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Cellular Limited1 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Overseas Holdings Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Central Services Limited 100.00 Ordinary shares 159 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Ogier House, The Esplanade, St. Helier, JE4 9WG, Jersey Roseneath, The Grange, St Peter Port, GY1 2QJ, Guernsey P.O. Box 119, Commerce House, St Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands, GY1 3HB Ogier House, St Julian’s Avenue, St Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1 1WA, Guernsey c/o BDO MPR Management Limited, PO Box 119, Martello Court, Admiral park, St Peter Port, Guernsey Vodafone House, The Connection, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 2FN, United Kingdom

 


Table of Contents

 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements (continued) 33. Related undertakings (continued) Associated undertakings and joint arrangements % held by Group companies % held by Group Companies Company name Share class Company Name Share class % held by Group Companies United States United Kingdom Company Name Share class Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited 25.00 Ordinary shares Australia Bluefish Communications Inc. 100.00 Common stock shares Cornerstone Telecommunications Infrastructure Limited 50.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Americas Virginia Inc. 100.00 Common stock shares H3ga Properties (No 3) Pty Limited 50.00 Ordinary shares Mobileworld Communications Pty Limited 50.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone US Inc. 100.00 Common stock shares Cable & Wireless Trade Mark Management Limited 50.00 Ordinary B shares Mobileworld Operating Pty Ltd 50.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Australia Pty Limited 50.00 Ordinary shares Notes: Vodafone Foundation Australia Pty Limited 50.00 Ordinary shares Cable & Wireless a-Services, Inc 100.00 Common shares 1 2 Entities directly held by Vodafone Group Plc. Trades as Vodafone Hungary Mobile Telecommunications Company Limited. Shareholding is indirect through Vodacom Group Limited. The indirect shareholding is calculated using the 65.0% ownership interest in Vodacom. The Group has rights that enable it to control the strategic and operating decisions of Vodafone Qatar Q.S.C. and Vodacom Congo (RDC) S.A.. The Group is assessing the impact of changes to company law in Qatar, which will be applicable in the financial year ending 31 March 2017, on its ability to exercise control over Vodafone Qatar Q.S.C. The Group also holds two non-voting shares. At 31 March 2016 the fair value of Safaricom Limited was KES 270 billion (£1,851 million) based on the closing quoted share price on the Nairobi Stock Exchange. Shareholding is indirect through Vodafone Kabel Deutschland GmbH. The entity was merged with its parent company Cable & Wireless Ireland Holdings Limited now re-named Vodafone Ireland Property Holdings Limited on 31 March 2016 by means of the domestic merger procedure, which involves passing all assets and liabilities of the subsidiary to its direct parent. This entity is under voluntary dissolution. Vodafone Hutchison Australia Pty Limited 50.00 Ordinary shares 3 Cable & Wireless Americas Systems, Inc. 100.00 Common stock shares Vodafone Hutchison Finance Pty Limited 50.00 Ordinary shares 4 Vodafone Network Pty Limited 50.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Pty Limited 50.00 Ordinary shares Vodafone Americas Foundation 100.00 N/A Czech Republic Zambia 5 6 COOP Mobil s.r.o. 33.33 Ordinary shares Africonnect (Zambia) Limited3 65.00 Ordinary shares Egypt 7 Wataneya Telecommunications S.A.E 50.00 Ordinary shares 8 India 9 Indus Towers Limited 42.00Equity shares 10 The Group holds no shares in this entity but consolidates it by virtue of our options over shares pursuant to a Call Option Agreement dated 12 July 2013. Ireland MediaOne Limited 22.50 Ordinary Euro shares Fonua Limited 49.00 Ordinary shares Kenya Safaricom Limited5,6 40.00 Ordinary shares New Zealand TSM NZ Limited 32.50 Ordinary shares Portugal Celfocus – Solucoes Informaticas Para Telecomunicacoes S.A 45.00 Ordinary shares Russian Federation Autoconnex Limited 35.00 Ordinary shares South Africa Number Portability Company (Proprietary) Limited3 20.00 Ordinary shares 160 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Building 13 Ground Floor East, Thornhill, Office Park, 94 Bekker Road, Vorna Valley X67, Midrand, 1685, South Africa bld. 3, 11, Promishlennaya Street, Moscow, 115516, Russian Federation Avenida D. João II Lote 1.03.23 Parque das Nações, 1998-017, Lisboa, Portugal 2nd Floor, Ferry Building, 99 Quay Street, Auckland, 1010, New Zealand Safaricom, P O Box 46350, 00100, Nairobi, Kenya Unit 2, 77 Furze Road, Sandyford Industrial Estate, Dublin 18, Ireland 8/9 Fairview, Dublin, 3, Ireland Bharti Crescent, 1 Nelson Mandela Road, Vasant Kunj, Phase-II, New Delhi – 110070, India 23 Kasr El Nil St., Cairo, Egypt, 11211 U Rajské zahrady 1912/3, Praha 3, 130 00, Czech Republic Orange Park, Plot 35185, Alick Nkhata Road, Lusaka, Zambia Denver Place, South Tower, 17th Floor, 999 18th Street, Denver 80202, United States Corporation Service Company, 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington, Delaware, 19808, United States of America c/o United Corporate Services Inc., 15 North East Street, Kent County, Dover DE 19901, United States 62-65, Chandos Place, London, WC2N 4LP, United Kingdom Level 7, 40 Mount Street, North Sydney, NSW 2060, Australia 260 Bath Road, Slough, Berkshire, SL1 4DX, United Kingdom 83 Baker Street, London, W1U 6AG, United Kingdom 560 Lexington Avenue, 8th Floor, New York NY 10022, United States

 


Table of Contents

 

The table below shows selected financial data in respect of subsidiaries that have non-controlling interests that are material to the Group. Vodafone Egypt Telecommunications S.A.E. Vodacom Group Limited Vodafone Qatar Q.S.C. 2016 £m 2015 £m 2016 £m 2015 £m 2016 £m 2015 £m The voting rights held by the Group equal the Group’s percentage shareholding as shown on pages 154 to 160. 161 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Summary comprehensive income information Revenue 3,887 4,341 1,202 1,191 374 394 Profit/(loss) for the financial year 551 603 224 156 (86) (37) Other comprehensive expense/(income) 28 (17) – – – – Total comprehensive income/(expense) 579 586 224 156 (86) (37) Other financial information Profit/(loss) for the financial year allocated to non-controlling interests 193 205 101 71 (66) (29) Dividends paid to non-controlling interests 196 229 2 2 16 11 Summary financial position information Non-current assets 4,287 4,844 1,250 1,357 1,237 1,301 Current assets 1,304 1,405 690 518 96 76 Total assets 5,591 6,249 1,940 1,875 1,333 1,377 Non-current liabilities (1,586) (490) (61) (57) (205) (8) Current liabilities (1,196) (2,478) (709) (729) (189) (339) Total assets less total liabilities 2,809 3,281 1,170 1,089 939 1,030 Equity shareholders’ funds 2,337 2,722 708 673 215 237 Non-controlling interests 472 559 462 416 724 793 Total equity 2,809 3,281 1,170 1,089 939 1,030 Statement of cash flows Net cash flow from operating activities 1,154 1,215 485 438 76 96 Net cash flow from investing activities (632) (733) (235) (267) (65) (71) Net cash flow from financing activities (584) (300) (16) (3) (15) (17) Net cash flow (62) 182 234 168 (4) 8 Cash and cash equivalents brought forward 492 330 311 138 28 16 Exchange (loss)/gain on cash and cash equivalents (63) (20) (56) 5 1 4 Cash and Cash Equivalents 367 492 489 311 25 28

 


Table of Contents

 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements (continued) 34. Subsidiaries exempt from audit The following UK subsidiaries will take advantage of the audit exemption set out within section 479A of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 March 2016. Name Registration number Name Registration number AAA (MCR) Ltd 2797823 Vodafone European Portal Limited 3973442 AAA (UK) Ltd 2484222 Vodafone Europe UK 5798451 Cable & Wireless Capital Limited 6702535 Vodafone Finance Luxembourg Limited 5754479 Cable & Wireless CIS Services Limited 2964774 Vodafone Finance Sweden 2139168 Cable & Wireless Europe Holdings Limited 4659719 Vodafone Finance UK Limited 3922620 Cable & Wireless Global Holding Limited 3740694 Vodafone Financial Operations 4016558 Cable and Wireless Nominee Limited 3249884 Vodafone Global Content Services Limited 4064873 Cable & Wireless Worldwide plc 7029206 Vodafone Holdings Luxembourg Limited 4200970 Cable & Wireless UK Holdings Limited 3840888 Vodafone IP Licensing Limited 6846238 Cable & Wireless Waterside Holdings Limited 6859946 Vodafone Intermediate Enterprises Limited 3869137 Cellops Limited 3942192 Vodafone International Holdings Limited 2797426 Cellular Operations Limited 3231393 Vodafone International Operations Limited 2797438 Erudite Systems Limited 3948967 Vodafone Investments Australia Limited 2011978 Energis Communications Limited 2630471 Vodafone Investments Limited 1530514 Energis Holdings Limited 3649524 Vodafone Investment UK 5798385 Flexphone Limited 4949207 Vodafone Marketing UK 6858585 Generation Telecom Limited 4131101 Vodafone Mobile Communications Limited 3942221 Legend Communications Plc 3923166 Vodafone Mobile Enterprises Limited 3961390 Oxygen Solutions Limited 2405625 Vodafone Mobile Network Limited 3961482 The Eastern Leasing Company Limited 1672832 Vodafone (New Zealand) Hedging Limited 4158469 Thus Group Holdings Limited SC192666 Vodafone (NI) Limited NI23033 T.W. Telecom Limited 1971198 Vodafone Nominees Limited 1172051 Vizzavi Limited 4017435 Vodafone Oceania Limited 3973427 Vodafone 2 4083193 Vodafone Overseas Finance Limited 4171115 Vodafone 4 UK 6357658 Vodafone Overseas Holdings Limited 2809758 Vodafone 5 Limited 6688527 Vodafone Panafon UK 6326918 Vodafone 5 UK 2960479 Vodafone Partner Services Limited 4012582 Vodafone Americas 4 6389457 Vodafone Property Investments Limited 3903420 Vodafone Benelux Limited 4200960 Vodafone (Scotland) Limited SC170238 Vodafone Business Services Limited 4321446 Vodafone UK Limited 2227940 Vodafone Cellular Limited 896318 Vodafone Worldwide Holdings Limited 3294074 Vodafone Consolidated Holdings Limited 5754561 Vodafone Yen Finance Limited 4373166 Vodafone Enterprise Equipment Limited 1648524 Voda Limited 1847509 Vodafone Enterprise Europe (UK) Limited 3137479 Vodaphone Limited 2373469 Vodafone Euro Hedging Limited 3954207 Vodata Limited 2502373 Vodafone Euro Hedging Two 4055111 Your Communications Group Limited 4171876 Vodafone European Investments 3961908 162 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016

 


Table of Contents

 

Other unaudited financial information Prior year operating results This section presents our operating performance for the 2015 financial year compared to the 2014 financial year, providing commentary on how the revenue and the adjusted EBITDA performance of the Group and its operating segments have developed over those years. Group1,2 Restated2 Europe £m Restated2 AMAP £m Restated2 Other3 £m Restated2 Eliminations £m % change 2015 £m 2014 £m £ Organic* Revenue 27,687 13,382 1,257 (99) 42,227 38,346 10.1 (0.8) Service revenue 25,588 11,934 1,073 (98) 38,497 35,190 9.4 (1.6) Other revenue 2,099 1,448 184 (1) 3,730 3,156 Adjusted EBITDA 7,894 4,086 (65) – 11,915 11,084 7.5 (6.9) Adjusted operating profit 1,733 1,802 (28) – 3,507 4,310 (18.6) (24.1) Adjustments for: Impairment loss – (6,600) Restructuring costs (157) (355) Amortisation of acquired customer bases and brand intangible assets (1,269) (551) Other income and expense (114) (717) Operating loss 1,967 (3,913) Notes: 1 2015 results reflect average foreign exchange rates of £1:€1.28, £1:INR 98.51 and £1:ZAR 17.82. (2014: £1:€1.19 and £1:US$1.59). 2 The Group has amended its reporting to reflect changes in the internal management of its Enterprise business. The primary change has been that on 1 April 2015, the Group redefined its segments to report international voice transit revenue and costs within Common Functions rather than within the results disclosed for each country and region. The results presented for the year ended 31 March 2015 and 2014 have been restated onto a comparable basis. There is no impact on total Group revenue or cost. 3 The “Other” segment primarily represents the results of the partner markets and the net result of unallocated central Group costs. Revenue Group revenue increased by 10.1% to £42.2 billion and service revenue increased 9.4% to £38.5 billion. Reported growth rates reflect the acquisitions of KDG in October 2013 and of Ono in July 2014, as well as the consolidation of Italy after we increased our ownership to 100% in February 2014. In Europe, organic service revenue declined by 5.0%* as growing demand for 4G and data services continues to be offset by challenging competitive and macroeconomic pressures and the impact of MTR cuts. In AMAP, organic service revenue increased by 5.7%* driven by continued growth in India, Turkey, Ghana, Qatar and Egypt, partially offset by declines in Vodacom and New Zealand. Adjusted EBITDA Group adjusted EBITDA rose 7.5% to £11.9 billion, with organic adjusted EBITDA down 6.9%*, mainly affected by revenue declines in Europe. The Group adjusted EBITDA margin fell 0.7 percentage points to 28.2%, or 1.8* percentage points on an organic basis. This reflects ongoing revenue declines in Europe and the growth in operating expenses as a result of Project Spring, partially offset by operating efficiencies. H2 adjusted EBITDA fell 3.6%*, with the improved trend supported by the better revenue performance and continued good cost control. Operating loss Adjusted operating profit excludes certain income and expenses that we have identified separately to allow their effect on the results of the Group to be assessed (see page 190). The items that are included in operating profit but are excluded from adjusted operating profit are discussed below. No impairment losses were recognised in the 2015 financial year (2014: £6,600 million). Further detail is provided in note 4 to the Group’s consolidated financial statements. Restructuring costs of £157 million (2014: £355 million) were incurred to improve future business performance and reduce costs. Note: * All amounts in the Operating Results section marked with an “*” represent organic growth which presents performance on a comparable basis, both in terms of merger and acquisition activity and movements in foreign exchange rates. Refer to “Organic growth” on page 191 for further detail. 163 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information Operating loss Adjusted operating profit excludes certain income and expenses that we have identified separately to allow their effect on the results of the Group to be assessed (see page 190). The items that are included in operating profit but are excluded from adjusted operating profit are discussed below. No impairment losses were recognised in the 2015 financial year (2014: £6,600 million). Further detail is provided in note 4 to the Group’s consolidated financial statements. Restructuring costs of £157 million (2014: £355 million) were incurred to improve future business performance and reduce costs.

 


Table of Contents

 

Other unaudited financial information (continued) Prior year operating results (continued) Europe1 % change Germany £m Italy £m UK £m Spain £m Other Europe £m Eliminations £m Europe £m £ Organic* Year ended 31 March 2015 restated Revenue 8,384 4,587 6,199 3,614 4,993 (90) 27,687 15.7 (4.5) Service revenue 7,746 4,062 5,893 3,320 4,652 (85) 25,588 14.7 (5.0) Other revenue 638 525 306 294 341 (5) 2,099 Adjusted EBITDA 2,659 1,535 1,345 782 1,573 – 7,894 16.3 (12.3) Adjusted operating profit 530 644 26 2 531 – 1,733 (24.7) (40.6) Adjusted EBITDA margin 31.7% 33.5% 21.7% 21.6% 31.5% 28.5% Year ended 31 March 2014 restated Revenue 8,220 518 6,249 3,470 5,515 (43) 23,929 0.2 (8.8) Service revenue 7,687 461 5,918 3,183 5,090 (40) 22,299 0.6 (8.2) Other revenue 533 57 331 287 425 (3) 1,630 Adjusted EBITDA 2,688 181 1,399 785 1,735 – 6,788 (5.5) (17.1) Adjusted operating profit 907 372 167 179 676 – 2,301 (38.5) (41.9) Adjusted EBITDA margin 32.7% 34.9% 22.4% 22.6% 31.5% 28.4% Note: 1 The Group has amended its reporting to reflect changes in the internal management of its Enterprise business. The primary change has been that on 1 April 2015, the Group redefined its segments to report international voice transit revenue and costs within Common Functions rather than within the results disclosed for each country and region. The results presented for the year ended 31 March 2015 and 2014 have been restated onto a comparable basis. There is no impact on total Group revenue or cost. Revenue increased 15.7%. M&A activity, including KDG, Ono and the consolidation of Vodafone Italy, contributed a 26.7 percentage point positive impact, while foreign exchange movements contributed a 6.5 percentage point negative impact. On an organic basis, service revenue declined 5.0%*, driven primarily by price competition and the impact of MTR cuts. Adjusted EBITDA increased 16.3%, including a 35.6 percentage point positive impact from M&A activity and a 7.0 percentage point negative impact from foreign exchange movements. On an organic basis adjusted EBITDA declined 12.3%*, reflecting the weak organic revenue trend. Germany Service revenue decreased 3.7%* excluding KDG. Q4 service revenue was down 3.5%*. Mobile service revenue fell 3.5%*, mainly as a result of price reductions in the prior year continuing to penetrate the consumer customer base. The contract customer base grew, supported by a stronger commercial performance as we look to increase our focus on direct, branded channels, falling churn and the ongoing substantial investment in network infrastructure. We increased our 4G coverage to 77% of the population and significantly improved voice coverage and reliability, as evidenced in independent tests. At the end of the period we had 5.0 million 4G customers. Fixed service revenue excluding KDG fell 4.4%*, reflecting ongoing declines in our Vodafone DSL customer base, in part from migrations to KDG cable infrastructure. The rate of decline eased during the year (H1 -5.0%*; H2 -3.8%*), with an improving rate of gross customer additions and increasing demand for high speed broadband (‘VDSL’), as well as stronger growth in carrier services. KDG maintained its strong rate of growth, contributing £1,492 million to service revenue and £676 million to adjusted EBITDA, and adding 0.4 million broadband customers (excluding migrations from Vodafone DSL) during the year. The integration of KDG has continued, including the launch of a combined fixed/mobile proposition in H2. Adjusted EBITDA declined 11.0%*, with a 3.0* percentage point decline in adjusted EBITDA margin, driven by lower service revenue and a higher level of customer investment year-on-year, partially compensated by a year-on-year reduction in operating expenses. Organic change* % Other activity1 pps Foreign exchange pps Reported change % Revenue – Europe (4.5) 26.7 (6.5) 15.7 Service revenue Germany (3.7) 12.0 (7.5) 0.8 Italy1 (10.2) 916.7 (125.4) 781.1 U=K (1.8)1.4 –(0.4) Spain (10.9) 22.9 (7.7) 4.3 Other Europe (2.2) 0.8 (7.2) (8.6) Europe (5.0) 26.2 (6.5) 14.7 A djusted EBITDA Germany (11.0) 17.3 (7.4) (1.1) Italy1 (15.3) 882.7 (119.3) 748.1 UK (12.4) 8.5 – (3.9) =Spain (29.5) 36.3(7.2) (0.4) Other Europe (2.8) 0.5(7.0) (9.3) Europe (12.3) 35.6 (7.0) 16.3 Adjusted operating profit Europe (40.6) 20.6 (4.7) (24.7) Note: 1 “Other activity” includes the impact of M&A activity. Refer to “Organic growth” on page 191 for further detail. 164 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016

 


Table of Contents

 

Italy Service revenue declined 10.2%*. Trends in both mobile and fixed improved in H2, and Q4 service revenue declined 4.1%*. Mobile service revenue fell 12.1%* as a result of a decline in the prepaid customer base and lower ARPU following last year’s price cuts. We took a number of measures to stabilise ARPU during the year, and in Q4, consumer prepaid ARPU was up 6% year-on-year. We also began to take a more active stance on stabilising the customer base in the second half of the year, in what remains a very competitive market. Enterprise performed strongly, returning to growth in H2. We now have 4G coverage of 84%, and 2.8 million 4G customers at 31 March 2015. Fixed service revenue was up 1.3%*. Broadband revenue continued to grow and we added 134,000 broadband customers over the year, but overall growth was partially offset by an ongoing decline in fixed voice usage. We accelerated our fibre roll-out plans in H2, and by March 2015 we had installed more than 5,000 cabinets. Adjusted EBITDA declined 15.3%*, with a 2.4* percentage point decline in adjusted EBITDA margin. The decline in service revenue was partially offset by continued strong cost control, with operating expenses down 3.1%* and customer investment down 3.0%*. UK Service revenue fell 1.8%* as a good performance in consumer mobile was offset by a decline in fixed. The UK returned to service revenue growth in H2. Q4 service revenue was up 0.6%*. Mobile service revenue grew 0.5%*. Consumer contract service revenue grew strongly, supported by customer growth and a successful commercial strategy bundling content with 4G. Enterprise mobile revenue returned to growth in H2, as a result of growing data demand. During the year we acquired 139 stores from the administrator of Phones 4U, taking our total portfolio to over 500 and accelerating our direct distribution strategy. 4G coverage reached 63% at 31 March 2015 (or 71% based on the OFCOM definition), and we had 3.0 million 4G customers at the year end. Fixed service revenue declined 9.1%*, excluding the one-off benefit of a settlement with another network operator in Q4. Underlying performance improved from -11.3%* in H1 to -6.8%* in H2, driven by a strong pick-up in carrier services revenue and improving enterprise pipeline conversion. We plan to launch our consumer fibre broadband proposition in the coming weeks. Adjusted EBITDA declined 12.4%*, with a 2.4* percentage point decline in adjusted EBITDA margin due mainly to a reclassification of some central costs to the UK business. Reported adjusted EBITDA benefited from one-off settlements with two network operators. Spain Service revenue declined 10.9%* excluding Ono, as growth in fixed continued to be offset by price pressure in mobile and converged services. Q4 service revenue growth was -7.8%*. Ono Q4 local currency revenue growth was -1.9% excluding wholesale. Mobile service revenue fell 12.7%*, although there was some improvement in H2 with the contract customer base stabilising year-on-year. However, ARPU continued to be under pressure throughout the year as a result of aggressive convergence offers. During H2, we saw an increase in the take-up of handset financing arrangements as a result of a change in the commercial model. We reduced handset subsidies in Q4 and introduced bigger data allowances at slightly higher price points. Our 4G network roll-out has now reached 75% population coverage, and we had 2.9 million 4G customers at March 2015. We continue to lead the market in net promoter scores (‘NPS’) in both consumer and enterprise. Fixed service revenue rose 7.8%* excluding Ono, supported by consistently strong broadband net additions. Since its acquisition in July 2014, Ono contributed £699 million to service revenue and £267 million to adjusted EBITDA. Including our joint fibre network build with Orange, we now reach 8.5 million premises with fibre. We have made good progress with the integration of Ono, and launched in April 2015 a fully converged service, “Vodafone One”, a new ultra high-speed fixed broadband service with Ono Fibre, home landline, 4G mobile telephony and Vodafone TV. Adjusted EBITDA declined 29.5%* year-on-year, with a 4.9* percentage point decline in adjusted EBITDA margin. The margin was impacted by falling mobile service revenue and growth in lower margin fixed revenue, partially offset by lower direct costs and operating expenses, and the change in the commercial model described above. Other Europe Service revenue declined 2.2%* due to price competition, the generally weak macroeconomic environment and MTR cuts. Again, we saw a recovery in H2, with Q3 service revenue -1.1%* and Q4 service revenue -0.9%*. Hungary grew by 8.6%* for the full year, the Netherlands and Czech Republic returned to growth in H2, and Greece and Ireland showed a clear improvement in trends over the year. In the Netherlands, we have nationwide 4G coverage, and the return to growth has been driven by continued contract customer growth, stabilising ARPU and growth in fixed revenue. In Portugal, we continue to see a decline in mobile service revenue driven by convergence pricing pressure reflecting a prolonged period of intense competition, partially offset by strong fixed revenue growth. We now reach 1.6 million homes with fibre, including our network sharing deal with Portugal Telecom. In Ireland, 4G coverage has reached 87%, and we have begun trials on our FTTH roll-out, with a commercial launch planned for later in 2015. In Greece, the steady recovery in revenue trends through the year stalled in Q4 as a result of the worsening macroeconomic conditions. The integration of Hellas Online is continuing in line with expectations. Adjusted EBITDA declined 2.8%*, with a 0.1* percentage point increase in adjusted EBITDA margin, as the impact of lower service revenue was largely offset by strong cost control. 165 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information

 


Table of Contents

 

Other unaudited financial information (continued) Prior year operating results (continued) Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific1 % change India £m Vodacom £m Other AMAP £m Eliminations £m AMAP £m £ Organic* Year ended 31 March 2015 restated Revenue 4,309 4,341 4,743 (11) 13,382 – 6.9 Service revenue 4,291 3,489 4,166 (11) 11,935 (0.9) 5.7 Other revenue 18 852 577 – 1,447 Adjusted EBITDA 1,282 1,527 1,277 – 4,086 (1.1) 5.9 Adjusted operating profit 458 1,030 314 – 1,802 (6.7) 0.1 Adjusted EBITDA margin 29.8% 35.2% 26.9% 30.5% Year ended 31 March 2014 restated Revenue 3,939 4,718 4,730 – 13,387 (2.4) 8.9 Service revenue 3,920 3,866 4,258 – 12,044 (4.2) 6.7 Other revenue 19 852 472 – 1,343 Adjusted EBITDA 1,135 1,716 1,279 – 4,130 (1.6) 10.8 Adjusted operating profit 327 1,228 377 – 1,932 12.0 30.7 Adjusted EBITDA margin 28.8% 36.4% 27.0% 30.9% Note: 1 The Group has amended its reporting to reflect changes in the internal management of its Enterprise business. The primary change has been that on 1 April 2015, the Group redefined its segments to report international voice transit revenue and costs within Common Functions rather than within the results disclosed for each country and region. The results presented for the year ended 31 March 2015 and 2014 have been restated onto a comparable basis. There is no impact on total Group revenue or cost. Revenue remained stable as a result of a 7.4 percentage point adverse impact from foreign exchange movements, particularly with regards to the Indian rupee, South African rand and the Turkish lira. On an organic basis service revenue was up 6.9%* driven by a growth in the customer base, increased voice usage, strong demand for data and continued good commercial execution. Overall growth was offset by MTR cuts, particularly in South Africa. Excluding MTRs, organic growth was 7.0%. Adjusted EBITDA declined 1.1%, including a 7.1 percentage point adverse impact from foreign exchange movements. On an organic basis, adjusted EBITDA grew 5.9%* driven by growth in India, Turkey, Qatar and India Service revenue increased 12.4%*, driven by continued customer base growth, an acceleration in 3G data uptake and stable voice pricing. Q4 service revenue grew 11.7%*. We added 17.2 million mobile customers during the year, taking the total to 183.8 million. Voice yields were relatively flat after a period of improvement, but we saw a decline in average minutes of use in H2 as competition increased in some circles. Customer demand for data services has been very strong. Total data usage grew 86% year-on-year, with the active data customer base increasing 23% to 64 million. Within this, the 3G customer base increased to over 19 million, reflecting the significant investment in our 3G network build. During the year we added 12,585 new 3G sites, taking the total to over 35,000 and our coverage of target urban areas to 90%. 3G internet revenue rose 140%. In March 2015 we successfully bid for spectrum in 12 telecom circles for a total cost of INR 258.1 billion (£2.78 billion). This included spectrum in all six of our 900MHz circles due for extension in December 2015. We also successfully bid for new 3G spectrum in seven circles, allowing us to address 88% of our revenue base with 3G services. We have continued to expand our M-Pesa mobile money transfer service, and now have 89,000 agents, with a nationwide presence. At March 2015 we had 3.1 million registered customers and 378,000 active users. Our strategy is to focus on building scale on specific migratory corridors. Adjusted EBITDA grew 16.3%*, with a 1.0%* percentage point improvement in adjusted EBITDA margin as economies of scale from growing service revenue were partly offset by the increase in operating costs related to the Project Spring network build and higher acquisition costs. Egypt, offset by Vodacom and New Zealand. Organic Other Foreign Reported change* activity1 exchange change % pps pps % Revenue – AMAP 6.9 0.5 (7.4) – Service revenue India 12.4 – (2.9) 9.5 Vodacom (1.0) – (8.8) (9.8) Other AMAP 5.2 1.8 (9.2) (2.2) AMAP 5.7 0.5 (7.1) (0.9) Adjusted EBITDA India 16.3 – (3.4) 12.9 Vodacom (2.1) – (8.9) (11.0) Other AMAP 7.0 0.3 (7.4) (0.1) AMAP 5.9 0.1 (7.1) (1.1) Adjusted operating profit A MAP 0.1 0.1(6.9)(6.7) Note: 1 “Other activity” includes the impact of M&A activity. Refer to “Organic growth” on page 191 for further detail. 166 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016

 


Table of Contents

 

Vodacom Vodacom Group service revenue declined 1.0%*, as the negative impact of MTR cuts and a more competitive environment in South Africa offset growth in Vodacom’s operations outside South Africa. Q4 service revenue was -0.2%*, reflecting some easing of competition in South Africa. In South Africa, organic service revenue declined -2.7%*. Excluding the impact of MTR cuts, service revenue grew 1.4%*. Strong growth in smartphone penetration and data adoption drove 23.4% growth in local currency data revenue, although this was offset by aggressive voice price competition. We have increased our 3G footprint to 96% population coverage and 4G to 35% coverage as part of the Project Spring programme, with 81% of sites now connected to high capacity backhaul. During the year we began to trial our first fibre to the business services, and fibre to the home. The regulatory authorities continue to review our proposed acquisition of Neotel, a fibre-based fixed operator. Service revenue growth in Vodacom’s operations outside South Africa was 4.8%*, driven by customer base growth, data take-up and M-Pesa, Active M-Pesa customers totalled 5.6 million, with M-Pesa now representing 23% of service revenue in Tanzania. Vodacom Group adjusted EBITDA fell 2.1%*, with a 1.1* percentage point decline in adjusted EBITDA margin. The significant negative impact of MTR cuts on the adjusted EBITDA margin was substantially offset by good cost control. Other AMAP Service revenue increased 5.2%*, with growth in Turkey, Egypt, Qatar and Ghana partially offset by a decline in New Zealand. Service revenue in Turkey was up 9.9%*, reflecting continued strong growth in consumer contract and enterprise revenue, including higher ARPU and data usage, partly offset by a 1.8 percentage point negative impact from voice and SMS MTR cuts. In Egypt, service revenue grew 2.8%* as a result of an increase in data and voice usage and a more stable economic environment. In New Zealand, service revenue was down 3.1%* as a result of aggressive competition, but the contract mobile base grew 4.6% year-on-year and the fixed base benefited from continued uptake of VDSL, TV and unlimited broadband. Service revenue in Ghana grew 18.9%* driven by growth in customers, voice bundles and data. Total revenue growth in Qatar was 13.2%*, but slowed in H2 due to significantly increased price competition. Adjusted EBITDA grew 7.0%* with a 0.3* percentage point decline in adjusted EBITDA margin. Associates Vodafone Hutchison Australia (‘VHA’), in which Vodafone owns a 50% stake, continued its good recovery, returning to local currency service revenue growth in Q4 as a result of improving trends in both customer numbers and ARPU, supported by significant network enhancements. Safaricom, Vodafone’s 40% associate which is the number one mobile operator in Kenya, saw local currency service revenue growth of 12.9% for the year, with local currency adjusted EBITDA up 16.8%. The total value of deposits, customer transfers, withdrawals and other payments handled through the M-Pesa system grew 26% to KES 4,181 billion in the 2015 financial year. Indus Towers Limited, the Indian towers company in which Vodafone has a 42% interest, achieved local currency revenue growth of 4.3%. Indus owns 116,000 towers, with a tenancy ratio of 2.19x. Our shares of Indus Towers’ adjusted EBITDA and adjusted operating profit were £285 million and £19 million respectively. 167 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information

 


Table of Contents

 

This page is intentionally left blank 168 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016

 


Table of Contents

 

This page is intentionally left blank 169 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information

 


Table of Contents

 

This page is intentionally left blank 170 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016

 


Table of Contents

 

This page is intentionally left blank 171 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information

 


Table of Contents

 

This page is intentionally left blank 172 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016

 


Table of Contents

 

This page is intentionally left blank 173 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Additional information

 


Table of Contents

 

This page is intentionally left blank 174 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016

 


Table of Contents

 

Shareholder information Investor calendar Ex-dividend date for final dividend 9 June 2016 Record date for final dividend 10 June 2016 Trading update 22 July 2016 Annual general meeting 29 July 2016 Final dividend payment 3 August 2016 Half-year financial results 15 November 2016 Ex-dividend date for interim dividend1 24 November 2016 Record date for interim dividend1 25 November 2016 Interim dividend payment1 2 February 2017 Note: 1 Provisional dates. Dividends See pages 36 and 111 for details on dividend amount per share. Payment of dividends by direct credit We pay cash dividends directly to shareholders’ bank or building society accounts. This ensures secure delivery and means dividend payments are credited to shareholders’ bank or building society accounts on the same day as payment. A dividend confirmation covering both the interim and final dividends paid during the financial year is sent to shareholders at the time of the interim dividend in February. ADS holders may alternatively have their cash dividends paid by cheque. Overseas dividend payments Holders of ordinary shares resident in the Eurozone (defined for this purpose as a country that has adopted the euro as its national currency) automatically receive their dividends in euros. The sterling/ euro exchange rate is determined by us in accordance with our Articles of Association up to 13 business days before the payment date. Holders resident outside the UK and Eurozone automatically receive dividends in pounds sterling but may elect to receive dividends in local currency directly into their bank account by registering for our registrar’s (Computershare) Global Payments Service. Visit investorcentre.co.uk for details and terms and conditions. Cash dividends to ADS holders will be paid by the ADS depositary in US dollars. The sterling/US dollar exchange rate for this purpose is determined by us up to ten New York and London business days before the payment date. For the financial year ending 31 March 2017 and beyond, dividends will be declared in euros and paid in euros, pounds sterling and US dollars, aligning the Group’s shareholder returns with the primary currency in which we generate free cash flow. The foreign exchange rate at which future dividends declared in euros will be converted into pounds sterling and US dollars will be calculated based on the average exchange rate of the five business days during the week prior to the payment of the dividend. The Board has determined that future dividend growth will be calculated from the level of 14.48 eurocents per share in 2016, which is equivalent to the 2016 total dividend payout of 11.45 pence at the year-end £:€ exchange rate of 1.2647. See vodafone.com/dividends for further information about dividend payments or, alternatively, please contact our registrar or the ADS depositary, as applicable. See page 176 for their contact information. Dividend reinvestment plan We offer a dividend reinvestment plan which allows holders of ordinary shares who choose to participate to use their cash dividends to acquire additional shares in the Company. These are purchased on their behalf by the plan administrator through a low cost dealing arrangement. For ADS holders, BNY Mellon maintains a Global BuyDIRECT Plan which is a direct purchase and sale plan for depositary receipts with a dividend reinvestment facility. Dividend tax allowance From April 2016 dividend tax credits will be replaced by an annual £5,000 tax-free allowance on dividend income across an individual’s entire share portfolio. Above this amount, individuals will pay tax in the UK on their dividend income at a rate dependent on their income tax bracket and personal circumstances. Vodafone will continue to provide registered shareholders with a confirmation of the dividends paid and this should be included with any other dividend income received when calculating and reporting total dividend income received. It is the shareholder’s responsibility to include all dividend income when calculating any tax liability. This change was announced by the Chancellor, as part of the UK Government Budget in July 2015. If you have any tax queries, please contact a financial adviser. Managing your shares via Investor Centre Computershare operates a portfolio service for investors in ordinary shares, called Investor Centre. This provides our shareholders with online access to information about their investments as well as a facility to help manage their holdings online, such as being able to: a update dividend mandate bank instructions and review dividend payment history; a update member details and address changes; and a register to receive Company communications electronically. Computershare also offers an internet and telephone share dealing service to existing shareholders. The service can be obtained at investorcentre.co.uk. Shareholders with any queries regarding their holding should contact Computershare. See page 176 for their contact details. Shareholders may also find the investors section of our corporate website, vodafone.com/investor, useful for general queries and information about the Company. Shareholder communications A growing number of our shareholders have opted to receive their communications from us electronically using email and web-based communications. The use of electronic communications, rather than printed paper documents, means information about the Company can be received as soon as it is available and has the added benefit of reducing costs and our impact on the environment. Each time we issue a shareholder communication, shareholders who have positively elected for electronic communication (or are deemed to have consented to receive electronic communication in accordance with the Companies Act 2006) will be sent an email alert containing a link to the relevant documents. 175 Additional information Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Unaudited information

 


Table of Contents

 

Shareholder information (continued) Landmark Asset Search We participate in an online service which provides a search facility for solicitors and probate professionals to quickly and easily trace UK shareholdings relating to deceased estates. Visit www.landmarkfas.co.uk or call +44 (0)844 844 9967 for further information. We encourage all our shareholders to sign up for this service by providing us with an email address. You can register your email address via our registrar at investorcentre.co.uk or contact them via the telephone number provided on page 176. See vodafone.com/investor for further information about this service. Annual General Meeting Our thirty-second annual general meeting will be held at the Hilton London Metropole Hotel, 225 Edgware Road, London W2 1JU, on Friday 29 July 2016 at 11.00 am. The annual general meeting will be transmitted via a live webcast which can be viewed on our website at vodafone.com/agm on the day of the meeting. A recording will be available to view after that date. Warning to shareholders (“boiler room” scams) Over recent years we have become aware of investors who have received unsolicited calls or correspondence, in some cases purporting to have been issued by us, concerning investment matters. These callers typically make claims of highly profitable opportunities in UK or US investments which turn out to be worthless or simply do not exist. These approaches are usually made by unauthorised companies and individuals and are commonly known as “boiler room” scams. Investors are advised to be wary of any unsolicited advice or offers to buy shares. If it sounds too good to be true, it often is. See the FCA website at fca.org.uk/consumers/scams for more detailed information about this or similar activities. ShareGift We support ShareGift, the charity share donation scheme (registered charity number 1052686). Through ShareGift, shareholders who have only a very small number of shares, which might be considered uneconomic to sell, are able to donate them to charity. Donated shares are aggregated and sold by ShareGift, the proceeds being passed on to a wide range of UK charities. See sharegift.org or call +44 (0)20 7930 3737 for further details. Share price history The closing share price at 31 March 2016 was 221.20 pence (31 March 2015: 220.45 pence). The closing share price on 16 May 2016 was 223.65 pence. The following tables set out, for the periods indicated, (i) the reported high and low middle market quotations of ordinary shares on the London Stock Exchange, and (ii) the reported high and low sales prices of ADSs on NASDAQ. Quarter High Low High Low 2014/2015 First quarter 2.27 1.90 38.26 32.00 Second quarter 2.10 1.89 34.54 32.18 Third quarter 2.34 1.85 36.55 29.67 Fourth quarter 2.40 2.15 36.03 32.30 2015/2016 First quarter 2.55 2.20 39.21 32.71 Second quarter 2.46 2.04 38.25 30.90 London Stock Exchange Pounds per ordinary share NASDAQ Dollars per ADS Third quarter 2.26 2.04 34.42 31.00 Year ended 31 March High Low High Low Fourth quarter 2.25 2.00 32.72 29.19 2012 1.84 1.54 29.46 24.31 2016/2017 2013 1.92 1.54 30.07 24.42 First quarter1 2.33 2.16 33.82 30.66 2014 2.52 1.80 41.57 27.74 London Stock Exchange Pounds per ordinary share NASDAQ Dollars per ADS 2015 2.40 1.85 38.26 29.67 2016 2.55 2.00 39.21 29.19 Month High Low High Low November 2015 2.26 2.14 34.42 32.31 December 2015 2.22 2.04 33.47 31.20 January 2016 2.24 2.10 32.54 30.05 February 2016 2.25 2.00 32.72 29.19 March 2016 2.23 2.13 32.10 30.57 April 2016 2.33 2.16 33.82 30.66 May 20161 2.25 2.18 33.01 32.08 Note: 1 Covering period up to 16 May 2016. 176 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Registrar and transfer office The Registrar Holders of ordinary shares resident in Ireland Computershare Investor Services PLC Computershare Investor Services (Ireland) Ltd The Pavilions PO Box 9742 Bridgwater Road, Bristol BS99 6ZZ, England Dublin 18, Ireland Telephone: +44 (0)370 702 0198 Telephone: +353 (0)818 300 999 investorcentre.co.uk/contactusinvestorcentre.co.uk/contactus ADS depositary BNY Mellon Shareowner Services PO Box 30170 College Station, TX 77842-3170, United States of America Telephone: +1 800 233 5601 (toll free) or, for calls outside the United States, +1 201 680 6825 (not toll free) and enter company number 2160 Email: shrrelations@cpushareownerservices.com Unaudited information

 


Table of Contents

 

Foreign currency translation The following table sets out the pounds sterling exchange rates of the other principal currencies of the Group, being: “euros”, “€” or “eurocents”, the currency of the European Union (‘EU’) member states which have adopted the euro as their currency, and “US dollars”, “US$”, “cents” or “¢”, the currency of the United States. Major shareholders BNY Mellon, as custodian of our ADR programme, held approximately 13.46% of our ordinary shares of 2020/21 US cents each at 16 May 2016 as nominee. The total number of ADRs outstanding at 16 May 2016 was 387,958,868. At this date 1,495 holders of record of ordinary shares had registered addresses in the United States and in total held approximately 0.008% of the ordinary shares of the Company. At 31 March 2016 the following percentage interests in the ordinary share capital of the Company, disclosable under the Disclosure and Transparency Rules, (DTR 5), have been notified to the Directors. 31 March Currency (=£1) 2016 2015 % Change Average: Euro 1.37 1.28 7.0 US dollar 1.51 1.61 (6.2) Shareholder Shareholding A=t 31 March: Black Rock Investment Management Ltd. 6.62% Euro 1.261.38(8.7) Legal & General Investment Management Ltd. 3.19% US dollar 1.441.48(2.7) No changes in the interests disclosed under DTR 5 have been notified to the Company between 31 March 2016 and 16 May 2016. Between 1 April 2013 and 16 May 2016 Capital Group Companies Inc. has held more than 3% of, or 3% of voting rights attributable to, the ordinary shares of the Company. During this period, and as notified, its holding was reduced to below the 3% reporting threshold. The rights attaching to the ordinary shares of the Company held by these shareholders are identical in all respects to the rights attaching to all the ordinary shares of the Company. The Directors are not aware at 16 May 2016 of any other interest of 3% or more in the ordinary share capital of the Company. The Company is not directly or indirectly owned or controlled by any foreign government or any other legal entity. There are no arrangements known to the Company that could result in a change of control of the Company. The following table sets out, for the periods and dates indicated, the period end, average, high and low exchanges rates for pounds sterling expressed in US dollars per £1.00. Year ended 31 March 31 March Average High Low 2012 1.60 1.60 1.67 1.53 2013 1.52 1.58 1.63 1.49 2014 1.67 1.59 1.67 1.49 2015 1.48 1.61 1.71 1.46 2016 1.44 1.51 1.59 1.39 The following table sets out, for the periods indicated, the high and low exchange rates for pounds sterling expressed in US dollars per £1.00. Year ended 31 March High Low November 2015 1.54 1.50 December 2015 1.52 1.48 January 2016 1.47 1.42 Articles of Association and applicable English law The following description summarises certain provisions of the Company’s Articles of Association and applicable English law. This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Companies Act 2006 of England and Wales and the Company’s Articles of Association. See “Documents on display” on page 179 for information on where copies of the Articles of Association can be obtained. The Company is a public limited company under the laws of England and Wales. The Company is registered in England and Wales under the name Vodafone Group Public Limited Company with the registration number 1833679. All of the Company’s ordinary shares are fully paid. Accordingly, no further contribution of capital may be required by the Company from the holders of such shares. English law specifies that any alteration to the Articles of Association must be approved by a special resolution of the shareholders. Articles of Association The Company’s Articles of Association do not specifically restrict the objects of the Company. Directors The Directors are empowered under the Articles of Association to exercise all the powers of the Company subject to any restrictions in the Articles of Association, the Companies Act (as defined in the Articles of Association) and any special resolution. Under the Company’s Articles of Association a Director cannot vote in respect of any proposal in which the Director, or any person connected with the Director, has a material interest other than by virtue of the Director’s interest in the Company’s shares or other securities. However, this restriction on voting does not apply in certain circumstances set out in the Articles of Association. February 2016 1.46 1.39 March 2016 1.45 1.39 April 2016 1.46 1.41 Markets Ordinary shares of Vodafone Group Plc are traded on the London Stock Exchange and in the form of ADSs on NASDAQ. ADSs, each representing ten ordinary shares, are traded on NASDAQ under the symbol “VOD”. The ADSs are evidenced by ADRs issued by BNY Mellon, as depositary, under a deposit agreement, dated as of 12 October 1988, as amended and restated on 26 December 1989, 16 September 1991, 30 June 1999, 31 July 2006 and 24 February 2015 between the Company, the depositary and the holders from time to time of ADRs issued thereunder. ADS holders are not members of the Company but may instruct BNY Mellon on the exercise of voting rights relative to the number of ordinary shares represented by their ADSs. See “Articles of Association and applicable English laws and rights attaching to the Company’s shares – Voting rights” on page 178. Shareholders as at 31 March 2016 Number of accounts % of total issued shares Number of ordinary shares held 1–1,000 338,780 0.22 1,001–5,000 49,830 0.38 5,001–50,000 15,606 0.64 50,001–100,000 525 0.12 100,001–500,000 672 0.54 More than 500,000 1,172 98.10 406,585 100.00 177 Additional information Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials

 


Table of Contents

 

Shareholder information (continued) The Directors are empowered to exercise all the powers of the Company to borrow money, subject to the limitation that the aggregate amount of all liabilities and obligations of the Group outstanding at any time shall not exceed an amount equal to 1.5 times the aggregate of the Group’s share capital and reserves calculated in the manner prescribed in the Articles of Association unless sanctioned by an ordinary resolution of the Company’s shareholders. The Company can make market purchases of its own shares or agree to do so in the future provided it is duly authorised by its members in a general meeting and subject to and in accordance with section 701 of the Companies Act 2006. Such authority was given at the 2015 annual general meeting but no purchases were made during this financial year. At each annual general meeting all Directors who were elected or last re-elected at or before the annual general meeting held in the third calendar year before the current year shall automatically retire. However, the Board has decided in the interests of good corporate governance that all of the Directors wishing to continue in office should offer themselves for re-election annually. Directors are not required under the Company’s Articles of Association to hold any shares of the Company as a qualification to act as a Director, although the Executive Directors are required to under the Company’s remuneration policy. Further details are set out on pages 57 to 73. Voting rights At a general meeting of the Company, when voting on substantive resolutions (i.e. any resolution which is not a procedural resolution) each shareholder who is entitled to vote and is present in person or by proxy has one vote for every share held (a poll vote). Procedural resolutions (such as a resolution to adjourn a general meeting or a resolution on the choice of Chairman of a general meeting) shall be decided on a show of hands, where each shareholder who is present at the meeting has one vote regardless of the number of shares held, unless a poll is demanded. Shareholders entitled to vote at general meetings may appoint proxies who are entitled to vote, attend and speak at general meetings. Two shareholders present in person or by proxy constitute a quorum for purposes of a general meeting of the Company. Under English law shareholders of a public company such as the Company are not permitted to pass resolutions by written consent. Record holders of the Company’s ADSs are entitled to attend, speak and vote on a poll or a show of hands at any general meeting of the Company’s shareholders by the depositary’s appointment of them as corporate representatives with respect to the underlying ordinary shares represented by their ADSs. Alternatively, holders of ADSs are entitled to vote by supplying their voting instructions to the depositary or its nominee who will vote the ordinary shares underlying their ADSs in accordance with their instructions. Holders of the Company’s ADSs are entitled to receive notices of shareholders’ meetings under the terms of the deposit agreement relating to the ADSs. Employees are able to vote any shares held under the Vodafone Group Share Incentive Plan and “My ShareBank” (a vested nominee share account) through the respective plan’s trustees. Holders of the Company’s 7% cumulative fixed rate shares are only entitled to vote on any resolution to vary or abrogate the rights attached to the fixed rate shares. Holders have one vote for every fully paid 7% cumulative fixed rate share. Liquidation rights In the event of the liquidation of the Company, after payment of all liabilities and deductions in accordance with English law, the holders of the Company’s 7% cumulative fixed rate shares would be entitled to a sum equal to the capital paid up on such shares, together with certain dividend payments, in priority to holders of the Company’s ordinary shares. The holders of the fixed rate shares do not have any other right to share in the Company’s surplus assets. Pre-emptive rights and new issues of shares Under section 549 of the Companies Act 2006 Directors are, with certain exceptions, unable to allot the Company’s ordinary shares or securities convertible into the Company’s ordinary shares without the authority of the shareholders in a general meeting. In addition, section 561 of the Companies Act 2006 imposes further restrictions on the issue of equity securities (as defined in the Companies Act 2006 which include the Company’s ordinary shares and securities convertible into ordinary shares) which are, or are to be, paid up wholly in cash and not first offered to existing shareholders. The Company’s articles of association allow shareholders to authorise Directors for a period specified in the relevant resolution to allot (i) relevant securities generally up to an amount fixed by the shareholders; and (ii) equity securities for cash other than in connection with a pre-emptive offer up to an amount specified by the shareholders and free of the pre-emption restriction in section 561. At the 2015 annual general meeting the amount of relevant securities fixed by shareholders under (i) above and the amount of equity securities specified by shareholders under (ii) above were both in line with corporate governance guidelines. Further details of such proposals are provided in the 2016 notice of annual general meeting. Rights attaching to the Company’s shares At 31 March 2016 the issued share capital of the Company was comprised of 50,000 7% cumulative fixed rate shares of £1.00 each and 26,558,570,312 ordinary shares (excluding treasury shares) of 2020/21 US cents each. As at 31 March 2016, 2,254,825,696 ordinary shares were held in Treasury. Dividend rights Holders of 7% cumulative fixed rate shares are entitled to be paid in respect of each financial year, or other accounting period of the Company, a fixed cumulative preferential dividend of 7% per annum on the nominal value of the fixed rate shares. A fixed cumulative preferential dividend may only be paid out of available distributable profits which the Directors have resolved should be distributed. The fixed rate shares do not have any other right to share in the Company’s profits. Holders of the Company’s ordinary shares may, by ordinary resolution, declare dividends but may not declare dividends in excess of the amount recommended by the Directors. The Board of Directors may also pay interim dividends. No dividend may be paid other than out of profits available for distribution. Dividends on ordinary shares can be paid to shareholders in whatever currency the Directors decide, using an appropriate exchange rate for any currency conversions which are required. If a dividend has not been claimed for one year after the date of the resolution passed at a general meeting declaring that dividend or the resolution of the Directors providing for payment of that dividend, the Directors may invest the dividend or use it in some other way for the benefit of the Company until the dividend is claimed. If the dividend remains unclaimed for 12 years after the relevant resolution either declaring that dividend or providing for payment of that dividend, it will be forfeited and belong to the Company. 178 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Unaudited information

 


Table of Contents

 

Disclosure of interests in the Company’s shares There are no provisions in the Articles of Association whereby persons acquiring, holding or disposing of a certain percentage of the Company’s shares are required to make disclosure of their ownership percentage although such requirements exist under rules derived from the UK Disclosure and Transparency Rules. General meetings and notices Subject to the Articles of Association, annual general meetings are held at such times and place as determined by the Directors of the Company. The Directors may also, when they think fit, convene other general meetings of the Company. General meetings may also be convened on requisition as provided by the Companies Act 2006. An annual general meeting needs to be called on not less than 21 days’ notice in writing. Subject to obtaining shareholder approval on an annual basis, the Company may call other general meetings on 14 days’ notice. The Directors may determine that persons entitled to receive notices of meetings are those persons entered on the register at the close of business on a day determined by the Directors but not later than 21 days before the date the relevant notice is sent. The notice may also specify the record date, the time of which shall be determined in accordance with the Articles of Association and the Companies Act 2006. Under section 336 of the Companies Act 2006 the annual general meeting of shareholders must be held each calendar year and within six months of the Company’s year end. Variation of rights If at any time the Company’s share capital is divided into different classes of shares, the rights attached to any class may be varied, subject to the provisions of the Companies Act 2006, either with the consent in writing of the holders of three quarters in nominal value of the shares of that class or at a separate meeting of the holders of the shares of that class. At every such separate meeting all of the provisions of the Articles of Association relating to proceedings at a general meeting apply, except that (i) the quorum is to be the number of persons (which must be at least two) who hold or represent by proxy not less than one third in nominal value of the issued shares of the class or, if such quorum is not present on an adjourned meeting, one person who holds shares of the class regardless of the number of shares he holds; (ii) any person present in person or by proxy may demand a poll; and (iii) each shareholder will have one vote per share held in that particular class in the event a poll is taken. Class rights are deemed not to have been varied by the creation or issue of new shares ranking equally with or subsequent to that class of shares in sharing in profits or assets of the Company or by a redemption or repurchase of the shares by the Company. Documents on display The Company is subject to the information requirements of the Exchange Act applicable to foreign private issuers. In accordance with these requirements the Company files its Annual Report on Form 20-F and other related documents with the SEC. These documents may be inspected at the SEC’s public reference rooms located at 100 F Street, NE Washington, DC 20549. Information on the operation of the public reference room can be obtained in the United States by calling the SEC on +1-800-SEC-0330. In addition, some of the Company’s SEC filings, including all those filed on or after 4 November 2002, are available on the SEC’s website at sec.gov. Shareholders can also obtain copies of the Company’s Articles of Association from our website at vodafone.com/governance or from the Company’s registered office. Material contracts At the date of this Annual Report the Group is not party to any contracts that are considered material to the Group’s results or operations except for: a its US$4.1 billion and €4.0 billion revolving credit facilities which are discussed in note 22 “Liquidity and capital resources” to the consolidated financial statements; a its subscription agreements for the £2.9 billion of subordinated mandatory convertible bonds placed on 25 February 2016 as discussed in note 22 “Liquidity and capital resources” to the consolidated financial statements; and a the agreed form Contribution and Transfer Agreement in respect of the Dutch joint venture with Liberty Global as detailed in note 29 “Commitments” to the consolidated financial statements. Exchange controls There are no UK Government laws, decrees or regulations that restrict or affect the export or import of capital, including but not limited to, foreign exchange controls on remittance of dividends on the ordinary shares or on the conduct of the Group’s operations. Taxation As this is a complex area investors should consult their own tax advisor regarding the US federal, state and local, the UK and other tax consequences of owning and disposing of shares and ADSs in their particular circumstances. This section describes, primarily for a US holder (as defined below), in general terms, the principal US federal income tax and UK tax consequences of owning or disposing of shares or ADSs in the Company held as capital assets (for US and UK tax purposes). This section does not, however, cover the tax consequences for members of certain classes of holders subject to special rules including, for example, US expatriates and former long-term residents of the United States; officers and employees of the Company; holders that, directly, indirectly or by attribution, hold 5% or more of the Company’s voting stock; financial institutions; insurance companies; individual retirement accounts and other tax-deferred accounts; tax-exempt organisations; dealers in securities or currencies; investors that will hold shares or ADSs as part of straddles, hedging transactions or conversion transactions for US federal income tax purposes; investors holding shares or ADSs in connection with a trade or business conducted outside of the US; or investors whose functional currency is not the US dollar. Limitations on transfer, voting and shareholding As far as the Company is aware there are no limitations imposed on the transfer, holding or voting of the Company’s ordinary shares other than those limitations that would generally apply to all of the shareholders, those that apply by law (e.g. due to insider dealing rules) or those that apply as a result of failure to comply with a notice under section 793 of the Companies Act 2006. No shareholder has any securities carrying special rights with regard to control of the Company. The Company is not aware of any agreements between holders of securities that may result in restrictions on the transfer of securities. 179 Additional information Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials

 


Table of Contents

 

Shareholder information (continued) A US holder is a beneficial owner of shares or ADSs that is for US federal income tax purposes: Taxation of dividends UK taxation Under current UK law, no amount will be required to be withheld on account of UK tax from the dividends that we pay. Shareholders who are within the charge to UK corporation tax will be subject to corporation tax on the dividends we pay unless the dividends fall within an exempt class and certain other conditions are met. It is expected that the dividends we pay would generally be exempt. Individual shareholders in the Company who are residents in the UK will be subject to the income tax on the dividends we pay. For dividends received before 6 April 2016, a tax credit equal to one-ninth of the cash dividend will be available. For dividends received on or after 6 April 2016 dividends received will no longer be eligible for tax credit and will be taxable in the UK at the dividend rates applicable where the income received is above the tax-free dividend allowance (£5,000 per tax year). US federal income taxation Subject to the passive foreign investment company (‘PFIC’) rules described below, a US holder is subject to US federal income taxation on the gross amount of any dividend we pay out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined for US federal income tax purposes). However, the Company does not maintain calculations of its earnings and profits in accordance with US federal income tax accounting principles. US holders should therefore assume that any distribution by the Company with respect to shares will be reported as ordinary dividend income. Dividends paid to a non-corporate US holder will be taxable to the holder at the reduced rate normally applicable to long-term capital gains provided that certain requirements are met. Dividends must be included in income when the US holder, in the case of shares, or the depositary, in the case of ADSs, actually or constructively receives the dividend and will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction generally allowed to US corporations in respect of dividends received from other US corporations. The amount of the dividend distribution to be included in income will be the US dollar value of the pound sterling payments made determined at the spot pound sterling/US dollar rate on the date the dividends are received by the US holder, in the case of shares, or the depositary, in the case of ADSs, regardless of whether the payment is in fact converted into US dollars at that time. If dividends received in pounds sterling are converted into US dollars on the day they are received, the US holder generally will not be required to recognise any foreign currency gain or loss in respect of the dividend income. Where UK tax is payable on any dividends received, a foreign tax credit may be claimable under the treaty. a an individual citizen or resident of the United States; a a US domestic corporation; a an estate, the income of which is subject to US federal income tax regardless of its source; or a a trust, if a US court can exercise primary supervision over the trust’s administration and one or more US persons are authorised to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or the trust has validly elected to be treated as a domestic trust for US federal income tax purposes. If an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for US federal income tax purposes holds the shares or ADSs, the US federal income tax treatment of a partner will generally depend on the status of the partner and the tax treatment of the partnership. Holders that are entities or arrangements treated as partnerships for US federal income tax purposes should consult their tax advisors concerning the US federal income tax consequences to them and their partners of the ownership and disposition of shares or ADSs by the partnership. This section is based on the US Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, its legislative history, existing and proposed regulations thereunder, published rulings and court decisions, and on the tax laws of the UK, the Double Taxation Convention between the United States and the UK (the ‘treaty’) and current HM Revenue and Customs published practice, all as currently in effect. These laws are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis. This section also assumes that the UK Finance Bill, as ordered to be published on 24 March 2016, will be enacted without amendment. This section is further based in part upon the representations of the depositary and assumes that each obligation in the deposit agreement and any related agreement will be performed in accordance with its terms. For the purposes of the treaty and the US–UK double taxation convention relating to estate and gift taxes (the ‘Estate Tax Convention’), and for US federal income tax and UK tax purposes, this section is based on the assumption that a holder of ADRs evidencing ADSs will generally be treated as the owner of the shares in the Company represented by those ADRs. Investors should note that a ruling by the first-tier tax tribunal in the UK has cast doubt on this view, but HMRC have stated that they will continue to apply their long-standing practice of regarding the holder of such ADRs as holding the beneficial interest in the underlying shares. Similarly, the US Treasury has expressed concern that US holders of depositary receipts (such as holders of ADRs representing our ADSs) may be claiming foreign tax credits in situations where an intermediary in the chain of ownership between such holders and the issuer of the security underlying the depositary receipts, or a party to whom depositary receipts or deposited shares are delivered by the depositary prior to the receipt by the depositary of the corresponding securities, has taken actions inconsistent with the ownership of the underlying security by the person claiming the credit, such as a disposition of such security. Such actions may also be inconsistent with the claiming of the reduced tax rates that may be applicable to certain dividends received by certain non-corporate holders, as described below. Accordingly, (i) the creditability of any UK taxes and (ii) the availability of the reduced tax rates for any dividends received by certain non-corporate US Holders, each as described below, could be affected by actions taken by such parties or intermediaries. Generally exchanges of shares for ADRs and ADRs for shares will not be subject to US federal income tax or to UK tax other than stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax (see the section on these taxes on page 181). 180 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Unaudited information

 


Table of Contents

 

Taxation of capital gains UK taxation A US holder that is not resident in the UK will generally not be liable for UK tax in respect of any capital gain realised on a disposal of our shares or ADSs. However, a US holder may be liable for both UK and US tax in respect of a gain on the disposal of our shares or ADSs if the US holder: Following rulings of the European Court of Justice and the first-tier tax tribunal in the UK, HMRC have confirmed that the 1.5% SDRT charge will not be levied on an issue of shares to a depositary receipts system on the basis that such a charge is contrary to EU law. No stamp duty should in practice be required to be paid on any transfer of our ADSs provided that the ADSs and any separate instrument of transfer are executed and retained at all times outside the UK. A transfer of our shares in registered form will attract ad valorem stamp duty generally at the rate of 0.5% of the purchase price of the shares. There is no charge to ad valorem stamp duty on gifts. SDRT is generally payable on an unconditional agreement to transfer our shares in registered form at 0.5% of the amount or value of the consideration for the transfer, but if, within six years of the date of the agreement, an instrument transferring the shares is executed, any SDRT which has been paid would be repayable or, if the SDRT has not been paid, the liability to pay the tax (but not necessarily interest and penalties) would be cancelled. However, an agreement to transfer our ADSs will not give rise to SDRT. PFIC rules We do not believe that our shares or ADSs will be treated as stock of a PFIC for US federal income tax purposes for our current taxable year or the foreseeable future. This conclusion is a factual determination that is made annually and thus is subject to change. If we are treated as a PFIC, US holders of shares would be required (i) to pay a special US addition to tax on certain distributions and (ii) any gain realised on the sale or other disposition of the shares or ADSs would in general not be treated as a capital gain unless a US holder elects to be taxed annually on a mark-to-market basis with respect to the shares or ADSs. Otherwise a US holder would be treated as if he or she has realised such gain and certain “excess distributions” rateably over the holding period for the shares or ADSs and would be taxed at the highest tax rate in effect for each such year to which the gain was allocated. An interest charge in respect of the tax attributable to each such preceding year beginning with the first such year in which our shares or ADSs were treated as stock in a PFIC would also apply. In addition, dividends received from us would not be eligible for the reduced rate of tax described above under “Taxation of Dividends – US federal income taxation”. Back-up withholding and information reporting Payments of dividends and other proceeds to a US holder with respect to shares or ADSs, by a US paying agent or other US intermediary will be reported to the Internal Revenue Service (‘IRS’) and to the US holder as may be required under applicable regulations. Back-up withholding may apply to these payments if the US holder fails to provide an accurate taxpayer identification number or certification of exempt status or fails to comply with applicable certification requirements. Certain US holders are not subject to back-up withholding. US holders should consult their tax advisors about these rules and any other reporting obligations that may apply to the ownership or disposition of shares or ADSs, including requirements related to the holding of certain foreign financial assets. a is a citizen of the United States and is resident in the UK; a is an individual who realises such a gain during a period of “temporary non-residence” (broadly, where the individual becomes resident in the UK, having ceased to be so resident for a period of five years or less, and was resident in the UK for at least four out of the seven tax years immediately preceding the year of departure from the UK); a is a US domestic corporation resident in the UK by reason of being centrally managed and controlled in the UK; or a is a citizen or a resident of the United States, or a US domestic corporation, that has used, held or acquired the shares or ADSs in connection with a branch, agency or permanent establishment in the UK through which it carries on a trade, profession or vocation in the UK. In such circumstances, relief from double taxation may be available under the treaty. Holders who may fall within one of the above categories should consult their professional advisers. US federal income taxation Subject to the PFIC rules described below, a US holder that sells or otherwise disposes of our shares or ADSs generally will recognise a capital gain or loss for US federal income tax purposes equal to the difference between the US dollar value of the amount realised and the holder’s adjusted tax basis, determined in US dollars, in the shares or ADSs. This capital gain or loss will be a long-term capital gain or loss if the US holder’s holding period in the shares or ADSs exceeds one year. The gain or loss will generally be income or loss from sources within the US for foreign tax credit limitation purposes. The deductibility of losses is subject to limitations. Additional tax considerations UK inheritance tax An individual who is domiciled in the United States (for the purposes of the Estate Tax Convention) and is not a UK national will not be subject to UK inheritance tax in respect of our shares or ADSs on the individual’s death or on a transfer of the shares or ADSs during the individual’s lifetime, provided that any applicable US federal gift or estate tax is paid, unless the shares or ADSs are part of the business property of a UK permanent establishment or pertain to a UK fixed base used for the performance of independent personal services. Where the shares or ADSs have been placed in trust by a settlor they may be subject to UK inheritance tax unless, when the trust was created, the settlor was domiciled in the United States and was not a UK national. Where the shares or ADSs are subject to both UK inheritance tax and to US federal gift or estate tax, the estate tax convention generally provides a credit against US federal tax liabilities for UK inheritance tax paid. UK stamp duty and stamp duty reserve tax Stamp duty will, subject to certain exceptions, be payable on any instrument transferring our shares to the custodian of the depositary at the rate of 1.5% on the amount or value of the consideration if on sale or on the value of such shares if not on sale. Stamp duty reserve tax (‘SDRT’), at the rate of 1.5% of the amount or value of the consideration or the value of the shares, could also be payable in these circumstances but no SDRT will be payable if stamp duty equal to such SDRT liability is paid. 181 Additional information Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials

 


Table of Contents

 

History and development The Company was incorporated under English law in 1984 as Racal Strategic Radio Limited (registered number 1833679). After various name changes, 20% of Racal Telecom Plc share capital was offered to the public in October 1988. The Company was fully demerged from Racal Electronics Plc and became an independent company in September 1991, at which time it changed its name to Vodafone Group Plc. Since then we have entered into various transactions which significantly impacted on the development of the Group. The most significant of these transactions are summarised below: a Through a series of business transactions in 2011 and 2012, Vodafone assigned its rights to purchase approximately 11% of VIL from the Essar Group to Piramal Healthcare Limited (‘Piramal’). On 18 August 2011 Piramal purchased 5.5% of VIL from the Essar Group for a cash consideration of INR 28.6 billion (£368 million). On 8 February 2012, they purchased a further 5.5% of VIL from the Essar Group for a cash consideration of approximately INR 30.1 billion (£399 million) taking Piramal’s total shareholding in VIL to approximately 11%. a On 9 November 2011 we sold our entire 24.4% interest in Polkomtel in Poland for cash consideration of approximately €920 million (£784 million) before tax and transaction costs. a The merger with AirTouch Communications, Inc. which completed on 30 June 1999. The Company changed its name to Vodafone AirTouch Plc in June 1999 but then reverted to its former name, Vodafone Group Plc, on 28 July 2000. a On 27 July 2012 we acquired the entire share capital of Cable & Wireless Worldwide plc for a cash consideration of £1,050 million. a On 31 October 2012 we acquired TelstraClear Limited in New a The completion on 10 July 2000 of the agreement with Bell Atlantic and GTE to combine their US cellular operations to create the largest mobile operator in the United States, Verizon Wireless, resulting in the Group having a 45% interest in the combined entity. Zealand for a cash consideration of NZ$840 million (£440 million). a On 13 September 2013 we acquired a 76.57% interest in Kabel Deutschland Holding AG in Germany for cash consideration of €5.8 billion (£4.9 billion). a The acquisition of Mannesmann AG which completed on 12 April 2000. Through this transaction we acquired businesses in Germany and Italy and increased our indirect holding in Société Française u Radiotéléphone S.A. (‘SFR’). a The completion on 21 February 2014 of the agreement, announced on 2 September 2013, to dispose of our US Group whose principal asset was its 45% interest in Verizon Wireless (‘VZW’) to Verizon Communications Inc. (‘Verizon’), Vodafone’s joint venture partner, for a total consideration of US$130 billion (£79 billion) including the remaining 23.1% minority interest in Vodafone Italy. Following completion, Vodafone shareholders received Verizon shares and cash totalling US$85 billion (£51 billion). a Through a series of business transactions between 1999 and 2004 we acquired a 97.7% stake in Vodafone Japan. This was then disposed of on 27 April 2006. a On 8 May 2007 we acquired companies with controlling interests in Vodafone India Limited (‘VIL’), formerly Vodafone Essar Limited, for US$10.9 billion (£5.5 billion). a In March 2014 we acquired the indirect equity interests in VIL held by Analjit Singh and Neelu Analjit Singh, taking our stake to 89.03% and then in April 2014 we acquired the remaining 10.97% of VIL from Piramal Enterprises Limited for cash consideration of INR 89.0 billion (£0.9 billion), taking our ownership interest to 100%. a On 20 April 2009 we acquired an additional 15.0% stake in Vodacom for cash consideration of ZAR 20.6 billion (£1.6 billion). On 18 May 2009 Vodacom became a subsidiary. a On 23 July 2014 we acquired the entire share capital of Grupo Corporativo Ono, S.A. (‘Ono’) in Spain for total consideration, including associated net debt acquired, of €7.2 billion (£5.8 billion). a On 10 September 2010 we sold our entire 3.2% interest in China Mobile Limited for cash consideration of £4.3 billion. a On 16 June 2011 we sold our entire 44% interest in SFR to Vivendi for a cash consideration of €7.75 billion (£6.8 billion) and received a final dividend from SFR of €200 million (£176 million). Details of significant transactions that occurred during year ended 31 March 2016 are included in note 28 “Acquisitions and disposals” and in note 29 “Commitments”. Details of significant transactions that occurred after 31 March 2016 and before the signing of this Annual Report on 17 May 2016 are included in note 32 “Subsequent events”. a Through a series of business transactions on 1 June and 1 July 2011, we acquired an additional 22% stake in VIL from the Essar Group for a cash consideration of US$4.2 billion (£2.6 billion) including withholding tax. 182 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Unaudited information

 


Table of Contents

 

Regulation Our operating companies are generally subject to regulation governing the operation of their business activities. Such regulation typically takes the form of industry specific law and regulation covering telecommunications services and general competition (antitrust) law applicable to all activities. The following section describes the regulatory frameworks and the key regulatory developments at national and supranational level and in selected countries in which we have significant interests during the year ended 31 March 2016. Many of the regulatory developments reported in the following section involve ongoing proceedings or consideration of potential proceedings that have not reached a conclusion. Accordingly, we are unable to attach a specific level of financial risk to our performance from such matters. In February 2016 Deutsche Telekom applied for approval of new Unbundled Local Loop (‘ULL’) fees that would lead to an average increase of 10% and would be valid until the end of 2019. On 20 April 2016 the National Regulatory Authority (‘BNetzA’) proposed reducing the existing ULL rates by up to 1.7%. The rate decision will, after EU consolidation proceedings, become effective on 1 July 2016. In April 2016 BNetzA issued its draft decision on Deutsche Telekom’s layer 2 bitstream access product proposal. The final BNetzA decision is expected in June 2016. Furthermore, BNetzA has proposed to mandate an additional Virtual Unbundled Local Access (‘VULA’) product at street cabinets which is not currently technically and commercially defined. In May 2016 the Commission announced that BNetzA’s proposal to allow DT the exclusive deployment of vectoring within the nearshore areas of the main distribution frames may not be compliant with EU law, based on the apparent restrictions it places on alternative operators. Therefore the vectoring proposal and the associated conditions for the new VULA product will be subject to further scrutiny, with the Commission due to announce its decision by September 2016. Italy In September 2015 Vodafone obtained one of the two L band TDD blocks equal to 20MHz at just under €232 million. The licence commenced on 1 January 2016 and expires on 31 December 2029. In December 2015 further to its investigation into irregularities in the maintenance services of fixed networks, the Italian competition authority (‘AGCM‘) announced its decision to fine Telecom Italia (‘TI’) €21.5 million on the basis it had engaged in agreements with six other undertakings that abused its market dominance. In accordance with the decision, TI is now obliged to provide unbundled access to maintenance activities and to allow their competitors to acquire maintenance services from third parties. In December 2015 the National Regulatory Authority (‘AGCOM’) adopted the final decision regarding the wholesale fixed access market. The decision requires the application of the same remedies and prices nationally, cost orientation for all wholesale copper and fibre access services and price reductions from 2015 to 2017 for VULA fibre to the cabinet (‘FTTC’) (-36%) and copper bit-stream (-18%). For information on litigation in Italy, see note 30 “Contingent liabilities and legal proceedings” to the consolidated financial statements. United Kingdom In September 2015 the national regulatory authority (‘Ofcom’) published its final decision revising the annual licence fees payable on licences for the use of spectrum in the 900MHz and 1800MHz bands to reflect full market value, following the completion of the 4G auction. From 31 October 2016 Vodafone UK will pay annual fees of approximately £50 million for the spectrum. An application has been made by Everything Everywhere (‘EE’) to appeal this decision. Vodafone has given notice of its intention to intervene in any resulting appeal. In May 2016 the European Commission competition authority (‘DGCOMP’) announced its decision to prohibit the proposed Hutchison 3G acquisition of Telefonica UK (‘O2’). Hutchinson 3G have the option to appeal to the EU’s General Court in Luxembourg. In December 2015 Vodafone UK acquired 20MHz of 1400MHz spectrum with an indefinite licence from Qualcomm. In January 2016 British Telecom’s acquisition of mobile network operator EE received final approval from the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (’CMA’). European Union (‘EU’) In October 2015 the European Parliament and the European Council adopted the European Commission’s (‘the Commission’) proposed regulation known as the Telecoms Single Market Package. The regulation requires the abolition of retail roaming surcharges by June 2017 and introduces net neutrality rules which come into force from 30 April 2016. In May 2015 the Commission published the Digital Single Market strategy, aimed at producing a more advanced digital single market. The strategy has three pillars: (i) maximising the growth potential of the European digital economy; (ii) creating the right conditions for digital networks and services to flourish; and (iii) better access for consumers and businesses to online e-goods and services across Europe. The Commission is currently undertaking various consultations which will lead to the revision of existing, or the adoption of new, legislation. One of these consultations considers the revision of the EU telecoms regulatory framework that covers five areas: Next-Generation Access (‘NGA’) regulation, spectrum, rules for communications services, universal service, and the institutional set-up and governance. There is a clear focus on incentivising investment in NGA (including access for mobile backhaul), the further harmonisation of spectrum regulation and the creation of a fair and level playing field for competing services. Other consultations we have or are responding to include: Internet speed and quality; review of national wholesale roaming markets, fair use policy and the sustainability mechanism; online platforms, cloud & data, liability of intermediaries, collaborative economy; ICT Standards; tackling unjustified geo-blocking; the needs for internet speed and quality beyond 2020; review of the Satellite and Cable Directive; the revision of the Audio Visual Media Services Directive; contract rules for online purchases of digital content and tangible goods; the e Privacy Directive; and the evaluation of Commission Recommendation 2009/396/EU on the regulatory treatment of fixed and mobile termination rates in the EU. The Commission are also planning a consultation on the review of safety of apps and other non-embedded software. Europe region Germany In June 2015 Vodafone Germany acquired 110MHz out of the 270MHz made available in the spectrum auction. This consisted of 2x10MHz of 700MHz band, 2x10MHz of 900MHz band, 1x20MHz of 1500MHz band and 2x25MHz of 1800MHz band for a total of €2,091 million. Total auction bids amounted to €5,081 million. 183 Additional information Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Unaudited information

 


Table of Contents

 

Regulation (continued) In February 2016 Ofcom released its initial conclusions following its Strategic Review of Digital Communications. Ofcom’s proposals include requirements on BT to open up its network to competitors, reforming BT Openreach’s governance and delivering better Quality of Service for all customers. Vodafone UK will continue to engage with Ofcom as it implements these proposals including a consultation on Openreach governance expected in summer 2016. Spain The fines applied to Telefónica, Orange and Vodafone Spain in December 2012 for abuse of dominant position by imposing excessive pricing of wholesale SMS/MMS services on mobile virtual network operators (‘MVNO’), remain suspended until the judicial review is concluded. In June 2015 in response to the national competition authority’s (‘CNMC’) conditional approval of Telefónica’s acquisition of pay-TV operator Distribuidora de Televisión Digital (‘DTS’), Vodafone Spain appealed to the National Court. The appeal required the adoption of precautionary measures to increase the amount of premium content made available to other operators from 50% to 75% and to include football within the same pricing mechanism as other premium content channels. The National Court rejected the adoption of the precautionary measures on 18 April 2016. In January 2016 following a review of the regulatory ex ante price squeeze test run on Telefónica’s retail offers, CNMC issued a draft decision that proposes to modify the test to ensure it is capable of being replicated by other operators. This was further to Vodafone Spain’s submission to CNMC’s surveillance procedure that called for action on the retail offers of Telefónica; the wholesale conditions of access; and the breach by Telefónica of its commitments. In October 2015 DGCOMP approved Orange’s proposed acquisition of Jazztel, based on an agreement that included, among other provisions, the commitment to sell a certain amount of Jazztel’s fibre-optic assets to Masmóvil. In January 2016 Telefónica and Mediapro reached an agreement under which Telefónica acquires the rights to broadcast the beIN Sports LaLiga channel (Spanish first division and King’s Cup/Copa del Rey) and the beIN Sports channel (Champions League and Europa League), for the seasons 2016/17 to 2018/19, for a total amount of €2.4 billion. Vodafone Spain challenged the exclusive nature of the agreement and, after obtaining CNMC’s support, in February 2016 Mediapro initiated a second round of talks where Vodafone Spain confirmed its interest to acquire the beIN Sports LaLiga channel on a non-exclusive basis and the contract for the licence with Mediapro was signed on 5 April 2016. In March 2016 CNMC approved the resolution on wholesale regulation of broadband markets (Markets 3a, 3b & 4, including NGA). Netherlands The Dutch Government has renewed the existing 2.1GHz licences that were due to expire by the end of 2016. The renewal is for a period of four years (2017–2020), and provides an opportunity for a simultaneous auction with the 700MHz band. In October 2014 the Court of Appeal (‘CBb’) decided to refer the ongoing case of termination rates to the European Court of Justice (‘ECJ’) regarding the legal status of the recommendation to use pure bottom up long run incremental cost (‘BULRIC’). The CBb will be able to issue its final decision once it has received the ruling of the ECJ, which is currently expected during the second half of 2016. In February 2016 the Dutch Supreme Court ruled on the Dutch implementation of the EU Consumer Credit Directive and “instalment sales agreements” (a Dutch law concept), holding that bundled “all-in” mobile subscription agreements (i.e. device along with mobile services) are considered consumer credit agreements. As a result Vodafone Netherlands together with the industry has been working with the Ministry of Finance and the Competition Authority on compliance requirements going forward for such offers. The ruling also has retrospective effect and a claim has been submitted by a claims organisation which is currently being reviewed by Vodafone Netherlands. Ireland In February 2016 further to Vodafone Ireland’s successful appeal in the High Court against the national regulatory authority’s (‘ComReg’) interim mobile termination rate (‘MTR’) decision, ComReg published a revised MTR decision. Effective from 1 September 2016 and based on a pure Long Run Incremental Cost (‘LRIC’) model, the MTR will be 0.84 eurocents per minute. ComReg confirmed that following discussions with Vodafone Ireland they would drop their appeal to the Supreme Court. Vodafone Ireland has agreed to accept the new rate and drop the remaining related challenges outstanding before the High Court. Portugal In February 2016 the national regulatory authority (‘ANACOM’) confirmed the renewal of Vodafone Portugal’s 2.1GHz spectrum band with increased coverage obligations and additional reporting commitments but without the requirement of an auction or licence fee. The expiry date has been extended to 5 May 2033. In March 2016 ANACOM commenced a consultation into the 3a (Wholesale local access), 3b (Wholesale central access) and 4 (Wholesale high-quality access) markets. Romania In November 2015 the national regulatory authority (‘ANCOM’) announced their decision to deregulate the wholesale local access market (market 3a/2014), removing all of the fixed wholesale access regulations previously imposed on Telekom Romania, the former incumbent. ANCOM’s analysis concludes that the retail broadband market in Romania is competitive and ex ante regulation at the wholesale level cannot be justified. The decision was unopposed by the European Commission. Greece In December 2015 Vodafone Greece’s spectrum (2x56MHz) at 2.6GHz band licence expired. To date, we await the Ministry of Infrastructure, Transport and Networks (‘MITN’) to take the appropriate action for renewal, in the meantime Vodafone Greece continues to have access to the spectrum. The MITN and the national regulatory authority, (‘EETT’ – where currently the role of Chair is vacant) have not commenced the formal procedure to determine price and the award process prior to the August 2016 expiration date of Vodafone Greece’s 2x15MHz spectrum at 1800MHz. Czech Republic In June 2015 the former fixed incumbent (O2 Czech Republic) was split into two legally separate entities (network and service company) but both entities are still controlled by the private investment fund PPF. In February 2016 further to the national regulatory authority (‘CTU’) consultation on the unsold 1800MHz and 2.6GHz spectrum from 2013, an auction was announced with bidding commencing in April 2016. The auction for the 3.7GHz spectrum is due to commence in the second half of 2016. Hungary Vodafone Hungary has no material items to report for 2016. 184 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Unaudited information

 


Table of Contents

 

Albania In March 2015 Vodafone M-Pesa was licensed as an e-money issuance institution and has since been able to perform utility payments and money transfer services for its customers. Between April and June 2015 Vodafone Albania secured spectrum for 2x1.8MHz of 900MHz band, 2x14.4MHz of 1800MHz and 2x20+20MHz of 2.6GHz band, allowing 4G services to be made available. In September 2015 spectrum neutrality and reshuffling in the 1800MHz spectrum band was introduced. Malta In March 2014 the national regulatory authority (‘MCA’) set the MTR at 0.40 eurocents per minute. Vodafone Malta has submitted an appeal to the Administrative Review Tribunal on the basis that there was a lack of transparency in the consultation process. For information on litigation in India, see note 30 “Contingent liabilities and legal proceedings” to the consolidated financial statements. Vodacom: South Africa In March 2014 the High Court ruled in favour of Vodacom and MTN in their challenge to the national regulatory authority’s (‘ICASA’) decision on Call Termination Regulations (‘CTR’). This led to ICASA initiating another consultation process and in September 2014 they published the final CTR that reduces the rate to ZAR 0.13 cents per minute by October 2016. In December 2014 Cell C served ICASA (including other interested parties such as Vodacom and MTN) with a notice of motion in terms of which it is seeking an order for the review and setting aside by the High Court, of the September 2014 CTRs. Vodacom had filed a notice to oppose Cell C’s application. This matter was due to be heard from 7 March 2016 however Cell C withdrew its application. In May 2014 the national competition authority (‘CompCom’) confirmed its intention to proceed with the investigation into an allegation by Cell C that Vodacom and MTN have abused their market dominance in contravention of section 8 of the Competition Act. Once the investigation is completed, the matter may be referred to the Competition Tribunal where Vodacom will have a further opportunity to make its case. In May 2014 Vodacom entered into a sale and purchase agreement under which it would acquire 100% of the issued share capital of Neotel as well as Neotel’s shareholder loans and liabilities. The proposed acquisition of the majority of Neotel’s assets has been abandoned due to regulatory complexities and certain conditions not being fulfilled. In September 2015 further to its International Mobile Telecommunications (‘IMT’) Radio Frequency Spectrum Assignment Plans (‘RFSAP’) published in March 2015 ICASA published an Information Memorandum (‘IM’) on the prospective licensing of the 700MHz, 800MHz and 2.6GHz High Demand Spectrum bands. The IM is a precursor to an Invitation to Apply (‘ITA’). Vodacom has raised its concerns that the IM does not provide sufficient detail on some of the critical aspects of the auction design and process. In February 2016 the Department of Trade and Industry (‘DTI’) published the revised draft ICT Sector Code for consultation. This code follows the May 2015 implementation of the revised generic DTI Codes on Black Economic Empowerment (‘BEE’) which saw a complete overhaul of the targets and requirements of the 2007 Codes, which included the removal of the recognition of ZAR7.5 billion rule for ownership and retention of 30% investing target that Vodacom must be compliant with to be eligible to bid in future Spectrum auctions. The revised Codes are expected to be finalised in June 2016 and will be applicable to the financial period of 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2017. Vodacom: Democratic Republic of Congo In December 2015 the Government ordered all operators to disconnect any unregistered customers. In February 2016 all operators received a non-compliance letter from the National Intelligence Agency, stating sanctions would be applied. Vodacom DRC is suspending customers with insufficient registration records and communicating to such customers the requirement to register to avoid disconnection. To date, no sanctions have been imposed. In September 2015 the national regulatory authority (‘ARPTC’) retained the current on-net voice price floor at 5.1 US cents per minute and off net 8.5 US cents per minute set in March 2015 and extended the price floor to cover international outgoing calls and promotions until June 2016. In December 2015 Vodacom Congo’s 2G licence was renewed with a ten-year extension taking the expiry date to 1 January 2028, together with securing additional spectrum 2x5.8 1800MHz and 1x15 1900MHz. Collectively, the licence and spectrum fees paid was US$22.5 million. Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific region India In February 2012 Vodafone India challenged the Department of Telecommunications (‘DoT’) at the Telecom Tribunal on the financial requirements for approving the transfer of Vodafone India telecom licenses that were held under seven subsidiary companies to create two telecom licensed companies – Vodafone India Limited and its subsidiary Vodafone Mobile Services Limited. Pleadings were completed on 6 April 2016 and the next hearing is due on 19 May 2016. In February 2015 the national regulatory authority (‘TRAI’) announced its revised regulation on MTRs, reducing the rate from 20 paisa to 14 paisa per minute for mobile termination and nil termination for calls originating from, or terminating on, a fixed line. Vodafone India has challenged TRAI’s decision in the Delhi High Court and the hearing is due to commence in May 2016. In April 2015 TRAI launched a consultation on the regulatory framework for Over-The-Top (‘OTT’) services and Net Neutrality and the completion of that consultation is awaited. In February 2016 TRAI issued a regulation prohibiting the charging of discriminatory tariffs on the basis of content or services accessed. In March 2015 in the spectrum auction for 800MHz, 900MHz, 1800MHz and 2.1GHz bands, Vodafone India won spectrum in all six circles where the existing spectrum was due for expiry in December 2015, thus ensuring continuity of business. It also won an additional 2.1GHz spectrum in six service areas. The total auction spend by Vodafone India was INR 258 billion. In May 2015 the Supreme Court dismissed Vodafone India’s appeal against the DoT’s refusal to extend its existing spectrum licences in Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. In September and October 2015 guidelines for Spectrum Sharing and Spectrum Trading were issued respectively. In January 2016 TRAI submitted its recommendations to the DoT on the Valuation & Reserve price of Spectrum and DoT’s decision is expected by the end of May 2016. In February 2016 further to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s allocation of budget for the Government’s Digital India agenda, TRAI recommended a public-private partnership (‘PPP’) “build own operate transfer” (‘BOOT’) model as the preferred means of the implementation strategy for BharatNet (the Government’s national optic fibre network programme). DoT’s decision on the TRAI recommendation is awaited. In May 2016 further to a challenge by the telecom operators, the Indian Supreme Court held that the order announced in October 2015 by TRAI, mandating MNOs to compensate customers for any call drops, was “arbitrary, unreasonable and non-transparent” and therefore cancelled. 185 Additional information Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials

 


Table of Contents

 

Regulation (continued) Vodacom: Tanzania In February 2016 further to the gazetted final regulations which set out voluntary requirements for all telecommunications licensees to list a minimum of 20% of their ordinary share capital on the Dar Stock Exchange to be held by Tanzanian investors, or make a one-off payment of 0.6% of gross revenues into an ICT development fund within 12 months of effective date of regulation, the Ministry of Communications commenced consultations with the industry on the governance, structure and payments into this fund. In February 2016 the national regulatory authority (‘TCRA’) approved Vodacom Tanzania’s acquisition of Shared Networks Tanzania which holds 2x5 900MHz spectrum which will be used to support provision of rural services. The national competition authority’s (‘FCC’) approval is still pending. In March 2016 TCRA commenced a Request for Proposal for spectrum auction consultants which is required ahead of the planned 700MHz auction. Vodacom: Mozambique In August 2015 following an announcement from the Minister of Communications that unregistered customers must be disconnected, a new registration regulation was introduced, which approved electronic registration. Subsequently, the operators and regulator agreed on a joint campaign and phased disconnection process to achieve complete registration by November 2016. A new communications bill is being reviewed by the Parliament. The bill introduces inter alia, a new electronic communications licence regime, price regulation approval process, a competition law-based regulatory regime, and new law enforcement powers. Vodacom: Lesotho In September 2015 the national regulatory authority (‘LCA’) confirmed in writing to Vodacom Lesotho that its service licence will be renewed when it expires on 31 May 2016 at a cost of ZAR5 million. In February 2016 Vodacom Lesotho was awarded 2 x 20 1800MHz spectrum to be used for Long-Term Evolution (‘LTE’). International roaming in Africa In November 2014 East Africa Community (‘EAC’) Ministers of Communications met and set the national regulation authorities (‘NRAs’) the task to implement “Phase 1” price caps for wholesale (US 7 cents) and retail (US 10 cents). It was agreed that Phase 1 would be interim until “Phase 2” Single Area Network regulation is issued following a study to be conducted by the regulators for the region. In November 2015, the Tanzania Ministry of Communications commenced a consultation on the Phase 1 price caps for EAC countries. In September 2015 further to Southern African Development Community (‘SADC’) Ministers of Communications requirements that the NRAs implement international roaming wholesale and retail five-year glide-paths, the Communications Regulators’ Association of Southern Africa (‘CRASA’) issued Regulatory Guidance and accompanying Policy. The CRASA requested that NRAs implement the glide-paths from 1 October 2015 and transparency measures in accordance with their applicable national law. The policy recognised that the glide-paths should not take prices below underlying cost and that member countries should take steps to reduce issues which increase costs, notably taxes on international incoming calls. Vodacom is participating in the processes conducted by NRAs in SADC member states. Turkey In March 2015 further to Vodafone’s letter of appeal in the administrative court to the announcement by the national regulatory authority (‘ICTA’) in August 2014 that the scope of the 3G coverage must be broadened to include new metropolitan areas, the Council of State adopted a motion suspending the ICTA’s action and the lawsuit is pending. In May 2015 after the Electronic Trade Law came into force, secondary legislation was finalised by both the Ministry of Customs and Trade (‘MoCT’) and the ICTA. Under the new regulations, operators will only be permitted to use their marketing database for operator related marketing reasons. Third parties were permitted to send one time SMSs to mobile operators’ databases asking their customers to opt into their database, up to and including 15 September 2015. In August 2015 the 4.5G (IMT Advanced) auction was completed grossing total revenue of €3.36 billion excluding taxes, compared to reserve prices of €2.3 billion. Only three mobile operators bid for the spectrum bands and there were no bids for the 2.6GHz block reserved for a fourth operator. Vodafone Turkey paid a total of €778 million for 82.8MHz (2x10MHz in the 800MHz band, 2x1.4MHz in 900MHz band, 2x10MHz in 1800MHz band, 2x15MHz FDD in the 2.6GHz band and 1x10MHz TDD in the 2.6GHz band). The operators launched 4.5G services as of 1 April 2016. Australia The national regulatory authority (‘ACMA’) has completed an auction of up to 60MHz of regional 1800MHz spectrum to be made available in two to three years’ time (currently allocated for fixed link wireless services). Vodafone Australia acquired spectrum in many regional areas, including Canberra. After extensive lobbying by the industry, the Government is looking to undertake the most comprehensive overhaul of spectrum management in 15 years. Vodafone Australia is advocating for a framework that better considers the competition effects of spectrum policy (60% of regional spectrum is held by Telstra) and the establishment of more market-orientated spectrum licences and a better renewal process and more flexible payment terms. Egypt The Administrative Court ruling in favour of Vodafone Egypt in the case filed against Telecom Egypt and the national regulatory authority (‘NTRA’), regarding the NTRA’s authority to set MTRs between operators has been partially implemented with Orange Egypt (formerly Mobinil) and Telecom Egypt, however, an arbitration case is pending with Etisalat Misr. The implementation of the Unified License remains on hold. The 4G and fixed licence proposals are being developed by the NTRA and will be presented for approval to the Egyptian Cabinet. For information on litigation in Egypt, see note 30 “Contingent liabilities and legal proceedings” to the consolidated financial statements. Ghana In December 2015 the national regulatory authority (‘NCA’) conducted a spectrum auction in the 800MHz band. Vodafone Ghana as well as the other four mobile network operators and three mobile broadband wireless access operators declined to participate in the auction on the basis of the high reserve price. Scancom Ghana (trading as MTN Ghana) was the only entity to participate and submit bids in the auction. MTN was therefore awarded one of the blocks in the two lots of 2x10MHz at a reserve price of US$67.5 million. New Zealand In March 2015 the New Zealand Government announced the expansion of the existing Ultra-fast Broadband fibre to the premises (‘FTTP’) initiative from 75% to 80% of premises passed at a projected cost of between NZ$152 million and NZ$210 million. In addition, the Government announced a further NZ$150 million of funding to improve broadband coverage in rural areas and address mobile blackspots. Competitive tenders for these initiatives are expected to be completed in 2016. 186 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Unaudited information

 


Table of Contents

 

Safaricom: Kenya Safaricom continues to operate on a periodically renewed trial licence for the 2x15MHz 800MHz band spectrum granted in February 2015 until the national regulatory authority (‘CA’) is ready to issue the full Commercial Licence. The CA is also conducting a stakeholders’ consultation on the allocation of LTE spectrum in the 800MHz band to all mobile operators. In August 2015 CA issued new subscriber regulations to be implemented by February 2016. Safaricom is working with the authorities on revised timelines to ensure an effective transition to the new regime as the envisaged timeframe wasn’t operationally feasible. The CA has announced its intention to commission a study on competition within the telecommunications sector. The date for the commencement of the review has not been announced. Overview of spectrum licences at 31 March 2016 Qatar In January 2016 Qatar underwent a significant government re-shuffle at cabinet level resulting in the amalgamation of the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology with the Ministry of Transport and the replacement of the incumbent Telecoms Minister. Vodafone Qatar is currently challenging decisions made by both the previous Ministry and national regulatory authority (‘NRA’) relating to the application and enforcement of the dominance framework. Preliminary decisions were issued in respect of all three actions in March 2016. The action taken against the Ministry was rejected on technical grounds with the Court declining to recognise the decision of the Ministry as a “final administrative decision” under the Administrative Law. The two separate cases relating to subsequent decisions of the NRA have been reserved for further investigation and consideration. 700MHz 800MHz 900MHz 1400/1500MHz 1800MHz 2.1GHz 2.6GHz 3.5GHz Quantity1 (Expiry date) Quantity1 (Expiry date) Quantity1 (Expiry date) Quantity1 (Expiry date) Quantity1 (Expiry date) Quantity1 (Expiry date) Quantity1 (Expiry date) Quantity1 (Expiry date) Country by region Europe region Germany 2x10 (2033) 2x10 (2025) 2x12 (2016) 1x20 (2033) 2x5 (2016) 2x10+5 (2020) 2x20+25 (2025) n/a 2x102 (2033) 2x252 (2033) 2x52 (2025) Italy n/a 2x10 (2029) 2x10 (2018) 1x20 (2029) 2x15 (2018) 2x15+5 (2021) 2x15 (2029) n/a 2x52 (2029) UK n/a 2x10 (2033) 2x17 See note3 1x20 (2023) 2x6 See note3 2x15 See note3 2x20+25 (2033) n/a Spain n/a 2x10 (2030) 2x10 (2028) n/a 2x20 (2030) 2x15+5 (2030) 2x20+20 (2030) n/a Netherlands n/a 2x10 (2029) 2x10 (2030) n/a 2x20 (2030) 2x20+5 (2020) 2x10 (2030) n/a Ireland n/a 2x10 (2030) 2x10 (2030) n/a 2x25 (2030) 2x15+5 (2022) n/a n/a Portugal n/a 2x10 (2027) 2x5 (2021) n/a 2x6 (2021) 2x20 (2033) 2x20+25 (2027) n/a 2x52 (2027) 2x142 (2027) Romania n/a 2x10 (2029) 2x10 (2029) n/a 2x30 (2029) 2x15+5 (2020) 1x15 (2029) 1x40 (2025) Greece n/a 2x10 (2030) 2x15 (2027) n/a 2x10 (2027) 2x20+5 (2021) 2x20+20 (2030) n/a 2x152 (2016) Czech Republic n/a 2x10 (2029) 2x10 (2021) n/a 2x18 (2021) 2x20 (2025) 2x20 (2029) n/a 2x42 (2029) Hungary n/a 2x10 (2029) 2x10 (2022)4 n/a 2x15 (2022)3 2x15 (2019) 2x20+25 (2029) n/a 2x1 (2029)4 Albania n/a n/a 2x8 (2016) n/a 2x9 (2016) 2x15+5 (2025) 2x20+20 (2030) n/a 2x22 (2030) 2x142 (2030) 2x52 (2029) Malta n/a n/a 2x15 (2026) n/a 2x25 (2026) 2x20+5 (2020) n/a 1x42 (2020) 187 Additional information Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials

 


Table of Contents

 

Regulation (continued) 700MHz 800MHz 900MHz 1400/1500MHz 1800MHz 2.1GHz 2.6GHz 3.5GHz Quantity1 (Expiry date) Quantity1 (Expiry date) Quantity1 (Expiry date) Quantity1 (Expiry date) Quantity1 (Expiry date) Quantity1 (Expiry date) Quantity1 (Expiry date) Quantity1 (Expiry date) Country by region Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific India5 (2016–2035)5 (2016–2035)5 n/a n/a n/a (2030) n/a n/a Vodacom: South Africa6 2x116 2x126 2x15+56 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Vodacom: Democratic Republic of Congo n/a n/a 2x6 (2028) n/a 2x18 (2028) 2x10+15 (2032) n/a 1x30 (2026) Lesotho7 2x207 2x227 2x307 2x157 1x407 1x427 n/a n/a Mozambique n/a n/a 2x8 (2018) n/a 2x8 (2018) 2x15+10 (2023) n/a n/a Tanzania n/a n/a 2x8 (2031) n/a 2x10 (2031) 2x15 (2031) n/a 1x28 (2031) Turkey n/a 2x10 (2029) 2x11 (2023) n/a 2x10 (2029) 2x15+5 (2029) 2x15+10 (2029) n/a 2x12 (2029) Australia8 n/a 2x10 (850MHz) (2028) 2x8 (2028) n/a 2x30 (annual) 2x25+5 (2017) n/a n/a Egypt n/a n/a 2x13 (2022) n/a 2x10 (2022) 2x15 (2022) n/a n/a New Zealand 2x15 (2031) n/a 2x15 (2031) n/a 2x25 (2021) 2x25+10 (2021) 2x15+5 (2028) 2x28 (2022) Safaricom: Kenya n/a 2x15 (Trial) 2x17 (2024) n/a 2x20 (2024) 2x10 (2022) n/a n/a Ghana n/a n/a 2x8 (2019) n/a 2x10 (2019) 2x15 (2023)9 n/a n/a Qatar n/a 2x10 (2029) 2x11 (2028) n/a 2x20 (2028) 2x15 (2028) n/a n/a 2x52 (2029) Notes: 1 2 3 4 5 6 Single (or unpaired) blocks of spectrum are used for asymmetric data (non-voice) use; block quantity has been rounded to the nearest whole number. Blocks within the same spectrum band but with different licence expiry dates are separately identified. UK – 900MHz, 1800MHz and 2.1GHz – indefinite licence with a five-year notice of revocation. Hungary – 900MHz and 1800MHz – conditional options to extend these licences to 2034. India comprises 22 separate service area licences with a variety of expiry dates. Vodacom’s South African spectrum licences are renewed annually. As part of the migration to a new licensing regime the national regulator has issued Vodacom a service licence and a network licence which will permit Vodacom to offer mobile and fixed services. The service and network licences have a twenty-year duration and will expire in 2028. Vodacom’s Lesotho spectrum licences are renewed annually, N.B. 1x40MHz in 2.6GHz column is actually 2.3GHz. Australia –table refers to Sydney/Melbourne only. In total VHA has: – 850MHz band – 2x10MHz in Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane/Adelaide/Perth and 2x5MHz across the rest of Australia. – 900MHz band – 2x8MHz across Australia. – 1800MHz band – 2x30MHz in Sydney/Melbourne, 2x25MHz in Brisbane/Adelaide/Perth/Canberra, 2x10MHz in Victoria/North Queensland/Western Australia and 2x5MHz in Darwin/Tasmania/South Queensland. – 2.1GHz band, VHA holds 2x25 MHz in Sydney/Melbourne, 2x20MHz in Brisbane/Adelaide/Perth, 2x10MHz in Canberra/Darwin/Hobart and 2x5MHz in regional Australia. Ghana – The NRA has issued provisional licences with the intention of converting them to full licences once the NRA has been reconvened. 7 8 9 188 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Unaudited information

 


Table of Contents

 

Mobile Termination Rates (‘MTRs’) National regulators are required to take utmost account of the Commission’s existing recommendation on the regulation of fixed and MTRs. This recommendation requires MTRs to be set using a long run incremental cost methodology. Over the last three years MTRs effective for our subsidiaries were as follows: 20141 20151 20161 1 April 20162 Country by region Europe Germany (€ cents) 1.79 1.72 1.66 1.66 Italy (€ cents) 0.98 0.98 0.98 0.98 UK (GB £ pence) 0.85 0.67 0.68 0.51 Spain (€ cents) 1.09 1.09 1.09 1.09 Netherlands (€ cents)3 1.86 1.86 1.86 1.86 Ireland (€ cents) 2.60 2.60 2.60 0.84 (from September 2016) Portugal (€ cents) 1.27 1.27 0.83 0.79 (from July 2016) Romania (€ cents) 0.96 0.96 0.96 0.96 Greece (€ cents) 1.19 1.099 1.081 1.081 Czech Republic (CZK) 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 Hungary (HUF) 7.06 7.06 1.71 1.71 Albania (ALL) 2.66 1.48 1.48 1.48 Malta (€ cents) 2.07 0.40 0.40 0.40 Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific India (rupees)4 0.20 0.14 0.14 0.14 Vodacom: South Africa (ZAR)5 0.40 0.20 0.16 0.13 (from October 2016) Vodacom: Democratic Republic of Congo (USD cents) 3.70 3.40 3.40 3.40 (until June 2016) Lesotho (LSL/ZAR) 0.47 0.38 0.32 0.26 (from October 2016) Mozambique (MZN/USD cents) 1.44 0.86 0.86 0.86 Tanzania (TZN) 32.40 30.58 28.57 26.96 (from January 2017) Turkey (lira) 0.0258 0.0258 0.0258 0.0258 Australia (AUD cents) 3.60 3.60 1.70 1.70 Egypt (PTS/piastres) 10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00 New Zealand (NZD cents) 3.72 3.56 3.56 3.56 Safaricom: Kenya (shilling) 1.15 1.15 0.99 0.99 Ghana (peswas) 4.00 4.00 5.00 5.00 Qatar (dirhams) 16.60 16.60 9.00 8.31 Notes: 1 2 3 4 5 All MTRs are based on end of financial year values. MTRs established from 1 April 2016 are included at the current rate or where a glide-path or a final decision has been determined by the national regulatory authority. MTR under review by ECJ and decision due after June 2016. MTR under appeal and due to be heard 18 May 2016. Please see Vodacom: South Africa on page 185. 189 Additional information Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials

 


Table of Contents

 

Non-GAAP information In the discussion of our reported financial position, operating results and cash flows, information is presented to provide readers with additional financial information that is regularly reviewed by management. However, this additional information presented is not uniformly defined by all companies, including those in the Group’s industry. Accordingly, it may not be comparable with similarly titled measures and disclosures by other companies. Additionally, certain information presented is derived from amounts calculated in accordance with IFRS but is not itself an expressly permitted GAAP measure. Such non-GAAP measures should not be viewed in isolation or as an alternative to the equivalent GAAP measure. Adjusted EBITDA Adjusted EBITDA is operating profit excluding share in results of associates, depreciation and amortisation, gains/losses on the disposal of fixed assets, impairment losses, restructuring costs, other operating income and expense and significant items that are not considered by management to be reflective of the underlying performance of the Group. We use adjusted EBITDA, in conjunction with other GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures such as adjusted operating profit, operating profit and net profit, to assess our operating performance. We believe that adjusted EBITDA is an operating performance measure, not a liquidity measure, as it includes non-cash changes in working capital and is reviewed by the Chief Executive to assess internal performance in conjunction with adjusted EBITDA margin, which is an alternative sales margin figure. We believe it is both useful and necessary to report adjusted EBITDA as a performance measure as it enhances the comparability of profit across segments. Because adjusted EBITDA does not take into account certain items that affect operations and performance, adjusted EBITDA has inherent limitations as a performance measure. To compensate for these limitations, we analyse adjusted EBITDA in conjunction with other GAAP and non-GAAP operating performance measures. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for a GAAP measure of operating performance. A reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to the closest equivalent GAAP measure, operating profit, is provided above and in note 2 “Segmental analysis” to the consolidated financial statements. Group adjusted operating profit and adjusted earnings per share Group adjusted operating profit excludes non-operating income of associates, impairment losses, restructuring costs, amortisation of customer bases and brand intangible assets, other operating income and expense and other significant one-off items. Adjusted earnings per share also excludes certain foreign exchange rate differences, together with related tax effects. We believe that it is both useful and necessary to report these measures for the following reasons: a these measures are used for internal performance reporting; a these measures are used in setting director and management remuneration; and a they are useful in connection with discussion with the investment analyst community and debt rating agencies. A reconciliation of adjusted operating profit to the respective closest equivalent GAAP measure, operating profit, is provided above and in note 2 “Segmental analysis” to the consolidated financial statements. A reconciliation of adjusted earnings per share to basic earnings per share is provided in the “Operating results” on page 31. Cash flow measures In presenting and discussing our reported results, free cash flow and operating free cash flow are calculated and presented even though these measures are not recognised within IFRS. We believe that it is both useful and necessary to communicate free cash flow to investors and other interested parties, for the following reasons: a free cash flow allows us and external parties to evaluate our liquidity and the cash generated by our operations. Free cash flow does not include payments for licences and spectrum included within intangible assets, items determined independently of the ongoing business, such as the level of dividends, and items which are deemed discretionary, such as cash flows relating to acquisitions and disposals or financing activities. In addition, it does not necessarily reflect the amounts which we have an obligation to incur. However, it does reflect the cash available for such discretionary activities, to strengthen the consolidated statement of financial position or to provide returns to shareholders in the form of dividends or share purchases; a free cash flow facilitates comparability of results with other companies, although our measure of free cash flow may not be directly comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies; a these measures are used by management for planning, reporting and incentive purposes; and a these measures are useful in connection with discussion with the investment analyst community and debt rating agencies. 190 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Unaudited information

 


Table of Contents

 

A reconciliation of cash generated by operations, the closest equivalent GAAP measure, to operating free cash flow and free cash flow, is provided below. 2016 £m 2015 £m 2014 £m Note: 1 Other movements for the year ended 31 March 2016 include £nil (2015: £365 million, 2014: £nil) UK pensions contribution payment and £nil (2015: £116 million, 2014: £nil) of KDG incentive scheme payments that vested upon acquisition. Other Certain of the statements within the section titled “Chief Executive’s strategic review” on pages 10 to 13 contain forward-looking non-GAAP financial information for which at this time there is no comparable GAAP measure and which at this time cannot be quantitatively reconciled to comparable GAAP financial information. Certain of the statements within the section titled “Looking ahead” on page 15 contain forward-looking non-GAAP financial information which at this time cannot be quantitatively reconciled to comparable GAAP financial information. Organic growth All amounts in this document marked with an “*” represent organic growth which presents performance on a comparable basis, in terms of both merger and acquisition activity and foreign exchange movements. While “organic growth” is neither intended to be a substitute for reported growth, nor is it superior to reported growth, we believe that the measure provides useful and necessary information to investors and other related parties for the following reasons: a it provides additional information on underlying growth of the business without the effect of certain factors unrelated to its operating performance; a it is used for internal performance analysis; and a it facilitates comparability of underlying growth with other companies (although the term “organic” is not a defined term under IFRS and may not, therefore, be comparable with similarly titled measures reported by other companies). For the quarter ended 31 March 2015 and consequently the year ended 31 March 2015, the Group’s organic service revenue growth rate was adjusted to exclude the beneficial impact of a settlement of a historical interconnect rate dispute in the UK and the beneficial impact of an upward revision to interconnect revenue in Egypt from a re-estimation by management of the appropriate historical mobile interconnection rate. The adjustments in relation to Vodafone UK and Vodafone Egypt also impacted the disclosed organic growth rates for those countries. In addition, the Group’s organic service revenue growth rates for the year ended 31 March 2015, the six months ended 30 September 2015 and the quarters ended 31 March 2015, 30 June 2015, 30 September 2015 and 31 December 2015 have been amended to exclude the adverse impact of an adjustment to intercompany revenue. For the year ended 31 March 2016, the Group has amended its reporting to reflect changes in the internal management of its Enterprise business. The primary change has been that, on 1 April 2015, the Group redefined its segments to report international voice transit service revenue and costs within common functions rather than within the service revenue and cost amounts disclosed for each country and region. The results presented for the years ended 31 March 2015 and 31 March 2014 have been restated on a comparable basis together with all disclosed organic growth rates. There is no impact on total Group results. In addition, for the quarter and six months ended 30 September 2015 and year ended 31 March 2016, the Group’s and Vodafone UK’s organic service revenue growth rate has been adjusted to exclude the beneficial impact of a settlement of a historical interconnect rate dispute in the UK. 191 Additional information Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Cash generated by operations (refer to note 19) 11,220 10,39712,147 Capital expenditure (8,599) (9,197) (6,313) Working capital movement in respect of capital expenditure (63) 762456 Disposal of property, plant and equipment 140 17879 Restructuring costs 186 336210 Other1 – 387– Operating free cash flow 2,884 2,8636,579 Taxation (689) (758)(3,449) Dividends received from associates and investments 67 2242,842 Dividends paid to non-controlling shareholders in subsidiaries (223) (247) (264) Interest received and paid (1,026) (994)(1,315) Free cash flow 1,013 1,0884,393

 


Table of Contents

 

Non-GAAP information (continued) Reconciliation of organic growth to reported growth is shown where used, or in the table below: Organic change % Other activity1 pps Foreign exchange pps Reported change % Period 31 March 2016 Group Revenue FY 2.3 0.7 (6.0) (3.0) Service revenue FY 1.5 0.7 (5.7) (3.5) Service revenue excluding the impact of MTR cuts FY 2.1 0.7 (5.7) (2.9) Enterprise service revenue FY 2.1 1.5 (5.3) (1.7) Enterprise fixed service revenue FY 4.4 4.9 (3.7) 5.6 Vodafone Global Enterprise service revenue FY 5.9 3.2 (1.3) 7.8 Machine-to-machine revenue FY 28.6 10.8 (14.7) 24.7 Adjusted EBITDA FY 2.7 1.0 (6.2) (2.5) Percentage point change in adjusted EBITDA margin FY 0.1 0.1 (0.1) 0.1 Adjusted operating profit FY (3.9) 0.2 (7.4) (11.1) Adjusted EBITDA H2 3.6 (2.1) (4.9) (3.4) Service revenue Q4 2.5 (1.8) (0.8) (0.1) Europe Mobile service revenue FY (2.0) 0.2 (5.1) (6.9) Fixed service revenue FY 3.5 5.1 (5.2) 3.4 Germany – Mobile service revenue FY (1.6) – (6.6) (8.2) Germany – Fixed service revenue FY 1.5 – (6.8) (5.3) Italy – Mobile service revenue FY (1.1) – (6.7) (7.8) Italy – Fixed service revenue FY 1.2 – (6.7) (5.5) UK – Mobile service revenue FY (0.7) (0.6) – (1.3) UK – Fixed service revenue FY 1.1 – – 1.1 UK – Fixed service revenue excluding carrier services FY 2.4 – – 2.4 Spain – Service revenue excluding the impact of handset financing FY 0.3 8.7 (6.6) 2.4 Spain – Mobile service revenue FY (8.0) 2.5 (6.3) (11.8) Spain – Fixed service revenue FY 7.8 30.5 (7.1) 31.2 Netherlands – Service revenue FY 0.3 – (6.7) (6.4) Germany – Percentage point change in adjusted EBITDA margin FY 0.8 – 0.1 0.9 Italy – Percentage point change in adjusted EBITDA margin FY – – – – UK – Percentage point change in adjusted EBITDA margin FY 0.2 (1.0) – (0.8) Spain – Percentage point change in adjusted EBITDA margin FY 1.3 2.1 0.2 3.6 Other Europe – Percentage point change in adjusted EBITDA margin FY (1.0) (0.1) – (1.1) Europe – Percentage point change in adjusted EBITDA margin FY 0.4 – (0.1) 0.3 Adjusted EBITDA H2 2.3 (3.2) (1.9) (2.8) Europe – Percentage point change in adjusted EBITDA margin H2 0.6 (0.8) 0.1 (0.1) Service revenue Q4 0.5 (1.1) 2.7 2.1 Mobile service revenue Q4 (1.1) 0.2 2.7 1.8 Fixed service revenue Q4 5.4 (5.3) 2.7 2.8 Germany – Service revenue Q4 1.6 – 3.7 5.3 Italy – Service revenue Q4 1.3 – 3.6 4.9 UK – Service revenue Q4 (0.1) (5.5) – (5.6) Spain – Service revenue Q4 (3.2) – 3.4 0.2 Other Europe – Service revenue Q4 2.1 0.1 4.1 6.3 Romania – Service revenue Q4 7.7 – 3.9 11.6 Portugal – Service revenue Q4 3.5 – 4.0 7.5 Netherlands – Service revenue Q4 (1.3) – 3.8 2.5 Mobile service revenue Q3 (2.0) (0.3) (6.4) (8.7) Fixed service revenue Q3 3.7 1.2 (7.0) (2.1) Germany – Service revenue Q3 (0.4) – (8.4) (8.8) Italy – Service revenue Q3 (0.3) – (8.5) (8.8) UK – Service revenue Q3 (0.7) (0.8) – (1.5) Spain – Service revenue Q3 (3.1) (0.1) (8.3) (11.5) Other Europe – Service revenue Q3 1.6 1.8 (8.7) (5.3) Netherlands – Service revenue Q3 0.2 – (8.3) (8.1) 192 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Unaudited information

 


Table of Contents

 

Organic change % Other activity1 pps Foreign exchange pps Reported change % Period AMAP India – Service revenue excluding the impact of MTR cuts and other FY 10.0 – (0.2) 9.8 South Africa – Service revenue FY 4.7 – (14.1) (9.4) Vodacom’s international operations – Service revenue FY 10.0 – (10.1) (0.1) Turkey – Service revenue FY 19.7 – (18.5) 1.2 Egypt – Service revenue FY 8.9 (6.3) (2.0) 0.6 India – Percentage point change in adjusted EBITDA margin FY (0.2) – – (0.2) Vodacom – Percentage point change in adjusted EBITDA margin FY 3.6 – (0.6) 3.0 Other AMAP – Percentage point change in adjusted EBITDA margin FY (2.1) – 0.7 (1.4) AMAP – Percentage point change in adjusted EBITDA margin FY 0.1 – – 0.1 Service revenue Q4 8.1 (2.2) (8.7) (2.8) India – Service revenue Q4 5.3 – (2.6) 2.7 Vodacom – Service revenue Q4 6.3 – (19.3) (13.0) South Africa – Service revenue Q4 6.5 – (22.9) (16.4) South Africa – Data revenue Q4 18.8 – (25.4) (6.6) Other AMAP – Service revenue Q4 12.1 (7.1) (6.5) (1.5) Service revenue Q3 6.5 (0.1) (10.0) (3.6) India – Service revenue Q3 2.3 – (1.8) 0.5 Vodacom – Service revenue Q3 7.2 – (17.5) (10.3) South Africa – Service revenue Q3 7.2 – (18.7) (11.5) Other AMAP – Service revenue Q3 10.8 – (12.7) (1.9) 31 March 2015 restated Group Revenue FY (0.8) 17.8 (6.9) 10.1 Service revenue FY (1.6) 17.7 (6.7) 9.4 Adjusted EBITDA FY (6.9) 21.4 (7.0) 7.5 Percentage point change in adjusted EBITDA margin FY (1.8) 1.2 (0.1) (0.7) Adjusted operating profit FY (24.1) 11.0 (5.5) (18.6) Adjusted EBITDA H2 (3.6) 18.4 (5.3) 9.5 Europe Germany – Mobile service revenue FY (3.5) – (6.6) (10.1) Germany – Fixed service revenue FY (4.4) 40.2 (9.8) 26.0 Germany – Service revenue Q4 (3.5) 1.6 (10.0) (11.9) Germany – Fixed service revenue H1 (5.0) 96.0 (10.8) 80.2 Germany – Fixed service revenue H2 (3.8) 8.0 (8.5) (4.3) Germany – Percentage point change in adjusted EBITDA margin FY (3.0) 2.0 – (1.0) Italy – Service revenue Q4 (4.1) 133.9 (28.7) 101.1 Italy – Mobile service revenue FY (12.1) 902.8 (123.7) 767.0 Italy – Fixed service revenue FY 1.3 998.6 (130.2) 869.7 Italy – Percentage point change in adjusted EBITDA margin FY (2.4) 0.9 – (1.5) Italy – Operating expenses FY 3.1 (1,079.3) 149.3 (926.9) Italy – Customer costs FY 3.0 (775.9) 108.1 (664.8) UK – Service revenue Q4 (0.6) 5.7 – 5.1 UK – Mobile service revenue FY 0.5 – – 0.5 UK – Fixed service revenue FY (9.1) 5.8 – (3.3) UK – Fixed service revenue H1 (11.3) – – (11.3) UK – Fixed service revenue H2 (6.8) 11.4 – 4.6 UK – Percentage point change in adjusted EBITDA margin FY (2.4) 1.7 – (0.7) Spain – Service revenue Q4 (7.8) 35.0 (13.0) 14.2 Spain – Mobile service revenue FY (12.7) 5.8 (6.3) (13.2) Spain – Fixed service revenue FY 7.8 201.9 (21.6) 188.1 Spain – Percentage point change in adjusted EBITDA margin FY (4.9) 3.9 – (1.0) Other Europe – Service revenue Q4 (0.9) 2.7 (10.5) (8.7) Other Europe – Service revenue Q3 (1.1) 0.8 (6.6) (6.9) Hungary – Service revenue FY 8.6 – (10.8) (2.2) Other Europe – Percentage point change in adjusted EBITDA margin FY 0.1 (0.1) – – 193 Additional information Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials

 


Table of Contents

 

Non-GAAP information (continued) Organic change % Other activity1 pps Foreign exchange pps Reported change % Period AMAP Service revenue excluding the impact of MTR cuts FY 7.0 0.5 (7.1) 0.4 India – Service revenue Q4 11.7 – 9.3 21.0 India – Percentage point change in adjusted EBITDA margin FY 1.0 – (0.1) 0.9 Vodacom – Service revenue Q4 (0.2) – 1.4 1.2 South Africa – Service revenue FY (2.7) – (9.7) (12.4) South Africa – Service revenue excluding the impact of MTR cuts FY 1.4 – (9.7) (8.3) Vodacom’s international operations – Service revenue FY 4.8 – (5.3) (0.5) Turkey – Service revenue FY 9.9 – (13.4) (3.5) Egypt – Service revenue FY 2.8 6.4 (5.5) 3.7 New Zealand – Service revenue FY (3.1) – (2.8) (5.9) Ghana – Service revenue FY 18.9 – (40.2) (21.3) Qatar – Total revenue FY 13.2 – (1.0) 12.2 Vodacom – Percentage point change in adjusted EBITDA margin FY (1.1) – (0.1) (1.2) Other AMAP – Percentage point change in adjusted EBITDA margin FY (0.3) (0.2) 0.5 – 31 March 2014 restated Group Revenue FY (1.6) 4.9 (2.5) 0.8 Service revenue FY (2.0) 4.9 (2.4) 0.5 Adjusted EBITDA FY (6.7) 5.8 (2.4) (3.3) Adjusted operating profit FY (21.7) 57.8 (52.3) (16.2) Europe Revenue FY (8.8) 6.6 2.4 0.2 Service revenue FY (8.2) 6.5 2.3 0.6 Adjusted EBITDA FY (17.1) 9.1 2.5 (5.5) Adjusted operating profit FY (41.9) 1.3 2.1 (38.5) AMAP Revenue FY 8.9 0.8 (12.1) (2.4) Service revenue FY 6.7 0.8 (11.7) (4.2) Adjusted EBITDA FY 10.8 1.1 (13.5) (1.6) Adjusted operating profit FY 30.7 (0.1) (18.6) 12.0 Note: 1 “Other activity” includes the impact of M&A activity. Refer to “Organic growth” on page 191 for further detail. 194 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Unaudited information

 


Table of Contents

 

Form 20-F cross reference guide This annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended 31 March 2016 has not been approved or disapproved by the SEC nor has the SEC passed judgement upon the adequacy or accuracy of this document. The table below sets out the location in this document of the information required by SEC Form 20-F. Item Form 20-F caption Location in this document Page 1 Identity of Directors, senior management and advisers Not applicable – 2 Offer statistics and expected timetable Not applicable – 3 Key information 3A Selected financial data Selected financial data 202 Shareholder information: Foreign currency translation 177 3B Capitalisation and indebtedness Not applicable – 3C Reasons for the offer and use of proceeds Not applicable – 3D Risk factors Principal risk factors and uncertainties 22 to 28 4 Information on the Company 4A History and development of the Company History and development 182 Contact details Back cover Shareholder information: Registrar and transfer office 176 Shareholder information: Articles of association and applicable English law 177 Chief Executive’s strategic review 10 to 13 Chief Financial Officer’s review 14 and 15 Note 1 “Basis of preparation” 91 to 95 Note 2 “Segmental analysis” 96 to 98 Note 11 “Property, plant and equipment” 114 and 115 Note 28 “Acquisitions and disposals” 147 and 148 Note 29 “Commitments” 148 and 149 4B Business overview Performance highlights 2 At a glance 4 and 5 Our business model: Investing in a great platform for the future 6 and 7 Market overview: Understanding our market place 8 Market overview: Adapting and evolving our response 9 Chief Executive’s strategic review 10 to 13 Operating results 30 to 35 Financial position and resources 36 and 37 Prior year operating results 163 to 167 Note 2 “Segmental analysis” – Segmental revenue and profit 97 Regulation 183 to 189 4C Organisational structure Note 33 “Related undertakings” 154 to 161 Note 12 “Investments in associates and joint arrangements” 116 to 118 Note 13 “Other investments” 119 4D Property, plant and equipment Chief Executive’s strategic review 10 to 13 Chief Financial Officer’s review 14 and 15 Financial position and resources 36 and 37 Note 11 “Property, plant and equipment” 114 and 115 4A Unresolved staff comments None – 195 Additional information Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Unaudited information

 


Table of Contents

 

Form 20-F cross reference guide (continued) Item Form 20-F caption Location in this document Page 5 Operating and financial review and prospects 5A Operating results Operating results 30 to 35 Prior year operating results 163 to 167 Note 21 “Borrowings” 126 to 130 Shareholder information: Foreign currency translation 177 Regulation 183 to 189 5B Liquidity and capital resources Financial position and resources: Liquidity and capital resources 36 and 37 Note 23 “Capital and financial risk management” 134 to 139 Note 22 “Liquidity and capital resources” 130 to 133 Note 21 “Borrowings” 126 to 130 Note 29 “Commitments” 148 and 149 5C Research and development, patents and licences, etc. Chief Executive’s strategic review 10 to 13 Chief Financial Officer’s review 14 and 15 Regulation: Licences 187 and 188 5D Trend information Chief Executive’s strategic review 10 to 13 Market overview: Understanding our market place 8 Market overview: Adapting and evolving our response 9 5E Off-balance sheet arrangements Note 22 “Liquidity and capital resources” – Off-balance sheet arrangements 130 to 133 Note 29 “Commitments” 148 and 149 Note 30 “Contingent liabilities and legal proceedings” 149 to 152 5F Tabular disclosure of contractual obligations Financial position and resources: Contractual obligations and commitments 36 5G Safe harbor Forward-looking statements 198 and 199 6 Directors, senior management and employees 6A Directors and senior management Board of Directors 40 and 41 Executive Committee 42 and 43 6B Compensation Directors’ remuneration 57 to 73 Note 24 “Directors and key management compensation” 139 6C Board practices Compliance with the 2014 UK Corporate Governance Code 54 and 55 Shareholder information: Articles of association and applicable English law 177 Directors’ remuneration 57 to 73 Board of Directors 40 and 41 Board Committees 47 to 53 6D Employees Our people 18 and 19 Note 25 “Employees” 140 6E Share ownership Directors’ remuneration 57 to 73 Note 27 “Share-based payments” 145 and 146 7 Major shareholders and related party transactions 7A Major shareholders Shareholder information: Major shareholders 177 7B Related party transactions Directors’ remuneration 57 to 73 Note 30 “Contingent liabilities and legal proceedings” 149 to 152 Note 31 “Related party transactions” 153 7C Interests of experts and counsel Not applicable – 8 Financial information 8A Consolidated statements and other financial information Financials 87 to 162 Report of independent registered public accounting firm 82 Note 30 “Contingent liabilities” 149 to 152 8B Significant changes Note 32 “Subsequent events” 153 9 The offer and listing 9A Offer and listing details Shareholder information: Share price history 176 9B Plan of distribution Not applicable – 9C Markets Shareholder information: Markets 177 9D Selling shareholders Not applicable – 9E Dilution Not applicable – 9F Expenses of the issue Not applicable – 196 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Unaudited information

 


Table of Contents

 

Item Form 20-F caption Location in this document Page 10 Additional information 10A Share capital Not applicable – 10B Memorandum and articles of association Shareholder information: Articles of association and applicable English law 177 10C Material contracts Shareholder information: Material contracts 179 10D Exchange controls Shareholder information: Exchange controls 179 10E Taxation Shareholder information: Taxation 179 to 181 10F Dividends and paying agents Not applicable – 10G Statement by experts Not applicable – 10H Documents on display Shareholder information: Documents on display 179 10I Subsidiary information Not applicable – 11 Quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk Note 23 “Capital and financial risk management” 134 to 139 12 Description of securities other than equity securities 12A Debt securities Not applicable – 12B Warrants and rights Not applicable – 12C Other securities Not applicable – 12D American depositary shares ADR payment information C-1 13 Defaults, dividend arrearages and delinquencies Not applicable – 14 Material modifications to the rights of security holders and use of proceeds Not applicable – 15 Controls and procedures Governance 38 to 56 Directors’ statement of responsibility: Management’s report on internal control over financial reporting 77 Report of independent registered public accounting firm 82 16 16A Audit Committee financial expert Board Committees 47 to 53 16B Code of ethics Our US listing requirements 56 16C Principal accountant fees and services Note 3 “Operating profit/(loss)” 99 Board Committees: Audit and Risk Committee – External audit 50 and 51 16D Exemptions from the listing standards for audit committees Not applicable – 16E Purchase of equity securities by the issuer and affiliated purchasers Not applicable – 16F Change in registrant’s certifying accountant Not applicable – 16G Corporate governance Our US listing requirements 56 16H Mine safety disclosure Not applicable – 17 Financial statements Not applicable – 18 Financial statements Financials 87 to 162 Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 82 and 83 Separate financial statements required by Rule 3-09 of Regulation S-X B-1 to B-28 Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm B-3 19 Exhibits Filed with the SEC Index to Exhibits 197 Additional information Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials

 


Table of Contents

 

Forward-looking statements This document contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to the Group’s financial condition, results of operations and businesses, and certain of the Group’s plans and objectives. In particular, such forward-looking statements include statements with respect to: a expectations regarding the Group’s access to adequate funding for its working capital requirements and share buyback programmes, and the Group’s future dividends or its existing investments; and a the impact of regulatory and legal proceedings involving the Group and of scheduled or potential regulatory changes. a the Group’s expectations and guidance regarding its financial and operating performance, the performance of associates and joint ventures, other investments and newly acquired businesses, expectations regarding the Project Spring organic investment programme and expectations regarding fixed revenue and broadband customers; Forward-looking statements are sometimes, but not always, identified by their use of a date in the future or such words as “will”, “anticipates”, “aims”, “could”, “may”, “should”, “expects”, “believes”, “intends”, “plans” or “targets”. By their nature, forward-looking statements are inherently predictive, speculative and involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following: a intentions and expectations regarding the development of products, services and initiatives introduced by, or together with, Vodafone or by third parties; a expectations regarding the global economy and the Group’s operating environment and market position, including future market conditions, growth in the number of worldwide mobile phone users and other trends; a general economic and political conditions in the jurisdictions in which the Group operates and changes to the associated legal, regulatory and tax environments; a increased competition; a revenue and growth expected from the Group’s Enterprise and total communications strategy; a levels of investment in network capacity and the Group’s ability to deploy new technologies, products and services; a mobile penetration and coverage rates, MTR cuts, the Group’s ability to acquire spectrum, expected growth prospects in the Europe and AMAP regions and growth in customers and usage generally; a rapid changes to existing products and services and the inability of new products and services to perform in accordance with expectations; a anticipated benefits to the Group from cost-efficiency programmes; a the ability of the Group to integrate new technologies, products and a possible future acquisitions, including increases in ownership in existing investments, the timely completion of pending acquisition transactions and pending offers for investments; services with existing networks, technologies, products and services; a the Group’s ability to generate and grow revenue; a a lower than expected impact of new or existing products, services or technologies on the Group’s future revenue, cost structure and capital expenditure outlays; a expectations and assumptions regarding the Group’s future revenue, operating profit, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, free cash flow, depreciation and amortisation charges, foreign exchange rates, tax rates and capital expenditure; a slower than expected customer growth, reduced customer retention, reductions or changes in customer spending and increased pricing pressure; a the Group’s ability to expand its spectrum position, win 3G and 4G allocations and realise expected synergies and benefits associated with 3G and 4G; 198 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Unaudited information

 


Table of Contents

 

A review of the reasons why actual results and developments may differ materially from the expectations disclosed or implied within forward-looking statements can be found under “Principal risk factors and uncertainties” on pages 22 to 28 of this document. All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or any member of the Group or any persons acting on their behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the factors referred to above. No assurances can be given that the forward-looking statements in this document will be realised. Subject to compliance with applicable law and regulations, Vodafone does not intend to update these forward-looking statements and does not undertake any obligation to do so. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP has neither examined, compiled, nor performed any procedures with respect to the forward looking statements, and accordingly PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP does not express an opinion or provide any other form of assurance on such information. Deloitte LLP has neither examined, compiled, nor performed any procedures with respect to the forward looking statements, and accordingly Deloitte LLP does not express an opinion or provide any other form of assurance on such information. a the Group’s ability to secure the timely delivery of high-quality products from suppliers; a loss of suppliers, disruption of supply chains and greater than anticipated prices of new mobile handsets; a changes in the costs to the Group of, or the rates the Group may charge for, terminations and roaming minutes; a the impact of a failure or significant interruption to the Group’s telecommunications, networks, IT systems or data protection systems; a the Group’s ability to realise expected benefits from acquisitions, partnerships, joint ventures, franchises, brand licences, platform sharing or other arrangements with third parties; a acquisitions and divestments of Group businesses and assets and the pursuit of new, unexpected strategic opportunities; a the Group’s ability to integrate acquired business or assets; a the extent of any future write-downs or impairment charges on the Group’s assets, or restructuring charges incurred as a result of an acquisition or disposition; a developments in the Group’s financial condition, earnings and distributable funds and other factors that the Board takes into account in determining the level of dividends; a the Group’s ability to satisfy working capital requirements; a changes in foreign exchange rates; a changes in the regulatory framework in which the Group operates; a the impact of legal or other proceedings against the Group or other companies in the communications industry; and a changes in statutory tax rates and profit mix. 199 Additional information Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials

 


Table of Contents

 

Definition of terms 2G 2G networks are operated using global system for mobile (‘GSM’) technology which offers services such as voice, text messaging and low speed data. In addition, all the Group’s controlled networks support general packet radio services (‘GPRS’), often referred to as 2.5G. GPRS allows mobile devices to access IP based data services such as the internet and email. 3G A cellular technology based on wide band code division multiple access delivering voice and faster data services. 4G/LTE 4G or long-term evolution (‘LTE’) technology offers even faster data transfer speeds than 3G/HSPA. 5G 5G is the coming fifth-generation wireless broadband technology which will provide better speeds and coverage than the current 4G. Acquisition costs The total of connection fees, trade commissions and equipment costs relating to new customer connections. ADR American depositary receipts is a mechanism designed to facilitate trading in shares of non-US companies in the US stock markets. The main purpose is to create an instrument which can easily be settled through US stock market clearing systems. ADS American depositary shares are shares evidenced by American depositary receipts. ADSs are issued by a depositary bank and represent one or more shares of a non-US issuer held by the depositary bank. The main purpose of ADSs is to facilitate trading in shares of non-US companies in the US markets and, accordingly, ADRs which evidence ADSs are in a form suitable for holding in US clearing systems. AGM Annual general meeting. AMAP The Group’s region: Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific. Applications (‘apps’) Apps are software applications usually designed to run on a smartphone or tablet device and provide a convenient means for the user to perform certain tasks. They cover a wide range of activities including banking, ticket purchasing, travel arrangements, social networking and games. For example, the My Vodafone app lets customers check their bill totals on their smartphone and see the minutes, texts and data allowance remaining. ARPU Average revenue per user, defined as revenue and incoming revenue divided by average customers. Capital expenditure (‘capex’) This measure includes the aggregate of property, plant and equipment additions and capitalised software costs. Churn Total gross customer disconnections in the period divided by the average total customers in the period. Cloud services This means the customer has little or no equipment at their premises and all the equipment and capability associated with the service is run from the Vodafone network and data centres instead. This removes the need for customers to make capital investments and instead they have an operating cost model with a recurring monthly fee. Controlled and jointly controlled Controlled and jointly controlled measures include 100% of the Group’s mobile operating subsidiaries and the Group’s share of joint ventures and the Group’s proportionate share of joint operations. Customer costs Customer costs include acquisition costs, retention costs and expenses related to ongoing commissions. Depreciation and other amortisation The accounting charge that allocates the cost of a tangible or intangible asset to the income statement over its useful life. This measure includes the profit or loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment and computer software. Direct costs Direct costs include interconnect costs and other direct costs of providing services. Adjusted EBITDA Operating profit excluding share of results in associates, depreciation and amortisation, gains/losses on the disposal of fixed assets, impairment losses, restructuring costs and other operating income and expense. The Group’s definition of adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable with similarly titled measures and disclosures by other companies. Enterprise The Group’s customer segment for businesses. FCA Financial Conduct Authority. Fixed broadband customer A fixed broadband customer is defined as a customer with a connection or access point to a fixed line data network. FTTC Fibre-to-the-Cabinet involves running fibre optic cables from the telephone exchange or distribution point to the street cabinets which then connect to a standard phone line to provide broadband. FTTH Fibre-to-the-Home provides an end-to-end fibre optic connection the full distance from the exchange to the customer’s premises. FRC Financial Reporting Council. Free cash flow Operating free cash flow after cash flows in relation to taxation, interest, dividends received from associates and investments and dividends paid to non-controlling shareholders in subsidiaries but before restructuring costs and licence and spectrum payments. For the year ended 31 March 2014 and 31 March 2013, the income dividends received from Verizon Wireless and payments in respect of a tax case settlement were also excluded. Gbps Gigabits (billions) of bits per second. HSPA+ An evolution of high speed packet access (‘HSPA’). An evolution of third generation (‘3G’) technology that enhances the existing 3G network with higher speeds for the end user. ICT Information and communications technology. IFRS International Financial Reporting Standards. Impairment A downward revaluation of an asset. Interconnect costs A charge paid by Vodafone to other fixed line or mobile operators when a Vodafone customer calls a customer connected to a different network. 200 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Unaudited information

 


Table of Contents

 

Internet of Things (‘IoT’) (formerly Machine-to-Machine (‘M2M’)) The network of physical objects embedded with electronics, software, sensors, and network connectivity, including built-in mobile SIM cards, that enables these objects to collect data and exchange communications with one another or a database. IP Internet protocol (‘IP’) is the format in which data is sent from one computer to another on the internet. IP-VPN A virtual private network (‘VPN’) is a network that uses a shared telecommunications infrastructure, such as the internet, to provide remote offices or individual users with secure access to their organisation’s network. Mark-to-market Mark-to-market or fair value accounting refers to accounting for the value of an asset or liability based on the current market price of the asset or liability. Mbps Megabits (millions) of bits per second. Mobile broadband Mobile broadband allows internet access through a browser or a native application using any portable or mobile device such as smartphone, tablet or laptop connected to a cellular network. Mobile customer A mobile customer is defined as a subscriber identity module (‘SIM’), or in territories where SIMs do not exist, a unique mobile telephone number, which has access to the network for any purpose, including data only usage. Mobile termination rate (‘MTR’) A per minute charge paid by a telecommunications network operator when a customer makes a call to another mobile or fixed line network operator. MVNO Mobile virtual network operators, companies that provide mobile phone services under wholesale contracts with a mobile network operator, but do not have their own licence or spectrum or the infrastructure required to operate a network. Net debt Long-term borrowings, short-term borrowings and mark-to-market adjustments on financing instruments less cash and cash equivalents. Net promoter score (‘NPS’) Net promoter score is a customer loyalty metric used to monitor customer satisfaction. Operating expenses Operating expenses comprise primarily sales and distribution costs, network and IT related expenditure and business support costs. Operating free cash flow Cash generated from operations after cash payments for capital expenditure (excludes capital licence and spectrum payments) and cash receipts from the disposal of intangible assets and property, plant and equipment, but before restructuring costs. Organic growth All amounts marked with an “*” represent organic growth which presents performance on a comparable basis, both in terms of merger and acquisition activity and movements in foreign exchange rates. See page 191 “Non-GAAP information” for further details. Partner markets Markets in which the Group has entered into a partner agreement with a local mobile operator enabling a range of Vodafone’s global products and services to be marketed in that operator’s territory and extending Vodafone’s reach into such markets. Penetration Number of SIMs in a country as a percentage of the country’s population. Penetration can be in excess of 100% due to customers owning more than one SIM. Petabyte A petabyte is a measure of data usage. One petabyte is a million gigabytes. Pps Percentage points. RAN Radio access network is the part of a mobile telecommunications system which provides cellular coverage to mobile phones via a radio interface, managed by thousands of base stations installed on towers and rooftops across the coverage area, and linked to the core nodes through a backhaul infrastructure which can be owned, leased or a mix of both. Reported growth Reported growth is based on amounts reported in pounds sterling as determined under IFRS. Retention costs The total of trade commissions, loyalty scheme and equipment costs relating to customer retention and upgrade. Roaming Allows customers to make calls, send and receive texts and data on other operators’ mobile networks, usually while travelling abroad. Service revenue Service revenue comprises all revenue related to the provision of ongoing services including, but not limited to, monthly access charges, airtime usage, roaming, incoming and outgoing network usage by non-Vodafone customers and interconnect charges for incoming calls. Smartphone devices A smartphone is a mobile phone offering advanced capabilities including access to email and the internet. Smartphone penetration The number of smartphone devices divided by the number of registered SIMs (excluding data only SIMs) and telemetric applications. SME Small to medium-sized enterprise. Spectrum The radio frequency bands and channels assigned for telecommunication services. SRAN Single Radio Access network, which allows 2G, 3G and 4G services to be run from a single piece of equipment. Supranational An international organisation, or union, whereby member states go beyond national boundaries or interests to share in the decision making and vote on issues pertaining to the wider grouping. Tablets A tablet is a slate shaped, mobile data or portable computing device equipped with a finger operated touchscreen or stylus, for example, the Apple iPad. VGE Vodafone Global Enterprise (VGE), which serves the Group’s biggest multi-national customers. VoIP Voice over IP is a set of facilities used to manage the delivery of voice information over the internet in digital form via discrete packets rather than by using the traditional public switched telephone network. VZW Verizon Wireless, the Group’s former associate in the United States. 201 Additional information Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials

 


Table of Contents

 

Selected financial data At/for the year ended 31 March 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 Notes: 1 See note 8 to the consolidated financial statements, “Earnings per share”. Earnings and dividends per ADS is calculated by multiplying earnings per ordinary share by ten, the number of ordinary shares per ADS. On 19 February 2014, we announced a “6 for 11” share consolidation effective 24 February 2014. This had the effect of reducing the number of shares in issue from 52,821,751,216 ordinary shares (including 4,351,833,492 ordinary shares held in Treasury) as at the close of business on 18 February 2014 to 28,811,864,298 new ordinary shares in issue immediately after the share consolidation on 24 February 2014. Earnings per share for the years ended 31 March 2013 and 2012 have been restated accordingly. The final dividend for the year ended 31 March 2016 was proposed by the Directors on 17 May 2016 and is payable on 3 August 2016 to holders of record as of 10 June 2016. The total dividends have been translated into US dollars at 31 March 2016 for purposes of the above disclosure but the dividends are payable in US dollars under the terms of the ADS depositary agreement. For the purposes of calculating these ratios, earnings consist of loss or profit before tax adjusted for fixed charges, dividend income from associates, share of profits and losses from associates, interest capitalised and interest amortised. Fixed charges comprise one third of payments under operating leases, representing the estimated interest element of these payments, interest payable and similar charges and interest capitalised. 2 3 4 202 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Consolidated income statement data (£m) Revenue 40,973 42,22738,34638,04138,821 Operating profit/(loss) 1,377 1,967 (3,913)(2,202)5,618 (Loss)/profit before taxation (449) 1,095 (5,270)(3,483) 4,144 (Loss)/profit for financial year from continuing operations (3,818) 5,86011,312(3,959)3,439 (Loss)/profit for the financial year (3,818) 5,91759,420 6576,994 Consolidated statement of financial position data (£m) Total assets 133,713 122,573 121,840 138,324 135,450 Total equity 67,317 67,733 71,78172,488 78,202 Total equity shareholders’ funds 65,885 66,145 70,80271,47776,935 Earnings per share1,2 Weighted average number of shares (millions) – Basic 26,692 26,48926,47226,83127,624 – Diluted 26,692 26,62926,68226,83127,938 Basic earnings per ordinary share (15.08)p 21.75p 223.84p1.54p25.15p Diluted earnings per ordinary share (15.08)p 21.63p 222.07p1.54p24.87p Basic earnings per share from continuing operations (15.08)p 21.53p42.10p(15.66)p12.28p Cash dividends1,3 Amount per ordinary share (pence) 11.45p 11.22p11.00p10.19p13.52p Amount per ADS (pence) 114.5p 111.2p110.0p101.9p135.2p Amount per ordinary share (US cents) 16.49c 16.65c18.31c15.49c21.63c Amount per ADS (US cents) 164.9c 166.5c183.1c154.9c216.3c Other data Ratio of earnings to fixed charges4 – 1.6–1.74.3 Deficiency between fixed charges and earnings (£m)4 672 –654–– Unaudited information

 


Table of Contents

 

Additional information Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Overview Strategy review Performance Governance Financials Notes 203

 


Table of Contents

 

Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016 Notes 204

 


Table of Contents

 

Vodafone, the Vodafone Portrait, the Vodafone Speechmark, Vodacom, M-Pesa, Vodafone One and Vodafone Red are trade marks of the Vodafone Group. The Vodafone Rhombus is a registered design of the Vodafone Group. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trade marks of their respective owners. The content of our website (vodafone.com) should not be considered to form part of this annual report or our annual report on Form 20-F. © Vodafone Group 2016 Text printed on revive 50 silk which is made from 50% recycled and 50% virgin fibres. The cover is on amadeus 100 revive silk, made entirely from de-inked post-consumer waste. Both products are Forest Stewardship Council® (‘FSC’®) certified and produced using elemental chlorine free (‘ECF’) bleaching. The manufacturing mill also holds ISO 14001 accreditation for environmental management. Designed and produced by Radley Yeldar ry.com

 


Table of Contents

 

Vodafone Group Plc Registered Office: Vodafone House The Connection Newbury Berkshire RG14 2FN England Registered in England No. 1833679 Telephone: +44 (0)1635 33251 Fax: +44 (0)1635 238080 vodafone.com Contact details: Shareholder helpline Telephone: +44 (0)370 702 0198 (In Ireland): +353 (0)818 300 999 Investor Relations ir@vodafone.co.uk vodafone.com/investor Media Relations vodafone.com/media/contact Sustainability vodafone.com/sustainability Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report on Form 20-F 2016

 


Table of Contents

 

Subsequent events

 

Events occurring subsequent to the approval of the Company’s Annual Report on 17 May 2016

 

On 9 June 2016 Vodafone announced the merger of Sky Network Television Limited (‘SKY’) and Vodafone New Zealand Limited (‘Vodafone New Zealand’) to create a leading integrated telecommunications and media group in New Zealand. SKY will acquire all of the shares in Vodafone New Zealand for a total purchase price of NZ$3,437 million (cash and debt free) through the issue of new SKY shares giving Vodafone Europe B.V. a 51% interest in the combined group and cash consideration of NZ$1,250 million.

 

The proposed transaction is subject to SKY shareholder approval and is conditional on the consent of the New Zealand Overseas Investment Office and a clearance from the New Zealand Commerce Commission. SKY and Vodafone expect the proposed transaction to complete by the end of calendar 2016.

 

A- 1



Table of Contents

 

Cellco Partnership

(d/b/a Verizon Wireless)

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Consolidated Financial Statements

For the years ended

December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011

 

B- 1



Table of Contents

 

Table of Contents

 

Cellco Partnership (d/b/a Verizon Wireless)

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

B-3

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Income
For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011

B-4

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011

B-5

 

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets
As of December 31, 2013 and 2012

B-6

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011

B-7

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Partners’ Capital
For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011

B-8

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

B-9 to B-28

 

B- 2



Table of Contents

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Board of Representatives of

Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless:

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Cellco Partnership and subsidiaries d/b/a Verizon Wireless (the “Partnership”) as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, cash flows and changes in partners’ capital for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2013. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Partnership’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Partnership is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Partnership as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2013, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

 

New York, New York

February 27, 2014

 

B- 3



Table of Contents

 

Consolidated Statements of Income

Cellco Partnership (d/b/a Verizon Wireless)

 

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

(dollars in millions)

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Operating Revenue (including $102, $83 and $87 from affiliates)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service revenue

 

$

69,033

 

$

63,733

 

$

59,157

 

Equipment and other

 

11,990

 

12,135

 

10,997

 

Total operating revenue

 

81,023

 

75,868

 

70,154

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Costs and Expenses (including $2,295, $1,949 and $1,708 from affiliates)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of service (exclusive of items shown below)

 

7,295

 

7,711

 

7,994

 

Cost of equipment

 

16,353

 

16,779

 

16,092

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

22,663

 

21,696

 

19,655

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

8,202

 

7,960

 

7,962

 

Total operating costs and expenses

 

54,513

 

54,146

 

51,703

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Income

 

26,510

 

21,722

 

18,451

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Income (Expenses)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense, net

 

(65

)

(442

)

(610

)

Other income, net

 

40

 

96

 

56

 

Income Before Provision for Income Taxes

 

26,485

 

21,376

 

17,897

 

Provision for income taxes

 

(150

)

(201

)

(947

)

Net Income

 

$

26,335

 

$

21,175

 

$

16,950

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

$

422

 

$

304

 

$

280

 

Net income attributable to Cellco Partnership

 

25,913

 

20,871

 

16,670

 

Net Income

 

$

26,335

 

$

21,175

 

$

16,950

 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

B- 4



Table of Contents

 

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

Cellco Partnership (d/b/a/ Verizon Wireless)

 

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

(dollars in millions)

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Net Income

 

$

26,335

 

$

21,175

 

$

16,950

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges

 

(32

)

21

 

3

 

Defined benefit pension and postretirement plans

 

 

 

(1

)

Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Cellco Partnership

 

(32

)

21

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Comprehensive Income

 

$

26,303

 

$

21,196

 

$

16,952

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

$

422

 

$

304

 

$

280

 

Comprehensive income attributable to Cellco Partnership

 

25,881

 

20,892

 

16,672

 

Total Comprehensive Income

 

$

26,303

 

$

21,196

 

$

16,952

 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

B- 5



Table of Contents

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

Cellco Partnership (d/b/a Verizon Wireless)

 

 

 

As of December 31,

 

(dollars in millions)

 

2013

 

2012

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

4,005

 

$

1,354

 

Receivables, net of allowances of $399 and $350

 

7,204

 

6,657

 

Due from affiliates, net

 

245

 

106

 

Inventories, net

 

990

 

1,044

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

1,459

 

525

 

Total current assets

 

13,903

 

9,686

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plant, property and equipment, net

 

35,932

 

34,546

 

Wireless licenses

 

75,796

 

77,642

 

Goodwill

 

17,941

 

17,737

 

Other intangibles and other assets, net

 

2,249

 

2,102

 

Total assets

 

$

145,821

 

$

141,713

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Partners’ Capital

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term debt, including current maturities

 

$

41

 

$

1,448

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

7,012

 

7,534

 

Advance billings

 

2,750

 

2,550

 

Other current liabilities

 

337

 

274

 

Total current liabilities

 

10,140

 

11,806

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt

 

5,231

 

8,665

 

Deferred tax liabilities, net

 

11,001

 

10,939

 

Other non-current liabilities

 

2,139

 

2,056

 

Partners’ capital

 

 

 

 

 

Capital

 

114,979

 

106,119

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

52

 

84

 

Noncontrolling interests

 

2,279

 

2,044

 

Total Partners’ capital

 

117,310

 

108,247

 

Total liabilities and Partners’ capital

 

$

145,821

 

$

141,713

 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

B- 6



Table of Contents

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Cellco Partnership (d/b/a Verizon Wireless)

 

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

(dollars in millions)

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

26,335

 

$

21,175

 

$

16,950

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

8,202

 

7,960

 

7,962

 

Provision for uncollectible receivables

 

703

 

634

 

689

 

Provision for deferred income taxes

 

72

 

123

 

368

 

Changes in current assets and liabilities, net of the effects of acquisition/disposition of businesses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Receivables

 

(1,371

)

(1,238

)

(624

)

Inventories, net

 

54

 

(137

)

166

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

(35

)

(107

)

124

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

(120

)

674

 

(728

)

Other operating activities, net

 

(487

)

(419

)

371

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

33,353

 

28,665

 

25,278

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures (including capitalized software)

 

(9,425

)

(8,857

)

(8,973

)

Acquisitions of investments and businesses, net of cash acquired

 

(52

)

(188

)

(144

)

Acquisitions of wireless licenses

 

(14

)

(4,287

)

(26

)

Proceeds from dispositions of wireless licenses

 

2,111

 

 

 

Other investing activities, net

 

(873

)

843

 

(490

)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(8,253

)

(12,489

)

(9,633

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Repayments of long-term debt and capital lease obligations

 

(4,960

)

(1,569

)

(4,862

)

Distributions to partners

 

(17,046

)

(25,681

)

(3,082

)

Other financing activities, net

 

(443

)

(328

)

(276

)

Net cash used in financing activities

 

(22,449

)

(27,578

)

(8,220

)

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

2,651

 

(11,402

)

7,425

 

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year

 

1,354

 

12,756

 

5,331

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of year

 

$

4,005

 

$

1,354

 

$

12,756

 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

B- 7



Table of Contents

 

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Partners’ Capital

Cellco Partnership (d/b/a/ Verizon Wireless)

 

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

(dollars in millions)

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Partners’ Capital

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at beginning of year

 

$

106,119

 

$

100,961

 

$

97,399

 

Net income attributable to Cellco Partnership

 

25,913

 

20,871

 

16,670

 

Contributed capital

 

(7

)

(32

)

(26

)

Distributions declared to partners

 

(17,046

)

(15,681

)

(13,082

)

Balance at end of year

 

114,979

 

106,119

 

100,961

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at beginning of year

 

84

 

63

 

61

 

Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges

 

(32

)

21

 

3

 

Defined benefit pension and postretirement plans

 

 

 

(1

)

Other comprehensive income (loss)

 

(32

)

21

 

2

 

Balance at end of year

 

52

 

84

 

63

 

Total Partners’ Capital Attributable to Cellco Partnership

 

115,031

 

106,203

 

101,024

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Noncontrolling Interests

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at beginning of year

 

2,044

 

1,952

 

1,962

 

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

422

 

304

 

280

 

Distributions

 

(403

)

(342

)

(280

)

Other

 

216

 

130

 

(10

)

Balance at end of year

 

2,279

 

2,044

 

1,952

 

Total Partners’ Capital

 

$

117,310

 

$

108,247

 

$

102,976

 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

B- 8



Table of Contents

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Cellco Partnership (d/b/a Verizon Wireless)

 

1. Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Description of Business

 

Cellco Partnership (the Partnership), a Delaware general partnership doing business as Verizon Wireless, provides wireless communication services across one of the most extensive wireless networks in the United States (U.S.) and has the largest fourth-generation (4G) Long-Term Evolution (LTE) technology and third-generation (3G) Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) networks of any U.S. wireless service provider. The Partnership has one segment and operates domestically only. References to “the Partners” refers to Verizon Communications, and its subsidiaries (Verizon) and Vodafone Group Plc, and its subsidiaries (Vodafone). At December 31, 2013 Verizon owned 55% of the Partnership and Vodafone owned 45% of the Partnership. On February 21, 2014, Verizon acquired Vodafone’s interest in the Partnership and now owns 100% of the Partnership.

 

These consolidated financial statements include transactions between the Partnership and Verizon and Vodafone (Affiliates) for the provision of services and financing pursuant to various agreements (see Notes 5 and 11).

 

Consolidated Financial Statements and Basis of Presentation

 

The consolidated financial statements of the Partnership include the accounts of its majority-owned subsidiaries and the partnerships in which the Partnership exercises control. Investments in businesses and partnerships which the Partnership does not control, but has the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies, are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Investments and partnerships which the Partnership does not have the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies are accounted for under the cost method of accounting. Equity and cost method investments are included in Other intangibles and other assets, net in the Partnership’s consolidated balance sheets. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

 

The Partnership has reclassified prior year amounts to conform to current year presentation.

 

The Partnership has evaluated subsequent events through February 27, 2014, the date these consolidated financial statements were available to be issued.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The Partnership prepares its consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), which requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts and disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Examples of significant estimates include: the allowances for doubtful accounts, the recoverability of plant, property and equipment, the recoverability of intangible assets and other long-lived assets, unbilled revenues, fair values of financial instruments, unrecognized tax benefits, valuation allowances on tax assets, accrued expenses, contingencies and allocation of purchase prices in connection with business combinations.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

The Partnership offers products and services to its customers through bundled arrangements. These arrangements involve multiple deliverables which may include products, services, or a combination of products and services.

 

The Partnership earns revenue primarily by providing access to and usage of its network. In general, access revenue is billed one month in advance and recognized when earned; the unearned portion is classified in Advance billings in the consolidated balance sheets. Usage revenue is generally billed in arrears and recognized when service is rendered and included in unbilled revenue, within Receivables, net in the consolidated balance sheets. Equipment sales revenue associated with the sale of wireless handsets and accessories is recognized when the products are

 

B- 9



Table of Contents

 

delivered to and accepted by the customer, as this is considered to be a separate earnings process from providing wireless services. For agreements involving the resale of third-party services in which the Partnership is considered the primary obligor in the arrangements, the Partnership records revenue gross at the time of sale. For equipment sales, the Partnership generally subsidizes the cost of wireless devices. The amount of this subsidy is generally contingent on the arrangement and terms selected by the customer. In multiple deliverable arrangements which involve the sale of equipment and a service contract, the equipment revenue is recognized up to the amount collected when the wireless device is sold.

 

The Partnership reports taxes imposed by governmental authorities on revenue-producing transactions between the Partnership and its customers on a net basis.

 

Advertising Costs

 

Costs for advertising products and services as well as other promotional and sponsorship costs are charged to Selling, general and administrative expense in the periods in which they are incurred (see Note 9).

 

Vendor Rebates and Discounts

 

The Partnership recognizes vendor rebates or discounts for purchases of wireless devices from a vendor as a reduction of Cost of equipment when the related wireless devices are sold. Vendor rebates or discounts that have been earned as a result of completing the required performance under the terms of the underlying agreements but for which the wireless devices have not yet been sold are recognized as a reduction of inventory cost. Advertising credits are granted by a vendor to the Partnership as reimbursement of specific, incremental, identifiable advertising costs incurred by the Partnership in selling the vendor’s wireless devices. These advertising credits are restricted based upon a marketing plan agreed to by the vendor and the Partnership, and accordingly, advertising credits received are recorded as a reduction of those advertising costs when recognized in the Partnership’s consolidated statements of income.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

The Partnership considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of 90 days or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates quoted market value, and includes approximately $3.5 billion and $0.7 billion at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, held in money market funds that are considered cash equivalents.

 

Inventory

 

Inventory consists primarily of wireless equipment held for sale, which is carried at the lower of cost (determined using a first-in, first-out method) or market. The Partnership maintained inventory valuation reserves which were not significant as of December 31, 2013 and 2012.

 

Capitalized Software

 

Capitalized software consists primarily of direct costs incurred for professional services provided by third parties and compensation costs of employees which relate to software developed for internal use either during the application stage or for upgrades and enhancements that increase functionality. Costs are capitalized and amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. Costs incurred in the preliminary project stage of development and maintenance are expensed as incurred. For a discussion of the Partnership’s impairment policy for capitalized software costs, see “Valuation of Assets” below. Also see Note 3 for additional detail of internal-use non-network software reflected in the Partnership’s consolidated balance sheets.

 

Plant, Property and Equipment

 

Plant, property and equipment primarily represents costs incurred to construct and expand capacity and network coverage on Mobile Telephone Switching Offices and cell sites. The cost of plant, property and equipment is depreciated on a straight-line basis over its estimated useful life. Periodic reviews are performed to identify any

 

B- 10



Table of Contents

 

category or group of assets within plant, property and equipment where events or circumstances may change the remaining estimated economic life. This principally includes changes in the Partnership’s plans regarding technology upgrades, enhancements, and planned retirements. Changes in these estimates resulted in an increase of $0.4 billion for the year ended December 31, 2011. Major improvements to existing plant and equipment are capitalized. Routine maintenance and repairs that do not extend the life of the plant and equipment are charged to expense as incurred. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of their estimated useful lives or the term of the related lease.

 

Upon the sale or retirement of plant, property and equipment, the cost and related accumulated depreciation or amortization is deducted from the plant accounts and any gains or losses on disposition are recognized in income.

 

Interest expense and network engineering costs incurred during the construction phase of the Partnership’s network and real estate properties under development are capitalized as part of plant, property and equipment and recorded as construction in progress until the projects are completed and placed into service.

 

Valuation of Assets

 

Long-lived assets, including plant, property and equipment and intangible assets with finite lives, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. The carrying amount of a long-lived asset is not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset. The impairment loss would be measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset.

 

Wireless Licenses

 

The Partnership’s principal intangible assets are licenses, which provide the Partnership with the exclusive right to utilize designated radio frequency spectrum to provide wireless communication services. While licenses are issued for only a fixed time, generally ten years, such licenses are subject to renewal by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). License renewals have occurred routinely and at nominal costs, which are expensed as incurred. Moreover, the Partnership has determined that there are currently no legal, regulatory, contractual, competitive, economic or other factors that limit the useful life of the Partnership’s wireless licenses. As a result, the wireless licenses are treated as an indefinite lived intangible asset, and are not amortized. The Partnership reevaluates the useful life determination for wireless licenses at least annually to determine whether events and circumstances continue to support an indefinite useful life.

 

The Partnership tests its wireless licenses for potential impairment annually. In 2013, the Partnership performed a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of its wireless licenses was less than the carrying amount. As part of the assessment, the Partnership considered several qualitative factors including the business enterprise value of the Partnership, macroeconomic conditions (including changes in interest rates and discount rates), industry and market considerations (including industry revenue and EBITDA (Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) margin projections), the projected financial performance of the Partnership, as well as other factors. Based on our assessment in 2013, we qualitatively concluded that it was more likely than not that the fair value of our wireless licenses significantly exceeded their carrying value and therefore, did not result in an impairment. In 2012, the Partnership’s quantitative assessment consisted of comparing the estimated fair value of the Partnership’s wireless licenses to the aggregated carrying amount as of the test date. Using the quantitative assessment, the Partnership evaluated its licenses on an aggregate basis using a direct value approach. The direct value approach estimates fair value using a discounted cash flow analysis to estimate what a marketplace participant would be willing to pay to purchase the aggregated wireless licenses as of the valuation date. If the fair value of the aggregated wireless licenses is less than the aggregated carrying amount of the licenses, an impairment is recognized. The Partnership’s annual quantitative impairment test for 2012 indicated that the fair value significantly exceeded the carrying value and, therefore, did not result in an impairment. The Partnership evaluated its wireless licenses for potential impairment as of December 15, 2013 and 2012.

 

Interest expense incurred while qualifying activities are performed to ready wireless licenses for their intended use is capitalized as part of wireless licenses. The capitalization period ends when a license is substantially complete and the license is ready for its intended use.

 

B- 11



Table of Contents

 

Goodwill

 

Goodwill is the excess of the acquisition cost of businesses over the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired. Impairment testing for goodwill is performed annually in the fourth fiscal quarter or more frequently if impairment indicators are present. The Partnership has the option to perform a qualitative assessment to determine if the fair value of the entity is less than its carrying value. However, the Partnership may elect to perform an impairment test even if no indications of a potential impairment exist. The impairment test for goodwill uses a two-step approach, which is performed for the Partnership’s one reporting unit. Step one compares the fair value of the reporting unit (calculated using a market approach and/or a discounted cash flow method) to its carrying value. If the carrying value exceeds the fair value, there is a potential impairment and step two must be performed. Step two compares the carrying value of the reporting unit’s goodwill to its implied fair value (i.e., fair value of reporting unit less the fair value of the unit’s assets and liabilities, including identifiable intangible assets). If the implied fair value of goodwill is less than the carrying amount of goodwill, an impairment is recognized. The Partnership completed its goodwill impairment test as of December 15, 2013 and 2012. The Partnership’s annual impairment tests for 2013 and 2012 indicated that the fair value significantly exceeded the carrying value and, therefore, did not result in an impairment.

 

Fair Value Measurements

 

Fair value of financial and non-financial assets and liabilities is defined as an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. The three-tier hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value, which prioritizes the inputs used in the methodologies of measuring fair value for assets and liabilities, is as follows:

 

Level 1 — Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities

Level 2 — Observable inputs other than quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities

Level 3 — No observable pricing inputs in the market

 

Financial assets and financial liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurements. The Partnership’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurements requires judgment, and may affect the valuation of the assets and liabilities being measured and their placement within the fair value hierarchy.

 

See Note 4 for further details on the Partnership’s fair value measurements.

 

Foreign Currency Translation

 

The functional currency for all of the Partnership’s operations is the U.S. dollar. However, the Partnership has transactions denominated in a currency other than the local currency, principally debt denominated in Euros and British Pounds Sterling. Gains and losses resulting from exchange-rate changes in transactions denominated in a foreign currency are included in earnings.

 

Derivative Instruments

 

The Partnership uses derivatives from time to time to manage the Partnership’s exposure to fluctuations in the cash flows of certain transactions. The Partnership measures all derivatives at fair value and recognizes them as either assets or liabilities on its consolidated balance sheets. The Partnership’s derivative instruments are valued primarily using models based on readily observable market parameters for all substantial terms of the Partnership’s derivative contracts and thus are classified as Level 2. Changes in the fair values of derivative instruments not qualifying as hedges or any ineffective portion of hedges are recognized in earnings in the current period. Changes in the fair values of derivative instruments used effectively as fair value hedges are recognized in earnings, along with changes in the fair value of the hedged item. Changes in the fair value of the effective portions of cash flow hedges are reported in Other comprehensive income (loss) and recognized in earnings when the hedged item is recognized in earnings.

 

B- 12



Table of Contents

 

Employee Benefit Plans

 

The Partnership maintains a defined contribution plan, the Verizon Wireless Savings and Retirement Plan (the Savings and Retirement Plan), for the benefit of its employees. The Savings and Retirement Plan includes both an employee savings and profit sharing component. Under the employee savings component, employees may contribute a percentage of eligible compensation to the Savings and Retirement Plan. Up to the first 6% of an employee’s eligible compensation contributed to the Savings and Retirement Plan is matched 100% by the Partnership. Under the profit sharing component, the Partnership may elect, at the sole discretion of the Human Resources Committee of the Board of Representatives, to contribute an additional amount in the form of a profit sharing contribution to the accounts of eligible employees (see Note 9).

 

Long-Term Incentive Compensation

 

The Partnership measures compensation expense for all stock-based compensation awards made to employees and directors based on estimated fair values (see Note 6).

 

Income Taxes

 

The Partnership is not a taxable entity for federal income tax purposes. Any federal taxable income or loss is included in the respective partners’ consolidated federal return. Certain states, however, impose taxes at the partnership level and such taxes are the responsibility of the Partnership and are included in the Partnership’s tax provision. The consolidated financial statements also include provisions for federal and state income taxes, prepared on a stand-alone basis, for all corporate entities within the Partnership. Deferred income taxes are recorded using enacted tax law and rates for the years in which the taxes are expected to be paid or refunds received. Deferred income taxes are provided for items when there is a temporary difference in recording such items for financial reporting and income tax reporting.

 

The Partnership uses a two-step approach for recognizing and measuring tax benefits taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The first step is recognition: the Partnership determines whether it is more likely than not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. In evaluating whether a tax position has met the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, the Partnership presumes that the position will be examined by the appropriate taxing authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information. The second step is measurement: a tax position that meets the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold is measured to determine the amount of benefit to recognize in the financial statements. The tax position is measured at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. Differences between tax positions taken in a tax return and amounts recognized in the financial statements will generally result in one or more of the following: an increase in a liability for income taxes payable, a reduction of an income tax refund receivable, a reduction in a deferred tax asset, or an increase in a deferred tax liability.

 

The Partnership recognizes interest and penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense.

 

Concentrations

 

The Partnership relies on local and long-distance telephone companies, some of whom are related parties (see Note 11), and other companies to provide certain communication services. Although management believes alternative telecommunications facilities could be found in a timely manner, any disruption of these services could potentially have an adverse impact on the Partnership’s business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

No single customer receivable is large enough to present a significant financial risk to the Partnership.

 

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

 

During the first quarter of 2013, the Partnership adopted the accounting standard update regarding testing of intangible assets for impairment. This standard update allows companies the option to perform a qualitative

 

B- 13



Table of Contents

 

assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that an indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired. An entity is not required to calculate the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset and perform the quantitative impairment test unless the entity determines that it is more likely than not the asset is impaired. The adoption of this standard update did not have an impact on the Partnership’s consolidated financial statements.

 

During the first quarter of 2013, the Partnership adopted the accounting standard update regarding reclassifications out of Accumulated other comprehensive income. This standard update requires companies to report the effect of significant reclassifications out of Accumulated other comprehensive income on the respective line items in the Partnership’s consolidated statements of income if the amount being reclassified is required to be reclassified in its entirety to net income. For other amounts that are not required to be reclassified in their entirety to net income in the same reporting period, an entity is required to cross-reference to other required disclosures that provide additional detail about those amounts. See Note 12 for additional details.

 

During the third quarter of 2013, the Partnership adopted the accounting standard update regarding the ability to use the Federal Funds Effective Swap Rate as a U.S. benchmark interest rate for hedge accounting purposes. Previously the interest rates on direct Treasury obligations of the U.S. government and the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) were considered to be the only benchmark interest rates. The adoption of this standard update did not have a significant impact on the Partnership’s consolidated financial statements.

 

Recent Accounting Standards

 

In July 2013, the accounting standard update relating to the presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists was issued. The standard update provides that a liability related to an unrecognized tax benefit should be offset against same jurisdiction deferred tax assets for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward if such settlement is required or expected in the event the uncertain tax position is disallowed. The Partnership will adopt this standard update during the first quarter of 2014. The Partnership is currently evaluating the consolidated balance sheet impact related to this standard update.

 

2. Acquisitions and Divestitures

 

Wireless Transaction

 

On September 2, 2013, Verizon entered into a stock purchase agreement (the Stock Purchase Agreement) with Vodafone and Vodafone 4 Limited (Seller), pursuant to which Verizon agreed to acquire Vodafone’s indirect 45% interest in the Partnership, (and such interest, the Vodafone Interest) for aggregate consideration of approximately $130 billion.

 

On February 21, 2014, pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Stock Purchase Agreement, Verizon acquired (the Wireless Transaction) from Seller all of the issued and outstanding capital stock (the Transferred Shares) of Vodafone Americas Finance 1 Inc., a subsidiary of Seller (VF1 Inc.), which indirectly through certain subsidiaries (together with VF1 Inc., the Purchased Entities) owned the Vodafone Interest. In consideration for the Transferred Shares, upon completion of the Wireless Transaction, Verizon (i) paid approximately $58.89 billion in cash, (ii)  issued approximately $60.15 billion of Verizon’s common stock, par value $0.10 per share (the Stock Consideration), (iii) issued senior unsecured Verizon notes in an aggregate principal amount of $5.0 billion (the Verizon Notes), (iv) sold Verizon’s indirectly owned 23.1% interest in Vodafone Omnitel N.V. (Omnitel, and such interest, the Omnitel Interest), valued at $3.5 billion and (v) provided other consideration of approximately $2.5 billion. As a result of the Wireless Transaction, Verizon issued approximately 1.27 billion shares. The total cash paid to Vodafone and the other costs of the Wireless Transaction, including financing, legal and bank fees, were financed through the incurrence of third-party indebtedness.

 

B- 14



Table of Contents

 

Spectrum License Transactions

 

Since 2012, the Partnership has entered into several strategic spectrum transactions including:

 

·                        During the third quarter of 2012, after receiving the required regulatory approvals, the Partnership completed the following previously announced transactions in which the Partnership acquired wireless spectrum that will be used to deploy additional 4G LTE capacity:

 

·                        The Partnership acquired Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) spectrum in separate transactions with SpectrumCo, LLC (SpectrumCo) and Cox TMI Wireless, LLC for which it paid an aggregate of $3.9 billion at the time of the closings. The Partnership has also recorded a liability of $0.4 billion related to a three-year service obligation to SpectrumCo’s members pursuant to commercial agreements executed concurrently with the SpectrumCo transaction.

 

·                        The Partnership completed license purchase and exchange transactions with Leap Wireless, Savary Island Wireless, which is majority owned by Leap Wireless, and a subsidiary of T-Mobile USA, Inc. (T-Mobile USA). As a result of these transactions, the Partnership received an aggregate $2.6 billion of AWS and Personal Communication Services (PCS) licenses at fair value and net cash proceeds of $0.2 billion, transferred certain AWS licenses to T-Mobile USA and a 700 megahertz (MHz) lower A block license to Leap Wireless, and recorded an immaterial gain.

 

·                        During the first quarter of 2013, the Partnership completed license exchange transactions with T-Mobile License LLC and Cricket License Company, LLC, a subsidiary of Leap Wireless, to exchange certain AWS licenses. These non-cash exchanges include a number of intra-market swaps that the Partnership expects will enable it to make more efficient use of the AWS band. As a result of these exchanges, the Partnership received an aggregate $0.5 billion of AWS licenses at fair value and recorded an immaterial gain.

 

·                        During the third quarter of 2013, after receiving the required regulatory approvals, the Partnership sold 39 lower 700 MHz B block spectrum licenses to AT&T Inc. (AT&T) in exchange for a payment of $1.9 billion and the transfer by AT&T to the Partnership of AWS (10 MHz) licenses in certain markets in the western United States. The Partnership also sold certain lower 700 MHz B block spectrum licenses to an investment firm for a payment of $0.2 billion. As a result, the Partnership received $0.5 billion of AWS licenses at fair value and the Partnership recorded a pre-tax gain of approximately $0.4 billion in Selling, general and administrative expense on its consolidated statement of income for the year ended December 31, 2013.

 

·                        During the fourth quarter of 2013, the Partnership entered into license exchange agreements with T-Mobile USA to exchange certain AWS and PCS licenses. These non-cash exchanges, which are subject to approval by the FCC and other customary closing conditions, are expected to close in the first half of 2014. The exchange includes a number of swaps that the Partnership expects will result in more efficient use of the AWS and PCS bands. As a result of these agreements, $0.9 billion of Wireless licenses are classified as held for sale and included in Prepaid expenses and other current assets on the Partnership’s consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2013. Upon completion of the transaction, the Partnership expects to record an immaterial gain.

 

·                        Subsequent to the transaction with T-Mobile USA in the fourth quarter of 2013, on January 6, 2014, the Partnership announced two agreements with T-Mobile USA with respect to its remaining 700 MHz A block spectrum licenses. Under one agreement, the Partnership will sell certain of these licenses to T-Mobile USA in exchange for cash consideration of approximately $2.4 billion, and under the second agreement the Partnership will exchange the remainder of these licenses for AWS and PCS spectrum licenses. These transactions are subject to the approval of the FCC as well as other customary closing conditions. These transactions are expected to close in the middle of 2014.

 

B- 15



Table of Contents

 

Other

 

During 2013, the Partnership acquired various other wireless licenses and markets for cash consideration that was not significant. Additionally, the Partnership obtained control of previously unconsolidated wireless partnerships, which were previously accounted for under the equity method and are now consolidated, which resulted in an immaterial gain. The Partnership recorded $0.2 billion of goodwill as a result of these transactions.

 

During 2012, the Partnership acquired various other wireless licenses and markets for cash consideration that was not significant and recorded $0.2 billion of goodwill as a result of these transactions.

 

3. Wireless Licenses, Goodwill and Other Intangibles, Net Wireless Licenses

 

Changes in the carrying amount of Wireless licenses are as follows:

 

(dollars in millions)

 

 

 

Balance as of January 1, 2012

 

$

73,097

 

Acquisitions (Note 2)

 

4,544

 

Capitalized interest on wireless licenses

 

205

 

Reclassifications, adjustments and other

 

(204

)

Balance as of December 31, 2012

 

77,642

 

Acquisitions (Note 2)

 

579

 

Dispositions (Note 2)

 

(2,195

)

Capitalized interest on wireless licenses

 

540

 

Reclassifications, adjustments and other

 

(770

)

Balance as of December 31, 2013

 

$

75,796

 

 

Reclassifications, adjustments and other includes $0.9 billion of Wireless licenses that are classified as held for sale and included in Prepaid expenses and other current assets on the Partnership’s consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2013 as well as the exchanges of wireless licenses in 2013 and 2012. See Note 2 for additional details.

 

At December 31, 2013 and 2012, approximately $7.7 billion and $7.3 billion, respectively, of wireless licenses were under development for commercial service for which the Partnership was capitalizing interest costs.

 

The average remaining renewal period of the Partnership’s wireless license portfolio was 5.1 years as of December 31, 2013. See Note 1 for additional details.

 

Goodwill

 

Changes in the carrying amount of Goodwill are as follows:

 

(dollars in millions)

 

 

 

Balance at January 1, 2012

 

$

17,528

 

Acquisitions (Note 2)

 

209

 

Balance at December 31, 2012

 

17,737

 

Acquisitions (Note 2)

 

204

 

Balance at December 31, 2013

 

$

17,941

 

 

B- 16



Table of Contents

 

Other Intangibles, net

 

Other intangibles, net are included in Other intangibles and other assets, net and consist of the following:

 

 

 

At December 31, 2013

 

At December 31, 2012

 

(dollars in millions)

 

Gross
Amount

 

Accumulated
Amortization

 

Net
Amount

 

Gross
Amount

 

Accumulated
Amortization

 

Net
Amount

 

Customer lists (6 to 8 years)

 

$

2,232

 

$

(1,803

)

$

429

 

$

2,187

 

$

(1,550

)

$

637

 

Non-network internal-use software (5 to 7 years)

 

1,897

 

(802

)

1,095

 

1,462

 

(589

)

873

 

Other (2 to 3 years)

 

7

 

(1

)

6

 

26

 

(21

)

5

 

Total

 

$

4,136

 

$

(2,606

)

$

1,530

 

$

3,675

 

$

(2,160

)

$

1,515

 

 

The amortization expense for other intangible assets was as follows:

 

Years

 

(dollars in millions)

 

2013

 

$

476

 

2012

 

465

 

2011

 

513

 

 

Estimated annual amortization expense for other intangible assets is as follows:

 

Years

 

(dollars in millions)

 

2014

 

$

434

 

2015

 

360

 

2016

 

279

 

2017

 

192

 

2018

 

146

 

 

4. Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments

 

The following table presents the balances of assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2013:

 

(dollars in millions)

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Total

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other intangibles and other assets, net:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivative contracts—Cross currency swaps (Non-current)

 

$

 

$

166

 

$

 

$

166

 

 

Derivative contracts are valued using models based on readily observable market parameters for all substantial terms of the Partnership’s derivative contracts and thus are classified within Level 2. The Partnership uses mid-market pricing for fair value measurements of its derivative instruments. The Partnership’s derivative instruments are recorded on a gross basis.

 

B- 17



Table of Contents

 

The Partnership recognizes transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy as of the end of the reporting period. There were no transfers within the fair value hierarchy during 2013.

 

Fair Value of Short-term and Long-term Debt

 

The fair value of the Partnership’s debt is determined using various methods, including quoted market prices for identical terms and maturities, which is a Level 1 measurement, as well as quoted prices for similar terms and maturities in inactive markets and future cash flows discounted at current rates, which are Level 2 measurements. The fair value of the Partnership’s short-term and long-term debt, excluding capital leases, was as follows:

 

 

 

At December 31, 2013

 

At December 31, 2012

 

(dollars in millions)

 

Carrying
Value

 

Fair
Value

 

Carrying
Value

 

Fair
Value

 

Short- and long-term debt, excluding capital leases

 

$

5,211

 

$

6,386

 

$

10,105

 

$

12,235

 

 

Derivative Instruments

 

The Partnership has entered into derivative transactions to manage its exposure to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates. The Partnership employs risk management strategies which may include the use of a variety of derivatives including cross currency swaps agreements. The Partnership does not hold derivatives for trading purposes.

 

Cross Currency Swaps

 

The Partnership previously entered into cross currency swaps designated as cash flow hedges to exchange approximately $1.6 billion of British Pound Sterling and Euro-denominated debt into U.S. dollars and to fix its future interest and principal payments in U.S. dollars, as well as to mitigate the impact of foreign currency transaction gains or losses. A portion of the gains and losses recognized in Other comprehensive income (loss) was reclassified to Other income, net to offset the related pretax foreign currency transaction gain or loss on the underlying debt obligations. The fair value of the outstanding swaps was not material at December 31, 2013 or December 31, 2012. During 2013 and 2012, the gains with respect to these swaps were not material.

 

Concentrations of Credit Risk

 

Financial instruments that subject us to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of temporary cash investments, trade receivables and derivative contracts. The Partnership’s policy is to deposit its temporary cash investments with major financial institutions. Counterparties to the Partnership’s derivative contracts are also major financial institutions. The financial institutions have all been accorded high ratings by primary rating agencies. The Partnership limits the dollar amount of contracts entered into with any one financial institution and monitors its counterparties’ credit ratings. The Partnership generally does not give or receive collateral on swap agreements due to its credit rating and those of its counterparties. While the Partnership may be exposed to credit losses due to the nonperformance of its counterparties, the Partnership considers the risk remote and does not expect the settlement of these transactions to have a material effect on its results of operations or financial condition.

 

B- 18



Table of Contents

 

5. Debt

 

Changes to debt during 2013 are as follows:

 

(dollars in millions)

 

Debt Maturing
within One Year

 

Long-term
Debt

 

Total

 

Balance at January 1, 2013

 

$

1,448

 

$

 8,665

 

$

10,113

 

Repayments of long-term borrowings and capital lease obligations

 

(1,460

)

(3,500

)

(4,960

)

Other

 

53

 

66

 

119

 

Balance at December 31, 2013

 

$

41

 

$

 5,231

 

$

5,272

 

 

Outstanding long-term debt obligations are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(dollars in millions)

 

At December 31,

 

Interest Rates %

 

Maturities

 

2013

 

2012

 

Notes payable

 

8.5 - 8.88

 

2015 - 2018

 

$

3,931

 

$

 8,635

 

Alltel assumed notes

 

6.80 - 7.88

 

2016 - 2032

 

1,300

 

1,500

 

Capital lease obligations (average rate of 4.4% and 1.2% in 2013 and 2012, respectively)

 

 

 

 

 

61

 

8

 

Unamortized discount, net of premium

 

 

 

 

 

(20

)

(30

)

Total long-term debt, including current maturities

 

 

 

 

 

5,272

 

10,113

 

Less long-term debt maturing within one year

 

 

 

 

 

41

 

1,448

 

Total long-term debt

 

 

 

 

 

$

5,231

 

$

 8,665

 

 

Verizon Wireless Capital LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Partnership, is a limited liability company formed under the laws of Delaware on December 7, 2001 as a special purpose finance subsidiary to facilitate the offering of debt securities of the Partnership by acting as co-issuer. Other than the financing activities as a co-issuer of the Partnership’s indebtedness, Verizon Wireless Capital LLC has no material assets, operations or revenues. The Partnership is jointly and severally liable with Verizon Wireless Capital LLC for co-issued notes.

 

Discounts, premiums, and capitalized debt issuance costs are amortized using the effective interest method.

 

2013

 

During November 2013, $1.25 billion of 7.375% Notes and $0.2 billion of 6.50% Notes matured and were repaid. Also during November 2013, the Partnership redeemed $3.5 billion of 5.55% Notes, due February 1, 2014 at a redemption price of 101% of the principal amount of the notes. Any accrued and unpaid interest was paid to the date of redemption.

 

2012

 

During February 2012, $0.8 billion of 5.25% Notes matured and were repaid. During July 2012, $0.8 billion of 7.0% Notes matured and were repaid.

 

Term Notes Payable to Affiliate

 

Under the terms of a fixed rate promissory note with Verizon Financial Services LLC (VFSL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Verizon, the Partnership may borrow, repay and re-borrow up to a maximum principal amount of $0.8 billion. During July 2013, the maturity date of this note was extended to August 1, 2016 and the interest rate decreased from 5.8% to 4.5% per annum. As of December 31, 2013, outstanding borrowings under this note, included within Other current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet, were immaterial.

 

B- 19



Table of Contents

 

Debt Covenants

 

As of December 31, 2013, the Partnership is in compliance with all of its debt covenants.

 

Maturities of Long-Term Debt

 

Maturities of long-term debt outstanding at December 31, 2013 are as follows:

 

Years

 

(dollars in millions)

 

2014

 

$

 41

 

2015

 

699

 

2016

 

299

 

2017

 

7

 

2018

 

3,226

 

Thereafter

 

1,000

 

 

6. Long-Term Incentive Plan

 

Verizon Wireless Long-Term Incentive Plan (Wireless Plan)

 

The Wireless Plan provides compensation opportunities to eligible employees and other participating affiliates of the Partnership. The plan provides rewards that are tied to the long-term performance of the Partnership. Under the Wireless Plan, Value Appreciation Rights (VARs) were granted to eligible employees. As of December 31, 2013, all VARs were fully vested. The Partnership has not granted new VARs since 2004.

 

VARs reflect the change in the value of the Partnership, as defined in the Wireless Plan. Similar to stock options, the valuation is determined using a Black-Scholes model. Once VARs become vested, employees can exercise their VARs and receive a payment that is equal to the difference between the VAR price on the date of grant and the VAR price on the date of exercise, less applicable taxes. All outstanding VARs are fully exercisable and have a maximum term of 10 years. All VARs were granted at a price equal to the estimated fair value of the Partnership, as defined in the Wireless Plan, at the date of the grant.

 

The Partnership employs the income approach, a standard valuation technique, to arrive at the fair value of the Partnership on a quarterly basis using publicly available information. The income approach uses future net cash flows discounted at market rates of return to arrive at an estimate of fair value, as defined in the plan.

 

The following table summarizes the assumptions used in the Black-Scholes model for the year ended December 31, 2013:

 

 

 

2013
End of Period

 

Risk-free rate

 

0.11

%

Expected term (in years)

 

0.12

 

Expected volatility

 

43.27

%

 

The risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of the measurement date. Expected volatility was based on a blend of the historical and implied volatility of publicly traded peer companies for a period equal to the VARs expected life ending on the measurement date.

 

B- 20



Table of Contents

 

For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, the intrinsic value of VARs exercised during the period was $0.1 billion, respectively.

 

Cash paid to settle VARs for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $0.1 billion, respectively.

 

Awards outstanding at December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 under the Wireless Plan are summarized as follows:

 

(shares in thousands)

 

VARs  (a)

 

Weighted-Average
Exercise Price
of VARs 
(a)

 

Vested
VARs 
(a)

 

Outstanding, January 1, 2011

 

11,569

 

$

13.11

 

11,569

 

Exercised

 

(3,303

)

14.87

 

 

 

Cancelled/Forfeited

 

(52

)

14.74

 

 

 

Outstanding, December 31, 2011

 

8,214

 

12.39

 

8,214

 

Exercised

 

(3,427

)

10.30

 

 

 

Cancelled/Forfeited

 

(21

)

11.10

 

 

 

Outstanding, December 31, 2012

 

4,766

 

13.89

 

4,766

 

Exercised

 

(1,916

)

13.89

 

 

 

Cancelled/Forfeited

 

(3

)

13.89

 

 

 

Outstanding, December 31, 2013

 

2,847

 

$

13.89

 

2,847

 

 


(a)               The weighted average exercise price is presented in dollars; VARs are presented in units. At December 31, 2013 all outstanding VARs had an exercise price of $13.89 and substantially all of the VARs expire in March 2014.

 

As of December 31, 2013, the aggregate intrinsic value of VARs outstanding and vested was $0.1 billion.

 

Verizon Communications Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan

 

The Verizon Communications Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan (the Verizon Plan) permits the granting of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares, performance stock units and other awards to Partnership employees. The maximum number of shares available for awards from the Verizon Plan is 119.6 million shares.

 

Restricted Stock Units

 

The Verizon Plan provides for grants of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) that generally vest at the end of the third year after the grant. The RSUs are classified as equity awards because the RSUs will be paid in Verizon common stock upon vesting. The RSU equity awards are measured using the grant date fair value of Verizon common stock and are not remeasured at the end of each reporting period. Dividend equivalent units are also paid to participants at the time the RSU award is paid, and in the same proportion as the RSU award.

 

The Partnership had approximately 4.1 million and 4.7 million RSUs outstanding under the Verizon Plan as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

 

Performance Stock Units

 

The Verizon Plan also provides for grants of Performance Stock Units (PSUs) that generally vest at the end of the third year after the grant. As defined by the Verizon Plan, the Human Resources Committee of the Board of Directors of Verizon determines the number of PSUs a participant earns based on the extent to which the corresponding performance goals have been achieved over the three-year performance cycle. The PSUs are classified as liability awards because the PSU awards are paid in cash upon vesting. The PSU award liability is measured at its fair value at the end of each reporting period and, therefore, will fluctuate based on the price of

 

B- 21



Table of Contents

 

Verizon common stock as well as performance relative to the targets. Dividend equivalent units are also paid to participants at the time that the PSU award is determined and paid, and in the same proportion as the PSU award.

 

The Partnership had approximately 6.0 million and 7.0 million PSUs outstanding under the Verizon Plans as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

 

As of December 31, 2013, unrecognized compensation expense related to the unvested portion of the Partnership’s RSUs and PSUs was approximately $0.1 billion and is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately two years.

 

Stock-Based Compensation Expense

 

For each of the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, the Partnership recognized compensation expense for stock based compensation related to VARs, RSUs and PSUs of $0.2 billion, $0.3 billion and $0.2 billion, respectively.

 

7. Income Taxes

 

Provision for Income Taxes

 

The provision for income taxes consists of the following:

 

 

 

(dollars in millions)

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Current tax provision:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal

 

$

 47

 

$

 106

 

$

 476

 

State and local

 

31

 

(28

)

103

 

 

 

78

 

78

 

579

 

Deferred tax provision:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal

 

60

 

35

 

369

 

State and local

 

12

 

88

 

(1

)

 

 

72

 

123

 

368

 

Provision for income taxes

 

$

150

 

$

 201

 

$

 947

 

 

A reconciliation of the income tax provision computed at the statutory tax rate to the Partnership’s effective tax rate is as follows:

 

 

 

(dollars in millions)

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Income tax provision at the statutory rate

 

$

 9,270

 

$

 7,481

 

$

 6,264

 

State and local income taxes, net of U.S. federal benefit

 

45

 

47

 

57

 

Other

 

(28

)

3

 

(7

)

Partnership income not subject to federal or state income taxes

 

(9,137

)

(7,330

)

(5,367

)

Provision for income tax

 

$

150

 

$

201

 

$

947

 

 

B- 22



Table of Contents

 

Deferred taxes arise because of differences in the book and tax bases of certain assets and liabilities. Significant components of the Partnership’s deferred taxes are shown in the following table:

 

 

 

(dollars in millions)

 

At December 31,

 

2013

 

2012

 

Deferred tax assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Net operating loss carryforward

 

$

165

 

$

122

 

Valuation allowance

 

(89

)

(55

)

Other Total deferred tax assets

 

207

 

134

 

 

 

283

 

201

 

Deferred tax liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Intangible assets

 

9,457

 

9,355

 

Plant, property and equipment

 

1,407

 

1,445

 

Other

 

354

 

264

 

Total deferred tax liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11,218

 

11,064

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net deferred tax asset-current (a)  

 

66

 

76

 

Net deferred tax liability-non-current

 

$

11,001

 

$

10,939

 

 


(a) Included in prepaid expenses and other current assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

 

At December 31, 2013, the Partnership had state net operating loss carryforwards of $3.6 billion. These net operating loss carryforwards expire at various dates principally from December 31, 2018 through December 31, 2033.

 

Unrecognized Tax Benefits

 

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending balance of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:

 

 

 

(dollars in millions)

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Balance as of January 1

 

$

306

 

$

267

 

$

 393

 

Additions based on tax positions related to the current year

 

16

 

13

 

10

 

Additions for tax positions of prior years

 

9

 

72

 

53

 

Reductions for tax positions of prior years

 

(48

)

(49

)

(187

)

Reductions due to lapse of applicable statute of limitations

 

(73

)

 

(2

)

Settlements

 

 

3

 

 

Balance as of December 31

 

$

210

 

$

306

 

$

 267

 

 

Included in the total unrecognized tax benefits balance is $0.1 billion, $0.2 billion and $0.2 billion as of December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively, that, if recognized, would favorably affect the effective tax rate. The remaining unrecognized tax benefits relate to temporary items that would not affect the effective tax rate.

 

The after-tax accrual for the payment of interest and penalties in the balance sheet relating to the unrecognized tax benefits reflected above was not significant for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011.

 

B- 23



Table of Contents

 

The net after-tax benefits (expenses) related to interest in the provision for income taxes were not significant for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011.

 

The Partnership or its subsidiaries file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, and various state and local jurisdictions. The Partnership is generally no longer subject to U.S. federal, state and local income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2003. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is currently examining some of the Partnership’s subsidiaries. As a result of the anticipated resolution of various income tax matters within the next twelve months, the Partnership believes that it is reasonably possible that the unrecognized tax benefits may be adjusted. An estimate of the amount of the change attributable to any such settlement cannot be made until issues are further developed or examinations close.

 

8. Leases

 

As Lessee

 

The Partnership has entered into operating leases for facilities and equipment used in its operations. Lease contracts contain renewal options that include rent expense adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index as well as annual and end-of-lease term adjustments. Rent expense is recorded on a straight-line basis over the noncancelable lease term which is generally determined to be the initial lease term. Total rent expense under operating leases amounted to $2.0 billion in 2013, $1.8 billion in 2012 and $1.7 billion in 2011.

 

The aggregate future minimum rental commitments under noncancelable operating leases, excluding renewal options that are not reasonably assured for the periods shown at December 31, 2013, are as follows:

 

(dollars in millions)
Years

 

Operating
Leases

 

2014

 

$

 1,689

 

2015

 

1,518

 

2016

 

1,290

 

2017

 

1,043

 

2018

 

822

 

Thereafter

 

2,974

 

Total minimum rental commitments

 

$

 9,336

 

 

9. Supplementary Financial Information

 

Supplementary Balance Sheet Information

 

 

 

At December 31,

 

(dollars in millions)

 

2013

 

2012

 

Receivables, Net:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

$

6,228

 

$

5,848

 

Other receivables

 

1,067

 

864

 

Unbilled revenue

 

308

 

295

 

 

 

7,603

 

7,007

 

Less: allowance for doubtful accounts

 

(399

)

(350

)

Receivables, net

 

$

7,204

 

$

6,657

 

 

B- 24



Table of Contents

 

 

 

 

 

(dollars in millions)

 

At December 31,

 

Lives (years)

 

2013 

 

2012

 

Plant, Property and Equipment, Net:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Land

 

 

$

244

 

$

244

 

Buildings

 

20-45

 

11,742

 

10,855

 

Wireless plant and equipment

 

3-15

 

60,550

 

54,867

 

Furniture, fixtures and equipment

 

3-10

 

3,700

 

3,603

 

Leasehold improvements

 

5

 

4,728

 

4,310

 

Construction-in-progress (b)

 

 

2,283

 

2,572

 

 

 

 

 

83,247

 

76,451

 

Less: accumulated depreciation (c)

 

 

 

(47,315

)

(41,905

)

Plant, property and equipment, net (a)

 

 

 

$

 35,932

 

$

 34,546

 

 


(a)          Interest costs of $0.1 billion and network engineering costs of $0.5 billion and $0.4 billion were capitalized during the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

 

(b)          Construction-in-progress includes $0.9 billion and $1.2 billion of accrued but unpaid capital expenditures as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

 

(c)           Depreciation of plant, property and equipment was $7.7 billion, $7.5 billion and $7.4 billion, for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

 

 

(dollars in millions)

 

At December 31,

 

2013

 

2012

 

Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable, accrued interest and accrued expenses

 

$

4,176

 

$

4,538

 

Accrued payroll and related employee benefits

 

1,347

 

1,385

 

Taxes payable

 

651

 

687

 

Accrued commissions

 

838

 

924

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

$

7,012

 

$

7,534

 

 

Supplementary Statements of Income Information

 

 

 

(dollars in millions)

 

For the Years Ended December 31,

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Advertising and Promotional Cost:

 

$

1,856

 

$

1,826

 

$

1,925

 

Employee Benefit Plans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Matching contribution expense

 

$

251

 

$

247

 

$

231

 

Profit sharing expense

 

152

 

60

 

82

 

Interest Expense, Net:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

$

 (720

)

$

(776

)

$

(954

)

Capitalized interest

 

655

 

334

 

344

 

Interest expense, net

 

$

(65

)

$

(442

)

$

(610

)

 

B- 25



Table of Contents

 

Supplementary Cash Flows Information

 

 

 

(dollars in millions)

 

For the Years Ended December 31,

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Net cash paid for income taxes

 

$

 179

 

$

 245

 

$

 505

 

Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized

 

130

 

464

 

610

 

 

10. Noncontrolling Interests

 

Noncontrolling interests in equity of subsidiaries were as follows:

 

 

 

(dollars in millions)

 

At December 31,

 

2013

 

2012

 

Verizon Wireless of the East LP

 

$

1,179

 

$

1,179

 

Cellular partnerships - various

 

1,100

 

865

 

Noncontrolling interests

 

$

2,279

 

$

2,044

 

 

Verizon Wireless of the East LP

 

Verizon Wireless of the East LP is a limited partnership formed in 2002 and is controlled and managed by the Partnership. Verizon held the noncontrolling interest of Verizon Wireless of the East LP at December 31, 2013 and 2012. As per the agreement between the Partnership and Verizon, Verizon has not been allocated any of the profits of Verizon Wireless of the East LP.

 

11. Other Transactions with Affiliates

 

In addition to transactions with Affiliates in Note 5, other significant transactions with Affiliates are summarized as follows:

 

 

 

(dollars in millions)

 

For the Years Ended December 31,

 

2013

 

2012 

 

2011

 

Revenue related to transactions with affiliated companies

 

$

102

 

$

83

 

$

87

 

Cost of service (a)

 

1,378

 

1,365

 

1,396

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses (b)

 

917

 

584

 

312

 

 


(a)               Affiliate cost of service primarily represents charges for long distance, direct telecommunication and roaming services provided by affiliates.

 

(b)               Affiliate selling, general and administrative expenses include charges from affiliates for services provided, including insurance, leases, office telecommunications, and billing and lockbox services, as well as services billed from Verizon Corporate Services, Verizon Sourcing LLC, Verizon Corporate Resources Group and Verizon Data Solutions for functions performed under service level agreements.

 

B- 26



Table of Contents

 

Other Transactions with Affiliates

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 include $68 million and $92 million, respectively, due to affiliates primarily comprised of costs associated with services provided in the normal course of business and roaming services.

 

Distributions to Partners

 

In May 2013, the Board of Representatives of the Partnership declared a distribution to its owners, which was paid in the second quarter of 2013 in proportion to their partnership interests on the payment date, in the aggregate amount of $7.0 billion. As a result, Vodafone received a cash payment of $3.15 billion and the remainder of the distribution was received by Verizon.

 

In November 2012, the Board of Representatives of the Partnership declared a distribution to its owners, which was paid in the fourth quarter of 2012 in proportion to their partnership interests on the payment date, in the aggregate amount of $8.5 billion. As a result, Vodafone received a cash payment of $3.8 billion and the remainder of the distribution was received by Verizon.

 

In July 2011, the Board of Representatives of the Partnership declared a distribution to its owners, which was paid in the first quarter of 2012 in proportion to their partnership interests on the payment date, in the aggregate amount of $10 billion. As a result, Vodafone received a cash payment of $4.5 billion and the remainder of the distribution was received by Verizon.

 

As required under the Partnership Agreement, the Partnership paid aggregate tax distributions of $10.0 billion, $7.2 billion and $3.1 billion to its Partners during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. In addition to quarterly tax distributions to its Partners, its Partners have directed the Partnership to make supplemental tax distributions to them, subject to the Partnership’s board of representatives’ right to reconsider these distributions based on significant changes in overall business and financial conditions. During the year ended December 31, 2013, the Partnership made supplemental tax distributions in the aggregate amount of $0.9 billion, which is included in the total distribution paid above.

 

During February 2014, the Partnership paid aggregate tax distributions of $1.8 billion to its Partners.

 

12. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

 

Comprehensive income consists of net income and other gains and losses affecting Partners’ capital that, under U.S. GAAP, are excluded from net income.

 

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

 

The changes in the balances of Accumulated other comprehensive income by component are as follows:

 

(dollars in millions)

 

Unrealized loss
on cash flow
hedges

 

Defined benefit
pension and
postretirement
plans

 

Total

 

Balance at January 1, 2013

 

$

80

 

$

4

 

84

 

Other comprehensive income

 

13

 

 

13

 

Amounts reclassified to net income

 

(45

)

 

(45

)

Net other comprehensive loss

 

(32

)

 

(32

)

Balance at December 31, 2013

 

$

48

 

$

4

 

52

 

 

B- 27



Table of Contents

 

The amounts presented above in net other comprehensive loss are net of taxes and noncontrolling interests, which are not significant. For the year ended December 31, 2013, all other amounts reclassified to net income in the table above are included in Other income, net on the Partnership’s consolidated statements of income.

 

13. Commitments and Contingencies

 

Bell Atlantic, now known as Verizon Communications, and Vodafone entered into an alliance agreement to create a wireless business composed of both companies’ U.S. wireless assets, as amended, which the Partnership refers to as the “Alliance Agreement”. The Alliance Agreement contains a provision, subject to specified limitations, that requires Verizon and Vodafone to indemnify the Partnership for certain contingencies, excluding PrimeCo Personal Communications L.P. contingencies, arising prior to the formation of the Partnership.

 

Where it is determined, in consultation with counsel based on litigation and settlement risks, that a loss is probable and estimable in a given matter, the Partnership establishes an accrual. In none of the currently pending matters is the amount of accrual material. An estimate of the reasonably possible loss or range of loss in excess of the amounts already accrued cannot be made at this time due to various factors typical in contested proceedings, including (1) uncertain damage theories and demands; (2) a less than complete factual record; (3) uncertainty concerning legal theories and their resolution by courts or regulators; and (4) the unpredictable nature of the opposing party and its demands. The Partnership continuously monitors these proceedings as they develop and adjusts any accrual or disclosure as needed. The Partnership does not expect that the ultimate resolution of any pending regulatory or legal matter in future periods will have a material effect on the Partnership’s financial condition, but it could have a material effect on the Partnership’s results of operations for a given reporting period.

 

Verizon has entered into reimbursement agreements with third-party lenders that permit these lenders to issue letters of credit to third parties on behalf of the Partnership and the Partnership’s subsidiaries.

 

The Partnership has several commitments primarily to purchase handsets and peripherals, equipment, software, programming and network services, and marketing activities, which will be used or sold in the ordinary course of business, from a variety of suppliers totaling $15.6 billion. Of this total amount, $13.6 billion is attributable to 2014, $1.0 billion is attributable to 2015 through 2016, $0.5 billion is attributable to 2017 through 2018 and $0.5 billion is attributable to years thereafter. These amounts do not represent the Partnership’s entire anticipated purchases in the future, but represent only those items that are the subject of contractual obligations. The Partnership’s commitments are generally determined based on the noncancelable quantities or termination amounts. Purchases against the Partnership’s commitments for 2013 totaled approximately $9.8 billion. The Partnership also purchases products and services as needed with no firm commitment.

 

B- 28



Table of Contents

 

20-F Disclosure — Description of American Depositary Shares (Item 12D)

 

Fees payable by ADR Holders

 

The Bank of New York Mellon, as depositary, collects its fees for delivery and surrender of ADRs directly from investors depositing shares or surrendering ADRs for the purpose of withdrawal or from intermediaries acting for them. The depositary collects fees for making distributions to investors, including in connection with the payment of dividends, by deducting those fees from the amounts distributed or by selling a portion of distributable property to pay the fees. The depositary may generally refuse to provide fee-attracting services until its fees for those services are paid.

 

Persons depositing or withdrawing
shares must pay:

 

For:

$5.00 (or less) per 100 ADRs (or portion of 100 ADRs)

 

·                   Issuance of ADRs, including issuances resulting from a distribution of shares or rights or other property

·                   Cancellation of ADRs for the purpose of withdrawal, including if the deposit agreement terminates

 

 

 

$.02 (or less) per ADR (or portion thereof). The current per ADR fee to be charged for an interim dividend is $0.015 per ADR and for a final dividend is $0.02 per ADR.

 

·                   Any cash distribution to ADR registered holders

 

 

 

A fee equivalent to the fee that would be payable if securities distributed to you had been shares and the shares had been deposited for issuance of ADRs

 

·                   Distribution of securities distributed to holders of deposited securities which are distributed by the depositary to ADR registered holders

 

 

 

Registration or transfer fees

 

·                   Transfer and registration of shares on our share register to or from the name of the depositary or its agent when you deposit or withdraw shares

 

 

 

Expenses of the depositary

 

·                   Cable, telex, facsimile transmissions and delivery expenses (when expressly provided in the deposit agreement)

·                   Converting foreign currency to US dollars

 

 

 

Taxes and other governmental charges that the depositary or the custodian must pay on any ADR or share underlying an ADR, for example, stock transfer taxes, stamp duty or withholding taxes

 

·                   As necessary

 

 

 

Any charges incurred by the depositary or its agents for servicing the deposited securities

 

·                   As necessary

 

C- 1



Table of Contents

 

Fees Payable by the Depositary to the Issuer

 

As set out above, pursuant to the deposit agreement, the depositary may charge up to $0.02 per ADR in respect of dividends paid by us. We have agreed with the depositary that any dividend fee collected by it is paid to us, net of any dividend collection fee charged by it. For the year ended 31 March 2016, we agreed with the depositary that it will charge $0.015 per ADR in respect of any interim dividend and $0.02 per ADR in respect of any final dividend paid during that year.

 

As at 31 March 2016,  (April 1, 2015 through March 31, 2016) we have received approximately $13.1 million arising out of fees charged in respect of dividends paid during the year. We also have an agreement with the depositary that it will absorb any of its out-of-pocket maintenance costs for servicing the holders of the ADRs up to $1,000,000 per calendar year. However, any of the depositary’s out-of-pocket maintenance costs which exceed the $1,000,000 annual aggregate limits will be reimbursed by us.

 



Table of Contents

 

Index of Exhibits to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the financial year ended March 31, 2016

 

1.1

 

Articles of Association, as adopted on June 30, 1999 and including all amendments made on July 25, 2001, July 26, 2005, July 25, 2006, July 24, 2007, July 29, 2008, July 28, 2009, July 27, 2010 and January 28, 2014, of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the financial year ended March 31, 2014 (File No. 001-10086)).

 

 

 

2.1

 

Indenture, dated as of February 10, 2000, between the Company and Citibank, N.A., as Trustee, including forms of debt securities (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(a) of Post Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-10762), dated November 24, 2000).

 

 

 

2.2

 

Agreement of Resignation, Appointment and Acceptance dated as of July 24, 2007, among the Company, Citibank N.A. and The Bank of New York Mellon (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the financial year ended March 31, 2008 (File No. 001-10086)).

 

 

 

2.3

 

Fourteenth Supplemental Trust Deed dated June 1, 2016 between the Company and The Law Debenture Trust Corporation p.l.c. further modifying and restating the provisions of the Trust Deed dated July 16, 1999 relating to a Euro 30,000,000,000 Euro Medium Term Note Programme.

 

 

 

2.4

 

Trust Deed dated February 25, 2016 between the Company and The Law Debenture Trust Corporation p.l.c. in relation to the Group’s £1,440,000,000 1.50 per cent Subordinated Mandatory Convertible Bonds due 2017.

 

 

 

2.5

 

Trust Deed dated February 25, 2016 between the Company and The Law Debenture Trust Corporation p.l.c. in relation to the Group’s £1,440,000,000 2.00 per cent Subordinated Mandatory Convertible Bonds due 2019.

 

 

 

4.1

 

Agreement in relation to the Group’s €3,860,000,000 five year Revolving Credit Facility dated March 28, 2014 among the Company and various lenders (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the financial year ended March 31, 2014 (File No. 001-10086)).

 

 

 

4.2

 

Revolving Credit Agreement with Royal Bank of Canada, effective as of December 15, 2015 in relation to the Group’s €3,860,000,000 five year Revolving Credit Facility.

 

 

 

4.3

 

Vodafone Group 1999 Long Term Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.7 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the financial year ended March 31, 2001(File No. 001-10086)).

 

 

 

4.4

 

Vodafone Group 2005 Global Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.8 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the financial year ended March 31, 2006 (File No. 001-10086)).

 

 

 

4.5

 

Facility Agreement in relation to the Group’s US$3,935,000,000 revolving credit facility dated February 27, 2015 among the Company and various lenders (incorporated by reference to Exhibit

 



Table of Contents

 

 

 

4.9 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the financial year ended March 31, 2015 (File No. 001-10086)).

 

 

 

4.6

 

Revolving Credit Agreement with Royal Bank of Canada, effective as of December 15, 2015 and dated February 27, 2015 in relation to the Group’s US$3,935,000,000 Revolving Credit Facility.

 

 

 

4.7

 

$1,000,000,000 Facility Agreement dated September 9, 2015 between the Company and The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, LTD.

 

 

 

4.8

 

$1,000,000,000 Facility Agreement dated November 9, 2015 between the Company and Mizuho Bank LTD.

 

 

 

4.9

 

Subscription Agreement dated February 19, 2016 among the Company, J.P. Morgan Securities Plc and Morgan Stanley & Co. International Plc in relation to the Group’s £1,440,000,000 1.50 per cent Subordinated Mandatory Convertible Bonds due 2017.

 

 

 

4.10

 

Subscription Agreement dated February 19, 2016 among the Company, J.P. Morgan Securities Plc and Morgan Stanley & Co. International Plc in relation to the Group’s £1,440,000,000 2.00 per cent Subordinated Mandatory Convertible Bonds due 2019.

 

 

 

4.11

 

Letter of Appointment of Anne Lauvergeon (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.22 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the financial year ended March 31, 2006 (File No. 001-10086)).

 

 

 

4.12

 

Letter of Appointment of Luc Vandevelde (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.22 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the financial year ended March 31, 2004 (File No. 001-10086)).

 

 

 

4.13

 

Letter of Appointment of Anthony Watson (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.26 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the financial year ended March 31, 2006 (File No. 001-10086)).

 

 

 

4.14

 

Letter of Appointment of Philip Yea (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.27 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the financial year ended March 31, 2006 (File No. 001-10086)).

 

 

 

4.15

 

Service Agreement of Vittorio Colao (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.22 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the financial year ended March 31, 2009 (File No. 001-10086)).

 

 

 

4.16

 

Letter of Appointment of Alan Jebson (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.23 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the financial year ended March 31, 2007 (File No. 001-10086)).

 

 

 

4.17

 

Letter of Appointment of Nick Land (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.24 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the financial year ended March 31, 2007 (File No. 001-10086)).

 

 

 

4.18

 

Letter of Appointment of Samuel Jonah (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.26 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the financial year ended March 31, 2009 (File No. 001-10086)).

 

 

 

4.19

 

Service Agreement of Stephen Pusey (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.28 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the financial year ended March 31, 2009 (File No. 001-10086)).

 

2



Table of Contents

 

4.20

 

Letter of Indemnification for Steve Pusey (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.27 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the financial year ended March 31, 2010 (File No. 001-10086)).

 

 

 

4.21

 

Letter of Indemnification for Philip Yea (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.29 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the financial year ended March 31, 2010 (File No. 001-10086)).

 

 

 

4.22

 

Letter of Indemnification for Luc Vandevelde (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.30 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the financial year ended March 31, 2010 (File No. 001-10086)).

 

 

 

4.23

 

Letter of Appointment of Renee James (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.35 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the financial year ended March 31, 2011 (File No. 001-10086)).

 

 

 

4.24

 

Letter of Appointment of Gerard Kleisterlee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.36 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the financial year ended March 31, 2011 (File No. 001-10086)).

 

 

 

4.25

 

Letter of Appointment of Omid Kordestani (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.28 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the financial year ended March 31, 2013 (File No. 001-10086)).

 

 

 

4.26

 

Letter of Appointment of Valerie Gooding (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.30 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the financial year ended March 31, 2014 (File No. 001-10086)).

 

 

 

4.27

 

Service Agreement of Nicholas Read (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.31 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the financial year ended March 31, 2014 (File No. 001-10086)).

 

 

 

4.28

 

Letter of Appointment of Sir Crispin Davis (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.32 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the financial year ended March 31, 2014 (File No. 001-10086)).

 

 

 

4.29

 

Letter of Appointment of Dame Clara Furse (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.33 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the financial year ended March 31, 2014 (File No. 001-10086)).

 

 

 

4.30

 

Letter of indemnification for Nicholas Read (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.29 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the financial year ended March 31, 2015 (File No. 001-10086)).

 

 

 

4.31

 

Letter of appointment for Dr Matthias Döpfner (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.30 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the financial year ended March 31, 2015 (File No. 001-10086)).

 

 

 

4.32

 

Letter of appointment for David Nish.

 

 

 

4.33

 

Stock Purchase Agreement dated September 2, 2013, by and among Verizon Communications Inc., Vodafone Group Plc and Vodafone 4 Limited (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.34 to the

 

3



Table of Contents

 

 

 

Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the financial year ended March 31, 2014 (File No. 001-10086)).

 

 

 

4.34

 

First Amendment to Stock Purchase Agreement dated December 5, 2013 by and among Vodafone Group Plc, Vodafone 4 Limited and Verizon Communications Inc, amending the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement dated September 2, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.35 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the financial year ended March 31, 2014 (File No. 001-10086)).

 

 

 

4.35

 

Agreed form of a Contribution and Transfer Agreement by and among the Company, Liberty Global Europe Holding B.V., Liberty Global Plc, Vodafone International Holdings B.V. and Lynx Global Europe II B.V. relating to the contribution and/or transfer of shares in Ziggio Group Holding B.V. and Vodafone Libertel B.V. to Lynx Global Europe II B.V. and the formation of the Netherlands joint venture.

 

 

 

7.

 

Unaudited Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges for the financial years ended March 31, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2012.

 

 

 

8.

 

List of the Company’s related undertakings (incorporated by reference to Note 33 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 20-F for the financial year ended March 31, 2016).

 

 

 

12.

 

Rule 13a — 14(a) Certifications.

 

 

 

13.

 

Rule 13a — 14(b) Certifications. These certifications are furnished only and are not filed as part of the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the financial year ended March 31, 2016.

 

 

 

15.1

 

Consent letter of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

 

 

 

15.2

 

Consent letter of Deloitte LLP, London.

 

 

 

15.3

 

Consent letter of Deloitte & Touche LLP, New York.

 

4



Table of Contents

 

SIGNATURE

 

The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this annual report on its behalf.

 

 

VODAFONE GROUP PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY

 

(Registrant)

 

 

 

/s/ R E S Martin

 

Rosemary E S Martin

 

Group General Counsel and Company Secretary

Date: June, 10 2016

 

 


Exhibit 2.3

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

Dated 1 June 2016

 

 

 

 

VODAFONE GROUP PLC

 

 

 

 

and

 

 

 

THE LAW DEBENTURE TRUST CORPORATION p.l.c.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOURTEENTH SUPPLEMENTAL TRUST DEED

 

further modifying the provisions of the Trust Deed dated 16 July 1999

 

in respect of an issue of CHF350,000,000 0.375 per cent. Notes due 2024 issued under the
€30,000,000,000 Euro Medium Term Note Programme

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

THIS FOURTEENTH SUPPLEMENTAL TRUST DEED is made on 1 June 2016 BETWEEN :

 

A.                             VODAFONE GROUP PLC , a company incorporated with limited liability in England and Wales with registered number 1833679, whose registered office is Vodafone House, The Connection, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2FN, England (the Issuer ); and

 

B.                              THE LAW DEBENTURE TRUST CORPORATION p.l.c. , a company incorporated with limited liability in England and Wales with registered number 1675231, whose registered office is at Fifth Floor, 100 Wood Street, London EC2V 7EX, England (the Trustee , which expression shall, wherever the context so admits, include such company and all other persons or companies for the time being the trustee or trustees of these presents) as trustee for the Noteholders and the Couponholders.

 

Whereas :

 

(A)      This Fourteenth Supplemental Trust Deed is supplemental to:

 

(i)

 

the Trust Deed dated 16 July 1999 (hereinafter called the Principal Trust Deed ) made between the Issuer and the Trustee and relating to the Euro Medium Term Note Programme (the Programme ) established by the Issuer;

 

 

 

(ii)

 

the First Supplemental Trust Deed dated 4 May 2000 (the First Supplemental Trust Deed ) made between the Issuer and the Trustee modifying and restating the provisions of the Principal Trust Deed;

 

 

 

(iii)

 

the Second Supplemental Trust Deed dated 31 May 2001 (the Second Supplemental Trust Deed ) made between the Issuer and the Trustee further modifying and restating the provisions of the Principal Trust Deed;

 

 

 

(iv)

 

the Third Supplemental Trust Deed dated 6 June 2002 (the Third Supplemental Trust Deed ) made between the Issuer and the Trustee further modifying the provisions of the Principal Trust Deed;

 

 

 

(v)

 

the Fourth Supplemental Trust Deed dated 19 July 2005 (the Fourth Supplemental Trust Deed ) made between the Issuer and the Trustee further modifying and restating the provisions of the Principal Trust Deed;

 

 

 

(vi)

 

the Fifth Supplemental Trust Deed dated 19 July 2006 (the Fifth Supplemental Trust Deed ) made between the Issuer and the Trustee further modifying and restating the provisions of the Principal Trust Deed;

 

 

 

(vii)

 

the Sixth Supplemental Trust Deed dated 1 August 2007 (the Sixth Supplemental Trust Deed ) made between the Issuer and the Trustee further modifying the provisions of the Principal Trust Deed;

 

 

 

(viii)

 

the Seventh Supplemental Trust Deed dated 14 July 2008 (the Seventh Supplemental Trust Deed ) made between the Issuer and the Trustee further modifying the provisions of the Principal Trust Deed;

 

 

 

(ix)

 

the Eighth Supplemental Trust Deed dated 10 July 2009 (the Eighth Supplemental Trust Deed ) made between the Issuer and the Trustee further modifying the provisions of the Principal Trust Deed;

 

1



 

(x)

 

the Ninth Supplemental Trust Deed dated 13 July 2010 (the Ninth Supplemental Trust Deed ) made between the Issuer and the Trustee further modifying the provisions of the Principal Trust Deed;

 

 

 

(xi)

 

the Tenth Supplemental Trust Deed dated 8 July 2011 (the Tenth Supplemental Trust Deed ) made between the Issuer and the Trustee further modifying the provisions of the Principal Trust Deed;

 

 

 

(xii)

 

the Eleventh Supplemental Trust Deed dated 11 July 2013 (the Eleventh Supplemental Trust Deed ) made between the Issuer and the Trustee further modifying and restating the provisions of the Principal Trust Deed;

 

 

 

(xiii)

 

the Twelfth Supplemental Trust Deed dated 4 August 2014 (the Twelfth Supplemental Trust Deed ) made between the Issuer and the Trustee further modifying and restating the provisions of the Principal Trust Deed; and

 

 

 

(xiv)

 

the Thirteenth Supplemental Trust Deed dated 12 January 2016 (the Thirteenth Supplemental Trust Deed , and together with the Principal Trust Deed, the First Supplemental Trust Deed, the Second Supplemental Trust Deed, the Third Supplemental Trust Deed, the Fourth Supplemental Trust Deed, the Fifth Supplemental Trust Deed, the Sixth Supplemental Trust Deed, the Seventh Supplemental Trust Deed, the Eighth Supplemental Trust Deed, the Ninth Supplemental Trust Deed, the Tenth Supplemental Trust Deed, the Eleventh Supplemental Trust Deed and the Twelfth Supplemental Trust Deed, the Subsisting Trust Deeds ) made between the Issuer and the Trustee further modifying the provisions of the Principal Trust Deed.

 

(B)                             Pursuant to the Programme, the Issuer is proposing to issue CHF 350,000,000 0.375 per cent. Notes due 2024 (the Notes ), to be cleared through SIX SIS Ltd, the Swiss Securities Services Corporation in Olten, Switzerland ( SIS ).

 

(C)                             The Issuer and the Trustee are entering into this Fourteenth Supplemental Trust Deed in respect of the Issue of the Notes only and for the purposes of, inter alia , agreeing the form of Global Note (the Global Note ) which will represent the Notes and effecting certain other modifications to reflect the structure of the issue of the Notes.

 

NOW THIS FOURTEENTH SUPPLEMENTAL TRUST DEED WITNESSES AND IT IS HEREBY AGREED AND DECLARED as follows:

 

1                                        SUBJECT as hereinafter provided and unless there is something in the subject matter or context inconsistent therewith all words and expressions defined in the Principal Trust Deed (as modified and restated as aforesaid) shall have the same meanings in this Fourteenth Supplemental Trust Deed.

 

2                                         In relation solely to the Notes, the Principal Trust Deed (as modified and/or restated as aforesaid) shall, with effect on and from the date of this Fourteenth Supplemental Trust Deed, be modified as follows:

 

2.1              references therein and herein to the “Agency Agreement” shall be construed as references to the amended and restated agency agreement dated 12 January 2016, as amended and/or supplemented and/or restated from time to time (the Agency Agreement ) between, among other parties, the Issuer, the Trustee, HSBC Bank plc as Agent and Banque Internationale à Luxembourg, société anonyme , Credit Suisse AG and HSBC Bank USA, National Association as

 

2



 

Paying Agents and as supplemented by a supplemental agency agreement of even date herewith (the Supplemental Agency Agreement ) executed in respect of the Notes only, and any other agreement for the time being in force appointing further or other agents in relation to the Notes only, or in connection with their duties, the terms of which have been approved in writing by the Trustee, together with any agreement for the time being in force amending, modifying or restating with the prior written approval of the Trustee and any of the aforesaid agreements;

 

2.2                                           references therein and herein to the “Agent” shall be construed in relation to the Notes only as references to UBS AG at its specified office, being as at the date hereof Bahnhofstrasse 45, P.O. Box, CH-8098 Zürich, Switzerland, or any successor agent which shall become such pursuant to the provisions of the Agency Agreement or such other agent in relation to the Notes as may (with the prior written approval of, and on terms previously approved in writing by, the Trustee) from time to time be appointed as such by the Issuer and notice of whose appointment has been given to the holders of the Notes pursuant to Condition 14, as amended by the Pricing Supplement dated 1 June 2016 (the Pricing Supplement );

 

2.3                                           references therein to “Euroclear” and/or “Clearstream, Luxembourg” shall be construed as including references to the SIS; and

 

2.4                                           references therein to a “Temporary Global Note” and/or a “Permanent Global Note” and/or a “Global Note” shall be deemed also to be a reference to the Global Note, so far as the context admits.

 

3                                    In relation to the Notes only, the Global Note set out in Schedule 2 to the Principal Trust Deed shall be replaced by the Global Note in the form, or substantially in the form, set out in Annex A to this Fourteenth Supplemental Trust Deed.

 

4                                    For the avoidance of doubt, the modifications set out in this Fourteenth Supplemental Trust Deed relate only to the issue of the Notes.

 

5                                    The parties to this Fourteenth Supplemental Trust Deed agree that the Subsisting Trust Deeds shall remain in full force and effect and, subject to the provisions of this Fourteenth Supplemental Trust Deed and the Subsisting Trust Deeds shall henceforth be read and construed as one deed.

 

6                                    This Fourteenth Supplemental Trust Deed and any trust deed supplemental hereto may be executed and delivered in any number of counterparts, all of which, taken together, shall constitute one and the same deed and any party to this Fourteenth Supplemental Trust Deed or any trust deed supplemental hereto may enter into the same by executing and delivering a counterpart.

 

IN WITNESS whereof this Fourteenth Supplemental Trust Deed has been executed by the Issuer and the Trustee as a deed and delivered on the day and year first above written.

 

3



 

ANNEX A

 

FORM OF GLOBAL NOTE

 

ANY UNITED STATES PERSON WHO HOLDS THIS OBLIGATION WILL BE SUBJECT TO LIMITATIONS UNDER THE UNITED STATES INCOME TAX LAWS, INCLUDING THE LIMITATIONS PROVIDED IN SECTIONS 165(j) AND 1287(a) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE.

 

ISIN:

CH0325429188

Common Code:

142128527

Swiss Security Number ( Valor ):

32’542’918

 

VODAFONE GROUP PLC

(the Issuer )

(incorporated with limited liability in England and Wales)

 

GLOBAL NOTE

 

This Note is a Global Note in respect of a duly authorised issue of Notes of the Issuer (the Notes ) of the Nominal Amount, Specified Currency(ies) and Specified Denomination(s) as are specified in the Pricing Supplement applicable to the Notes (the Pricing Supplement ), a copy of which is annexed hereto. References herein to the Conditions shall be to the Terms and Conditions of the Notes as set out in the Schedule 1 to the Trust Deed (as defined below) as completed and/or modified and/or replaced by the Pricing Supplement but, in the event of any conflict between the provisions of the Conditions and the information in the Pricing Supplement, the Pricing Supplement will prevail. Words and expressions defined in the Conditions shall bear the same meanings when used in this Global Note. This Global Note is issued (i) subject to, and with the benefit of, the Conditions and a Trust Deed (such Trust Deed as modified and/or supplemented and/or restated from time to time, the Trust Deed ) dated 16 July 1999 and made between the Issuer (under its then name of Vodafone AirTouch Plc) and The Law Debenture Trust Corporation p.l.c. as trustee for the holders of the Notes (the Trustee ) and (ii) pursuant to a Supplemental Agency Agreement in respect of the Notes (the Supplemental Agency Agreement ) dated 1 June 2016 and made between the Issuer, the Agent, the Trustee, UBS AG (the Principal Swiss Paying Agent ) and the other agents named in it.

 

The Issuer, subject to and in accordance with the Conditions and the Trust Deed, promises to pay to the bearer (or the Principal Swiss Paying Agent on behalf of the bearer) hereof on the Maturity Date and/or on such earlier date(s) as all or any of the Notes represented by this Global Note may become due and repayable in accordance with the Conditions and the Trust Deed, the amount payable under the Conditions in respect of such Notes on each such date and to pay interest on the nominal amount of the Notes from time to time represented by this Global Note calculated and payable as provided in the Conditions and the Trust Deed together with any other sums payable under the Conditions and the Trust Deed, upon presentation and, at maturity, surrender of this Global Note to or to the order of the Principal Swiss Paying Agent at Bahnhofstrasse 45, CH-8001 Zürich, Switzerland, or any of the other paying agents located outside the United States, its territories and possessions (except as provided in the Conditions) from time to time appointed by the Issuer in respect of the Notes.

 

This Global Note will be deposited by the Principal Swiss Paying Agent with SIX SIS Ltd ( SIS ) or such other intermediary ( Verwahrungsstelle ) in Switzerland recognised for such purposes by the SIX Swiss Exchange Ltd (the SIX Swiss Exchange ) (SIS or such other intermediary, the Intermediary ). Once this Global Note has been deposited with the Intermediary and entered into the accounts of one or more participants of the Intermediary, the Notes will constitute

 

4



 

intermediated securities ( Bucheffekten ) ( Intermediated Securities ) in accordance with the provisions of the Swiss Federal Intermediated Securities Act.

 

Each holder of Notes shall have a quotal co-ownership interest ( Miteigentumsanteil ) in this Global Note to the extent of its claim against the Issuer, provided that, for so long as this Global Note remains deposited with the Intermediary, the co-ownership interest shall be suspended and the Notes may only be transferred by entry of the transferred Notes in a securities account of the transferee.

 

The records of the Intermediary will determine the number of Notes held through each participant in that Intermediary. In respect of the Notes held in the form of Intermediated Securities, the ultimate beneficiaries in respect of the Notes will be the persons holding the Notes in a securities account ( Effektenkonto ).

 

The nominal amount of Notes represented by this Global Note shall be the aggregate amount from time to time entered in the records of the Intermediary.

 

No physical delivery of the Notes shall be made unless and until Definitive Bearer Notes ( Wertpapiere ) shall have been printed. Definitive Bearer Notes may only be printed, in whole, but not in part, if the Principal Swiss Paying Agent determines, upon consultation with the Issuer, that the printing of the Definitive Bearer Notes ( Wertpapiere ) is necessary or useful. Should the Principal Swiss Paying Agent so determine, it shall provide for the printing of Definitive Bearer Notes ( Wertpapiere ) without cost to the Noteholders. If printed, the Definitive Bearer Notes ( Wertpapiere ) shall be executed by affixing thereon the facsimile signature of one authorised officer of the Issuer. Upon delivery of the Definitive Bearer Notes ( Wertpapiere ), this Global Note will immediately be cancelled by the Principal Swiss Paying Agent and the Definitive Bearer Notes ( Wertpapiere ) shall be delivered to the Noteholders against cancellation of the Notes in the Noteholders’ securities accounts.

 

Until the exchange of the whole of this Global Note as aforesaid, the bearer hereof shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits as if he were the bearer of Definitive Bearer Notes and the relative Coupons in the form(s) set out in Part 5 and Part 6 (as applicable) of the Schedule 2 to the Trust Deed.

 

The holder of this Global Note shall be treated at any meeting of the Noteholders as having one vote in respect of each Definitive Bearer Note for which this Global Note would be exchangeable.

 

In considering the interests of Noteholders while this Global Note is deposited with the Intermediary, the Trustee may have regard to any information provided to it by the Intermediary (or its operator) as to the identity (either individually or by category) of its accountholders with entitlements to this Global Note and may consider such interests as if such accountholders were the holder of this Global Note.

 

This Global Note does not confer on a third party any right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any term of this Global Note, but this does not affect any right or remedy of a third party which exists or is available apart from that Act.

 

This Global Note, and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it, are governed by, and shall be construed in accordance with, English law.

 

This Global Note shall not be valid unless authenticated by UBS AG as Principal Swiss Paying Agent.

 

5



 

IN WITNESS whereof the Issuer has caused this Global Note to be signed manually or in facsimile by a person duly authorised on its behalf.

 

Issued as of 3 June 2016

VODAFONE GROUP PLC

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Duly Authorised

 

 

 

 

 

Authenticated without recourse,
warranty or liability by UBS AG

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Duly Authorised

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Duly Authorised

 

 

6



 

PRICING SUPPLEMENT

 

NO PROSPECTUS IS REQUIRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH DIRECTIVE 2003/71/EC (AS AMENDED) FOR THE ISSUE OF NOTES DESCRIBED BELOW. THE UK LISTING AUTHORITY HAS NEITHER APPROVED NOR REVIEWED THIS PRICING SUPPLEMENT.

 

1 June 2016

 

Vodafone Group Plc

Issue of CHF350,000,000 0.375 per cent. Notes due 2024

under the €30,000,000,000

Euro Medium Term Note Programme

PART A– CONTRACTUAL TERMS

 

Any person making or intending to make an offer of the Notes may only do so in circumstances in which no obligation arises for the Issuer or any Dealer to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive or to supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 16 of the Prospectus Directive, in each case, in relation to such offer.

 

Terms used herein shall be deemed to be defined as such for the purposes of the Terms and Conditions set forth in the Prospectus dated 12 January 2016 and the supplementary prospectuses dated 18 February 2016 and 18 May 2016 (together, the Prospectus ). This document must be read in conjunction with (i) the Prospectus as so supplemented and (ii) the listing particulars dated 1 June 2016 prepared by the Issuer in connection with the listing of the Notes on the SIX Swiss Exchange Ltd (the Swiss Listing Prospectus ). Full information on the Issuer and the offer of the Notes is only available on the basis of the combination of this Pricing Supplement, the Prospectus as so supplemented and the Swiss Listing Prospectus. The Prospectus and the supplementary prospectus have been published on the website of the London Stock Exchange at www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/market-news-home.html . The Swiss Listing Prospectus is available for viewing at, and copies may be obtained from, UBS AG, Investment Bank, Swiss Prospectus Switzerland, Bahnhofstrasse 45, CH-8001 Zürich, Switzerland (telephone: +41 44 239 47 03 (voicemail); fax: +41 44 239 69 14; e-mail: swiss-prospectus@ubs.com).

 

 

 

1.

Issuer:

Vodafone Group Plc

 

 

 

1.

(i)                                   Series Number:

57

 

 

 

 

(ii)                               Tranche Number:

1

 

 

 

 

(iii)                           Date on which the

Not Applicable

 

Notes will be
consolidated and
form a single Series:

 

 

 

 

2.

Specified Currency or

Swiss Francs ( CHF )

 

Currencies:

 

 

 

 

3.

Aggregate Nominal Amount:

 

 

7



 

4.

                                        Series:

                                        Tranche:

Issue Price:

CHF350,000,000

CHF350,000,000


100.167 per cent. of the Aggregate Nominal Amount

 

 

 

5.

(i)                                   Specified

CHF5,000 and multiples thereof

 

Denomination(s):

 

 

 

 

 

(ii)                               Calculation Amount:

CHF5,000

 

 

 

6.

(i)                                   Issue Date and

3 June 2016

 

Interest

 

 

Commencement

 

 

Date:

 

 

 

 

7.

Maturity Date:

3 December 2024

 

 

 

8.

Interest Basis:

0.375 per cent. Fixed Rate

 

 

 

 

 

(see paragraph 14 below)

 

 

 

9.

Redemption Basis:

Redemption at par

 

 

 

10.

Change of Interest Basis or

Not Applicable

 

Redemption Basis:

 

 

 

Change of Control Put Option

11.

Put/Call Options:

 

 

 

(see paragraph 20 below)

 

 

 

12.

Date of Board approval for issuance of Notes:

22 March 2016

 

PROVISIONS RELATING TO INTEREST (IF ANY) PAYABLE

 

13.

Fixed Rate Note Provisions

Applicable

 

 

 

 

(i)                                   Rate(s) of Interest:

0.375 per cent. per annum payable in arrear on each Interest Payment Date

 

 

 

 

(ii)                               Interest Payment
Date(s):

3 December in each year, from and including 3 December 2016, up to and including the Maturity Date. In respect of the period from and including the Interest Commencement Date to but excluding 3 December 2016, there will be a short coupon of CHF9.375 per Calculation Amount.

 

 

 

 

(iii)                           Interest Payment Date Adjustment:

Not Applicable

 

8



 

 

(iv)                           Additional Business Centre(s):

Zürich and TARGET2

 

 

 

 

(v)                               Fixed Coupon Amount(s):

CHF18.75 per Calculation Amount

 

 

 

 

(vi)                           Broken Amount(s):

CHF9.375 per Calculation Amount, payable on the Interest Payment Date falling on 3 December 2016

 

 

 

 

(vii)                       Fixed Day Count Fraction:

30/360

 

 

 

 

(viii)                   Determination Date:

Not Applicable

 

 

 

14.

Floating Rate Note Provisions

Not Applicable

 

 

 

15.

Zero Coupon Note Provisions

Not Applicable

 

 

 

16.

Inflation Linked Interest Note Provisions

Not Applicable

 

PROVISIONS RELATING TO REDEMPTION

 

17.

Issuer Call

Not Applicable

 

 

 

18.

Investor Put

Not Applicable

 

 

 

19.

Change of Control Put Option

Applicable

 

 

 

 

(i)                                   Optional Redemption Amount:

CHF5,050 per Calculation Amount

 

 

 

 

(ii)                               Put Period:

As set out in the Terms and Conditions

 

 

 

 

(iii)                           Put Date:

As set out in the Terms and Conditions

 

 

 

20.

Final Redemption Amount

CHF5,000 per Calculation Amount

 

 

 

21.

Early Redemption Amount

CHF5,000 per Calculation Amount

 

 

 

 

Early Redemption Amount payable on redemption for taxation reasons or on event of default or other early

 

 

9



 

 

redemption:

 

 

 

 

GENERAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO THE NOTES

 

 

 

22.

Form of Notes :

 

 

 

 

 

(a)                                Form:

Bearer Notes

 

 

 

 

 

Global Notes exchangeable for Definitive Notes in the limited circumstances specified in the Global Note.

 

The Notes and all rights in connection therewith are documented in the form of a Global Note (the Global Note ) which shall be deposited by the Principal Swiss Paying Agent with SIX SIS Ltd or any other intermediary in Switzerland recognised for such purposes by SIX Swiss Exchange Ltd (SIX SIS Ltd or any such other intermediary, the Intermediary ). Once the Global Note is deposited with the Intermediary and entered into the accounts of one of more participants of the Intermediary, the Notes will constitute intermediated securities ( Bucheffekten ) ( Intermediated Securities ) in accordance with the provisions of the Swiss Federal Intermediated Securities Act.

 

Each holder of Notes shall have a quotal co-ownership interest ( Miteigentumsanteil ) in the Global Note to the extent of its claim against the Issuer, provided that, for so long as the Global Note remains deposited with the Intermediary, the co-ownership interest shall be suspended and the Notes may only be transferred by entry of the transferred Notes in a securities account of the transferee.

 

None of the Issuer, the Noteholders and any other person having a beneficial interest in the Notes shall at any time have the right to effect or demand the conversion of the Global Note into, or the delivery of, uncertificated securities ( Wertrechte ) or definitive Notes ( Wertpapiere ).

 

The records of the Intermediary will determine the number of Notes held through each participant in that Intermediary. In respect of the Notes held in the form of Intermediated Securities, the ultimate beneficiaries in respect of the Notes will be the persons holding the Notes in a securities account ( Effektenkonto ).

 

No physical delivery of the Notes shall be made unless and until definitive Notes ( Wertpapiere ) shall have been printed. Notes may only be printed, in whole, but not in part, if the Swiss Paying Agent (as defined below) determines, upon consultation with the Issuer, that the printing of the definitive Notes ( Wertpapiere ) is necessary or useful. Should the Swiss Paying Agent so determine, it shall provide for the printing of definitive Notes ( Wertpapiere ) without cost to the Noteholders. If

 

10



 

 

 

printed, the definitive Notes ( Wertpapiere ) shall be executed by affixing thereon the facsimile signature of two authorised officers of the Issuer. Upon delivery of the definitive Notes ( Wertpapiere ), the Global Note will immediately be cancelled by the Swiss Paying Agent and the definitive Notes ( Wertpapiere ) shall be delivered to the Noteholders against cancellation of the Notes in the Noteholders’ securities accounts.

 

 

 

 

(b)                               New Global Note:

No

 

 

 

23.

Additional Financial Centre(s) or other special provisions relating to Payment Days:

Zürich and TARGET2

 

 

 

24.

Talons for future Coupons to be attached to Definitive Notes (and dates on which such Talons mature):

No

 

 

 

25.

Additional terms and conditions:

 

 

 

 

 

(i)                                   Payments:

Except to the extent required by law, payments of principal and interest in respect of the Notes shall be made in freely disposable Swiss Francs without collection costs and whatever the circumstances may be, irrespective of the nationality, domicile or residence of the holder of the Notes and without requiring any certification, affidavit or the fulfilment of any other formality.

 

 

 

 

 

The receipt by the Principal Swiss Paying Agent of payment of the funds in Swiss Francs in Zürich shall release the Issuer from its obligations under the Notes and Coupons for the payment of principal and interest due on the respective payment dates to the extent of such payments.

 

 

 

 

 

Condition 6 shall be construed accordingly.

 

 

 

 

 

(ii)                               Paying Agents:

In respect of the Notes, the Issuer will at all times maintain a Paying Agent having a specified office in Switzerland and (for the purposes of payments on such Notes only) will at no time maintain a Paying Agent having a specified office outside Switzerland.

 

 

 

 

 

Condition 12 shall be construed accordingly.

 

 

 

 

 

UBS AG, Bahnhofstrasse 45, CH-8001 Zürich, Switzerland shall act as issuing and principal paying agent in Switzerland (the Principal Swiss Paying Agent ).

 

11



 

 

 

All references in the Terms and Conditions of the Notes to the Issuing and Principal Paying Agent and to the Paying Agents shall, so far as the context permits, be deemed to be references to the Principal Swiss Paying Agent and to the Swiss Paying Agents, respectively.

 

 

 

 

(iii)                           Notices:

So long as the Notes are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange Ltd and the rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange Ltd so require, notices in respect of the Notes will be validly given through the Principal Swiss Paying Agent by means of electronic publication on the internet website of the SIX Swiss Exchange Ltd (www.six-exchange-regulation.com/enhome/publications/            official-notices.html). Notices shall be deemed to be validly given on the date of such publication.

 

 

 

 

 

Condition 14 shall be construed accordingly.

 

 

 

PROVISIONS RELATING TO RMB NOTES

 

 

 

26.

Renminbi Currency Event:

Not Applicable

 

 

 

27.

Calculation Agent:

Not Applicable

 

 

 

Signed on behalf of the Issuer:

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Duly authorised

 

 

12



 

PART B– OTHER INFORMATION

 

1.

Listing and Admission to Trading :

Application will be made by the Issuer (or on its behalf) for the Notes to be listed in accordance with the standards for bonds of the SIX Swiss Exchange Ltd. The Notes have been provisionally admitted to trading on the SIX Swiss Exchange Ltd with effect from 1 June 2016. The last day of trading is expected to be 29 November 2024.

 

 

 

2.

Ratings :

The Notes to be issued are expected to be rated:
Standard & Poor’s: BBB+

 

 

 

 

 

Moody’s: Baa1

 

 

Fitch: BBB+

 

 

 

3.

Interests of Natural and Legal Persons Involved in the Issue :

 

 

 

Save for any fees payable to the Managers, so far as the Issuer is aware, no person involved in the issue of the Notes has an interest material to the offer. The Managers and their affiliates have engaged, and may in the future engage, in investment banking and/or commercial banking transactions with, and may perform other services for, the Issuer and its affiliates in the ordinary course of business.

 

 

 

4.

Fixed Rate Notes only - Yield :

 

 

 

 

 

Indication of yield:

0.355 per cent. per annum

 

 

 

5.

TEFRA Rules :

 

 

 

 

 

Whether TEFRA D applicable or TEFRA rules not applicable:

TEFRA D in accordance with usual Swiss practise

 

 

 

6.

Operational Information :

 

 

 

 

 

(i)                ISIN:

CH0325429188

 

 

 

 

(ii)            Common Code:

142128527

 

 

 

 

 

 

SIX SIS Ltd, Olten, Switzerland

 

(iii)        Any clearing system(s) other than Euroclear, Clearstream, Luxembourg and DTC (together with the address

 

 

Swiss Securities Number ( Valor ): 32’542’918

 

13



 

 

of each such clearing system) and the relevant identification number(s):

 

 

 

No

 

(iv)        Intended to beheld in a manner which would allow Eurosystem eligibility:

 

 

 

 

7.

Distribution :

 

 

 

 

 

(i)                Method of Distribution:

Non-Syndicated

 

 

 

 

(ii)            If syndicated, names of Managers:

Not Applicable

 

 

 

 

(iii)        Date of Subscription Agreement:

1 June 2016

 

 

 

 

(iv)        Stabilising Manager(s) if any:

Not Applicable

 

14



 

SIGNATORIES

 

EXECUTED as a DEED by

)

for and on behalf of

)

VODAFONE GROUP PLC

)

in the presence of:

)

 

 

 

Director

 

 

 

Witness:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Address:

 

 

 

THE COMMON SEAL of

)

THE LAW DEBENTURE TRUST

)

CORPORATION p.l.c.

)

was affixed to this deed

)

in the presence of:

)

 

 

 

Director

 

 

 

 

 

Authorised Signatory

 

15


Exhibit 2.4

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

Dated 25 February 2016

 

 

VODAFONE GROUP PLC

 

and

 

THE LAW DEBENTURE TRUST CORPORATION p.l.c.

 

 

TRUST DEED

 

 

constituting

£1,440,000,000

1.50 per cent. Subordinated Mandatory Convertible Bonds due 2017

 

 

Linklaters

 

Ref: KJT/ROC/RR/VW

 

Linklaters LLP

 



 

Table of Contents

 

Contents

 

Page

 

 

 

 

1

Interpretation

 

4

 

 

 

 

2

Amount of the Original Bonds and Covenant to pay

 

8

 

 

 

 

3

Form of the Original Bonds

 

9

 

 

 

 

4

Stamp Duties and Taxes

 

10

 

 

 

 

5

Further Issues

 

10

 

 

 

 

6

Application of Moneys received by the Trustee

 

11

 

 

 

 

7

Covenant to Comply

 

12

 

 

 

 

8

Covenants relating to Conversion

 

12

 

 

 

 

9

Covenants

 

13

 

 

 

 

10

Remuneration and Indemnification of the Trustee

 

14

 

 

 

 

11

Provisions Supplemental to the Trustee Act 1925 and the Trustee Act 2000

 

15

 

 

 

 

12

Disapplication and Trustee Liability

 

20

 

 

 

 

13

Waiver and Proof of Default

 

20

 

 

 

 

14

Trustee not precluded from entering into Contracts

 

21

 

 

 

 

15

Modification and Substitution

 

21

 

 

 

 

16

Appointment, Retirement and Removal of the Trustee

 

23

 

 

 

 

17

Currency Indemnity

 

24

 

 

 

 

18

Enforcement

 

24

 

 

 

 

19

Communications

 

25

 

 

 

 

20

Governing Law

 

26

 

 

 

 

21

Counterparts

 

26

 

 

 

 

22

Rights of Third Parties

 

26

 

 

 

 

23

Partial Invalidity

 

26

 

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE 1 Terms and Conditions of the Bonds

 

27

 

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE 2 Form of Original Definitive Registered Bond

 

68

 

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE 3 Form of Original Global Bond

 

73

 

2



 

 

SCHEDULE 4 Provisions for Meetings of Bondholders

 

77

 

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE 5 Form of Directors’ Certificate

 

84

 

3



 

This Trust Deed is made on 25 February 2016 between:

 

(1)                                  VODAFONE GROUP PLC (the “ Issuer ”); and

 

(2)                                  THE LAW DEBENTURE TRUST CORPORATION p.l.c. (the “ Trustee ”, which expression shall, where the context so admits, include all persons for the time being the trustee or trustees of this Trust Deed).

 

Whereas :

 

(A)                                The Issuer, incorporated in England and Wales, has by a resolution of its board of directors authorised the issue of £1,440,000,000 1.50 per cent. Subordinated Mandatory Convertible Bonds due 2017 to be constituted by this Trust Deed.

 

(B)                                The Bonds are convertible into Ordinary Shares (as defined in the Conditions).

 

(C)                                The Trustee has agreed to act as trustee of this Trust Deed on the following terms and conditions.

 

This Deed witnesses and it is declared as follows:

 

1                                          Interpretation

 

1.1                                Definitions : Expressions defined in the Conditions, unless otherwise defined in the recitals or main body of this Trust Deed, have the meanings given to them in the Conditions. In addition, the following terms and expressions have the following meanings:

 

Agents ” means the Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent and the Registrar and any other agent appointed pursuant to the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agency Agreement (and “ Agent ” means any one of them);

 

Bondholder ” and “ holder ” mean, in relation to a Bond, the person in whose name the Bond is registered in the Register (or, in the case of joint holders, the first named thereof);

 

Bonds ” means the Original Bonds and/or, as the context may require, any Further Bonds except that in Schedules 2 and 3 “ Bonds ” means the Original Bonds;

 

Calculation Agency Agreement ” means, in relation to the Original Bonds, the Calculation Agency Agreement dated 19 February 2016, as altered from time to time, between the Issuer and the Calculation Agent, whereby the initial Calculation Agent was appointed in relation to the Original Bonds;

 

Certification Date ” has the meaning specified in Clause 9.5;

 

Clearstream, Luxembourg ” means Clearstream Banking, société anonyme ;

 

Conditions ” means, in relation to the Original Bonds, the terms and conditions set out in Schedule 1 and, in relation to any Further Bonds, the terms and conditions relating to such Further Bonds (which may, for the avoidance of doubt, be the terms and conditions set out in Schedule 1) as any of the same may from time to time be modified in accordance with this Trust Deed, and, with respect to any Bonds represented by a Global Bond, as modified by the provisions of the relevant Global Bond and references in this Trust Deed to a particular numbered Condition shall be construed accordingly and, in relation to any Further Bonds, as a reference to the provision (if any) in the terms and conditions thereof which corresponds to the particular Condition of the Original Bonds;

 

Contractual Currency ” has the meaning specified in Clause 17.1;

 

4



 

Definitive Registered Bonds ” means the Original Definitive Registered Bonds and/or as the context may require any other definitive registered bonds representing Further Bonds or any of them;

 

Euroclear ” means Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V.;

 

Extraordinary Resolution ” has the meaning set out in Schedule 4;

 

FSMA ” means the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000;

 

Further Bonds ” means any further Bonds issued in accordance with the provisions of Clause 5 and Condition 18, constituted by a deed supplemental to this Trust Deed and to be consolidated and forming a single series with the then outstanding Bonds;

 

Global Bond ” means the Original Global Bond and/or as the context may require any other global bond or global bonds representing Further Bonds or any of them;

 

Liability ” means any loss, damage, cost, charge, claim, demand, expense, judgment, action, proceeding or other liability whatsoever (including, without limitation, in respect of taxes, duties, levies imposts and other charges) and including any value added tax or similar tax charged or chargeable in respect thereof and legal fees and expenses on a full indemnity basis;

 

Original Bonds ” means the £1,440,000,000 1.50 per cent. Subordinated Mandatory Convertible Bonds due 2017 constituted by this Trust Deed to be represented by a certificate or certificates in or substantially in the form set out in Schedule 2 or Schedule 3 as the case may be, and for the time being outstanding or, as the context may require, a specific number of them and includes any replacement Bonds issued pursuant to the Conditions and (except for the purposes of Clauses 3.1 and 3.2) the Global Bond;

 

Original Bondholders ” means, in relation to an Original Bond, the person in whose name the Original Bond is registered in the Register;

 

Original Definitive Registered Bonds ” means those Original Bonds for the time being represented by definitive certificates in the form or substantially in the form set out in Schedule 2 and in accordance with Condition 1( a );

 

Original Global Bond ” means a Global Bond which will evidence the Original Bonds, substantially in the form set out in Schedule 3, and evidencing the entitlement of the Original Bondholders;

 

outstanding ” means, in relation to the Bonds, all the Bonds issued except (a) those which have been mandatorily converted into Ordinary Shares in accordance with the Conditions and in respect of which all other payment or delivery obligations of the Issuer under the Conditions are discharged, (b) those which have been converted at the option of the relevant Bondholder into Ordinary Shares in accordance with the Conditions; (c) those in respect of which the date for Mandatory Conversion in accordance with the Conditions has occurred and the relevant Ordinary Shares and any cash amounts due to Bondholders have been duly delivered or paid, as applicable, to the Relevant Person or, as the case may be, the Trustee or as the Trustee may direct, (d) those which have become void or those in respect of which claims have become prescribed in accordance with Condition 12, (e) those mutilated or defaced Bonds which have been surrendered in exchange for replacement Bonds (if so required) in accordance with Condition 13, (f) those which have been purchased and cancelled as provided in the Conditions and (g) the Global Bond to the extent that it shall have been exchanged for interests in another Global Bond and any

 

5



 

Global Bond to the extent that it shall have been exchanged for Definitive Registered Bonds pursuant to its provisions; provided that, for the purposes of (i) ascertaining the right to attend and vote at any meeting of the Bondholders, an Extraordinary Resolution in writing or an Extraordinary Resolution by way of electronic consents given through the relevant Clearing System(s) as envisaged by Schedule 4 and any direction or request by the holders of the Bonds, (ii) the determination of how many Bonds are outstanding for the purposes of Conditions 10, 14 and 15 and Schedule 4, (iii) the exercise of any discretion, power or authority contained in this Trust Deed or provided by law, which the Trustee is required, expressly or impliedly, to exercise in or by reference to the interests of the Bondholders and (iv) the determination by the Trustee whether any event, circumstance, matter or thing is, in its opinion, materially prejudicial to the interests of the Bondholders or any of them, those Bonds (if any) which are beneficially held by or on behalf of the Issuer, any holding company of the Issuer or any other Subsidiary of any such holding company and not cancelled shall be deemed not to remain outstanding;

 

Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agency Agreement ” means, in relation to the Original Bonds, the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agency Agreement dated on or about the date hereof, as altered from time to time, between the Issuer, the Trustee, the Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent, and the Registrar whereby the initial Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent and the Registrar were appointed in relation to the Original Bonds and includes any other agreements approved in writing by the Trustee (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) appointing Successor Agents amending or modifying any of such agreements;

 

Potential Accelerated Conversion Event ” means an event or circumstance which could, with the giving of notice, lapse of time, the issuing of any certificate and/or the fulfilment of any other requirement provided for in Condition 4 (d) , become an Accelerated Conversion Event;

 

Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent ” means, in relation to the Original Bonds, HSBC Bank plc, in its capacity as Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent and, in relation to any Further Bonds, the Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent appointed in respect of such Further Bonds and, in each case, any Successor Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent;

 

Registrar ” means, in relation to the Original Bonds, HSBC Bank plc at its specified office, in its capacity as Registrar and, in relation to any Further Bonds, the Registrar appointed in respect of such Further Bonds and, in each case, any Successor Registrar;

 

Securities ” means any securities including, without limitation any shares in the capital of the Issuer and options, warrants or other rights to subscribe for or purchase or acquire any shares in the capital of the Issuer;

 

specified office ” means, in relation to any Agent, either the office identified with its name at the end of the Conditions or any other office approved by the Trustee and notified to the Bondholders pursuant to Clause 9.10;

 

Substituted Obligor ” has the meaning specified in Clause 15.3.1;

 

Successor ” means, in relation to the Agents, such other or further person as may from time to time be appointed by the Issuer as an Agent with the prior written approval of, and on terms approved in writing by, the Trustee and notice of whose appointment is given to Bondholders pursuant to Clause 9.10;

 

6



 

this Trust Deed ” means this Trust Deed, the Schedules (as from time to time amended, modified and/or supplemented in accordance with this Trust Deed) and any other document executed in accordance with this Trust Deed (as from time to time so altered) and expressed to be supplemental to this Trust Deed;

 

trust corporation ” means a trust corporation (as defined in the Law of Property Act 1925) or a corporation entitled to act as a Trustee pursuant to applicable foreign legislation relating to trustees; and

 

Trustee Acts ” means the Trustee Act 1925 and the Trustee Act 2000.

 

1.2                                Construction of Certain References:

 

References to:

 

1.2.1                      the records of Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg shall be to the records that each of Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg holds for its customers which reflect the amount of such customers’ interests in the Bonds;

 

1.2.2                      costs, charges, remuneration or expenses shall include any value added tax, turnover tax or similar tax (“ VAT ”) charged in respect thereof;

 

1.2.3                      any action, remedy or method of judicial proceedings for the enforcement of rights of creditors shall include, in respect of any jurisdiction other than England and Wales, references to such action, remedy or method of judicial proceedings for the enforcement of rights of creditors available or appropriate in such jurisdiction as shall most nearly approximate thereto;

 

1.2.4                      any provision of any statute shall be deemed also to refer to any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof or any statutory instrument, order or regulation made thereunder or under such modification or re-enactment whether before or after the date of this Trust Deed;

 

1.2.5                      such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed ” or like references shall mean, when used in this Trust Deed, the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agency Agreement or the Conditions, in relation to the Trustee that, in determining whether to give consent or approval, the Trustee shall have due regard to the interests of Bondholders and any determination as to whether or not its consent or approval is unreasonably withheld or delayed shall be made on that basis; and

 

1.2.6                      the appointment or employment of or delegation to any person by the Trustee shall be deemed to include a reference to, if in the opinion of the Trustee it is reasonably practicable, the prior notification of and consultation with the Issuer and, in any event, the notification forthwith of such appointment, employment or delegation, as the case may be.

 

1.3                                Conditions : Words and expressions defined in the Conditions and not defined in the main body of this Trust Deed shall when used in this Trust Deed (including the recitals) have the same meanings as are given to them in the Conditions.

 

1.4                                Headings : Headings shall be ignored in construing this Trust Deed.

 

1.5                                Schedules : The Schedules are part of this Trust Deed and shall have effect accordingly.

 

7



 

2                                          Amount of the Original Bonds and Covenant to comply

 

2.1                                Amount of the Original Bonds : The aggregate principal amount of the Original Bonds is limited to £1,440,000,000.

 

2.2                                Covenant of compliance : The Issuer will, on any date when any Original Bonds become due to be converted into Ordinary Shares or any cash amounts payable in respect of the Original Bonds are payable, in accordance with this Trust Deed or the Conditions, unconditionally deliver the Ordinary Shares and pay (or procure to be paid) any cash amounts payable in accordance with the Conditions to or to the order of the Trustee in pounds sterling in same day funds and will (subject to the Conditions), until such delivery and/or payment (both before and after judgment) is duly made unconditionally so pay or procure to be paid to or to the order of the Trustee interest (including, but not limited to, any Arrears of Interest) on the principal amount and/or, in the case of Arrears of Interest, the Deferred Interest Payment, of the Original Bonds or any of them outstanding as set out in the Conditions; provided that:

 

2.2.1                      subject to the provisions of Clause 2.6, payment of any sum due in respect of the Original Bonds made to or to the account of the Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent as provided in the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agency Agreement shall, to that extent, satisfy such obligation except to the extent that there is failure in its subsequent payment to the relevant Original Bondholders under the Conditions;

 

2.2.2                      a payment made after the due date will be deemed to have been made when the full amount due has been received by the Trustee or the Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent and notice to that effect has been given to the Original Bondholders (if required under Clause 9.8) except to the extent that there is a failure in the subsequent payment to the relevant holders under the Conditions;

 

2.2.3                      delivery of the Ordinary Shares to a Bondholder as a result of a Mandatory Conversion occurring in accordance with the Conditions, together with the payment of any cash amounts payable in accordance with the Conditions as a result of a Mandatory Conversion shall, to such extent, satisfy the Issuer’s obligations in respect of the relevant Bond; and

 

2.2.4                      delivery of the Ordinary Shares to a Bondholder on the exercise of a Bondholder Voluntary Conversion Right occurring in accordance with the Conditions shall satisfy the Issuer’s obligations in respect of the relevant Bond.

 

The Trustee will hold the benefit of this covenant on trust for the Original Bondholders.

 

2.3                                Subordination : Notwithstanding the covenant of the Issuer given in Clause 2.2, the rights and claims of the Trustee and the Bondholders against the Issuer under the Bonds in respect of principal, premium, interest and other amounts (if any) payable in respect of or arising under the Bonds and this Trust Deed are subordinated on a winding-up, dissolution or liquidation of the Issuer as provided in Conditions 1 (c) and 1 (d) .

 

2.4                                Other obligations of the Issuer : Nothing contained in this Trust Deed shall in any way restrict the right of the Issuer to issue obligations or give guarantees in each case ranking in priority to or pari passu with or junior to the obligations of the Issuer in respect of the Bonds and if, in the opinion of the Trustee, any modification to the provisions of this Trust Deed or the Conditions to permit such ranking is necessary or expedient, the Trustee is hereby authorised to concur with the Issuer in executing a supplemental deed effecting

 

8



 

such modification provided that the Trustee shall be entitled to assume that no such modification is required unless and until notified to the contrary by the Issuer in writing.

 

2.5                                Discharge : Subject to Clause 2.6, any payment to be made in respect of the Bonds or any transfer or delivery of any Ordinary Shares to be made in respect of the Bonds by the Issuer or the Trustee may be made as provided in the Conditions and any payment, transfer or delivery so made will (subject to Clause 2.6) to such extent be a good discharge to the Issuer or the Trustee, as the case may be.

 

2.6                                Payment after an Accelerated Conversion Event : At any time after an Accelerated Conversion or a Potential Accelerated Conversion Event has occurred or the Trustee has received any money which it proposes to pay under Clause 6 to the Bondholders, the Trustee may:

 

2.6.1                      by notice in writing to the Issuer and the Agents, require the Agents (or any of them), until notified by the Trustee to the contrary, so far as permitted by any applicable law:

 

(i)             to act as Agents of the Trustee under this Trust Deed and the Bonds on the terms of the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agency Agreement (with consequential amendments as necessary and except that the Trustee’s liability for the indemnification, remuneration and expenses of the Agents will be limited to the amounts for the time being held by the Trustee in respect of the Bonds on the terms of this Trust Deed and available for such purpose) and thereafter to hold all Bonds and all moneys, documents and records held by them in respect of the Bonds to the order of the Trustee; and/or

 

(ii)            to deliver all Bonds and all moneys, documents and records held by them in respect of the Bonds to the Trustee or as the Trustee directs in such notice; and

 

2.6.2                      by notice in writing to the Issuer require it to make all subsequent payments in respect of the Bonds to, or to the order of, the Trustee and not to the Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent with effect from the issue of any such notice to the Issuer and from then until such notice is withdrawn, proviso (1) to Clause 2.2 shall cease to have effect.

 

3                                          Form of the Original Bonds

 

3.1                                The Original Global Bond : The Original Bonds will be represented by the Global Bond initially in the principal amount of £1,440,000,000 and the Issuer shall procure that appropriate entries be made in the Register of Bondholders by the Registrar to reflect the issue of such Original Bonds.

 

The Original Global Bond will be delivered to and registered in the nominee name of a common depositary for Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg. The Global Bond will be exchangeable for Original Definitive Registered Bonds as set out therein.

 

3.2                                The Original Definitive Registered Bonds : The Original Definitive Registered Bonds may be printed or typed and need not be security printed unless otherwise required by applicable stock exchange requirements. Original Definitive Registered Bonds will be endorsed with the Conditions.

 

9



 

3.3                                Signature : The Original Global Bond and any Original Definitive Registered Bond (if issued) will be signed manually or in facsimile by a director of the Issuer or other duly authorised person and will be authenticated by or on behalf of the Registrar. The Issuer may use the manual or facsimile signature of any person who is at the date of this Trust Deed a director of the Issuer or other duly authorised person even if at the time of issue of any Original Bonds he no longer holds such office. Original Bonds (including the Original Global Bond) so executed and authenticated will be valid and binding obligations of the Issuer.

 

4                                          Stamp Duties and Taxes

 

4.1                                Stamp Duties : The Issuer will pay any taxes and capital, stamp, issue and registration and transfer, and other taxes and duties payable in the United Kingdom in respect of the execution and delivery of this Trust Deed, the creation, issue and offering of the Bonds and the allotment, issue and delivery of any Ordinary Shares to or to the order of a Bondholder pursuant to the Conditions upon conversion.

 

4.2                                Indemnity : The Issuer will also indemnify the Trustee and the Bondholders from and against all stamp, issue, documentary and other taxes and duties (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, (i) any stamp and transfer taxes and duties referred to in Condition 4 (g) and (ii) any capital gains tax, income tax or corporation tax or similar taxes on gains or profits levied on the relevant Bondholder) paid by any of them in any jurisdiction in connection with any action taken by or on behalf of the Trustee or, as the case may be and where entitled under Condition 16 to do so, the Bondholders to enforce the obligations of the Issuer under this Trust Deed or the Bonds.

 

4.3                                Change of Taxing Jurisdiction : If the Issuer becomes subject generally to the taxing jurisdiction of any territory or any authority of or in that territory having power to tax other than or in addition to the United Kingdom or any political sub-division of the United Kingdom, then the Issuer will (unless the Trustee otherwise agrees) give to the Trustee an undertaking satisfactory to the Trustee in terms corresponding to the terms of Condition 9 with the substitution for, or (as the case may require) the addition to, the references in that Condition to the United Kingdom of references to that other territory or authority or additional territory or authority to whose taxing jurisdiction the Issuer has become so subject (provided that such undertaking shall be subject to such exceptions as reflect exceptions under the law of the relevant taxing jurisdiction and as are similar in scope and effect to those exceptions set out in Condition 9) and in such event this Trust Deed and the Bonds will be read accordingly.

 

5                                          Further Issues

 

5.1                                Liberty to Create : The Issuer may from time to time, without the consent of the Bondholders, create and issue (i) further bonds having the same terms and conditions in all respects (or in all respects save for the first date on which conversion rights may be exercised thereon pursuant to Condition 4) as the outstanding Bonds (“ Further Bonds ”) and so that such further issue shall be consolidated and form a single series with the outstanding Bonds and/or (ii) any other notes, bonds or debentures, having such other terms and conditions as the Issuer may determine at the time of their issue. Any Further Bonds shall be constituted by a deed supplemental to this Trust Deed.

 

5.2                                Means of Constitution : Any further bonds, notes or debentures created and issued pursuant to the provisions of Clause 5.1 so as to form a single series with the Original

 

10



 

Bonds and/or the Further Bonds of any series shall be constituted by a deed supplemental to this Trust Deed and any other Further Bonds of any series created and issued pursuant to the provisions of Clause 5.1 may, with the consent of the Trustee, be so constituted. The Issuer shall, prior to the issue of any Further Bonds to be so constituted, execute and deliver to the Trustee a deed supplemental to this Trust Deed and containing a covenant by the Issuer in the form mutatis mutandis of Clause 2 of this Trust Deed in relation to such Further Bonds and such other provisions (corresponding to any of the provisions contained in this Trust Deed) as the Trustee shall require.

 

5.3                                Notice of Further Issues : Whenever it is proposed to create and issue any Further Bonds, the Issuer shall give to the Trustee not less than 14 days’ notice in writing of its intention to do so, stating the principal amount of Further Bonds proposed to be created or issued.

 

5.4                                Separate Series : Any Further Bonds not forming a single series with the Original Bonds and/or previously issued Further Bonds of any series shall form a separate series and accordingly, unless for any purpose the Trustee in its absolute discretion shall otherwise determine, the provisions of Clauses 4, 5.2 and Clauses 6 to 20 (inclusive) and Schedule 4 shall apply mutatis mutandis separately and independently to the Bonds of each such series and in such Clauses and Schedule the expressions “ Bonds ” and “ Bondholders ” shall be construed accordingly.

 

6                                          Application of Moneys received by the Trustee

 

6.1                                Declaration of Trust : All moneys received by the Trustee in respect of the Original Bonds and any Further Bonds forming a single series with the Original Bonds or amounts payable under this Trust Deed shall, regardless of any appropriation of all or part of them by the Issuer, be held by the Trustee upon trust to apply them (subject to Clause 6.2):

 

6.1.1                      first, in payment of all costs, charges, expenses and liabilities incurred by the Trustee (including remuneration payable to it under this Trust Deed) in carrying out its functions under this Trust Deed;

 

6.1.2                      secondly, in payment of any amounts owing in respect of the Original Bonds and any Further Bonds forming a single series with the Original Bonds pari passu and rateably; and

 

6.1.3                      thirdly, in payment of any balance to the Issuer for itself.

 

If the Trustee holds any moneys in respect of Original Bonds and any Further Bonds forming a single series with the Original Bonds which have become void or in respect of which claims have become prescribed under the Conditions, the Trustee will hold them upon these trusts.

 

6.2                                Accumulation : If the amount of the moneys at any time available for payment in respect of the Bonds under Clause 6.1 is less than 10 per cent. of the principal amount of the Bonds then outstanding, the Trustee may, at its discretion, invest such moneys in accordance with Clause 6.3. The Trustee may retain such investments and accumulate the resulting income until the investments and the accumulations, together with any other funds for the time being under the control of the Trustee and available for such purpose, amount to at least 10 per cent. of the principal amount of the Bonds then outstanding whereupon such investments, accumulations and funds (after deduction of, or provision for, any applicable taxes) shall be applied as specified under Clause 6.1.

 

11



 

6.3                                Investment : Moneys held by the Trustee may be invested in its name or under its control in any investments or other assets anywhere, for the time being authorised by English law for the investment by trustees of trust monies whether or not they produce income or deposited in its name or under its control at such bank or other financial institution in such currency as the Trustee may, in its absolute discretion, think fit. If that bank or institution is the Trustee or a subsidiary, holding or associated company of the Trustee, it need only account for an amount of interest equal to the standard amount of interest payable by it on such a deposit to an independent customer. The Trustee may at any time vary or transpose any such investments or assets or convert any moneys so deposited into any other currency, and will not be responsible for any resulting loss, whether by depreciation in value, change in exchange rates or otherwise.

 

7                                          Covenant to Comply

 

The Issuer hereby covenants with the Trustee that it will comply with and perform and observe all the provisions of this Trust Deed and the Conditions which are expressed to be binding on it. The Conditions shall be binding on each of the Issuer and the Bondholders. The Trustee shall be entitled to enforce the obligations of the Issuer under the Bonds and the Conditions as if the same were set out and contained in this Trust Deed which shall be read and construed as one document with the Bonds. The provisions contained in Schedule 1 shall have effect in the same manner as if herein set forth. The Trustee shall hold the benefit of this covenant upon trust for itself and the Bondholders according to its and their respective interests.

 

8                                          Covenants relating to Conversion

 

The Issuer hereby undertakes to and covenants with the Trustee that it will, save with the approval of an Extraordinary Resolution or with the approval of the Trustee where, in the Trustee’s opinion, it is not materially prejudicial to the interests of the Bondholders to give such approval, observe and perform all its obligations under the Conditions and this Trust Deed with respect to (i) any Mandatory Conversion or (ii) the exercise of any Bondholder Voluntary Conversion Right, and in addition it will:

 

(a)                                  Delivery of Ordinary Shares : comply with its obligations to deliver the Ordinary Shares (together with any cash amounts payable pursuant to the Conditions) upon (i) a Mandatory Conversion or (ii) the exercise of any Bondholder Voluntary Conversion Right, in each case in accordance with this Trust Deed, the Conditions and the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agency Agreement;

 

(b)                                  Notice : as soon as reasonably practicable after the announcement of the terms of any event giving rise to an adjustment to the Conversion Price, give notice to the Trustee and the Bondholders in accordance with Condition 17 advising them of the date on which the relevant adjustment of the Conversion Price is likely to (or has) become effective and of (i) the effect of a Mandatory Conversion or (ii) the effect of exercising a Bondholder Voluntary Conversion Right, in each case pending such date; and

 

(c)                                   Directors’ Certificate : upon the happening of an event as a result of which the Conversion Price will be (or has been) adjusted, as soon as reasonably practicable, deliver to the Trustee a certificate signed by two Directors of the Issuer on behalf of the Issuer (which the Trustee shall be entitled to accept and rely on without further enquiry or liability in respect thereof as sufficient evidence of the

 

12



 

correctness of the matters referred to therein) setting forth brief particulars of the event, and the adjusted Conversion Price and the date on which such adjustment takes (or took) effect and in any case setting forth such other particulars and information as the Trustee may reasonably require.

 

9                                          Covenants

 

So long as any Bond is outstanding, the Issuer shall:

 

9.1                                Books of Account : keep, and procure that each of its subsidiary undertakings keeps, proper books of account and, at any time after an Accelerated Conversion Event or Potential Accelerated Conversion Event has occurred or is likely to occur or if the Trustee reasonably believes that such an event has occurred, so far as permitted by applicable law, allow, and procure that each of its subsidiary undertakings will allow the Trustee and anyone appointed by it to whom the Issuer and/or the relevant subsidiary undertaking has no reasonable objection, access to the books of account during normal business hours;

 

9.2                                Accelerated Conversion Event etc. : give notice in writing to the Trustee immediately upon becoming aware of any Accelerated Conversion Event, Potential Accelerated Conversion Event, Enforcement Event or any Settlement Disruption Event;

 

9.3                                Information: so far as permitted by applicable law, give to the Trustee such information as it reasonably requires to perform its functions;

 

9.4                                Financial Statements, etc.: send to the Trustee at the time of their issue and, in the case of annual financial statements, in any event within 180 days of the end of each financial year commencing with the financial year ending 31 March 2016, three copies in English of every balance sheet, profit and loss account, report or other notice, statement or circular issued, or that legally or contractually should be issued, to the members or creditors (or any class of them) of the Issuer or any parent undertaking of it generally in their capacity as such;

 

9.5                                Certificate of directors: send to the Trustee, within 14 days of its annual audited financial statements being made available to its members, and also within 14 days of any request by the Trustee a certificate (in the form set out in Schedule 5) signed by two Directors of the Issuer that, having made all reasonable enquiries, to the best of the knowledge, information and belief of the Issuer as at a date (the “ Certification Date ”) not more than seven days before the date of delivery of the certificate no Accelerated Conversion Event, Potential Accelerated Conversion Event or Enforcement Event had occurred (and, in the case of a Potential Accelerated Conversion Event, was continuing) since the Certification Date of the last such certificate or (if none) the date of this Trust Deed or, if such an event had occurred (and, in the case of a Potential Accelerated Conversion Event, was continuing), giving details of it and certifying that it has complied with its obligations under this Trust Deed or, to the extent that it has failed so to comply, stating such;

 

9.6                                Notices to Bondholders: obtain the prior written approval of the Trustee to, and promptly give to the Trustee two copies of, the form of every notice given to Bondholders pursuant to the Conditions (such approval, unless so expressed, not to constitute approval for the purposes of section 21 of the FSMA of any such notice which is a communication within the meaning of that section);

 

9.7                                Further Acts: so far as permitted by applicable law, do such further things as may be necessary in the opinion of the Trustee to give effect to this Trust Deed;

 

13



 

9.8                                Notice of late payment: forthwith upon request by the Trustee (if the Trustee determines such notice is necessary) give notice to the Bondholders of any unconditional payment to the Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent or the Trustee of any sum due in respect of the Bonds made after the due date for such payment;

 

9.9                                Change in Agents: give at least 14 days’ prior notice to the Bondholders in accordance with the Conditions of any future appointment, resignation or removal of an Agent after having received prior written approval of the Trustee to such change or of any change by an Agent of its specified office;

 

9.10                         Bonds held by Issuer: send to the Trustee as soon as practicable after being so requested by the Trustee, a certificate of the Issuer signed by two Directors the Issuer setting out the total number of Bonds which, at the date of such certificate, were held by or on behalf of the Issuer, any holding company of the Issuer or any Subsidiary of any such holding company and which had not been cancelled;

 

9.11                         Obligations of Agents: comply with and perform all its obligations under the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agency Agreement and use all reasonable endeavours to procure that the Agents comply with and perform all their respective obligations thereunder and not make any amendment or modification to the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agency Agreement without the prior written approval of the Trustee;

 

9.12                         Legal opinions : prior to making any modification to this Trust Deed or issuing any Further Bonds, procure the delivery of legal opinions in form and substance satisfactory to, and addressed to, the Trustee upon request by it; and

 

9.13                         FATCA : provide the Trustee, as soon as is practicable, with any information known to it and pertaining to the Issuer necessary for the Trustee to determine whether or not it is required, in respect of any payments to be made by it pursuant to this Trust Deed, to withhold or deduct in respect of any withholding or deduction pursuant to an agreement described in Section 1471 (b) of the US Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “ Code ”) or otherwise imposed pursuant to Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code and any regulations or agreements thereunder or official interpretations thereof (“ FATCA Withholding Tax ”).

 

10                                   Remuneration and Indemnification of the Trustee

 

10.1                         Normal Remuneration : So long as any Bond is outstanding, the Issuer shall pay to the Trustee by way of remuneration for its services as Trustee such sum on such dates as they may from time to time agree. Such remuneration will accrue from day to day from the date of this Trust Deed. However, if any payment to a Bondholder of the moneys due and/or delivery of any Ordinary Shares in respect of any Bond is improperly withheld or refused, such remuneration will again accrue as from the date of such withholding or refusal or until payment and/or delivery to such Bondholder is duly made.

 

10.2                         Extra Remuneration : If an Accelerated Conversion Event, Potential Accelerated Conversion Event or Enforcement Event shall have occurred, the Issuer hereby agrees that the Trustee shall be entitled to be paid additional remuneration calculated at its normal hourly rates in force from time to time. In any other case, if the Trustee finds it expedient or necessary or is requested by the Issuer to undertake duties which the Trustee and the Issuer agree in writing to be of an exceptional nature or otherwise outside the scope of the Trustee’s normal duties under this Trust Deed, the Issuer will pay such additional remuneration as they may agree (and which may be calculated by reference to the

 

14



 

Trustee’s normal hourly rates in force from time to time) or, failing agreement as to any of the matters in this sub-Clause (or as to such sums referred to in Clause 10.1), as determined by an independent financial institution or person (acting as an expert) selected by the Trustee and approved by the Issuer or, failing such approval, nominated (on the application of the Trustee) by the President for the time being of The Law Society of England and Wales. The expenses involved in such nomination and such person’s fee shall be payable by the Issuer. The determination of the relevant person shall be conclusive and binding on the Issuer, the Trustee and the Bondholders.

 

10.3                         Expenses : The Issuer shall also, on demand by the Trustee, pay or discharge all costs, charges, liabilities and expenses properly incurred by the Trustee in the preparation and execution of this Trust Deed and the performance of its functions under this Trust Deed including, but not limited to, legal and travelling expenses and any United Kingdom stamp, documentary or other taxes or duties paid by the Trustee in connection with any legal proceedings brought or contemplated by the Trustee against the Issuer to enforce any provision of this Trust Deed or the Bonds and in addition shall pay to the Trustee (if required) an amount equal to the amount of any value added tax or similar tax chargeable in respect of the Trustee’s remuneration under this Trust Deed. Such costs, charges, liabilities and expenses shall:

 

10.3.1               in the case of payments made by the Trustee before such demand, carry interest from the date of the demand at the rate of the Trustee’s cost of funding; and

 

10.3.2               in other cases, carry interest at such rate from 10 days after the date of the demand or (where the demand specifies that payment is to be made on an earlier date) from such earlier date provided that in such event no such interest shall accrue unless payment is actually made on such earlier date.

 

10.4                         Indemnity : The Issuer shall indemnify the Trustee in respect of all Liabilities properly incurred by it or anyone appointed by it or to whom any of its functions may be delegated by it in the carrying out of its functions and which any of them may incur in relation to the Issuer or that may be made against any of them arising out of or in relation to or in connection with, its appointment or the exercise of its functions in relation to that Issuer.

 

10.5                         Provisions Continuing : The provisions of Clauses 10.3 and 10.4 will continue in full force and effect in relation to the Trustee even if it may have ceased to be Trustee and notwithstanding any termination or discharge of this Trust Deed.

 

11                                   Provisions Supplemental to the Trustee Act 1925 and the Trustee Act 2000

 

11.1                         Advice: The Trustee may act on the opinion or advice of, or information obtained from, any accountants, financial advisers, legal advisers, valuer, broker, financial institution or other expert (including the Calculation Agent or an Independent Adviser) and will not be responsible or liable to anyone for any loss or liability occasioned by so acting and/or relying whether such advice is obtained by or addressed to the Issuer, the Trustee or any other person and whether or not the advice, opinion, report or information, or any engagement letter or other related document, contains a monetary or other limit on liability or limits the scope and/or basis of such advice, opinion, report or information. Any such opinion, report, advice or information may be sent or obtained by email, letter or fax and the Trustee will not be liable to anyone for acting on any opinion, report, advice or information purporting to be conveyed by such means even if it contains some error or is not authentic.

 

15



 

11.2                         Trustee to Assume Performance: The Trustee need not notify anyone of the execution of this Trust Deed or any related documents or do anything to find out if an Accelerated Conversion Event, Potential Accelerated Conversion Event, Enforcement Event or Settlement Disruption Event has occurred. Until it has actual knowledge or express written notice to the contrary, the Trustee may assume that no such event has occurred and that the Issuer is performing all its obligations under this Trust Deed and the Bonds and any related documents; provided that, the Trustee shall not be treated for any purposes as having any notice or knowledge which has been obtained by it or any officer or employee of it in some capacity other than as Trustee under this Trust Deed or in a private or confidential capacity such that it would not be proper to disclose to third parties.

 

11.3                         Resolutions of Bondholders: The Trustee will not be responsible to any person for having acted in good faith on a resolution purporting to have been passed at a meeting of Bondholders in respect of which minutes have been made and signed or upon any direction or request, including a written resolution or in respect of any approval given by way of electronic consent even if it is later found that there was a defect in the constitution of the meeting or the passing of the resolution or that the resolution or written resolution or any electronic consent was not valid or binding on the Bondholders.

 

11.4                         Certificate signed by directors etc.: The Trustee may call for and may accept as sufficient evidence of any fact or matter or of the expediency of any act a certificate of the Issuer signed by any two Directors of the Issuer as to any fact or matter upon which the Trustee may, in the exercise of any of its functions, require to be satisfied or to have information to the effect that, in the opinion of the person or persons so certifying, any particular act is expedient and the Trustee need not call for further evidence and will not be responsible or liable for any loss that may be occasioned by acting on any such certificate.

 

11.5                         Deposit of Documents : The Trustee may appoint as custodian, on any terms, any bank or entity whose business includes the safe custody of documents or any lawyer or firm of lawyers believed by it to be of good repute and may deposit this Trust Deed and any other documents with such custodian and pay all sums due in respect thereof.

 

11.6                         Discretion : The Trustee will have absolute and uncontrolled discretion as to the exercise of its functions and shall not be responsible for any loss, liability, cost, claim, action, demand, expense or inconvenience which may result from their exercise or non-exercise (the exercise or non-exercise of which as between the Trustee and the Bondholders shall be conclusive and binding on the Bondholders) and shall not be responsible for any Liability which may result from their exercise or non-exercise and in particular the Trustee shall not be bound to act at the request or direction of the Bondholders or otherwise under any provision of this Trust Deed or to take at such request or direction or otherwise any other action under any provision of this Trust Deed unless it shall first be indemnified and/or secured and/or pre-funded to its satisfaction against all Liabilities to which it may render itself liable or which it may incur by so doing and the Trustee shall incur no liability for refraining to act in such circumstances.

 

11.7                         Agents : The Trustee may whenever it thinks fit, in the conduct of its trust business, instead of acting personally, employ and pay an agent selected by it, whether or not a lawyer or other professional person, to transact or conduct, or concur in transacting or conducting, any business and to do or concur in doing all acts required to be done by the Trustee (including the receipt and payment of money). The Trustee shall not be responsible to anyone for any misconduct or omission by any such agent so employed by it or be bound to supervise the proceedings or acts of any such agent.

 

16



 

11.8                         Delegation: The Trustee may whenever it thinks fit delegate to any person on any terms (including power to sub-delegate) all or any of its functions. If the Trustee exercises reasonable care in selecting such delegate, it shall not have any obligation to supervise such delegate or be responsible for any loss, liability, cost, claim, action, demand or expense incurred by reason of any misconduct or default by any such delegate or sub-delegate.

 

11.9                         Nominees: In relation to any asset held by it under this Trust Deed, the Trustee may appoint any person to act as its nominee on any terms.

 

11.10                  Forged Bonds : The Trustee will not be liable to the Issuer or any Bondholder by reason of having accepted as valid or not having rejected any Bond or entry on the Register of Bondholders purporting to be such and later found to be forged or not authentic.

 

11.11                  Confidentiality : Unless ordered to do so by a court of competent jurisdiction, the Trustee shall not be required to disclose to any Bondholder any confidential financial or other information made available to the Trustee by the Issuer.

 

11.12                  Determinations Conclusive : As between itself and the Bondholders, the Trustee may determine all questions and doubts arising in relation to any of the provisions of this Trust Deed. Such determinations, whether made upon such a question actually raised or implied in the acts or proceedings of the Trustee, will be conclusive and shall bind the Trustee and the Bondholders.

 

11.13                  Currency Conversion : Where it is necessary or desirable in relation to this Trust Deed or the Conditions to convert any sum from one currency to another, it will (unless otherwise provided hereby or required by law) be converted at such rate or rates, in accordance with such method and as at such date as may reasonably be specified by the Trustee but having regard to current rates of exchange, if available. Any rate, method and date so specified will be binding on the Issuer and the Bondholders.

 

11.14                  Accelerated Conversion Events etc. : The Trustee may determine whether or not an Accelerated Conversion Event, Potential Accelerated Conversion Event or Enforcement Event is in its opinion materially prejudicial to the interests of the Bondholders. Any such determination will be conclusive and binding upon the Issuer and the Bondholders.

 

11.15                  Payment for and Delivery of Bonds : The Trustee will not be responsible for the receipt or application by the Issuer of the proceeds of the issue of the Bonds or the exchange of the Original Global Bond for Original Definitive Registered Bonds or the delivery of the Original Global Bond or any Original Definitive Registered Bond to the person(s) entitled to it or them.

 

11.16                  Bonds held by the Issuer, etc. : In the absence of knowledge or express written notice to the contrary, the Trustee may assume without enquiry (other than requesting a certificate of the Issuer under Clause 9.10) that no Bonds are for the time being held by or on behalf of the Issuer, any holding company of the Issuer or any Subsidiary of any such holding company.

 

11.17                  No Responsibility for Share Value : The Trustee shall not at any time be under any duty or responsibility to or have any liability to any Bondholder or to any other person to (i) monitor or take any steps to ascertain whether a Bondholder Voluntary Conversion Right is exercisable or any facts exist or may exist, which may require an adjustment to the Conversion Price or (ii) review either the nature or extent of any such adjustment when made or the method employed in making any such adjustment pursuant to the provisions

 

17



 

of this Trust Deed or (iii) make or verify any calculations or determination made as to any Ordinary Shares to be delivered or any cash amounts to be paid upon conversion, or as to any Redemption Amount, or the methodology used therefor and will not be responsible or liable to any person for any loss occasioned thereby. The Trustee shall not at any time be under any duty or responsibility or liability in respect of the validity or value (or the kind or amount) of any Securities or property, which may at any time be made available or delivered on a Mandatory Conversion or exercise of any Bondholder Voluntary Conversion Right and it makes no representation with respect thereto.

 

11.18                  Interests of Bondholders : So long as any Bonds represented by a Global Bond are held on behalf of a clearing system, in considering the interests of Bondholders, the Trustee may have regard to any information provided to it by such clearing system or its operator as to the identity (either individually or by category) of its accountholders or participants with entitlements to any such Bond and may consider such interests on the basis that such accountholders or participants were the holder(s) of such Bonds. In connection with the exercise of its powers, trusts, authorities or discretions (including, but not limited to, those in relation to any proposed modification, waiver or authorisation of any breach or proposed breach of any of the Conditions or any of the provisions of this Trust Deed or any proposed substitution or any determination to be made by it under this Trust Deed), the Trustee shall have regard to the general interests of the Bondholders as a class and shall not have regard to the consequences of such exercise for individual Bondholders nor to circumstances particular to individual Bondholders (whatever their number) and, in particular, but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, shall not have regard to the consequences of any such exercise for individual Bondholders resulting from their being for any purpose domiciled or resident in, or otherwise connected with, or subject to the jurisdiction of, any particular territory or otherwise to the tax consequences thereof and the Trustee shall not be entitled to require, nor shall any Bondholder be entitled to claim from the Issuer or the Trustee, any indemnification or payment of any tax arising in consequence of any such exercise upon individual Bondholders except to the extent provided for in Condition 9 and/or in any undertakings given in addition thereto or in substitution therefor pursuant to this Trust Deed.

 

11.19                  Appointment of Independent Financial Adviser:

 

In connection with any right the Trustee may have to appoint an independent financial adviser pursuant to this Trust Deed or the Conditions (if applicable), the Trustee:

 

11.19.1        shall use its reasonable endeavours to identify and appoint the independent financial adviser but shall have no liability to any person if, having used its reasonable endeavours, it is unable to identify and appoint a suitable independent financial adviser;

 

11.19.2        shall not be responsible for carrying on the role of independent financial adviser itself during the time it is attempting to identify such independent financial adviser or thereafter if it is unable to find such independent financial adviser; and

 

11.19.3        shall not be required to take any action to find an independent financial adviser unless it has been previously indemnified and/or secured and/or pre-funded to its satisfaction and cannot be obliged to expend any of its own funds in the appointment of such an independent financial adviser.

 

18



 

11.20                  Legal Opinions: The Trustee shall not be responsible to any person for failing to request, require or receive any legal opinion relating to the Bonds or for checking or commenting upon the content of any such legal opinion.

 

11.21                  Illegality: No provision of this Trust Deed or the Conditions shall require the Trustee to do anything which may in its opinion be illegal or contrary to applicable law or regulation.

 

11.22                  Clearing Systems: The Trustee may call for and shall be at liberty to accept and place full reliance on as sufficient evidence thereof any certificate or other document to be issued by Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg or any other relevant clearing system as to the principal amount of Bonds represented by a Global Bond standing to the account of any person. Any such certificate or other document shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding for all purposes. Any such certificate or other document may comprise any form of statement or print out of electronic records provided by the relevant clearing system (including Euroclear’s EUCLID or Clearstream, Luxembourg’s CreationOnline system) in accordance with its usual procedures and in which the holder of a particular principal or nominal amount of Bonds is clearly identified together with the amount of such holding. The Trustee shall not be liable to the Issuer, any Bondholder or any person by reason of having accepted as valid or not having rejected any certificate, letter of confirmation or other document to such effect purporting to be issued by Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg or any other relevant clearing system as to the principal amount of Bonds represented by a Global Bond standing to the account of any person or any other matter and subsequently found to be forged or not authentic.

 

11.23                  Trustee consent : Any consent given by the Trustee for the purposes of this Trust Deed may be given on such terms as the Trustee thinks fit. In giving such consent the Trustee may require the Issuer to agree to such modifications or additions to this Trust Deed as the Trustee may deem expedient in the interest of the Bondholders.

 

11.24                  Banker, Lawyer, Broker or other Professional acting as Trustee : Any trustee being a banker, lawyer, broker or other person engaged in any profession or business shall be entitled to charge and be paid all usual professional and other charges for business transacted and acts done by him or his partner or firm on matters arising in connection with the trusts of this Trust Deed and also his properly incurred charges in addition to disbursements for all other work and business done and all time spent by him or his partner or firm on matters arising in connection with this Trust Deed, including matters which might or should have been attended to in person by a trustee not being a banker, lawyer, broker or other professional person.

 

11.25                  Voting Rights : The Trustee will not be entitled to, and will not, exercise any voting or other rights it may have over or in respect of the Ordinary Shares unless the Trustee is directed to do so by of the Bondholders acting by way of an Extraordinary Resolution and unless indemnified and/or secured and/or prefunded to its satisfaction.

 

11.26                  No Obligation to Risk Own Funds or Incur Financial Liability : Nothing contained in this Trust Deed shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of its duties or the exercise of any right, power, authority or discretion hereunder if it has grounds for believing the repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against, or security for, such risk or liability is not assured to it.

 

11.27                  No Obligation to Act without Indemnity, Security or Prefunding : The Trustee shall not be bound to take any steps to enforce the performance of any provisions of this Trust

 

19



 

Deed, the Bonds or to appoint an independent financial advisor pursuant to the Conditions of the Bonds unless it shall be indemnified and/or secured and/or prefunded to its satisfaction against all proceedings, claims and demands to which it may be liable and against all costs, charges, liabilities and expenses which may be incurred by it in connection with such enforcement or appointment, including the cost of its managements’ time and/or other internal resources, calculated using its normal hourly rates in force from time to time. The Trustee shall not be liable to any person whatsoever for any loss occasioned by it not acting unless and until it shall have been so indemnified and/or secured and/or prefunded to its satisfaction.

 

11.28                  Evaluation of Risk : When determining whether an indemnity or any security is satisfactory to it, the Trustee shall be entitled to evaluate its risk in given circumstances by considering the worst-case scenario and, for this purpose, it may take into account, without limitation, the potential costs of defending or commencing proceedings in England or elsewhere and the risk however remote, of any award of damages against it in England or elsewhere.

 

11.29                  Quality of Indemnity or Security : The Trustee shall be entitled to require that any indemnity or security given to it by the Bondholders or any of them be given on a joint and several basis and be supported by evidence satisfactory to it as to the financial standing and creditworthiness of each counterparty and/or as to the value of the security and an opinion as to the capacity, power and authority of each counterparty and/or the validity and effectiveness of the security.

 

11.30                  Deduction for FATCA : The Trustee shall be entitled to deduct FATCA Withholding Tax, and shall have no obligation to gross-up any payment hereunder or to pay any additional amount as a result of such FATCA Withholding Tax.

 

12                                   Disapplication and Trustee Liability

 

12.1                         Disapplication : Section 1 of the Trustee Act 2000 shall not apply to the duties of the Trustee in relation to the trusts constituted by this Trust Deed. Where there are any inconsistencies between the Trustee Acts and the provisions of this Trust Deed, the provisions of this Trust Deed shall, to the extent allowed by law, prevail and, in the case of any such inconsistency with the Trustee Act 2000, the provisions of this Trust Deed shall constitute a restriction or exclusion for the purposes of that Act.

 

12.2                         Trustee Liability : Subject to Sections 750 and 751 of the Companies Act 2006 (if applicable) and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Trust Deed, the Bonds or the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agency Agreement, the Trustee shall not be liable to any person for any matter or thing done or omitted in any way in connection with or in relation to this Trust Deed, the Bonds or the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agency Agreement save in relation to its own gross negligence, wilful default or fraud.

 

13                                   Waiver and Proof of Default

 

13.1                         Waiver : The Trustee may, without the consent of the Bondholders and without prejudice to its rights in respect of any subsequent breach, from time to time and at any time, if in its opinion the interests of the Bondholders will not be materially prejudiced thereby, waive or authorise, on such terms and conditions as seem expedient to it, any breach or proposed breach by the Issuer of the Conditions or any of the provisions of this Trust Deed, any trust deed supplemental to this Trust Deed, the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agency Agreement and any agreement supplemental to the Paying, Transfer and Conversion

 

20



 

Agency Agreement or any Enforcement Event or determine without any such consent as aforesaid that any Enforcement Event will not be treated as such provided that the Trustee will not do so in contravention of any express direction given by an Extraordinary Resolution or a request made pursuant to Condition 10 but no such direction or request will affect any previous waiver, authorisation or determination. Any such waiver, authorisation or determination will be binding on the Bondholders and, if the Trustee so requires, will be notified by the Issuer to the Bondholders as soon as reasonably practicable in accordance with Condition 17.

 

13.2                         Proof of Default : Proof that the Issuer has failed to pay a sum due to the holder of any one Bond will (unless the contrary be proved) be sufficient evidence that it has made the same default as regards all other Bonds which are then payable.

 

14                                   Trustee not precluded from entering into Contracts

 

The Trustee and any other person, whether or not acting for itself, may acquire, hold or dispose of, any Bond or any Securities (or any interest therein) (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Ordinary Shares) of the Issuer or any other person with the same rights as it would have had if the Trustee were not Trustee and may enter into or be interested in any contracts or transactions with the Issuer or any such person and may act on, or as depositary, trustee or agent or in any other capacity for, or on any committee or body of holders of, any securities issued or guaranteed by, or related to the Issuer or of any such person and need not account for any profit.

 

15                                   Modification and Substitution

 

15.1                         Modification : The Trustee may agree, without the consent of the Bondholders, to (i) any modification of any of the provisions of this Trust Deed, any trust deed supplemental to this Trust Deed, the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agency Agreement, any agreement supplemental to the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agency Agreement, the Calculation Agency Agreement, the Bonds or the Conditions which in the Trustee’s opinion is of a formal, minor or technical nature or is made to correct a manifest error or an error which, in the opinion of the Trustee, is proven or to comply with mandatory provisions of law, and (ii) any other modification to this Trust Deed, any trust deed supplemental to this Trust Deed, the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agency Agreement, any agreement supplemental to the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agency Agreement, the Calculation Agency Agreement, the Bonds or the Conditions (but such power does not extend to any such modification as is mentioned in the proviso to paragraph 16 of Schedule 4) and any waiver or authorisation of any breach or proposed breach, of any of the provisions of this Trust Deed, any trust deed supplemental to this Trust Deed, the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agency Agreement, any agreement supplemental to the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agency Agreement, the Calculation Agency Agreement, the Bonds or the Conditions which is, in the opinion of the Trustee, not materially prejudicial to the interests of the Bondholders. Any such modification shall be binding on the Bondholders and such modification shall be notified by the Issuer promptly thereafter to the Bondholders in accordance with Condition 17.

 

15.2                         Substitution :

 

15.2.1               Substitution: The Trustee may, without the consent of the Bondholders, agree to the substitution of the Issuer’s Successor in Business or any Subsidiary of the Issuer (the “ Substituted Obligor ”) in place of the Issuer (or of any previous

 

21



 

substitute under this sub-Clause) as the principal debtor under this Trust Deed and the Bonds, subject to:

 

(i)             (other than in the case of a substitution of a Successor in Business in place of the Issuer or any previous Substitute Obligor(s)) the Bonds being unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed by the Issuer; and

 

(ii)            the Bonds continuing to be convertible into Ordinary Shares, mutatis mutandis as provided in the Conditions with such amendments as the Trustee shall consider appropriate,

 

and provided that:

 

(iii)           (other than in the case of a substitution of a Successor in Business in place of the Issuer as contemplated in the Conditions) the Trustee is satisfied that the interests of the Bondholders will not be materially prejudiced by the substitution;

 

(iv)           a deed is executed or undertaking given by the Substituted Obligor to the Trustee, in form and manner satisfactory to the Trustee, agreeing to be bound by this Trust Deed and the Bonds (with consequential amendments as the Trustee may deem appropriate) as if the Substituted Obligor had been named in this Trust Deed and the Bonds as the principal debtor in place of the Issuer;

 

(v)            if the Substituted Obligor is subject generally to the taxing jurisdiction of a territory or any authority of or in that territory with power to tax (the “ Substituted Territory ”) other than the territory to the taxing jurisdiction of which (or to any such authority of or in which) the Issuer is subject generally (the “ Issuer’s Territory ”), the Substituted Obligor will (unless the Trustee otherwise agrees) give to the Trustee an undertaking satisfactory to the Trustee in terms corresponding to Condition 9 with the substitution for the references in that Condition to the Issuer’s Territory of references to the Substituted Territory whereupon this Trust Deed and the Bonds will be read accordingly;

 

(vi)           if any two directors of the Substituted Obligor certify that it will be solvent immediately after such substitution, the Trustee need not have regard to the Substituted Obligor’s financial condition, profits or prospects or compare them with those of the Issuer; and

 

(vii)          the Issuer and the Substituted Obligor comply with such other requirements as the Trustee may direct in the interests of the Bondholders.

 

In the case of such a substitution the Trustee may agree, without the consent of the Bondholders, to a change of the law governing the Bonds and/or this Trust Deed, provided that such change would not in the opinion of the Trustee be materially prejudicial to the interests of the Bondholders. Any substitution made pursuant to this Clause 15 shall be binding on the Bondholders and must be notified promptly to the Bondholders in accordance with Condition 17.

 

15.2.2               Release of Substituted Issuer: Any such agreement by the Trustee pursuant to this Clause 15.3 will, if so expressed, operate to release the Issuer (or a previous substitute) from any or all of its obligations under this Trust Deed and the Bonds.

 

22



 

Notice of the substitution will be given to the Bondholders by the Substituted Obligor within 14 days of the execution of such documents and compliance with such requirements.

 

15.2.3               Completion of Substitution: On completion of the formalities set out in this Clause 15.3, the Substituted Obligor will be deemed to be named in this Trust Deed and on the Bonds as the principal debtor in place of the Issuer (or of any previous substitute) and this Trust Deed and the Bonds will be deemed to be amended as necessary to give effect to the substitution.

 

16                                   Appointment, Retirement and Removal of the Trustee

 

16.1                         Appointment : Subject as provided in Clause 16.2 below, the Issuer has the power of appointing a new trustee or trustees but no one may be so appointed unless previously approved by an Extraordinary Resolution. A trust corporation will at all times be a Trustee and may be the sole Trustee. Any appointment of a new Trustee will be notified by the Issuer, to the Bondholders and the Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent as soon as practicable.

 

16.2                         Retirement and Removal : Any Trustee may retire at any time on giving not less than three months’ notice in writing to the Issuer without giving any reason and without being responsible for any costs occasioned by such retirement and the Bondholders may by Extraordinary Resolution remove any Trustee provided that the retirement or removal of any sole trustee or sole trust corporation will not become effective until a trust corporation is appointed as successor Trustee. If a sole trustee or sole trust corporation gives notice of retirement or an Extraordinary Resolution is passed for its removal under this Clause 16.2, the Issuer shall use all reasonable endeavours to procure that another trust corporation be appointed as Trustee. If, in such circumstances, no appointment of such a new trustee has become effective within 60 days of the date of such notice or Extraordinary Resolution, the Trustee shall be entitled to appoint a Trust Corporation as trustee of these presents, but no such appointment shall take effect unless previously approved by an Extraordinary Resolution.

 

16.3                         Co-Trustees : The Trustee may, notwithstanding Clause 16.1, by prior notice in writing to the Issuer appoint anyone to act as an additional Trustee jointly with the Trustee:

 

16.3.1               if the Trustee considers the appointment to be in the interests of the Bondholders; or

 

16.3.2               for the purpose of conforming with any legal requirement, restriction or condition in any jurisdiction in which any particular act is to be performed; or

 

16.3.3               for the purpose of obtaining a judgment in any jurisdiction or the enforcement in any jurisdiction against the Issuer of either a judgment already obtained or any of the provisions of this Trust Deed.

 

Subject to the provisions of this Trust Deed, the Trustee may confer on any person so appointed such functions as it thinks fit. The Trustee may, by notice in writing to the Issuer and such person, remove any person so appointed. At the request of the Trustee, the Issuer will do all things as may be required to perfect such appointment or removal and it irrevocably appoints the Trustee to be its attorney in its name and on its behalf to do so.

 

23



 

16.4                         Competence of a Majority of Trustees : If there are more than two Trustees the majority of such Trustees will (provided such majority includes a trust corporation) be competent to carry out all or any of the Trustee’s functions.

 

16.5                         Merger: A corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted, or any corporation with which the Trustee may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, shall, on the date when the merger, conversion or consolidation becomes effective and to the extent permitted by any applicable laws and subject to any requirements set out in this Trust Deed become the successor trustee under this Trust Deed without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Parties to this Trust Deed, unless otherwise required by the Issuer, and after the said effective date, all references in this Trust Deed to the Trustee shall be deemed to be references to such successor corporation. Written notice of any such merger, conversion or consolidation shall immediately be given to the Issuer by the Trustee.

 

17                                   Currency Indemnity

 

17.1                         Currency of Account and Payment : Pounds sterling (the “ Contractual Currency ”) is the sole currency of account and payment for all sums payable by the Issuer under or in connection with this Trust Deed and the Bonds, including damages.

 

17.2                         Extent of Discharge : An amount received or recovered in a currency other than the Contractual Currency (whether as a result of, or of the enforcement of, a judgment or order of a court of any jurisdiction, in the insolvency, winding-up or dissolution of the Issuer or otherwise) by the Trustee or any Bondholder in respect of any sum expressed to be due to it from the Issuer will only discharge the Issuer to the extent of the Contractual Currency amount which the recipient is able to purchase with the amount so received or recovered in that other currency on the date of that receipt or recovery (or, if it is not practicable to make that purchase on that date, on the first date on which it is practicable to do so).

 

17.3                         Indemnity : If that Contractual Currency amount is less than the Contractual Currency amount expressed to be due to the recipient under this Trust Deed or the Bonds, the Issuer will indemnify it against any loss sustained by it as a result. In any event, the Issuer will indemnify the recipient against the cost of making any such purchase.

 

17.4                         Indemnity separate : The indemnities in this Clause 17 and in Clause 10.4 constitute separate and independent obligations from the other obligations in this Trust Deed, will give rise to a separate and independent cause of action, will apply irrespective of any indulgence granted by the Trustee and/or any Bondholder and will continue in full force and effect despite any judgment, order, claim or proof for a liquidated amount in respect of any sum due under this Trust Deed, the Bonds or any other judgment or order.

 

18                                   Enforcement

 

18.1                         Trustee to enforce : Only the Trustee may enforce the rights of the Bondholders against the Issuer, whether the same arise under the general law, this Trust Deed, the Bonds or otherwise, and no Bondholder shall be entitled to proceed directly against the Issuer unless the Trustee, having become bound to proceed, fails to do so within a reasonable time and such failure is continuing. In such event, such Bondholder may, in respect of its Bonds, take any action which the Trustee would otherwise have been permitted to take in respect of those Bonds. Any proceeds received by a Bondholder pursuant to any such

 

24



 

proceedings, actions or steps brought by a Bondholder shall be paid promptly following receipt thereof to the Trustee (for application pursuant to the terms of this Trust Deed).

 

18.2                         Legal proceedings : If the Trustee (or any Bondholder where entitled in accordance with this Trust Deed so to do) institutes legal proceedings against the Issuer to enforce any obligations under this Trust Deed, proof in such proceedings that as regards any specified Bond the Issuer has made default in delivering any Ordinary Shares or paying any cash amounts due to the relevant Bondholder shall (unless the contrary be proved) be sufficient evidence that the Issuer has made the same default as regards all other Bonds which are then repayable.

 

18.3                         Powers additional to general powers : The powers conferred on the Trustee by this Clause 18 shall be in addition to any powers which may from time to time be vested in the Trustee by general law or as the holder of any Bonds.

 

19                                   Communications

 

Any communication shall be by letter or facsimile transmission:

 

in the case of the Issuer, to it at:

 

Address:

Vodafone Group Plc

 

Vodafone House

 

The Connection

 

Newbury

 

Berkshire RG14 2FN

 

United Kingdom

 

 

Fax no.:

+44 (0)1635 676746

Attention:

Director of Treasury

 

and in the case of the Trustee, to it at:

 

Address:

The Law Debenture Trust Corporation p.l.c

 

Fifth Floor

 

Wood Street

 

London EC2V 7EX

 

United Kingdom

 

 

Tel:

+44 (0)20 7606 5451

Fax No.:

+44 (0)20 7606 0643

Attention:

The Manager, Commercial Trusts (Ref: 201588)

 

or to such other address, facsimile number or attention details of which shall have been notified in writing (in accordance with this Clause 19) to the other parties hereto.

 

Any communication from any party to any other under this Trust Deed shall be effective, (if by fax) when good receipt is confirmed by the recipient following enquiry by the sender and (if in writing) when received, except that a communication received outside normal business hours shall be deemed to be received on the next business day in the city in which the recipient is located.

 

25



 

20                                   Governing Law

 

This Trust Deed and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it shall be governed by and construed in accordance with English law.

 

21                                   Counterparts

 

This Trust Deed and any trust deed supplemental hereto may be executed in any number of counterparts, and by each party on separate counterparts. Each counterpart is an original, but all counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of a counterpart of this Trust Deed or any trust deed supplemental hereto by email attachment or telecopy shall be an effective mode of delivery.

 

22                                   Rights of Third Parties

 

A person who is not a party to this Trust Deed has no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any term of this Trust Deed except and to the extent (if any) that this Trust Deed expressly provides for such Act to apply to any of its terms. Subject to the provisions of this Trust Deed, the parties to this Trust Deed shall have the right to amend, vary or rescind any provision of this Trust Deed without the consent of any such third party.

 

23                                   Partial Invalidity

 

If, at any time, any provision hereof is or becomes illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any respect under the law of any jurisdiction, neither the legality, validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof nor the legality, validity or enforceability of such provision under the law of any other jurisdiction shall in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

26



 

SCHEDULE 1

 

Terms and Conditions of the Bonds

 

The issue of the £1,440,000,000 1.50 per cent. Subordinated Mandatory Convertible Bonds due 2017 (the “ Bonds ”) was authorised by a resolution of the board of directors of Vodafone Group Plc (the “ Issuer ”) passed on 26 January 2016. The Bonds are constituted by a trust deed dated 25 February 2016 (the “ Trust Deed ”) between the Issuer and The Law Debenture Trust Corporation p.l.c. (the “ Trustee ”, which expression shall include all persons for the time being appointed as the trustee or trustees under the Trust Deed) as trustee for the Bondholders. The statements set out in these terms and conditions (the “ Conditions ”) are summaries of, and are subject to, the detailed provisions of the Trust Deed, which includes the forms of the registered certificates (the “ Certificates ”) representing the Bonds. The Bondholders are entitled to the benefit of, are bound by, and are deemed to have notice of, all the provisions of the Trust Deed and those provisions applicable to them which are contained in the paying, transfer and conversion agency agreement dated 25 February 2016 (the “ Agency Agreement ”) relating to the Bonds between the Issuer, the Trustee, HSBC Bank plc as the registrar (the “ Registrar ”, which expression shall include any successor as Registrar under the Agency Agreement), HSBC Bank plc (the “ Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent ”, which expression shall include any successor as Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent under the Agency Agreement) and any other Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agents for the time being (such persons, together with the Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent, being referred to below as the “ Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agents ”, which expression shall include their successors as Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agents under the Agency Agreement). The Issuer has also entered into a calculation agency agreement dated 19 February 2016 (the “ Calculation Agency Agreement ”) with Conv-Ex Advisors Limited (the “ Calculation Agent ”, which expression shall include any successor as calculation agent under the Calculation Agency Agreement), whereby the Calculation Agency Agreement), whereby the Calculation Agent has been appointed to make certain calculations in relation to the Bonds from time to time.

 

Copies of the Trust Deed, the Agency Agreement and the Calculation Agency Agreement are available for inspection by prior appointment during normal business hours at the registered office for the time being of the Trustee (being as at the Issue Date at Fifth Floor, 100 Wood Street, London EC2V 7EX), and at the specified offices for the time being of the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agents.

 

Agents ” means the Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent, any other Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agents and the Registrar.

 

Capitalised terms used but not defined in these Conditions shall have the meanings attributed to them in the Trust Deed unless the context otherwise requires or unless otherwise stated.

 

1                                          Form, Denomination, Title, Status and Subordination

 

(a)                                  Form and Denomination

 

The Bonds are issued in registered form in principal amounts of £100,000 each (an “ authorised denomination ”) and integral multiples thereof.

 

(b)                                  Title

 

Title to the Bonds will pass by registration in the register that the Issuer shall procure to be kept by the Registrar outside the United Kingdom in accordance with the provisions of the Agency Agreement (the “ Register ”). Except as otherwise required by law or as ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction, the holder (as defined below) of any Bond shall be deemed to be and may be treated as its absolute owner for all purposes (whether or not it is overdue and regardless of any notice of ownership, trust or any interest in it, any writing on the Certificate representing it or the theft or loss of such Certificate) and no person will be liable for so treating the holder.

 

27



 

(c)                                   Status

 

The Bonds constitute direct, unsecured and subordinated obligations of the Issuer (senior only to Junior Securities) and shall at all times rank pari passu and without any preference among themselves.

 

(d)                                  Subordination and claims in a winding-up, dissolution or liquidation

 

In the event of the winding-up, dissolution or liquidation of the Issuer (except a solvent winding-up for the purpose of or in connection with a reconstruction or amalgamation of the Issuer previously approved in writing by the Trustee or by an Extraordinary Resolution), the Trustee (failing which, subject to Condition 15, the Bondholders) shall be entitled to claim and/or prove in such winding-up, dissolution or liquidation proceeding in respect of the Bonds, and:

 

(i)             the payment obligations of the Issuer under or in respect of the Bonds shall be subordinated to, and rank behind the claims of, all Senior Creditors, but shall rank:

 

(A)                                pari passu with the claims of the holders of all Parity Securities; and

 

(B)                                in priority to and ahead of the claims of the holders of all Junior Securities,

 

and so that no payment shall be made under the Trust Deed or the Bonds until the claims of all Senior Creditors shall have been satisfied in full; and

 

(ii)            the amount payable in respect of each Bond shall be the amount that would have been payable to the holder of such Bond if, immediately prior to or throughout the winding-up of the Issuer, such holder was the holder of one of a class of the most junior ranking preference shares in the capital of the Issuer (“ Notional Preference Shares ”) having an equal right to the return of assets in the winding-up of the Issuer, on the assumption that the amount that a holder of Notional Preference Shares was entitled to receive in respect of each Notional Preference Share on a return of assets in such winding-up was an amount equal to the Redemption Amount of the relevant Bond, together with any interest accrued, any Arrears of Interest and any Make-whole Amount in respect of such Bond.

 

2                                          Definitions

 

In these Conditions, unless otherwise provided:

 

5 Day VWAP ” means the arithmetic average of the daily Volume Weighted Average Prices of the cum entitlement share on each of the five consecutive Scheduled Trading Days:

 

(a)                          (where the relevant Corporate Action is a merger or takeover) commencing on and including the first Scheduled Trading Day on which the shares are traded after the relevant offer is declared effective by the offeror and the relevant threshold of majority of the outstanding Ordinary Shares (75% for mandatory offers by law and 50% + 1 share in all other cases) is met; and

 

(b)                          (in all other cases) ending on (and including) the last Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the effective date of the relevant Corporate Action,

 

provided, in either case, that if any of such five consecutive Scheduled Trading Days does not fall prior to the first date on which the share trades ex-entitlement (as determined, at any time while there have been no amendments to the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy and there are option contracts in relation to the Ordinary Shares traded on ICE Futures Europe, by ICE Futures Europe and, at any time after there has been an amendment to the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy or there are no option contracts in relation to the Ordinary Shares traded on ICE Futures Europe, as determined by the Calculation Agent or an Independent Adviser), the Volume Weighted Average Price of the Ordinary Share for any Scheduled Trading Day on or after the first date on which the share trades ex-entitlement (such date being determined as aforesaid) will be first increased by the Fair Market Value of the entitlement on such day before it is used in the calculation of the arithmetic average.

 

28



 

20 Day VWAP ” means the arithmetic average of the daily Volume Weighted Average Prices of the cum entitlement share on each of the first 20 consecutive Scheduled Trading Days commencing on and including the first Scheduled Trading Day on which the shares are traded after the relevant offer is declared effective by the offeror and the relevant threshold of majority of the outstanding Ordinary Shares (75% for mandatory offers by law and 50% + 1 share in all other cases) is met, provided that if any of such 20 consecutive Scheduled Trading Days does not fall prior to the first date on which the share trades ex-entitlement (as determined, at any time while there have been no amendments to the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy and there are option contracts in relation to the Ordinary Shares traded on ICE Futures Europe, by ICE Futures Europe and, at any time after there has been an amendment to the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy or there are no option contracts in relation to the Ordinary Shares traded on ICE Futures Europe, as determined by the Calculation Agent or an Independent Adviser), the Volume Weighted Average Price of the Ordinary Share for any Scheduled Trading Day on or after the first date on which the share trades ex-entitlement (such date being determined as aforesaid) will be first increased by the Fair Market Value of the entitlement on such day before it is used in the calculation of the arithmetic average.

 

Accelerated Conversion Event ” shall have the meaning given to it in Condition 4(d).

 

Adjustment Ratio ” means, in relation to a Corporate Action other than a Cash Dividend, Non Cash Dividend, Delisting or Nationalisation, the formula specified in the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy in relation to such event or the resulting numerical value from such formula following the applicable rounding, as relevant.

 

Arrears of Interest ” has the meaning given to it in Condition 3(b)(i).

 

Averaging Period ” has the meaning given to it in Condition 5(a)(ii).

 

Bondholder ” and “ holder ” means the person in whose name a Bond is registered.

 

Bondholder Voluntary Conversion Right ” has the meaning given to it in Condition 4(c).

 

business day ” means, in relation to any place, a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which commercial banks and foreign exchange markets are open for business in that place.

 

Cash Dividend ” has the meaning given to it in Condition 5(a)(iv).

 

Change in Law ” means that, as determined by the Issuer, due to the adoption of or any change in any applicable law or regulation (including, without limitation, any tax law), or due to the promulgation of or any change in the interpretation by any court, tribunal or regulatory authority with competent jurisdiction of any applicable law or regulation (including any action taken by a taxing authority), in all such cases where the same occurs on or after 18 February 2016, the Issuer or a Hedging Counterparty determines in good faith that (a) it has become illegal to hold, acquire or dispose of Ordinary Shares, or (b) it will incur a materially increased cost in performing its obligations under, in the case of the Issuer, the Bonds or a Hedge Position or, in the case of a Hedging Counterparty, a Hedge Position (including, without limitation, due to any increase in tax liability, decrease in tax benefit or other adverse effect on its tax position); provided that, where the Change in Law relates to the Hedge Position, a notice determining an early termination date for the Hedge Position as a result of the Change in Law has been given.

 

Closing Price ” means, in respect of an Ordinary Share or any Security, option, warrant or other right or asset, on any Scheduled Trading Day, the closing price on such day of an Ordinary Share or, as the case may be, such Security, option, warrant or other right or asset on such Scheduled Trading Day as published by or derived from (a) in the case of an Original Ordinary Share where the London Stock Exchange constitutes the Relevant Exchange in respect thereof, Bloomberg page VOD LN Equity HP) (using the setting labelled “Last Price” or any equivalent successor label to this setting) or (b) in the case of an Original Ordinary Share where the London Stock Exchange no longer constitutes the Relevant Exchange in respect thereof, or, as the case may be, any other Ordinary Share, Security, option, warrant or other right or asset, the equivalent Bloomberg page and setting in respect of the Relevant Stock Exchange for such Original Ordinary Share, or, as the case may be, such other Ordinary Share, Security, option, warrant or other right or asset (all as determined by the

 

29



 

Calculation Agent), if any or, in any such case, such other source as shall be determined to be appropriate by an Independent Adviser on such day; provided that, if on any such Scheduled Trading Day (the “ Affected Closing Price Scheduled Trading Day ”) such price is not available or cannot otherwise be determined as provided above, the Closing Price of an Ordinary Share, Security, option, warrant or other right or asset, as the case may be, in respect of such day shall be the Closing Price, determined as provided above, on the immediately preceding Scheduled Trading Day on which the same can be so determined as aforesaid, and further provided that if the Closing Price cannot be so determined on each of the five Scheduled Trading Days immediately preceding the Affected Closing Price Scheduled Trading Day, an Independent Adviser shall determine the Closing Price in good faith.

 

Companies Act ” means the Companies Act 2006 of the United Kingdom.

 

Conversion Date ” means:

 

(a)                          in the case of a Mandatory Conversion on the Final Maturity Date pursuant to Condition 4(a), the fifth Scheduled Trading Day prior to the Final Maturity Date;

 

(b)                          in the case of a Mandatory Conversion at the option of the Issuer pursuant to Condition 4(b), the date of the expiry of the Issuer’s Early Conversion Notice as referred to therein;

 

(c)                           in the case of a Voluntary Conversion at the option of Bondholders pursuant to Condition 4(c), the Scheduled Trading Day immediately following the delivery of the relevant Certificate and Conversion Notice on exercise of such Bondholder Voluntary Conversion Right; and

 

(d)                          in the case of a Mandatory Conversion following an Accelerated Conversion Event pursuant to Condition 4(d), the Scheduled Trading Day immediately following the date on which the Accelerated Conversion Event Notice is given pursuant to Condition 4(d).

 

Conversion Notice ” has the meaning given to it in Condition 6(a).

 

Conversion Price ” per Ordinary Share is initially £2.1730. The Conversion Price will be adjusted from time to time in accordance with these Conditions.

 

Conversion Ratio ” means, on any day, the result (rounded to five decimal places with 0.000005 being rounded upwards) of the division of £100,000 principal amount of the Bonds by the Conversion Price in effect on such day.

 

Corporate Action ” has the meaning given to it in Condition 5(b) (i) .

 

CREST ” has the meaning given to it in Condition 6(c).

 

Delisting ” means that, as determined by the Calculation Agent, the Relevant Stock Exchange announces that pursuant to the rules of such Relevant Stock Exchange, the Ordinary Shares cease (or will cease) to be listed, traded or publicly quoted on the Relevant Stock Exchange for any reason (other than by reason of a merger or takeover as contemplated by the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy) and are not immediately re-listed, re-traded or re-quoted on a stock exchange or quotation system located in the same country as the Relevant Stock Exchange (or, where the Relevant Stock Exchange is within the European Union, in any member state of the European Union).

 

Dividend ” has the meaning given to it in Condition 5(a)(iv).

 

Dividend Declaration ” has the meaning given to it in Condition 3(b)(iv).

 

Dividend Determination Date ” means for the purposes of the definition of “Dividend” the date on which the number of Ordinary Shares or, as the case may be, amount of other property or assets, which may be issued or delivered is, or is capable of being, determined, and where determined by reference to prices or values or the like on or during a particular day or during a particular period, the Dividend Determination Date shall be deemed to be such day or the last day of such period, as the case may be.

 

30



 

equity share capital ” means, in relation to any entity, its issued share capital excluding any part of that capital which, neither with respect to dividends nor with respect to capital, carries any right to participate beyond a specific amount in a distribution.

 

Extraordinary Resolution ” has the meaning given to it in the Trust Deed.

 

Enforcement Event ” has the meaning given to it in Condition 10.

 

Fair Market Value ” means, with respect to any property on any date:

 

(i)             in the case of a Cash Dividend, the amount of such Cash Dividend;

 

(ii)            in the case of any other cash amount, the amount of such cash;

 

(iii)           in the case of Securities (including Ordinary Shares), Spin-Off Securities, options, warrants or other rights or assets that are publicly traded on a Relevant Stock Exchange of adequate liquidity (as determined by the Calculation Agent or Independent Adviser), the arithmetic mean of (a) in the case of Ordinary Shares or (to the extent constituting equity share capital) Spin-Off Securities, the daily Volume Weighted Average Prices of such Ordinary Shares or (to the extent constituting equity share capital) Spin-Off Securities and (b) in the case of other Securities (other than Ordinary Shares or (to the extent constituting equity share capital) Spin-Off Securities), options, warrants or other rights or assets, the daily Closing Price of such Securities, options, warrants or other rights or assets, in the case of both (a) and (b) during the period of five Scheduled Trading Days on the Relevant Stock Exchange for such Securities, Spin-Off Securities, options, warrants or other rights or assets commencing on such date (or, if later, the first such Scheduled Trading Day on which such Securities, Spin-Off Securities, options, warrants or other rights or assets are publicly traded) or such shorter period as such Securities, Spin-Off Securities, options, warrants or other rights or assets are publicly traded; and

 

(iv)           in the case of Securities (including Ordinary Shares), Spin-Off Securities, options, warrants or other rights or assets that are not publicly traded on a Relevant Stock Exchange of adequate liquidity (as aforesaid), the fair market value of such Securities, Spin-Off Securities, options, warrants or other rights or assets as determined by an Independent Adviser on the basis of a commonly accepted market valuation method and taking account of such factors as it considers appropriate, including the market price per Ordinary Share, the dividend yield of an Ordinary Share, the volatility of such market price, prevailing interest rates and the terms of such Securities, Spin-Off Securities, options, warrants or other rights or assets, including as to the expiry date and exercise price (if any) thereof,

 

provided that, for the purposes of Condition 5(a)(ii), if the Ex-Date for a Relevant Dividend falls on or before the Conversion Date and the Fair Market Value of the Net Amount of such Relevant Dividend cannot otherwise be determined in accordance with paragraphs (i) to (iv) above (as applicable) on or before the day (the “ Final Date ”) which is the later of (1) the Conversion Date and (2) the last day of the Averaging Period in respect of such Relevant Dividend, then the Fair Market Value of the Net Amount of such Relevant Dividend will be determined by an Independent Adviser on the Final Date and the determination of such Fair Market Value shall be made as at the Ex-Date in respect of such Relevant Dividend and on the basis of a commonly accepted market valuation method and taking account of such factors as it considers appropriate, including those referred to in paragraph (iv) above.

 

Such amounts shall (A) in the case of (i) above, be translated into the Relevant Currency, if declared or paid or payable in a currency other than the Relevant Currency (and if the relevant dividend is payable at the option of the Issuer or a Shareholder in any currency additional to the Relevant Currency, the relevant dividend shall be treated as payable in the Relevant Currency), at the rate of exchange (if any) used to determine the amount payable to Shareholders who were paid or are to be paid or are entitled to be paid the Cash Dividend in the Relevant Currency; and (B) in any other case, be translated into the Relevant Currency (if expressed in a currency other than the Relevant Currency) at the Prevailing Rate on that date. In addition, in the case of (i) and (ii) above, and except for the purposes of determining the Fair Market Value of the Net Amount of a Relevant Dividend pursuant to Condition 5(a), the Fair Market Value shall be determined (by the

 

31



 

Calculation Agent) on a gross basis and disregarding any withholding or deduction required to be made for or on account of tax and disregarding any associated tax credit.

 

Final Maturity Date ” means 25 August 2017.

 

Hedge Position ” means a transaction or asset the Issuer deems appropriate to hedge the equity price risk of entering into and performing its obligations in connection with the Bonds or with respect to an option contract under which the Issuer seeks to hedge its equity price risk relating to the Bonds.

 

Hedging Counterparty ” means a party to a Hedge Position.

 

ICE Futures Europe ” means ICE Futures Europe or its successor or any substitute exchange to which trading in option contracts relating to the Ordinary Shares has temporarily or permanently relocated, as determined by the Calculation Agent.

 

ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy ” means the standard corporate actions policy of ICE Futures Europe, in effect as at the Launch Date and, further, provided that the corporate actions policy shall at all times be deemed to be adjusted in the manner described in Condition 5(b)(iv).

 

Independent Adviser ” means an independent financial institution or the initial Calculation Agent (acting in such Independent Adviser capacity, as may be agreed at the relevant time between the Issuer and the initial Calculation Agent), appointed by the Issuer at its own expense and (other than where the initial Calculation Agent is appointed in such Independent Adviser capacity) approved in writing by the Trustee or, if the Issuer fails to make such appointment and such failure continues for a reasonable period (as determined by the Trustee in its sole discretion) and the Trustee is indemnified and/or secured and/or prefunded to its satisfaction against the liabilities, costs, fees and expenses of such adviser and otherwise in connection with such appointment, appointed by the Trustee (without liability for so doing) following notification thereof to the Issuer.

 

Interest Payment ” has the meaning provided in Condition 3(a).

 

Interest Payment Date ” has the meaning provided in Condition 3(a).

 

Interest Period ” has the meaning provided in Condition 3(a).

 

Issue Date ” means 25 February 2016.

 

Issuer’s Early Conversion Notice ” has the meaning provided in Condition 4(b).

 

Junior Securities ” means any shares in the capital of the Issuer (except for preference shares in the capital of the Issuer (if any)) or any other securities or obligations issued or owed by the Issuer (including guarantees or indemnities or support agreements given by the Issuer in respect of securities or obligations owed by other persons) which rank, or are expressed to rank, as regard distributions on a return of assets of the Issuer on a winding-up, junior to the Bonds.

 

Launch Date ” means 18 February 2016.

 

the “ Make-whole Amount ” per Bond will be determined by the Calculation Agent and will be equal to the value of the embedded option right that has not yet been compensated for up to the relevant Settlement Date, calculated pursuant to the following formula:

 

where:

 

M                                     =                                          the Make-whole Amount

 

A                                        =                                          £2,250

 

32



 

c                                           =                                          the number of days from, and including, the relevant Settlement Date to but excluding the Final Maturity Date; and

 

t                                             =                                          the number of days from, and including, the Issue Date to but excluding the Final Maturity Date.

 

Mandatory Conversion ” means a mandatory conversion of the Bonds pursuant to the provisions of Condition 4(a), 4(b) or 4(d), as the case may be.

 

Mandatory Settlement Date ” shall have the meaning given to it in Condition 3(b)(iv).

 

Nationalisation ” means that, as determined by the Calculation Agent, all the Ordinary Shares or all or substantially all the assets of the Issuer are (or are to be) nationalised, expropriated or are otherwise required to be transferred to any governmental agency, authority, entity or instrumentality thereof.

 

Non Cash Dividend ” has the meaning given to it in Condition 5(a)(iv).

 

Ordinary Share ” means (i) initially one fully paid ordinary share in the capital of the Issuer (the “ Original Ordinary Share ”) with, on the Issue Date, a par value of US$0.20 20/21 or (ii) following any adjustment made by ICE Futures Europe following a Corporate Action (other than a Corporate Action which is a Cash Dividend or Non Cash Dividend) in accordance with the Package Method (as defined in Condition 5(b)), the package of Securities determined by ICE Futures Europe (or, if no relevant option contracts are traded on ICE Futures Europe, by an Independent Adviser in accordance with these Conditions following a Corporate Action (other than a Corporate Action which is a Cash Dividend or Non Cash Dividend)) to become (or, where an Independent Adviser makes the determination, that would reasonably have been expected to become, if there were relevant option contracts traded on ICE Futures Europe or if the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy had not been amended) the underlying shares for the purposes of option contracts in relation to which the Original Ordinary Shares were the underlying shares on the Issue Date in the place of one Ordinary Share.

 

Parity Securities ” means (if any) any securities or other obligations issued or owed by the Issuer (including guarantees or indemnities or support agreements given by the Issuer in respect of securities or obligations owed by other persons) which rank or are expressed to rank, as regards distributions on a return of assets of the Issuer on a winding-up, pari passu with the Bonds and any Preference Shares.

 

a “ person ” includes any individual, company, corporation, firm, partnership, joint venture, undertaking, association, organisation, trust, state or agency of a state (in each case whether or not being a separate legal entity).

 

Preference Shares ” means the most junior class of preference shares in the capital of the Issuer.

 

Prevailing Rate ” means (in each case as determined by the Calculation Agent):

 

(i)             in respect of any pair of currencies (of which neither is the euro or the pound sterling) on any calendar day, the spot rate of exchange between the relevant currencies prevailing as at 12 noon (London time) on that date as appearing on or derived from the Relevant Page; or

 

(ii)            in respect of any pair of currencies of which one is the pound sterling and any other currency (other than the euro) on any day, the final spot rate of exchange as published by the Bank of England for such pair of currencies in respect of that day as appearing on or derived from the Relevant Page; or

 

(iii)           in respect of any pair of currencies of which one is the euro and any other currency on any day, the European Central Bank reference rate for such pair of currencies on that day as appearing on or derived from the Relevant Page.

 

If such a rate cannot be determined at such time as aforesaid, the Prevailing Rate shall be determined mutatis mutandis but with respect to the immediately preceding day on which such rate can be so determined all as determined by the Calculation Agent, or if such rate cannot be so determined by reference to the Relevant Page, the rate determined in such other manner as an Independent Adviser shall deem in good faith appropriate.

 

33



 

Record Date ” has the meaning provided in Condition 8(b).

 

the “ Redemption Amount ” per Bond will be determined by the Calculation Agent and will be equal to the arithmetic average of the daily products of, in respect of each Scheduled Trading Day during a period of 20 consecutive Scheduled Trading Days ending on (and including) the second Scheduled Trading Day prior to the day on which the Enforcement Event occurs, (x) the Conversion Ratio in effect on such Scheduled Trading Day and (y) the Volume Weighted Average Price of an Ordinary Share on such Scheduled Trading Day.

 

Register ” has the meaning provided in Condition 1(b)

 

Relevant Currency ” means sterling or, if at the relevant time or for the purposes of the relevant calculation or determination, sterling is no longer the currency in which the Ordinary Share are quoted or dealt in on the Relevant Stock Exchange, the currency in which the Ordinary Shares are quoted or dealt in on the Relevant Stock Exchange at such time.

 

Relevant Date ” means, in respect of any relevant payment on any Bond, the date on which such payment first becomes due, except that, if the full amount of the moneys payable has not been duly received by the Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent or the Trustee on or prior to such due date, it means the date on which, the full amount of such moneys having been so received, notice to that effect is given to the Bondholders in accordance with Condition 17.

 

Relevant Determination Date ” has the meaning given in Condition 5(a)(iii)(A).

 

Relevant Jurisdiction ” means the Issuer’s jurisdiction of incorporation, and includes any other territory or authority or additional territory or authority to whose taxing jurisdiction the Issuer has become subject.

 

Relevant Page ” means the relevant page on Bloomberg or such other information service provider that for the time being displays the relevant information, as determined by the Calculation Agent.

 

Relevant Stock Exchange ” means (i) in the case of the Original Ordinary Shares, the London Stock Exchange or, if at the relevant time the Original Ordinary Shares are not at that time listed and admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange, the principal stock exchange or securities market on which the Original Ordinary Shares are then listed, admitted to trading or quoted or dealt in and (ii) in the case of any other Securities, the principal stock exchange or securities market on which such Securities are then listed, admitted to trading or quoted or dealt in.

 

Scheduled Trading Day ” means any day on which the Relevant Stock Exchange and ICE Futures Europe are both scheduled to be open for trading for their respective regular trading sessions (including any day on which trading is scheduled to cease prior to the usual closing time), all as set out in the respective trading calendars as first published by the Relevant Stock Exchange and ICE Futures Europe in respect of the year in which such day is falling.

 

Securities ” or “ Security ” means any securities including, without limitation, shares in the capital of the Issuer, or options, warrants or other rights to subscribe for or purchase or acquire shares in the capital of the Issuer.

 

‘‘ Senior Creditors ’’ means all creditors of the Issuer, other than creditors whose claims are in respect of Parity Securities or Junior Securities.

 

Settlement Date ” means (subject to the following proviso):

 

(a)                          in connection with a Mandatory Conversion on the Final Maturity Date pursuant to Condition 4(a), the Final Maturity Date (or, if that date is not a Scheduled Trading Day, the next following Scheduled Trading Day);

 

(b)                          in connection with a Mandatory Conversion at the option of the Issuer pursuant to Condition 4(b), the second Scheduled Trading Day immediately following the relevant Conversion Date;

 

34



 

(c)                                   in connection with a Voluntary Conversion at the option of Bondholders pursuant to Condition 4(c):

 

(i)     in the case of a Conversion Date falling on or before the 10 th  Scheduled Trading Day in any calendar month, the final Scheduled Trading Day in that calendar month; or

 

(ii)    in the case of a Conversion Date falling after the 10 th  Scheduled Trading Day in any calendar month (but prior to the commencement of the next calendar month), the 10 th  Scheduled Trading Day falling in the next calendar month after such Conversion Date occurs;

 

(d)                                  in connection with a Mandatory Conversion following an Accelerated Conversion Event pursuant to Condition 4(d), the 12 th  Scheduled Trading Day immediately following the relevant Conversion Date; and

 

(e)                                   in connection with an Enforcement Event, the day on which the Bonds become immediately due and payable pursuant to Condition 10,

 

provided that, in the case of each of (a), (b) and (c) above, if an Ex-Date in respect of a Relevant Dividend falls on or prior to the Conversion Date but the Relevant Determination Date for such Relevant Dividend falls after the Conversion Date, the Settlement Date will be the later of (1) the applicable Settlement Date specified above and (2) the third Scheduled Trading Day following the Relevant Determination Date.

 

Settlement Disruption Event ” means, on any day, an event beyond the control of the Issuer as a result of which CREST cannot settle the book-entry transfer of Ordinary Shares on such day.

 

Shareholders ” means the holders of Ordinary Shares.

 

Spin-Off ” has the meaning given to it in Condition 5(a)(iv).

 

Spin-Off Securities ” has the meaning provided by Condition 5(a)(iv).

 

Subsidiary ” has the meaning provided in Section 1159 of the Companies Act.

 

UK Listing Authority ” means the Financial Conduct Authority acting under Part VI of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.

 

Unsurrendered Bonds ” has the meaning provided in Condition 6(a).

 

Volume Weighted Average Price ” means:

 

(i)             in respect of an Original Ordinary Share (where the London Stock Exchange constitutes the Relevant Exchange in respect thereof) on any Scheduled Trading Day, the volume-weighted average price of an Original Ordinary Share published by or derived from Bloomberg page VOD LN Equity VWAP (or any successor page) after having selected (A) Condition Codes: Automatic Trade, Closing Auction, Intraday Auction, Opening Auction, UA Auction Uncrossing Trade and UC Auction Uncrossing Trade (or any successor labelling to these Condition Codes) and (B) the relevant Scheduled Trading Day, the relevant opening hour (being, as at the Issue Date, 8.00 a.m.) and the relevant closing hour (being, as at the Issue Date, 4.35 p.m.), in each case local time, of the Relevant Stock Exchange;

 

(ii)            (in circumstances where (i) above does not apply) in respect of an Ordinary Share or Security on any Scheduled Trading Day, the volume-weighted average price of an Ordinary Share or Security published by or derived from the equivalent Bloomberg page for such Ordinary Shares or Securities in respect of the Relevant Stock Exchange in respect thereof, in each case as determined by the Calculation Agent,

 

or, in case there is no such Bloomberg page, such other source (if any) as shall be determined in good faith to be appropriate by an Independent Adviser on such Scheduled Trading Day, provided that if on any such Scheduled Trading Day (the “ Affected VWAP Scheduled Trading Day ”) such price is not available or cannot otherwise be determined as provided above, the Volume Weighted Average Price of an Ordinary Share or Security, as the case may be, in respect of such Scheduled Trading Day shall be the Volume Weighted Average Price, determined as provided above, on the immediately succeeding Scheduled Trading Day on

 

35



 

which the same can be so determined, and further provided that if the Volume Weighted Average Price cannot be so determined on each of the five Scheduled Trading Days immediately succeeding the Affected VWAP Scheduled Trading Day, an Independent Adviser shall determine the Volume Weighted Average Price in good faith.

 

Voluntary Conversion ” means a conversion pursuant to Condition 4(c).

 

£ ” and “ sterling ” means the lawful currency for the time being of the United Kingdom.

 

References to any act or statute or any provision of any act or statute shall be deemed also to refer to any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof or any statutory instrument, order or regulation made thereunder or under such modification or re-enactment.

 

References to any issue or offer or grant to Shareholders “ as a class ” shall be taken to be references to an issue or offer or grant to all or substantially all Shareholders, other than Shareholders to whom, by reason of the laws of any territory or requirements of any recognised regulatory body or any other stock exchange or securities market in any territory or in connection with fractional entitlements, it is determined not to make such issue or offer or grant.

 

Any determination by the Calculation Agent or an Independent Adviser appointed by the Issuer or, as the case may be, the Trustee in any of the circumstances contemplated in these Conditions shall (save in the case of a manifest error) be final and binding on the Issuer, the Trustee and the Bondholders.

 

References in these Conditions to listing on the “ London Stock Exchange ” (or like or similar references) shall be construed as admission to the Official List of the UK Listing Authority and admission to trading on the EEA Regulated Market of the London Stock Exchange plc and references to “ EEA Regulated Market ” mean a market as defined by Article 4.1 (14) of Directive 2004/39/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on markets in financial instruments.

 

3                                          Interest and Deferral

 

(a)                                  Interest Rate

 

Subject to the further provisions of this Condition 3, each Bond bears interest on its principal amount from and including the Issue Date at the rate of 1.50 per cent. per annum, payable semi-annually in arrear on 25 February and 25 August in each year, commencing on 25 August 2016 (each an “ Interest Payment Date ”). The interest payable on each Interest Payment Date (subject to deferral, as provided below) will amount to £750 per authorised denomination. The amount of any interest payable in respect of a Bond pursuant to this Condition 3(a) on any Interest Payment Date (subject to deferral, as provided below) is referred to as an “ Interest Payment ”.

 

The amount of interest payable in respect of any period which is shorter than an Interest Period shall be calculated on the basis of (i) the number of days in the relevant period from (and including) the first day of such period to (but excluding) the last day of such period divided by (ii) two times the number of days from (and including) the immediately preceding Interest Payment Date (or, if none, the Issue Date) to (but excluding) the next Interest Payment Date.

 

Interest Period ” means the period beginning on (and including) the Issue Date and ending on (but excluding) the first Interest Payment Date and each successive period beginning on (and including) an Interest Payment Date and ending on (but excluding) the next succeeding Interest Payment Date.

 

(b)                                  Interest Deferral

 

(i)             Deferral of Interest Payments

 

The Issuer may elect in its sole discretion to defer (in whole or in part) any Interest Payment that is otherwise scheduled to be paid on an Interest Payment Date (other than the Final Maturity Date) by giving notice (a “ Deferral Notice ”) of such election to the Bondholders in

 

36



 

accordance with Condition 17, the Trustee and the Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent not more than 14 and not less than seven London business days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date (upon which notice the Trustee shall rely without enquiry or liability). Any Interest Payment that the Issuer has elected to defer pursuant to this Condition 3(b)(i) and that has not been satisfied is referred to as a “ Deferred Interest Payment ”.

 

If any Interest Payment is deferred pursuant to this Condition 3(b)(i), then such Deferred Interest Payment shall itself bear interest (such further interest, together with the Deferred Interest Payment, being “ Arrears of Interest ”), at the rate specified in Condition 3(a), from (and including) the date on which (but for such deferral) the Deferred Interest Payment would otherwise have been due to be made to (but excluding) the date on which such Deferred Interest Payment is paid in accordance with Condition 3(b)(ii) or (iii), as the case may be, in each case such further interest being compounded on each Interest Payment Date.

 

Non-payment on a scheduled Interest Payment Date of interest deferred pursuant to this Condition 3(b)(i) shall not constitute a default by the Issuer under the Bonds or the Trust Deed or for any other purpose.

 

(ii)            Optional Settlement of Arrears of Interest

 

Arrears of Interest may be satisfied at the option of the Issuer, in whole or in part, on any given day (the “ Optional Deferred Interest Settlement Date ”) following delivery of a notice to such effect given by the Issuer to Bondholders in accordance with Condition 17, the Trustee and the Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent not more than 14 and no less than seven London business days prior to the relevant Optional Deferred Interest Settlement Date informing them of its election to satisfy such Arrears of Interest (or part thereof) and specifying the relevant Optional Deferred Interest Settlement Date.

 

No Arrears of Interest will be payable under this Condition 3(b)(ii) in respect of a Bond which is the subject of an exercise of a Bondholder Voluntary Conversion Right where the Conversion Date in respect of such exercise falls on or before the Record Date in respect of such payment of Arrears of Interest.

 

(iii)           Mandatory Settlement of Arrears of Interest

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of Condition 3(b)(ii), the Issuer shall pay all (if any) outstanding Arrears of Interest in whole on the first occurring Mandatory Settlement Date following the relevant Interest Payment Date on which any such outstanding Arrears of Interest were first deferred.

 

Notice of the occurrence of any Mandatory Settlement Date shall be given by the Issuer to Bondholders in accordance with Condition 17, the Trustee and the Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent as soon as practicable following the event giving rise to the occurrence of the relevant Mandatory Settlement Date.

 

In addition, the Issuer shall pay all (if any) outstanding Arrears of Interest in respect of any Bond in whole on the earlier of:

 

(A)                                the date on which such Bond becomes due and payable in accordance with Condition 10; and

 

(B)                                where such Bond is converted, the relevant Settlement Date,

 

provided that no Arrears of Interest shall be payable in respect of a Bond which is converted as a result of the exercise of a Bondholder Voluntary Conversion Right pursuant to Condition 4(c).

 

No Arrears of Interest will be payable under this Condition 3(b)(iii) in respect of a Bond which is the subject of an exercise of a Bondholder Voluntary Conversion Right where the Conversion

 

37



 

Date in respect of such exercise falls on or before the Record Date in respect of such payment of Arrears of Interest.

 

(iv)           Definitions

 

A “ Compulsory Arrears of Interest Settlement Event ” shall have occurred if:

 

(A)                        a Dividend Declaration is made in respect of any Junior Securities or any Parity Securities (other than in respect of any such dividend, distribution or payment paid or made exclusively in Ordinary Shares); or

 

(B)                        the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries repurchases, redeems or otherwise acquires any Junior Securities or any Parity Securities,

 

save in the case of (a) any such Dividend Declaration in respect of, or such redemption, repurchase or acquisition of, any Parity Securities that is mandatory under the terms of such Parity Securities; (b) any Dividend Declaration or repurchase which is required to be validly resolved on, declared, paid or made in respect of, any share option, or any free share allocation plan in each case reserved for directors, officers and/or employees of the Issuer or any of its affiliates or any associated liquidity agreements or any associated hedging transactions; (c) any purchase of Ordinary Shares by or on behalf of the Issuer as part of an intra-day transaction that does not result in an increase in the aggregate number of Ordinary Shares held by or on behalf of the Issuer as treasury shares at 8:30 a.m. London time on the Interest Payment Date on which any outstanding Arrears of Interest were first deferred; (d) any repurchase or acquisition of Parity Securities that is made for a consideration less than the aggregate nominal or par value of such Parity Securities that are purchased or acquired; (e) any repurchase or acquisition of Ordinary Shares resulting from mandatory obligations or hedging of any convertible securities (including the Bonds) issued by the Issuer or by any Subsidiary of the Issuer and guaranteed by the Issuer; or (f) any repurchase or acquisition of Ordinary Shares resulting from the settlement of existing equity derivatives after the Interest Payment Date on which any outstanding Arrears of Interest was first deferred.

 

Dividend Declaration ” means the authorisation by resolution of the general meeting of shareholders or the board of directors or other competent corporate body (as the case may be) of the Issuer of the payment, or the making of, a dividend or other distribution or payment (or, if no such authorisation is required, the payment, or the making of, a dividend or other distribution or payment).

 

Mandatory Settlement Date ” means the earliest of:

 

(A)                        as soon as reasonably practicable (but not later than the fifth London business day) following the date on which a Compulsory Arrears of Interest Settlement Event occurs; and

 

(B)                        the next scheduled Interest Payment Date in respect of which the Issuer does not elect to defer in whole the interest accrued in respect of the relevant Interest Period ending on such Interest Payment Date.

 

(c)                                   Accrual of Interest

 

In the case of:

 

(i)             Mandatory Conversion on the Final Maturity Date pursuant to Condition 4(a), interest will cease to accrue on the Bonds with effect from (and including) the Final Maturity Date, and interest accrued from (and including) the Interest Payment Date immediately preceding the Final Maturity Date to (but excluding) the Final Maturity Date shall be paid on the Final Maturity Date (or, if such day is not a Business Day (as defined in Condition 8(e), on the immediately following such Business Day);

 

38



 

(ii)            any Mandatory Conversion at the option of the Issuer pursuant to Condition 4(b), or Mandatory Conversion following an Accelerated Conversion Event pursuant to Condition 4(d), interest will cease to accrue on the relevant Bonds with effect from (and including) the relevant Settlement Date, and interest accrued from (and including) the Interest Payment Date immediately preceding the relevant Settlement Date or, if there is no such Interest Payment Date, from (and including) the Issue Date, to (but excluding) the relevant Settlement Date shall be paid on the relevant Settlement Date (or, if such day is not a Business Day (as defined in Condition 8(e), on the immediately following such Business Day); and

 

(iii)           a Voluntary Conversion at the option of Bondholders pursuant to Condition 4(c), interest will cease to accrue on the relevant Bond(s) from (and including) the Interest Payment Date falling on or immediately preceding the relevant Conversion Date or, if there is no such Interest Payment Date, from (and including) the Issue Date,

 

provided that, in each such case under (i) or (ii) above, if payment is improperly withheld or refused the relevant Bonds shall continue to bear interest up to (but excluding) the Relevant Date.

 

4                                          Conversion of Bonds

 

(a)                                  Mandatory Conversion on the Final Maturity Date

 

Unless previously converted or redeemed or purchased and cancelled in accordance with these Conditions, each Bond will, subject as provided in these Conditions, be mandatorily converted on the Final Maturity Date into such number of Ordinary Shares as is equal to the Conversion Ratio in effect on the relevant Conversion Date.

 

The relevant Ordinary Shares shall be delivered by the Issuer on or prior to the Settlement Date.

 

On the Final Maturity Date (or, if such day is not a Business Day (as defined in Condition 8(e)), on the immediately following such Business Day), the Issuer will also make payment of any accrued interest in accordance with Condition 3(c) and any Arrears of Interest in accordance with Condition 3(b).

 

(b)                                  Early Conversion at the option of the Issuer

 

The Issuer may (subject as provided below) on or after 6 April 2016, at its option, upon giving not less than 15 and no more than 20 days’ notice (an “ Issuer’s Early Conversion Notice ”) to the Bondholders in accordance with Condition 17 and to the Trustee, the Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent and the Calculation Agent, mandatorily convert all but not some only of the outstanding Bonds into such number of Ordinary Shares in respect of each Bond as is equal to the Conversion Ratio in effect on the relevant Conversion Date.

 

The relevant Ordinary Shares shall be delivered by the Issuer on or prior to the Settlement Date.

 

On the relevant Settlement Date (or, if such day is not a Business Day (as defined in Condition 8(e)), on the immediately following such Business Day), the Issuer will also make payment of any accrued interest payable in accordance with Condition 3(c), any Arrears of Interest payable in accordance with Condition 3(b) and the Make-whole Amount payable in accordance with Condition 4(e).

 

An Issuer’s Early Conversion Notice shall be irrevocable.

 

No Issuer’s Early Conversion Notice may be delivered pursuant to this Condition 4(b) where the applicable Settlement Date would fall on or after the Final Maturity Date.

 

The Issuer’s Early Conversion Notice shall specify:

 

(i)             the Conversion Price and the Conversion Ratio as at the latest practicable date prior to giving such notice;

 

(ii)            the Conversion Date for the purposes of conversion of Bonds pursuant to this Condition 4(b);

 

39



 

(iii)           the Volume Weighted Average Price of an Ordinary Share as at the latest practicable date prior to giving such notice; and

 

(iv)           the procedure to be followed by Bondholders in respect of such conversion.

 

(c)                                   Voluntary Conversion at the option of Bondholders

 

Subject as provided below, each Bondholder shall have the right (a “ Bondholder Voluntary Conversion Right ”) to convert any or all of its Bonds into Ordinary Shares at any time on or after 6 April 2016, provided that the Settlement Date in respect thereof shall occur not later than the Final Maturity Date.

 

The number of Ordinary Shares to be delivered in respect of each Bond on such conversion shall be equal to the Conversion Ratio in effect on the relevant Conversion Date.

 

A Bondholder may exercise the Bondholder Voluntary Conversion Right by delivering the Certificate representing its Bonds (together with a duly completed and signed Conversion Notice) to the specified office of any Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent in accordance with Condition 6(a), whereupon the Issuer shall (subject as provided in these Conditions) procure the delivery to or as directed by the relevant Bondholder (in the relevant Conversion Notice) of the relevant Ordinary Shares as provided in Condition 6. The relevant number of Ordinary Shares shall be delivered by the Issuer on or prior to the Settlement Date.

 

A Bondholder may not exercise a Bondholder Voluntary Conversion Right:

 

(i)             following the giving of an Issuer’s Early Conversion Notice pursuant to Condition 4(b);

 

(ii)            following the giving of an Accelerated Conversion Event Notice by the Issuer pursuant to Condition 4(d);

 

(iii)           if the Settlement Date relating to such exercise would fall after the Final Maturity Date; or

 

(iv)           in respect of a Bond that has become immediately due and repayable pursuant to Condition 10.

 

No Make-whole Amount or accrued interest or Arrears of Interest shall be payable in respect of any conversion of Bonds upon the exercise of a Bondholder Voluntary Conversion Right.

 

Once a Bondholder has exercised a Bondholder Voluntary Conversion Right, its Bonds which are the subject of such exercise shall be converted pursuant to this Condition 4(c) notwithstanding any Issuer’s Early Conversion Notice or Accelerated Conversion Event Notice being given on or after the Conversion Date applicable pursuant to this Condition 4(c).

 

(d)                                  Mandatory Conversion following an Accelerated Conversion Event

 

If an Accelerated Conversion Event occurs, the Issuer shall (subject as provided below), no later than the fifth London business day after the occurrence of the Accelerated Conversion Event, give notice (the “ Accelerated Conversion Event Notice ”) thereof to the Bondholders in accordance with Condition 17, to the Trustee, the Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent and the Calculation Agent, and all but not some only of the outstanding Bonds shall be mandatorily converted into such number of Ordinary Shares in respect of each Bond as is equal to the Conversion Ratio in effect on the relevant Conversion Date.

 

The relevant Ordinary Shares shall be delivered by the Issuer on or prior to the Settlement Date.

 

On the relevant Settlement Date (or, if such day is not a Business Day (as defined in Condition 8(e)), on the immediately following such Business Day), the Issuer will also make payment of any accrued interest payable in accordance with Condition 3(c), the Make-whole Amount payable in accordance with Condition 4(e) and any Arrears of Interest payable in accordance with Condition 3(b).

 

40



 

No Accelerated Conversion Event Notice shall be required to be delivered, and the Bonds shall not be mandatorily converted, pursuant to this Condition 4(d) where the applicable Settlement Date would fall on or after the Final Maturity Date.

 

The Accelerated Conversion Event Notice shall specify:

 

(i)             the Conversion Price and the Conversion Ratio immediately prior to the occurrence of the Accelerated Conversion Event and as at the latest practicable date prior to giving such notice;

 

(ii)            the Conversion Date for the purposes of conversion of Bonds pursuant to this Condition 4(d);

 

(iii)           the Volume Weighted Average Price of an Ordinary Share as at the latest practicable date prior to giving such notice; and

 

(iv)           the procedure to be followed by Bondholders in respect of such conversion.

 

An “ Accelerated Conversion Event ” shall occur if:

 

(A)                                the credit rating of Vodafone Group plc (on an issuer, rather than issue, basis and on a senior long term debt basis) from each of Moody’s Investors Service Limited (“ Moody’s ”), Standard & Poor’s Rating Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (“ S&P ”) and Fitch Ratings (“ Fitch ”), or any of their respective successors (each a “ Rating Agency ”):

 

(x)            falls below Baa3 (in the case of Moody’s), below BBB- (in the case of S&P) and below BBB- (in the case of Fitch), as applicable, and Vodafone Group plc does not within a 30 calendar day period subsequently receive a rating (on the basis described above) of Baa3 (in the case of Moody’s) or BBB- (in the case of S&P) or BBB- (in the case of Fitch), or higher, by at least one Rating Agency; or

 

(y)            is withdrawn by all of the Rating Agencies and is not reinstated to a rating (on the basis described above) of Baa3 (in the case of Moody’s) or BBB- (in the case of S&P) or BBB- (in the case of Fitch), or higher, by at least one Rating Agency within a 30 calendar day period subsequent to such withdrawal; or

 

(B)                                the Issuer fails to make any payment to any Bondholder under the Bonds when due and such failure continues for more than 30 days from the relevant due date (for the purposes thereof, and for the avoidance of doubt, any interest deferred pursuant to Condition 3(b) shall not be “due” on the relevant scheduled Interest Payment Date for the purposes of this Condition 4(d)); or

 

(C)                                options contracts in respect of the Ordinary Shares are traded on ICE Futures Europe and any event occurs as a result of which such option contracts are or will be settled in accordance with the ICE Futures Europe’s Corporate Actions Policy, other than (x) a delisting (as contemplated by the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy) that does not also constitute a Delisting and (y) where such event also constitutes an Enforcement Event, in which case Condition 10 shall apply; or

 

(D)                                a Nationalisation, a Delisting or a Change in Law occurs.

 

If the rating designations employed by Moody’s, S&P or Fitch are changed from those which are described in paragraph (A) above, the Issuer, in consultation with an Independent Adviser, shall determine the rating designations of Moody’s or S&P or Fitch (as appropriate) as are most equivalent to the prior rating designations of Moody’s or S&P or Fitch and the above definition shall be read accordingly.

 

Neither the Trustee, the Calculation Agent nor any Agent shall be under any duty to monitor whether any Accelerated Conversion Event shall have occurred, and will not be responsible or liable to the Bondholders for any loss arising from any failure by it to do so.

 

41



 

Upon the occurrence of an Accelerated Conversion Event, the Issuer shall promptly deliver to the Trustee a certificate signed by two authorised officers of the Issuer confirming the occurrence thereof and providing details of the event giving rise thereto.

 

(e)                                   Make-whole Amount

 

In the case of a Mandatory Conversion at the option of the Issuer pursuant to Condition 4(b) or a Mandatory Conversion following an Accelerated Conversion Event pursuant to Condition 4(d), the Issuer shall pay to each Bondholder on the relevant Settlement Date, in respect of each Bond converted, an amount equal to the Make-whole Amount which shall be paid in accordance with Condition 8.

 

No Make-whole Amount shall be payable in respect of the exercise of a Bondholder Voluntary Conversion Right pursuant to Condition 4(c).

 

(f)                                     Fractions

 

The number of Ordinary Shares to be delivered on conversion to a Bondholder shall be calculated by the Calculation Agent on the basis of the aggregate principal amount of the Bonds being so converted, rounded down, if necessary, to the nearest whole number of Ordinary Shares. Fractions of Ordinary Shares will not be delivered on or in respect of any conversion pursuant to this Condition 4 and no cash payment or other adjustment will be made in lieu thereof.

 

(g)                                  Taxes and Stamp duties etc.

 

A Bondholder must pay directly to the relevant authorities any taxes and capital, stamp, issue and registration and transfer taxes and duties arising on conversion of the Bond (other than any taxes or capital, stamp, issue and registration and transfer, and other taxes and duties payable in the United Kingdom in respect of the allotment, issue, transfer and/or delivery (as the case may be) of any Ordinary Shares to or to the order of a Bondholder pursuant to these Conditions on such conversion, which shall be paid by the Issuer). Without prejudice to the foregoing, a Bondholder must pay all, if any, taxes or duties imposed on it and arising by reference to any disposal or deemed disposal of a Bond or interest therein in connection with any Mandatory Conversion or Voluntary Conversion pursuant to this Condition 4.

 

If (i) the Issuer shall fail to pay any taxes and capital, stamp, issue and registration and transfer taxes and duties payable for which it is responsible as provided above, and the relevant holder shall tender and pay the same or (ii) the Issuer is responsible for any taxes and capital, stamp, issue and registration and transfer taxes and duties as provided above, but such taxes and duties are charged to and/or directly paid by the relevant Bondholder, the Issuer, as a separate and independent stipulation, covenants in respect of the taxes or duties referred to in (i) and/or (ii) above to reimburse and indemnify each Bondholder in respect of any payment thereof and any penalties payable in respect thereof.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, neither the Trustee, the Calculation Agent nor any Agent shall be responsible for determining whether any taxes and capital, stamp, issue and registration and transfer taxes and duties arising on conversion of the Bonds are payable or the amount thereof and shall not be responsible or liable for any failure by the Issuer to pay any taxes or capital, stamp, issue and registration and transfer taxes and duties payable in respect of the allotment, issue and delivery of any Ordinary Shares upon such conversion.

 

(h)                                  Purchase or Redemption of Ordinary Shares

 

The Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries may exercise such rights as it may from time to time enjoy to purchase, hold, redeem or buy back any shares or other Securities of the Issuer (including Ordinary Shares) or any depositary or other receipts or certificates representing the same without the consent of the Bondholders.

 

42



 

5                                          Adjustment of Conversion Price and Ordinary Shares

 

(a)                                  The Calculation Agent (or, to the extent specified in these Conditions, an Independent Adviser) will adjust the Conversion Price and/or what is considered an Ordinary Share (as applicable) as follows:

 

(i)             ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy

 

(A)                                If option contracts in respect of the Ordinary Shares are traded on ICE Futures Europe and, at any time while there have been no amendments to the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy, ICE Futures Europe adjusts such option contracts, or, at any time after there has been an amendment to the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy, the Calculation Agent or (where the Calculation Agent determines in its sole discretion it is not capable of making such determination in its capacity as Calculation Agent) an Independent Adviser determines that it would reasonably have been expected that ICE Futures Europe would have adjusted such option contracts pursuant to the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy (without any amendment) if the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy had not been amended, in light of any corporate actions and/or capital adjustments of the kind specified in Condition 5(b), the Calculation Agent shall with effect as of the same date, adjust the Conversion Price and/or Ordinary Shares (as applicable) as provided in Condition 5(b)(iv); provided that in relation to Cash Dividends and Non Cash Dividends (each as defined below) the Calculation Agent shall make the adjustments as set out in Condition 5(a)(ii) instead of any corresponding or other adjustment under the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy; and further provided that, in accordance with Condition 5(b)(iv)(A)(IV) (or, as the case may be, Condition 5(b)(iv)(B)(VI)), in relation to any corporate actions and/or capital adjustments resulting in option contracts being settled at their theoretical fair value (as described in the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy for a reason other than a delisting (as contemplated by the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy) that does not constitute a Delisting), or in relation to Delisting and Nationalisation, an Accelerated Conversion Event shall occur instead of any adjustment of the Conversion Price and/or Ordinary Shares in relation to the relevant event, and the provisions of Condition 4(d) will apply.

 

If no option contracts in respect of the Ordinary Shares are traded on ICE Futures Europe, (i) if the Calculation Agent determines in its sole discretion it is capable of making such adjustment in its capacity as Calculation Agent, the Calculation Agent and (ii) in any other case, an Independent Adviser, shall make the adjustments to the Conversion Price and/or Ordinary Shares (as applicable) in light of any corporate actions and/or capital adjustments of the kind specified in Condition 5(b) (other than in relation to the distribution to Shareholders of a Cash Dividend or a Non Cash Dividend, in respect of which the Calculation Agent shall make the adjustments set out in Condition 5(a)(ii) and other than in relation to any corporate actions and/or capital adjustments which would have resulted in the good faith determination of the Calculation Agent, or as the case may be, Independent Adviser, in option contracts being settled at their theoretical fair value (as described in the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy for a reason other than a delisting (as contemplated by the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy) that does not constitute a Delisting), a Delisting or a Nationalisation, in which case an Accelerated Conversion Event shall occur instead of any corresponding adjustment of the Conversion Price and/or Ordinary Shares in relation to the relevant event) in analogous application of the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy with the modifications provided in Condition 5(b)(iv).

 

(B)                                Following any adjustment contemplated by Condition 5(a)(i)(A), the Issuer may request an Independent Adviser to determine, subject to the requirements that (i) it considers an

 

43



 

amendment reasonably necessary and (ii) no amendment may be made which would, in the Trustee’s opinion, (a) impose more onerous obligations on it, or decrease its rights, powers, discretions, authorisations or indemnities, under these Conditions and the Trust Deed or (b) expose the Trustee to liability against which it is not indemnified and/or secured and/or prefunded to its satisfaction without its consent, what amendments (if any) to these Conditions, the Trust Deed and any other relevant documents are appropriate in order to reflect the commercial terms of the adjustment. Upon any such determination being made by such Independent Adviser as aforesaid (upon which determination the Trustee shall rely absolutely and without enquiry or liability) and notified to the Trustee, the Issuer and the Trustee shall (at the expense of the Issuer), pursuant to the terms of the Trust Deed and without the consent of the Bondholders, effect such amendments as so determined by the Independent Adviser to these Conditions, the Trust Deed and any other relevant documents.

 

See Condition 5(b) below for a summary of certain aspects of the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Action Policy in effect as at the Launch Date.

 

(ii)            Cash/Non-Cash Dividends

 

If an Ex-Date in respect of a Cash Dividend or a Non Cash Dividend (a “Relevant Dividend”) falls on or prior to the Conversion Date, the Calculation Agent shall calculate the adjustment to the Conversion Price in accordance with the following formula (instead of any corresponding or other adjustment under the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy):

 

X n =  X o  x R

 

Where:

 

X n                                   =                                          the adjusted Conversion Price;

 

X o                                   =                                          the Conversion Price on the Relevant Record Date;

 

R                                        =                                          S e  / (S e  + D);

 

S e                                      =                                          the arithmetic average of the daily Volume Weighted Average Prices of an exentitlement Ordinary Share on each of the five consecutive Scheduled Trading Days (the “ Averaging Period ”) commencing on and including the Ex-Date in respect of the Relevant Dividend; and

 

D                                        =                                          the Fair Market Value of the Net Amount of the Relevant Dividend on a per Ordinary Share basis.

 

(iii)           For the purposes of Condition 5(a)(ii):

 

(A)                                the relevant adjustment to the Conversion Price in respect of the Relevant Dividend will be determined on the first day (the “ Relevant Determination Date ”) on which both “S e ” and “D” have been determined by the Calculation Agent (or, as the case may be, the Independent Adviser);

 

(B)                                the Fair Market Value of the Net Amount of a Relevant Dividend shall (subject as provided in paragraph (a) of the definition of “Dividend” and in the definition of “Fair Market Value”) be determined as at the Ex-Date in respect of the Relevant Dividend; and

 

(C)                                the effective date for the relevant adjustment to the Conversion Price will be the Ex-Date in respect of the Relevant Dividend (notwithstanding that the Relevant Determination Date will occur after the Ex-Date).

 

44



 

(iv)           Definitions

 

Cash Dividend ” means (i) any Dividend which is to be paid or made in cash (in whatever currency), but other than falling within paragraph (b) of the definition of “ Spin-Off ” and (ii) any Dividend determined to be a Cash Dividend pursuant to paragraph (a) or (c) of the definition of “Dividend”.

 

Dividend ” means any dividend or distribution to Shareholders (including a Spin-Off) whether of cash, assets or other property, and however described and whether payable out of share premium account, profits, retained earnings or any other capital or revenue reserve or account, and including a distribution or payment to holders upon or in connection with a reduction of capital (and for these purposes a distribution of assets includes without limitation an issue of Ordinary Shares or other Securities credited as fully or partly paid up by way of capitalisation of profits or reserves); provided that :

 

(a)                                  where:

 

(1)                                  a dividend in cash is announced which may at the election of a Shareholder or Shareholders be satisfied by the issue or delivery of Ordinary Shares or other property or assets, or where an issue of Ordinary Shares to Shareholders by way of a capitalisation of profits or reserves (including any share premium account or capital redemption reserve) is announced which may at the election of a Shareholder or Shareholders be satisfied by the payment of cash, then the dividend or capitalisation in question shall be treated as a Cash Dividend of an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of such cash amount as at the first date on which the Ordinary Shares are traded ex- the relevant dividend or capitalisation on the Relevant Stock Exchange; or

 

(2)                                  there shall be any issue of Ordinary Shares or other property or assets to Shareholders by way of capitalisation of profits or reserves (including any share premium account or capital redemption reserve) where such issue is or is expressed to be in lieu of a dividend (whether or not a cash dividend equivalent or amount is announced) or a dividend in cash that is to be satisfied by the issue or delivery of Ordinary Shares or other property or assets, in each case other than in the circumstances the subject of sub-paragraph (1) above, the capitalisation or dividend in question shall be treated as a Cash Dividend of an amount equal to the Volume Weighted Average Price of such Ordinary Shares or, as the case may be, the Fair Market Value of such other property or assets as at the first date on which the Ordinary Shares are traded ex- the relevant capitalisation or, as the case may be, ex- the relevant dividend on the Relevant Stock Exchange or, if later, the Dividend Determination Date, save that where a dividend in cash is announced which is to be satisfied by the issue or delivery of Ordinary Shares where the number of Ordinary Shares to be issued or delivered is to be determined during a period following such announcement and is to be determined by reference to a publicly available formula based on the closing price or volume weighted average price or any like or similar pricing benchmark of the Ordinary Shares, without factoring in any discount to such price or benchmark, then such dividend shall be treated as a Cash Dividend in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of such cash amount on such date as such cash amount is determined as aforesaid;

 

(b)                                  where a dividend or distribution is paid or made to Shareholders pursuant to any plan implemented by the Issuer for the purpose of enabling Shareholders to elect, or which may require Shareholders, to receive dividends or distributions in respect of the Ordinary Shares held by them from a person other than (or in addition to) the Issuer,

 

45



 

such dividend or distribution shall for the purposes of these Conditions be treated as a dividend or distribution made or paid to Shareholders by the Issuer, and the foregoing provisions of this definition and the provisions of these Conditions shall be construed accordingly;

 

(c)                                   where a dividend in cash is declared which provides for payment to Shareholders in the Relevant Currency, whether at the option of Shareholders or otherwise, it shall be treated as a Cash Dividend in the amount of such Relevant Currency and in any other case it shall be treated as a Cash Dividend in the amount and in the currency in which it is payable to the Shareholders; and

 

(d)                                  a dividend or distribution that is a Spin-Off shall be deemed to be a Non Cash Dividend,

 

and any such determination shall (save in the case of determining the Fair Market Value of the Net Amount of a Relevant Dividend pursuant to Condition 5(a)) be made (by the Calculation Agent) on a gross basis and disregarding any withholding or deduction required to be made for or on account of tax, and disregarding any associated tax credit.

 

Ex-Date ” means the first Scheduled Trading Day on which the Ordinary Shares are traded ex-the Relevant Dividend on the Relevant Stock Exchange.

 

Net Amount ” means, in respect of any Relevant Dividend, the amount in respect of such Relevant Dividend as would be received, after any applicable withholding or deduction on account of United Kingdom taxation, by a holder of the Ordinary Shares in respect of which such Relevant Dividend is paid or made that is a bank or financial institution resident for tax purposes in the United Kingdom and within the charge to corporation tax, and disregarding any associated tax credit. If there are one or more Hedging Counterparties on the Relevant Record Date in relation to such cash dividend or Relevant Dividend, the Net Amount in respect thereof shall be determined in good faith by the Issuer in consultation with such Hedging Counterparty or Hedging Counterparties, as the case may be, and notified by it to the Calculation Agent no later than on the Relevant Record Date. If there is no Hedging Counterparty on the Relevant Record Date in relation to such Relevant Dividend as aforesaid, the Net Amount in respect thereof shall be determined in good faith by an Independent Adviser no later than on the Relevant Record Date. The Calculation Agent shall rely upon, and shall not be liable and shall not incur any liability as against the Issuer, the Trustee, the Bondholders or any other party in respect of, any such determination by the Issuer or an Independent Adviser as aforesaid.

 

Non Cash Dividend ” means a Dividend which is not a Cash Dividend and shall include a Spin-Off.

 

Relevant Record Date ” means the Scheduled Trading Day which immediately precedes the relevant Ex-Date in respect of the Relevant Dividend.

 

Spin-Off ” means:

 

(a)                                  a distribution of Spin-Off Securities by the issuer of an Ordinary Share to Shareholders as a class; or

 

(b)                                  any issue, transfer or delivery of any property or assets (including cash or shares or other securities of or in or issued or allotted) by any entity (other than the issuer of an Ordinary Share) to Shareholders as a class, pursuant in each case to any arrangements with the issuer of an Ordinary Share or any of its Subsidiaries,

 

in each case other than in the circumstances the subject of paragraph (a) of the definition of “Dividend”.

 

46



 

Spin-Off Securities ” means equity share capital of an entity other than the issuer of an Ordinary Share, or options, warrants or other rights to subscribe for or purchase equity share capital of an entity other than the issuer of an Ordinary Share.

 

(b)                                  Summary of certain aspects of the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy

 

The ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy provides for adjustments of options contracts in respect of shares, including the Ordinary Shares, which would likely be applied by ICE Futures Europe in determining adjustments to the options contracts related to the Ordinary Shares.

 

The results of such adjustments will be applied by the Calculation Agent when determining adjustments of the Conversion Price, pursuant to Condition 5(a) with the modifications set out in Condition 5(b)(iv), except where the Corporate Action constitutes a Cash Dividend, Non Cash Dividend, Delisting, Nationalisation or other Corporate Action resulting in option contracts being settled at their theoretical fair value.

 

The ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy is subject to change from time to time.

 

However, changes made after the Launch Date will not have effect for the purposes of the Conditions, except as expressly provided in Condition 5(b)(iv)(B)(VI). If changes are made to the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy, the Calculation Agent (or, as the case may be, pursuant to these Conditions, an Independent Adviser) will determine what the adjustment would have been if the policy had not been amended (each such determination being a “Deemed Adjustment”) and Condition 5(b)(iv)(B) will apply.

 

Further, ICE Futures Europe retains the right to determine how any particular Corporate Action will be reflected in option contract adjustments on a case by case basis despite the provisions of the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Action Policy. Consequently, the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Action Policy provides only the methodology which will as a general rule be applied to cater for Corporate Actions and deviations may be made therefrom at any time. Neither the Issuer, the Calculation Agent nor the Trustee is responsible for informing Bondholders of any change at any time to the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy. Conditions 5(b)(i), 5(b)(ii) and 5(b)(iii) are for information purposes only and have been prepared in order to provide Bondholders with summary information of potential adjustments following the occurrence of certain Corporate Actions and such adjustments are subject to change. The information has been adjusted to the extent practicable to fit with the terminology of the Bonds. However, ICE Futures Europe may apply the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policies differently, in particular with respect to the definition and determination of Corporate Action below. In the case of any discrepancy between this description and the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy or actual option contract adjustments made by ICE Futures Europe, the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy or the actual option contract adjustments made by ICE Futures Europe prior to any amendment of the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy as applicable shall prevail.

 

(i)             Corporate Action

 

For the purposes of this Condition 5(b), “Corporate Action” means any of the following events occurring prior to the Conversion Date:

 

(A)                                 a cash and/or scrip dividend, a bonus or scrip issue, a rights issue, a share split, subdivision or consolidation, a demerger or any other event affecting or giving rise to a right or entitlement attaching or accruing to the shares of, or ownership of shares in, a company; or

 

(B)                                 a takeover, merger or any arrangement, transaction or series of transactions which will or may result in the acquisition by any person or persons or any associated person or persons of a substantial proportion of the shares of a company; or

 

47



 

(C)                                any other event which, in the opinion of ICE Futures Europe, impacts or may impact on an option contract in respect of the shares of a company.

 

These Corporate Actions and any adjustments made by ICE Futures Europe described below will be relevant to the determinations made by the Calculation Agent (or, as the case may be, as provided pursuant to these Conditions, an Independent Adviser) only if such Corporate Actions are not a Cash Dividend, a Non-Cash Dividend, Delisting or Nationalisation which have been excluded from the scope of the applicability of the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy pursuant to Condition 5(a) of these Conditions.

 

(ii)            Other defined terms

 

For the purposes of this Condition 5(b):

 

cum entitlement ” means, in respect of a share, with the right, before a date determined and published from time to time by the stock exchange determined by ICE Futures Europe, to any Relevant Entitlement relating thereto.

 

EDSP ” means the exchange delivery settlement price determined by ICE Futures Europe in accordance with its rules.

 

ex-entitlement ” means, in respect of a share, without the entitlement, on or after a date determined and published from time to time by the stock exchange determined by ICE Futures Europe, to any Relevant Entitlement relating thereto.

 

Lot Size ” means the number of shares underlying one option contract.

 

Ratio Method ” means that ICE Futures Europe will determine and disclose the adjustment ratio if known or the equation necessary to calculate the ratio. The adjustment ratio will be rounded, using normal mathematical rounding conventions, to five decimal places. Application of the adjustment ratio with respect to exercise prices, the creation of reference prices, and Lot Sizes will be made with the rounded adjustment ratio. For option contracts the adjustment ratio is used to alter the Lot Size (by dividing the Lot Size by the ratio) and the exercise price (by multiplying the exercise price by the ratio). On exercise, delivery sellers are required to deliver the adjusted number of ex-entitlement shares in return for a consideration of the adjusted exercise price multiplied by the adjusted Lot Size. Equalisation payments will be made for all option contracts to neutralise the effect observed due to rounding of the Lot Size.

 

Relevant Entitlement ” means any one or more of a cash dividend, scrip dividend, bonus issue, scrip issue, rights issue, or any other right or entitlement, attaching or accruing to, or otherwise affecting, from time to time, a share or ownership of a share.

 

Package Method ” means that ICE Futures Europe will substitute the underlying shares in an option contract with a package of the ex-entitlement shares and the proportionate number of entitlements. In the case of physical delivery option contracts, on exercise, delivery sellers are required to deliver the ex-entitlement shares and the proportionate number of entitlements in consideration for the exercise price multiplied by the Lot Size. Fractions of shares will be settled in cash. No adjustment will be made to the Lot Size or exercise prices. In the case of cash settlement option contracts on exercise, the EDSP will be determined by aggregating the components which form the package. Daily settlement prices will not be adjusted to create reference prices and no adjustment will be made to the Lot Size or to the trading code.

 

(iii)           Consequences of a Corporate Action pursuant to the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy

 

Upon the occurrence of a Corporate Action, the following adjustments are likely to be made by ICE Futures Europe in respect of option contracts in respect of shares, including the Ordinary

 

48



 

Shares, subject to any discretion exercised by ICE Futures Europe when performing the actual adjustments:

 

(A)                                 Bonus issues, stock splits, reverse stock splits, subdivisions or c onsolidations of share capital

 

The Ratio Method will be used to adjust option contracts to cater for a bonus issue, stock split, reverse stock split, subdivision or consolidation of share capital.

 

The adjustment ratio shall be constructed as follows:

 

 

Where :

 

P = The official closing price or such other price as determined by ICE Futures Europe and set out in the notice relating to the Corporate Action of the cum entitlement share on the stock exchange determined by ICE Futures Europe

 

E = Value of the entitlement per share

 

O = Cum amount of shares (old)

 

N = Ex amount of shares (new)

 

For bonus issues, stock splits, reverse stock splits, subdivisions or consolidations, P and E are irrelevant. Therefore the formula for the adjustment ratio for bonus issues, stock splits, reverse stock splits, subdivisions or consolidations simply reads:

 

 

(B)                                 Rights issues and open offers

 

The Ratio Method will be used to adjust option contracts to cater for rights issues and open offers. The Adjustment Ratio will be calculated by creating a ratio of the theoretical ex-entitlement share price to the cum entitlement share price.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, the ICE Futures Europe will make adjustments to option contracts where the entitlement issue creates an exclusive entitlement to existing shareholders, irrespective of the tradability of the entitlement. ICE Futures Europe will interpret a rights issue or an open offer to shareholders as a Corporate Action that creates an exclusive entitlement to shareholders, insofar that the entitlement has positive value.

 

Calculations of the value of the entitlement and the adjustment ratio for a straightforward issue are as follows:

 

Value of the Relevant Entitlement per share

 

 

Where :

 

E = Theoretical value of an entitlement

 

49



 

P = The official closing price or such other price as determined by ICE Futures Europe and set out in the notice relating to the Corporate Action of the cum entitlement share on the stock exchange determined by ICE Futures Europe

 

S = Subscription price of one new share

 

d = Dividend to which new shareholders are not entitled

 

h = Number of existing shares specified as eligible for the entitlement

 

r = Number of new shares specified as the entitlement

 

x = 1

 

Adjustment Ratio

 

 

The Adjustment Ratio will be applied to exercise prices and daily settlement prices as described in the Ratio Method at the close of business on the last business day that the company’s shares are trading cum entitlement.

 

Where an entitlement issue entitles shareholders to take up securities that are not pari passu in all respects to those shares which derived the entitlement, or will not immediately convert into those shares, ICE Futures Europe may determine the value of the entitlement by means of a members’ survey. The survey will be conducted on the last business day that the company’s shares are trading cum entitlement.

 

It should be noted that where a market auction facility is available on the stock exchange determined by ICE Futures Europe, ICE Futures Europe may, at its discretion, use the closing price of the rights from the market auction on the last cum entitlement trading day to determine a theoretical ex-entitlement share price.

 

ICE Futures Europe will have regard, where possible, to any adjustment or valuation methodology applied to any index which the underlying share may be a constituent of, to cater for the event.

 

(C)                                Demergers

 

The Package Method will be used to cater for demergers where shares of the demerged company can be delivered and settled in a qualifying settlement system and/or traded on a qualifying stock exchange as determined by ICE Futures Europe pursuant to the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy and are denominated in the relevant currency of the option contracts.

 

If the shares of a demerged company cannot be delivered and settled in a settlement system and/or traded on a stock exchange determined by ICE Futures Europe and are not denominated in the relevant currency of the option contracts, then the Ratio Method will be applied.

 

The adjustment ratio will be calculated as follows

 

 

In the case that a demerger results in the creation of two or more companies, shares of those demerged companies will be subject to the above conditions, such that if the shares of each demerged company cannot be delivered and settled in a settlement system and/or traded on a stock exchange and are not denominated in the relevant currency of the

 

50



 

option contracts, then the Ratio Method will be applied to the shares of those demerged companies, in their respective proportions.

 

In determining the value of a demerged company’s shares for the purpose of applying the Ratio Method, ICE Futures Europe may conduct a members’ survey on the last date which the company’s shares are trading cum entitlement. However, on or prior to this date, if the value of shares in the demerged company can be determined from market trading on any facility operated by the stock exchange determined by ICE Futures Europe, then this value will be used in place of a members’ survey.

 

If the demerged company is already traded on an exchange designated by ICE Futures Europe, ICE Futures Europe may adjust the contracts in accordance with the Ratio Method.

 

(D)                                Mergers and takeovers

 

To cater for a merger or takeover, ICE Futures Europe will use the structure of the headline offer (“offer consideration”) to determine what adjustment methodology to apply to option contracts.

 

In general ICE Futures Europe will calculate implied volatilities for the purpose of (a possible) fair value settlement as described in the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy, whether the offer is in stock, or in cash or in a combination of both.

 

The Ratio Method will be applied where the offer consideration is composed purely of shares in another company. The Ratio Method will only be employed should ICE Futures Europe deem that the shares which form the headline offer can be delivered and settled in a settlement system and/or traded on a stock exchange determined by ICE Futures Europe and are denominated in the relevant currency of the option contracts. In applying the Ratio Method to substitute the underlying value of the option contracts the adjustment ratio will be calculated as follows.

 

 

Where y is equal to the number of shares offered under the headline offer for every x shares held in the underlying company. This ratio will be applied as described in the Ratio Method, such that the underlying shares of the contract will be substituted in the same proportion as determined by the headline offer, for the shares that form the offer consideration. Use of the Ratio Method will ensure daily settlement prices and exercise prices are adjusted in line with the level of the new underlying shares. The Ratio Method will only be applied on cases where the new underlying shares that have resulted from the merger or takeover are denominated in the same currency as the relevant currency for the option contracts. Where this is not the case, a fair value methodology will be employed.

 

If ICE Futures Europe deems that those shares which form the offer consideration cannot be delivered and settled in a settlement system and/or traded on a stock exchange determined by ICE Futures Europe and are not denominated in the relevant currency of the option contracts, then the option contracts will be settled at their theoretical fair value (as described in the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy).

 

Where the offer consideration is composed purely of cash, the option contracts will be settled at their theoretical fair value (as described in as described in the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy).

 

51



 

Where the offer is composed of both shares and cash, and ICE Futures Europe deems that the share element cannot be delivered and settled in a settlement system and/or traded on a stock exchange determined by ICE Futures Europe and are not denominated in the relevant currency of the option contracts, then the option contracts will be settled at their theoretical fair value. If the share element can be delivered and settled in a settlement system and/or traded on a stock exchange determined by ICE Futures Europe and are denominated in the relevant currency of the option contracts, ICE Futures Europe will deem whether the Ratio Method may be applied, such that the resulting contracts would become contracts purely on the share element. In this case the Adjustment Ratio will be based on the share price of the company issuing the bid.

 

Generally ICE Futures Europe will seek to use the official closing price of the shares on the market where the company has its primary listing. However in cases where the company issuing the bid has its primary listing in a different time zone than the target company, ICE Futures Europe may use an official closing/opening price established on a secondary venue, use a VWAP calculation or use the EDSP calculation. Lastly, if the price of the share of the company issuing the bid is not available or cannot be determined at an appropriate time, ICE Futures Europe reserves the right to calculate the Adjustment Ratio on the basis of the share price of the target company.

 

In the circumstance that the cash element represents over 67% of the total offer consideration, the option contracts will be settled at their theoretical fair value (as described in the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy), and the Ratio Method will not be applied. For the avoidance of doubt, once the Exchange has determined the proportion of cash and made such announcement as to the type of adjustment methodology, the methodology will not then be changed simply due to share price movements affecting the proportion of cash.

 

 

Pt = C + (N*S)

 

Where:

 

Pt = Theoretical value of one share of the target company

 

N = Number of shares of the offeror received per share of the target company

 

O = 1

 

C = Cash element of the offer per share held

 

S = Cum event share price of the company that is issuing the offer (being the offeror)

 

Adjustments to option contracts will be made when a relevant offer is declared effective by the offeror and if the threshold of the majority of the outstanding shares (50% + 1) is met.

 

In the case of offers, whereby the relevant offer is a mandatory offer by law, ICE Futures Europe will use a threshold of 75% of the outstanding shares to determine whether the relevant offer is effective.

 

(E)                                 Share repurchases

 

ICE Futures Europe will generally treat instances where a company repurchases its own shares in the market as a non-adjustable event. However, on occasions where a company makes an offer for its own shares at a premium to the prevailing market price, and where

 

52



 

shareholders have equal opportunity to participate in the offer, ICE Futures Europe may, where practical, deem the share repurchase as an adjustable event.

 

(F)                                 Special circumstances

 

If the underlying share of the option contract is no longer tradable and/or deliverable due to circumstances not described in the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy, ICE Futures Europe will decide on a case by case basis what the consequences for the option contracts will be, and will inform the regulator at the same time as issuing a notice in relation to such event.

 

(iv)                               Adjustment by the Calculation Agent and/or Ordinary Shares of the Conversion Price following a Corporate Action

 

(A)                                Prior to any amendment of the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy

 

(I)                                    For the purpose of adjusting the Conversion Price following an adjustment by ICE Futures Europe to option contracts in respect of Ordinary Shares pursuant to the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy in accordance with the Ratio Method, the Calculation Agent shall determine whether when determining the Adjustment Ratio, ICE Futures Europe has used a price for the relevant share which:

 

(i)             is cum entitlement; and

 

(ii)            is not equal to (1) if the relevant Corporate Action is a rights issue, the Closing Price of an Ordinary Share on the Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the first Scheduled Trading Day on which the Ordinary Shares are traded ex-entitlement, or (2) if the relevant Corporate Action is not a rights issue, the 5 Day VWAP,

 

such price used by ICE Futures Europe as aforesaid and satisfying both provisos (i) and (ii) being a “ Cum Entitlement Price ”. If the adjustment ratio has been determined by ICE Futures Europe based on a Cum Entitlement Price, the Calculation Agent shall recalculate the adjustment ratio using (1) if the relevant Corporate Action is a rights issue, the Closing Price referred to in paragraph (ii)(1) above, or (2) if the relevant Corporate Action is not a rights issue, the 5 Day VWAP referred to in paragraph (ii)(2) above, in each case instead of the Cum Entitlement Price (being the “ CA Adjustment Ratio ”).

 

For the purpose of adjusting the Conversion Price in respect of the Bonds the Calculation Agent shall multiply the Conversion Price in effect prior to the adjustment performed by ICE Futures Europe by the relevant CA Adjustment Ratio and the resulting adjusted Conversion Price shall apply as of the date from which the adjustment made by ICE Futures Europe applies.

 

Subject as provided in Condition 5(b)(iv)(A)(II) below, if the Calculation Agent determines that the Adjustment Ratio has been determined by ICE Futures Europe (i) based on the relevant Closing Price referred to in paragraph (ii)(1) above (in the context of a rights issue) or the 5 Day VWAP (in the context of any other Corporate Action) or (ii) pursuant to a formula that is not based on the price of a cum entitlement Ordinary Share, for the purpose of adjusting the Conversion Price in respect the Bonds the Calculation Agent shall multiply the Conversion Price in effect prior to the adjustment performed by ICE Futures Europe by the relevant Adjustment Ratio determined by ICE Futures Europe and the resulting adjusted Conversion Price shall apply as of the date from which the adjustment made by ICE Futures Europe applies.

 

53



 

(II)                               The Adjustment Ratio (if any) determined by ICE Futures Europe following a merger or takeover shall be used by the Calculation Agent to determine the Conversion Price as provided in Condition 5(b)(iv)(A)(I) if the cash entitlement represents no more than 33% of the total offer consideration in relation to such merger or takeover, as determined and announced by ICE Futures Europe or (if no such determination has been announced by ICE Futures Europe) by the Calculation Agent or (where the Calculation Agent determines in its sole discretion it is not capable of making such determination in its capacity as Calculation Agent, or at the Issuer’s election in its sole discretion) an Independent Adviser. If the cash entitlement represents more than 33% but no more than 67% of the total offer consideration (as determined and announced by ICE Futures Europe or (if no such determination has been announced by ICE Futures Europe) as aforesaid by the Calculation Agent or, as the case may be, an Independent Adviser) in relation to such merger or takeover, then the Calculation Agent shall determine the Conversion Price as provided in Condition 5(b)(iv)(A)(I) with references to 5 Day VWAP replaced by references to 20 Day VWAP. If the cash entitlement represents more than 67% of the total offer consideration (as determined and announced by ICE Futures Europe or (if no such determination has been announced by ICE Futures Europe) as aforesaid by the Calculation Agent or, as the case may be, an Independent Adviser) in relation to such merger or takeover, there will be no adjustment of the Conversion Price in respect of such merger or takeover, an Accelerated Conversion Event shall be deemed to have occurred pursuant to sub-paragraph (C) of the definition thereof and the provisions of Condition 4(d) will apply.

 

(III)                          If ICE Futures Europe has applied the Package Method (and consequently an Adjustment Ratio has not been calculated and published), the Conversion Price will not be adjusted and what is considered an Ordinary Share will change pursuant to the definition of Ordinary Share.

 

(IV)                           If option contracts are settled at their theoretical fair value (as described in the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy for a reason other than a delisting (as contemplated by the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy) that does not constitute a Delisting) or in the case of Nationalisation or Delisting, the Conversion Price will not be adjusted in relation to such an event, what is considered an Ordinary Share will not change, an Accelerated Conversion Event shall be deemed to have occurred and the provisions of Condition 4(d) will apply.

 

(B)                                Following any amendment of the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy

 

(I)                                    Subject as provided in Condition 5(b)(iv)(B)(II) to 5(b)(iv)(B)(VI) below, for the purpose of adjusting the Conversion Price following an adjustment by ICE Futures Europe to option contracts in respect of Ordinary Shares in accordance with the Ratio Method following an amendment to the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy, (i) if the Calculation Agent determines in its sole discretion it is capable of making such determination in its capacity as Calculation Agent, the Calculation Agent, or (ii) in any other case, an Independent Adviser, shall determine what the adjustment would have been if the policy had not been amended (each such determination being a “ Deemed Adjustment ”) and shall calculate in accordance with the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy (without any amendment), any Adjustment Ratio required to be calculated for the purposes of such Deemed Adjustment, provided that the Calculation Agent (or, as the case may be, an Independent Adviser as aforesaid) shall use the Closing Price (if the relevant Corporate Action is a rights

 

54



 

issue) or the 5 Day VWAP (in the case of any other Corporate Action) instead of any Cum Entitlement Price for the purpose of such calculation (in each case in like manner as provided in Condition 5(b)(iv)(A)(I)).

 

(II)                               Following a merger or takeover (i) if the Calculation Agent determines in its sole discretion it is capable of making such determination in its capacity as Calculation Agent, the Calculation Agent, or (ii) in any other case, an Independent Adviser, shall determine the Conversion Price as provided in Condition 5(b)(iv)(B)(I) if the cash entitlement represents no more than 33% of the total offer consideration in relation to such merger or takeover. If the cash entitlement represents more than 33% but no more than 67% of the total offer consideration in relation to such merger or takeover, then the Calculation Agent shall determine the Conversion Price as provided in Condition 5(b)(iv)(B)(I) with references to 5 Day VWAP replaced by references to 20 Day VWAP. If the cash entitlement represents more than 67% of the total offer consideration in relation to such merger or takeover, there will be no adjustment of the Conversion Price in respect of such merger or takeover, an Accelerated Conversion Event shall be deemed to have occurred pursuant to sub-paragraph (C) of the definition thereof and the provisions of Condition 4(d) will apply.

 

(III)                          Any adjustment pursuant to 5(b)(iii)(E) or 5(b)(iii)(F) will be made by an Independent Adviser.

 

(IV)                           For the purpose of this Condition 5(b)(iv)(B), in the case of a demerger (i) the Package Method will be applied if the Relevant Stock Exchange (as defined in these Conditions) for the shares of the demerged company is a stock exchange or securities market located in the European Union and (ii) the Ratio Method will be used to make adjustments if Ordinary Shares of the demerged company can not be so delivered, settled and/or traded.

 

(V)                                If pursuant to the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy (without any amendment) the Package Method is applied by the Calculation Agent (or, as the case may be, an Independent Adviser as aforesaid) (and consequently an Adjustment Ratio has not been determined), the Conversion Price will not be adjusted and what is considered an Ordinary Share will change pursuant to the definition of Ordinary Share.

 

(VI)                           If option contracts are settled at their theoretical fair value (as described in the amended ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy for a reason other than a delisting (as contemplated by the amended ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy) that does not constitute a Delisting) or in the case of Nationalisation or Delisting, the Conversion Price will not be adjusted in relation to such an event, what is considered an Ordinary Share will not change, an Accelerated Conversion Event shall be deemed to have occurred and the provisions of Condition 4(d) will apply.

 

(c)                                   Calculation of Adjustments and roundings:

 

Adjustments in accordance with this Condition 5 (other than Condition 5 (a) (ii), which shall become effective as provided in Condition 5 (a) (iii)) will become effective as of the same date as any corresponding adjustments made by ICE Futures Europe, provided that any adjustment made in accordance with the second paragraph of Condition 5(a)(i)(A) or in accordance with Condition 5(b)(iv)(B) shall become effective as of the date determined to be the effective date by the Calculation Agent, or, as the case may be, an Independent Adviser.

 

55



 

No adjustment in accordance with this Condition 5 will be made if the effective date for such adjustment falls after the Conversion Date. For the avoidance of doubt, Condition 5(a)(iii) provides that the effective date for an adjustment to the Conversion Price in respect of a Relevant Dividend will be the Ex-Date for such Relevant Dividend. Accordingly, provided the Ex-Date for a Relevant Dividend falls on or before the Conversion Date, the relevant adjustment to the Conversion Price will be effective as at the Conversion Date, even if such adjustment can only be determined after the Conversion Date.

 

Adjustments to the Conversion Price pursuant to this Condition 5 shall be determined and calculated in good faith by the Calculation Agent and/or, to the extent so specified in these Conditions, by an Independent Adviser. Adjustments to the Conversion Price calculated by the Calculation Agent or, where applicable, an Independent Adviser and any other determinations made by the Calculation Agent or, where applicable, an Independent Adviser pursuant to these Conditions shall be final and binding (in the absence of manifest error) on the Issuer, the Trustee and the Bondholders. The Calculation Agent may, subject to the provisions of the Calculation Agency Agreement, consult, at the expense of the Issuer, on any matter (including but not limited to, any legal matter), with any legal or other professional adviser and it shall be able to rely upon, and it shall not be liable and shall incur no liability as against the Issuer or the Bondholders in respect of anything done, or omitted to be done, relating to that matter in good faith in accordance with that adviser’s opinion. The Calculation Agent shall act solely upon request from and as agent of the Issuer and the Calculation Agent or, as the case may be, any Independent Adviser appointed by the Issuer in accordance with these Conditions, will not thereby assume any obligations towards or relationship of agency or trust with, and they shall not be liable and shall incur no liability as against, the Bondholders.

 

If any doubt shall arise as to whether an adjustment falls to be made to the Conversion Price or as to the appropriate adjustment to the Conversion Price, and following consultation between the Issuer and an Independent Adviser, a written opinion of such Independent Adviser in respect thereof shall be conclusive and binding on the Issuer, the Trustee and the Bondholders, save in the case of manifest error.

 

Any adjustment to the Conversion Price determined will, if necessary, be rounded to four decimal places, with £0.00005 being rounded upwards, and any subsequent adjustments shall be made on the basis of such adjusted Conversion Price so rounded.

 

(d)                                  Notifications of Adjustments

 

The Issuer will give notice to Bondholders (in accordance with Condition 17), to the Trustee and (if not determined by the Calculation Agent) to the Calculation Agent of any adjustment to the Conversion Price pursuant to this Condition 5 as soon as reasonably practicable.

 

(e)                                   No Duty to Monitor

 

Neither the Calculation Agent, the Trustee nor any Agent shall be under any duty to monitor whether any event or circumstance has happened or exists or may happen or exist and which requires or may require an adjustment to be made to the Conversion Price or Ordinary Share (pursuant to the definition thereof) and none of them will be responsible or liable to the Bondholders for any loss arising from any failure by it to do so, and neither shall the Trustee, the Calculation Agent nor any Agent be responsible or liable to any person (other than, in the case of the Calculation Agent, to the Issuer pursuant and subject to the relevant provisions of the Calculation Agency Agreement) for any determination of whether or not an adjustment to the Conversion Price or Ordinary Share (as aforesaid) is required or should be made, nor as to the determination or calculation of any such adjustment.

 

56



 

(f)                                    Share Option Schemes, Dividend Reinvestment Plans

 

No adjustment will be made to the Conversion Price where Ordinary Shares or other Securities are issued, offered, exercised, allotted, purchased, appropriated, modified or granted to, or for the benefit of, employees or former employees (including directors holding or formerly holding executive office or the personal service company of any such person) or their spouses or relatives, in each case, of the issuer of the Ordinary Shares or any of its Subsidiaries or any associated company or to a trustee or trustees to be held for the benefit of any such person, in any such case pursuant to any share or option scheme or pursuant to any dividend reinvestment plan or similar plan or scheme.

 

6                                          Procedure for Conversion

 

(a)                                  Conversion Notices

 

As a precondition to any delivery of any Ordinary Shares pursuant to a Mandatory Conversion of the Bonds (but not, for the avoidance of doubt, to the payment of any Make-whole Amount, accrued interest or Arrears of Interest in connection with any such conversion), a Bondholder shall be required to deliver the relevant Certificate or Certificates representing such Bonds together with a duly completed and signed notice of conversion (a “ Conversion Notice ”), in the form (for the time being current) obtainable from any Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent, to the specified office of any Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent by not later than five Scheduled Trading Days prior to the relevant Settlement Date.

 

Subject as provided in Condition 4(c) and 6(f), a Bondholder may exercise the Bondholder Voluntary Conversion Right by delivering the Certificate or Certificates representing its Bonds (together with a duly completed and signed Conversion Notice) to the specified office of any Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent. Such exercise may only be in respect of an authorised denomination (as defined in Condition 1(a)) or a whole multiple thereof.

 

In the relevant Conversion Notice the Bondholder is required to designate, inter alia , details of the account with CREST and the name or names in which the Ordinary Shares shall be credited.

 

If, in the case of a Mandatory Conversion of any Bonds, the Conversion Notice and/or the relevant Certificate(s) representing such Bonds are not delivered to the specified office of a Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent by not later than the date which is scheduled to be five Scheduled Trading Days prior to the relevant Settlement Date (such Bonds being the “ Unsurrendered Bonds ”), the relevant Ordinary Shares will be issued to a person (the “ Relevant Person ”) selected by the Issuer on the relevant Settlement Date. Upon issue of the relevant Ordinary Shares to or to the order of the Relevant Person, the Bondholders shall have no further rights to delivery of Ordinary Shares under the Unsurrendered Bonds and their entitlement shall instead be to the net proceeds of sale of the relevant Ordinary Shares, subject to and in accordance with this Condition 6(a). The Issuer shall procure that all of such Ordinary Shares shall be sold by or on behalf of the Relevant Person as soon as practicable based on advice from a reputable financial institution, investment or commercial bank or broker selected by the Issuer, and (subject to any necessary consents being obtained and to the deduction by or on behalf of the Relevant Person of any amount payable in respect of its liability to taxation and the payment of any capital, stamp, issue or registration and transfer taxes or duties (if any) and any fees or costs incurred by or on behalf of the Relevant Person in connection with the allotment and sale thereof) the Issuer shall procure that the net proceeds of sale (converted where applicable into pounds sterling by the Relevant Person) shall be distributed to the Bondholders of the Unsurrendered Bonds in whose name(s) such Unsurrendered Bonds are registered to in the Register on the date falling five business days (in the place of the specified office of the Registrar) prior to the relevant Settlement Date, in proportion to the aggregate principal amount of such Unsurrendered Bonds held by each such relevant Bondholder.

 

Any such cash amount paid as aforesaid to a Bondholder pursuant to this Condition 6(a), along with any applicable accrued interest, Arrears of Interest and/or Make-whole Amount, shall be treated for all

 

57



 

purposes as discharging the Issuer’s obligations in respect of the Mandatory Conversion of the relevant Bonds, and all rights of each relevant Bondholder to principal and interest in respect of such Bonds shall be extinguished upon the payment of the relevant amount in accordance with this Condition 6(a) and the payment of any applicable accrued interest, Arrears of Interest and/or Make-whole Amount.

 

(b)                                  Determination

 

If delivery of a Conversion Notice is made after 4.00 p.m. London time on any day or is made on a day which is not a business day in the place of the specified office of the relevant Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent, such delivery shall be deemed for all purposes of these Conditions to have been made on the next following such business day.

 

Any determination as to whether any Conversion Notice has been duly completed and properly delivered shall be made by the relevant Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent and shall, save in the case of manifest error, be conclusive and binding on the Issuer, the Trustee and the relevant Bondholder.

 

A Conversion Notice, once delivered, shall be irrevocable.

 

(c)                                   Delivery of Ordinary Shares

 

The Issuer may, in its own discretion, decide to fulfil its obligations in connection with any duly completed and properly delivered Conversion Notice by the transfer of existing Ordinary Shares or by the allotment and issue of new Ordinary Shares.

 

Ordinary Shares to be issued or transferred or delivered to a Bondholder on a Mandatory Conversion or a Voluntary Conversion will be issued or transferred or delivered in uncertificated form through the dematerialised securities trading system operated by Euroclear UK and Ireland Limited, known as CREST (“ CREST ”).

 

Ordinary Shares will be delivered to the account specified by the relevant Bondholder in the relevant Conversion Notice by not later than the relevant Settlement Date.

 

Ordinary Shares to be issued or transferred and delivered to a Bondholder on a Mandatory Conversion (or if applicable, to the Relevant Person in accordance with Condition 6(a)) or a Voluntary Conversion will not be available for issue or transfer and delivery (i) to, or to a nominee or agent for, Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. or Clearstream Banking, société anonyme or any other person providing a clearance service within the meaning of Section 96 of the Finance Act 1986 of the United Kingdom or (ii) to a person, or nominee or agent for a person, whose business is or includes issuing depositary receipts within the meaning of Section 93 of the Finance Act 1986 of the United Kingdom, in each case at any time prior to the “abolition day” as defined in Section 111(1) of the Finance Act 1990 of the United Kingdom.

 

(d)                                  Ordinary Shares

 

Ordinary Shares delivered or issued upon conversion of the Bonds will be fully paid and will in all respects rank pari passu with the fully paid Ordinary Shares in issue on the relevant Conversion Date, except that such Ordinary Shares will not rank for any rights, distributions or payments if the record date or other due date for the establishment of entitlement for any such right, distribution or payment falls prior to the relevant Conversion Date.

 

(e)                                   Settlement Disruption

 

Where the issue or delivery of any Ordinary Shares is required under the Conditions and a Settlement Disruption Event occurs on the relevant Settlement Date, and delivery of any Ordinary Shares cannot be effected on such Settlement Date, then such Settlement Date will (for the purposes of the delivery of the Ordinary Shares only, but not in connection with any payment which might otherwise be due on such Settlement Date) be postponed until the first succeeding calendar day on which delivery can take

 

58



 

place through a national or international settlement system or in any other commercially reasonable manner.

 

(f)                                     U.S. Certificate on a Voluntary Conversion

 

Each Bondholder will, in the case of a Voluntary Conversion, in the relevant Conversion Notice, be required to represent and warrant that, at the time of signing and delivery of the relevant Conversion Notice, (A) it understands that the Ordinary Shares to be issued upon conversion of the Bonds have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 (the “ Securities Act ”) and (B) it is a non-U.S. person within the meaning of Regulation S (“ Regulation S ”) under the Securities Act, is acquiring the Ordinary Shares to be issued upon conversion of the Bonds in an offshore transaction (as defined in Regulation S) in accordance with Rule 903 or 904 of Regulation S and understands that the Ordinary Shares may not be delivered within the United States (within the meaning of Regulation S) and may not be resold in the United States except in a transaction not subject to, or pursuant to an exemption from, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

 

7                                          Purchase and Cancellation

 

(a)                                  Purchase of Bonds

 

The Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries may at any time purchase Bonds in any manner and at any price.

 

(b)                                  Cancellation

 

All Bonds which are converted pursuant to these Conditions will forthwith be cancelled and may not be held, reissued or resold.

 

Bonds purchased by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries may be surrendered to the Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent for cancellation or may, at the Issuer’s option, be held, reissued or resold.

 

8                                          Payments

 

(a)                                  Payment of interest and other amounts

 

Payment of:

 

(i)             any cash amount(s) related to the conversion of any Bond (including any accrued interest, Make-whole Amount and Arrears of Interest payable as a result of any Mandatory Conversion) will be made to the persons shown in the Register at the close of business on the fifth business day, in the place of the specified office of the Registrar, before the relevant Settlement Date;

 

(ii)            any Interest Payment and Arrears of Interest due on any Interest Payment Date in respect of the Bonds, or any Arrears of Interest due on any other date following the exercise by the Issuer of its option pursuant to Condition 3(b)(ii), and not in any such case otherwise falling within paragraph (i) of this Condition 8(a), will be made to the persons shown in the Register at the close of business on the Record Date;

 

(iii)           any Arrears of Interest due on any date and not otherwise falling within paragraphs (i) to (ii) of this Condition 8(a), will be made to the persons shown in the Register at the close of business on the business day, in the place of the specified office of the Registrar, immediately before the relevant Mandatory Settlement Date; and

 

(iv)           any amounts other than as provided above will be made as provided in these Conditions.

 

(b)                                  Record Date

 

“Record Date ” means the seventh business day, in the place of the specified office of the Registrar, before the due date for the relevant payment.

 

59



 

The Bonds will, on issue, be represented by a global Certificate which will be deposited with, and registered in the name of a nominee for, a depositary common to Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. (“ Euroclear ”) and Clearstream Banking, société anonyme (“ Clearstream, Luxembourg ”).

 

All payments in respect of Bonds represented by the global Certificate will be made to, or to the order of, the person whose name is entered on the Register at the close of business on the Clearing System Business Day immediately prior to the date for payment, where “ Clearing System Business Day ” means Monday to Friday inclusive except 25 December and 1 January.

 

(c)                                   Payments

 

Each payment in respect of the Bonds pursuant to Condition 8(a) will be made by transfer to a pounds sterling account maintained by the payee with a bank in London.

 

(d)                                  Payments subject to fiscal laws

 

All payments in respect of the Bonds are subject in all cases to (a) any applicable fiscal or other laws and regulations, but without prejudice to the provisions of Condition 9, and (b) any withholding or deduction required pursuant to an agreement described in Section 1471(b) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “ Code ”) or otherwise imposed pursuant to Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, any regulations or agreements thereunder, any official interpretations thereof, or any law implementing an intergovernmental approach thereto.

 

(e)                                   Delay in payment

 

Bondholders will not be entitled to any interest or other payment for any delay after the due date in receiving the amount due as a result of the due date not being a Business Day. In this Condition 8(e), “ Business Day ” means a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks and foreign exchange markets are open for business in London and the place in which the specified office of the Registrar is located.

 

(f)                                     Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agents, etc.

 

The Issuer reserves the right with the prior written approval of the Trustee under the Agency Agreement at any time to vary or terminate the appointment of any Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent or the Registrar and appoint additional or other Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agents, provided that it will:

 

(a)                                  maintain a Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent; and

 

(b)                                  maintain a Registrar.

 

The Issuer reserves the right, subject to the prior written approval of the Trustee, under the Calculation Agency Agreement at any time to vary or terminate the appointment of the Calculation Agent and appoint additional or other Calculation Agents, provided that it will maintain a Calculation Agent, which shall be a financial institution of international repute or a financial adviser with appropriate expertise.

 

Notice of any change in the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agents, the Registrar or the Calculation Agent or (other than in the case of the Calculation Agent) their specified offices will promptly be given by the Issuer to the Bondholders in accordance with Condition 17.

 

(g)                                  No charges

 

Neither the Registrar nor the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agents shall make or impose on a Bondholder any charge or commission in relation to any payment or conversion in respect of the Bonds.

 

60



 

(h)                                  Rounding of payments

 

When making payments to Bondholders all payments will be made on a per authorised denomination basis and if the relevant payment is not of an amount which is a whole multiple of the smallest unit of the relevant currency in which such payment is to be made, such payment will be rounded down to the nearest unit.

 

9                                          Taxation

 

All payments by or on behalf of the Issuer in respect of the Bonds will be made without withholding or deduction for any present or future taxes, assessments or other governmental charges (“ Taxes ”) of the Relevant Jurisdiction (or any political sub-division or taxing authority thereof or therein), unless the withholding or deduction of the Taxes is required by law. In that event, the Issuer will pay such additional amounts due in respect of the Bonds (“ Additional Amounts ”) as may be necessary in order that the net amount received by each holder of any Bond who, with respect to any such Tax is not resident in the Relevant Jurisdiction, after such withholding or deduction shall be not less than the respective amount to which such holder would have been entitled in respect of such Bond, as the case may be, in the absence of the withholding or deduction; provided however, that the Issuer shall not be required to pay any Additional Amounts (1) for or on account of any such Tax imposed by the United States (or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein) or (2) for or on account of:

 

(i)             any Tax which would not have been imposed but for (a) the existence of any present or former connection between a holder (or between a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member or shareholder of, or possessor of a power over, such holder, if such holder is an estate, trust, partnership or corporation) and the Relevant Jurisdiction or any political subdivision or territory or possession thereof or area subject to its jurisdiction, including, without limitation, such holder (or such fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member, shareholder or possessor) being or having been a citizen or resident thereof or being or having been present or engaged in trade or business therein or having or having had a permanent establishment therein or (b) the surrender of such Bond (x) for payment on a date more than 30 days after the Relevant Date (as defined below) or (y) in the Relevant Jurisdiction; or

 

(ii)            any estate, inheritance, gift, sale, transfer, personal property or similar tax, assessment or other governmental charge; or

 

(iii)           any Tax which is payable otherwise than by withholding or deduction from payments of (or in respect of) any cash amount in respect of such Bond; or

 

(iv)           any Tax that is imposed or withheld by reason of the failure by the holder or any beneficial owner of such Bond to comply with a request of the Issuer given to the holder in accordance with Condition 17 (a) to provide information concerning the nationality, residence or identity of the holder or any beneficial owner or (b) to make any declaration or other similar claim or satisfy any information or reporting requirements, which, in the case of (a) or (b), is required or imposed by a statute, treaty, regulation or administrative practice of the Relevant Jurisdiction as a precondition to exemption from all or part of such Tax; or

 

(v)            any combination of items (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) above,

 

nor shall the Issuer be required to pay any Additional Amounts with respect to any payment of any cash amounts in respect of any Bond to any holder who is a fiduciary or partnership or other than the sole beneficial owner of such payment to the extent such payment would be required by the laws of the Relevant Jurisdiction (or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein) to be included in the income for tax purposes of a beneficiary or settlor with respect to such fiduciary or a member of such partnership or a beneficial owner which would not have been entitled to such Additional Amounts had it been the holder of such Bond.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of these Conditions, any amounts to be paid on the Bonds by or on behalf of the Issuer will be paid net of any deduction or withholding imposed or required pursuant to an

 

61



 

agreement described in Section 1471(b) of the Code, or otherwise imposed pursuant to Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code (or any regulations thereunder or official interpretations thereof) or an intergovernmental agreement between the United States and another jurisdiction facilitating the implementation thereof (or any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices implementing such an intergovernmental agreement) (and any such withholding or deduction, a “ FATCA Withholding ”). Neither the Issuer nor any Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent or any other person will be required to pay any Additional Amounts in respect of FATCA Withholding.

 

References in these Conditions to any amount payable by or on behalf of the Issuer in respect of the Bonds shall be deemed to include any Additional Amounts which may be payable in accordance with this Condition or any undertaking given in addition to or in substitution for it under the Trust Deed.

 

10                                   Enforcement Events

 

There are no events of default in respect of the Bonds.

 

However, if an order is made or an effective resolution passed for the winding-up, dissolution or liquidation of the Issuer (except on such terms as may be approved by the Trustee or an Extraordinary Resolution) (an “ Enforcement Event ”), the Trustee at its sole discretion may, and shall if so directed by an Extraordinary Resolution of the Bondholders or requested in writing by the holders of at least one-quarter in principal amount of the Bonds then outstanding (subject in each case to being indemnified and/or secured and/or pre-funded to its satisfaction), prove and/or claim in the winding-up, dissolution or liquidation of the Issuer in respect of the Bonds, such claim being subordinated, and for the amount, as provided in Condition 1(d).

 

The Trustee may at any time, at its discretion and without further notice, institute such proceedings or take any other action as it may think fit to enforce any term or condition binding on the Issuer under the Trust Deed or the Bonds but in no event shall the Issuer by the virtue of such proceedings be obliged to pay any sum or sums sooner than the same would otherwise have been payable by it. The Trustee shall not be bound to institute any such proceedings or any other action in relation to the Trust Deed or the Bonds unless it shall have been indemnified and/or secured and/or prefunded to its satisfaction.

 

No remedy against the Issuer, other than as referred to in this Condition 10 and Condition 15, shall be available to the Trustee or Bondholders, whether for the recovery of amounts owing in respect of the Trust Deed or the Bonds or in respect of any other breach by the Issuer of any of its other obligations under or in respect of the Trust Deed or the Bonds.

 

11                                   Undertakings

 

The Issuer will use all reasonable endeavours to cause to be made an application for the Bonds to be admitted to trading on the Irish Stock Exchange’s Global Exchange Market or on another regularly operating market which in any case is a recognised stock exchange within the meaning of section 1005 of the Income Tax Act 2007 (as the same may be amended or suspended from time to time) prior to 25 August 2016 and use all reasonable endeavours to maintain such admission or admission on an alternative recognised stock exchange (within the meaning as aforesaid) for so long as any Bond remains outstanding,

 

In addition, and for so long as any Bond remains outstanding, the Issuer will (i) use all reasonable endeavours to ensure that the Ordinary Shares allotted and issued or transferred and delivered (as the case may be) following Mandatory Conversion or Voluntary Conversion will, as soon as is practicable, be admitted to listing and to trading on the Relevant Stock Exchange (if any) on which the Ordinary Shares generally are then admitted to listing and trading and (ii) at all times maintain all authorisations necessary to enable it to issue and allot or transfer and deliver, as the case may be, free from pre-emptive rights or other similar preferential rights, such number of Ordinary Shares as may be required to be delivered upon Mandatory Conversion or a Voluntary Conversion.

 

62



 

12                                   Prescription

 

Claims for payment in respect of the Bonds shall be prescribed and become void unless made within 10 years from the appropriate Relevant Date in respect of such payment and claims in respect of the delivery of Ordinary Shares upon conversion shall be prescribed and become void unless made within 10 years of the relevant Settlement Date.

 

13                                   Replacement of Certificates

 

If any Certificate is lost, stolen, mutilated, defaced or destroyed, it may be replaced, subject to applicable laws, regulations or other relevant regulatory authority regulations, at the specified office of the Registrar or such other Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent as may from time to time be designated by the Issuer for that purpose and notice of whose designation is given to Bondholders, in each case upon payment by the claimant of the fees and costs incurred in connection therewith and on such terms as to evidence, security, indemnity and otherwise as the Issuer may reasonably require. Mutilated or defaced Certificates must be surrendered before replacements will be issued.

 

14                                   Meetings of Bondholders, Modifications, Waivers and Substitution

 

(a)                                  Meetings of Bondholders

 

The Trust Deed contains provisions for convening meetings of Bondholders to consider any matter affecting their interests, including the sanctioning by Extraordinary Resolution of a modification of any of these Conditions or any provisions of the Trust Deed, the Bonds, the Agency Agreement and the Calculation Agency Agreement. Such a meeting may be convened by the Issuer or the Trustee and shall be convened by the Issuer if requested in writing by Bondholders holding not less than 10 per cent. in principal amount of the Bonds for the time being outstanding. The quorum for any meeting convened to consider an Extraordinary Resolution will be one or more persons holding or representing a clear majority in principal amount of the Bonds for the time being outstanding, or at any adjourned meeting one or more persons being or representing Bondholders whatever the principal amount of the Bonds so held or represented, unless the business of such meeting includes consideration of proposals, inter alia , (i) to change the Final Maturity Date, (ii) to modify the circumstances in which the Issuer or a Bondholder is entitled or required to convert the Bonds, (iii) to reduce or cancel the principal amount of the Bonds or any interest or Arrears of Interest payable or any Make-whole Amount payable in respect of the Bonds, (iv) to modify the provisions relating to conversion of the Bonds (other than a reduction to the Conversion Price), (v) to increase the Conversion Price (other than in accordance with these Conditions), (vi) to change the currency of the denomination of the Bonds or of any payment in respect of the Bonds, (vii) to change the governing law of the Bonds, the Trust Deed, the Calculation Agency Agreement or the Agency Agreement (other than in the case of a substitution of the Issuer (or any previous substitute or substitutes) under Condition 14(c)) or (viii) to modify the provisions concerning the quorum required at any meeting of Bondholders or the majority required to pass an Extraordinary Resolution, in which case the necessary quorum will be one or more persons holding or representing not less than three-fourths, or at any adjourned meeting not less than one-fourth, in principal amount of the Bonds for the time being outstanding. Any Extraordinary Resolution duly passed by the Bondholders shall be binding on all Bondholders (whether or not they were present at any meeting at which such resolution was passed and whether or not they voted on such resolution).

 

The Trust Deed provides that (i) a resolution in writing signed by or on behalf of the holders of not less than 95 per cent. of the aggregate principal amount of Bonds outstanding (which may be contained in one document or several documents in the same form, each signed by or on behalf of one or more Bondholders) or (ii) consents given by way of electronic consent through the relevant clearing system(s) (in a form satisfactory to the Trustee) by or on behalf of the holders of not less than 95 per cent. of the aggregate principal amount of the Bonds outstanding, shall, in any such case, be effective as an Extraordinary Resolution passed at a meeting of Bondholders duly convened and held.

 

63



 

(b)                                  Modification of the Trust Deed

 

The Trustee may agree, without the consent of the Bondholders, to (i) any modification of any of the provisions of the Trust Deed, any trust deed supplemental to the Trust Deed, the Agency Agreement, any agreement supplemental to the Agency Agreement, the Bonds or these Conditions which in the Trustee’s opinion is of a formal, minor or technical nature or is made to correct a manifest error or an error which, in the opinion of the Trustee, is proven or to comply with mandatory provisions of law, and (ii) any other modification to the Trust Deed, any trust deed supplemental to the Trust Deed, the Agency Agreement, any agreement supplemental to the Agency Agreement, the Bonds or these Conditions (except as mentioned in the Trust Deed), and any waiver or authorisation of any breach or proposed breach, of any of the provisions of the Trust Deed, any trust deed supplemental to the Trust Deed, the Agency Agreement, any agreement supplemental to the Agency Agreement, the Bonds or these Conditions which is, in the opinion of the Trustee, not materially prejudicial to the interests of the Bondholders. Any such modification, authorisation, waiver or determination shall be binding on the Bondholders and, if the Trustee so requires, shall be notified to the Bondholders by the Issuer promptly in accordance with Condition 17.

 

(c)                                   Substitution

 

The Trustee may, without the consent of the Bondholders, agree to the substitution in place of the Issuer (or any previous substitute or substitutes under this Condition 14(c)) as the principal debtor under the Bonds and the Trust Deed of any Subsidiary of the Issuer subject to (a) the Bonds being unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed by the Issuer, and (b) the Bonds continuing to be convertible or exchangeable into Ordinary Shares as provided in these Conditions mutatis mutandis as provided in these Conditions, with such amendments as the Trustee shall consider appropriate provided that in any such case, (x) the Trustee being satisfied that the interests of the Bondholders will not be materially prejudiced by the substitution, and (y) certain other conditions set out in the Trust Deed being complied with. In the case of such a substitution the Trustee may agree, without the consent of the Bondholders, to a change of the law governing the Bonds and/or the Trust Deed provided that such change would not in the opinion of the Trustee be materially prejudicial to the interests of the Bondholders. Any such substitution shall be binding on the Bondholders and shall be notified to the Bondholders promptly in accordance with Condition 17.

 

(d)                                  Entitlement of the Trustee

 

In connection with the exercise of its functions (including but not limited to those referred to in this Condition 14) the Trustee shall have regard to the interests of the Bondholders as a class but shall not have regard to any interests arising from circumstances particular to individual Bondholders (whatever their number) and, in particular but without limitation, shall not have regard to the consequences of the exercise of its trusts, powers or discretions for individual Bondholders resulting from their being for any purpose domiciled or resident in, or otherwise connected with, or subject to the jurisdiction of, any particular territory, and the Trustee shall not be entitled to require, nor shall any Bondholder be entitled to claim, from the Issuer or any other person any indemnification or payment in respect of any tax consequence of any such exercise upon individual Bondholders, except to the extent provided for in these Conditions or the Trust Deed.

 

15                                   Enforcement

 

The Trustee may at any time, at its discretion and without notice, take such proceedings, actions or steps against the Issuer in accordance with Condition 10 as it may think fit to enforce the provisions of the Trust Deed and the Bonds, but it shall not be bound to take any such proceedings or any other action or step in relation to the Trust Deed or the Bonds unless (i) it shall have been so directed by an Extraordinary Resolution of the Bondholders or so requested in writing by the holders of at least one-quarter in principal

 

64



 

amount of the Bonds then outstanding, and (ii) it shall have been indemnified and/or secured and/or prefunded to its satisfaction.

 

No Bondholder shall be entitled to proceed or take any other action or steps directly against the Issuer unless the Trustee, having become entitled and bound so to proceed or act, fails so to do within a reasonable period and the failure shall be continuing. In such event, such Bondholder may, in respect of its Bonds, take any action which the Trustee would otherwise have been permitted to take in respect of those Bonds. Any proceeds received by a Bondholder pursuant to any such proceedings, actions or steps brought by a Bondholder shall be paid promptly following receipt thereof to the Trustee (for application pursuant to the terms of the Trust Deed).

 

16                                   The Trustee

 

The Trust Deed contains provisions for the indemnification of the Trustee and for its relief from responsibility, including relieving it from taking proceedings and/or any other action under these Conditions or the Trust Deed unless indemnified and/or secured and/or prefunded to its satisfaction. The Trustee is entitled to enter into business transactions with the Issuer and any entity related to the Issuer without accounting for any profit. The Trustee may rely without liability to Bondholders on a report, confirmation or certificate or any advice of any accountants, financial advisers, financial institution, an Independent Adviser or other expert, whether or not addressed to it and whether their liability in relation thereto is limited (by its terms or by any engagement letter relating thereto entered into by the Trustee or in any other manner) by reference to a monetary cap, methodology or otherwise. The Trustee may accept and shall be entitled to rely on any such report, opinion, confirmation or certificate or advice and, where the Trustee does so accept and rely, such report, confirmation or certificate or advice shall be binding on the Issuer, the Trustee and the Bondholders in the absence of manifest error.

 

17                                   Notices

 

All notices regarding the Bonds will be valid if published through the electronic communication system of Bloomberg. Any such notice shall be deemed to have been given on the date of such publication. The Issuer shall also ensure that all notices are duly published (if such publication is required) in a manner which complies with the rules and regulations of any stock exchange or other relevant authority on which the Bonds are for the time being listed and/or admitted to trading. If publication as provided above is not practicable, notice will be given by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in London (which is expected to be the Financial Times ).

 

The Issuer shall send a copy of all notices given by it to Bondholders pursuant to these Conditions simultaneously to the Calculation Agent.

 

Notwithstanding the above, for so long as all the Bonds are represented by a Global Bond and the Global Bond is held on behalf of Euroclear and/or Clearstream, Luxembourg, notices to Bondholders may be given by delivery of the relevant notice to Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg and such notices shall be deemed to have been given to Bondholders on the day of delivery to Euroclear and/or Clearstream, Luxembourg.

 

18                                   Further Issues

 

The Issuer may from time to time without the consent of the Bondholders create and issue further notes, bonds or debentures either having the same terms and conditions in all respects as the outstanding notes, bonds or debentures of any series (including the Bonds) and so that such further issue shall be consolidated and form a single series with the outstanding notes, bonds or debentures of any series (including the Bonds) or upon such terms as to interest, conversion, premium, redemption and otherwise as the Issuer may determine at the time of their issue. Any further notes, bonds or debentures forming a single series with the outstanding notes, bonds or debentures of any series (including the Bonds) constituted by the Trust Deed or any deed supplemental to it shall, and any other notes, bonds or debentures may, with the consent of the

 

65



 

Trustee, be constituted by a deed supplemental to the Trust Deed. The Trust Deed contains provisions for convening a single meeting of the Bondholders and the holders of notes, bonds or debentures of other series in certain circumstances where the Trustee so decides.

 

19                                   Rights of Third Parties

 

No person shall have any right to enforce any term or condition of the Bonds under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.

 

20                                   Governing Law

 

The Trust Deed, the Agency Agreement, the Calculation Agency Agreement, the Bonds and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with them are governed by, and shall be construed in accordance with, English law.

 

21                                   Transfer of Bonds

 

(a)                                  Transfers

 

One or more Bonds may, subject to Condition 21(b), be transferred in whole or in part upon the surrender (at the specified office of the Registrar or any Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent) of the Certificate(s) representing such Bonds to be transferred, together with the form of transfer endorsed on such Certificate(s) (or another form of transfer substantially in the same form and containing the same representations and certifications (if any), unless otherwise agreed by the Issuer), duly completed and executed and any other evidence as the Registrar or such Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent may reasonably require. In the case of a transfer of part only of a holding of Bonds represented by one Certificate, a new Certificate shall be issued to the transferee in respect of the part transferred and a further new Certificate in respect of the balance of the holding not transferred shall be issued to the transferor. All transfers of Bonds and entries on the Register will be made subject to the detailed regulations concerning transfers of Bonds scheduled to the Agency Agreement. The regulations may be changed by the Issuer with the written approval of the Registrar and the Trustee. A copy of the current regulations will be made available by the Registrar to any Bondholder upon request.

 

(b)                                  Delivery of New Certificates

 

Each new Certificate to be issued pursuant to Condition 21(a) shall be available for delivery within three business days of receipt of the form of transfer and surrender of the existing Certificate for exchange. Delivery of the new Certificate(s) shall be made at the specified office of the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent or of the Registrar (as the case may be) to whom delivery or surrender of such form of transfer or Certificate shall have been made or, at the option of the holder making such delivery or surrender as aforesaid and as specified in the relevant form of transfer or otherwise in writing, be mailed by uninsured post at the risk of the holder entitled to the new Certificate to such address as may be so specified, unless such holder requests otherwise and pays in advance to the relevant Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent the costs of such other method of delivery and/or such insurance as it may specify. In this Condition 21(b), “ business day ” means a day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, on which banks are open for business in the place of the specified office of the relevant Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent or the Registrar (as the case may be).

 

(c)                                   Transfers Free of Charge

 

Transfers of Certificates on registration, transfer, exercise of an option or redemption shall be effected without charge by or on behalf of the Issuer, the Registrar or any Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent, but upon payment of any tax or other governmental charges that may be imposed in relation to it (or the giving of such indemnity as the Registrar or the relevant Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent may require).

 

66



 

(d)                                  Closed Periods

 

No Bondholder may require the transfer of an Bond to be registered (i) during the period of 15 days ending on the Conversion Date in respect of a conversion of the Bonds pursuant to Condition 4; (ii) in respect of which a Conversion Notice has been delivered in accordance with Condition 4(c); or (iii) during the period from and including any Record Date in respect of any payment of interest on the Bonds to and including the due date for such payment.

 

67



 

SCHEDULE 2

Form of Original Definitive Registered Bond

 

On the front:

 

ISIN: XS1371472389

 

VODAFONE GROUP PLC

(incorporated in England and Wales)

 

£1,440,000,000 1.50 per cent. Subordinated Mandatory Convertible Bonds due 2017

 

This Bond is a Definitive Registered Bond and forms part of a series designated as specified in the title (the “ Bonds ”) of Vodafone Group Plc (the “ Issuer ”) and constituted by the Trust Deed referred to on the reverse hereof. The Bonds are subject to, and have the benefit of, that Trust Deed and the terms and conditions (the “ Conditions ”) set out on the reverse hereof.

 

The Issuer hereby certifies that [ · ] is/are, at the date hereof, entered in the Register as the holder(s) of Bonds in the principal amount of £[ · ].

 

The Bonds represented by this Definitive Registered Bond are convertible at certain times and in certain circumstances into Ordinary Shares, as specified in and subject to and in accordance with the Conditions and the Trust Deed.

 

This Definitive Registered Bond is evidence of entitlement only. Title to Bonds passes only on due registration on the Register and only the duly registered holder is entitled to payments in respect of this Definitive Registered Bond.

 

This Definitive Registered Bond and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by, and shall be construed in accordance with, English law.

 

Capitalised terms not defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Trust Deed and the Conditions.

 

68



 

In Witness whereof the Issuer has caused this Bond to be signed in facsimile on its behalf.

 

Dated [ · ]

 

 

 

 

For and on behalf of

 

VODAFONE GROUP PLC

 

 

This Definitive Registered Bond is authenticated without recourse, warranty or liability by or on behalf of the Registrar

 

HSBC BANK PLC

as Registrar

 

By:

 

 

Authorised Signatory

For the purposes of authentication only.

 

69



 

On the back:

 

Terms and Conditions of the Bonds

 

[THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS THAT ARE SET OUT IN SCHEDULE 1 TO THE TRUST DEED, AS AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, WILL BE SET OUT HERE]

 

70



 

Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent

 

HSBC BANK PLC

Corporate Trust & Loan Agency

8 Canada Square

London E14 5HQ

 

Registrar

 

HSBC BANK PLC

Corporate Trust & Loan Agency

8 Canada Square

London E14 5HQ

 

71



 

Form of Transfer

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED the undersigned hereby transfers to

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS OF TRANSFEREE)

 

(not more than four names may appear as joint holders)

 

£[ · ] in principal amount of this Bond, and all rights in respect thereof, and irrevocably requests the Registrar to transfer such principal amount of this Bond on the books kept for registration thereof.

 

Dated

 

 

 

 

 

Signed

 

 

 

Notes:

 

(i)                                      The signature to this transfer must correspond with the name as it appears on the face of this Bond.

 

(ii)                                   A representative of the Bondholder should state the capacity in which he signs e.g. executor.

 

(iii)                                The signature of the person effecting a transfer shall conform to any list of duly authorised specimen signatures supplied by the registered holder or be certified by a recognised bank, notary public or in such other manner as the Registrar may require.

 

(iv)                               Any transfer of Bonds shall be in the minimum amount of £100,000.

 

72



 

SCHEDULE 3

Form of Original Global Bond

 

ISIN: XS1371472389

 

VODAFONE GROUP PLC

(incorporated in England and Wales)

 

£1,440,000,000 1.50 per cent. Subordinated Mandatory Convertible Bonds due 2017

 

Global Bond

 

The Bonds in respect of which this Global Bond is issued form part of the series designated as specified in the title (the “ Bonds ”) of Vodafone Group Plc (the “ Issuer ”).

 

The Issuer hereby certifies that HSBC Issuer Services Common Depositary Nominee (UK) Limited is, at the date hereof, entered in the register of Bondholders as the holder of Bonds in the principal amount of:

 

£1,440,000,000

( 1.440 million pounds sterling )

 

or such other amount as is shown on the register of Bondholders as being represented by this Global Bond and is duly endorsed (for information purposes only) in the third column of Schedule A to this Global Bond. For value received, the Issuer promises to pay the person who appears at the relevant time on the register of Bondholders as holder of the Bonds in respect of which this Global Bond is issued, such amount or amounts as shall become due and payable from time to time in respect of such Bonds and otherwise to comply with the Conditions referred to below, and in accordance with the method of calculation provided for in the Conditions, save that the calculation is made in respect of the total aggregate amount of the Bonds. Each payment will be made to, or to the order of, the person whose name is entered on the Register as holder at the close of business on the Clearing System Business Day immediately prior to the date for payment, where “ Clearing System Business Day ” means Monday to Friday inclusive except 25 December and 1 January.

 

The Bonds are constituted by a trust deed dated 25 February 2016 (the “ Trust Deed ”) between the Issuer, and The Law Debenture Trust Corporation p.l.c. as trustee (the “ Trustee ”) and are subject to the Trust Deed and the terms and conditions (the “ Conditions ”) set out in Schedule 1 to the Trust Deed, as modified by the provisions of this Global Bond. Terms defined in the Trust Deed have the same meaning when used herein.

 

This Global Bond is evidence of entitlement only.

 

Title to the Bonds passes only on due registration on the register of Bondholders and only the duly registered holder is entitled to payments on Bonds in respect of which this Global Bond is issued.

 

Exchange for Definitive Registered Bonds

 

This Global Bond is exchangeable in whole but not in part (free of charge to the holder) for Definitive Registered Bonds if this Global Bond is held on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg or the Alternative Clearing System (each as defined under “ Notices ” below) and any such clearing system is closed for business for a continuous period of 14 days or more (other than by reason of legal holidays) or announces an intention permanently to cease business or does in fact do so by such holder giving notice to the Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent. On

 

73



 

or after the Exchange Date the holder of this Global Bond may surrender this Global Bond to or to the order of the Registrar and, upon such surrender of this Global Bond, the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent shall annotate Schedule A hereto. In exchange for this Global Bond, the Issuer shall deliver, or procure the delivery of, an equal aggregate principal amount of duly executed and authenticated Definitive Registered Bonds.

 

Exchange Date ” means a day falling not less than 60 days after that on which the notice requiring exchange is given and on which banks are open for business in the city in which the specified office of the Registrar is located and in the cities in which Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg or, if relevant, the Alternative Clearing System (each as defined under “ Notices ” below) are located.

 

Except as otherwise described herein, this Global Bond is subject to the Conditions and the Trust Deed and, until it is exchanged for Definitive Registered Bonds, its holder shall be entitled to the same benefits as if it were the holder of the Definitive Registered Bonds for which it may be exchanged and as if such Definitive Registered Bonds had been issued on the date of this Global Bond.

 

The Conditions shall be modified with respect to Bonds represented by this Global Bond by the following provisions:

 

Notices

 

So long as this Global Bond is held on behalf of Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. (“ Euroclear ”) or Clearstream Banking, société anonyme (“ Clearstream, Luxembourg ”) or such other clearing system as shall have been approved by the Trustee (the “ Alternative Clearing System ”), notices required to be given to Bondholders may be given by their being delivered to Accountholders (as defined below) through Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg or, as the case may be, the Alternative Clearing System, rather than by notification to Bondholders as required by the Conditions in which case such notices shall be deemed to have been given to Bondholders on the date of delivery to Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg or, as the case may be, the Alternative Clearing System.

 

Prescription

 

Any claim for payment in respect of this Global Bond will become void unless it is presented for payment within a period of 10 years.

 

Meetings

 

The holder hereof shall be treated as having one vote in respect of each £1 in principal amount of Bonds for which this Global Bond may be exchanged.

 

Conversion

 

For so long as this Global Bond is held on behalf of any one or more of Euroclear, Clearstream, Luxembourg or the Alternative Clearing System, where a Mandatory Conversion or a Voluntary Conversion occurs in respect of Bonds represented by this Global Bond, this Global Bond together with one or more Conversion Notices duly completed and signed by or on behalf of a holder of a book-entry interest representing entitlements to the Global Bond (each such person, an “ Accountholder ”) shall be presented to or to the order of the Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent or such other Agent as shall have been notified to the Bondholder for such purpose. Where Bonds are to be converted and cancelled upon a conversion, the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent shall annotate Schedule A hereto accordingly.

 

74



 

Trustee’s Powers

 

In considering the interests of Bondholders while the Global Bond is held on behalf of a clearing system, the Trustee may have regard to any information provided to it by such clearing system or its operator as to the identity (either individually or by category) of its Accountholders and may consider such interests as if such Accountholders were holders of the Global Bond.

 

Purchase and Cancellation

 

Cancellation of any Bond represented by this Global Bond which is required by the Conditions to be cancelled will be effected by reduction in the principal amount of this Global Bond on its presentation to or to the order of the Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent for notation in Schedule A hereto.

 

This Global Bond shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until authenticated by or on behalf of the Registrar.

 

This Global Bond and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by and shall be construed in accordance with English law.

 

In witness whereof the Issuer has caused this Global Bond to be signed on its behalf.

 

Dated 25 February 2016

 

For and on behalf of

 

VODAFONE GROUP PLC

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Director

 

 

 

This Global Bond is authenticated without recourse, warranty or liability by or on behalf of the Registrar.

 

HSBC BANK PLC

as Registrar

 

By:

 

 

Authorised Signatory

For the purposes of authentication only.

 

75



 

Schedule A

Schedule of Reductions in Principal Amount of Bonds in respect of which this

Global Bond is Issued

 

The following reductions in the principal amount of the Bonds in respect of which this Global Bond is issued have been made as a result of: (i) a Mandatory Conversion, or (ii) exercise of a Bondholder Voluntary Conversion Right attaching to the Bonds, or (iii) purchase and cancellation of the Bonds or (iv) issue of Definitive Registered Bonds in respect of the Bonds:

 

Date of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conversion/Purchase

 

 

 

 

 

Notation made by or

 

and Cancellation/

 

Amount of decrease

 

Principal Amount of

 

on behalf of the

 

Issue of Definitive

 

in principal amount

 

this Global Bond

 

Principal Paying,

 

Registered Bonds

 

of this Global Bond

 

following such

 

Transfer and

 

(stating which)

 

(£)

 

decrease (£)

 

Conversion Agent

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

76



 

SCHEDULE 4

Provisions for Meetings of Bondholders

 

1                                          In this Schedule the following expressions have the following meanings:

 

1.1                                Electronic Consent ” has the meaning set out in paragraph 19;

 

1.2                                Extraordinary Resolution ” means a resolution passed (i) at a meeting of Bondholders duly convened and held in accordance with these provisions by or on behalf of the Bondholder(s) of not less than 75 per cent. of the persons eligible to vote at such meeting, (ii) by a Written Resolution or (iii) by an Electronic Consent; and

 

1.3                                Written Resolution ” means a resolution in writing signed by or on behalf of Bondholders representing in aggregate not less than 95 per cent. in principal amount of the Bonds for the time being outstanding.

 

2

 

2.1                                A holder of a Bond in registered form may by an instrument in writing in the form available from any Agent in English signed by the holder or, in the case of a corporation, executed under its common seal or signed on its behalf by an attorney or a duly authorised officer of the corporation and delivered to any Agent not later than 48 hours before the time fixed for any meeting, appoint any person as a proxy to act on his or its behalf in connection with any meeting or proposed meeting of Bondholders.

 

2.2                                A holder of a Bond (whether such Bonds are represented by a Global Bond or a Definitive Registered Bond) in registered form which is a corporation may, by delivering to any Agent not later than 48 hours before the time fixed for any meeting a resolution in English of its directors or other governing body, authorise any person to act as its representative (a “ representative ”) in connection with any meeting or proposed meeting of Bondholders.

 

2.3                                A proxy or representative so appointed shall so long as such appointment remains in force be deemed, for all purposes in connection with any meeting or proposed meeting of Bondholders specified in such appointment, to be the holder of the Bonds to which such appointment relates and the holder of the Bonds shall be deemed for such purposes not to be the holder.

 

3                                          Each of the Issuer and the Trustee at any time may, and the Issuer upon a request in writing of Bondholders holding not less than 10 per cent. in principal amount of the Bonds for the time being outstanding shall, convene a meeting of Bondholders. Whenever any such party is about to convene any such meeting, it shall forthwith give notice in writing to each other party of the day, time and place of the meeting and of the nature of the business to be transacted at it. Every such meeting shall be held at such time and place as the Trustee may approve.

 

4                                          At least 21 days’ notice (exclusive of the day on which the notice is given and of the day on which the meeting is held) specifying the day, time and place of meeting shall be given to the Bondholders. A copy of the notice shall in all cases be given by the party convening the meeting to each of the other parties. Such notice shall also specify the nature of the resolutions to be proposed.

 

5                                          A person (who may, but need not, be a Bondholder) nominated in writing by the Trustee may take the chair at every such meeting but if no such nomination is made or if at any meeting the person nominated shall not be present within 15 minutes after the time fixed

 

77



 

for the meeting, the Bondholders present shall choose one of their number to be chairman, failing which the Issuer may appoint a chairman. The chairman of an adjourned meeting need not be the same person as was chairman of the original meeting.

 

6                                          At any such meeting any one or more persons present in person holding Bonds or being proxies or representatives and holding or representing in the aggregate not less than 10 per cent. in principal amount of the Bonds for the time being outstanding shall (except for the purpose of passing an Extraordinary Resolution) form a quorum for the transaction of business and no business (other than the choosing of a chairman) shall be transacted at any meeting unless the requisite quorum be present at the commencement of business. The quorum at any such meeting for passing an Extraordinary Resolution shall (subject as provided below) be one or more persons present in person holding Bonds or being proxies or representatives and holding or representing in the aggregate a clear majority in principal amount of the Bonds for the time being outstanding; provided that at any meeting the business of which includes any of the matters specified in the proviso to paragraph 16, the quorum shall be one or more persons present in person holding Bonds or being proxies or representatives and holding or representing in the aggregate not less than two-thirds in principal amount of the Bonds for the time being outstanding.

 

7                                          If within 15 minutes from the time fixed for any such meeting a quorum is not present, the meeting shall, if convened upon the requisition of Bondholders, be dissolved. In any other case it shall stand adjourned (unless the Issuer and the Trustee agree that it be dissolved) for such period, not being less than 14 days nor more than 42 days, and to such place, as may be decided by the chairman. At such adjourned meeting one or more persons present in person holding Bonds or voting certificates or being proxies or representatives (whatever the principal amount of the Bonds so held or represented) shall form a quorum and may pass any resolution and decide upon all matters which could properly have been dealt with at the meeting from which the adjournment took place had a quorum been present at such meeting; provided that at any adjourned meeting at which is to be proposed an Extraordinary Resolution for the purpose of effecting any of the modifications specified in the proviso to paragraph 16, the quorum shall be one or more persons so present holding Bonds or being proxies or representatives and holding or representing in the aggregate not less than one-third in principal amount of the Bonds for the time being outstanding. If a quorum is not present within 15 minutes from the time fixed for a meeting so adjourned, the meeting shall be dissolved.

 

8                                          The chairman may, with the consent of (and shall if directed by) any meeting, adjourn such meeting from time to time and from place to place but no business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting except business which might lawfully have been transacted at the meeting from which the adjournment took place.

 

9                                          At least 10 days’ notice of any meeting adjourned through want of a quorum shall be given in the same manner as for an original meeting and such notice shall state the quorum required at such adjourned meeting. It shall not, however, otherwise be necessary to give any notice of an adjourned meeting.

 

10                                   Every question submitted to a meeting shall be decided in the first instance by a show of hands and in case of equality of votes the chairman shall both on a show of hands and on a poll have a casting vote in addition to the vote or votes (if any) which he may have as a Bondholder or as a proxy or representative.

 

78



 

11                                   At any meeting, unless a poll is (before or on the declaration of the result of the show of hands) demanded by the chairman, the Issuer, the Trustee or by one or more persons holding one or more Bonds or being proxies or representatives and holding or representing in the aggregate not less than one-fiftieth in principal amount of the Bonds for the time being outstanding, a declaration by the chairman that a resolution has been carried or carried by a particular majority or lost or not carried by any particular majority shall be conclusive evidence of the fact without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favour of or against such resolution.

 

12                                   If at any meeting a poll is so demanded, it shall be taken in such manner and (subject as provided below) either at once or after such an adjournment as the chairman directs and the result of such poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the meeting at which the poll was demanded as at the date of the taking of the poll. The demand for a poll shall not prevent the continuation of the meeting for the transaction of any business other than the question on which the poll has been demanded.

 

13                                   Any poll demanded at any meeting on the election of a chairman or on any question of adjournment shall be taken at the meeting without adjournment.

 

14                                   The Issuer, the Agents and the Trustee (through their respective representatives) and their respective financial and legal advisers and any other person authorised to do so by the Trustee may attend and speak at any meeting of Bondholders. No one else may attend at any meeting of Bondholders or join with others in requesting the convening of such a meeting unless he is the holder of a Bond or is a proxy or a representative.

 

15                                   At any meeting on a show of hands every person who is present in person and who produces a Bond or is a proxy or a representative shall have one vote and on a poll every person who is so present shall have one vote in respect of each £1 (or, in the case of meetings of holders of Bonds denominated in another currency, as the Trustee in its absolute discretion may decide) in principal amount of the Bonds so produced or represented or in respect of which he is a proxy or a representative. Without prejudice to the obligations of proxies, any person entitled to more than one vote need not use all his votes or cast all the votes to which he is entitled in the same way.

 

16                                   The Bondholders shall, subject to the Conditions, in addition to the powers given above, but without prejudice to any powers conferred on other persons by this Trust Deed, have power exercisable by Extraordinary Resolution:

 

16.1                         to sanction any proposal by the Issuer or the Trustee for any modification, abrogation, variation or compromise of, or arrangement in respect of, the rights of the Bondholders against the Issuer or against any of its property whether such rights shall arise under this Trust Deed, the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agency Agreement or otherwise;

 

16.2                         to sanction any scheme or proposal for the exchange, substitution or sale of the Bonds for, or the conversion of the Bonds into, or the cancellation of the Bonds in consideration of, shares, stock, notes, bonds, debentures, debenture stock and/or other obligations and/or securities of the Issuer or any other body corporate formed or to be formed, or partly for or into or in consideration of such shares, stock, notes, bonds, debentures, debenture stock and/or other obligations and/or securities as aforesaid;

 

16.3                         to assent to any modification of this Trust Deed or the Conditions, that relate to the rights appertaining to the Bonds which shall be proposed by the Issuer or the Trustee;

 

79



 

16.4                         to authorise anyone to concur in and do all such things as may be necessary to carry out and to give any authority, direction or sanction which under this Trust Deed or the Bonds is required to be given by Extraordinary Resolution;

 

16.5                         to appoint any persons (whether Bondholders or not) as a committee or committees to represent the interests of the Bondholders and to confer upon such committee or committees any powers or discretions which the Bondholders could themselves exercise by Extraordinary Resolution;

 

16.6                         to approve a person proposed to be appointed as a new Trustee and to remove any Trustee;

 

16.7                         to approve the substitution of any entity for the Issuer (or any previous substitute) as principal debtor under this Trust Deed (for the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this paragraph shall be interpreted to mean that the consent of Bondholders is required in relation to any substitution that the Trustee may otherwise agree to under Clause 15.3 of the Trust Deed); and

 

16.8                         to discharge or exonerate the Trustee from any liability in respect of any act or omission for which it may become responsible under this Trust Deed or the Bonds;

 

provided that the special quorum provisions contained in the proviso to paragraph 6 and, in the case of an adjourned meeting, in the proviso to paragraph 7 shall apply in relation to any Extraordinary Resolution for the purpose of paragraph 16.2 or 16.7 and making any modification to the provisions contained in this Trust Deed, the Conditions or the Bonds, the Paying Transfer and Conversion Agency Agreement or the Calculation Agency Agreement which would have the effect of:

 

(i)                                     changing the Final Maturity Date or the dates on which interest is payable in respect of the Bonds; or

 

(ii)                                 reducing or cancelling the principal amount of the Bonds or the interest payable or any Make-whole Amount payable, in respect of the Bonds; or

 

(iii)                             modifying the basis for calculating the interest payable, including any Arrears of Interest, in respect of the Bonds; or

 

(iv)                               modifying the provisions relating to conversion of the Bonds (including the periods and/or circumstances in which a Mandatory Conversion may occur or a Bondholder Voluntary Conversion Right may be exercised), or the rights of Bondholders to receive any cash amounts pursuant to the Conditions (other than a reduction to the Conversion Price); or

 

(v)                                   increasing the Conversion Price (other than in accordance with the Conditions); or

 

(vi)                               changing the currency or the denomination of the Bonds or any payment in respect of the Bonds; or

 

(vii)                           changing the governing law of the Bonds, the Trust Deed, the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agency Agreement or the Calculation Agency Agreement (other than in the case of a substitution of the Issuer (or any previous substitute or substitutes) under Clause 15.3); or

 

(viii)                       modifying the provisions concerning the quorum required at any meeting of Bondholders or the majority required to pass an Extraordinary Resolution; or

 

80



 

(ix)                               amending this proviso.

 

17                                   An Extraordinary Resolution passed by the Bondholders in accordance with this Trust Deed shall be binding upon all the Bondholders, whether or not present at any meeting and whether or not they vote in favour, and each of the Bondholders shall be bound to give effect to it accordingly. The passing of any such resolution shall be conclusive evidence that the circumstances of such resolution justify the passing of it.

 

18                                   Minutes of all resolutions and proceedings at every such meeting shall be made and entered in the books to be from time to time provided for that purpose by the Issuer or the Trustee and any such minutes, if purporting to be signed by the chairman of the meeting at which such resolutions were passed or proceedings transacted or by the chairman of the next succeeding meeting of Bondholders, shall be conclusive evidence of the matters contained in them and until the contrary is proved every such meeting in respect of the proceedings of which minutes have been so made and signed shall be deemed to have been duly convened and held and all resolutions passed or proceedings transacted at it to have been duly passed and transacted.

 

19                                   Subject to the following sentence, a Written Resolution may be contained in one document or in several documents in like form, each signed by or on behalf of one or more of the Bondholders.

 

For so long as the Bonds are in the form of a Global Bond registered in the name of a common depositary for Euroclear, Clearstream, Luxembourg or another clearing system, or a nominee of any of the above then, in respect of any resolution proposed by the Issuer or the Trustee:

 

19.1                         Electronic Consent: where the terms of the resolution proposed by the Issuer or the Trustee (as the case may be) have been notified to the Bondholders through the relevant clearing system(s) as provided in sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii) below, each of the Issuer and the Trustee shall be entitled to rely upon approval of such resolution given by way of electronic consents communicated through the electronic communications systems of the relevant clearing system(s) in accordance with their operating rules and procedures by or on behalf of the holder(s) of not less than 95 per cent. in principal amount of the Bonds for the time being outstanding (the “ Required Proportion ”) (“ Electronic Consent ”) by close of business on the Relevant Date. Any resolution passed in such manner shall be binding on all Bondholders, even if the relevant consent or instruction proves to be defective. Neither the Issuer nor the Trustee nor the Agents shall be liable or responsible to anyone for such reliance.

 

(i)                                     When a proposal for a resolution to be passed as an Electronic Consent has been made, at least 10 days’ notice (exclusive of the day on which the notice is given and of the day on which affirmative consents will be counted) shall be given to the Bondholders through the relevant clearing system(s). The notice shall specify, in sufficient detail to enable Bondholders to give their consents in relation to the proposed resolution, the method by which their consents may be given (including, where applicable, blocking of their accounts in the relevant clearing system(s)) and the time and date (the “Relevant Date ”) by which they must be received in order for such consents to be validly given, in each case subject to and in accordance with the operating rules and procedures of the relevant clearing system(s).

 

(ii)                                 If, on the Relevant Date on which the consents in respect of an Electronic Consent are first counted, such consents do not represent the Required Proportion, the

 

81



 

resolution shall, if the party proposing such resolution (the “ Proposer ”) so determines, be deemed to be defeated. Such determination shall be notified in writing to the other party or parties to the Trust Deed. Alternatively, the Proposer may give a further notice to Bondholders that the resolution will be proposed again on such date and for such period as shall be agreed with the Trustee (unless the Trustee is the Proposer). Such notice must inform Bondholders that insufficient consents were received in relation to the original resolution and the information specified in sub-paragraph (i) above. For the purpose of such further notice, references to “Relevant Date” shall be construed accordingly.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, an Electronic Consent may only be used in relation to a resolution proposed by the Issuer or the Trustee which is not then the subject of a meeting that has been validly convened in accordance with paragraph 3 above, unless that meeting is or shall be cancelled or dissolved; and

 

19.2                         Written Resolution: where Electronic Consent is not being sought, for the purpose of determining whether a Written Resolution has been validly passed, the Issuer and the Trustee shall be entitled to rely on consent or instructions given in writing directly to the Issuer and/or the Trustee, as the case may be, (a) by accountholders in the clearing system(s) with entitlements to such Global Bond and/or (b) where the accountholders hold any such entitlement on behalf of another person, on written consent from or written instruction by the person identified by that accountholder as the person for whom such entitlement is held. For the purpose of establishing the entitlement to give any such consent or instruction, the Issuer and the Trustee shall be entitled to rely on any certificate or other document issued by, in the case of (a) above, Euroclear, Clearstream, Luxembourg or any other relevant alternative clearing system (the “ relevant clearing system ”) and, in the case of (b) above, the relevant clearing system and the accountholder identified by the relevant clearing system for the purposes of (b) above. Any resolution passed in such manner shall be binding on all Bondholders, even if the relevant consent or instruction proves to be defective. Any such certificate or other document shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding for all purposes. Any such certificate or other document may comprise any form of statement or print out of electronic records provided by the relevant clearing system (including Euroclear’s EUCLID or Clearstream, Luxembourg’s CreationOnline system) in accordance with its usual procedures and in which the accountholder of a particular principal or nominal amount of the Bonds is clearly identified together with the amount of such holding. Neither the Issuer nor the Trustee nor the Agents shall be liable to any person by reason of having accepted as valid or not having rejected any certificate or other document to such effect purporting to be issued by any such person and subsequently found to be forged or not authentic.

 

A Written Resolution and/or Electronic Consent shall take effect as an Extraordinary Resolution. A Written Resolution and/or Electronic Consent will be binding on all Bondholders, whether or not they participated in such Written Resolution and/or Electronic Consent.

 

20                                   Subject to all other provisions contained in this Trust Deed the Trustee may without the consent of the Bondholders prescribe such further regulations regarding the holding of meetings of Bondholders and attendance and voting at them as the Trustee may in its sole discretion determine including particularly (but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) such regulations and requirements as the Trustee thinks fit:

 

82



 

20.1                         so as to satisfy itself that persons who purport to requisition a meeting in accordance with paragraph 3 or who purport to make any requisition to the Trustee in accordance with this Trust Deed are in fact Bondholders; and

 

20.2                         so as to satisfy itself that persons who purport to attend or vote at any meeting of Bondholders are entitled to do so in accordance with this Trust Deed.

 

21                                   If and whenever the Issuer shall have issued and have outstanding any Bonds which are not identical and do not form one single series then those Bonds which are in all respects identical shall be deemed to constitute a separate series of the Bonds and the foregoing provisions of this Schedule shall have effect subject to the following modifications:

 

21.1                         a resolution which in the opinion of the Trustee affects one series only of the Bonds shall be deemed to have been duly passed if passed at a separate meeting of the holders of the Bonds of that series;

 

21.2                         a resolution which in the opinion of the Trustee affects more than one series of the Bonds but does not give rise to a conflict of interest between the holders of Bonds of any of the series so affected shall be deemed to have been duly passed if passed at a single meeting of the holders of the Bonds of all the series so affected;

 

21.3                         a resolution which in the opinion of the Trustee affects more than one series of the Bonds and gives or may give rise to a conflict of interest between the holders of the Bonds of any of the series so affected shall be deemed to have been duly passed only if it shall be duly passed at separate meetings of the holders of the Bonds of each series so affected; and

 

21.4                         to all such meetings as aforesaid all the preceding provisions of this Schedule shall mutatis mutandis apply as though references therein to Bonds and holders were references to the Bonds of the series or group of series in question and to the holders of such Bonds respectively.

 

22                                   Nothing in this Trust Deed shall prevent any of the proxies named in any form of proxy from being a director, managing director, officer or representative of, or otherwise connected with, the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

23                                   References in this Schedule to Agents shall, where the context requires, be taken to be references to Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent.

 

24                                   A meeting that has been validly convened in accordance with paragraph 3 above, may be cancelled by the person who convened such meeting by giving at least 10 days’ notice (exclusive of the day on which the notice is given and of the day of the meeting) to the Bondholders (with a copy to the Trustee where such meeting was convened by the Issuer or to the Issuer where such meeting was convened by the Trustee). Any meeting cancelled in accordance with this paragraph 24 shall be deemed not to have been convened.

 

83



 

SCHEDULE 5

Form of Directors’ Certificate

 

[ ON THE HEADED PAPER OF THE ISSUER ]

 

To:

The Law Debenture Trust Corporation p.l.c.

 

 

 

 

Attention:

The Manager, Commercial Trusts (Ref: 201588)

[Date]

 

Dear Sirs

 

VODAFONE GROUP PLC

£1,440,000,000 1.50 per cent. Subordinated Mandatory Convertible Bonds due 2017

 

This certificate is delivered to you in accordance with Clause 9.5 of the Trust Deed dated 25 February 2016 (the “ Trust Deed” ) and made between Vodafone Group Plc (the “ Issuer ”) and The Law Debenture Trust Corporation p.l.c. (the “ Trustee ”). All words and expressions defined in the Trust Deed shall (save as otherwise provided herein or unless the context otherwise requires) have the same meanings herein.

 

The undersigned give the confirmations in this certificate on behalf of the Issuer without incurring any personal liability for doing so.

 

The undersigned, having made all reasonable enquiries certify that to the best of their knowledge, information and belief:

 

(a)                                  As at [ · ] 1 , no Accelerated Conversion Event, Potential Accelerated Conversion Event or Enforcement Event existed [other than [ · ]] 2  and no Accelerated Conversion Event or Enforcement Event had existed at any time since [ · ] 3  [the Certification Date (as defined in the Trust Deed) of the last certificate delivered under Clause 9.5 4 ]/[the date of this Trust Deed] [other than [ · ]] 5 ; and

 

(a)                                  From and including [ · ] 3  [the Certification Date of the last certificate delivered under Clause 9.5] 4 /[the date of the Trust Deed] to and including [ · ] 1 , there has been no breach in respect of its obligations under the Trust Deed [other than [ · ] 6 ].

 

This certificate is given by the undersigned solely in the capacity of director of the Issuer and no personal liability is accepted by the undersigned.

 

For and on behalf of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Director

 

Director

 

 

 

Vodafone Group Plc

 

Vodafone Group Plc

 


1                    Specify a date not more than 7 days before the date of delivery of the certificate.

2                    If any Accelerated Conversion Event, Potential Accelerated Conversion Event or Enforcement Event did exist, give details; otherwise delete.

3                    Insert date of Trust Deed in respect of the first certificate delivered under Clause 9.5, otherwise delete.

4                    Include unless the certificate is the first certificate delivered under Clause 9.5, in which case delete.

5                    If any Accelerated Conversion Event or Potential Accelerated Conversion Event or Enforcement Event did exist, give details; otherwise delete.

6                    If the Issuer has failed to comply with any obligation(s), give details; otherwise delete

 

84



 

This deed is delivered on the day and year first before written.

 

EXECUTED AS A DEED FOR AND ON BEHALF OF

 

VODAFONE GROUP PLC

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

Witnessed by:

 

 

 

 

 

EXECUTED AND DELIVERED AS A DEED BY

 

AFFIXING THE COMMON SEAL OF

 

THE LAW DEBENTURE TRUST CORPORATION p.l.c.

 

 

 

 

 

Acting by:

 

 

 

 

 

Authorised Signatory:

 

 

85


Exhibit 2.5

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

Dated 25 February 2016

 

 

VODAFONE GROUP PLC

 

and

 

THE LAW DEBENTURE TRUST CORPORATION p.l.c.

 

 

TRUST DEED

 

 

constituting

£1,440,000,000

2.00 per cent. Subordinated Mandatory Convertible Bonds due 2019

 

 

Linklaters

 

Ref: KJT/ROC/RR/VW

 

Linklaters LLP

 



 

Table of Contents

 

Contents

 

Page

 

 

 

 

1

Interpretation

 

4

 

 

 

 

2

Amount of the Original Bonds and Covenant to pay

 

8

 

 

 

 

3

Form of the Original Bonds

 

9

 

 

 

 

4

Stamp Duties and Taxes

 

10

 

 

 

 

5

Further Issues

 

10

 

 

 

 

6

Application of Moneys received by the Trustee

 

11

 

 

 

 

7

Covenant to Comply

 

12

 

 

 

 

8

Covenants relating to Conversion

 

12

 

 

 

 

9

Covenants

 

13

 

 

 

 

10

Remuneration and Indemnification of the Trustee

 

14

 

 

 

 

11

Provisions Supplemental to the Trustee Act 1925 and the Trustee Act 2000

 

15

 

 

 

 

12

Disapplication and Trustee Liability

 

20

 

 

 

 

13

Waiver and Proof of Default

 

20

 

 

 

 

14

Trustee not precluded from entering into Contracts

 

21

 

 

 

 

15

Modification and Substitution

 

21

 

 

 

 

16

Appointment, Retirement and Removal of the Trustee

 

23

 

 

 

 

17

Currency Indemnity

 

24

 

 

 

 

18

Enforcement

 

24

 

 

 

 

19

Communications

 

25

 

 

 

 

20

Governing Law

 

26

 

 

 

 

21

Counterparts

 

26

 

 

 

 

22

Rights of Third Parties

 

26

 

 

 

 

23

Partial Invalidity

 

26

 

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE 1 Terms and Conditions of the Bonds

 

27

 

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE 2 Form of Original Definitive Registered Bond

 

68

 

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE 3 Form of Original Global Bond

 

73

 

2



 

 

SCHEDULE 4 Provisions for Meetings of Bondholders

 

77

 

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE 5 Form of Directors’ Certificate

 

84

 

3



 

This Trust Deed is made on 25 February 2016 between:

 

(1)                                  VODAFONE GROUP PLC (the “ Issuer ”); and

 

(2)                                  THE LAW DEBENTURE TRUST CORPORATION p.l.c. (the “ Trustee ”, which expression shall, where the context so admits, include all persons for the time being the trustee or trustees of this Trust Deed).

 

Whereas :

 

(A)                                The Issuer, incorporated in England and Wales, has by a resolution of its board of directors authorised the issue of £1,440,000,000 2.00 per cent. Subordinated Mandatory Convertible Bonds due 2019 to be constituted by this Trust Deed.

 

(B)                                The Bonds are convertible into Ordinary Shares (as defined in the Conditions).

 

(C)                                The Trustee has agreed to act as trustee of this Trust Deed on the following terms and conditions.

 

This Deed witnesses and it is declared as follows:

 

1                                          Interpretation

 

1.1                                Definitions : Expressions defined in the Conditions, unless otherwise defined in the recitals or main body of this Trust Deed, have the meanings given to them in the Conditions. In addition, the following terms and expressions have the following meanings:

 

Agents ” means the Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent and the Registrar and any other agent appointed pursuant to the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agency Agreement (and “ Agent ” means any one of them);

 

Bondholder ” and “ holder ” mean, in relation to a Bond, the person in whose name the Bond is registered in the Register (or, in the case of joint holders, the first named thereof);

 

Bonds ” means the Original Bonds and/or, as the context may require, any Further Bonds except that in Schedules 2 and 3 “ Bonds ” means the Original Bonds;

 

Calculation Agency Agreement ” means, in relation to the Original Bonds, the Calculation Agency Agreement dated 19 February 2016, as altered from time to time, between the Issuer and the Calculation Agent, whereby the initial Calculation Agent was appointed in relation to the Original Bonds;

 

Certification Date ” has the meaning specified in Clause 9.5;

 

Clearstream, Luxembourg ” means Clearstream Banking, société anonyme ;

 

Conditions ” means, in relation to the Original Bonds, the terms and conditions set out in Schedule 1 and, in relation to any Further Bonds, the terms and conditions relating to such Further Bonds (which may, for the avoidance of doubt, be the terms and conditions set out in Schedule 1) as any of the same may from time to time be modified in accordance with this Trust Deed, and, with respect to any Bonds represented by a Global Bond, as modified by the provisions of the relevant Global Bond and references in this Trust Deed to a particular numbered Condition shall be construed accordingly and, in relation to any Further Bonds, as a reference to the provision (if any) in the terms and conditions thereof which corresponds to the particular Condition of the Original Bonds;

 

Contractual Currency ” has the meaning specified in Clause 17.1;

 

4



 

Definitive Registered Bonds ” means the Original Definitive Registered Bonds and/or as the context may require any other definitive registered bonds representing Further Bonds or any of them;

 

Euroclear ” means Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V.;

 

Extraordinary Resolution ” has the meaning set out in Schedule 4;

 

FSMA ” means the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000;

 

Further Bonds ” means any further Bonds issued in accordance with the provisions of Clause 5 and Condition 18, constituted by a deed supplemental to this Trust Deed and to be consolidated and forming a single series with the then outstanding Bonds;

 

Global Bond ” means the Original Global Bond and/or as the context may require any other global bond or global bonds representing Further Bonds or any of them;

 

Liability ” means any loss, damage, cost, charge, claim, demand, expense, judgment, action, proceeding or other liability whatsoever (including, without limitation, in respect of taxes, duties, levies imposts and other charges) and including any value added tax or similar tax charged or chargeable in respect thereof and legal fees and expenses on a full indemnity basis;

 

Original Bonds ” means the £1,440,000,000 2.00 per cent. Subordinated Mandatory Convertible Bonds due 2019 constituted by this Trust Deed to be represented by a certificate or certificates in or substantially in the form set out in Schedule 2 or Schedule 3 as the case may be, and for the time being outstanding or, as the context may require, a specific number of them and includes any replacement Bonds issued pursuant to the Conditions and (except for the purposes of Clauses 3.1 and 3.2) the Global Bond;

 

Original Bondholders ” means, in relation to an Original Bond, the person in whose name the Original Bond is registered in the Register;

 

Original Definitive Registered Bonds ” means those Original Bonds for the time being represented by definitive certificates in the form or substantially in the form set out in Schedule 2 and in accordance with Condition 1( a );

 

Original Global Bond ” means a Global Bond which will evidence the Original Bonds, substantially in the form set out in Schedule 3, and evidencing the entitlement of the Original Bondholders;

 

outstanding ” means, in relation to the Bonds, all the Bonds issued except (a) those which have been mandatorily converted into Ordinary Shares in accordance with the Conditions and in respect of which all other payment or delivery obligations of the Issuer under the Conditions are discharged, (b) those which have been converted at the option of the relevant Bondholder into Ordinary Shares in accordance with the Conditions; (c) those in respect of which the date for Mandatory Conversion in accordance with the Conditions has occurred and the relevant Ordinary Shares and any cash amounts due to Bondholders have been duly delivered or paid, as applicable, to the Relevant Person or, as the case may be, the Trustee or as the Trustee may direct, (d) those which have become void or those in respect of which claims have become prescribed in accordance with Condition 12, (e) those mutilated or defaced Bonds which have been surrendered in exchange for replacement Bonds (if so required) in accordance with Condition 13, (f) those which have been purchased and cancelled as provided in the Conditions and (g) the Global Bond to the extent that it shall have been exchanged for interests in another Global Bond and any

 

5



 

Global Bond to the extent that it shall have been exchanged for Definitive Registered Bonds pursuant to its provisions; provided that, for the purposes of (i) ascertaining the right to attend and vote at any meeting of the Bondholders, an Extraordinary Resolution in writing or an Extraordinary Resolution by way of electronic consents given through the relevant Clearing System(s) as envisaged by Schedule 4 and any direction or request by the holders of the Bonds, (ii) the determination of how many Bonds are outstanding for the purposes of Conditions 10, 14 and 15 and Schedule 4, (iii) the exercise of any discretion, power or authority contained in this Trust Deed or provided by law, which the Trustee is required, expressly or impliedly, to exercise in or by reference to the interests of the Bondholders and (iv) the determination by the Trustee whether any event, circumstance, matter or thing is, in its opinion, materially prejudicial to the interests of the Bondholders or any of them, those Bonds (if any) which are beneficially held by or on behalf of the Issuer, any holding company of the Issuer or any other Subsidiary of any such holding company and not cancelled shall be deemed not to remain outstanding;

 

Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agency Agreement ” means, in relation to the Original Bonds, the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agency Agreement dated on or about the date hereof, as altered from time to time, between the Issuer, the Trustee, the Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent, and the Registrar whereby the initial Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent and the Registrar were appointed in relation to the Original Bonds and includes any other agreements approved in writing by the Trustee (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) appointing Successor Agents amending or modifying any of such agreements;

 

Potential Accelerated Conversion Event ” means an event or circumstance which could, with the giving of notice, lapse of time, the issuing of any certificate and/or the fulfilment of any other requirement provided for in Condition 4 (d) , become an Accelerated Conversion Event;

 

Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent ” means, in relation to the Original Bonds, HSBC Bank plc, in its capacity as Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent and, in relation to any Further Bonds, the Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent appointed in respect of such Further Bonds and, in each case, any Successor Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent;

 

Registrar ” means, in relation to the Original Bonds, HSBC Bank plc at its specified office, in its capacity as Registrar and, in relation to any Further Bonds, the Registrar appointed in respect of such Further Bonds and, in each case, any Successor Registrar;

 

Securities ” means any securities including, without limitation any shares in the capital of the Issuer and options, warrants or other rights to subscribe for or purchase or acquire any shares in the capital of the Issuer;

 

specified office ” means, in relation to any Agent, either the office identified with its name at the end of the Conditions or any other office approved by the Trustee and notified to the Bondholders pursuant to Clause 9.10;

 

Substituted Obligor ” has the meaning specified in Clause 15.3.1;

 

Successor ” means, in relation to the Agents, such other or further person as may from time to time be appointed by the Issuer as an Agent with the prior written approval of, and on terms approved in writing by, the Trustee and notice of whose appointment is given to Bondholders pursuant to Clause 9.10;

 

6



 

this Trust Deed ” means this Trust Deed, the Schedules (as from time to time amended, modified and/or supplemented in accordance with this Trust Deed) and any other document executed in accordance with this Trust Deed (as from time to time so altered) and expressed to be supplemental to this Trust Deed;

 

trust corporation ” means a trust corporation (as defined in the Law of Property Act 1925) or a corporation entitled to act as a Trustee pursuant to applicable foreign legislation relating to trustees; and

 

Trustee Acts ” means the Trustee Act 1925 and the Trustee Act 2000.

 

1.2                                Construction of Certain References:

 

References to:

 

1.2.1                      the records of Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg shall be to the records that each of Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg holds for its customers which reflect the amount of such customers’ interests in the Bonds;

 

1.2.2                      costs, charges, remuneration or expenses shall include any value added tax, turnover tax or similar tax (“ VAT ”) charged in respect thereof;

 

1.2.3                      any action, remedy or method of judicial proceedings for the enforcement of rights of creditors shall include, in respect of any jurisdiction other than England and Wales, references to such action, remedy or method of judicial proceedings for the enforcement of rights of creditors available or appropriate in such jurisdiction as shall most nearly approximate thereto;

 

1.2.4                      any provision of any statute shall be deemed also to refer to any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof or any statutory instrument, order or regulation made thereunder or under such modification or re-enactment whether before or after the date of this Trust Deed;

 

1.2.5                      such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed ” or like references shall mean, when used in this Trust Deed, the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agency Agreement or the Conditions, in relation to the Trustee that, in determining whether to give consent or approval, the Trustee shall have due regard to the interests of Bondholders and any determination as to whether or not its consent or approval is unreasonably withheld or delayed shall be made on that basis; and

 

1.2.6                      the appointment or employment of or delegation to any person by the Trustee shall be deemed to include a reference to, if in the opinion of the Trustee it is reasonably practicable, the prior notification of and consultation with the Issuer and, in any event, the notification forthwith of such appointment, employment or delegation, as the case may be.

 

1.3                                Conditions : Words and expressions defined in the Conditions and not defined in the main body of this Trust Deed shall when used in this Trust Deed (including the recitals) have the same meanings as are given to them in the Conditions.

 

1.4                                Headings : Headings shall be ignored in construing this Trust Deed.

 

1.5                                Schedules : The Schedules are part of this Trust Deed and shall have effect accordingly.

 

7



 

2                                          Amount of the Original Bonds and Covenant to comply

 

2.1                                Amount of the Original Bonds : The aggregate principal amount of the Original Bonds is limited to £1,440,000,000.

 

2.2                                Covenant of compliance : The Issuer will, on any date when any Original Bonds become due to be converted into Ordinary Shares or any cash amounts payable in respect of the Original Bonds are payable, in accordance with this Trust Deed or the Conditions, unconditionally deliver the Ordinary Shares and pay (or procure to be paid) any cash amounts payable in accordance with the Conditions to or to the order of the Trustee in pounds sterling in same day funds and will (subject to the Conditions), until such delivery and/or payment (both before and after judgment) is duly made unconditionally so pay or procure to be paid to or to the order of the Trustee interest (including, but not limited to, any Arrears of Interest) on the principal amount and/or, in the case of Arrears of Interest, the Deferred Interest Payment, of the Original Bonds or any of them outstanding as set out in the Conditions; provided that:

 

2.2.1                      subject to the provisions of Clause 2.6, payment of any sum due in respect of the Original Bonds made to or to the account of the Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent as provided in the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agency Agreement shall, to that extent, satisfy such obligation except to the extent that there is failure in its subsequent payment to the relevant Original Bondholders under the Conditions;

 

2.2.2                      a payment made after the due date will be deemed to have been made when the full amount due has been received by the Trustee or the Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent and notice to that effect has been given to the Original Bondholders (if required under Clause 9.8) except to the extent that there is a failure in the subsequent payment to the relevant holders under the Conditions;

 

2.2.3                      delivery of the Ordinary Shares to a Bondholder as a result of a Mandatory Conversion occurring in accordance with the Conditions, together with the payment of any cash amounts payable in accordance with the Conditions as a result of a Mandatory Conversion shall, to such extent, satisfy the Issuer’s obligations in respect of the relevant Bond; and

 

2.2.4                      delivery of the Ordinary Shares to a Bondholder on the exercise of a Bondholder Voluntary Conversion Right occurring in accordance with the Conditions shall satisfy the Issuer’s obligations in respect of the relevant Bond.

 

The Trustee will hold the benefit of this covenant on trust for the Original Bondholders.

 

2.3                                Subordination : Notwithstanding the covenant of the Issuer given in Clause 2.2, the rights and claims of the Trustee and the Bondholders against the Issuer under the Bonds in respect of principal, premium, interest and other amounts (if any) payable in respect of or arising under the Bonds and this Trust Deed are subordinated on a winding-up, dissolution or liquidation of the Issuer as provided in Conditions 1 (c) and 1 (d) .

 

2.4                                Other obligations of the Issuer : Nothing contained in this Trust Deed shall in any way restrict the right of the Issuer to issue obligations or give guarantees in each case ranking in priority to or pari passu with or junior to the obligations of the Issuer in respect of the Bonds and if, in the opinion of the Trustee, any modification to the provisions of this Trust Deed or the Conditions to permit such ranking is necessary or expedient, the Trustee is hereby authorised to concur with the Issuer in executing a supplemental deed effecting

 

8



 

such modification provided that the Trustee shall be entitled to assume that no such modification is required unless and until notified to the contrary by the Issuer in writing.

 

2.5                                Discharge : Subject to Clause 2.6, any payment to be made in respect of the Bonds or any transfer or delivery of any Ordinary Shares to be made in respect of the Bonds by the Issuer or the Trustee may be made as provided in the Conditions and any payment, transfer or delivery so made will (subject to Clause 2.6) to such extent be a good discharge to the Issuer or the Trustee, as the case may be.

 

2.6                                Payment after an Accelerated Conversion Event : At any time after an Accelerated Conversion or a Potential Accelerated Conversion Event has occurred or the Trustee has received any money which it proposes to pay under Clause 6 to the Bondholders, the Trustee may:

 

2.6.1                      by notice in writing to the Issuer and the Agents, require the Agents (or any of them), until notified by the Trustee to the contrary, so far as permitted by any applicable law:

 

(i)             to act as Agents of the Trustee under this Trust Deed and the Bonds on the terms of the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agency Agreement (with consequential amendments as necessary and except that the Trustee’s liability for the indemnification, remuneration and expenses of the Agents will be limited to the amounts for the time being held by the Trustee in respect of the Bonds on the terms of this Trust Deed and available for such purpose) and thereafter to hold all Bonds and all moneys, documents and records held by them in respect of the Bonds to the order of the Trustee; and/or

 

(ii)            to deliver all Bonds and all moneys, documents and records held by them in respect of the Bonds to the Trustee or as the Trustee directs in such notice; and

 

2.6.2                      by notice in writing to the Issuer require it to make all subsequent payments in respect of the Bonds to, or to the order of, the Trustee and not to the Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent with effect from the issue of any such notice to the Issuer and from then until such notice is withdrawn, proviso (1) to Clause 2.2 shall cease to have effect.

 

3                                          Form of the Original Bonds

 

3.1                                The Original Global Bond : The Original Bonds will be represented by the Global Bond initially in the principal amount of £1,440,000,000 and the Issuer shall procure that appropriate entries be made in the Register of Bondholders by the Registrar to reflect the issue of such Original Bonds.

 

The Original Global Bond will be delivered to and registered in the nominee name of a common depositary for Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg. The Global Bond will be exchangeable for Original Definitive Registered Bonds as set out therein.

 

3.2                                The Original Definitive Registered Bonds : The Original Definitive Registered Bonds may be printed or typed and need not be security printed unless otherwise required by applicable stock exchange requirements. Original Definitive Registered Bonds will be endorsed with the Conditions.

 

9



 

3.3                                Signature : The Original Global Bond and any Original Definitive Registered Bond (if issued) will be signed manually or in facsimile by a director of the Issuer or other duly authorised person and will be authenticated by or on behalf of the Registrar. The Issuer may use the manual or facsimile signature of any person who is at the date of this Trust Deed a director of the Issuer or other duly authorised person even if at the time of issue of any Original Bonds he no longer holds such office. Original Bonds (including the Original Global Bond) so executed and authenticated will be valid and binding obligations of the Issuer.

 

4                                          Stamp Duties and Taxes

 

4.1                                Stamp Duties : The Issuer will pay any taxes and capital, stamp, issue and registration and transfer, and other taxes and duties payable in the United Kingdom in respect of the execution and delivery of this Trust Deed, the creation, issue and offering of the Bonds and the allotment, issue and delivery of any Ordinary Shares to or to the order of a Bondholder pursuant to the Conditions upon conversion.

 

4.2                                Indemnity : The Issuer will also indemnify the Trustee and the Bondholders from and against all stamp, issue, documentary and other taxes and duties (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, (i) any stamp and transfer taxes and duties referred to in Condition 4 (g) and (ii) any capital gains tax, income tax or corporation tax or similar taxes on gains or profits levied on the relevant Bondholder) paid by any of them in any jurisdiction in connection with any action taken by or on behalf of the Trustee or, as the case may be and where entitled under Condition 16 to do so, the Bondholders to enforce the obligations of the Issuer under this Trust Deed or the Bonds.

 

4.3                                Change of Taxing Jurisdiction : If the Issuer becomes subject generally to the taxing jurisdiction of any territory or any authority of or in that territory having power to tax other than or in addition to the United Kingdom or any political sub-division of the United Kingdom, then the Issuer will (unless the Trustee otherwise agrees) give to the Trustee an undertaking satisfactory to the Trustee in terms corresponding to the terms of Condition 9 with the substitution for, or (as the case may require) the addition to, the references in that Condition to the United Kingdom of references to that other territory or authority or additional territory or authority to whose taxing jurisdiction the Issuer has become so subject (provided that such undertaking shall be subject to such exceptions as reflect exceptions under the law of the relevant taxing jurisdiction and as are similar in scope and effect to those exceptions set out in Condition 9) and in such event this Trust Deed and the Bonds will be read accordingly.

 

5                                          Further Issues

 

5.1                                Liberty to Create : The Issuer may from time to time, without the consent of the Bondholders, create and issue (i) further bonds having the same terms and conditions in all respects (or in all respects save for the first date on which conversion rights may be exercised thereon pursuant to Condition 4) as the outstanding Bonds (“ Further Bonds ”) and so that such further issue shall be consolidated and form a single series with the outstanding Bonds and/or (ii) any other notes, bonds or debentures, having such other terms and conditions as the Issuer may determine at the time of their issue. Any Further Bonds shall be constituted by a deed supplemental to this Trust Deed.

 

5.2                                Means of Constitution : Any further bonds, notes or debentures created and issued pursuant to the provisions of Clause 5.1 so as to form a single series with the Original

 

10



 

Bonds and/or the Further Bonds of any series shall be constituted by a deed supplemental to this Trust Deed and any other Further Bonds of any series created and issued pursuant to the provisions of Clause 5.1 may, with the consent of the Trustee, be so constituted. The Issuer shall, prior to the issue of any Further Bonds to be so constituted, execute and deliver to the Trustee a deed supplemental to this Trust Deed and containing a covenant by the Issuer in the form mutatis mutandis of Clause 2 of this Trust Deed in relation to such Further Bonds and such other provisions (corresponding to any of the provisions contained in this Trust Deed) as the Trustee shall require.

 

5.3                                Notice of Further Issues : Whenever it is proposed to create and issue any Further Bonds, the Issuer shall give to the Trustee not less than 14 days’ notice in writing of its intention to do so, stating the principal amount of Further Bonds proposed to be created or issued.

 

5.4                                Separate Series : Any Further Bonds not forming a single series with the Original Bonds and/or previously issued Further Bonds of any series shall form a separate series and accordingly, unless for any purpose the Trustee in its absolute discretion shall otherwise determine, the provisions of Clauses 4, 5.2 and Clauses 6 to 20 (inclusive) and Schedule 4 shall apply mutatis mutandis separately and independently to the Bonds of each such series and in such Clauses and Schedule the expressions “ Bonds ” and “ Bondholders ” shall be construed accordingly.

 

6                                          Application of Moneys received by the Trustee

 

6.1                                Declaration of Trust : All moneys received by the Trustee in respect of the Original Bonds and any Further Bonds forming a single series with the Original Bonds or amounts payable under this Trust Deed shall, regardless of any appropriation of all or part of them by the Issuer, be held by the Trustee upon trust to apply them (subject to Clause 6.2):

 

6.1.1                      first, in payment of all costs, charges, expenses and liabilities incurred by the Trustee (including remuneration payable to it under this Trust Deed) in carrying out its functions under this Trust Deed;

 

6.1.2                      secondly, in payment of any amounts owing in respect of the Original Bonds and any Further Bonds forming a single series with the Original Bonds pari passu and rateably; and

 

6.1.3                      thirdly, in payment of any balance to the Issuer for itself.

 

If the Trustee holds any moneys in respect of Original Bonds and any Further Bonds forming a single series with the Original Bonds which have become void or in respect of which claims have become prescribed under the Conditions, the Trustee will hold them upon these trusts.

 

6.2                                Accumulation : If the amount of the moneys at any time available for payment in respect of the Bonds under Clause 6.1 is less than 10 per cent. of the principal amount of the Bonds then outstanding, the Trustee may, at its discretion, invest such moneys in accordance with Clause 6.3. The Trustee may retain such investments and accumulate the resulting income until the investments and the accumulations, together with any other funds for the time being under the control of the Trustee and available for such purpose, amount to at least 10 per cent. of the principal amount of the Bonds then outstanding whereupon such investments, accumulations and funds (after deduction of, or provision for, any applicable taxes) shall be applied as specified under Clause 6.1.

 

11



 

6.3                                Investment : Moneys held by the Trustee may be invested in its name or under its control in any investments or other assets anywhere, for the time being authorised by English law for the investment by trustees of trust monies whether or not they produce income or deposited in its name or under its control at such bank or other financial institution in such currency as the Trustee may, in its absolute discretion, think fit. If that bank or institution is the Trustee or a subsidiary, holding or associated company of the Trustee, it need only account for an amount of interest equal to the standard amount of interest payable by it on such a deposit to an independent customer. The Trustee may at any time vary or transpose any such investments or assets or convert any moneys so deposited into any other currency, and will not be responsible for any resulting loss, whether by depreciation in value, change in exchange rates or otherwise.

 

7                                          Covenant to Comply

 

The Issuer hereby covenants with the Trustee that it will comply with and perform and observe all the provisions of this Trust Deed and the Conditions which are expressed to be binding on it. The Conditions shall be binding on each of the Issuer and the Bondholders. The Trustee shall be entitled to enforce the obligations of the Issuer under the Bonds and the Conditions as if the same were set out and contained in this Trust Deed which shall be read and construed as one document with the Bonds. The provisions contained in Schedule 1 shall have effect in the same manner as if herein set forth. The Trustee shall hold the benefit of this covenant upon trust for itself and the Bondholders according to its and their respective interests.

 

8                                          Covenants relating to Conversion

 

The Issuer hereby undertakes to and covenants with the Trustee that it will, save with the approval of an Extraordinary Resolution or with the approval of the Trustee where, in the Trustee’s opinion, it is not materially prejudicial to the interests of the Bondholders to give such approval, observe and perform all its obligations under the Conditions and this Trust Deed with respect to (i) any Mandatory Conversion or (ii) the exercise of any Bondholder Voluntary Conversion Right, and in addition it will:

 

(a)                                  Delivery of Ordinary Shares : comply with its obligations to deliver the Ordinary Shares (together with any cash amounts payable pursuant to the Conditions) upon (i) a Mandatory Conversion or (ii) the exercise of any Bondholder Voluntary Conversion Right, in each case in accordance with this Trust Deed, the Conditions and the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agency Agreement;

 

(b)                                  Notice : as soon as reasonably practicable after the announcement of the terms of any event giving rise to an adjustment to the Conversion Price, give notice to the Trustee and the Bondholders in accordance with Condition 17 advising them of the date on which the relevant adjustment of the Conversion Price is likely to (or has) become effective and of (i) the effect of a Mandatory Conversion or (ii) the effect of exercising a Bondholder Voluntary Conversion Right, in each case pending such date; and

 

(c)                                   Directors’ Certificate : upon the happening of an event as a result of which the Conversion Price will be (or has been) adjusted, as soon as reasonably practicable, deliver to the Trustee a certificate signed by two Directors of the Issuer on behalf of the Issuer (which the Trustee shall be entitled to accept and rely on without further enquiry or liability in respect thereof as sufficient evidence of the

 

12



 

correctness of the matters referred to therein) setting forth brief particulars of the event, and the adjusted Conversion Price and the date on which such adjustment takes (or took) effect and in any case setting forth such other particulars and information as the Trustee may reasonably require.

 

9                                          Covenants

 

So long as any Bond is outstanding, the Issuer shall:

 

9.1                                Books of Account : keep, and procure that each of its subsidiary undertakings keeps, proper books of account and, at any time after an Accelerated Conversion Event or Potential Accelerated Conversion Event has occurred or is likely to occur or if the Trustee reasonably believes that such an event has occurred, so far as permitted by applicable law, allow, and procure that each of its subsidiary undertakings will allow the Trustee and anyone appointed by it to whom the Issuer and/or the relevant subsidiary undertaking has no reasonable objection, access to the books of account during normal business hours;

 

9.2                                Accelerated Conversion Event etc. : give notice in writing to the Trustee immediately upon becoming aware of any Accelerated Conversion Event, Potential Accelerated Conversion Event, Enforcement Event or any Settlement Disruption Event;

 

9.3                                Information: so far as permitted by applicable law, give to the Trustee such information as it reasonably requires to perform its functions;

 

9.4                                Financial Statements, etc.: send to the Trustee at the time of their issue and, in the case of annual financial statements, in any event within 180 days of the end of each financial year commencing with the financial year ending 31 March 2016, three copies in English of every balance sheet, profit and loss account, report or other notice, statement or circular issued, or that legally or contractually should be issued, to the members or creditors (or any class of them) of the Issuer or any parent undertaking of it generally in their capacity as such;

 

9.5                                Certificate of directors: send to the Trustee, within 14 days of its annual audited financial statements being made available to its members, and also within 14 days of any request by the Trustee a certificate (in the form set out in Schedule 5) signed by two Directors of the Issuer that, having made all reasonable enquiries, to the best of the knowledge, information and belief of the Issuer as at a date (the “ Certification Date ”) not more than seven days before the date of delivery of the certificate no Accelerated Conversion Event, Potential Accelerated Conversion Event or Enforcement Event had occurred (and, in the case of a Potential Accelerated Conversion Event, was continuing) since the Certification Date of the last such certificate or (if none) the date of this Trust Deed or, if such an event had occurred (and, in the case of a Potential Accelerated Conversion Event, was continuing), giving details of it and certifying that it has complied with its obligations under this Trust Deed or, to the extent that it has failed so to comply, stating such;

 

9.6                                Notices to Bondholders: obtain the prior written approval of the Trustee to, and promptly give to the Trustee two copies of, the form of every notice given to Bondholders pursuant to the Conditions (such approval, unless so expressed, not to constitute approval for the purposes of section 21 of the FSMA of any such notice which is a communication within the meaning of that section);

 

9.7                                Further Acts: so far as permitted by applicable law, do such further things as may be necessary in the opinion of the Trustee to give effect to this Trust Deed;

 

13



 

9.8                                Notice of late payment: forthwith upon request by the Trustee (if the Trustee determines such notice is necessary) give notice to the Bondholders of any unconditional payment to the Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent or the Trustee of any sum due in respect of the Bonds made after the due date for such payment;

 

9.9                                Change in Agents: give at least 14 days’ prior notice to the Bondholders in accordance with the Conditions of any future appointment, resignation or removal of an Agent after having received prior written approval of the Trustee to such change or of any change by an Agent of its specified office;

 

9.10                         Bonds held by Issuer: send to the Trustee as soon as practicable after being so requested by the Trustee, a certificate of the Issuer signed by two Directors the Issuer setting out the total number of Bonds which, at the date of such certificate, were held by or on behalf of the Issuer, any holding company of the Issuer or any Subsidiary of any such holding company and which had not been cancelled;

 

9.11                         Obligations of Agents: comply with and perform all its obligations under the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agency Agreement and use all reasonable endeavours to procure that the Agents comply with and perform all their respective obligations thereunder and not make any amendment or modification to the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agency Agreement without the prior written approval of the Trustee;

 

9.12                         Legal opinions : prior to making any modification to this Trust Deed or issuing any Further Bonds, procure the delivery of legal opinions in form and substance satisfactory to, and addressed to, the Trustee upon request by it; and

 

9.13                         FATCA : provide the Trustee, as soon as is practicable, with any information known to it and pertaining to the Issuer necessary for the Trustee to determine whether or not it is required, in respect of any payments to be made by it pursuant to this Trust Deed, to withhold or deduct in respect of any withholding or deduction pursuant to an agreement described in Section 1471 (b) of the US Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “ Code ”) or otherwise imposed pursuant to Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code and any regulations or agreements thereunder or official interpretations thereof (“ FATCA Withholding Tax ”).

 

10                                   Remuneration and Indemnification of the Trustee

 

10.1                         Normal Remuneration : So long as any Bond is outstanding, the Issuer shall pay to the Trustee by way of remuneration for its services as Trustee such sum on such dates as they may from time to time agree. Such remuneration will accrue from day to day from the date of this Trust Deed. However, if any payment to a Bondholder of the moneys due and/or delivery of any Ordinary Shares in respect of any Bond is improperly withheld or refused, such remuneration will again accrue as from the date of such withholding or refusal or until payment and/or delivery to such Bondholder is duly made.

 

10.2                         Extra Remuneration : If an Accelerated Conversion Event, Potential Accelerated Conversion Event or Enforcement Event shall have occurred, the Issuer hereby agrees that the Trustee shall be entitled to be paid additional remuneration calculated at its normal hourly rates in force from time to time. In any other case, if the Trustee finds it expedient or necessary or is requested by the Issuer to undertake duties which the Trustee and the Issuer agree in writing to be of an exceptional nature or otherwise outside the scope of the Trustee’s normal duties under this Trust Deed, the Issuer will pay such additional remuneration as they may agree (and which may be calculated by reference to the

 

14



 

Trustee’s normal hourly rates in force from time to time) or, failing agreement as to any of the matters in this sub-Clause (or as to such sums referred to in Clause 10.1), as determined by an independent financial institution or person (acting as an expert) selected by the Trustee and approved by the Issuer or, failing such approval, nominated (on the application of the Trustee) by the President for the time being of The Law Society of England and Wales. The expenses involved in such nomination and such person’s fee shall be payable by the Issuer. The determination of the relevant person shall be conclusive and binding on the Issuer, the Trustee and the Bondholders.

 

10.3                         Expenses : The Issuer shall also, on demand by the Trustee, pay or discharge all costs, charges, liabilities and expenses properly incurred by the Trustee in the preparation and execution of this Trust Deed and the performance of its functions under this Trust Deed including, but not limited to, legal and travelling expenses and any United Kingdom stamp, documentary or other taxes or duties paid by the Trustee in connection with any legal proceedings brought or contemplated by the Trustee against the Issuer to enforce any provision of this Trust Deed or the Bonds and in addition shall pay to the Trustee (if required) an amount equal to the amount of any value added tax or similar tax chargeable in respect of the Trustee’s remuneration under this Trust Deed. Such costs, charges, liabilities and expenses shall:

 

10.3.1               in the case of payments made by the Trustee before such demand, carry interest from the date of the demand at the rate of the Trustee’s cost of funding; and

 

10.3.2               in other cases, carry interest at such rate from 10 days after the date of the demand or (where the demand specifies that payment is to be made on an earlier date) from such earlier date provided that in such event no such interest shall accrue unless payment is actually made on such earlier date.

 

10.4                         Indemnity : The Issuer shall indemnify the Trustee in respect of all Liabilities properly incurred by it or anyone appointed by it or to whom any of its functions may be delegated by it in the carrying out of its functions and which any of them may incur in relation to the Issuer or that may be made against any of them arising out of or in relation to or in connection with, its appointment or the exercise of its functions in relation to that Issuer.

 

10.5                         Provisions Continuing : The provisions of Clauses 10.3 and 10.4 will continue in full force and effect in relation to the Trustee even if it may have ceased to be Trustee and notwithstanding any termination or discharge of this Trust Deed.

 

11                                   Provisions Supplemental to the Trustee Act 1925 and the Trustee Act 2000

 

11.1                         Advice: The Trustee may act on the opinion or advice of, or information obtained from, any accountants, financial advisers, legal advisers, valuer, broker, financial institution or other expert (including the Calculation Agent or an Independent Adviser) and will not be responsible or liable to anyone for any loss or liability occasioned by so acting and/or relying whether such advice is obtained by or addressed to the Issuer, the Trustee or any other person and whether or not the advice, opinion, report or information, or any engagement letter or other related document, contains a monetary or other limit on liability or limits the scope and/or basis of such advice, opinion, report or information. Any such opinion, report, advice or information may be sent or obtained by email, letter or fax and the Trustee will not be liable to anyone for acting on any opinion, report, advice or information purporting to be conveyed by such means even if it contains some error or is not authentic.

 

15



 

11.2                         Trustee to Assume Performance: The Trustee need not notify anyone of the execution of this Trust Deed or any related documents or do anything to find out if an Accelerated Conversion Event, Potential Accelerated Conversion Event, Enforcement Event or Settlement Disruption Event has occurred. Until it has actual knowledge or express written notice to the contrary, the Trustee may assume that no such event has occurred and that the Issuer is performing all its obligations under this Trust Deed and the Bonds and any related documents; provided that, the Trustee shall not be treated for any purposes as having any notice or knowledge which has been obtained by it or any officer or employee of it in some capacity other than as Trustee under this Trust Deed or in a private or confidential capacity such that it would not be proper to disclose to third parties.

 

11.3                         Resolutions of Bondholders: The Trustee will not be responsible to any person for having acted in good faith on a resolution purporting to have been passed at a meeting of Bondholders in respect of which minutes have been made and signed or upon any direction or request, including a written resolution or in respect of any approval given by way of electronic consent even if it is later found that there was a defect in the constitution of the meeting or the passing of the resolution or that the resolution or written resolution or any electronic consent was not valid or binding on the Bondholders.

 

11.4                         Certificate signed by directors etc.: The Trustee may call for and may accept as sufficient evidence of any fact or matter or of the expediency of any act a certificate of the Issuer signed by any two Directors of the Issuer as to any fact or matter upon which the Trustee may, in the exercise of any of its functions, require to be satisfied or to have information to the effect that, in the opinion of the person or persons so certifying, any particular act is expedient and the Trustee need not call for further evidence and will not be responsible or liable for any loss that may be occasioned by acting on any such certificate.

 

11.5                         Deposit of Documents : The Trustee may appoint as custodian, on any terms, any bank or entity whose business includes the safe custody of documents or any lawyer or firm of lawyers believed by it to be of good repute and may deposit this Trust Deed and any other documents with such custodian and pay all sums due in respect thereof.

 

11.6                         Discretion : The Trustee will have absolute and uncontrolled discretion as to the exercise of its functions and shall not be responsible for any loss, liability, cost, claim, action, demand, expense or inconvenience which may result from their exercise or non-exercise (the exercise or non-exercise of which as between the Trustee and the Bondholders shall be conclusive and binding on the Bondholders) and shall not be responsible for any Liability which may result from their exercise or non-exercise and in particular the Trustee shall not be bound to act at the request or direction of the Bondholders or otherwise under any provision of this Trust Deed or to take at such request or direction or otherwise any other action under any provision of this Trust Deed unless it shall first be indemnified and/or secured and/or pre-funded to its satisfaction against all Liabilities to which it may render itself liable or which it may incur by so doing and the Trustee shall incur no liability for refraining to act in such circumstances.

 

11.7                         Agents : The Trustee may whenever it thinks fit, in the conduct of its trust business, instead of acting personally, employ and pay an agent selected by it, whether or not a lawyer or other professional person, to transact or conduct, or concur in transacting or conducting, any business and to do or concur in doing all acts required to be done by the Trustee (including the receipt and payment of money). The Trustee shall not be responsible to anyone for any misconduct or omission by any such agent so employed by it or be bound to supervise the proceedings or acts of any such agent.

 

16



 

11.8                         Delegation: The Trustee may whenever it thinks fit delegate to any person on any terms (including power to sub-delegate) all or any of its functions. If the Trustee exercises reasonable care in selecting such delegate, it shall not have any obligation to supervise such delegate or be responsible for any loss, liability, cost, claim, action, demand or expense incurred by reason of any misconduct or default by any such delegate or sub-delegate.

 

11.9                         Nominees: In relation to any asset held by it under this Trust Deed, the Trustee may appoint any person to act as its nominee on any terms.

 

11.10                  Forged Bonds : The Trustee will not be liable to the Issuer or any Bondholder by reason of having accepted as valid or not having rejected any Bond or entry on the Register of Bondholders purporting to be such and later found to be forged or not authentic.

 

11.11                  Confidentiality : Unless ordered to do so by a court of competent jurisdiction, the Trustee shall not be required to disclose to any Bondholder any confidential financial or other information made available to the Trustee by the Issuer.

 

11.12                  Determinations Conclusive : As between itself and the Bondholders, the Trustee may determine all questions and doubts arising in relation to any of the provisions of this Trust Deed. Such determinations, whether made upon such a question actually raised or implied in the acts or proceedings of the Trustee, will be conclusive and shall bind the Trustee and the Bondholders.

 

11.13                  Currency Conversion : Where it is necessary or desirable in relation to this Trust Deed or the Conditions to convert any sum from one currency to another, it will (unless otherwise provided hereby or required by law) be converted at such rate or rates, in accordance with such method and as at such date as may reasonably be specified by the Trustee but having regard to current rates of exchange, if available. Any rate, method and date so specified will be binding on the Issuer and the Bondholders.

 

11.14                  Accelerated Conversion Events etc. : The Trustee may determine whether or not an Accelerated Conversion Event, Potential Accelerated Conversion Event or Enforcement Event is in its opinion materially prejudicial to the interests of the Bondholders. Any such determination will be conclusive and binding upon the Issuer and the Bondholders.

 

11.15                  Payment for and Delivery of Bonds : The Trustee will not be responsible for the receipt or application by the Issuer of the proceeds of the issue of the Bonds or the exchange of the Original Global Bond for Original Definitive Registered Bonds or the delivery of the Original Global Bond or any Original Definitive Registered Bond to the person(s) entitled to it or them.

 

11.16                  Bonds held by the Issuer, etc. : In the absence of knowledge or express written notice to the contrary, the Trustee may assume without enquiry (other than requesting a certificate of the Issuer under Clause 9.10) that no Bonds are for the time being held by or on behalf of the Issuer, any holding company of the Issuer or any Subsidiary of any such holding company.

 

11.17                  No Responsibility for Share Value : The Trustee shall not at any time be under any duty or responsibility to or have any liability to any Bondholder or to any other person to (i) monitor or take any steps to ascertain whether a Bondholder Voluntary Conversion Right is exercisable or any facts exist or may exist, which may require an adjustment to the Conversion Price or (ii) review either the nature or extent of any such adjustment when made or the method employed in making any such adjustment pursuant to the provisions

 

17



 

of this Trust Deed or (iii) make or verify any calculations or determination made as to any Ordinary Shares to be delivered or any cash amounts to be paid upon conversion, or as to any Redemption Amount, or the methodology used therefor and will not be responsible or liable to any person for any loss occasioned thereby. The Trustee shall not at any time be under any duty or responsibility or liability in respect of the validity or value (or the kind or amount) of any Securities or property, which may at any time be made available or delivered on a Mandatory Conversion or exercise of any Bondholder Voluntary Conversion Right and it makes no representation with respect thereto.

 

11.18                  Interests of Bondholders : So long as any Bonds represented by a Global Bond are held on behalf of a clearing system, in considering the interests of Bondholders, the Trustee may have regard to any information provided to it by such clearing system or its operator as to the identity (either individually or by category) of its accountholders or participants with entitlements to any such Bond and may consider such interests on the basis that such accountholders or participants were the holder(s) of such Bonds. In connection with the exercise of its powers, trusts, authorities or discretions (including, but not limited to, those in relation to any proposed modification, waiver or authorisation of any breach or proposed breach of any of the Conditions or any of the provisions of this Trust Deed or any proposed substitution or any determination to be made by it under this Trust Deed), the Trustee shall have regard to the general interests of the Bondholders as a class and shall not have regard to the consequences of such exercise for individual Bondholders nor to circumstances particular to individual Bondholders (whatever their number) and, in particular, but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, shall not have regard to the consequences of any such exercise for individual Bondholders resulting from their being for any purpose domiciled or resident in, or otherwise connected with, or subject to the jurisdiction of, any particular territory or otherwise to the tax consequences thereof and the Trustee shall not be entitled to require, nor shall any Bondholder be entitled to claim from the Issuer or the Trustee, any indemnification or payment of any tax arising in consequence of any such exercise upon individual Bondholders except to the extent provided for in Condition 9 and/or in any undertakings given in addition thereto or in substitution therefor pursuant to this Trust Deed.

 

11.19                  Appointment of Independent Financial Adviser:

 

In connection with any right the Trustee may have to appoint an independent financial adviser pursuant to this Trust Deed or the Conditions (if applicable), the Trustee:

 

11.19.1        shall use its reasonable endeavours to identify and appoint the independent financial adviser but shall have no liability to any person if, having used its reasonable endeavours, it is unable to identify and appoint a suitable independent financial adviser;

 

11.19.2        shall not be responsible for carrying on the role of independent financial adviser itself during the time it is attempting to identify such independent financial adviser or thereafter if it is unable to find such independent financial adviser; and

 

11.19.3        shall not be required to take any action to find an independent financial adviser unless it has been previously indemnified and/or secured and/or pre-funded to its satisfaction and cannot be obliged to expend any of its own funds in the appointment of such an independent financial adviser.

 

18



 

11.20                  Legal Opinions: The Trustee shall not be responsible to any person for failing to request, require or receive any legal opinion relating to the Bonds or for checking or commenting upon the content of any such legal opinion.

 

11.21                  Illegality: No provision of this Trust Deed or the Conditions shall require the Trustee to do anything which may in its opinion be illegal or contrary to applicable law or regulation.

 

11.22                  Clearing Systems: The Trustee may call for and shall be at liberty to accept and place full reliance on as sufficient evidence thereof any certificate or other document to be issued by Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg or any other relevant clearing system as to the principal amount of Bonds represented by a Global Bond standing to the account of any person. Any such certificate or other document shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding for all purposes. Any such certificate or other document may comprise any form of statement or print out of electronic records provided by the relevant clearing system (including Euroclear’s EUCLID or Clearstream, Luxembourg’s CreationOnline system) in accordance with its usual procedures and in which the holder of a particular principal or nominal amount of Bonds is clearly identified together with the amount of such holding. The Trustee shall not be liable to the Issuer, any Bondholder or any person by reason of having accepted as valid or not having rejected any certificate, letter of confirmation or other document to such effect purporting to be issued by Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg or any other relevant clearing system as to the principal amount of Bonds represented by a Global Bond standing to the account of any person or any other matter and subsequently found to be forged or not authentic.

 

11.23                  Trustee consent : Any consent given by the Trustee for the purposes of this Trust Deed may be given on such terms as the Trustee thinks fit. In giving such consent the Trustee may require the Issuer to agree to such modifications or additions to this Trust Deed as the Trustee may deem expedient in the interest of the Bondholders.

 

11.24                  Banker, Lawyer, Broker or other Professional acting as Trustee : Any trustee being a banker, lawyer, broker or other person engaged in any profession or business shall be entitled to charge and be paid all usual professional and other charges for business transacted and acts done by him or his partner or firm on matters arising in connection with the trusts of this Trust Deed and also his properly incurred charges in addition to disbursements for all other work and business done and all time spent by him or his partner or firm on matters arising in connection with this Trust Deed, including matters which might or should have been attended to in person by a trustee not being a banker, lawyer, broker or other professional person.

 

11.25                  Voting Rights : The Trustee will not be entitled to, and will not, exercise any voting or other rights it may have over or in respect of the Ordinary Shares unless the Trustee is directed to do so by of the Bondholders acting by way of an Extraordinary Resolution and unless indemnified and/or secured and/or prefunded to its satisfaction.

 

11.26                  No Obligation to Risk Own Funds or Incur Financial Liability : Nothing contained in this Trust Deed shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of its duties or the exercise of any right, power, authority or discretion hereunder if it has grounds for believing the repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against, or security for, such risk or liability is not assured to it.

 

11.27                  No Obligation to Act without Indemnity, Security or Prefunding : The Trustee shall not be bound to take any steps to enforce the performance of any provisions of this Trust

 

19



 

Deed, the Bonds or to appoint an independent financial advisor pursuant to the Conditions of the Bonds unless it shall be indemnified and/or secured and/or prefunded to its satisfaction against all proceedings, claims and demands to which it may be liable and against all costs, charges, liabilities and expenses which may be incurred by it in connection with such enforcement or appointment, including the cost of its managements’ time and/or other internal resources, calculated using its normal hourly rates in force from time to time. The Trustee shall not be liable to any person whatsoever for any loss occasioned by it not acting unless and until it shall have been so indemnified and/or secured and/or prefunded to its satisfaction.

 

11.28                  Evaluation of Risk : When determining whether an indemnity or any security is satisfactory to it, the Trustee shall be entitled to evaluate its risk in given circumstances by considering the worst-case scenario and, for this purpose, it may take into account, without limitation, the potential costs of defending or commencing proceedings in England or elsewhere and the risk however remote, of any award of damages against it in England or elsewhere.

 

11.29                  Quality of Indemnity or Security : The Trustee shall be entitled to require that any indemnity or security given to it by the Bondholders or any of them be given on a joint and several basis and be supported by evidence satisfactory to it as to the financial standing and creditworthiness of each counterparty and/or as to the value of the security and an opinion as to the capacity, power and authority of each counterparty and/or the validity and effectiveness of the security.

 

11.30                  Deduction for FATCA : The Trustee shall be entitled to deduct FATCA Withholding Tax, and shall have no obligation to gross-up any payment hereunder or to pay any additional amount as a result of such FATCA Withholding Tax.

 

12                                   Disapplication and Trustee Liability

 

12.1                         Disapplication : Section 1 of the Trustee Act 2000 shall not apply to the duties of the Trustee in relation to the trusts constituted by this Trust Deed. Where there are any inconsistencies between the Trustee Acts and the provisions of this Trust Deed, the provisions of this Trust Deed shall, to the extent allowed by law, prevail and, in the case of any such inconsistency with the Trustee Act 2000, the provisions of this Trust Deed shall constitute a restriction or exclusion for the purposes of that Act.

 

12.2                         Trustee Liability : Subject to Sections 750 and 751 of the Companies Act 2006 (if applicable) and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Trust Deed, the Bonds or the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agency Agreement, the Trustee shall not be liable to any person for any matter or thing done or omitted in any way in connection with or in relation to this Trust Deed, the Bonds or the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agency Agreement save in relation to its own gross negligence, wilful default or fraud.

 

13                                   Waiver and Proof of Default

 

13.1                         Waiver : The Trustee may, without the consent of the Bondholders and without prejudice to its rights in respect of any subsequent breach, from time to time and at any time, if in its opinion the interests of the Bondholders will not be materially prejudiced thereby, waive or authorise, on such terms and conditions as seem expedient to it, any breach or proposed breach by the Issuer of the Conditions or any of the provisions of this Trust Deed, any trust deed supplemental to this Trust Deed, the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agency Agreement and any agreement supplemental to the Paying, Transfer and Conversion

 

20



 

Agency Agreement or any Enforcement Event or determine without any such consent as aforesaid that any Enforcement Event will not be treated as such provided that the Trustee will not do so in contravention of any express direction given by an Extraordinary Resolution or a request made pursuant to Condition 10 but no such direction or request will affect any previous waiver, authorisation or determination. Any such waiver, authorisation or determination will be binding on the Bondholders and, if the Trustee so requires, will be notified by the Issuer to the Bondholders as soon as reasonably practicable in accordance with Condition 17.

 

13.2                         Proof of Default : Proof that the Issuer has failed to pay a sum due to the holder of any one Bond will (unless the contrary be proved) be sufficient evidence that it has made the same default as regards all other Bonds which are then payable.

 

14                                   Trustee not precluded from entering into Contracts

 

The Trustee and any other person, whether or not acting for itself, may acquire, hold or dispose of, any Bond or any Securities (or any interest therein) (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Ordinary Shares) of the Issuer or any other person with the same rights as it would have had if the Trustee were not Trustee and may enter into or be interested in any contracts or transactions with the Issuer or any such person and may act on, or as depositary, trustee or agent or in any other capacity for, or on any committee or body of holders of, any securities issued or guaranteed by, or related to the Issuer or of any such person and need not account for any profit.

 

15                                   Modification and Substitution

 

15.1                         Modification : The Trustee may agree, without the consent of the Bondholders, to (i) any modification of any of the provisions of this Trust Deed, any trust deed supplemental to this Trust Deed, the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agency Agreement, any agreement supplemental to the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agency Agreement, the Calculation Agency Agreement, the Bonds or the Conditions which in the Trustee’s opinion is of a formal, minor or technical nature or is made to correct a manifest error or an error which, in the opinion of the Trustee, is proven or to comply with mandatory provisions of law, and (ii) any other modification to this Trust Deed, any trust deed supplemental to this Trust Deed, the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agency Agreement, any agreement supplemental to the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agency Agreement, the Calculation Agency Agreement, the Bonds or the Conditions (but such power does not extend to any such modification as is mentioned in the proviso to paragraph 16 of Schedule 4) and any waiver or authorisation of any breach or proposed breach, of any of the provisions of this Trust Deed, any trust deed supplemental to this Trust Deed, the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agency Agreement, any agreement supplemental to the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agency Agreement, the Calculation Agency Agreement, the Bonds or the Conditions which is, in the opinion of the Trustee, not materially prejudicial to the interests of the Bondholders. Any such modification shall be binding on the Bondholders and such modification shall be notified by the Issuer promptly thereafter to the Bondholders in accordance with Condition 17.

 

15.2                         Substitution :

 

15.2.1               Substitution: The Trustee may, without the consent of the Bondholders, agree to the substitution of the Issuer’s Successor in Business or any Subsidiary of the Issuer (the “ Substituted Obligor ”) in place of the Issuer (or of any previous

 

21



 

substitute under this sub-Clause) as the principal debtor under this Trust Deed and the Bonds, subject to:

 

(i)             (other than in the case of a substitution of a Successor in Business in place of the Issuer or any previous Substitute Obligor(s)) the Bonds being unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed by the Issuer; and

 

(ii)            the Bonds continuing to be convertible into Ordinary Shares, mutatis mutandis as provided in the Conditions with such amendments as the Trustee shall consider appropriate,

 

and provided that:

 

(iii)           (other than in the case of a substitution of a Successor in Business in place of the Issuer as contemplated in the Conditions) the Trustee is satisfied that the interests of the Bondholders will not be materially prejudiced by the substitution;

 

(iv)           a deed is executed or undertaking given by the Substituted Obligor to the Trustee, in form and manner satisfactory to the Trustee, agreeing to be bound by this Trust Deed and the Bonds (with consequential amendments as the Trustee may deem appropriate) as if the Substituted Obligor had been named in this Trust Deed and the Bonds as the principal debtor in place of the Issuer;

 

(v)            if the Substituted Obligor is subject generally to the taxing jurisdiction of a territory or any authority of or in that territory with power to tax (the “ Substituted Territory ”) other than the territory to the taxing jurisdiction of which (or to any such authority of or in which) the Issuer is subject generally (the “ Issuer’s Territory ”), the Substituted Obligor will (unless the Trustee otherwise agrees) give to the Trustee an undertaking satisfactory to the Trustee in terms corresponding to Condition 9 with the substitution for the references in that Condition to the Issuer’s Territory of references to the Substituted Territory whereupon this Trust Deed and the Bonds will be read accordingly;

 

(vi)           if any two directors of the Substituted Obligor certify that it will be solvent immediately after such substitution, the Trustee need not have regard to the Substituted Obligor’s financial condition, profits or prospects or compare them with those of the Issuer; and

 

(vii)          the Issuer and the Substituted Obligor comply with such other requirements as the Trustee may direct in the interests of the Bondholders.

 

In the case of such a substitution the Trustee may agree, without the consent of the Bondholders, to a change of the law governing the Bonds and/or this Trust Deed, provided that such change would not in the opinion of the Trustee be materially prejudicial to the interests of the Bondholders. Any substitution made pursuant to this Clause 15 shall be binding on the Bondholders and must be notified promptly to the Bondholders in accordance with Condition 17.

 

15.2.2               Release of Substituted Issuer: Any such agreement by the Trustee pursuant to this Clause 15.3 will, if so expressed, operate to release the Issuer (or a previous substitute) from any or all of its obligations under this Trust Deed and the Bonds.

 

22



 

Notice of the substitution will be given to the Bondholders by the Substituted Obligor within 14 days of the execution of such documents and compliance with such requirements.

 

15.2.3               Completion of Substitution: On completion of the formalities set out in this Clause 15.3, the Substituted Obligor will be deemed to be named in this Trust Deed and on the Bonds as the principal debtor in place of the Issuer (or of any previous substitute) and this Trust Deed and the Bonds will be deemed to be amended as necessary to give effect to the substitution.

 

16                                   Appointment, Retirement and Removal of the Trustee

 

16.1                         Appointment : Subject as provided in Clause 16.2 below, the Issuer has the power of appointing a new trustee or trustees but no one may be so appointed unless previously approved by an Extraordinary Resolution. A trust corporation will at all times be a Trustee and may be the sole Trustee. Any appointment of a new Trustee will be notified by the Issuer, to the Bondholders and the Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent as soon as practicable.

 

16.2                         Retirement and Removal : Any Trustee may retire at any time on giving not less than three months’ notice in writing to the Issuer without giving any reason and without being responsible for any costs occasioned by such retirement and the Bondholders may by Extraordinary Resolution remove any Trustee provided that the retirement or removal of any sole trustee or sole trust corporation will not become effective until a trust corporation is appointed as successor Trustee. If a sole trustee or sole trust corporation gives notice of retirement or an Extraordinary Resolution is passed for its removal under this Clause 16.2, the Issuer shall use all reasonable endeavours to procure that another trust corporation be appointed as Trustee. If, in such circumstances, no appointment of such a new trustee has become effective within 60 days of the date of such notice or Extraordinary Resolution, the Trustee shall be entitled to appoint a Trust Corporation as trustee of these presents, but no such appointment shall take effect unless previously approved by an Extraordinary Resolution.

 

16.3                         Co-Trustees : The Trustee may, notwithstanding Clause 16.1, by prior notice in writing to the Issuer appoint anyone to act as an additional Trustee jointly with the Trustee:

 

16.3.1               if the Trustee considers the appointment to be in the interests of the Bondholders; or

 

16.3.2               for the purpose of conforming with any legal requirement, restriction or condition in any jurisdiction in which any particular act is to be performed; or

 

16.3.3               for the purpose of obtaining a judgment in any jurisdiction or the enforcement in any jurisdiction against the Issuer of either a judgment already obtained or any of the provisions of this Trust Deed.

 

Subject to the provisions of this Trust Deed, the Trustee may confer on any person so appointed such functions as it thinks fit. The Trustee may, by notice in writing to the Issuer and such person, remove any person so appointed. At the request of the Trustee, the Issuer will do all things as may be required to perfect such appointment or removal and it irrevocably appoints the Trustee to be its attorney in its name and on its behalf to do so.

 

23



 

16.4                         Competence of a Majority of Trustees : If there are more than two Trustees the majority of such Trustees will (provided such majority includes a trust corporation) be competent to carry out all or any of the Trustee’s functions.

 

16.5                         Merger: A corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted, or any corporation with which the Trustee may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, shall, on the date when the merger, conversion or consolidation becomes effective and to the extent permitted by any applicable laws and subject to any requirements set out in this Trust Deed become the successor trustee under this Trust Deed without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Parties to this Trust Deed, unless otherwise required by the Issuer, and after the said effective date, all references in this Trust Deed to the Trustee shall be deemed to be references to such successor corporation. Written notice of any such merger, conversion or consolidation shall immediately be given to the Issuer by the Trustee.

 

17                                   Currency Indemnity

 

17.1                         Currency of Account and Payment : Pounds sterling (the “ Contractual Currency ”) is the sole currency of account and payment for all sums payable by the Issuer under or in connection with this Trust Deed and the Bonds, including damages.

 

17.2                         Extent of Discharge : An amount received or recovered in a currency other than the Contractual Currency (whether as a result of, or of the enforcement of, a judgment or order of a court of any jurisdiction, in the insolvency, winding-up or dissolution of the Issuer or otherwise) by the Trustee or any Bondholder in respect of any sum expressed to be due to it from the Issuer will only discharge the Issuer to the extent of the Contractual Currency amount which the recipient is able to purchase with the amount so received or recovered in that other currency on the date of that receipt or recovery (or, if it is not practicable to make that purchase on that date, on the first date on which it is practicable to do so).

 

17.3                         Indemnity : If that Contractual Currency amount is less than the Contractual Currency amount expressed to be due to the recipient under this Trust Deed or the Bonds, the Issuer will indemnify it against any loss sustained by it as a result. In any event, the Issuer will indemnify the recipient against the cost of making any such purchase.

 

17.4                         Indemnity separate : The indemnities in this Clause 17 and in Clause 10.4 constitute separate and independent obligations from the other obligations in this Trust Deed, will give rise to a separate and independent cause of action, will apply irrespective of any indulgence granted by the Trustee and/or any Bondholder and will continue in full force and effect despite any judgment, order, claim or proof for a liquidated amount in respect of any sum due under this Trust Deed, the Bonds or any other judgment or order.

 

18                                   Enforcement

 

18.1                         Trustee to enforce : Only the Trustee may enforce the rights of the Bondholders against the Issuer, whether the same arise under the general law, this Trust Deed, the Bonds or otherwise, and no Bondholder shall be entitled to proceed directly against the Issuer unless the Trustee, having become bound to proceed, fails to do so within a reasonable time and such failure is continuing. In such event, such Bondholder may, in respect of its Bonds, take any action which the Trustee would otherwise have been permitted to take in respect of those Bonds. Any proceeds received by a Bondholder pursuant to any such

 

24



 

proceedings, actions or steps brought by a Bondholder shall be paid promptly following receipt thereof to the Trustee (for application pursuant to the terms of this Trust Deed).

 

18.2                         Legal proceedings : If the Trustee (or any Bondholder where entitled in accordance with this Trust Deed so to do) institutes legal proceedings against the Issuer to enforce any obligations under this Trust Deed, proof in such proceedings that as regards any specified Bond the Issuer has made default in delivering any Ordinary Shares or paying any cash amounts due to the relevant Bondholder shall (unless the contrary be proved) be sufficient evidence that the Issuer has made the same default as regards all other Bonds which are then repayable.

 

18.3                         Powers additional to general powers : The powers conferred on the Trustee by this Clause 18 shall be in addition to any powers which may from time to time be vested in the Trustee by general law or as the holder of any Bonds.

 

19                                   Communications

 

Any communication shall be by letter or facsimile transmission:

 

in the case of the Issuer, to it at:

 

Address:

Vodafone Group Plc

 

Vodafone House

 

The Connection

 

Newbury

 

Berkshire RG14 2FN

 

United Kingdom

 

 

Fax no.:

+44 (0)1635 676746

Attention:

Director of Treasury

 

and in the case of the Trustee, to it at:

 

Address:

The Law Debenture Trust Corporation p.l.c

 

Fifth Floor

 

Wood Street

 

London EC2V 7EX

 

United Kingdom

 

 

Tel:

+44 (0)20 7606 5451

Fax No.:

+44 (0)20 7606 0643

Attention:

The Manager, Commercial Trusts (Ref: : 201587)

 

or to such other address, facsimile number or attention details of which shall have been notified in writing (in accordance with this Clause 19) to the other parties hereto.

 

Any communication from any party to any other under this Trust Deed shall be effective, (if by fax) when good receipt is confirmed by the recipient following enquiry by the sender and (if in writing) when received, except that a communication received outside normal business hours shall be deemed to be received on the next business day in the city in which the recipient is located.

 

25



 

20                                   Governing Law

 

This Trust Deed and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it shall be governed by and construed in accordance with English law.

 

21                                   Counterparts

 

This Trust Deed and any trust deed supplemental hereto may be executed in any number of counterparts, and by each party on separate counterparts. Each counterpart is an original, but all counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of a counterpart of this Trust Deed or any trust deed supplemental hereto by email attachment or telecopy shall be an effective mode of delivery.

 

22                                   Rights of Third Parties

 

A person who is not a party to this Trust Deed has no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any term of this Trust Deed except and to the extent (if any) that this Trust Deed expressly provides for such Act to apply to any of its terms. Subject to the provisions of this Trust Deed, the parties to this Trust Deed shall have the right to amend, vary or rescind any provision of this Trust Deed without the consent of any such third party.

 

23                                   Partial Invalidity

 

If, at any time, any provision hereof is or becomes illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any respect under the law of any jurisdiction, neither the legality, validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof nor the legality, validity or enforceability of such provision under the law of any other jurisdiction shall in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

26



 

SCHEDULE 1

Terms and Conditions of the Bonds

 

The issue of the £1,440,000,000 2.00 per cent. Subordinated Mandatory Convertible Bonds due 2019 (the “ Bonds ”) was authorised by a resolution of the board of directors of Vodafone Group Plc (the “ Issuer ”) passed on 26 January 2016. The Bonds are constituted by a trust deed dated 25 February 2016 (the “ Trust Deed ”) between the Issuer and The Law Debenture Trust Corporation p.l.c. (the “ Trustee ”, which expression shall include all persons for the time being appointed as the trustee or trustees under the Trust Deed) as trustee for the Bondholders. The statements set out in these terms and conditions (the “ Conditions ”) are summaries of, and are subject to, the detailed provisions of the Trust Deed, which includes the forms of the registered certificates (the “ Certificates ”) representing the Bonds. The Bondholders are entitled to the benefit of, are bound by, and are deemed to have notice of, all the provisions of the Trust Deed and those provisions applicable to them which are contained in the paying, transfer and conversion agency agreement dated 25 February 2016 (the “ Agency Agreement ”) relating to the Bonds between the Issuer, the Trustee, HSBC Bank plc as the registrar (the “ Registrar ”, which expression shall include any successor as Registrar under the Agency Agreement), HSBC Bank plc (the “ Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent ”, which expression shall include any successor as Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent under the Agency Agreement) and any other Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agents for the time being (such persons, together with the Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent, being referred to below as the “ Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agents ”, which expression shall include their successors as Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agents under the Agency Agreement). The Issuer has also entered into a calculation agency agreement dated 19 February 2016 (the “ Calculation Agency Agreement ”) with Conv-Ex Advisors Limited (the “ Calculation Agent ”, which expression shall include any successor as calculation agent under the Calculation Agency Agreement), whereby the Calculation Agent has been appointed to make certain calculations in relation to the Bonds from time to time.

 

Copies of the Trust Deed, the Agency Agreement and the Calculation Agency Agreement are available for inspection by prior appointment during normal business hours at the registered office for the time being of the Trustee (being as at the Issue Date at Fifth Floor, 100 Wood Street, London EC2V 7EX), and at the specified offices for the time being of the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agents.

 

Agents ” means the Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent, any other Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agents and the Registrar.

 

Capitalised terms used but not defined in these Conditions shall have the meanings attributed to them in the Trust Deed unless the context otherwise requires or unless otherwise stated.

 

1                                          Form, Denomination, Title, Status and Subordination

 

(a)                                  Form and Denomination

 

The Bonds are issued in registered form in principal amounts of £100,000 each (an “ authorised denomination ”) and integral multiples thereof.

 

(b)                                  Title

 

Title to the Bonds will pass by registration in the register that the Issuer shall procure to be kept by the Registrar outside the United Kingdom in accordance with the provisions of the Agency Agreement (the “ Register ”). Except as otherwise required by law or as ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction, the holder (as defined below) of any Bond shall be deemed to be and may be treated as its absolute owner for all purposes (whether or not it is overdue and regardless of any notice of ownership, trust or any interest in it, any writing on the Certificate representing it or the theft or loss of such Certificate) and no person will be liable for so treating the holder.

 

27



 

(c)                                   Status

 

The Bonds constitute direct, unsecured and subordinated obligations of the Issuer (senior only to Junior Securities) and shall at all times rank pari passu and without any preference among themselves.

 

(d)                                  Subordination and claims in a winding-up, dissolution or liquidation

 

In the event of the winding-up, dissolution or liquidation of the Issuer (except a solvent winding-up for the purpose of or in connection with a reconstruction or amalgamation of the Issuer previously approved in writing by the Trustee or by an Extraordinary Resolution), the Trustee (failing which, subject to Condition 15, the Bondholders) shall be entitled to claim and/or prove in such winding-up, dissolution or liquidation proceeding in respect of the Bonds, and:

 

(i)             the payment obligations of the Issuer under or in respect of the Bonds shall be subordinated to, and rank behind the claims of, all Senior Creditors, but shall rank:

 

(A)                                pari passu with the claims of the holders of all Parity Securities; and

 

(B)                                in priority to and ahead of the claims of the holders of all Junior Securities,

 

and so that no payment shall be made under the Trust Deed or the Bonds until the claims of all Senior Creditors shall have been satisfied in full; and

 

(ii)            the amount payable in respect of each Bond shall be the amount that would have been payable to the holder of such Bond if, immediately prior to or throughout the winding-up of the Issuer, such holder was the holder of one of a class of the most junior ranking preference shares in the capital of the Issuer (“ Notional Preference Shares ”) having an equal right to the return of assets in the winding-up of the Issuer, on the assumption that the amount that a holder of Notional Preference Shares was entitled to receive in respect of each Notional Preference Share on a return of assets in such winding-up was an amount equal to the Redemption Amount of the relevant Bond, together with any interest accrued, any Arrears of Interest and any Make-whole Amount in respect of such Bond.

 

2                                          Definitions

 

In these Conditions, unless otherwise provided:

 

5 Day VWAP ” means the arithmetic average of the daily Volume Weighted Average Prices of the cum entitlement share on each of the five consecutive Scheduled Trading Days:

 

(a)                                  (where the relevant Corporate Action is a merger or takeover) commencing on and including the first Scheduled Trading Day on which the shares are traded after the relevant offer is declared effective by the offeror and the relevant threshold of majority of the outstanding Ordinary Shares (75% for mandatory offers by law and 50% + 1 share in all other cases) is met; and

 

(b)                                  (in all other cases) ending on (and including) the last Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the effective date of the relevant Corporate Action,

 

provided, in either case, that if any of such five consecutive Scheduled Trading Days does not fall prior to the first date on which the share trades ex-entitlement (as determined, at any time while there have been no amendments to the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy and there are option contracts in relation to the Ordinary Shares traded on ICE Futures Europe, by ICE Futures Europe and, at any time after there has been an amendment to the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy or there are no option contracts in relation to the Ordinary Shares traded on ICE Futures Europe, as determined by the Calculation Agent or an Independent Adviser), the Volume Weighted Average Price of the Ordinary Share for any Scheduled Trading Day on or after the first date on which the share trades ex-entitlement (such date being determined as

 

28



 

aforesaid) will be first increased by the Fair Market Value of the entitlement on such day before it is used in the calculation of the arithmetic average.

 

20 Day VWAP ” means the arithmetic average of the daily Volume Weighted Average Prices of the cum entitlement share on each of the first 20 consecutive Scheduled Trading Days commencing on and including the first Scheduled Trading Day on which the shares are traded after the relevant offer is declared effective by the offeror and the relevant threshold of majority of the outstanding Ordinary Shares (75% for mandatory offers by law and 50% + 1 share in all other cases) is met, provided that if any of such 20 consecutive Scheduled Trading Days does not fall prior to the first date on which the share trades ex-entitlement (as determined, at any time while there have been no amendments to the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy and there are option contracts in relation to the Ordinary Shares traded on ICE Futures Europe, by ICE Futures Europe and, at any time after there has been an amendment to the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy or there are no option contracts in relation to the Ordinary Shares traded on ICE Futures Europe, as determined by the Calculation Agent or an Independent Adviser), the Volume Weighted Average Price of the Ordinary Share for any Scheduled Trading Day on or after the first date on which the share trades ex-entitlement (such date being determined as aforesaid) will be first increased by the Fair Market Value of the entitlement on such day before it is used in the calculation of the arithmetic average.

 

Accelerated Conversion Event ” shall have the meaning given to it in Condition 4(d).

 

Adjustment Ratio ” means, in relation to a Corporate Action other than a Cash Dividend, Non Cash Dividend, Delisting or Nationalisation, the formula specified in the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy in relation to such event or the resulting numerical value from such formula following the applicable rounding, as relevant.

 

Arrears of Interest ” has the meaning given to it in Condition 3(b)(i).

 

Averaging Period ” has the meaning given to it in Condition 5(a)(ii).

 

Bondholder ” and “ holder ” means the person in whose name a Bond is registered.

 

Bondholder Voluntary Conversion Right ” has the meaning given to it in Condition 4(c).

 

business day ” means, in relation to any place, a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which commercial banks and foreign exchange markets are open for business in that place.

 

Cash Dividend ” has the meaning given to it in Condition 5(a)(iv).

 

Change in Law ” means that, as determined by the Issuer, due to the adoption of or any change in any applicable law or regulation (including, without limitation, any tax law), or due to the promulgation of or any change in the interpretation by any court, tribunal or regulatory authority with competent jurisdiction of any applicable law or regulation (including any action taken by a taxing authority), in all such cases where the same occurs on or after 18 February 2016, the Issuer or a Hedging Counterparty determines in good faith that (a) it has become illegal to hold, acquire or dispose of Ordinary Shares, or (b) it will incur a materially increased cost in performing its obligations under, in the case of the Issuer, the Bonds or a Hedge Position or, in the case of a Hedging Counterparty, a Hedge Position (including, without limitation, due to any increase in tax liability, decrease in tax benefit or other adverse effect on its tax position); provided that, where the Change in Law relates to the Hedge Position, a notice determining an early termination date for the Hedge Position as a result of the Change in Law has been given.

 

Closing Price ” means, in respect of an Ordinary Share or any Security, option, warrant or other right or asset, on any Scheduled Trading Day, the closing price on such day of an Ordinary Share or, as the case may be, such Security, option, warrant or other right or asset on such Scheduled Trading Day as published by or derived from (a) in the case of an Original Ordinary Share where the London Stock Exchange constitutes the Relevant Exchange in respect thereof, Bloomberg page VOD LN Equity HP) (using the setting labelled “Last Price” or any equivalent successor label to this setting) or (b) in the case of an Original Ordinary Share where the London Stock Exchange no longer constitutes the Relevant Exchange in respect thereof, or, as the case

 

29



 

may be, any other Ordinary Share, Security, option, warrant or other right or asset, the equivalent Bloomberg page and setting in respect of the Relevant Stock Exchange for such Original Ordinary Share, or, as the case may be, such other Ordinary Share, Security, option, warrant or other right or asset (all as determined by the Calculation Agent), if any or, in any such case, such other source as shall be determined to be appropriate by an Independent Adviser on such day; provided that, if on any such Scheduled Trading Day (the “ Affected Closing Price Scheduled Trading Day ”) such price is not available or cannot otherwise be determined as provided above, the Closing Price of an Ordinary Share, Security, option, warrant or other right or asset, as the case may be, in respect of such day shall be the Closing Price, determined as provided above, on the immediately preceding Scheduled Trading Day on which the same can be so determined as aforesaid, and further provided that if the Closing Price cannot be so determined on each of the five Scheduled Trading Days immediately preceding the Affected Closing Price Scheduled Trading Day, an Independent Adviser shall determine the Closing Price in good faith.

 

Companies Act ” means the Companies Act 2006 of the United Kingdom.

 

Conversion Date ” means:

 

(a)                                  in the case of a Mandatory Conversion on the Final Maturity Date pursuant to Condition 4(a), the fifth Scheduled Trading Day prior to the Final Maturity Date;

 

(b)                                  in the case of a Mandatory Conversion at the option of the Issuer pursuant to Condition 4(b), the date of the expiry of the Issuer’s Early Conversion Notice as referred to therein;

 

(c)                                   in the case of a Voluntary Conversion at the option of Bondholders pursuant to Condition 4(c), the Scheduled Trading Day immediately following the delivery of the relevant Certificate and Conversion Notice on exercise of such Bondholder Voluntary Conversion Right; and

 

(d)                                  in the case of a Mandatory Conversion following an Accelerated Conversion Event pursuant to Condition 4(d), the Scheduled Trading Day immediately following the date on which the Accelerated Conversion Event Notice is given pursuant to Condition 4(d).

 

Conversion Notice ” has the meaning given to it in Condition 6(a).

 

Conversion Price ” per Ordinary Share is initially £2.1730. The Conversion Price will be adjusted from time to time in accordance with these Conditions.

 

Conversion Ratio ” means, on any day, the result (rounded to five decimal places with 0.000005 being rounded upwards) of the division of £100,000 principal amount of the Bonds by the Conversion Price in effect on such day.

 

Corporate Action ” has the meaning given to it in Condition 5(b) (i) .

 

CREST ” has the meaning given to it in Condition 6(c).

 

Delisting ” means that, as determined by the Calculation Agent, the Relevant Stock Exchange announces that pursuant to the rules of such Relevant Stock Exchange, the Ordinary Shares cease (or will cease) to be listed, traded or publicly quoted on the Relevant Stock Exchange for any reason (other than by reason of a merger or takeover as contemplated by the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy) and are not immediately re-listed, re-traded or re-quoted on a stock exchange or quotation system located in the same country as the Relevant Stock Exchange (or, where the Relevant Stock Exchange is within the European Union, in any member state of the European Union).

 

Dividend ” has the meaning given to it in Condition 5(a)(iv).

 

Dividend Declaration ” has the meaning given to it in Condition 3(b)(iv).

 

Dividend Determination Date ” means for the purposes of the definition of “Dividend” the date on which the number of Ordinary Shares or, as the case may be, amount of other property or assets, which may be issued or delivered is, or is capable of being, determined, and where determined by reference to prices or

 

30



 

values or the like on or during a particular day or during a particular period, the Dividend Determination Date shall be deemed to be such day or the last day of such period, as the case may be.

 

equity share capital ” means, in relation to any entity, its issued share capital excluding any part of that capital which, neither with respect to dividends nor with respect to capital, carries any right to participate beyond a specific amount in a distribution.

 

Extraordinary Resolution ” has the meaning given to it in the Trust Deed.

 

Enforcement Event ” has the meaning given to it in Condition 10.

 

Fair Market Value ” means, with respect to any property on any date:

 

(i)             in the case of a Cash Dividend, the amount of such Cash Dividend;

 

(ii)            in the case of any other cash amount, the amount of such cash;

 

(iii)           in the case of Securities (including Ordinary Shares), Spin-Off Securities, options, warrants or other rights or assets that are publicly traded on a Relevant Stock Exchange of adequate liquidity (as determined by the Calculation Agent or Independent Adviser), the arithmetic mean of (a) in the case of Ordinary Shares or (to the extent constituting equity share capital) Spin-Off Securities, the daily Volume Weighted Average Prices of such Ordinary Shares or (to the extent constituting equity share capital) Spin-Off Securities and (b) in the case of other Securities (other than Ordinary Shares or (to the extent constituting equity share capital) Spin-Off Securities), options, warrants or other rights or assets, the daily Closing Price of such Securities, options, warrants or other rights or assets, in the case of both (a) and (b) during the period of five Scheduled Trading Days on the Relevant Stock Exchange for such Securities, Spin-Off Securities, options, warrants or other rights or assets commencing on such date (or, if later, the first such Scheduled Trading Day on which such Securities, Spin-Off Securities, options, warrants or other rights or assets are publicly traded) or such shorter period as such Securities, Spin-Off Securities, options, warrants or other rights or assets are publicly traded; and

 

(iv)           in the case of Securities (including Ordinary Shares), Spin-Off Securities, options, warrants or other rights or assets that are not publicly traded on a Relevant Stock Exchange of adequate liquidity (as aforesaid), the fair market value of such Securities, Spin-Off Securities, options, warrants or other rights or assets as determined by an Independent Adviser on the basis of a commonly accepted market valuation method and taking account of such factors as it considers appropriate, including the market price per Ordinary Share, the dividend yield of an Ordinary Share, the volatility of such market price, prevailing interest rates and the terms of such Securities, Spin-Off Securities, options, warrants or other rights or assets, including as to the expiry date and exercise price (if any) thereof,

 

provided that, for the purposes of Condition 5(a)(ii), if the Ex-Date for a Relevant Dividend falls on or before the Conversion Date and the Fair Market Value of the Net Amount of such Relevant Dividend cannot otherwise be determined in accordance with paragraphs (i) to (iv) above (as applicable) on or before the day (the “ Final Date ”) which is the later of (1) the Conversion Date and (2) the last day of the Averaging Period in respect of such Relevant Dividend, then the Fair Market Value of the Net Amount of such Relevant Dividend will be determined by an Independent Adviser on the Final Date and the determination of such Fair Market Value shall be made as at the Ex-Date in respect of such Relevant Dividend and on the basis of a commonly accepted market valuation method and taking account of such factors as it considers appropriate, including those referred to in paragraph (iv) above.

 

Such amounts shall (A) in the case of (i) above, be translated into the Relevant Currency, if declared or paid or payable in a currency other than the Relevant Currency (and if the relevant dividend is payable at the option of the Issuer or a Shareholder in any currency additional to the Relevant Currency, the relevant dividend shall be treated as payable in the Relevant Currency), at the rate of exchange (if any) used to determine the amount payable to Shareholders who were paid or are to be paid or are entitled to be paid the Cash Dividend in the Relevant Currency; and (B) in any other case, be translated into the Relevant Currency

 

31



 

(if expressed in a currency other than the Relevant Currency) at the Prevailing Rate on that date. In addition, in the case of (i) and (ii) above, and except for the purposes of determining the Fair Market Value of the Net Amount of a Relevant Dividend pursuant to Condition 5(a), the Fair Market Value shall be determined (by the Calculation Agent) on a gross basis and disregarding any withholding or deduction required to be made for or on account of tax and disregarding any associated tax credit.

 

Final Maturity Date ” means 25 February 2019.

 

Hedge Position ” means a transaction or asset the Issuer deems appropriate to hedge the equity price risk of entering into and performing its obligations in connection with the Bonds or with respect to an option contract under which the Issuer seeks to hedge its equity price risk relating to the Bonds.

 

Hedging Counterparty ” means a party to a Hedge Position.

 

ICE Futures Europe ” means ICE Futures Europe or its successor or any substitute exchange to which trading in option contracts relating to the Ordinary Shares has temporarily or permanently relocated, as determined by the Calculation Agent.

 

ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy ” means the standard corporate actions policy of ICE Futures Europe, in effect as at the Launch Date and, further, provided that the corporate actions policy shall at all times be deemed to be adjusted in the manner described in Condition 5(b)(iv).

 

Independent Adviser ” means an independent financial institution or the initial Calculation Agent (acting in such Independent Adviser capacity, as may be agreed at the relevant time between the Issuer and the initial Calculation Agent), appointed by the Issuer at its own expense and (other than where the initial Calculation Agent is appointed in such Independent Adviser capacity) approved in writing by the Trustee or, if the Issuer fails to make such appointment and such failure continues for a reasonable period (as determined by the Trustee in its sole discretion) and the Trustee is indemnified and/or secured and/or prefunded to its satisfaction against the liabilities, costs, fees and expenses of such adviser and otherwise in connection with such appointment, appointed by the Trustee (without liability for so doing) following notification thereof to the Issuer.

 

Interest Payment ” has the meaning provided in Condition 3(a).

 

Interest Payment Date ” has the meaning provided in Condition 3(a).

 

Interest Period ” has the meaning provided in Condition 3(a).

 

Issue Date ” means 25 February 2016.

 

Issuer’s Early Conversion Notice ” has the meaning provided in Condition 4(b).

 

Junior Securities ” means any shares in the capital of the Issuer (except for preference shares in the capital of the Issuer (if any)) or any other securities or obligations issued or owed by the Issuer (including guarantees or indemnities or support agreements given by the Issuer in respect of securities or obligations owed by other persons) which rank, or are expressed to rank, as regard distributions on a return of assets of the Issuer on a winding-up, junior to the Bonds.

 

Launch Date ” means 18 February 2016.

 

the “ Make-whole Amount ” per Bond will be determined by the Calculation Agent and will be equal to the value of the embedded option right that has not yet been compensated for up to the relevant Settlement Date, calculated pursuant to the following formula:

 

 

where:

 

M                                     =                                          the Make-whole Amount

 

32



 

A                                        =                                          £6,000

 

c                                           =                                          the number of days from, and including, the relevant Settlement Date to but excluding the Final Maturity Date; and

 

t                                             =                                          the number of days from, and including, the Issue Date to but excluding the Final Maturity Date.

 

Mandatory Conversion ” means a mandatory conversion of the Bonds pursuant to the provisions of Condition 4(a), 4(b) or 4(d), as the case may be.

 

Mandatory Settlement Date ” shall have the meaning given to it in Condition 3(b)(iv).

 

Nationalisation ” means that, as determined by the Calculation Agent, all the Ordinary Shares or all or substantially all the assets of the Issuer are (or are to be) nationalised, expropriated or are otherwise required to be transferred to any governmental agency, authority, entity or instrumentality thereof.

 

Non Cash Dividend ” has the meaning given to it in Condition 5(a)(iv).

 

Ordinary Share ” means (i) initially one fully paid ordinary share in the capital of the Issuer (the “ Original Ordinary Share ”) with, on the Issue Date, a par value of US$0.20 20/21 or (ii) following any adjustment made by ICE Futures Europe following a Corporate Action (other than a Corporate Action which is a Cash Dividend or Non Cash Dividend) in accordance with the Package Method (as defined in Condition 5(b)), the package of Securities determined by ICE Futures Europe (or, if no relevant option contracts are traded on ICE Futures Europe, by an Independent Adviser in accordance with these Conditions following a Corporate Action (other than a Corporate Action which is a Cash Dividend or Non Cash Dividend)) to become (or, where an Independent Adviser makes the determination, that would reasonably have been expected to become, if there were relevant option contracts traded on ICE Futures Europe or if the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy had not been amended) the underlying shares for the purposes of option contracts in relation to which the Original Ordinary Shares were the underlying shares on the Issue Date in the place of one Ordinary Share.

 

Parity Securities ” means (if any) any securities or other obligations issued or owed by the Issuer (including guarantees or indemnities or support agreements given by the Issuer in respect of securities or obligations owed by other persons) which rank or are expressed to rank, as regards distributions on a return of assets of the Issuer on a winding-up, pari passu with the Bonds and any Preference Shares.

 

a “ person ” includes any individual, company, corporation, firm, partnership, joint venture, undertaking, association, organisation, trust, state or agency of a state (in each case whether or not being a separate legal entity).

 

Preference Shares ” means the most junior class of preference shares in the capital of the Issuer.

 

Prevailing Rate ” means (in each case as determined by the Calculation Agent):

 

(i)             in respect of any pair of currencies (of which neither is the euro or the pound sterling) on any calendar day, the spot rate of exchange between the relevant currencies prevailing as at 12 noon (London time) on that date as appearing on or derived from the Relevant Page; or

 

(ii)            in respect of any pair of currencies of which one is the pound sterling and any other currency (other than the euro) on any day, the final spot rate of exchange as published by the Bank of England for such pair of currencies in respect of that day as appearing on or derived from the Relevant Page; or

 

(iii)           in respect of any pair of currencies of which one is the euro and any other currency on any day, the European Central Bank reference rate for such pair of currencies on that day as appearing on or derived from the Relevant Page.

 

If such a rate cannot be determined at such time as aforesaid, the Prevailing Rate shall be determined mutatis mutandis but with respect to the immediately preceding day on which such rate can be so determined all as determined by the Calculation Agent, or if such rate cannot be so determined by reference to the Relevant

 

33



 

Page, the rate determined in such other manner as an Independent Adviser shall deem in good faith appropriate.

 

Record Date ” has the meaning provided in Condition 8(b).

 

the “ Redemption Amount ” per Bond will be determined by the Calculation Agent and will be equal to the arithmetic average of the daily products of, in respect of each Scheduled Trading Day during a period of 20 consecutive Scheduled Trading Days ending on (and including) the second Scheduled Trading Day prior to the day on which the Enforcement Event occurs, (x) the Conversion Ratio in effect on such Scheduled Trading Day and (y) the Volume Weighted Average Price of an Ordinary Share on such Scheduled Trading Day.

 

Register ” has the meaning provided in Condition 1(b)

 

Relevant Currency ” means sterling or, if at the relevant time or for the purposes of the relevant calculation or determination, sterling is no longer the currency in which the Ordinary Share are quoted or dealt in on the Relevant Stock Exchange, the currency in which the Ordinary Shares are quoted or dealt in on the Relevant Stock Exchange at such time.

 

Relevant Date ” means, in respect of any relevant payment on any Bond, the date on which such payment first becomes due, except that, if the full amount of the moneys payable has not been duly received by the Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent or the Trustee on or prior to such due date, it means the date on which, the full amount of such moneys having been so received, notice to that effect is given to the Bondholders in accordance with Condition 17.

 

Relevant Determination Date ” has the meaning given in Condition 5(a)(iii)(A).

 

Relevant Jurisdiction ” means the Issuer’s jurisdiction of incorporation, and includes any other territory or authority or additional territory or authority to whose taxing jurisdiction the Issuer has become subject.

 

Relevant Page ” means the relevant page on Bloomberg or such other information service provider that for the time being displays the relevant information, as determined by the Calculation Agent.

 

Relevant Stock Exchange ” means (i) in the case of the Original Ordinary Shares, the London Stock Exchange or, if at the relevant time the Original Ordinary Shares are not at that time listed and admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange, the principal stock exchange or securities market on which the Original Ordinary Shares are then listed, admitted to trading or quoted or dealt in and (ii) in the case of any other Securities, the principal stock exchange or securities market on which such Securities are then listed, admitted to trading or quoted or dealt in.

 

Scheduled Trading Day ” means any day on which the Relevant Stock Exchange and ICE Futures Europe are both scheduled to be open for trading for their respective regular trading sessions (including any day on which trading is scheduled to cease prior to the usual closing time), all as set out in the respective trading calendars as first published by the Relevant Stock Exchange and ICE Futures Europe in respect of the year in which such day is falling.

 

Securities ” or “ Security ” means any securities including, without limitation, shares in the capital of the Issuer, or options, warrants or other rights to subscribe for or purchase or acquire shares in the capital of the Issuer.

 

Senior Creditors means all creditors of the Issuer, other than creditors whose claims are in respect of Parity Securities or Junior Securities.

 

Settlement Date ” means (subject to the following proviso):

 

(a)                                  in connection with a Mandatory Conversion on the Final Maturity Date pursuant to Condition 4(a), the Final Maturity Date (or, if that date is not a Scheduled Trading Day, the next following Scheduled Trading Day);

 

34



 

(b)                                  in connection with a Mandatory Conversion at the option of the Issuer pursuant to Condition 4(b), the second Scheduled Trading Day immediately following the relevant Conversion Date;

 

(c)                                   in connection with a Voluntary Conversion at the option of Bondholders pursuant to Condition 4(c):

 

(i)             in the case of a Conversion Date falling on or before the 10 th  Scheduled Trading Day in any calendar month, the final Scheduled Trading Day in that calendar month; or

 

(ii)            in the case of a Conversion Date falling after the 10 th  Scheduled Trading Day in any calendar month (but prior to the commencement of the next calendar month), the 10 th  Scheduled Trading Day falling in the next calendar month after such Conversion Date occurs;

 

(d)                                  in connection with a Mandatory Conversion following an Accelerated Conversion Event pursuant to Condition 4(d), the 12 th  Scheduled Trading Day immediately following the relevant Conversion Date; and

 

(e)                                   in connection with an Enforcement Event, the day on which the Bonds become immediately due and payable pursuant to Condition 10,

 

provided that, in the case of each of (a), (b) and (c) above, if an Ex-Date in respect of a Relevant Dividend falls on or prior to the Conversion Date but the Relevant Determination Date for such Relevant Dividend falls after the Conversion Date, the Settlement Date will be the later of (1) the applicable Settlement Date specified above and (2) the third Scheduled Trading Day following the Relevant Determination Date.

 

Settlement Disruption Event ” means, on any day, an event beyond the control of the Issuer as a result of which CREST cannot settle the book-entry transfer of Ordinary Shares on such day.

 

Shareholders ” means the holders of Ordinary Shares.

 

Spin-Off ” has the meaning given to it in Condition 5(a)(iv).

 

Spin-Off Securities ” has the meaning provided by Condition 5(a)(iv).

 

Subsidiary ” has the meaning provided in Section 1159 of the Companies Act.

 

UK Listing Authority ” means the Financial Conduct Authority acting under Part VI of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.

 

Unsurrendered Bonds ” has the meaning provided in Condition 6(a).

 

Volume Weighted Average Price ” means:

 

(i)             in respect of an Original Ordinary Share (where the London Stock Exchange constitutes the Relevant Exchange in respect thereof) on any Scheduled Trading Day, the volume-weighted average price of an Original Ordinary Share published by or derived from Bloomberg page VOD LN Equity VWAP (or any successor page) after having selected (A) Condition Codes: Automatic Trade, Closing Auction, Intraday Auction, Opening Auction, UA Auction Uncrossing Trade and UC Auction Uncrossing Trade (or any successor labelling to these Condition Codes) and (B) the relevant Scheduled Trading Day, the relevant opening hour (being, as at the Issue Date, 8.00 a.m.) and the relevant closing hour (being, as at the Issue Date, 4.35 p.m.), in each case local time, of the Relevant Stock Exchange;

 

(ii)            (in circumstances where (i) above does not apply) in respect of an Ordinary Share or Security on any Scheduled Trading Day, the volume-weighted average price of an Ordinary Share or Security published by or derived from the equivalent Bloomberg page for such Ordinary Shares or Securities in respect of the Relevant Stock Exchange in respect thereof, in each case as determined by the Calculation Agent,

 

or, in case there is no such Bloomberg page, such other source (if any) as shall be determined in good faith to be appropriate by an Independent Adviser on such Scheduled Trading Day, provided that if on any such Scheduled Trading Day (the “ Affected VWAP Scheduled Trading Day ”) such price is not available or

 

35



 

cannot otherwise be determined as provided above, the Volume Weighted Average Price of an Ordinary Share or Security, as the case may be, in respect of such Scheduled Trading Day shall be the Volume Weighted Average Price, determined as provided above, on the immediately succeeding Scheduled Trading Day on which the same can be so determined, and further provided that if the Volume Weighted Average Price cannot be so determined on each of the five Scheduled Trading Days immediately succeeding the Affected VWAP Scheduled Trading Day, an Independent Adviser shall determine the Volume Weighted Average Price in good faith.

 

Voluntary Conversion ” means a conversion pursuant to Condition 4(c).

 

£ ” and “ sterling ” means the lawful currency for the time being of the United Kingdom.

 

References to any act or statute or any provision of any act or statute shall be deemed also to refer to any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof or any statutory instrument, order or regulation made thereunder or under such modification or re-enactment.

 

References to any issue or offer or grant to Shareholders “ as a class ” shall be taken to be references to an issue or offer or grant to all or substantially all Shareholders, other than Shareholders to whom, by reason of the laws of any territory or requirements of any recognised regulatory body or any other stock exchange or securities market in any territory or in connection with fractional entitlements, it is determined not to make such issue or offer or grant.

 

Any determination by the Calculation Agent or an Independent Adviser appointed by the Issuer or, as the case may be, the Trustee in any of the circumstances contemplated in these Conditions shall (save in the case of a manifest error) be final and binding on the Issuer, the Trustee and the Bondholders.

 

References in these Conditions to listing on the “ London Stock Exchange ” (or like or similar references) shall be construed as admission to the Official List of the UK Listing Authority and admission to trading on the EEA Regulated Market of the London Stock Exchange plc and references to “ EEA Regulated Market ” mean a market as defined by Article 4.1 (14) of Directive 2004/39/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on markets in financial instruments.

 

3                                          Interest and Deferral

 

(a)                                  Interest Rate

 

Subject to the further provisions of this Condition 3, each Bond bears interest on its principal amount from and including the Issue Date at the rate of 2.00 per cent. per annum, payable semi-annually in arrear on 25 February and 25 August in each year, commencing on 25 August 2016 (each an “ Interest Payment Date ”). The interest payable on each Interest Payment Date (subject to deferral, as provided below) will amount to £1,000 per authorised denomination. The amount of any interest payable in respect of a Bond pursuant to this Condition 3(a) on any Interest Payment Date (subject to deferral, as provided below) is referred to as an “ Interest Payment ”.

 

The amount of interest payable in respect of any period which is shorter than an Interest Period shall be calculated on the basis of (i) the number of days in the relevant period from (and including) the first day of such period to (but excluding) the last day of such period divided by (ii) two times the number of days from (and including) the immediately preceding Interest Payment Date (or, if none, the Issue Date) to (but excluding) the next Interest Payment Date.

 

Interest Period ” means the period beginning on (and including) the Issue Date and ending on (but excluding) the first Interest Payment Date and each successive period beginning on (and including) an Interest Payment Date and ending on (but excluding) the next succeeding Interest Payment Date.

 

36



 

(b)                                  Interest Deferral

 

(i)             Deferral of Interest Payments

 

The Issuer may elect in its sole discretion to defer (in whole or in part) any Interest Payment that is otherwise scheduled to be paid on an Interest Payment Date (other than the Final Maturity Date) by giving notice (a “ Deferral Notice ”) of such election to the Bondholders in accordance with Condition 17, the Trustee and the Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent not more than 14 and not less than seven London business days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date (upon which notice the Trustee shall rely without enquiry or liability). Any Interest Payment that the Issuer has elected to defer pursuant to this Condition 3(b)(i) and that has not been satisfied is referred to as a “ Deferred Interest Payment ”.

 

If any Interest Payment is deferred pursuant to this Condition 3(b)(i), then such Deferred Interest Payment shall itself bear interest (such further interest, together with the Deferred Interest Payment, being “ Arrears of Interest ”), at the rate specified in Condition 3(a), from (and including) the date on which (but for such deferral) the Deferred Interest Payment would otherwise have been due to be made to (but excluding) the date on which such Deferred Interest Payment is paid in accordance with Condition 3(b)(ii) or (iii), as the case may be, in each case such further interest being compounded on each Interest Payment Date.

 

Non-payment on a scheduled Interest Payment Date of interest deferred pursuant to this Condition 3(b)(i) shall not constitute a default by the Issuer under the Bonds or the Trust Deed or for any other purpose.

 

(ii)            Optional Settlement of Arrears of Interest

 

Arrears of Interest may be satisfied at the option of the Issuer, in whole or in part, on any given day (the “ Optional Deferred Interest Settlement Date ”) following delivery of a notice to such effect given by the Issuer to Bondholders in accordance with Condition 17, the Trustee and the Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent not more than 14 and no less than seven London business days prior to the relevant Optional Deferred Interest Settlement Date informing them of its election to satisfy such Arrears of Interest (or part thereof) and specifying the relevant Optional Deferred Interest Settlement Date.

 

No Arrears of Interest will be payable under this Condition 3(b)(ii) in respect of a Bond which is the subject of an exercise of a Bondholder Voluntary Conversion Right where the Conversion Date in respect of such exercise falls on or before the Record Date in respect of such payment of Arrears of Interest.

 

(iii)           Mandatory Settlement of Arrears of Interest

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of Condition 3(b)(ii), the Issuer shall pay all (if any) outstanding Arrears of Interest in whole on the first occurring Mandatory Settlement Date following the relevant Interest Payment Date on which any such outstanding Arrears of Interest were first deferred.

 

Notice of the occurrence of any Mandatory Settlement Date shall be given by the Issuer to Bondholders in accordance with Condition 17, the Trustee and the Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent as soon as practicable following the event giving rise to the occurrence of the relevant Mandatory Settlement Date.

 

In addition, the Issuer shall pay all (if any) outstanding Arrears of Interest in respect of any Bond in whole on the earlier of:

 

(A)                        the date on which such Bond becomes due and payable in accordance with Condition 10; and

 

(B)                        where such Bond is converted, the relevant Settlement Date,

 

37



 

provided that no Arrears of Interest shall be payable in respect of a Bond which is converted as a result of the exercise of a Bondholder Voluntary Conversion Right pursuant to Condition 4(c).

 

No Arrears of Interest will be payable under this Condition 3(b)(iii) in respect of a Bond which is the subject of an exercise of a Bondholder Voluntary Conversion Right where the Conversion Date in respect of such exercise falls on or before the Record Date in respect of such payment of Arrears of Interest.

 

(iv)           Definitions

 

A “ Compulsory Arrears of Interest Settlement Event ” shall have occurred if:

 

(A)                                a Dividend Declaration is made in respect of any Junior Securities or any Parity Securities (other than in respect of any such dividend, distribution or payment paid or made exclusively in Ordinary Shares); or

 

(B)                                the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries repurchases, redeems or otherwise acquires any Junior Securities or any Parity Securities,

 

save in the case of (a) any such Dividend Declaration in respect of, or such redemption, repurchase or acquisition of, any Parity Securities that is mandatory under the terms of such Parity Securities; (b) any Dividend Declaration or repurchase which is required to be validly resolved on, declared, paid or made in respect of, any share option, or any free share allocation plan in each case reserved for directors, officers and/or employees of the Issuer or any of its affiliates or any associated liquidity agreements or any associated hedging transactions; (c) any purchase of Ordinary Shares by or on behalf of the Issuer as part of an intra-day transaction that does not result in an increase in the aggregate number of Ordinary Shares held by or on behalf of the Issuer as treasury shares at 8:30 a.m. London time on the Interest Payment Date on which any outstanding Arrears of Interest were first deferred; (d) any repurchase or acquisition of Parity Securities that is made for a consideration less than the aggregate nominal or par value of such Parity Securities that are purchased or acquired; (e) any repurchase or acquisition of Ordinary Shares resulting from mandatory obligations or hedging of any convertible securities (including the Bonds) issued by the Issuer or by any Subsidiary of the Issuer and guaranteed by the Issuer; or (f) any repurchase or acquisition of Ordinary Shares resulting from the settlement of existing equity derivatives after the Interest Payment Date on which any outstanding Arrears of Interest was first deferred.

 

Dividend Declaration ” means the authorisation by resolution of the general meeting of shareholders or the board of directors or other competent corporate body (as the case may be) of the Issuer of the payment, or the making of, a dividend or other distribution or payment (or, if no such authorisation is required, the payment, or the making of, a dividend or other distribution or payment).

 

Mandatory Settlement Date ” means the earliest of:

 

(A)                                as soon as reasonably practicable (but not later than the fifth London business day) following the date on which a Compulsory Arrears of Interest Settlement Event occurs; and

 

(B)                                the next scheduled Interest Payment Date in respect of which the Issuer does not elect to defer in whole the interest accrued in respect of the relevant Interest Period ending on such Interest Payment Date.

 

38



 

(c)                                   Accrual of Interest

 

In the case of:

 

(i)             Mandatory Conversion on the Final Maturity Date pursuant to Condition 4(a), interest will cease to accrue on the Bonds with effect from (and including) the Final Maturity Date, and interest accrued from (and including) the Interest Payment Date immediately preceding the Final Maturity Date to (but excluding) the Final Maturity Date shall be paid on the Final Maturity Date (or, if such day is not a Business Day (as defined in Condition 8(e), on the immediately following such Business Day);

 

(ii)            any Mandatory Conversion at the option of the Issuer pursuant to Condition 4(b), or Mandatory Conversion following an Accelerated Conversion Event pursuant to Condition 4(d), interest will cease to accrue on the relevant Bonds with effect from (and including) the relevant Settlement Date, and interest accrued from (and including) the Interest Payment Date immediately preceding the relevant Settlement Date or, if there is no such Interest Payment Date, from (and including) the Issue Date, to (but excluding) the relevant Settlement Date shall be paid on the relevant Settlement Date (or, if such day is not a Business Day (as defined in Condition 8(e), on the immediately following such Business Day); and

 

(iii)           a Voluntary Conversion at the option of Bondholders pursuant to Condition 4(c), interest will cease to accrue on the relevant Bond(s) from (and including) the Interest Payment Date falling on or immediately preceding the relevant Conversion Date or, if there is no such Interest Payment Date, from (and including) the Issue Date,

 

provided that, in each such case under (i) or (ii) above, if payment is improperly withheld or refused the relevant Bonds shall continue to bear interest up to (but excluding) the Relevant Date.

 

4                                          Conversion of Bonds

 

(a)                                  Mandatory Conversion on the Final Maturity Date

 

Unless previously converted or redeemed or purchased and cancelled in accordance with these Conditions, each Bond will, subject as provided in these Conditions, be mandatorily converted on the Final Maturity Date into such number of Ordinary Shares as is equal to the Conversion Ratio in effect on the relevant Conversion Date.

 

The relevant Ordinary Shares shall be delivered by the Issuer on or prior to the Settlement Date.

 

On the Final Maturity Date (or, if such day is not a Business Day (as defined in Condition 8(e)), on the immediately following such Business Day), the Issuer will also make payment of any accrued interest in accordance with Condition 3(c) and any Arrears of Interest in accordance with Condition 3(b).

 

(b)                                  Early Conversion at the option of the Issuer

 

The Issuer may (subject as provided below) on or after 6 April 2016, at its option, upon giving not less than 15 and no more than 20 days’ notice (an “ Issuer’s Early Conversion Notice ”) to the Bondholders in accordance with Condition 17 and to the Trustee, the Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent and the Calculation Agent, mandatorily convert all but not some only of the outstanding Bonds into such number of Ordinary Shares in respect of each Bond as is equal to the Conversion Ratio in effect on the relevant Conversion Date.

 

The relevant Ordinary Shares shall be delivered by the Issuer on or prior to the Settlement Date.

 

On the relevant Settlement Date (or, if such day is not a Business Day (as defined in Condition 8(e)), on the immediately following such Business Day), the Issuer will also make payment of any accrued interest payable in accordance with Condition 3(c), any Arrears of Interest payable in accordance with Condition 3(b) and the Make-whole Amount payable in accordance with Condition 4(e).

 

An Issuer’s Early Conversion Notice shall be irrevocable.

 

39



 

No Issuer’s Early Conversion Notice may be delivered pursuant to this Condition 4(b) where the applicable Settlement Date would fall on or after the Final Maturity Date.

 

The Issuer’s Early Conversion Notice shall specify:

 

(i)             the Conversion Price and the Conversion Ratio as at the latest practicable date prior to giving such notice;

 

(ii)            the Conversion Date for the purposes of conversion of Bonds pursuant to this Condition 4(b);

 

(iii)           the Volume Weighted Average Price of an Ordinary Share as at the latest practicable date prior to giving such notice; and

 

(iv)           the procedure to be followed by Bondholders in respect of such conversion.

 

(c)                                   Voluntary Conversion at the option of Bondholders

 

Subject as provided below, each Bondholder shall have the right (a “ Bondholder Voluntary Conversion Right ”) to convert any or all of its Bonds into Ordinary Shares at any time on or after 6 April 2016, provided that the Settlement Date in respect thereof shall occur not later than the Final Maturity Date.

 

The number of Ordinary Shares to be delivered in respect of each Bond on such conversion shall be equal to the Conversion Ratio in effect on the relevant Conversion Date.

 

A Bondholder may exercise the Bondholder Voluntary Conversion Right by delivering the Certificate representing its Bonds (together with a duly completed and signed Conversion Notice) to the specified office of any Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent in accordance with Condition 6(a), whereupon the Issuer shall (subject as provided in these Conditions) procure the delivery to or as directed by the relevant Bondholder (in the relevant Conversion Notice) of the relevant Ordinary Shares as provided in Condition 6. The relevant number of Ordinary Shares shall be delivered by the Issuer on or prior to the Settlement Date.

 

A Bondholder may not exercise a Bondholder Voluntary Conversion Right:

 

(i)             following the giving of an Issuer’s Early Conversion Notice pursuant to Condition 4(b);

 

(ii)            following the giving of an Accelerated Conversion Event Notice by the Issuer pursuant to Condition 4(d);

 

(iii)           if the Settlement Date relating to such exercise would fall after the Final Maturity Date; or

 

(iv)           in respect of a Bond that has become immediately due and repayable pursuant to Condition 10.

 

No Make-whole Amount or accrued interest or Arrears of Interest shall be payable in respect of any conversion of Bonds upon the exercise of a Bondholder Voluntary Conversion Right.

 

Once a Bondholder has exercised a Bondholder Voluntary Conversion Right, its Bonds which are the subject of such exercise shall be converted pursuant to this Condition 4(c) notwithstanding any Issuer’s Early Conversion Notice or Accelerated Conversion Event Notice being given on or after the Conversion Date applicable pursuant to this Condition 4(c).

 

(d)                                  Mandatory Conversion following an Accelerated Conversion Event

 

If an Accelerated Conversion Event occurs, the Issuer shall (subject as provided below), no later than the fifth London business day after the occurrence of the Accelerated Conversion Event, give notice (the “ Accelerated Conversion Event Notice ”) thereof to the Bondholders in accordance with Condition 17, to the Trustee, the Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent and the Calculation Agent, and all but not some only of the outstanding Bonds shall be mandatorily converted into such

 

40



 

number of Ordinary Shares in respect of each Bond as is equal to the Conversion Ratio in effect on the relevant Conversion Date.

 

The relevant Ordinary Shares shall be delivered by the Issuer on or prior to the Settlement Date.

 

On the relevant Settlement Date (or, if such day is not a Business Day (as defined in Condition 8(e)), on the immediately following such Business Day), the Issuer will also make payment of any accrued interest payable in accordance with Condition 3(c), the Make-whole Amount payable in accordance with Condition 4(e) and any Arrears of Interest payable in accordance with Condition 3(b).

 

No Accelerated Conversion Event Notice shall be required to be delivered, and the Bonds shall not be mandatorily converted, pursuant to this Condition 4(d) where the applicable Settlement Date would fall on or after the Final Maturity Date.

 

The Accelerated Conversion Event Notice shall specify:

 

(i)                                    the Conversion Price and the Conversion Ratio immediately prior to the occurrence of the Accelerated Conversion Event and as at the latest practicable date prior to giving such notice;

 

(ii)                                 the Conversion Date for the purposes of conversion of Bonds pursuant to this Condition 4(d);

 

(iii)                              the Volume Weighted Average Price of an Ordinary Share as at the latest practicable date prior to giving such notice; and

 

(iv)                              the procedure to be followed by Bondholders in respect of such conversion.

 

An “ Accelerated Conversion Event ” shall occur if:

 

(A)                                the credit rating of Vodafone Group plc (on an issuer, rather than issue, basis and on a senior long term debt basis) from each of Moody’s Investors Service Limited (“ Moody’s ”), Standard & Poor’s Rating Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (“ S&P ”) and Fitch Ratings (“ Fitch ”), or any of their respective successors (each a “ Rating Agency ”):

 

(x)                                  falls below Baa3 (in the case of Moody’s), below BBB- (in the case of S&P) and below BBB- (in the case of Fitch), as applicable, and Vodafone Group plc does not within a 30 calendar day period subsequently receive a rating (on the basis described above) of Baa3 (in the case of Moody’s) or BBB- (in the case of S&P) or BBB- (in the case of Fitch), or higher, by at least one Rating Agency; or

 

(y)                                  is withdrawn by all of the Rating Agencies and is not reinstated to a rating (on the basis described above) of Baa3 (in the case of Moody’s) or BBB- (in the case of S&P) or BBB- (in the case of Fitch), or higher, by at least one Rating Agency within a 30 calendar day period subsequent to such withdrawal; or

 

(B)                               the Issuer fails to make any payment to any Bondholder under the Bonds when due and such failure continues for more than 30 days from the relevant due date (for the purposes thereof, and for the avoidance of doubt, any interest deferred pursuant to Condition 3(b) shall not be “due” on the relevant scheduled Interest Payment Date for the purposes of this Condition 4(d)); or

 

(C)                               options contracts in respect of the Ordinary Shares are traded on ICE Futures Europe and any event occurs as a result of which such option contracts are or will be settled in accordance with the ICE Futures Europe’s Corporate Actions Policy, other than (x) a delisting (as contemplated by the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy) that does not also constitute a Delisting and (y) where such event also constitutes an Enforcement Event, in which case Condition 10 shall apply; or

 

(D)                               a Nationalisation, a Delisting or a Change in Law occurs.

 

41



 

If the rating designations employed by Moody’s, S&P or Fitch are changed from those which are described in paragraph (A) above, the Issuer, in consultation with an Independent Adviser, shall determine the rating designations of Moody’s or S&P or Fitch (as appropriate) as are most equivalent to the prior rating designations of Moody’s or S&P or Fitch and the above definition shall be read accordingly.

 

Neither the Trustee, the Calculation Agent nor any Agent shall be under any duty to monitor whether any Accelerated Conversion Event shall have occurred, and will not be responsible or liable to the Bondholders for any loss arising from any failure by it to do so.

 

Upon the occurrence of an Accelerated Conversion Event, the Issuer shall promptly deliver to the Trustee a certificate signed by two authorised officers of the Issuer confirming the occurrence thereof and providing details of the event giving rise thereto.

 

(e)                                  Make-whole Amount

 

In the case of a Mandatory Conversion at the option of the Issuer pursuant to Condition 4(b) or a Mandatory Conversion following an Accelerated Conversion Event pursuant to Condition 4(d), the Issuer shall pay to each Bondholder on the relevant Settlement Date, in respect of each Bond converted, an amount equal to the Make-whole Amount which shall be paid in accordance with Condition 8.

 

No Make-whole Amount shall be payable in respect of the exercise of a Bondholder Voluntary Conversion Right pursuant to Condition 4(c).

 

(f)                                    Fractions

 

The number of Ordinary Shares to be delivered on conversion to a Bondholder shall be calculated by the Calculation Agent on the basis of the aggregate principal amount of the Bonds being so converted, rounded down, if necessary, to the nearest whole number of Ordinary Shares. Fractions of Ordinary Shares will not be delivered on or in respect of any conversion pursuant to this Condition 4 and no cash payment or other adjustment will be made in lieu thereof.

 

(g)                                 Taxes and Stamp duties etc.

 

A Bondholder must pay directly to the relevant authorities any taxes and capital, stamp, issue and registration and transfer taxes and duties arising on conversion of the Bond (other than any taxes or capital, stamp, issue and registration and transfer, and other taxes and duties payable in the United Kingdom in respect of the allotment, issue, transfer and/or delivery (as the case may be) of any Ordinary Shares to or to the order of a Bondholder pursuant to these Conditions on such conversion, which shall be paid by the Issuer). Without prejudice to the foregoing, a Bondholder must pay all, if any, taxes or duties imposed on it and arising by reference to any disposal or deemed disposal of a Bond or interest therein in connection with any Mandatory Conversion or Voluntary Conversion pursuant to this Condition 4.

 

If (i) the Issuer shall fail to pay any taxes and capital, stamp, issue and registration and transfer taxes and duties payable for which it is responsible as provided above, and the relevant holder shall tender and pay the same or (ii) the Issuer is responsible for any taxes and capital, stamp, issue and registration and transfer taxes and duties as provided above, but such taxes and duties are charged to and/or directly paid by the relevant Bondholder, the Issuer, as a separate and independent stipulation, covenants in respect of the taxes or duties referred to in (i) and/or (ii) above to reimburse and indemnify each Bondholder in respect of any payment thereof and any penalties payable in respect thereof.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, neither the Trustee, the Calculation Agent nor any Agent shall be responsible for determining whether any taxes and capital, stamp, issue and registration and transfer taxes and duties arising on conversion of the Bonds are payable or the amount thereof and shall not be

 

42



 

responsible or liable for any failure by the Issuer to pay any taxes or capital, stamp, issue and registration and transfer taxes and duties payable in respect of the allotment, issue and delivery of any Ordinary Shares upon such conversion.

 

(h)                                 Purchase or Redemption of Ordinary Shares

 

The Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries may exercise such rights as it may from time to time enjoy to purchase, hold, redeem or buy back any shares or other Securities of the Issuer (including Ordinary Shares) or any depositary or other receipts or certificates representing the same without the consent of the Bondholders.

 

5                                          Adjustment of Conversion Price and Ordinary Shares

 

(a)                                  The Calculation Agent (or, to the extent specified in these Conditions, an Independent Adviser) will adjust the Conversion Price and/or what is considered an Ordinary Share (as applicable) as follows:

 

(i)                                      ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy

 

(A)                                If option contracts in respect of the Ordinary Shares are traded on ICE Futures Europe and, at any time while there have been no amendments to the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy, ICE Futures Europe adjusts such option contracts, or, at any time after there has been an amendment to the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy, the Calculation Agent or (where the Calculation Agent determines in its sole discretion it is not capable of making such determination in its capacity as Calculation Agent) an Independent Adviser determines that it would reasonably have been expected that ICE Futures Europe would have adjusted such option contracts pursuant to the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy (without any amendment) if the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy had not been amended, in light of any corporate actions and/or capital adjustments of the kind specified in Condition 5(b), the Calculation Agent shall with effect as of the same date, adjust the Conversion Price and/or Ordinary Shares (as applicable) as provided in Condition 5(b)(iv); provided that in relation to Cash Dividends and Non Cash Dividends (each as defined below) the Calculation Agent shall make the adjustments as set out in Condition 5(a)(ii) instead of any corresponding or other adjustment under the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy; and further provided that, in accordance with Condition 5(b)(iv)(A)(IV) (or, as the case may be, Condition 5(b)(iv)(B)(VI)), in relation to any corporate actions and/or capital adjustments resulting in option contracts being settled at their theoretical fair value (as described in the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy for a reason other than a delisting (as contemplated by the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy) that does not constitute a Delisting), or in relation to Delisting and Nationalisation, an Accelerated Conversion Event shall occur instead of any adjustment of the Conversion Price and/or Ordinary Shares in relation to the relevant event, and the provisions of Condition 4(d) will apply.

 

If no option contracts in respect of the Ordinary Shares are traded on ICE Futures Europe, (i) if the Calculation Agent determines in its sole discretion it is capable of making such adjustment in its capacity as Calculation Agent, the Calculation Agent and (ii) in any other case, an Independent Adviser, shall make the adjustments to the Conversion Price and/or Ordinary Shares (as applicable) in light of any corporate actions and/or capital adjustments of the kind specified in Condition 5(b) (other than in relation to the distribution to Shareholders of a Cash Dividend or a Non Cash Dividend, in respect of which the Calculation Agent shall make the adjustments set out in Condition 5(a)(ii) and other than in relation to any corporate actions and/or capital adjustments which would have resulted in the good faith determination of the Calculation Agent, or

 

43



 

as the case may be, Independent Adviser, in option contracts being settled at their theoretical fair value (as described in the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy for a reason other than a delisting (as contemplated by the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy) that does not constitute a Delisting), a Delisting or a Nationalisation, in which case an Accelerated Conversion Event shall occur instead of any corresponding adjustment of the Conversion Price and/or Ordinary Shares in relation to the relevant event) in analogous application of the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy with the modifications provided in Condition 5(b)(iv).

 

(B)                                Following any adjustment contemplated by Condition 5(a)(i)(A), the Issuer may request an Independent Adviser to determine, subject to the requirements that (i) it considers an amendment reasonably necessary and (ii) no amendment may be made which would, in the Trustee’s opinion, (a) impose more onerous obligations on it, or decrease its rights, powers, discretions, authorisations or indemnities, under these Conditions and the Trust Deed or (b) expose the Trustee to liability against which it is not indemnified and/or secured and/or prefunded to its satisfaction without its consent, what amendments (if any) to these Conditions, the Trust Deed and any other relevant documents are appropriate in order to reflect the commercial terms of the adjustment. Upon any such determination being made by such Independent Adviser as aforesaid (upon which determination the Trustee shall rely absolutely and without enquiry or liability) and notified to the Trustee, the Issuer and the Trustee shall (at the expense of the Issuer), pursuant to the terms of the Trust Deed and without the consent of the Bondholders, effect such amendments as so determined by the Independent Adviser to these Conditions, the Trust Deed and any other relevant documents.

 

See Condition 5(b) below for a summary of certain aspects of the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Action Policy in effect as at the Launch Date.

 

(ii)                                  Cash/Non-Cash Dividends

 

If an Ex-Date in respect of a Cash Dividend or a Non Cash Dividend (a “ Relevant Dividend ”) falls on or prior to the Conversion Date, the Calculation Agent shall calculate the adjustment to the Conversion Price in accordance with the following formula (instead of any corresponding or other adjustment under the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy):

 

X n =  X o  x R

 

Where:

 

X n                                   =                                          the adjusted Conversion Price;

 

X o                                   =                                          the Conversion Price on the Relevant Record Date;

 

R                                        =                                          S e  / (S e  + D);

 

S e                                      =                                          the arithmetic average of the daily Volume Weighted Average Prices of an ex entitlement Ordinary Share on each of the five consecutive Scheduled Trading Days (the “ Averaging Period ”) commencing on and including the Ex-Date in respect of the Relevant Dividend; and

 

D                                        =                                          the Fair Market Value of the Net Amount of the Relevant Dividend on a per Ordinary Share basis.

 

(iii)                               For the purposes of Condition 5(a)(ii):

 

44



 

(A)                               the relevant adjustment to the Conversion Price in respect of the Relevant Dividend will be determined on the first day (the “ Relevant Determination Date ”) on which both “S e ” and “D” have been determined by the Calculation Agent (or, as the case may be, the Independent Adviser);

 

(B)                               the Fair Market Value of the Net Amount of a Relevant Dividend shall (subject as provided in paragraph (a) of the definition of “Dividend” and in the definition of “Fair Market Value”) be determined as at the Ex-Date in respect of the Relevant Dividend; and

 

(C)                               the effective date for the relevant adjustment to the Conversion Price will be the Ex-Date in respect of the Relevant Dividend (notwithstanding that the Relevant Determination Date will occur after the Ex-Date).

 

(iv)                              Definitions

 

Cash Dividend ” means (i) any Dividend which is to be paid or made in cash (in whatever currency), but other than falling within paragraph (b) of the definition of “ Spin-Off ” and (ii) any Dividend determined to be a Cash Dividend pursuant to paragraph (a) or (c) of the definition of “Dividend”.

 

Dividend ” means any dividend or distribution to Shareholders (including a Spin-Off) whether of cash, assets or other property, and however described and whether payable out of share premium account, profits, retained earnings or any other capital or revenue reserve or account, and including a distribution or payment to holders upon or in connection with a reduction of capital (and for these purposes a distribution of assets includes without limitation an issue of Ordinary Shares or other Securities credited as fully or partly paid up by way of capitalisation of profits or reserves); provided that :

 

(a)                                  where:

 

(1)                                  a dividend in cash is announced which may at the election of a Shareholder or Shareholders be satisfied by the issue or delivery of Ordinary Shares or other property or assets, or where an issue of Ordinary Shares to Shareholders by way of a capitalisation of profits or reserves (including any share premium account or capital redemption reserve) is announced which may at the election of a Shareholder or Shareholders be satisfied by the payment of cash, then the dividend or capitalisation in question shall be treated as a Cash Dividend of an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of such cash amount as at the first date on which the Ordinary Shares are traded ex- the relevant dividend or capitalisation on the Relevant Stock Exchange; or

 

(2)                                  there shall be any issue of Ordinary Shares or other property or assets to Shareholders by way of capitalisation of profits or reserves (including any share premium account or capital redemption reserve) where such issue is or is expressed to be in lieu of a dividend (whether or not a cash dividend equivalent or amount is announced) or a dividend in cash that is to be satisfied by the issue or delivery of Ordinary Shares or other property or assets, in each case other than in the circumstances the subject of sub-paragraph (1) above, the capitalisation or dividend in question shall be treated as a Cash Dividend of an amount equal to the Volume Weighted Average Price of such Ordinary Shares or, as the case may be, the Fair Market Value of such other property or assets as at the first date on which the Ordinary Shares are traded ex- the relevant capitalisation or, as the case may be, ex- the relevant dividend on the Relevant Stock Exchange or, if later, the Dividend Determination Date, save that where a dividend in cash is announced which is to be satisfied by the issue or delivery of

 

45



 

Ordinary Shares where the number of Ordinary Shares to be issued or delivered is to be determined during a period following such announcement and is to be determined by reference to a publicly available formula based on the closing price or volume weighted average price or any like or similar pricing benchmark of the Ordinary Shares, without factoring in any discount to such price or benchmark, then such dividend shall be treated as a Cash Dividend in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of such cash amount on such date as such cash amount is determined as aforesaid;

 

(b)                                  where a dividend or distribution is paid or made to Shareholders pursuant to any plan implemented by the Issuer for the purpose of enabling Shareholders to elect, or which may require Shareholders, to receive dividends or distributions in respect of the Ordinary Shares held by them from a person other than (or in addition to) the Issuer, such dividend or distribution shall for the purposes of these Conditions be treated as a dividend or distribution made or paid to Shareholders by the Issuer, and the foregoing provisions of this definition and the provisions of these Conditions shall be construed accordingly;

 

(c)                                   where a dividend in cash is declared which provides for payment to Shareholders in the Relevant Currency, whether at the option of Shareholders or otherwise, it shall be treated as a Cash Dividend in the amount of such Relevant Currency and in any other case it shall be treated as a Cash Dividend in the amount and in the currency in which it is payable to the Shareholders; and

 

(d)                                  a dividend or distribution that is a Spin-Off shall be deemed to be a Non Cash Dividend,

 

and any such determination shall (save in the case of determining the Fair Market Value of the Net Amount of a Relevant Dividend pursuant to Condition 5(a)) be made (by the Calculation Agent) on a gross basis and disregarding any withholding or deduction required to be made for or on account of tax, and disregarding any associated tax credit.

 

Ex-Date ” means the first Scheduled Trading Day on which the Ordinary Shares are traded ex-the Relevant Dividend on the Relevant Stock Exchange.

 

Net Amount ” means, in respect of any Relevant Dividend, the amount in respect of such Relevant Dividend as would be received, after any applicable withholding or deduction on account of United Kingdom taxation, by a holder of the Ordinary Shares in respect of which such Relevant Dividend is paid or made that is a bank or financial institution resident for tax purposes in the United Kingdom and within the charge to corporation tax, and disregarding any associated tax credit. If there are one or more Hedging Counterparties on the Relevant Record Date in relation to such cash dividend or Relevant Dividend, the Net Amount in respect thereof shall be determined in good faith by the Issuer in consultation with such Hedging Counterparty or Hedging Counterparties, as the case may be, and notified by it to the Calculation Agent no later than on the Relevant Record Date. If there is no Hedging Counterparty on the Relevant Record Date in relation to such Relevant Dividend as aforesaid, the Net Amount in respect thereof shall be determined in good faith by an Independent Adviser no later than on the Relevant Record Date. The Calculation Agent shall rely upon, and shall not be liable and shall not incur any liability as against the Issuer, the Trustee, the Bondholders or any other party in respect of, any such determination by the Issuer or an Independent Adviser as aforesaid.

 

Non Cash Dividend ” means a Dividend which is not a Cash Dividend and shall include a Spin-Off.

 

Relevant Record Date ” means the Scheduled Trading Day which immediately precedes the relevant Ex-Date in respect of the Relevant Dividend.

 

46



 

Spin-Off ” means:

 

(a)                                  a distribution of Spin-Off Securities by the issuer of an Ordinary Share to Shareholders as a class; or

 

(b)                                  any issue, transfer or delivery of any property or assets (including cash or shares or other securities of or in or issued or allotted) by any entity (other than the issuer of an Ordinary Share) to Shareholders as a class, pursuant in each case to any arrangements with the issuer of an Ordinary Share or any of its Subsidiaries,

 

in each case other than in the circumstances the subject of paragraph (a) of the definition of “Dividend”.

 

Spin-Off Securities ” means equity share capital of an entity other than the issuer of an Ordinary Share, or options, warrants or other rights to subscribe for or purchase equity share capital of an entity other than the issuer of an Ordinary Share.

 

(b)                                  Summary of certain aspects of the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy

 

The ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy provides for adjustments of options contracts in respect of shares, including the Ordinary Shares, which would likely be applied by ICE Futures Europe in determining adjustments to the options contracts related to the Ordinary Shares.

 

The results of such adjustments will be applied by the Calculation Agent when determining adjustments of the Conversion Price, pursuant to Condition 5(a) with the modifications set out in Condition 5(b)(iv), except where the Corporate Action constitutes a Cash Dividend, Non Cash Dividend, Delisting, Nationalisation or other Corporate Action resulting in option contracts being settled at their theoretical fair value.

 

The ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy is subject to change from time to time.

 

However, changes made after the Launch Date will not have effect for the purposes of the Conditions, except as expressly provided in Condition 5(b)(iv)(B)(VI). If changes are made to the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy, the Calculation Agent (or, as the case may be, pursuant to these Conditions, an Independent Adviser) will determine what the adjustment would have been if the policy had not been amended (each such determination being a “Deemed Adjustment”) and Condition 5(b)(iv)(B) will apply.

 

Further, ICE Futures Europe retains the right to determine how any particular Corporate Action will be reflected in option contract adjustments on a case by case basis despite the provisions of the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Action Policy. Consequently, the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Action Policy provides only the methodology which will as a general rule be applied to cater for Corporate Actions and deviations may be made therefrom at any time. Neither the Issuer, the Calculation Agent nor the Trustee is responsible for informing Bondholders of any change at any time to the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy. Conditions 5(b)(i), 5(b)(ii) and 5(b)(iii) are for information purposes only and have been prepared in order to provide Bondholders with summary information of potential adjustments following the occurrence of certain Corporate Actions and such adjustments are subject to change. The information has been adjusted to the extent practicable to fit with the terminology of the Bonds. However, ICE Futures Europe may apply the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policies differently, in particular with respect to the definition and determination of Corporate Action below. In the case of any discrepancy between this description and the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy or actual option contract adjustments made by ICE Futures Europe, the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy or the actual option contract adjustments made by ICE Futures Europe prior to any amendment of the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy as applicable shall prevail.

 

47



 

(i)                                      Corporate Action

 

For the purposes of this Condition 5(b), “ Corporate Action ” means any of the following events occurring prior to the Conversion Date:

 

(A)                                 a cash and/or scrip dividend, a bonus or scrip issue, a rights issue, a share split, subdivision or consolidation, a demerger or any other event affecting or giving rise to a right or entitlement attaching or accruing to the shares of, or ownership of shares in, a company; or

 

(B)                                 a takeover, merger or any arrangement, transaction or series of transactions which will or may result in the acquisition by any person or persons or any associated person or persons of a substantial proportion of the shares of a company; or

 

(C)                                any other event which, in the opinion of ICE Futures Europe, impacts or may impact on an option contract in respect of the shares of a company.

 

These Corporate Actions and any adjustments made by ICE Futures Europe described below will be relevant to the determinations made by the Calculation Agent (or, as the case may be, as provided pursuant to these Conditions, an Independent Adviser) only if such Corporate Actions are not a Cash Dividend, a Non-Cash Dividend, Delisting or Nationalisation which have been excluded from the scope of the applicability of the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy pursuant to Condition 5(a) of these Conditions.

 

(ii)                                   Other defined terms

 

For the purposes of this Condition 5(b):

 

cum entitlement ” means, in respect of a share, with the right, before a date determined and published from time to time by the stock exchange determined by ICE Futures Europe, to any Relevant Entitlement relating thereto.

 

EDSP ” means the exchange delivery settlement price determined by ICE Futures Europe in accordance with its rules.

 

ex-entitlement ” means, in respect of a share, without the entitlement, on or after a date determined and published from time to time by the stock exchange determined by ICE Futures Europe, to any Relevant Entitlement relating thereto.

 

Lot Size ” means the number of shares underlying one option contract.

 

Ratio Method ” means that ICE Futures Europe will determine and disclose the adjustment ratio if known or the equation necessary to calculate the ratio. The adjustment ratio will be rounded, using normal mathematical rounding conventions, to five decimal places. Application of the adjustment ratio with respect to exercise prices, the creation of reference prices, and Lot Sizes will be made with the rounded adjustment ratio. For option contracts the adjustment ratio is used to alter the Lot Size (by dividing the Lot Size by the ratio) and the exercise price (by multiplying the exercise price by the ratio). On exercise, delivery sellers are required to deliver the adjusted number of ex-entitlement shares in return for a consideration of the adjusted exercise price multiplied by the adjusted Lot Size. Equalisation payments will be made for all option contracts to neutralise the effect observed due to rounding of the Lot Size.

 

Relevant Entitlement ” means any one or more of a cash dividend, scrip dividend, bonus issue, scrip issue, rights issue, or any other right or entitlement, attaching or accruing to, or otherwise affecting, from time to time, a share or ownership of a share.

 

Package Method ” means that ICE Futures Europe will substitute the underlying shares in an option contract with a package of the ex-entitlement shares and the proportionate number of entitlements. In the case of physical delivery option contracts, on exercise, delivery sellers are required to deliver the ex-entitlement shares and the proportionate number of entitlements in

 

48



 

consideration for the exercise price multiplied by the Lot Size. Fractions of shares will be settled in cash. No adjustment will be made to the Lot Size or exercise prices. In the case of cash settlement option contracts on exercise, the EDSP will be determined by aggregating the components which form the package. Daily settlement prices will not be adjusted to create reference prices and no adjustment will be made to the Lot Size or to the trading code.

 

(iii)                                Consequences of a Corporate Action pursuant to the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy

 

Upon the occurrence of a Corporate Action, the following adjustments are likely to be made by ICE Futures Europe in respect of option contracts in respect of shares, including the Ordinary Shares, subject to any discretion exercised by ICE Futures Europe when performing the actual adjustments:

 

(A)                                 Bonus issues, stock splits, reverse stock splits, subdivisions or consolidations of share capital

 

The Ratio Method will be used to adjust option contracts to cater for a bonus issue, stock split, reverse stock split, subdivision or consolidation of share capital.

 

The adjustment ratio shall be constructed as follows:

 

 

Where:

 

P = The official closing price or such other price as determined by ICE Futures Europe and set out in the notice relating to the Corporate Action of the cum entitlement share on the stock exchange determined by ICE Futures Europe

 

E = Value of the entitlement per share

 

O = Cum amount of shares (old)

 

N = Ex amount of shares (new)

 

For bonus issues, stock splits, reverse stock splits, subdivisions or consolidations, P and E are irrelevant. Therefore the formula for the adjustment ratio for bonus issues, stock splits, reverse stock splits, subdivisions or consolidations simply reads:

 

 

(B)                                 Rights issues and open offers

 

The Ratio Method will be used to adjust option contracts to cater for rights issues and open offers. The Adjustment Ratio will be calculated by creating a ratio of the theoretical ex-entitlement share price to the cum entitlement share price.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, the ICE Futures Europe will make adjustments to option contracts where the entitlement issue creates an exclusive entitlement to existing shareholders, irrespective of the tradability of the entitlement. ICE Futures Europe will interpret a rights issue or an open offer to shareholders as a Corporate Action that creates an exclusive entitlement to shareholders, insofar that the entitlement has positive value.

 

49



 

Calculations of the value of the entitlement and the adjustment ratio for a straightforward issue are as follows:

 

Value of the Relevant Entitlement per share

 

 

Where:

 

E = Theoretical value of an entitlement

 

P = The official closing price or such other price as determined by ICE Futures Europe and set out in the notice relating to the Corporate Action of the cum entitlement share on the stock exchange determined by ICE Futures Europe

 

S = Subscription price of one new share

 

d = Dividend to which new shareholders are not entitled

 

h = Number of existing shares specified as eligible for the entitlement

 

r = Number of new shares specified as the entitlement

 

x = 1

 

Adjustment Ratio

 

 

The Adjustment Ratio will be applied to exercise prices and daily settlement prices as described in the Ratio Method at the close of business on the last business day that the company’s shares are trading cum entitlement.

 

Where an entitlement issue entitles shareholders to take up securities that are not pari passu in all respects to those shares which derived the entitlement, or will not immediately convert into those shares, ICE Futures Europe may determine the value of the entitlement by means of a members’ survey. The survey will be conducted on the last business day that the company’s shares are trading cum entitlement.

 

It should be noted that where a market auction facility is available on the stock exchange determined by ICE Futures Europe, ICE Futures Europe may, at its discretion, use the closing price of the rights from the market auction on the last cum entitlement trading day to determine a theoretical ex-entitlement share price.

 

ICE Futures Europe will have regard, where possible, to any adjustment or valuation methodology applied to any index which the underlying share may be a constituent of, to cater for the event.

 

(C)                                Demergers

 

The Package Method will be used to cater for demergers where shares of the demerged company can be delivered and settled in a qualifying settlement system and/or traded on a qualifying stock exchange as determined by ICE Futures Europe pursuant to the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy and are denominated in the relevant currency of the option contracts.

 

If the shares of a demerged company cannot be delivered and settled in a settlement system and/or traded on a stock exchange determined by ICE Futures Europe and are

 

50



 

not denominated in the relevant currency of the option contracts, then the Ratio Method will be applied.

 

The adjustment ratio will be calculated as follows

 

Adjustment Ratio=

(Cum Entitlement share price – value of demerged company per share)

Cum entitlement share price

 

In the case that a demerger results in the creation of two or more companies, shares of those demerged companies will be subject to the above conditions, such that if the shares of each demerged company cannot be delivered and settled in a settlement system and/or traded on a stock exchange and are not denominated in the relevant currency of the option contracts, then the Ratio Method will be applied to the shares of those demerged companies, in their respective proportions.

 

In determining the value of a demerged company’s shares for the purpose of applying the Ratio Method, ICE Futures Europe may conduct a members’ survey on the last date which the company’s shares are trading cum entitlement. However, on or prior to this date, if the value of shares in the demerged company can be determined from market trading on any facility operated by the stock exchange determined by ICE Futures Europe, then this value will be used in place of a members’ survey.

 

If the demerged company is already traded on an exchange designated by ICE Futures Europe, ICE Futures Europe may adjust the contracts in accordance with the Ratio Method.

 

(D)                                Mergers and takeovers

 

To cater for a merger or takeover, ICE Futures Europe will use the structure of the headline offer (“offer consideration”) to determine what adjustment methodology to apply to option contracts.

 

In general ICE Futures Europe will calculate implied volatilities for the purpose of (a possible) fair value settlement as described in the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy, whether the offer is in stock, or in cash or in a combination of both.

 

The Ratio Method will be applied where the offer consideration is composed purely of shares in another company. The Ratio Method will only be employed should ICE Futures Europe deem that the shares which form the headline offer can be delivered and settled in a settlement system and/or traded on a stock exchange determined by ICE Futures Europe and are denominated in the relevant currency of the option contracts. In applying the Ratio Method to substitute the underlying value of the option contracts the adjustment ratio will be calculated as follows.

 

 

Where y is equal to the number of shares offered under the headline offer for every x shares held in the underlying company. This ratio will be applied as described in the Ratio Method, such that the underlying shares of the contract will be substituted in the same proportion as determined by the headline offer, for the shares that form the offer consideration. Use of the Ratio Method will ensure daily settlement prices and exercise prices are adjusted in line with the level of the new underlying shares. The Ratio Method will only be applied on cases where the new underlying shares that have resulted from the merger or takeover are denominated in the same currency as the relevant currency for the option contracts. Where this is not the case, a fair value methodology will be employed.

 

51



 

If ICE Futures Europe deems that those shares which form the offer consideration cannot be delivered and settled in a settlement system and/or traded on a stock exchange determined by ICE Futures Europe and are not denominated in the relevant currency of the option contracts, then the option contracts will be settled at their theoretical fair value (as described in the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy).

 

Where the offer consideration is composed purely of cash, the option contracts will be settled at their theoretical fair value (as described in as described in the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy).

 

Where the offer is composed of both shares and cash, and ICE Futures Europe deems that the share element cannot be delivered and settled in a settlement system and/or traded on a stock exchange determined by ICE Futures Europe and are not denominated in the relevant currency of the option contracts, then the option contracts will be settled at their theoretical fair value. If the share element can be delivered and settled in a settlement system and/or traded on a stock exchange determined by ICE Futures Europe and are denominated in the relevant currency of the option contracts, ICE Futures Europe will deem whether the Ratio Method may be applied, such that the resulting contracts would become contracts purely on the share element. In this case the Adjustment Ratio will be based on the share price of the company issuing the bid.

 

Generally ICE Futures Europe will seek to use the official closing price of the shares on the market where the company has its primary listing. However in cases where the company issuing the bid has its primary listing in a different time zone than the target company, ICE Futures Europe may use an official closing/opening price established on a secondary venue, use a VWAP calculation or use the EDSP calculation. Lastly, if the price of the share of the company issuing the bid is not available or cannot be determined at an appropriate time, ICE Futures Europe reserves the right to calculate the Adjustment Ratio on the basis of the share price of the target company.

 

In the circumstance that the cash element represents over 67% of the total offer consideration, the option contracts will be settled at their theoretical fair value (as described in the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy), and the Ratio Method will not be applied. For the avoidance of doubt, once the Exchange has determined the proportion of cash and made such announcement as to the type of adjustment methodology, the methodology will not then be changed simply due to share price movements affecting the proportion of cash.

 

 

Pt = C + (N*S)

 

Where:

 

Pt = Theoretical value of one share of the target company

 

N = Number of shares of the offeror received per share of the target company

 

O= 1

 

C = Cash element of the offer per share held

 

S = Cum event share price of the company that is issuing the offer (being the offeror)

 

52



 

Adjustments to option contracts will be made when a relevant offer is declared effective by the offeror and if the threshold of the majority of the outstanding shares (50% + 1) is met.

 

In the case of offers, whereby the relevant offer is a mandatory offer by law, ICE Futures Europe will use a threshold of 75% of the outstanding shares to determine whether the relevant offer is effective.

 

(E)                                 Share repurchases

 

ICE Futures Europe will generally treat instances where a company repurchases its own shares in the market as a non-adjustable event. However, on occasions where a company makes an offer for its own shares at a premium to the prevailing market price, and where shareholders have equal opportunity to participate in the offer, ICE Futures Europe may, where practical, deem the share repurchase as an adjustable event.

 

(F)                                 Special circumstances

 

If the underlying share of the option contract is no longer tradable and/or deliverable due to circumstances not described in the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy, ICE Futures Europe will decide on a case by case basis what the consequences for the option contracts will be, and will inform the regulator at the same time as issuing a notice in relation to such event.

 

(iv)                               Adjustment by the Calculation Agent and/or Ordinary Shares of the Conversion Price following a Corporate Action

 

(A)                                Prior to any amendment of the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy

 

(I)                                    For the purpose of adjusting the Conversion Price following an adjustment by ICE Futures Europe to option contracts in respect of Ordinary Shares pursuant to the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy in accordance with the Ratio Method, the Calculation Agent shall determine whether when determining the Adjustment Ratio, ICE Futures Europe has used a price for the relevant share which:

 

(i)                                     is cum entitlement; and

 

(ii)                                  is not equal to (1) if the relevant Corporate Action is a rights issue, the Closing Price of an Ordinary Share on the Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the first Scheduled Trading Day on which the Ordinary Shares are traded ex-entitlement, or (2) if the relevant Corporate Action is not a rights issue, the 5 Day VWAP,

 

such price used by ICE Futures Europe as aforesaid and satisfying both provisos (i) and (ii) being a “ Cum Entitlement Price ”. If the adjustment ratio has been determined by ICE Futures Europe based on a Cum Entitlement Price, the Calculation Agent shall recalculate the adjustment ratio using (1) if the relevant Corporate Action is a rights issue, the Closing Price referred to in paragraph (ii)(1) above, or (2) if the relevant Corporate Action is not a rights issue, the 5 Day VWAP referred to in paragraph (ii)(2) above, in each case instead of the Cum Entitlement Price (being the “ CA Adjustment Ratio ”).

 

For the purpose of adjusting the Conversion Price in respect of the Bonds the Calculation Agent shall multiply the Conversion Price in effect prior to the adjustment performed by ICE Futures Europe by the relevant CA Adjustment

 

53



 

Ratio and the resulting adjusted Conversion Price shall apply as of the date from which the adjustment made by ICE Futures Europe applies.

 

Subject as provided in Condition 5(b)(iv)(A)(II) below, if the Calculation Agent determines that the Adjustment Ratio has been determined by ICE Futures Europe (i) based on the relevant Closing Price referred to in paragraph (ii)(1) above (in the context of a rights issue) or the 5 Day VWAP (in the context of any other Corporate Action) or (ii) pursuant to a formula that is not based on the price of a cum entitlement Ordinary Share, for the purpose of adjusting the Conversion Price in respect the Bonds the Calculation Agent shall multiply the Conversion Price in effect prior to the adjustment performed by ICE Futures Europe by the relevant Adjustment Ratio determined by ICE Futures Europe and the resulting adjusted Conversion Price shall apply as of the date from which the adjustment made by ICE Futures Europe applies.

 

(II)                               The Adjustment Ratio (if any) determined by ICE Futures Europe following a merger or takeover shall be used by the Calculation Agent to determine the Conversion Price as provided in Condition 5(b)(iv)(A)(I) if the cash entitlement represents no more than 33% of the total offer consideration in relation to such merger or takeover, as determined and announced by ICE Futures Europe or (if no such determination has been announced by ICE Futures Europe) by the Calculation Agent or (where the Calculation Agent determines in its sole discretion it is not capable of making such determination in its capacity as Calculation Agent, or at the Issuer’s election in its sole discretion) an Independent Adviser. If the cash entitlement represents more than 33% but no more than 67% of the total offer consideration (as determined and announced by ICE Futures Europe or (if no such determination has been announced by ICE Futures Europe) as aforesaid by the Calculation Agent or, as the case may be, an Independent Adviser) in relation to such merger or takeover, then the Calculation Agent shall determine the Conversion Price as provided in Condition 5(b)(iv)(A)(I) with references to 5 Day VWAP replaced by references to 20 Day VWAP. If the cash entitlement represents more than 67% of the total offer consideration (as determined and announced by ICE Futures Europe or (if no such determination has been announced by ICE Futures Europe) as aforesaid by the Calculation Agent or, as the case may be, an Independent Adviser) in relation to such merger or takeover, there will be no adjustment of the Conversion Price in respect of such merger or takeover, an Accelerated Conversion Event shall be deemed to have occurred pursuant to sub-paragraph (C) of the definition thereof and the provisions of Condition 4(d) will apply.

 

(III)                          If ICE Futures Europe has applied the Package Method (and consequently an Adjustment Ratio has not been calculated and published), the Conversion Price will not be adjusted and what is considered an Ordinary Share will change pursuant to the definition of Ordinary Share.

 

(IV)                           If option contracts are settled at their theoretical fair value (as described in the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy for a reason other than a delisting (as contemplated by the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy) that does not constitute a Delisting) or in the case of Nationalisation or Delisting, the Conversion Price will not be adjusted in relation to such an event, what is considered an Ordinary Share will not change, an Accelerated Conversion Event shall be deemed to have occurred and the provisions of Condition 4(d) will apply.

 

(B)                                Following any amendment of the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy

 

54



 

(I)                                    Subject as provided in Condition 5(b)(iv)(B)(II) to 5(b)(iv)(B)(VI) below, for the purpose of adjusting the Conversion Price following an adjustment by ICE Futures Europe to option contracts in respect of Ordinary Shares in accordance with the Ratio Method following an amendment to the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy, (i) if the Calculation Agent determines in its sole discretion it is capable of making such determination in its capacity as Calculation Agent, the Calculation Agent, or (ii) in any other case, an Independent Adviser, shall determine what the adjustment would have been if the policy had not been amended (each such determination being a “ Deemed Adjustment ”) and shall calculate in accordance with the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy (without any amendment), any Adjustment Ratio required to be calculated for the purposes of such Deemed Adjustment, provided that the Calculation Agent (or, as the case may be, an Independent Adviser as aforesaid) shall use the Closing Price (if the relevant Corporate Action is a rights issue) or the 5 Day VWAP (in the case of any other Corporate Action) instead of any Cum Entitlement Price for the purpose of such calculation (in each case in like manner as provided in Condition 5(b)(iv)(A)(I)).

 

(II)                               Following a merger or takeover (i) if the Calculation Agent determines in its sole discretion it is capable of making such determination in its capacity as Calculation Agent, the Calculation Agent, or (ii) in any other case, an Independent Adviser, shall determine the Conversion Price as provided in Condition 5(b)(iv)(B)(I) if the cash entitlement represents no more than 33% of the total offer consideration in relation to such merger or takeover. If the cash entitlement represents more than 33% but no more than 67% of the total offer consideration in relation to such merger or takeover, then the Calculation Agent shall determine the Conversion Price as provided in Condition 5(b)(iv)(B)(I) with references to 5 Day VWAP replaced by references to 20 Day VWAP. If the cash entitlement represents more than 67% of the total offer consideration in relation to such merger or takeover, there will be no adjustment of the Conversion Price in respect of such merger or takeover, an Accelerated Conversion Event shall be deemed to have occurred pursuant to sub-paragraph (C) of the definition thereof and the provisions of Condition 4(d) will apply.

 

(III)                          Any adjustment pursuant to 5(b)(iii)(E) or 5(b)(iii)(F) will be made by an Independent Adviser.

 

(IV)                           For the purpose of this Condition 5(b)(iv)(B), in the case of a demerger (i) the Package Method will be applied if the Relevant Stock Exchange (as defined in these Conditions) for the shares of the demerged company is a stock exchange or securities market located in the European Union and (ii) the Ratio Method will be used to make adjustments if Ordinary Shares of the demerged company can not be so delivered, settled and/or traded.

 

(V)                                If pursuant to the ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy (without any amendment) the Package Method is applied by the Calculation Agent (or, as the case may be, an Independent Adviser as aforesaid) (and consequently an Adjustment Ratio has not been determined), the Conversion Price will not be adjusted and what is considered an Ordinary Share will change pursuant to the definition of Ordinary Share.

 

(VI)                           If option contracts are settled at their theoretical fair value (as described in the amended ICE Futures Europe Corporate Actions Policy for a reason other than a delisting (as contemplated by the amended ICE Futures Europe Corporate

 

55



 

Actions Policy) that does not constitute a Delisting) or in the case of Nationalisation or Delisting, the Conversion Price will not be adjusted in relation to such an event, what is considered an Ordinary Share will not change, an Accelerated Conversion Event shall be deemed to have occurred and the provisions of Condition 4(d) will apply.

 

(c)                                   Calculation of Adjustments and roundings:

 

Adjustments in accordance with this Condition 5 (other than Condition 5 (a) (ii), which shall become effective as provided in Condition 5 (a) (iii)) will become effective as of the same date as any corresponding adjustments made by ICE Futures Europe, provided that any adjustment made in accordance with the second paragraph of Condition 5(a)(i)(A) or in accordance with Condition 5(b)(iv)(B) shall become effective as of the date determined to be the effective date by the Calculation Agent, or, as the case may be, an Independent Adviser.

 

No adjustment in accordance with this Condition 5 will be made if the effective date for such adjustment falls after the Conversion Date. For the avoidance of doubt, Condition 5(a)(iii) provides that the effective date for an adjustment to the Conversion Price in respect of a Relevant Dividend will be the Ex-Date for such Relevant Dividend. Accordingly, provided the Ex-Date for a Relevant Dividend falls on or before the Conversion Date, the relevant adjustment to the Conversion Price will be effective as at the Conversion Date, even if such adjustment can only be determined after the Conversion Date.

 

Adjustments to the Conversion Price pursuant to this Condition 5 shall be determined and calculated in good faith by the Calculation Agent and/or, to the extent so specified in these Conditions, by an Independent Adviser. Adjustments to the Conversion Price calculated by the Calculation Agent or, where applicable, an Independent Adviser and any other determinations made by the Calculation Agent or, where applicable, an Independent Adviser pursuant to these Conditions shall be final and binding (in the absence of manifest error) on the Issuer, the Trustee and the Bondholders. The Calculation Agent may, subject to the provisions of the Calculation Agency Agreement, consult, at the expense of the Issuer, on any matter (including but not limited to, any legal matter), with any legal or other professional adviser and it shall be able to rely upon, and it shall not be liable and shall incur no liability as against the Issuer or the Bondholders in respect of anything done, or omitted to be done, relating to that matter in good faith in accordance with that adviser’s opinion. The Calculation Agent shall act solely upon request from and as agent of the Issuer and the Calculation Agent or, as the case may be, any Independent Adviser appointed by the Issuer in accordance with these Conditions, will not thereby assume any obligations towards or relationship of agency or trust with, and they shall not be liable and shall incur no liability as against, the Bondholders.

 

If any doubt shall arise as to whether an adjustment falls to be made to the Conversion Price or as to the appropriate adjustment to the Conversion Price, and following consultation between the Issuer and an Independent Adviser, a written opinion of such Independent Adviser in respect thereof shall be conclusive and binding on the Issuer, the Trustee and the Bondholders, save in the case of manifest error.

 

Any adjustment to the Conversion Price determined will, if necessary, be rounded to four decimal places, with £0.00005 being rounded upwards, and any subsequent adjustments shall be made on the basis of such adjusted Conversion Price so rounded.

 

(d)                                  Notifications of Adjustments

 

The Issuer will give notice to Bondholders (in accordance with Condition 17), to the Trustee and (if not determined by the Calculation Agent) to the Calculation Agent of any adjustment to the Conversion Price pursuant to this Condition 5 as soon as reasonably practicable.

 

56



 

(e)                                   No Duty to Monitor

 

Neither the Calculation Agent, the Trustee nor any Agent shall be under any duty to monitor whether any event or circumstance has happened or exists or may happen or exist and which requires or may require an adjustment to be made to the Conversion Price or Ordinary Share (pursuant to the definition thereof) and none of them will be responsible or liable to the Bondholders for any loss arising from any failure by it to do so, and neither shall the Trustee, the Calculation Agent nor any Agent be responsible or liable to any person (other than, in the case of the Calculation Agent, to the Issuer pursuant and subject to the relevant provisions of the Calculation Agency Agreement) for any determination of whether or not an adjustment to the Conversion Price or Ordinary Share (as aforesaid) is required or should be made, nor as to the determination or calculation of any such adjustment.

 

(f)                                    Share Option Schemes, Dividend Reinvestment Plans

 

No adjustment will be made to the Conversion Price where Ordinary Shares or other Securities are issued, offered, exercised, allotted, purchased, appropriated, modified or granted to, or for the benefit of, employees or former employees (including directors holding or formerly holding executive office or the personal service company of any such person) or their spouses or relatives, in each case, of the issuer of the Ordinary Shares or any of its Subsidiaries or any associated company or to a trustee or trustees to be held for the benefit of any such person, in any such case pursuant to any share or option scheme or pursuant to any dividend reinvestment plan or similar plan or scheme.

 

6                                          Procedure for Conversion

 

(a)                                  Conversion Notices

 

As a precondition to any delivery of any Ordinary Shares pursuant to a Mandatory Conversion of the Bonds (but not, for the avoidance of doubt, to the payment of any Make-whole Amount, accrued interest or Arrears of Interest in connection with any such conversion), a Bondholder shall be required to deliver the relevant Certificate or Certificates representing such Bonds together with a duly completed and signed notice of conversion (a “ Conversion Notice ”), in the form (for the time being current) obtainable from any Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent, to the specified office of any Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent by not later than five Scheduled Trading Days prior to the relevant Settlement Date.

 

Subject as provided in Condition 4(c) and 6(f), a Bondholder may exercise the Bondholder Voluntary Conversion Right by delivering the Certificate or Certificates representing its Bonds (together with a duly completed and signed Conversion Notice) to the specified office of any Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent. Such exercise may only be in respect of an authorised denomination (as defined in Condition 1(a)) or a whole multiple thereof.

 

In the relevant Conversion Notice the Bondholder is required to designate, inter alia , details of the account with CREST and the name or names in which the Ordinary Shares shall be credited.

 

If, in the case of a Mandatory Conversion of any Bonds, the Conversion Notice and/or the relevant Certificate(s) representing such Bonds are not delivered to the specified office of a Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent by not later than the date which is scheduled to be five Scheduled Trading Days prior to the relevant Settlement Date (such Bonds being the “ Unsurrendered Bonds ”), the relevant Ordinary Shares will be issued to a person (the “ Relevant Person ”) selected by the Issuer on the relevant Settlement Date. Upon issue of the relevant Ordinary Shares to or to the order of the Relevant Person, the Bondholders shall have no further rights to delivery of Ordinary Shares under the Unsurrendered Bonds and their entitlement shall instead be to the net proceeds of sale of the relevant Ordinary Shares, subject to and in accordance with this Condition 6(a). The Issuer shall procure that all of such Ordinary Shares shall be sold by or on behalf of the Relevant Person as soon as practicable based on advice from a reputable financial institution, investment or commercial bank or broker selected by the Issuer, and (subject to any necessary consents being obtained and to the deduction by

 

57



 

or on behalf of the Relevant Person of any amount payable in respect of its liability to taxation and the payment of any capital, stamp, issue or registration and transfer taxes or duties (if any) and any fees or costs incurred by or on behalf of the Relevant Person in connection with the allotment and sale thereof) the Issuer shall procure that the net proceeds of sale (converted where applicable into pounds sterling by the Relevant Person) shall be distributed to the Bondholders of the Unsurrendered Bonds in whose name(s) such Unsurrendered Bonds are registered to in the Register on the date falling five business days (in the place of the specified office of the Registrar) prior to the relevant Settlement Date, in proportion to the aggregate principal amount of such Unsurrendered Bonds held by each such relevant Bondholder.

 

Any such cash amount paid as aforesaid to a Bondholder pursuant to this Condition 6(a), along with any applicable accrued interest, Arrears of Interest and/or Make-whole Amount, shall be treated for all purposes as discharging the Issuer’s obligations in respect of the Mandatory Conversion of the relevant Bonds, and all rights of each relevant Bondholder to principal and interest in respect of such Bonds shall be extinguished upon the payment of the relevant amount in accordance with this Condition 6(a) and the payment of any applicable accrued interest, Arrears of Interest and/or Make-whole Amount.

 

(b)                                  Determination

 

If delivery of a Conversion Notice is made after 4.00 p.m. London time on any day or is made on a day which is not a business day in the place of the specified office of the relevant Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent, such delivery shall be deemed for all purposes of these Conditions to have been made on the next following such business day.

 

Any determination as to whether any Conversion Notice has been duly completed and properly delivered shall be made by the relevant Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent and shall, save in the case of manifest error, be conclusive and binding on the Issuer, the Trustee and the relevant Bondholder.

 

A Conversion Notice, once delivered, shall be irrevocable.

 

(c)                                   Delivery of Ordinary Shares

 

The Issuer may, in its own discretion, decide to fulfil its obligations in connection with any duly completed and properly delivered Conversion Notice by the transfer of existing Ordinary Shares or by the allotment and issue of new Ordinary Shares.

 

Ordinary Shares to be issued or transferred or delivered to a Bondholder on a Mandatory Conversion or a Voluntary Conversion will be issued or transferred or delivered in uncertificated form through the dematerialised securities trading system operated by Euroclear UK and Ireland Limited, known as CREST (“ CREST ”).

 

Ordinary Shares will be delivered to the account specified by the relevant Bondholder in the relevant Conversion Notice by not later than the relevant Settlement Date.

 

Ordinary Shares to be issued or transferred and delivered to a Bondholder on a Mandatory Conversion (or if applicable, to the Relevant Person in accordance with Condition 6(a)) or a Voluntary Conversion will not be available for issue or transfer and delivery (i) to, or to a nominee or agent for, Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. or Clearstream Banking, société anonyme or any other person providing a clearance service within the meaning of Section 96 of the Finance Act 1986 of the United Kingdom or (ii) to a person, or nominee or agent for a person, whose business is or includes issuing depositary receipts within the meaning of Section 93 of the Finance Act 1986 of the United Kingdom, in each case at any time prior to the “abolition day” as defined in Section 111(1) of the Finance Act 1990 of the United Kingdom.

 

58



 

(d)                                  Ordinary Shares

 

Ordinary Shares delivered or issued upon conversion of the Bonds will be fully paid and will in all respects rank pari passu with the fully paid Ordinary Shares in issue on the relevant Conversion Date, except that such Ordinary Shares will not rank for any rights, distributions or payments if the record date or other due date for the establishment of entitlement for any such right, distribution or payment falls prior to the relevant Conversion Date.

 

(e)                                   Settlement Disruption

 

Where the issue or delivery of any Ordinary Shares is required under the Conditions and a Settlement Disruption Event occurs on the relevant Settlement Date, and delivery of any Ordinary Shares cannot be effected on such Settlement Date, then such Settlement Date will (for the purposes of the delivery of the Ordinary Shares only, but not in connection with any payment which might otherwise be due on such Settlement Date) be postponed until the first succeeding calendar day on which delivery can take place through a national or international settlement system or in any other commercially reasonable manner.

 

(f)                                     U.S. Certificate on a Voluntary Conversion

 

Each Bondholder will, in the case of a Voluntary Conversion, in the relevant Conversion Notice, be required to represent and warrant that, at the time of signing and delivery of the relevant Conversion Notice, (A) it understands that the Ordinary Shares to be issued upon conversion of the Bonds have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 (the “ Securities Act ”) and (B) it is a non-U.S. person within the meaning of Regulation S (“ Regulation S ”) under the Securities Act, is acquiring the Ordinary Shares to be issued upon conversion of the Bonds in an offshore transaction (as defined in Regulation S) in accordance with Rule 903 or 904 of Regulation S and understands that the Ordinary Shares may not be delivered within the United States (within the meaning of Regulation S) and may not be resold in the United States except in a transaction not subject to, or pursuant to an exemption from, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

 

7                                          Purchase and Cancellation

 

(a)                                  Purchase of Bonds

 

The Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries may at any time purchase Bonds in any manner and at any price.

 

(b)                                  Cancellation

 

All Bonds which are converted pursuant to these Conditions will forthwith be cancelled and may not be held, reissued or resold.

 

Bonds purchased by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries may be surrendered to the Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent for cancellation or may, at the Issuer’s option, be held, reissued or resold.

 

8                                          Payments

 

(a)                                  Payment of interest and other amounts

 

Payment of:

 

(i)                                     any cash amount(s) related to the conversion of any Bond (including any accrued interest, Make-whole Amount and Arrears of Interest payable as a result of any Mandatory Conversion) will be made to the persons shown in the Register at the close of business on the fifth business day, in the place of the specified office of the Registrar, before the relevant Settlement Date;

 

(ii)                                  any Interest Payment and Arrears of Interest due on any Interest Payment Date in respect of the Bonds, or any Arrears of Interest due on any other date following the exercise by the Issuer of

 

59



 

its option pursuant to Condition 3(b)(ii), and not in any such case otherwise falling within paragraph (i) of this Condition 8(a), will be made to the persons shown in the Register at the close of business on the Record Date;

 

(iii)                               any Arrears of Interest due on any date and not otherwise falling within paragraphs (i) to (ii) of this Condition 8(a), will be made to the persons shown in the Register at the close of business on the business day, in the place of the specified office of the Registrar, immediately before the relevant Mandatory Settlement Date; and

 

(iv)                              any amounts other than as provided above will be made as provided in these Conditions.

 

(b)                                 Record Date

 

“Record Date ” means the seventh business day, in the place of the specified office of the Registrar, before the due date for the relevant payment.

 

The Bonds will, on issue, be represented by a global Certificate which will be deposited with, and registered in the name of a nominee for, a depositary common to Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. (“ Euroclear ”) and Clearstream Banking, société anonyme (“ Clearstream, Luxembourg ”).

 

All payments in respect of Bonds represented by the global Certificate will be made to, or to the order of, the person whose name is entered on the Register at the close of business on the Clearing System Business Day immediately prior to the date for payment, where “ Clearing System Business Day ” means Monday to Friday inclusive except 25 December and 1 January.

 

(c)                                  Payments

 

Each payment in respect of the Bonds pursuant to Condition 8(a) will be made by transfer to a pounds sterling account maintained by the payee with a bank in London.

 

(d)                                 Payments subject to fiscal laws

 

All payments in respect of the Bonds are subject in all cases to (a) any applicable fiscal or other laws and regulations, but without prejudice to the provisions of Condition 9, and (b) any withholding or deduction required pursuant to an agreement described in Section 1471(b) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “ Code ”) or otherwise imposed pursuant to Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, any regulations or agreements thereunder, any official interpretations thereof, or any law implementing an intergovernmental approach thereto.

 

(e)                                  Delay in payment

 

Bondholders will not be entitled to any interest or other payment for any delay after the due date in receiving the amount due as a result of the due date not being a Business Day. In this Condition 8(e), “ Business Day ” means a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks and foreign exchange markets are open for business in London and the place in which the specified office of the Registrar is located.

 

(f)                                    Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agents, etc.

 

The Issuer reserves the right with the prior written approval of the Trustee under the Agency Agreement at any time to vary or terminate the appointment of any Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent or the Registrar and appoint additional or other Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agents, provided that it will:

 

(a)                                  maintain a Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent; and

 

(b)                                  maintain a Registrar.

 

The Issuer reserves the right, subject to the prior written approval of the Trustee, under the Calculation Agency Agreement at any time to vary or terminate the appointment of the Calculation Agent and

 

60



 

appoint additional or other Calculation Agents, provided that it will maintain a Calculation Agent, which shall be a financial institution of international repute or a financial adviser with appropriate expertise.

 

Notice of any change in the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agents, the Registrar or the Calculation Agent or (other than in the case of the Calculation Agent) their specified offices will promptly be given by the Issuer to the Bondholders in accordance with Condition 17.

 

(g)                                  No charges

 

Neither the Registrar nor the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agents shall make or impose on a Bondholder any charge or commission in relation to any payment or conversion in respect of the Bonds.

 

(h)                                  Rounding of payments

 

When making payments to Bondholders all payments will be made on a per authorised denomination basis and if the relevant payment is not of an amount which is a whole multiple of the smallest unit of the relevant currency in which such payment is to be made, such payment will be rounded down to the nearest unit.

 

9                                          Taxation

 

All payments by or on behalf of the Issuer in respect of the Bonds will be made without withholding or deduction for any present or future taxes, assessments or other governmental charges (“ Taxes ”) of the Relevant Jurisdiction (or any political sub-division or taxing authority thereof or therein), unless the withholding or deduction of the Taxes is required by law. In that event, the Issuer will pay such additional amounts due in respect of the Bonds (“ Additional Amounts ”) as may be necessary in order that the net amount received by each holder of any Bond who, with respect to any such Tax is not resident in the Relevant Jurisdiction, after such withholding or deduction shall be not less than the respective amount to which such holder would have been entitled in respect of such Bond, as the case may be, in the absence of the withholding or deduction; provided however, that the Issuer shall not be required to pay any Additional Amounts (1) for or on account of any such Tax imposed by the United States (or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein) or (2) for or on account of:

 

(i)                                     any Tax which would not have been imposed but for (a) the existence of any present or former connection between a holder (or between a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member or shareholder of, or possessor of a power over, such holder, if such holder is an estate, trust, partnership or corporation) and the Relevant Jurisdiction or any political subdivision or territory or possession thereof or area subject to its jurisdiction, including, without limitation, such holder (or such fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member, shareholder or possessor) being or having been a citizen or resident thereof or being or having been present or engaged in trade or business therein or having or having had a permanent establishment therein or (b) the surrender of such Bond (x) for payment on a date more than 30 days after the Relevant Date (as defined below) or (y) in the Relevant Jurisdiction; or

 

(ii)                                  any estate, inheritance, gift, sale, transfer, personal property or similar tax, assessment or other governmental charge; or

 

(iii)                               any Tax which is payable otherwise than by withholding or deduction from payments of (or in respect of) any cash amount in respect of such Bond; or

 

(iv)                              any Tax that is imposed or withheld by reason of the failure by the holder or any beneficial owner of such Bond to comply with a request of the Issuer given to the holder in accordance with Condition 17 (a) to provide information concerning the nationality, residence or identity of the holder or any beneficial owner or (b) to make any declaration or other similar claim or satisfy any information or reporting requirements, which, in the case of (a) or (b), is required or imposed by a statute, treaty,

 

61



 

regulation or administrative practice of the Relevant Jurisdiction as a precondition to exemption from all or part of such Tax; or

 

(v)                                 any combination of items (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) above,

 

nor shall the Issuer be required to pay any Additional Amounts with respect to any payment of any cash amounts in respect of any Bond to any holder who is a fiduciary or partnership or other than the sole beneficial owner of such payment to the extent such payment would be required by the laws of the Relevant Jurisdiction (or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein) to be included in the income for tax purposes of a beneficiary or settlor with respect to such fiduciary or a member of such partnership or a beneficial owner which would not have been entitled to such Additional Amounts had it been the holder of such Bond.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of these Conditions, any amounts to be paid on the Bonds by or on behalf of the Issuer will be paid net of any deduction or withholding imposed or required pursuant to an agreement described in Section 1471(b) of the Code, or otherwise imposed pursuant to Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code (or any regulations thereunder or official interpretations thereof) or an intergovernmental agreement between the United States and another jurisdiction facilitating the implementation thereof (or any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices implementing such an intergovernmental agreement) (and any such withholding or deduction, a “ FATCA Withholding ”). Neither the Issuer nor any Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent or any other person will be required to pay any Additional Amounts in respect of FATCA Withholding.

 

References in these Conditions to any amount payable by or on behalf of the Issuer in respect of the Bonds shall be deemed to include any Additional Amounts which may be payable in accordance with this Condition or any undertaking given in addition to or in substitution for it under the Trust Deed.

 

10                                   Enforcement Events

 

There are no events of default in respect of the Bonds.

 

However, if an order is made or an effective resolution passed for the winding-up, dissolution or liquidation of the Issuer (except on such terms as may be approved by the Trustee or an Extraordinary Resolution) (an “ Enforcement Event ”), the Trustee at its sole discretion may, and shall if so directed by an Extraordinary Resolution of the Bondholders or requested in writing by the holders of at least one-quarter in principal amount of the Bonds then outstanding (subject in each case to being indemnified and/or secured and/or pre-funded to its satisfaction), prove and/or claim in the winding-up, dissolution or liquidation of the Issuer in respect of the Bonds, such claim being subordinated, and for the amount, as provided in Condition 1(d).

 

The Trustee may at any time, at its discretion and without further notice, institute such proceedings or take any other action as it may think fit to enforce any term or condition binding on the Issuer under the Trust Deed or the Bonds but in no event shall the Issuer by the virtue of such proceedings be obliged to pay any sum or sums sooner than the same would otherwise have been payable by it. The Trustee shall not be bound to institute any such proceedings or any other action in relation to the Trust Deed or the Bonds unless it shall have been indemnified and/or secured and/or prefunded to its satisfaction.

 

No remedy against the Issuer, other than as referred to in this Condition 10 and Condition 15, shall be available to the Trustee or Bondholders, whether for the recovery of amounts owing in respect of the Trust Deed or the Bonds or in respect of any other breach by the Issuer of any of its other obligations under or in respect of the Trust Deed or the Bonds.

 

11                                   Undertakings

 

The Issuer will use all reasonable endeavours to cause to be made an application for the Bonds to be admitted to trading on the Irish Stock Exchange’s Global Exchange Market or on another regularly operating market which in any case is a recognised stock exchange within the meaning of section 1005 of the Income Tax Act

 

62



 

2007 (as the same may be amended or suspended from time to time) prior to 25 August 2016 and use all reasonable endeavours to maintain such admission or admission on an alternative recognised stock exchange (within the meaning as aforesaid) for so long as any Bond remains outstanding,

 

In addition, and for so long as any Bond remains outstanding, the Issuer will (i) use all reasonable endeavours to ensure that the Ordinary Shares allotted and issued or transferred and delivered (as the case may be) following Mandatory Conversion or Voluntary Conversion will, as soon as is practicable, be admitted to listing and to trading on the Relevant Stock Exchange (if any) on which the Ordinary Shares generally are then admitted to listing and trading and (ii) at all times maintain all authorisations necessary to enable it to issue and allot or transfer and deliver, as the case may be, free from pre-emptive rights or other similar preferential rights, such number of Ordinary Shares as may be required to be delivered upon Mandatory Conversion or a Voluntary Conversion.

 

12                                   Prescription

 

Claims for payment in respect of the Bonds shall be prescribed and become void unless made within 10 years from the appropriate Relevant Date in respect of such payment and claims in respect of the delivery of Ordinary Shares upon conversion shall be prescribed and become void unless made within 10 years of the relevant Settlement Date.

 

13                                   Replacement of Certificates

 

If any Certificate is lost, stolen, mutilated, defaced or destroyed, it may be replaced, subject to applicable laws, regulations or other relevant regulatory authority regulations, at the specified office of the Registrar or such other Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent as may from time to time be designated by the Issuer for that purpose and notice of whose designation is given to Bondholders, in each case upon payment by the claimant of the fees and costs incurred in connection therewith and on such terms as to evidence, security, indemnity and otherwise as the Issuer may reasonably require. Mutilated or defaced Certificates must be surrendered before replacements will be issued.

 

14                                   Meetings of Bondholders, Modifications, Waivers and Substitution

 

(a)                                  Meetings of Bondholders

 

The Trust Deed contains provisions for convening meetings of Bondholders to consider any matter affecting their interests, including the sanctioning by Extraordinary Resolution of a modification of any of these Conditions or any provisions of the Trust Deed, the Bonds, the Agency Agreement and the Calculation Agency Agreement. Such a meeting may be convened by the Issuer or the Trustee and shall be convened by the Issuer if requested in writing by Bondholders holding not less than 10 per cent. in principal amount of the Bonds for the time being outstanding. The quorum for any meeting convened to consider an Extraordinary Resolution will be one or more persons holding or representing a clear majority in principal amount of the Bonds for the time being outstanding, or at any adjourned meeting one or more persons being or representing Bondholders whatever the principal amount of the Bonds so held or represented, unless the business of such meeting includes consideration of proposals, inter alia , (i) to change the Final Maturity Date, (ii) to modify the circumstances in which the Issuer or a Bondholder is entitled or required to convert the Bonds, (iii) to reduce or cancel the principal amount of the Bonds or any interest or Arrears of Interest payable or any Make-whole Amount payable in respect of the Bonds, (iv) to modify the provisions relating to conversion of the Bonds (other than a reduction to the Conversion Price), (v) to increase the Conversion Price (other than in accordance with these Conditions), (vi) to change the currency of the denomination of the Bonds or of any payment in respect of the Bonds, (vii) to change the governing law of the Bonds, the Trust Deed, the Calculation Agency Agreement or the Agency Agreement (other than in the case of a substitution of the Issuer (or any previous substitute or substitutes) under Condition 14(c)) or (viii) to modify the provisions

 

63



 

concerning the quorum required at any meeting of Bondholders or the majority required to pass an Extraordinary Resolution, in which case the necessary quorum will be one or more persons holding or representing not less than three-fourths, or at any adjourned meeting not less than one-fourth, in principal amount of the Bonds for the time being outstanding. Any Extraordinary Resolution duly passed by the Bondholders shall be binding on all Bondholders (whether or not they were present at any meeting at which such resolution was passed and whether or not they voted on such resolution).

 

The Trust Deed provides that (i) a resolution in writing signed by or on behalf of the holders of not less than 95 per cent. of the aggregate principal amount of Bonds outstanding (which may be contained in one document or several documents in the same form, each signed by or on behalf of one or more Bondholders) or (ii) consents given by way of electronic consent through the relevant clearing system(s) (in a form satisfactory to the Trustee) by or on behalf of the holders of not less than 95 per cent. of the aggregate principal amount of the Bonds outstanding, shall, in any such case, be effective as an Extraordinary Resolution passed at a meeting of Bondholders duly convened and held.

 

(a)                                  Modification of the Trust Deed

 

The Trustee may agree, without the consent of the Bondholders, to (i) any modification of any of the provisions of the Trust Deed, any trust deed supplemental to the Trust Deed, the Agency Agreement, any agreement supplemental to the Agency Agreement, the Bonds or these Conditions which in the Trustee’s opinion is of a formal, minor or technical nature or is made to correct a manifest error or an error which, in the opinion of the Trustee, is proven or to comply with mandatory provisions of law, and (ii) any other modification to the Trust Deed, any trust deed supplemental to the Trust Deed, the Agency Agreement, any agreement supplemental to the Agency Agreement, the Bonds or these Conditions (except as mentioned in the Trust Deed), and any waiver or authorisation of any breach or proposed breach, of any of the provisions of the Trust Deed, any trust deed supplemental to the Trust Deed, the Agency Agreement, any agreement supplemental to the Agency Agreement, the Bonds or these Conditions which is, in the opinion of the Trustee, not materially prejudicial to the interests of the Bondholders. Any such modification, authorisation, waiver or determination shall be binding on the Bondholders and, if the Trustee so requires, shall be notified to the Bondholders by the Issuer promptly in accordance with Condition 17.

 

(b)                                  Substitution

 

The Trustee may, without the consent of the Bondholders, agree to the substitution in place of the Issuer (or any previous substitute or substitutes under this Condition 14(c)) as the principal debtor under the Bonds and the Trust Deed of any Subsidiary of the Issuer subject to (a) the Bonds being unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed by the Issuer, and (b) the Bonds continuing to be convertible or exchangeable into Ordinary Shares as provided in these Conditions mutatis mutandis as provided in these Conditions, with such amendments as the Trustee shall consider appropriate provided that in any such case, (x) the Trustee being satisfied that the interests of the Bondholders will not be materially prejudiced by the substitution, and (y) certain other conditions set out in the Trust Deed being complied with. In the case of such a substitution the Trustee may agree, without the consent of the Bondholders, to a change of the law governing the Bonds and/or the Trust Deed provided that such change would not in the opinion of the Trustee be materially prejudicial to the interests of the Bondholders. Any such substitution shall be binding on the Bondholders and shall be notified to the Bondholders promptly in accordance with Condition 17.

 

(c)                                   Entitlement of the Trustee

 

In connection with the exercise of its functions (including but not limited to those referred to in this Condition 14) the Trustee shall have regard to the interests of the Bondholders as a class but shall not have regard to any interests arising from circumstances particular to individual Bondholders (whatever their number) and, in particular but without limitation, shall not have regard to the consequences of the exercise of its trusts, powers or discretions for individual Bondholders resulting from their being for

 

64



 

any purpose domiciled or resident in, or otherwise connected with, or subject to the jurisdiction of, any particular territory, and the Trustee shall not be entitled to require, nor shall any Bondholder be entitled to claim, from the Issuer or any other person any indemnification or payment in respect of any tax consequence of any such exercise upon individual Bondholders, except to the extent provided for in these Conditions or the Trust Deed.

 

15                                   Enforcement

 

The Trustee may at any time, at its discretion and without notice, take such proceedings, actions or steps against the Issuer in accordance with Condition 10 as it may think fit to enforce the provisions of the Trust Deed and the Bonds, but it shall not be bound to take any such proceedings or any other action or step in relation to the Trust Deed or the Bonds unless (i) it shall have been so directed by an Extraordinary Resolution of the Bondholders or so requested in writing by the holders of at least one-quarter in principal amount of the Bonds then outstanding, and (ii) it shall have been indemnified and/or secured and/or prefunded to its satisfaction.

 

No Bondholder shall be entitled to proceed or take any other action or steps directly against the Issuer unless the Trustee, having become entitled and bound so to proceed or act, fails so to do within a reasonable period and the failure shall be continuing. In such event, such Bondholder may, in respect of its Bonds, take any action which the Trustee would otherwise have been permitted to take in respect of those Bonds. Any proceeds received by a Bondholder pursuant to any such proceedings, actions or steps brought by a Bondholder shall be paid promptly following receipt thereof to the Trustee (for application pursuant to the terms of the Trust Deed).

 

16                                   The Trustee

 

The Trust Deed contains provisions for the indemnification of the Trustee and for its relief from responsibility, including relieving it from taking proceedings and/or any other action under these Conditions or the Trust Deed unless indemnified and/or secured and/or prefunded to its satisfaction. The Trustee is entitled to enter into business transactions with the Issuer and any entity related to the Issuer without accounting for any profit. The Trustee may rely without liability to Bondholders on a report, confirmation or certificate or any advice of any accountants, financial advisers, financial institution, an Independent Adviser or other expert, whether or not addressed to it and whether their liability in relation thereto is limited (by its terms or by any engagement letter relating thereto entered into by the Trustee or in any other manner) by reference to a monetary cap, methodology or otherwise. The Trustee may accept and shall be entitled to rely on any such report, opinion, confirmation or certificate or advice and, where the Trustee does so accept and rely, such report, confirmation or certificate or advice shall be binding on the Issuer, the Trustee and the Bondholders in the absence of manifest error.

 

17                                   Notices

 

All notices regarding the Bonds will be valid if published through the electronic communication system of Bloomberg. Any such notice shall be deemed to have been given on the date of such publication. The Issuer shall also ensure that all notices are duly published (if such publication is required) in a manner which complies with the rules and regulations of any stock exchange or other relevant authority on which the Bonds are for the time being listed and/or admitted to trading. If publication as provided above is not practicable, notice will be given by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in London (which is expected to be the Financial Times ).

 

The Issuer shall send a copy of all notices given by it to Bondholders pursuant to these Conditions simultaneously to the Calculation Agent.

 

Notwithstanding the above, for so long as all the Bonds are represented by a Global Bond and the Global Bond is held on behalf of Euroclear and/or Clearstream, Luxembourg, notices to Bondholders may be given

 

65



 

by delivery of the relevant notice to Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg and such notices shall be deemed to have been given to Bondholders on the day of delivery to Euroclear and/or Clearstream, Luxembourg.

 

18                                   Further Issues

 

The Issuer may from time to time without the consent of the Bondholders create and issue further notes, bonds or debentures either having the same terms and conditions in all respects as the outstanding notes, bonds or debentures of any series (including the Bonds) and so that such further issue shall be consolidated and form a single series with the outstanding notes, bonds or debentures of any series (including the Bonds) or upon such terms as to interest, conversion, premium, redemption and otherwise as the Issuer may determine at the time of their issue. Any further notes, bonds or debentures forming a single series with the outstanding notes, bonds or debentures of any series (including the Bonds) constituted by the Trust Deed or any deed supplemental to it shall, and any other notes, bonds or debentures may, with the consent of the Trustee, be constituted by a deed supplemental to the Trust Deed. The Trust Deed contains provisions for convening a single meeting of the Bondholders and the holders of notes, bonds or debentures of other series in certain circumstances where the Trustee so decides.

 

19                                   Rights of Third Parties

 

No person shall have any right to enforce any term or condition of the Bonds under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.

 

20                                   Governing Law

 

The Trust Deed, the Agency Agreement, the Calculation Agency Agreement, the Bonds and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with them are governed by, and shall be construed in accordance with, English law.

 

21                                   Transfer of Bonds

 

(a)                                  Transfers

 

One or more Bonds may, subject to Condition 21(b), be transferred in whole or in part upon the surrender (at the specified office of the Registrar or any Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent) of the Certificate(s) representing such Bonds to be transferred, together with the form of transfer endorsed on such Certificate(s) (or another form of transfer substantially in the same form and containing the same representations and certifications (if any), unless otherwise agreed by the Issuer), duly completed and executed and any other evidence as the Registrar or such Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent may reasonably require. In the case of a transfer of part only of a holding of Bonds represented by one Certificate, a new Certificate shall be issued to the transferee in respect of the part transferred and a further new Certificate in respect of the balance of the holding not transferred shall be issued to the transferor. All transfers of Bonds and entries on the Register will be made subject to the detailed regulations concerning transfers of Bonds scheduled to the Agency Agreement. The regulations may be changed by the Issuer with the written approval of the Registrar and the Trustee. A copy of the current regulations will be made available by the Registrar to any Bondholder upon request.

 

(b)                                  Delivery of New Certificates

 

Each new Certificate to be issued pursuant to Condition 21(a) shall be available for delivery within three business days of receipt of the form of transfer and surrender of the existing Certificate for exchange. Delivery of the new Certificate(s) shall be made at the specified office of the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent or of the Registrar (as the case may be) to whom delivery or surrender of such form of transfer or Certificate shall have been made or, at the option of the holder making such delivery or surrender as aforesaid and as specified in the relevant form of transfer or otherwise in

 

66



 

writing, be mailed by uninsured post at the risk of the holder entitled to the new Certificate to such address as may be so specified, unless such holder requests otherwise and pays in advance to the relevant Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent the costs of such other method of delivery and/or such insurance as it may specify. In this Condition 21(b), “ business day ” means a day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, on which banks are open for business in the place of the specified office of the relevant Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent or the Registrar (as the case may be).

 

(c)                                   Transfers Free of Charge

 

Transfers of Certificates on registration, transfer, exercise of an option or redemption shall be effected without charge by or on behalf of the Issuer, the Registrar or any Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent, but upon payment of any tax or other governmental charges that may be imposed in relation to it (or the giving of such indemnity as the Registrar or the relevant Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent may require).

 

(d)                                  Closed Periods

 

No Bondholder may require the transfer of an Bond to be registered (i) during the period of 15 days ending on the Conversion Date in respect of a conversion of the Bonds pursuant to Condition 4; (ii) in respect of which a Conversion Notice has been delivered in accordance with Condition 4(c); or (iii) during the period from and including any Record Date in respect of any payment of interest on the Bonds to and including the due date for such payment.

 

67



 

SCHEDULE 2

Form of Original Definitive Registered Bond

 

On the front:

 

ISIN: XS1371473601

 

VODAFONE GROUP PLC

(incorporated in England and Wales)

 

£1,440,000,000 2.00 per cent. Subordinated Mandatory Convertible Bonds due 2019

 

This Bond is a Definitive Registered Bond and forms part of a series designated as specified in the title (the “ Bonds ”) of Vodafone Group Plc (the “ Issuer ”) and constituted by the Trust Deed referred to on the reverse hereof. The Bonds are subject to, and have the benefit of, that Trust Deed and the terms and conditions (the “ Conditions ”) set out on the reverse hereof.

 

The Issuer hereby certifies that [ · ] is/are, at the date hereof, entered in the Register as the holder(s) of Bonds in the principal amount of £[ · ].

 

The Bonds represented by this Definitive Registered Bond are convertible at certain times and in certain circumstances into Ordinary Shares, as specified in and subject to and in accordance with the Conditions and the Trust Deed.

 

This Definitive Registered Bond is evidence of entitlement only. Title to Bonds passes only on due registration on the Register and only the duly registered holder is entitled to payments in respect of this Definitive Registered Bond.

 

This Definitive Registered Bond and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by, and shall be construed in accordance with, English law.

 

Capitalised terms not defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Trust Deed and the Conditions.

 

68



 

In Witness whereof the Issuer has caused this Bond to be signed in facsimile on its behalf.

 

Dated [ · ]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For and on behalf of

 

 

 

VODAFONE GROUP PLC

 

 

 

This Definitive Registered Bond is authenticated without recourse, warranty or liability by or on behalf of the Registrar

 

HSBC BANK PLC

 

as Registrar

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

Authorised Signatory

 

For the purposes of authentication only.

 

 

69



 

On the back:

 

Terms and Conditions of the Bonds

 

[THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS THAT ARE SET OUT IN SCHEDULE 1 TO THE TRUST DEED, AS AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, WILL BE SET OUT HERE]

 

70



 

Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent

HSBC BANK PLC

Corporate Trust & Loan Agency

8 Canada Square

London E14 5HQ

 

 

Registrar

HSBC BANK PLC

Corporate Trust & Loan Agency

8 Canada Square

London E14 5HQ

 

71



 

Form of Transfer

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED the undersigned hereby transfers to

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS OF TRANSFEREE)

 

(not more than four names may appear as joint holders)

 

£[ · ] in principal amount of this Bond, and all rights in respect thereof, and irrevocably requests the Registrar to transfer such principal amount of this Bond on the books kept for registration thereof.

 

Dated

 

 

 

 

 

Signed

 

 

 

Notes:

 

(i)                                     The signature to this transfer must correspond with the name as it appears on the face of this Bond.

 

(ii)                                  A representative of the Bondholder should state the capacity in which he signs e.g. executor.

 

(iii)                               The signature of the person effecting a transfer shall conform to any list of duly authorised specimen signatures supplied by the registered holder or be certified by a recognised bank, notary public or in such other manner as the Registrar may require.

 

(iv)                              Any transfer of Bonds shall be in the minimum amount of £100,000.

 

72



 

SCHEDULE 3

Form of Original Global Bond

 

ISIN: XS1371473601

 

VODAFONE GROUP PLC

(incorporated in England and Wales)

 

£1,440,000,000 2.00 per cent. Subordinated Mandatory Convertible Bonds due 2019

 

Global Bond

 

The Bonds in respect of which this Global Bond is issued form part of the series designated as specified in the title (the “ Bonds ”) of Vodafone Group Plc (the “ Issuer ”).

 

The Issuer hereby certifies that HSBC Issuer Services Common Depositary Nominee (UK) Limited is, at the date hereof, entered in the register of Bondholders as the holder of Bonds in the principal amount of:

 

£1,440,000,000

( 1.440 million pounds sterling )

 

or such other amount as is shown on the register of Bondholders as being represented by this Global Bond and is duly endorsed (for information purposes only) in the third column of Schedule A to this Global Bond. For value received, the Issuer promises to pay the person who appears at the relevant time on the register of Bondholders as holder of the Bonds in respect of which this Global Bond is issued, such amount or amounts as shall become due and payable from time to time in respect of such Bonds and otherwise to comply with the Conditions referred to below, and in accordance with the method of calculation provided for in the Conditions, save that the calculation is made in respect of the total aggregate amount of the Bonds. Each payment will be made to, or to the order of, the person whose name is entered on the Register as holder at the close of business on the Clearing System Business Day immediately prior to the date for payment, where “ Clearing System Business Day ” means Monday to Friday inclusive except 25 December and 1 January.

 

The Bonds are constituted by a trust deed dated 25 February 2016 (the “ Trust Deed ”) between the Issuer, and The Law Debenture Trust Corporation p.l.c. as trustee (the “ Trustee ”) and are subject to the Trust Deed and the terms and conditions (the “ Conditions ”) set out in Schedule 1 to the Trust Deed, as modified by the provisions of this Global Bond. Terms defined in the Trust Deed have the same meaning when used herein.

 

This Global Bond is evidence of entitlement only.

 

Title to the Bonds passes only on due registration on the register of Bondholders and only the duly registered holder is entitled to payments on Bonds in respect of which this Global Bond is issued.

 

Exchange for Definitive Registered Bonds

 

This Global Bond is exchangeable in whole but not in part (free of charge to the holder) for Definitive Registered Bonds if this Global Bond is held on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg or the Alternative Clearing System (each as defined under “ Notices ” below) and any such clearing system is closed for business for a continuous period of 14 days or more (other than by reason of legal holidays) or announces an intention permanently to cease business or does in fact do so by such holder giving notice to the Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent. On

 

73



 

or after the Exchange Date the holder of this Global Bond may surrender this Global Bond to or to the order of the Registrar and, upon such surrender of this Global Bond, the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent shall annotate Schedule A hereto. In exchange for this Global Bond, the Issuer shall deliver, or procure the delivery of, an equal aggregate principal amount of duly executed and authenticated Definitive Registered Bonds.

 

Exchange Date ” means a day falling not less than 60 days after that on which the notice requiring exchange is given and on which banks are open for business in the city in which the specified office of the Registrar is located and in the cities in which Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg or, if relevant, the Alternative Clearing System (each as defined under “ Notices ” below) are located.

 

Except as otherwise described herein, this Global Bond is subject to the Conditions and the Trust Deed and, until it is exchanged for Definitive Registered Bonds, its holder shall be entitled to the same benefits as if it were the holder of the Definitive Registered Bonds for which it may be exchanged and as if such Definitive Registered Bonds had been issued on the date of this Global Bond.

 

The Conditions shall be modified with respect to Bonds represented by this Global Bond by the following provisions:

 

Notices

 

So long as this Global Bond is held on behalf of Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. (“ Euroclear ”) or Clearstream Banking, société anonyme (“ Clearstream, Luxembourg ”) or such other clearing system as shall have been approved by the Trustee (the “ Alternative Clearing System ”), notices required to be given to Bondholders may be given by their being delivered to Accountholders (as defined below) through Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg or, as the case may be, the Alternative Clearing System, rather than by notification to Bondholders as required by the Conditions in which case such notices shall be deemed to have been given to Bondholders on the date of delivery to Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg or, as the case may be, the Alternative Clearing System.

 

Prescription

 

Any claim for payment in respect of this Global Bond will become void unless it is presented for payment within a period of 10 years.

 

Meetings

 

The holder hereof shall be treated as having one vote in respect of each £1 in principal amount of Bonds for which this Global Bond may be exchanged.

 

Conversion

 

For so long as this Global Bond is held on behalf of any one or more of Euroclear, Clearstream, Luxembourg or the Alternative Clearing System, where a Mandatory Conversion or a Voluntary Conversion occurs in respect of Bonds represented by this Global Bond, this Global Bond together with one or more Conversion Notices duly completed and signed by or on behalf of a holder of a book-entry interest representing entitlements to the Global Bond (each such person, an “ Accountholder ”) shall be presented to or to the order of the Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent or such other Agent as shall have been notified to the Bondholder for such purpose. Where Bonds are to be converted and cancelled upon a conversion, the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent shall annotate Schedule A hereto accordingly.

 

74



 

Trustee’s Powers

 

In considering the interests of Bondholders while the Global Bond is held on behalf of a clearing system, the Trustee may have regard to any information provided to it by such clearing system or its operator as to the identity (either individually or by category) of its Accountholders and may consider such interests as if such Accountholders were holders of the Global Bond.

 

Purchase and Cancellation

 

Cancellation of any Bond represented by this Global Bond which is required by the Conditions to be cancelled will be effected by reduction in the principal amount of this Global Bond on its presentation to or to the order of the Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent for notation in Schedule A hereto.

 

This Global Bond shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until authenticated by or on behalf of the Registrar.

 

This Global Bond and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by and shall be construed in accordance with English law.

 

In witness whereof the Issuer has caused this Global Bond to be signed on its behalf.

 

Dated 25 February 2016

 

For and on behalf of

 

VODAFONE GROUP PLC

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

Director

 

 

 

This Global Bond is authenticated without recourse, warranty or liability by or on behalf of the Registrar.

 

HSBC BANK PLC

 

as Registrar

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

Authorised Signatory

 

For the purposes of authentication only.

 

 

75



 

Schedule A

Schedule of Reductions in Principal Amount of Bonds in respect of which this

Global Bond is Issued

 

The following reductions in the principal amount of the Bonds in respect of which this Global Bond is issued have been made as a result of: (i) a Mandatory Conversion, or (ii) exercise of a Bondholder Voluntary Conversion Right attaching to the Bonds, or (iii) purchase and cancellation of the Bonds or (iv) issue of Definitive Registered Bonds in respect of the Bonds:

 

Date of

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conversion/Purchase

 

 

 

 

 

Notation made by or

and Cancellation/

 

Amount of decrease

 

Principal Amount of

 

on behalf of the

Issue of Definitive

 

in principal amount

 

this Global Bond

 

Principal Paying,

Registered Bonds

 

of this Global Bond

 

following such

 

Transfer and

(stating which)

 

(£)

 

decrease (£)

 

Conversion Agent

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

76



 

SCHEDULE 4

Provisions for Meetings of Bondholders

 

1                                          In this Schedule the following expressions have the following meanings:

 

1.1                                Electronic Consent ” has the meaning set out in paragraph 19;

 

1.2                                Extraordinary Resolution ” means a resolution passed (i) at a meeting of Bondholders duly convened and held in accordance with these provisions by or on behalf of the Bondholder(s) of not less than 75 per cent. of the persons eligible to vote at such meeting, (ii) by a Written Resolution or (iii) by an Electronic Consent; and

 

1.3                                Written Resolution ” means a resolution in writing signed by or on behalf of Bondholders representing in aggregate not less than 95 per cent. in principal amount of the Bonds for the time being outstanding.

 

2

 

2.1                                A holder of a Bond in registered form may by an instrument in writing in the form available from any Agent in English signed by the holder or, in the case of a corporation, executed under its common seal or signed on its behalf by an attorney or a duly authorised officer of the corporation and delivered to any Agent not later than 48 hours before the time fixed for any meeting, appoint any person as a proxy to act on his or its behalf in connection with any meeting or proposed meeting of Bondholders.

 

2.2                                A holder of a Bond (whether such Bonds are represented by a Global Bond or a Definitive Registered Bond) in registered form which is a corporation may, by delivering to any Agent not later than 48 hours before the time fixed for any meeting a resolution in English of its directors or other governing body, authorise any person to act as its representative (a “ representative ”) in connection with any meeting or proposed meeting of Bondholders.

 

2.3                                A proxy or representative so appointed shall so long as such appointment remains in force be deemed, for all purposes in connection with any meeting or proposed meeting of Bondholders specified in such appointment, to be the holder of the Bonds to which such appointment relates and the holder of the Bonds shall be deemed for such purposes not to be the holder.

 

3                                          Each of the Issuer and the Trustee at any time may, and the Issuer upon a request in writing of Bondholders holding not less than 10 per cent. in principal amount of the Bonds for the time being outstanding shall, convene a meeting of Bondholders. Whenever any such party is about to convene any such meeting, it shall forthwith give notice in writing to each other party of the day, time and place of the meeting and of the nature of the business to be transacted at it. Every such meeting shall be held at such time and place as the Trustee may approve.

 

4                                          At least 21 days’ notice (exclusive of the day on which the notice is given and of the day on which the meeting is held) specifying the day, time and place of meeting shall be given to the Bondholders. A copy of the notice shall in all cases be given by the party convening the meeting to each of the other parties. Such notice shall also specify the nature of the resolutions to be proposed.

 

5                                          A person (who may, but need not, be a Bondholder) nominated in writing by the Trustee may take the chair at every such meeting but if no such nomination is made or if at any meeting the person nominated shall not be present within 15 minutes after the time fixed

 

77



 

for the meeting, the Bondholders present shall choose one of their number to be chairman, failing which the Issuer may appoint a chairman. The chairman of an adjourned meeting need not be the same person as was chairman of the original meeting.

 

6                                          At any such meeting any one or more persons present in person holding Bonds or being proxies or representatives and holding or representing in the aggregate not less than 10 per cent. in principal amount of the Bonds for the time being outstanding shall (except for the purpose of passing an Extraordinary Resolution) form a quorum for the transaction of business and no business (other than the choosing of a chairman) shall be transacted at any meeting unless the requisite quorum be present at the commencement of business. The quorum at any such meeting for passing an Extraordinary Resolution shall (subject as provided below) be one or more persons present in person holding Bonds or being proxies or representatives and holding or representing in the aggregate a clear majority in principal amount of the Bonds for the time being outstanding; provided that at any meeting the business of which includes any of the matters specified in the proviso to paragraph 16, the quorum shall be one or more persons present in person holding Bonds or being proxies or representatives and holding or representing in the aggregate not less than two-thirds in principal amount of the Bonds for the time being outstanding.

 

7                                          If within 15 minutes from the time fixed for any such meeting a quorum is not present, the meeting shall, if convened upon the requisition of Bondholders, be dissolved. In any other case it shall stand adjourned (unless the Issuer and the Trustee agree that it be dissolved) for such period, not being less than 14 days nor more than 42 days, and to such place, as may be decided by the chairman. At such adjourned meeting one or more persons present in person holding Bonds or voting certificates or being proxies or representatives (whatever the principal amount of the Bonds so held or represented) shall form a quorum and may pass any resolution and decide upon all matters which could properly have been dealt with at the meeting from which the adjournment took place had a quorum been present at such meeting; provided that at any adjourned meeting at which is to be proposed an Extraordinary Resolution for the purpose of effecting any of the modifications specified in the proviso to paragraph 16, the quorum shall be one or more persons so present holding Bonds or being proxies or representatives and holding or representing in the aggregate not less than one-third in principal amount of the Bonds for the time being outstanding. If a quorum is not present within 15 minutes from the time fixed for a meeting so adjourned, the meeting shall be dissolved.

 

8                                          The chairman may, with the consent of (and shall if directed by) any meeting, adjourn such meeting from time to time and from place to place but no business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting except business which might lawfully have been transacted at the meeting from which the adjournment took place.

 

9                                          At least 10 days’ notice of any meeting adjourned through want of a quorum shall be given in the same manner as for an original meeting and such notice shall state the quorum required at such adjourned meeting. It shall not, however, otherwise be necessary to give any notice of an adjourned meeting.

 

10                                   Every question submitted to a meeting shall be decided in the first instance by a show of hands and in case of equality of votes the chairman shall both on a show of hands and on a poll have a casting vote in addition to the vote or votes (if any) which he may have as a Bondholder or as a proxy or representative.

 

78



 

11                                   At any meeting, unless a poll is (before or on the declaration of the result of the show of hands) demanded by the chairman, the Issuer, the Trustee or by one or more persons holding one or more Bonds or being proxies or representatives and holding or representing in the aggregate not less than one-fiftieth in principal amount of the Bonds for the time being outstanding, a declaration by the chairman that a resolution has been carried or carried by a particular majority or lost or not carried by any particular majority shall be conclusive evidence of the fact without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favour of or against such resolution.

 

12                                   If at any meeting a poll is so demanded, it shall be taken in such manner and (subject as provided below) either at once or after such an adjournment as the chairman directs and the result of such poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the meeting at which the poll was demanded as at the date of the taking of the poll. The demand for a poll shall not prevent the continuation of the meeting for the transaction of any business other than the question on which the poll has been demanded.

 

13                                   Any poll demanded at any meeting on the election of a chairman or on any question of adjournment shall be taken at the meeting without adjournment.

 

14                                   The Issuer, the Agents and the Trustee (through their respective representatives) and their respective financial and legal advisers and any other person authorised to do so by the Trustee may attend and speak at any meeting of Bondholders. No one else may attend at any meeting of Bondholders or join with others in requesting the convening of such a meeting unless he is the holder of a Bond or is a proxy or a representative.

 

15                                   At any meeting on a show of hands every person who is present in person and who produces a Bond or is a proxy or a representative shall have one vote and on a poll every person who is so present shall have one vote in respect of each £1 (or, in the case of meetings of holders of Bonds denominated in another currency, as the Trustee in its absolute discretion may decide) in principal amount of the Bonds so produced or represented or in respect of which he is a proxy or a representative. Without prejudice to the obligations of proxies, any person entitled to more than one vote need not use all his votes or cast all the votes to which he is entitled in the same way.

 

16                                   The Bondholders shall, subject to the Conditions, in addition to the powers given above, but without prejudice to any powers conferred on other persons by this Trust Deed, have power exercisable by Extraordinary Resolution:

 

16.1                         to sanction any proposal by the Issuer or the Trustee for any modification, abrogation, variation or compromise of, or arrangement in respect of, the rights of the Bondholders against the Issuer or against any of its property whether such rights shall arise under this Trust Deed, the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agency Agreement or otherwise;

 

16.2                         to sanction any scheme or proposal for the exchange, substitution or sale of the Bonds for, or the conversion of the Bonds into, or the cancellation of the Bonds in consideration of, shares, stock, notes, bonds, debentures, debenture stock and/or other obligations and/or securities of the Issuer or any other body corporate formed or to be formed, or partly for or into or in consideration of such shares, stock, notes, bonds, debentures, debenture stock and/or other obligations and/or securities as aforesaid;

 

16.3                         to assent to any modification of this Trust Deed or the Conditions, that relate to the rights appertaining to the Bonds which shall be proposed by the Issuer or the Trustee;

 

79



 

16.4                         to authorise anyone to concur in and do all such things as may be necessary to carry out and to give any authority, direction or sanction which under this Trust Deed or the Bonds is required to be given by Extraordinary Resolution;

 

16.5                         to appoint any persons (whether Bondholders or not) as a committee or committees to represent the interests of the Bondholders and to confer upon such committee or committees any powers or discretions which the Bondholders could themselves exercise by Extraordinary Resolution;

 

16.6                         to approve a person proposed to be appointed as a new Trustee and to remove any Trustee;

 

16.7                         to approve the substitution of any entity for the Issuer (or any previous substitute) as principal debtor under this Trust Deed (for the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this paragraph shall be interpreted to mean that the consent of Bondholders is required in relation to any substitution that the Trustee may otherwise agree to under Clause 15.3 of the Trust Deed); and

 

16.8                         to discharge or exonerate the Trustee from any liability in respect of any act or omission for which it may become responsible under this Trust Deed or the Bonds;

 

provided that the special quorum provisions contained in the proviso to paragraph 6 and, in the case of an adjourned meeting, in the proviso to paragraph 7 shall apply in relation to any Extraordinary Resolution for the purpose of paragraph 16.2 or 16.7 and making any modification to the provisions contained in this Trust Deed, the Conditions or the Bonds, the Paying Transfer and Conversion Agency Agreement or the Calculation Agency Agreement which would have the effect of:

 

(i)                                     changing the Final Maturity Date or the dates on which interest is payable in respect of the Bonds; or

 

(ii)                                 reducing or cancelling the principal amount of the Bonds or the interest payable or any Make-whole Amount payable, in respect of the Bonds; or

 

(iii)                             modifying the basis for calculating the interest payable, including any Arrears of Interest, in respect of the Bonds; or

 

(iv)                               modifying the provisions relating to conversion of the Bonds (including the periods and/or circumstances in which a Mandatory Conversion may occur or a Bondholder Voluntary Conversion Right may be exercised), or the rights of Bondholders to receive any cash amounts pursuant to the Conditions (other than a reduction to the Conversion Price); or

 

(v)                                   increasing the Conversion Price (other than in accordance with the Conditions); or

 

(vi)                               changing the currency or the denomination of the Bonds or any payment in respect of the Bonds; or

 

(vii)                           changing the governing law of the Bonds, the Trust Deed, the Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agency Agreement or the Calculation Agency Agreement (other than in the case of a substitution of the Issuer (or any previous substitute or substitutes) under Clause 15.3); or

 

(viii)                       modifying the provisions concerning the quorum required at any meeting of Bondholders or the majority required to pass an Extraordinary Resolution; or

 

80



 

(ix)                               amending this proviso.

 

17                                   An Extraordinary Resolution passed by the Bondholders in accordance with this Trust Deed shall be binding upon all the Bondholders, whether or not present at any meeting and whether or not they vote in favour, and each of the Bondholders shall be bound to give effect to it accordingly. The passing of any such resolution shall be conclusive evidence that the circumstances of such resolution justify the passing of it.

 

18                                   Minutes of all resolutions and proceedings at every such meeting shall be made and entered in the books to be from time to time provided for that purpose by the Issuer or the Trustee and any such minutes, if purporting to be signed by the chairman of the meeting at which such resolutions were passed or proceedings transacted or by the chairman of the next succeeding meeting of Bondholders, shall be conclusive evidence of the matters contained in them and until the contrary is proved every such meeting in respect of the proceedings of which minutes have been so made and signed shall be deemed to have been duly convened and held and all resolutions passed or proceedings transacted at it to have been duly passed and transacted.

 

19                                   Subject to the following sentence, a Written Resolution may be contained in one document or in several documents in like form, each signed by or on behalf of one or more of the Bondholders.

 

For so long as the Bonds are in the form of a Global Bond registered in the name of a common depositary for Euroclear, Clearstream, Luxembourg or another clearing system, or a nominee of any of the above then, in respect of any resolution proposed by the Issuer or the Trustee:

 

19.1                         Electronic Consent: where the terms of the resolution proposed by the Issuer or the Trustee (as the case may be) have been notified to the Bondholders through the relevant clearing system(s) as provided in sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii) below, each of the Issuer and the Trustee shall be entitled to rely upon approval of such resolution given by way of electronic consents communicated through the electronic communications systems of the relevant clearing system(s) in accordance with their operating rules and procedures by or on behalf of the holder(s) of not less than 95 per cent. in principal amount of the Bonds for the time being outstanding (the “ Required Proportion ”) (“ Electronic Consent ”) by close of business on the Relevant Date. Any resolution passed in such manner shall be binding on all Bondholders, even if the relevant consent or instruction proves to be defective. Neither the Issuer nor the Trustee nor the Agents shall be liable or responsible to anyone for such reliance.

 

(i)                                     When a proposal for a resolution to be passed as an Electronic Consent has been made, at least 10 days’ notice (exclusive of the day on which the notice is given and of the day on which affirmative consents will be counted) shall be given to the Bondholders through the relevant clearing system(s). The notice shall specify, in sufficient detail to enable Bondholders to give their consents in relation to the proposed resolution, the method by which their consents may be given (including, where applicable, blocking of their accounts in the relevant clearing system(s)) and the time and date (the “Relevant Date ”) by which they must be received in order for such consents to be validly given, in each case subject to and in accordance with the operating rules and procedures of the relevant clearing system(s).

 

(ii)                                 If, on the Relevant Date on which the consents in respect of an Electronic Consent are first counted, such consents do not represent the Required Proportion, the

 

81



 

resolution shall, if the party proposing such resolution (the “ Proposer ”) so determines, be deemed to be defeated. Such determination shall be notified in writing to the other party or parties to the Trust Deed. Alternatively, the Proposer may give a further notice to Bondholders that the resolution will be proposed again on such date and for such period as shall be agreed with the Trustee (unless the Trustee is the Proposer). Such notice must inform Bondholders that insufficient consents were received in relation to the original resolution and the information specified in sub-paragraph (i) above. For the purpose of such further notice, references to “Relevant Date” shall be construed accordingly.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, an Electronic Consent may only be used in relation to a resolution proposed by the Issuer or the Trustee which is not then the subject of a meeting that has been validly convened in accordance with paragraph 3 above, unless that meeting is or shall be cancelled or dissolved; and

 

19.2                         Written Resolution: where Electronic Consent is not being sought, for the purpose of determining whether a Written Resolution has been validly passed, the Issuer and the Trustee shall be entitled to rely on consent or instructions given in writing directly to the Issuer and/or the Trustee, as the case may be, (a) by accountholders in the clearing system(s) with entitlements to such Global Bond and/or (b) where the accountholders hold any such entitlement on behalf of another person, on written consent from or written instruction by the person identified by that accountholder as the person for whom such entitlement is held. For the purpose of establishing the entitlement to give any such consent or instruction, the Issuer and the Trustee shall be entitled to rely on any certificate or other document issued by, in the case of (a) above, Euroclear, Clearstream, Luxembourg or any other relevant alternative clearing system (the “ relevant clearing system ”) and, in the case of (b) above, the relevant clearing system and the accountholder identified by the relevant clearing system for the purposes of (b) above. Any resolution passed in such manner shall be binding on all Bondholders, even if the relevant consent or instruction proves to be defective. Any such certificate or other document shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding for all purposes. Any such certificate or other document may comprise any form of statement or print out of electronic records provided by the relevant clearing system (including Euroclear’s EUCLID or Clearstream, Luxembourg’s CreationOnline system) in accordance with its usual procedures and in which the accountholder of a particular principal or nominal amount of the Bonds is clearly identified together with the amount of such holding. Neither the Issuer nor the Trustee nor the Agents shall be liable to any person by reason of having accepted as valid or not having rejected any certificate or other document to such effect purporting to be issued by any such person and subsequently found to be forged or not authentic.

 

A Written Resolution and/or Electronic Consent shall take effect as an Extraordinary Resolution. A Written Resolution and/or Electronic Consent will be binding on all Bondholders, whether or not they participated in such Written Resolution and/or Electronic Consent.

 

20                                   Subject to all other provisions contained in this Trust Deed the Trustee may without the consent of the Bondholders prescribe such further regulations regarding the holding of meetings of Bondholders and attendance and voting at them as the Trustee may in its sole discretion determine including particularly (but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) such regulations and requirements as the Trustee thinks fit:

 

82



 

20.1                         so as to satisfy itself that persons who purport to requisition a meeting in accordance with paragraph 3 or who purport to make any requisition to the Trustee in accordance with this Trust Deed are in fact Bondholders; and

 

20.2                         so as to satisfy itself that persons who purport to attend or vote at any meeting of Bondholders are entitled to do so in accordance with this Trust Deed.

 

21                                   If and whenever the Issuer shall have issued and have outstanding any Bonds which are not identical and do not form one single series then those Bonds which are in all respects identical shall be deemed to constitute a separate series of the Bonds and the foregoing provisions of this Schedule shall have effect subject to the following modifications:

 

21.1                         a resolution which in the opinion of the Trustee affects one series only of the Bonds shall be deemed to have been duly passed if passed at a separate meeting of the holders of the Bonds of that series;

 

21.2                         a resolution which in the opinion of the Trustee affects more than one series of the Bonds but does not give rise to a conflict of interest between the holders of Bonds of any of the series so affected shall be deemed to have been duly passed if passed at a single meeting of the holders of the Bonds of all the series so affected;

 

21.3                         a resolution which in the opinion of the Trustee affects more than one series of the Bonds and gives or may give rise to a conflict of interest between the holders of the Bonds of any of the series so affected shall be deemed to have been duly passed only if it shall be duly passed at separate meetings of the holders of the Bonds of each series so affected; and

 

21.4                         to all such meetings as aforesaid all the preceding provisions of this Schedule shall mutatis mutandis apply as though references therein to Bonds and holders were references to the Bonds of the series or group of series in question and to the holders of such Bonds respectively.

 

22                                   Nothing in this Trust Deed shall prevent any of the proxies named in any form of proxy from being a director, managing director, officer or representative of, or otherwise connected with, the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

23                                   References in this Schedule to Agents shall, where the context requires, be taken to be references to Principal Paying, Transfer and Conversion Agent.

 

24                                   A meeting that has been validly convened in accordance with paragraph 3 above, may be cancelled by the person who convened such meeting by giving at least 10 days’ notice (exclusive of the day on which the notice is given and of the day of the meeting) to the Bondholders (with a copy to the Trustee where such meeting was convened by the Issuer or to the Issuer where such meeting was convened by the Trustee). Any meeting cancelled in accordance with this paragraph 24 shall be deemed not to have been convened.

 

83



 

SCHEDULE 5

Form of Directors’ Certificate

 

[ ON THE HEADED PAPER OF THE ISSUER ]

 

To:

The Law Debenture Trust Corporation p.l.c.

 

 

 

 

Attention:

The Manager, Commercial Trusts (Ref: 201587)

[Date]

 

Dear Sirs

 

VODAFONE GROUP PLC

£1,440,000,000 2.00 per cent. Subordinated Mandatory Convertible Bonds due 2019

 

This certificate is delivered to you in accordance with Clause 9.5 of the Trust Deed dated 25 February 2016 (the “ Trust Deed” ) and made between Vodafone Group Plc (the “ Issuer ”) and The Law Debenture Trust Corporation p.l.c. (the “ Trustee ”). All words and expressions defined in the Trust Deed shall (save as otherwise provided herein or unless the context otherwise requires) have the same meanings herein.

 

The undersigned give the confirmations in this certificate on behalf of the Issuer without incurring any personal liability for doing so.

 

The undersigned, having made all reasonable enquiries certify that to the best of their knowledge, information and belief:

 

(a)                                  As at [ · ] 1 , no Accelerated Conversion Event, Potential Accelerated Conversion Event or Enforcement Event existed [other than [ · ]] 2  and no Accelerated Conversion Event or Enforcement Event had existed at any time since [ · ] 3  [the Certification Date (as defined in the Trust Deed) of the last certificate delivered under Clause 9.5 4 ]/[the date of this Trust Deed] [other than [ · ]] 5 ; and

 

(a)                                  From and including [ · ] 3  [the Certification Date of the last certificate delivered under Clause 9.5] 4 /[the date of the Trust Deed] to and including [ · ] 1 , there has been no breach in respect of its obligations under the Trust Deed [other than [ · ] 6 ].

 

This certificate is given by the undersigned solely in the capacity of director of the Issuer and no personal liability is accepted by the undersigned.

 

For and on behalf of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Director

 

Director

 

 

 

Vodafone Group Plc

 

Vodafone Group Plc

 


1               Specify a date not more than 7 days before the date of delivery of the certificate.

2               If any Accelerated Conversion Event, Potential Accelerated Conversion Event or Enforcement Event did exist, give details; otherwise delete.

3               Insert date of Trust Deed in respect of the first certificate delivered under Clause 9.5, otherwise delete.

4               Include unless the certificate is the first certificate delivered under Clause 9.5, in which case delete.

5               If any Accelerated Conversion Event or Potential Accelerated Conversion Event or Enforcement Event did exist, give details; otherwise delete.

6               If the Issuer has failed to comply with any obligation(s), give details; otherwise delete

 

84



 

This deed is delivered on the day and year first before written.

 

EXECUTED AS A DEED FOR AND ON BEHALF OF VODAFONE GROUP PLC

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

Witnessed by:

 

 

 

 

 

EXECUTED AND DELIVERED AS A DEED BY

AFFIXING THE COMMON SEAL OF

THE LAW DEBENTURE TRUST CORPORATION p.l.c.

 

 

 

 

 

Acting by:

 

 

 

 

 

Authorised Signatory:

 

 

85


Exhibit 4.2

 

To:

THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC as Agent

 

 

From:

ROYAL BANK OF CANADA

 

15 December 2015

 

Vodafone Group Plc - €3,860,000,000 Revolving Credit Agreement

dated 28 March 2014 (the “Credit Agreement”)

 

Terms used herein which are defined in the Credit Agreement shall have the same meaning herein as in the Credit Agreement.

 

We refer to Clause 2.8 (Additional Lenders).

 

We, Royal Bank of Canada, agree to become party to and to be bound by the terms of the Credit Agreement as an Additional Lender in accordance with Clause 2.8 (Additional Lenders) with effect on and from 15 December 2015.

 

Our Revolving Credit Commitment is €150,000,000. We will be a Mandated Lead Arranger.

 

We confirm to each Finance Party that we:

 

(a)                                  have made our own independent investigation and assessment of the financial condition and affairs of each Obligor and its related entities in connection with its participation in the Credit Agreement and have not relied exclusively on any information provided to us by a Finance Party in connection with any Finance Document; and

 

(b)                                  will continue to make our own independent appraisal of the creditworthiness of each Obligor and its related entities while any amount is or may be outstanding under the Credit Agreement or any Commitment is in force.

 

The Facility Office and address for notices of the Additional Lender for the purposes of Clause 33.2 (Addresses for notices) is:

 

Royal Bank of Canada

Riverbank House - 2 Swan Lane – 2nd Floor

London, England

EC4R 3BF

 

This Agreement and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law.

 

ROYAL BANK OF CANADA

 

 

 

By:

/s/ M Rowe

 

 

 

THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC

 

 

 

By:

/s/ J Tobin

 

 

 

VODAFONE GROUP PLC

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Nick Read

 

 


Exhibit 4.6

 

To:

THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC as Agent

 

 

From:

ROYAL BANK OF CANADA

 

15 December 2015

 

Vodafone Group Plc — U.S.$3,935,000,000 Revolving Credit Agreement

dated 27 February 2015 (the “Credit Agreement”)

 

Terms used herein which are defined in the Credit Agreement shall have the same meaning herein as in the Credit Agreement.

 

We refer to Clause 2.8 (Additional Lenders).

 

We, Royal Bank of Canada, agree to become party to and to be bound by the terms of the Credit Agreement as an Additional Lender in accordance with Clause 2.8 (Additional Lenders) with effect on and from 15 December 2015.

 

Our Revolving Credit Commitment is U.S.$155,000,000. Our Swingline Commitment is U.S.$75,000,000. We will be a Mandated Lead Arranger.

 

We confirm to each Finance Party that we:

 

(a)                                  have made our own independent investigation and assessment of the financial condition and affairs of each Obligor and its related entities in connection with its participation in the Credit Agreement and have not relied exclusively on any information provided to us by a Finance Party in connection with any Finance Document; and

 

(b)                                  will continue to make our own independent appraisal of the creditworthiness of each Obligor and its related entities while any amount is or may be outstanding under the Credit Agreement or any Commitment is in force.

 

The Facility Office and address for notices of the Additional Lender for the purposes of Clause 33.2 (Addresses for notices) is:

 

Royal Bank of Canada

Riverbank House - 2 Swan Lane – 2nd Floor

London, England

EC4R 3BF

 

This Agreement and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law.

 

ROYAL BANK OF CANADA

 

 

 

By:

/s/ M Rowe

 

 

 

THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC

 

 

 

By:

/s/ J Tobin

 

 

 

VODAFONE GROUP PLC

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Nick Read

 

 


Exhibit 4.7

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

U.S.$1,000,000,000

 

FACILITY AGREEMENT

 

dated 9 September 2015

 

for

 

VODAFONE GROUP PLC

 

with

 

THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD.

as the Arranger

 

and

 

THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD.

as the Agent

 

and

 

THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD.

as the Original Lender

 

Linklaters

 

Ref: ST/PA

 

Linklaters LLP

 



 

CONTENTS

 

CLAUSE

 

PAGE

 

 

 

 

1.

Interpretation

 

1

2.

The Facility

 

23

3.

Purpose

 

25

4.

Conditions precedent

 

25

5.

Advances

 

26

6.

Repayment

 

27

7.

Prepayment and cancellation

 

28

8.

Interest

 

30

9.

Payments

 

31

10.

Taxes

 

33

11.

Market disruption

 

39

12.

Increased costs

 

40

13.

Illegality and mitigation

 

43

14.

Guarantee

 

43

15.

Representations and warranties

 

47

16.

Undertakings

 

51

17.

Financial covenant

 

56

18.

Default

 

57

19.

The Agent, the Arranger and the reference banks

 

60

20.

Fees

 

66

21.

Expenses

 

66

22.

Stamp duties

 

67

23.

Indemnities

 

67

24.

Evidence and calculations

 

68

25.

Amendments and waivers

 

69

26.

Changes to the Parties

 

71

27.

Disclosure of information

 

79

28.

Set-off

 

82

29.

Pro rata sharing

 

83

30.

Severability

 

84

31.

Counterparts

 

84

32.

Notices

 

84

33.

Language

 

86

34.

Jurisdiction

 

86

35.

Governing law

 

87

36.

USA Patriot Act

 

87

37.

Waiver of trial by jury

 

87

 

THE SCHEDULES

 

SCHEDULE

 

PAGE

 

 

 

SCHEDULE 1 Lenders and Commitments

 

89

 

i



 

SCHEDULE 2 Conditions precedent documents

 

90

SCHEDULE 3 Form of request

 

94

SCHEDULE 4 Forms of Accession documents

 

95

SCHEDULE 5 Form of Confidentiality Undertaking from New Lender

 

99

SCHEDULE 6 Form of Increase confirmation

 

103

 

ii



 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

THIS AGREEMENT is dated 9 September 2015 and made between:

 

(1)                                  VODAFONE GROUP PLC (registered number 1833679) as borrower (“ Vodafone ”);

 

(2)                                  THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD. as mandated lead arranger (the “ Arranger ”);

 

(3)                                  THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTION LISTED in Schedule 1 (Lenders and Commitments) as the original lender; and

 

(4)                                  THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD. as agent (in this capacity the “ Agent ”).

 

IT IS AGREED as follows:

 

1.                                       INTERPRETATION

 

1.1                                Definitions

 

In this Agreement:

 

Acceptable bank ” means a bank or financial institution which has a rating for its long-term unsecured and non-credit enhanced debt obligations of A- or higher by S&P or Fitch or A3 or higher by Moody’s or a comparable rating from an internationally recognised credit rating agency.

 

Acquisition ” means the acquisition of any interest in the share capital (or equivalent) or in the business or undertaking of any company or other person (including, without limitation, any partnership or joint venture).

 

Additional Borrower ” means any member of the Restricted Group which becomes an additional borrower pursuant to Clause 26.8 (Additional Borrowers) and which has not been released as a borrower in accordance with Clause 26.9 (Removal of Borrowers).

 

Additional Guarantor ” means any member of the Consolidated Group which at such time has become a Guarantor in accordance with Clause 26.7 (Additional Guarantors) and has not been released in accordance with Clause 14.9 (Removal of Guarantors).

 

Adjusted Group Operating Cash Flow ” means, without double counting, in relation to any period, a sum equal to the Consolidated Group’s total operating profit or loss for continuing operations, acquisitions (as a component of continuing operations) and discontinued operations before taxation, interest and after:

 

(a)                                  adding depreciation;

 

(b)                                  adding amortisation;

 

(c)                                   deducting the profit or adding any loss on exceptional items which are included in the foregoing;

 

(d)                                  deducting any gain or adding any loss on disposal of tangible or intangible fixed assets;

 

(e)                                   adjusting for movements in working capital (being movements in stock, creditors, provision, and debtors);

 

(f)                                    adding dividends or proceeds of a similar nature received from any entity not in the Consolidated Group; and

 

(g)                                   excluding exceptional items,

 



 

and for the avoidance of doubt excluding (other than as set out in paragraph (f) above) the results of any entity not in the Consolidated Group.

 

Advance ” means an advance made to a Borrower by the Lenders under the Facility.

 

Affiliate ” means, in relation to a person, a Subsidiary or a Holding Company of that person and any other Subsidiary of that Holding Company.

 

Agent’s Spot Rate of Exchange ” means the spot rate of exchange as determined by the Agent for the purchase of the relevant Optional Currency in the London foreign exchange market with U.S. Dollars at or about 11.00 a.m. on a particular day.

 

Asset Disposal ” means any sale, transfer, grant, lease or other disposal of an asset (which for the avoidance of doubt does not include returns to shareholders) by any member of the Controlled Group to a person outside the Controlled Group made after the Signing Date.

 

Available Cash ” means:

 

(a)                                  cash in hand and cash in deposits repayable on demand with any Qualifying Financial Institution;

 

(b)                                  the marked to market position of in the money derivative contracts; and

 

(c)                                   Liquid Resources,

 

to the extent denominated in any freely convertible and transferable currencies, beneficially owned and unencumbered by any Security Interests other than Permitted Security Interests.

 

Available Commitment ” means a Lender’s Commitment minus:

 

(a)                                  the amount of its participation in any outstanding Advances (other than, in relation to any proposed Advance, that Lender’s participation in any Advances that are due to be repaid or prepaid on or before the proposed Drawdown Date); and

 

(b)                                  in relation to any proposed Advance, the amount of its participation in any Advances that are due to be made on or before the proposed Drawdown Date.

 

Availability Period ” means the period from the Signing Date up to and including the date which is 364 days after the Signing Date or, if that day is not a Business Day, the preceding Business Day.

 

Back to Back Loan ” means any Financial Indebtedness made available to a member of the Restricted Group to the extent that the economic exposure of the creditor in respect of that Financial Indebtedness (taking any related transactions together) is reduced by reason of that creditor:

 

(a)                                  having recourse directly or indirectly to a deposit of cash or cash equivalent investments beneficially owned by any member of the Restricted Group placed, as part of a related transaction, with that creditor (or an Affiliate of that creditor) or a financial institution approved by that creditor; or

 

(b)                                  having granted a funded sub-participation or similar arrangement to a member of the Restricted Group.

 

2



 

Basel III ” means:

 

(a)                                  the agreements on capital requirements, a leverage ratio and liquidity standards contained in “Basel III: A global regulatory framework for more resilient banks and banking systems”, “Basel III: International framework for liquidity risk measurement, standards and monitoring” and “Guidance for national authorities operating the countercyclical capital buffer” published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in December 2010, each as amended, supplemented or restated;

 

(b)                                  the rules for global systemically important banks contained in “Global systemically important banks: assessment methodology and the additional loss absorbency requirement- Rules text” published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in November 2011, as amended, supplemented or restated; and

 

(c)                                   any further guidance or standards published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision relating to “Basel III”.

 

Basel III Cost ” means any increased cost attributable to the introduction, implementation or application of or compliance with or change in Basel III or CRD IV or any other law or regulation which implements Basel III or CRD IV.

 

Borrower ” means Vodafone or an Additional Borrower.

 

Borrower Accession Agreement ” means an agreement substantially in the form of Part III of Schedule 4 or with such amendments as the Agent may approve (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) or may reasonably require.

 

Business Day ” means a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks and the interbank and foreign exchange markets are open for general business in London and:

 

(a)                                  if a payment is required in U.S. Dollars, New York;

 

(b)                                  if a payment is required in euro, a TARGET Day; or

 

(c)                                   if a payment is required in any other currency, the principal financial centre of the country of the country of that currency.

 

Change of Control ” has the meaning given to it in Clause 7.4 ( Change of Control ).

 

Code ” means the US Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

 

Commitment ” means in respect of the Original Lender, the amount in U.S. Dollars set opposite the name of that Lender in Schedule 1 ( Lenders and Commitments ) or assumed by it in accordance with Clause 2.2 ( Increase ) in each case to the extent not transferred, cancelled or reduced under or in accordance with this Agreement.

 

Consolidated Group ” means Vodafone (or, following a Hive Up, NewTopco), its IFRS Consolidated Subsidiaries and Joint Ventures.

 

Contractual Currency ” has the meaning given to it in Clause 23.1(a) ( Currency indemnity ).

 

Controlled Group ” means Vodafone (or, following a Hive Up, NewTopco) and its Controlled Subsidiaries.

 

3



 

Controlled Subsidiaries ” means, those Subsidiaries of Vodafone (or, following a Hive Up, NewTopco) in which Vodafone or NewTopco, as the case may be, controls more than 50 per cent. of such Subsidiaries voting rights and has recourse to the cash flows of the Subsidiary. Until the first certificate is given by Vodafone to the Agent in accordance with Clause 16.2(c) ( Financial information ) (in respect of the financial half-year ended 30 September 2015), the Controlled Subsidiaries include, without limitation, the following operating Subsidiaries: Vodafone AG & Co.; Vodafone Romania S.A.; Vodafone Czech Republic A.S..; Vodafone Albania Sh.A; Vodafone GmbH; Vodafone Egypt Telecommunications S.A.E; Vodafone España S.A.; Vodafone India Limited; Vodafone Hungary Mobile Telecommunications Ltd; Vodafone Ireland Limited; Vodafone Libertel B.V.; Vodafone Limited; Vodafone Malta Limited; Vodafone New Zealand Limited; Vodafone Omnitel N.V.; Vodafone-Panafon Hellenic Telecommunications Company S.A.; Vodafone Telekomunikasyon A.S.; Vodafone Portugal-Comunicações Pessoais S.A. Vodacom Group Limited; Ghana Telecommunication Company Limited and Cable & Wireless Worldwide Plc.

 

Controlled USA Group ” means all members of a controlled group of corporations and all trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) under common control which, together with any U.S. Obligor, are treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code.

 

Core Jurisdictions ” are member states of the European Union as at 1 January 2015 (being Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the UK), Japan, United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Switzerland and any other states which become members of the European Union after 1 January 2015 provided that Vodafone has notified the Agent in writing of its agreement to their inclusion in this definition of Core Jurisdictions.

 

“CRD IV” means (A) Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on prudential requirements for credit institutions and investment firms and (B) Directive 2013/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on access to the activity of credit institutions and the prudential supervision of credit institutions and investment firms.

 

CTA ” means the Corporation Tax Act 2009.

 

Default ” means (a) an Event of Default or (b) an event which, with the expiry of any grace period or giving of any notice specified in Clause 18.2 ( Non-payment ), 18.3 ( Breach of other obligations ), 18.5 ( Cross default ), 18.6 ( Winding up ), 18.8 ( Enforcement proceedings ) or 18.10 ( Similar proceedings ) would constitute an Event of Default.

 

Default Margin ” has the meaning given to it in Clause 8.3 ( Default interest ).

 

Default Rate ” has the meaning given to it in Clause 8.3 ( Default interest ).

 

Defaulting Lender ” means any Lender:

 

4



 

(a)                                  which has failed to make its participation in an Advance available or has notified the Agent that it will not make its participation in an Advance available by the Drawdown Date of that Advance in accordance with Clause 5.5 ( Payment of proceeds );

 

(b)                                  which has otherwise rescinded or repudiated a Finance Document; or

 

(c)                                   with respect to which an Insolvency Event has occurred and is continuing,

 

unless, in the case of paragraph (a) above:

 

(i)                                      its failure to pay is caused by:

 

(A)                                administrative or technical error and payment is made within three Business Days of its due date; or

 

(B)                                a Disruption Event and payment is made within eight Business Days of its due date; or

 

(ii)                                   the Lender is disputing in good faith whether it is contractually obliged to make the payment in question.

 

Designated Term ” has the meaning given to it in Clause 8.3(a)(ii) (Default interest).

 

Discharged Obligations ” has the meaning given to it in Clause 26.4(c)(i) (Procedure for novations).

 

Discharged Rights ” has the meaning given to it in Clause 26.4(c)(iii) (Procedure for novations).

 

Disruption Event ” means either or both of:

 

(a)                                  a material disruption to those payment or communications systems or to those financial markets which are, in each case, required to operate in order for payments to be made in connection with the Facility (or otherwise in order for the payment transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents to be carried out) which disruption is not caused by, and is beyond the control of, any of the Parties; or

 

(b)                                  the occurrence of any other event which results in a disruption (of a technical or systems-related nature) to the treasury or payments operations of a Party preventing that, or any other Party:

 

(i)                                      from performing its payment obligations under the Finance Documents; or

 

(ii)                                   from communicating with other Parties in accordance with the terms of the Finance Documents,

 

(and which (in either such case)) is not caused by, and is beyond the control of, the Party whose operations are disrupted.

 

Drawdown Date ” means the date for the making of an Advance.

 

ERISA ” means the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (or any successor legislation thereto), and any rule or regulation issued thereunder from time to time in effect.

 

5



 

EURIBOR ” means in relation to any Advance or unpaid sum in euro:

 

(a)                                  the applicable Screen Rate;

 

(b)                                  if no Screen Rate is available for the Required Period of that Advance or unpaid sum, the Interpolated Screen Rate for that Advance or unpaid sum; or

 

(c)                                   if no Screen Rate is available for the Required Period of that Advance or unpaid sum and it is not possible to calculate an Interpolated Screen Rate for that Advance or unpaid sum, the Reference Bank Rate,

 

as of, in the case of paragraphs (a) and (c) above, 11.00 a.m. (Brussels time) on the Rate Fixing Day for euro and (in each case) for a period in length equal to the Required Period, and for the purposes of this definition and the definition of “ Interpolated Screen Rate ”, “ Required Period ” means the Term of such Advance, or the period in respect of which EURIBOR falls to be determined in relation to any unpaid sum.

 

Event of Default ” means an event specified as such in Clause 18 ( Default ).

 

Existing Commitment ” has the meaning given to it in Clause 16.8(a)(i) ( Priority borrowing ).

 

Existing Lender ” has the meaning given to it in Clause 26.2(a) ( Transfers by Lenders ).

 

Existing Parties ” has the meaning given to it in Clause 26.4(c)(i) ( Procedure for novations ).

 

Facility ” means the multicurrency revolving credit facility referred to in Clause 2.1 ( Facility ).

 

Facility Office ” means the office(s) notified by a Lender to the Agent:

 

(a)                                  on or before the date it becomes a Lender; or

 

(b)                                  by not less than five Business Days’ notice,

 

as the office(s) through which it will perform all or any of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

FATCA ” means:

 

(a)                                  sections 1471 to 1474 of the Code or any associated regulations;

 

(b)                                  any treaty, law or regulation of any other jurisdiction, or relating to an intergovernmental agreement between the United States and any other jurisdiction, which (in either case) facilitates the implementation of any law or regulation referred to in paragraph (a) above; and

 

(c)                                   any agreement pursuant to the implementation of any treaty, law or regulation referred to in paragraphs (a) or (b) above with the United States Internal Revenue Service, the government of the United States or any governmental or taxation authority in any other jurisdiction.

 

FATCA Application Date ” means:

 

(a)                                  in relation to a “withholdable payment” described in section 1473(1)(A)(i) of the Code (which relates to payments of interest and certain other payments from sources within the United States), 1 July 2014;

 

6



 

(b)                                  in relation to a “withholdable payment” described in section 1473(1)(A)(ii) of the Code (which relates to “gross proceeds” from the disposition of property of a type that can produce interest from sources within the United States), 1 January 2017; or

 

(c)                                   in relation to a “passthru payment” described in section 1471(d)(7) of the Code not falling within paragraphs (a) or (b) above, 1 January 2017,

 

or, in each case, such other date from which such payment may become subject to a deduction or withholding required by FATCA as a result of any change in FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

 

FATCA Deduction ” means a deduction or withholding from a payment under a Finance Document required by FATCA.

 

FATCA Exempt Party ” means a Party that is entitled to receive payments free from any FATCA Deduction.

 

Fee Letters ” means each letter dated on or about the date of this Agreement between the Original Lender and Vodafone setting out the amount of the fees referred to in Clause 20.2 ( Front-end fees ) and any other letter designated by Vodafone and the Agent as a “Fee Letter”.

 

Final Maturity Date ” means the last day of the Availability Period.

 

Finance Document ” means this Agreement, each Fee Letter, Novation Certificate, Borrower Accession Agreement, Guarantor Accession Agreement and Increase Confirmation and any other document agreed in writing as such by the Agent and Vodafone.

 

Finance Party ” means the Arranger, a Lender or the Agent.

 

Financial Indebtedness ” means any indebtedness in respect of:

 

(a)                                  moneys borrowed or raised by way of loan or redeemable preference shares or in the form of any debenture, bond, note, loan stock, commercial paper or similar instrument;

 

(b)                                  any acceptance credit, bill-discounting, note purchase or documentary credit facility;

 

(c)                                   any finance lease;

 

(d)                                  any receivables purchase, factoring or discounting arrangement under which there is recourse in whole or in part to any member of the relevant group;

 

(e)                                   any other transaction having the commercial effect of a borrowing; and

 

(f)                                    any guarantees or other legally binding assurance against financial loss in respect of the indebtedness of any person arising under an obligation falling within (a) to (e) above (but, for the avoidance of doubt, excluding any guarantees in respect of indebtedness falling within (i) to (v) below),

 

but without double counting and excluding (i) preference shares which are not accounted for as indebtedness under IFRS GAAP, (ii) any convertible or exchangeable debt which must or, at the option of the issuer, may be converted or exchanged without condition (other than the availability of sufficient authorised share capital of the issuer), prior to or upon the date any amount of principal would otherwise fall due in respect of that debt, into equity share capital or preference shares, which in each case are not redeemable on or before the Final Maturity Date, (iii)

 

7



 

deferred consideration in respect of the cost of Acquisitions, (iv) obligations of any member of the relevant group arising under any form of exchangeable, convertible, option or other similar instrument issued by that member of the relevant group in connection with a transaction the commercial effect of which is to effect the disposal by that member of the relevant group of shares or partnership or other ownership interests in any other person or entity (whether or not having a separate legal identity), provided that any such instrument may not, on or prior to the Final Maturity Date, be converted (whether by acceleration, maturity or otherwise) into cash or any other instrument constituting or evidencing Financial Indebtedness and (v) for the avoidance of doubt, derivatives primarily entered into to manage currency, credit or interest rate risks or to assist in purchasing or selling shares.

 

Fitch ” means Fitch Investors Services Inc.

 

Funding Rate ” means any rate notified to the Agent by a Lender pursuant to Clause 11.2(b)(iii) ( Alternative rates ).

 

Guarantor ” means each of:

 

(a)                                  Vodafone; and

 

(b)                                  each Additional Guarantor.

 

Guarantor Accession Agreement ” means a deed substantially in the form of Part II of Schedule 4 or with such amendments as the Agent may approve (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) or may reasonably require.

 

Hive Up ” means a reorganisation by way of a scheme of arrangement (other than in an insolvency) or otherwise under which Vodafone becomes a Subsidiary of NewTopco, NewTopco controls (directly or indirectly) all of the voting rights in Vodafone (other than any voting rights in Vodafone in respect of the 50,000 7 per cent. fixed rate shares issued in 1999 or any other voting rights in Vodafone held by holders of a class of capital issued by Vodafone, where such voting rights relate only to any variation in the rights attaching to that class of capital issued by Vodafone) and NewTopco becomes the listed ultimate Holding Company of the Consolidated Group.

 

Holding Company ” means in relation to a person, an entity of which that person is a Subsidiary.

 

HMRC ” means HM Revenue & Customs.

 

IFRS Consolidated Subsidiaries ” means those Subsidiaries of Vodafone (or, following a Hive Up, NewTopco) which would be required to be fully consolidated (which excludes proportionate consolidation) in the consolidated accounts of Vodafone (or, following a Hive Up, NewTopco) in accordance with IFRS GAAP.

 

IFRS GAAP ” means the generally accepted accounting principles applied in the preparation of the IFRS consolidated audited accounts of Vodafone for the year ended 31 March 2014 or later audited accounts, if notified by Vodafone in writing to the Agent within three months (or such longer period as may be agreed by the Agent) of publication of such audited accounts.

 

Impaired Agent ” means the Agent at any time when:

 

8



 

(a)                                  it has failed to make (or has notified a Party that it will not make) a payment required to be made by it under the Finance Documents by the due date for payment;

 

(b)                                  the Agent otherwise rescinds or repudiates a Finance Document;

 

(c)                                   (if the Agent is also a Lender) it is a Defaulting Lender under paragraph (a) or (b) of the definition of Defaulting Lender; or

 

(d)                                  an Insolvency Event has occurred and is continuing with respect to the Agent;

 

unless, in the case of paragraph (a) above:

 

(i)                                      its failure to pay is caused by:

 

(A)                                administrative or technical error and payment is made within three Business Days of its due date; or

 

(B)                                a Disruption Event and payment is made within eight Business Days of its due date; or

 

(ii)                                   the Agent is disputing in good faith whether it is contractually obliged to make the payment in question.

 

Increase Confirmation ” means a confirmation substantially in the form set out in Schedule 6 ( Form of Increase confirmation ).

 

Increase Lender ” has the meaning given to that term in Clause 2.2 ( Increase ).

 

Insolvency Event ” in relation to a Finance Party, means that the Finance Party:

 

(a)                                  is dissolved (other than pursuant to a consolidation, amalgamation or merger);

 

(b)                                  becomes insolvent or is unable to pay its debts or fails or admits in writing its inability to pay its debts as they become due in each case under the laws of any relevant jurisdiction applicable to that Finance Party;

 

(c)                                   makes a general assignment, arrangement or composition with or for the benefit of its creditors;

 

(d)                                  has made against it a judgment of insolvency or bankruptcy or any other relief under any bankruptcy or insolvency law or other similar law affecting creditors’ rights, or an order is made for its winding-up or liquidation;

 

(e)                                   has an order made against it for a bank insolvency pursuant to Part 2 of the Banking Act 2009 or a bank administration pursuant to Part 3 of the Banking Act 2009;

 

(f)                                    has a resolution passed for its winding-up, official management or liquidation (other than pursuant to a consolidation, amalgamation or merger);

 

(g)                                   seeks or becomes subject to the appointment of an administrator, provisional liquidator, conservator, receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for it or for all or substantially all its assets other than by way of Undisclosed Administration;

 

(h)                                  has a secured party take possession of all or substantially all its assets or has a distress, execution, attachment, sequestration or other legal process levied, enforced or sued on

 

9



 

or against all or substantially all its assets and such secured party maintains possession, or any such process is not dismissed, discharged, stayed or restrained, in each case within 30 days thereafter; or

 

(i)                                      causes or is subject to any event with respect to it which, under the applicable laws of any jurisdiction, has an analogous effect to any of the events specified in paragraphs (a) to (h) above.

 

Intermediate Holding Company ” means, in relation to Vodafone, an entity (other than NewTopco) which is a Subsidiary of NewTopco and of which Vodafone is a Subsidiary.

 

Interpolated Screen Rate ” means, in relation to LIBOR or EURIBOR for any Advance or unpaid sum, the rate (rounded to the same number of decimal places as the two relevant Screen Rates) which results from interpolating on a linear basis between:

 

(a)                                  the applicable Screen Rate for the longest period (for which that Screen Rate is available) which is less than the Required Period of that Advance or unpaid sum; and

 

(b)                                  the applicable Screen Rate for the shortest period (for which that Screen Rate is available) which exceeds the Required Period of that Advance or unpaid sum,

 

each as of 11.00 a.m. (London time) in the case of LIBOR and 11.00 a.m. (Brussels time) in the case of EURIBOR on the Rate Fixing Day for the currency of that Advance.

 

ITA 2007 ” means the Income Tax Act 2007.

 

Joint Venture ” means at any time an entity (which is not an IFRS Consolidated Subsidiary) in which any member of the Consolidated Group holds a long term interest and shares control under a contractual arrangement where each venturer has a veto over policy decisions and which is, or will be, accounted for on a proportionate basis in the consolidated accounts of Vodafone (or, following a Hive Up, NewTopco) for that time, and shall exclude any entity which is accounted for on an equity basis in those accounts (in each case, in accordance with the generally applicable accounting principles applied to those accounts)..

 

Lender ” means each Original Lender and each Increase Lender (if any).

 

LIBOR ” means in relation to any Advance or unpaid sum in a currency other than euro:

 

(a)                                  the applicable Screen Rate;

 

(b)                                  if no Screen Rate is available for the Required Period of that Advance or unpaid sum, the Interpolated Screen Rate for that Advance or unpaid sum; or

 

(c)                                   if no Screen Rate is available for the currency of that Advance or the Required Period of that Advance or unpaid sum and it is not possible to calculate an Interpolated Screen Rate for that Advance or unpaid sum, the Reference Bank Rate,

 

as of, in the case of paragraphs (a) and (c) above, 11.00 a.m. (London time) on the Rate Fixing Day for the currency of that Advance or unpaid sum and (in each case) for a period equal to the Required Period and for the purposes of this definition and the definition of “ Interpolated Screen Rate ”, “ Required Period” means the Term of such Advance or the period in respect of which LIBOR falls to be determined in relation to any unpaid sum.

 

10



 

Liquid Resources ” means a current asset investment held as a readily disposable store of value which can be disposed of without curtailing or disrupting the business of the disposer and which is either:

 

(a)                                  readily convertible into a known amount of cash at or close to its carrying value; or

 

(b)                                  traded in an active market.

 

Majority Lenders ” means, at any time:

 

(a)                                  Lenders whose Commitments aggregate more than 60 per cent. of the Total Commitments; or

 

(b)                                  if the Total Commitments have been reduced to zero, Lenders whose Commitments aggregated more than 60 per cent. of the Total Commitments immediately before the reduction.

 

Margin ” means 0.30 per cent. per annum.

 

Maturity Date ” means the last day of the Term of an Advance.

 

Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors’ Service, Inc.

 

Multi-employer Plan ” means a “multi-employer plan” as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which any U.S. Obligor or any member of the Controlled USA Group has an obligation to contribute.

 

Net Debt ” means at any time, Total Gross Borrowings less Available Cash, both at that time. Net Debt for any Ratio Period will be calculated as the aggregate of Net Debt outstanding on the last day of each month during the relevant Ratio Period (as shown in Vodafone’s, or following a Hive Up, NewTopco’s, consolidated management accounts prepared at the end of each month during the relevant Ratio Period) divided by the number of months during the relevant Ratio Period.

 

NewTopco ” means a company used for the purposes of a Hive Up.

 

New Lender ” has the meaning given to it in Clause 26.2(a) ( Transfers by Lenders ).

 

Novation Certificate ” has the meaning given to it in Clause 26.4(a)(i) ( Procedure for novations ).

 

Obligor ” means each Borrower and each Guarantor.

 

Operating Cash Flow ” means, without double counting, total operating profit or loss for continuing operations before taxation, interest and after (i) adding depreciation, (ii) adding amortisation, (iii) deducting the profit or adding the loss on exceptional items which are included in the foregoing, (iv) deducting any gain or adding any loss on disposal of tangible or intangible fixed assets, (v) adjusting for movements in working capital (being movements in stock, creditors, provisions and debtors) and (vi) excluding exceptional items.

 

Optional Currency ” means, in relation to any Advance or proposed Advance, euro or Yen.

 

Original Dollar Amount ” means:

 

(a)                                  the principal amount of an Advance denominated in U.S. Dollars; or

 

11



 

(b)                                  the principal amount of an Advance denominated in any other currency, translated into U.S. Dollars on the basis of the Agent’s Spot Rate of Exchange on the date of receipt by the Agent of the Request for that Advance.

 

Original Lender ” means a financial institution or other entity listed in Schedule 1 ( Lenders and Commitments ) or a transferee, successor or permitted assignee of such financial institution or other entity which is for the time being participating in the Facility.

 

Overdue Amount ” has the meaning given to it in Clause 8.3(a) ( Default interest ).

 

Participating Member State ” means any member state of the European Union that has the euro as its lawful currency in accordance with legislation of the European Union relating to Economic and Monetary Union.

 

Party ” means a party to this Agreement.

 

PBGC ” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA, or any successor.

 

Permitted Security Interest ” means:

 

(a)                                  any Security Interest arising out of retention of title provisions or created or subsisting over documents of title, insurance policies (including any export credit agencies’ agreements) and sale contracts in relation to commercial goods in each case created or made in the ordinary course of business to secure the purchase price of such goods or loans to finance such purchase price; or

 

(b)                                  any Security Interest over any assets acquired by a member of the Restricted Group after 1 February 2015 (and/or over the assets of any person that becomes a member of the Restricted Group after 1 February 2015) provided that:

 

(i)                                      any such Security Interest is in existence before such acquisition or before such person becomes a member of the Restricted Group and is not created in contemplation of such acquisition or such person becoming a member of the Restricted Group; and

 

(ii)                                   to the extent that the aggregate principal amount secured by such Security Interest upon such acquisition or such person becoming a member of the Restricted Group thereafter exceeds (measured in the same currency) the amount available to be drawn (assuming all drawdown conditions will be met) under the relevant commitment existing at the time of such acquisition or such person becoming a member of the Restricted Group, such Security Interest shall not fall within this paragraph (b);

 

for the purposes of this paragraph (b) Restricted Group shall not include any companies which have become members of the Restricted Group due to the expansion of the definition of Core Jurisdiction to include any other states which become members of the European Union after 1 January 2015; or

 

(c)                                   any Security Interest created for the purpose of securing obligations of Vodafone (or, following a Hive Up, NewTopco) or any member of the Restricted Group under any

 

12



 

agreement (including, without limitation, any agreement under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 or Section 111 of the Local Government Act 1972) entered into with a local or other public authority and related to the development or maintenance of property owned by Vodafone (or, following a Hive Up, NewTopco) or any member of the Restricted Group; or

 

(d)                                  any Security Interest created on or subsisting over any asset held in Clearstream Banking, société anonyme or Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. as operator of the Euroclear System, or any other securities depository or any clearing house pursuant to the standard terms and procedures of the relevant clearing house applicable in the normal course of trading; or

 

(e)                                   any Security Interest which arises in connection with any cash management, set-off or netting arrangements made between banks or financial institutions and any member(s) of the Restricted Group in the ordinary course of business; or

 

(f)                                    any Security Interest created in favour of a plaintiff or defendant in any action of the court or tribunal before whom such action is brought as pre-judgment security for costs or expenses where any member of the Restricted Group is prosecuting or defending such action in the bona fide interest of the Controlled Group; or

 

(g)                                   any Security Interest created pursuant to any order of attachment, distraint, garnishee order, arrestment, adjudication or injunction or interdict restraining disposal of assets or similar legal process arising in connection with pre-judgment court proceedings; or

 

(h)                                  any Security Interest which arises by operation of law in the ordinary course of trading and securing an amount not more than 45 days overdue or which is being contested in good faith on the basis of favourable legal advice; or

 

(i)                                      any Security Interest over shares in entities which are not members of the Restricted Group which do not secure Financial Indebtedness of the Restricted Group (or over shares and/or other ownership interests in and/or loans to entities which are Project Finance Subsidiaries to secure Project Finance Indebtedness); or

 

(j)                                     to the extent they constitute Security Interests (or to the extent that the relevant transaction includes the creation of any Security Interest over the assets which are the subject of the finance lease), finance leases in respect of existing or future assets; or

 

(k)                                  any Security Interest comprising a right of set-off which arises by agreement between parties providing mutual rights of set-off or operation of law or by agreement having substantially the same effect; or

 

(l)                                      any Security Interest for taxes, assessments or charges not yet due or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and (unless the amount thereof is not material to the Consolidated Group’s financial condition) for which adequate reserves are being maintained (in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles); or

 

(m)                              deposits or pledges to secure obligations under workers’ compensation, social security or similar laws, or under unemployment insurance; or

 

13



 

(n)                                  any Security Interest created with the prior written consent of the Majority Lenders; or

 

(o)                                  any Security Interest over deposits of cash or cash equivalent investments securing (directly or indirectly) Financial Indebtedness under (i) finance or structured tax lease arrangements as described in Clause 16.8(b) ( Priority borrowing ) or (ii) Back to Back Loans; or

 

(p)                                  any Security Interest securing Project Finance Indebtedness over the assets (or the income, cash flow or other proceeds deriving from the assets) which are the subject of that Project Finance Indebtedness; or

 

(q)                                  any Security Interest (a “ Substitute Security Interest ”) which replaces any other Security Interest permitted under paragraphs (a) to (p) above inclusive and which secures an amount not exceeding the principal amount secured by such permitted Security Interest (or, in the case of paragraph (b) above, the amount available to be drawn, assuming all drawdown conditions will be met) at the time it is replaced together with any interest accruing on such amounts from the date such Substitute Security Interest is created or arises and any related fees or expenses provided that the existing Security Interest to be replaced is released and all amounts secured thereby are paid or otherwise discharged in full at or prior to the time of such Substitute Security Interest being created or arising; or

 

(r)                                     any Security Interest over the shares or other interests as described in paragraph (iv) of the last paragraph of the definition of Financial Indebtedness securing indebtedness of a kind referred to in that paragraph; or

 

(s)                                    any Security Interest created (i) between Obligors (including by an Obligor to a member of the Restricted Group which concurrently becomes an Obligor) or (ii) by a member of the Restricted Group which is not an Obligor in favour of an Obligor or to another member of the Restricted Group; or

 

(t)                                     any Security Interest over Available Cash created in the ordinary course of business to secure obligations, liabilities or performance criteria in relation to any mobile telecommunications licence where such Security Interest is required to be in compliance with the requirements of the relevant telecommunications regulator or an associated governmental or regulatory body; or

 

(u)                                  any Security Interest over Available Cash created to defease (directly or indirectly) Financial Indebtedness in the form of debentures, bonds, notes, loan stock, or other similar instruments issued by a Controlled Subsidiary where (A) such Financial Indebtedness was either in existence at the Signing Date or (B) if the Subsidiary became a Controlled Subsidiary after the Signing Date such Financial Indebtedness existed at the time that the Controlled Subsidiary became a part of the Controlled Group and was not created in contemplation of that Controlled Subsidiary becoming part of the Controlled Group; or

 

(v)                                  any Security Interest over loan notes or other securities issued by Verizon Communications Inc. or any of its affiliates in connection with the acquisition of Vodafone’s interest in Verizon Wireless (the “ Verizon Notes ”), provided that:

 

14



 

(i)                                      the maximum aggregate principal amount of Verizon Notes which may be subject to Security Interests pursuant to this paragraph (v) is U.S.$5,000,000,000;

 

(ii)                                   the Security Interest is removed or discharged within 30 months from the date of issuance of the Verizon Notes; and

 

(iii)                                the Security Interest was created for the purpose of, or in contemplation of, an issuance by Vodafone of loan notes or other securities which are secured by that Security Interest (the “ Secured Notes ”), provided that any holders of the Secured Notes shall not have any recourse to Vodafone in respect of any amounts outstanding (other than interest payable) under or in connection with the Secured Notes; or

 

(w)                                any other Security Interest (in addition to those listed in (a) to (v) above) where the aggregate principal amount secured by all such Security Interests does not exceed €3,000,000,000 or its equivalent.

 

Plan ” means an “employee benefit plan” as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA.

 

Principal Subsidiary ” means, from the date that each notice is given by Vodafone to the Agent pursuant to Clause 16.2(c) ( Financial information ) or, as the case may be, Clause 16.2(d) ( Financial information ) the four Controlled Subsidiaries which are members of the Restricted Group whose revenues are primarily generated by operations licensed by telecommunications authorities in Core Jurisdictions (excluding for this purpose any Subsidiaries whose principal activity is to act as a Holding Company of other Subsidiaries) that had the largest, if positive or smallest if negative Operating Cash Flow in the previous financial year of Vodafone or, following the Reorganisation Date, NewTopco.

 

Until the first notice is given by Vodafone to the Agent (in respect of the financial half-year ended 30 September 2015), the Principal Subsidiaries are Vodafone Limited, Vodafone GmbH, Vodafone Omnitel N.V. and Vodafone Libertel B.V. being Vodafone’s principal subsidiaries operating in UK, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, respectively.

 

For the purposes of this definition, until such new notice is given by Vodafone to the Agent pursuant to Clause 16.2(c) ( Financial information ) or, as the case may be, Clause 16.2(d) ( Financial information ), if any Principal Subsidiary sells, transfers, merges into or with or otherwise disposes of the majority of its undertakings or assets whether by a single transaction or a number of related transactions (unless such Principal Subsidiary is the surviving entity following such merger) (the “ Seller ”) to any member of the Restricted Group (the “ Purchaser ”), then from the date of the relevant sale, transfer, merger or disposal the Purchaser shall be deemed to become a Principal Subsidiary and the Seller shall no longer be deemed to be a Principal Subsidiary.

 

On the date of each notice given by Vodafone (or as the case may be, NewTopco) to the Agent pursuant to Clause 16.2(c) ( Financial information ) or, as the case may be, Clause 16.2(d) ( Financial information ), any Subsidiary which is identified as a Principal Subsidiary in the relevant notice, which was not identified as such in the immediately preceding notice, shall be deemed to immediately replace any Subsidiary which was a Principal Subsidiary immediately prior to the delivery of the notice and which is not named in such notice.

 

15



 

Project Finance Indebtedness ” means any Financial Indebtedness which finances or otherwise relates to the acquisition, development, ownership and/or operation of an asset or combination of assets whether directly or indirectly, where the Financial Indebtedness is incurred pursuant to facilities available prior to the date the relevant entity becomes a member of the Controlled Group (and not created in contemplation of the acquisition):

 

(a)                                  which is incurred by a Project Finance Subsidiary; or

 

(b)                                  in respect of which the person or persons to whom such borrowing is or may be owed by the relevant debtor (whether or not a member of the Controlled Group) has or have no recourse whatsoever to any member of the Controlled Group (other than to a Project Finance Subsidiary) for any payment or repayment in respect thereof other than:

 

(i)                                      recourse to such debtor for amounts limited to the cash flow or net cash flow (other than historic cash flow or historic net cash flow) from such asset or assets; and/or

 

(ii)                                   recourse to such debtor for the purpose only of enabling amounts to be claimed in respect of such Financial Indebtedness in an enforcement of any Security Interest given by such debtor over such asset or assets or the income, cash flow or other proceeds deriving from the asset (or given by any shareholder or the like in the debtor over its shares and/or other ownership interest in and/or loans to the debtor) to secure such Financial Indebtedness or any recourse referred to in paragraph (iii) below, provided that:

 

(A)                                the extent of such recourse to such debtor is limited solely to the amount of any recoveries made on any such enforcement; and

 

(B)                                such person or persons are not entitled, by virtue of any right or claim arising out of or in connection with such Financial Indebtedness, to commence proceedings for the winding up or dissolution of the debtor or to appoint or procure the appointment of any receiver, trustee or similar person or officer in respect of the debtor or any of its assets (save only for the assets the subject of that Security Interest); and/or

 

(iii)                                recourse:

 

(A)                                to such debtor generally, or directly or indirectly to a member of the Controlled Group, under any form of assurance, undertaking or support which recourse is limited to a claim for damages (other than liquidated damages and damages required to be calculated in a specific way) for breach of an obligation (not being a payment obligation or any obligation to procure payment by another or an indemnity in respect thereof or any obligation to comply or procure compliance by another with any financial ratios or other tests of financial condition) by the person against whom such recourse is available; and/or

 

16



 

(B)                                to shares and/or other ownership interest in and/or loans to and/or the assets of such debtor and/or any Project Finance Subsidiary owned by a member of the Controlled Group; or

 

(c)                                   which the Majority Lenders have agreed in writing to treat as Project Finance Indebtedness.

 

Project Finance Subsidiary ” means any member of the Controlled Group:

 

(a)                                  whose principal assets and business are constituted by the ownership, acquisition, development and/or operation of any asset or combination of assets whether directly or indirectly; and

 

(b)                                  none of whose Financial Indebtedness in respect of the financing of the ownership, acquisition, development and/or operation of any such asset benefits from any recourse whatsoever (including, without limitation, any obligation to subscribe for equity or provide loans) to any member of the Controlled Group (other than such person or another Project Finance Subsidiary) in respect of any payment or repayment in respect thereof, except as expressly referred to in paragraph (b)(iii) of the definition of “ Project Finance Indebtedness ”; and

 

(c)                                   which has been designated as such by Vodafone by written notice to the Agent.

 

Qualifying Financial Institution ” means any bank or financial institution that as part of its business generally receives deposits or other repayable funds and grants credits for its own account.

 

Qualifying Lender ” means a Lender which is beneficially entitled to interest payable to that Lender in respect of an Advance and is:

 

(a)                                  a Lender;

 

(i)                                      which is a bank (as defined for the purpose of Section 879 of the ITA 2007) making an Advance under this Agreement; or

 

(ii)                                   in respect of an Advance made under this Agreement by a person that was a bank (as defined for the purpose of Section 879 of the ITA 2007) at the time that that Advance was made,

 

and which is within the charge to United Kingdom corporation tax as respects any payments of interest made in respect of that Advance at the time payments are made (or in the case of sub-paragraph (i) above would be within such charge as respects such payments apart from section 18A of the CTA); or

 

(b)                                  a Treaty Lender.

 

Rate Fixing Day ” means:

 

(a)                                  the second TARGET Day before the Drawdown Date for an Advance denominated in euro; or

 

(b)                                  the second Business Day before the Drawdown Date for an Advance denominated in U.S. Dollars or Yen,

 

17



 

or such other day as the Agent, after consultation with Vodafone and the Lenders, may designate as market practice in the Relevant Interbank Market for leading banks to give quotations in the relevant currency for delivery on the relevant Drawdown Date.

 

Ratio Period ” has the meaning given to it in Clause 17.2 ( Calculation times and periods ).

 

Recovering Finance Party ” has the meaning given to it in Clause 29.1 ( Redistribution ).

 

Recovery ” has the meaning given to it in Clause 29.1 ( Redistribution ).

 

Redistribution ” has the meaning given to it in Clause 29.1(c) ( Redistribution ).

 

Reference Bank ” means, subject to Clause 26.10, The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. or any other bank or financial institution agreed by Vodafone and the Agent.

 

Reference Bank Quotation ” means any quotation supplied to the Agent by a Reference Bank.

 

Reference Bank Rate ” means the arithmetic mean of the rates (rounded upwards to four decimal places) as supplied to the Agent at its request by the Reference Banks:

 

(a)                                  in relation to LIBOR:

 

(i)                                      (other than where paragraph (ii) below applies) as the rate at which the relevant Reference Bank could borrow funds in the London interbank market in the relevant currency and for the relevant period were it to do so by asking for and then accepting interbank offers for deposits in reasonable market size in that currency and for that period; or

 

(ii)                                   if different, as the rate (if any and applied to the relevant Reference Bank and the relevant currency and period) which contributors to the applicable Screen Rate are asked to submit to the relevant administrator,

 

(b)                                  in relation to EURIBOR:

 

(i)                                      (other than where paragraph (ii) below applies) as the rate at which the relevant Reference Bank believes that one prime bank is quoting to another prime bank for interbank term deposits in euro within the Participating Member States for the relevant period; or

 

(ii)                                   if different, as the rate (if any and applied to the relevant Reference Bank and the relevant period) which contributors to the applicable Screen Rate are asked to submit to the relevant administrator.

 

Relevant Interbank Market ” means, in relation to euro, the European interbank market and, in relation to any other currency, the London interbank market.

 

Relevant Tax ” means any tax imposed or levied by or in (or by any political sub-division or taxing authority of any of the following):

 

(a)                                  the UK;

 

(b)                                  the United States; or

 

(c)                                   any other jurisdiction in or through which any payment under the Finance Documents is made.

 

18



 

Reportable Event ” means a reportable event as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA and the regulations issued under such section with respect to a Plan, excluding, however, such events as to which the PBGC by regulation waived the requirement of Section 4043(a) of ERISA that it be notified within 30 days of the occurrence of such event, provided, however, that a failure to meet the minimum funding standard of Section 412 of the Code and of Section 302 of ERISA shall be a Reportable Event regardless of the issuance of any such waiver of the notice requirement in accordance with either Section 4043(a) of ERISA or Section 412(d) of the Code.

 

Reorganisation Date ” means the date NewTopco or any other Intermediate Holding Company acquires any shares or assets (other than the shares in Vodafone acquired pursuant to the Hive Up) in circumstances where the aggregate market value of the assets of Vodafone (as determined by Vodafone (acting reasonably)) immediately following the acquisition is an amount which represents 95 per cent. or less of the aggregate market value of the assets of NewTopco (as determined by Vodafone (acting reasonably)) at that time.

 

Request ” means a request made by a Borrower to utilise the Facility, substantially in the form of Schedule 3 (or in such other form as may be agreed by the Agent and Vodafone).

 

Requested Amount ” means the amount requested in a Request.

 

Restricted Group ” means Vodafone, NewTopco (following the Reorganisation Date) and any Controlled Subsidiary (other than a Project Finance Subsidiary) of Vodafone or, following the Reorganisation Date, NewTopco:

 

(a)                                  whose principal operations or assets are located in a Core Jurisdiction; and/or

 

(b)                                  whose revenues are primarily generated by operations licensed by telecommunications authorities in Core Jurisdictions,

 

but excludes any Controlled Subsidiary whose principal business is satellite telecommunications.

 

Rollover Advance ” means any Advance made during the Availability Period which is drawn down to refinance in whole or in part any outstanding Advance where, after making and applying the proceeds of that Advance, the aggregate principal amount outstanding under the Facility is not greater than the aggregate amount outstanding under the Facility immediately prior to the Advance being made.

 

S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s Rating Services.

 

Screen Rate ” means:

 

(a)                                  in relation to LIBOR, the London interbank offered rate administered by ICE Benchmark Administration Limited (or any other person which takes over the administration of that rate) for the relevant currency and period displayed on pages LIBOR01 or LIBOR02 of the Thomson Reuters screen (or any replacement Thomson Reuters page which displays that rate); and

 

(b)                                  in relation to EURIBOR, the euro interbank offered rate administered by the European Money Markets Institute (or any other person which takes over the administration of that rate) for the relevant period displayed on page EURIBOR01 of the Thomson Reuters screen (or any replacement Thomson Reuters page which displays that rate),

 

19



 

or, in each case, on the appropriate page of such other information service which publishes that rate from time to time in place of Thomson Reuters. If such page or service ceases to be available, the Agent may specify another page or service displaying the relevant rate after consultation with Vodafone.

 

Security Interest ” means any mortgage, charge, assignment by way of security, pledge, lien or other security interest securing any obligation of any person.

 

Separate Loan ” has the meaning given to that term in Clause 6.2 ( Separate Loans ).

 

Signing Date ” means the date of this Agreement.

 

Single Employer Plan ” means a Plan which is maintained by any U.S. Obligor or any member of the Controlled USA Group for employees of Vodafone or any member of the Controlled USA Group.

 

Subsidiary ” means:

 

(a)                                  a subsidiary within the meaning of section 1159 of the Companies Act 2006; and

 

(b)                                  unless the context otherwise requires, a subsidiary undertaking within the meaning of section 1162 of the Companies Act 2006.

 

Substitute Security Interest ” has the meaning given to it in the definition of Permitted Security Interest, paragraph (q).

 

TARGET Day ” means a day on which the Trans-European Automated Real-Time Gross Settlement Express Transfer (TARGET) payment system which utilises a single shared platform and which was launched on 19 November 2007 and is open for the settlement of payments in euro.

 

Tax Credit ” has the meaning given to it in Clause 10.6 ( Refund of Tax Credits ).

 

Tax on Overall Net Income ” in relation to a Finance Party, means any tax on the overall net income, profits or gains of that Finance Party or any of its Holding Companies (or the overall net income, profits or gains of a division or branch of that Finance Party or any of its Holding Companies).

 

Tax Payment ” has the meaning given to it in Clause 10.6 ( Refund of Tax Credits ).

 

Taxes Act ” means the Corporation Tax Act 2010.

 

Term ” means the period selected by a Borrower in a Request for which the Advance is to be outstanding.

 

Total Commitments ” means the aggregate for the time being of the Commitments, being at the date of this Agreement, U.S.$1,000,000,000.

 

Total Gross Borrowings ” means at any time, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Financial Indebtedness of the Consolidated Group (including the marked to market position of out of the money derivative contracts).

 

Treaty Lender ” means a Lender which is (i) resident (as such term is defined in the appropriate double taxation treaty) in a country with which the United Kingdom has an appropriate double

 

20



 

taxation treaty under which residents of that country are entitled to complete exemption from United Kingdom tax on interest and is entitled to apply under the Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) (General) Regulations 1970 to have interest paid to its Facility Office without withholding or deduction for or on account of United Kingdom taxation; and (ii) does not carry on business in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment with which the investments under this Agreement in respect of which the interest is paid are effectively connected; and for this purpose “double taxation treaty” means any convention or agreement between the government of the United Kingdom and any other government for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and capital gains.

 

UK ” or “ United Kingdom ” means the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, the Channel Islands).

 

Undisclosed Administration ” means in relation to a Lender the appointment of an administrator, provisional liquidator, conservator, receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official by a supervisory authority or regulator under or based on the laws of the country where such Lender is subject to home jurisdiction supervision if applicable law requires that such appointment is not to be publicly disclosed.

 

United States ” means the United States of America.

 

U.S. Obligor ” means any Obligor which is incorporated in the United States or any State thereof (including the District of Columbia).

 

U.S. Tax Obligor ” means:

 

(a)                                  a Borrower which is resident for tax purposes in the United States; or

 

(b)                                  an Obligor some or all of whose payments under the Finance Documents are from sources within the United States for United States federal income tax purposes.

 

2019 Facility ” means the €3,860,000,000 multicurrency revolving five year facility dated 28 March 2014 with a capacity of €3,860,000,000 as at March 2014 and made between, amongst others, Vodafone Group Plc, the Arrangers and the Lenders identified therein and the Royal Bank of Scotland plc as Agent and Euro Swingline Agent as identified therein and due 28 March 2019.

 

2020 Facility ” means the U.S.$3,935,000,000 multicurrency revolving five year facility dated 27 February 2015 with a capacity of U.S.$3,935,000,000 as at February 2015 and made between, amongst others, Vodafone Group Plc, the Arrangers and Lenders identified therein and The Royal Bank of Scotland plc as Agent and US Swingline Agent and due 27 February 2020.

 

1.2                                Construction

 

(a)                                  In this Agreement, unless the contrary intention appears, a reference to:

 

(i)                                      agreed form ” means, in relation to any document, such document in a form previously agreed in writing by or on behalf of the Agent and Vodafone;

 

(ii)                                   assets ” of any person includes all or any part of that person’s business, operations, undertaking, property, assets, revenues (including any right to receive revenues) and uncalled capital;

 

21



 

(iii)                                an “ authorisation ” includes an authorisation, consent, approval, resolution, licence, exemption, filing, registration and notarisation;

 

(iv)                               a “ finance lease ” has the meaning given to it in IAS 17 as in effect at 1 April 2013;

 

(v)                                  indebtedness ” is a reference to any obligation for the payment or repayment of money, whether as principal or surety and whether present or future, actual or contingent;

 

(vi)                               a “ month ” is a reference to a period starting on one day in a calendar month and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the next calendar month, except that, if there is no numerically corresponding day in the month in which that period ends, that period shall end on the last Business Day in that month;

 

(vii)                            a “ regulation ” includes any regulation, rule, official directive, request or guideline (in each case, whether or not having the force of law, but if not having the force of law, is generally complied with by the persons to whom it is addressed) of any governmental or supranational body, agency, department or regulatory, self regulatory authority or organisation; and

 

(viii)                         the determination of the extent to which a rate is “ for a period equal in length ” to the Term of any interest period shall disregard any inconsistency arising from the last day of the Term of such interest period being determined pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; and

 

(ix)                               U.S.$ ”, “ USD ” and “ U.S. Dollars ” denote the lawful currency of the United States. “ £ ”, “ GBP ” and “ Sterling ” denote the lawful currency of the United Kingdom. “ ”, “ EUR ” and “ euro ” denote the single currency of the Participating Member States. “ ¥ ” and “ Yen ” denote the lawful currency of Japan.

 

(x)                                  a provision of a law is a reference to that provision as amended or re-enacted;

 

(xi)                               a Clause or a Schedule is a reference to a clause of or a schedule to this Agreement;

 

(xii)                            a person includes its successors, transferees and assigns;

 

(xiii)                         words importing the plural shall include the singular and vice versa;

 

(xiv)                        a Finance Document or another document is a reference to that Finance Document or that other document as novated or, with the approval of Vodafone, amended or supplemented; and

 

(xv)                           a time of day is a reference to London time.

 

(b)                                  Unless the contrary intention appears, a term used in any other Finance Document or in any notice given under or in connection with any Finance Document has the same meaning in that Finance Document or notice as in this Agreement.

 

(c)                                   The index to and the headings in this Agreement are for convenience only and are to be ignored in construing this Agreement.

 

(d)                                  Unless expressly provided to the contrary in a Finance Document, a person who is not a party to a Finance Document may not enforce any of its terms under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.

 

22



 

(e)                                   Subject to Clause 25.2 ( Exceptions ) but otherwise notwithstanding any term of any Finance Document, the consent of any third party is not required for any variation (including any release or compromise of any liability under) or termination of that Finance Document.

 

2.                                       THE FACILITY

 

2.1                                Facility

 

Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Lenders grant to the Borrowers a committed multicurrency revolving 364 day facility under which the Lenders will, when requested by a Borrower, make cash advances in U.S. Dollars or Optional Currencies to that Borrower on a revolving basis during the Availability Period.

 

2.2                                Increase

 

(a)                                  Vodafone may by giving prior notice to the Agent by no later than the date falling 60 Business Days after the effective date of a cancellation of:

 

(i)                                      the Available Commitments of a Defaulting Lender in accordance with Clause 7.5(d) ( Right of prepayment and cancellation ); or

 

(ii)                                   the Commitments of a Lender in accordance with Clause 13.1 ( Illegality ),

 

request that the Total Commitments be increased (and the Total Commitments shall be so increased in an aggregate amount of up to the amount of the Available Commitments or Commitments so cancelled as follows:

 

(A)                                the increased Commitments will be assumed by one or more Lenders or other banks or financial institutions (each an “ Increase Lender ”) selected by Vodafone and which is further acceptable to the Agent (acting reasonably)) and each of which confirms its willingness to assume and does assume all the obligations of a Lender corresponding to that part of the increased Commitments which it is to assume, as if it had been an Original Lender;

 

(B)                                each of the Obligors and any Increase Lender shall assume obligations towards one another and/or acquire rights against one another as the Obligors and the Increase Lender would have assumed and/or acquired had the Increase Lender been an Original Lender;

 

(C)                                each Increase Lender shall become a Party as a “ Lender ” and any Increase Lender and each of the other Finance Parties shall assume obligations towards one another and acquire rights against one another as that Increase Lender and those Finance Parties would have assumed and/or acquired had the Increase Lender been an Original Lender;

 

(D)                                the Commitments of the other Lenders shall continue in full force and effect; and

 

(E)                                 any increase in the Total Commitments shall take effect on the date specified by Vodafone in the notice referred to above or any later date on which the conditions set out in paragraph (b) below are satisfied.

 

(b)                                  An increase in the Total Commitments will only be effective on:

 

23



 

(i)                                      the execution by the Agent of an Increase Confirmation from the relevant Increase Lender;

 

(ii)                                   in relation to an Increase Lender which is not a Lender immediately prior to the relevant increase the performance by the Agent of all necessary “ know your customer ” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to the assumption of the increased Commitments by that Increase Lender, the completion of which the Agent shall promptly notify to Vodafone and the Increase Lender.

 

(c)                                   Each Increase Lender, by executing the Increase Confirmation, confirms (for the avoidance of doubt) that the Agent has authority to execute on its behalf any amendment or waiver that has been approved by or on behalf of the requisite Lender or Lenders in accordance with this Agreement on or prior to the date on which the increase becomes effective.

 

(d)                                  Unless the Agent otherwise agrees or the increased Commitment is assumed by an existing Lender, Vodafone shall, on the date upon which the increase takes effect, pay to the Agent (for its own account) a fee of U.S.$3,000 and Vodafone shall promptly on demand pay the Agent the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees) reasonably incurred by it in connection with any increase in Commitments under this Clause 2.2.

 

(e)                                   Vodafone may pay to the Increase Lender a fee in the amount and at the times agreed between Vodafone and the Increase Lender in a letter between Vodafone and the Increase Lender setting out that fee. A reference in this Agreement to a Fee Letter shall include any letter referred to in this paragraph (e).

 

(f)                                    Clause 26.2(f) to 26.2(j) inclusive ( Transfers by Lenders ) shall apply mutatis mutandis in this Clause 2.2 in relation to an Increase Lender as if references in that Clause to:

 

(i)                                      an “ Existing Lender ” were references to all the Lenders immediately prior to the relevant increase;

 

(ii)                                   the “ New Lender ” were references to that “ Increase Lender ”; and

 

(iii)                                a “ retransfer ” were references to a “ transfer ”.

 

2.3                                Number of Requests and Advances

 

(a)                                  Unless the Agent agrees otherwise, no more than one Request may be delivered on any one day but that Request may specify any number of Advances.

 

(b)                                  Unless the Agent agrees otherwise, no more than 10 Advances may be outstanding at any one time.

 

2.4                                Nature of rights and obligations

 

(a)                                  The obligations of a Finance Party and each Obligor under the Finance Documents are several. Failure of a Finance Party or an Obligor to carry out those obligations does not relieve any other Party of its obligations under the Finance Documents. No Finance Party or Obligor is responsible for the obligations of any other Finance Party or Obligor under the Finance Documents save and to the extent that the relevant obligations are guaranteed by another Obligor.

 

24



 

(b)                                  The rights of a Finance Party under the Finance Documents are divided rights. A Finance Party may, except as otherwise stated in the Finance Documents, separately enforce those rights.

 

2.5                                Vodafone as Obligors’ agent

 

Each Obligor:

 

(a)                                  irrevocably authorises and instructs Vodafone to give and receive as agent on its behalf all notices (including Requests) and sign all documents in connection with the Finance Documents on its behalf (including but not limited to amendments and variations and execution of any new Finance Documents) and take such other action as may be necessary or desirable under or in connection with the Finance Documents; and

 

(b)                                  confirms that it will be bound by any action taken by Vodafone under or in connection with the Finance Documents.

 

2.6                                Actions of Vodafone as Obligors’ agent

 

The respective liabilities of each of the Obligors under the Finance Documents shall not be in any way affected by:

 

(a)                                  any irregularity (or purported irregularity) in any act done by or any failure (or purported failure) by Vodafone; or

 

(b)                                  Vodafone acting (or purporting to act) in any respect outside any authority conferred upon it by any Obligor; or

 

(c)                                   the failure (or purported failure) by or inability (or purported inability) of Vodafone to inform any Obligor of receipt by it of any notification under this Agreement.

 

3.                                       PURPOSE

 

3.1                                Purpose

 

Each Advance will be used for general corporate purposes of the Consolidated Group including, but not limited to, Acquisitions and in or towards providing support for the Consolidated Group’s continuing commercial paper programme.

 

3.2                                No monitoring

 

Without affecting the obligations of any Borrower in any way, no Finance Party is bound to monitor or verify the application of the proceeds of any Advance.

 

4.                                       CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

 

4.1                                Initial conditions precedent

 

The obligations of each Finance Party to any Borrower under this Agreement are subject to the conditions precedent that the Agent has notified Vodafone and the Lenders that it has received all of the documents set out in Part I of Schedule 2 in the agreed form or such other form and substance satisfactory to the Agent. The Agent will give such notice of receipt within two Business Days after receiving the relevant documents and finding them in form and substance satisfactory to it.

 

25



 

4.2                                Conditions to all drawdowns and rollovers

 

The obligations of each Lender to participate in any Advance are subject to the further conditions precedent that on the date of the Request for the Advance (if applicable) and on the date on which the relevant amount is to be drawn down:

 

(a)                                  the representations and warranties in Clause 15 ( Representations and Warranties ) are correct and will be correct immediately after the relevant Advance or amount is drawn down in each case in all material respects; and

 

(b)                                  in the case of a Rollover Advance, no Event of Default is continuing or would result from the proposed Advance, and in the case of any other drawdown, no Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from drawdown of the relevant Advance or amount.

 

5.                                       ADVANCES

 

5.1                                Receipt of Requests

 

A Borrower may borrow Advances under the Facility if the Agent receives, not later than 5.00 p.m. on the third Business Day before the proposed Drawdown Date a duly completed Request.

 

5.2                                Completion of Requests for Advances

 

A Request for an Advance will not be regarded as having been duly completed unless:

 

(a)                                  the Drawdown Date is a Business Day falling during the Availability Period;

 

(b)                                  only one currency is specified for each separate Advance and the Requested Amount for each separate Advance is in a minimum amount:

 

(i)                                      if in euro, of €25,000,000;

 

(ii)                                   if in U.S. Dollars, of U.S.$25,000,000; or

 

(iii)                                if in Yen, of ¥3,000,000,000.

 

or, in any such case:

 

(A)                                if less, is in an amount equal to the unutilised portion of the Total Commitments; or

 

(B)                                such other amount as Vodafone and the Agent may agree;

 

(c)                                   only one Term for each separate Advance is specified which:

 

(i)                                      does not overrun the Final Maturity Date; and

 

(ii)                                   is a period of seven days, one month, two, three (or such comparable period as the Borrower may adopt to reflect international futures exchange settlement dates) or six months (or such other period as may be agreed by Vodafone and (if not more than six months) the Agent or (if more than six months) all of the Lenders); and

 

(d)                                  the payment instructions comply with Clause 9.1 ( Place of payment ).

 

26



 

5.3                                Amount of each Lender’s participation in an Advance

 

The amount of a Lender’s participation in an Advance will be the proportion of the Requested Amount which its Commitment bears to the Total Commitment, in each case on the date of receipt of the relevant Request.

 

5.4                                Notification of the Lenders

 

The Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the details of the requested Advance and the amount of its participation in such Advance.

 

5.5                                Payment of proceeds

 

Subject to the terms of this Agreement, each Lender shall make its participation in an Advance available to the Agent for the Borrower concerned for value on the relevant Drawdown Date.

 

6.                                       REPAYMENT

 

6.1                                Repayment of Advances

 

(a)                                  Each Borrower shall repay each Advance made to it in full on its Maturity Date to the Agent for the Lenders, but since the Facility is available on a revolving basis during the Availability Period amounts repaid may be reborrowed subject to the terms of this Agreement.

 

(b)                                  No Advance may be outstanding after the Final Maturity Date.

 

6.2                                Separate Loans

 

(a)                                  At any time when a Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, the maturity date of each of the participations of that Lender in the Facility then outstanding will be automatically extended to the earlier of:

 

(i)                                      the first Business Day falling 364 days after the date on which the Agent or a Borrower gives notice to the Defaulting Lender and the other Parties that the relevant Lender has become a Defaulting Lender, and will be treated as separate Facility (the “ Separate Loans ”) denominated in the currency in which the relevant participations are outstanding; and

 

(ii)                                   the last day of the Availability Period.

 

(b)                                  A Borrower to whom a Separate Loan is outstanding may prepay that Separate Loan by giving 10 Business Days’ prior notice to the Agent. The Agent will forward a copy of a prepayment notice received in accordance with this paragraph (b) to the Defaulting Lender concerned as soon as practicable on receipt.

 

(c)                                   Interest in respect of a Separate Loan will accrue for successive Terms selected by a Borrower by the time and date specified by the Agent acting reasonably and will be payable by that Borrower to the Defaulting Lender on the last day of each Term of that Advance.

 

(d)                                  The terms of this Agreement relating to the Facility generally shall continue to apply to Separate Loans other than to the extent inconsistent with paragraphs (a) to (c) above inclusive in which case those paragraphs shall prevail in respect of any Separate Loans.

 

(e)                                   If at any time while a Separate Loan is outstanding the Borrower transfers the relevant Defaulting Lender’s outstanding participations to a Replacement Lender in accordance with Clause 26.5 ( Replacement of Lenders ), each Separate Loan transferred to the Replacement

 

27



 

Lender will automatically become, on the last day of the current Term for each such Separate Loan, an Advance and paragraphs (a) to (c) above (inclusive) shall cease to apply to that Advance while such Replacement Lender is not a Defaulting Lender.

 

7.                                       PREPAYMENT AND CANCELLATION

 

7.1                                Automatic cancellation of Total Commitments

 

The Commitments of each Lender shall be automatically cancelled at the close of business in London on the Final Maturity Date.

 

7.2                                Voluntary cancellation

 

Vodafone may by giving not less than one Business Day’s prior written notice to the Agent, cancel the unutilised portion of the Total Commitments in whole or in part (but, if in part, in an aggregate minimum amount of U.S.$75,000,000) in such proportions as Vodafone may designate in the notice of cancellation. Any cancellation in part shall be applied against the Commitment of each Lender pro rata.

 

7.3                                Voluntary prepayment

 

(a)                                  Any Borrower may by giving not less than five Business Days’ prior written notice to the Agent, prepay the whole or any part of the Advances (but, if in part, in an aggregate minimum Original Dollar Amount, taking all prepayments made by all the Borrowers on the same day together, of U.S.$100,000,000).

 

(b)                                  Any voluntary prepayment in part made under paragraph (a) above will be applied against all the Advances pro rata (or against such Advances as Vodafone (or the relevant Borrower) may designate in the notice of prepayment).

 

7.4                                Change of Control

 

If control of Vodafone (other than as a result of a Hive Up) or, following a Hive Up, NewTopco, passes to any person acting either individually or in concert (a “ Change of Control ”):

 

(a)                                  Vodafone shall, promptly upon becoming aware thereof, notify the Agent who shall inform the Lenders;

 

(b)                                  any Lender may, if it determines that as a result of the Change of Control:

 

(i)                                      the level of its exposure to Vodafone, NewTopco and/or the entity which acquires control of Vodafone or NewTopco, as the case may be is unacceptably high in each case in the sole opinion of the Lender; or

 

(ii)                                   it no longer wishes (in its sole discretion and acting in good faith) to continue lending to Vodafone or NewTopco, as the case may be (whether for relationship, internal policy or any other reason);

 

propose to Vodafone (through the Agent) the revised terms (if any) which it requires in order to continue to participate in the Facility; and

 

(c)                                   if those revised terms have not been agreed with that Lender (or that Lender is not prepared, for one or more of the reasons set out in paragraph (b)(i) or (b)(ii) above, to continue on any terms) within 30 days of the date of notification in paragraph (a) above (or such longer period as that Lender may agree in writing) then on expiry of 30 days

 

28



 

from the date of notification in paragraph (a) above that Lender may by notice to the Agent (which shall promptly inform Vodafone) cancel the whole (but not part only) of such Lender’s Commitment and following service of such notice:

 

(i)                                      such Lender’s Commitment shall be cancelled on the date of service of the notice or as specified in it; and

 

(ii)                                   all such Lender’s outstanding Advances shall be repaid or prepaid on the last day of the then current Term applicable thereto, and no amount may be outstanding to such Lender thereafter.

 

For the purposes of this Clause 7.4, “ control ” has the meaning given to it in relation to a body corporate by Section 1124 of the Taxes Act.

 

7.5                                Right of prepayment and cancellation

 

If:

 

(a)                                  any Borrower is required to pay or is notified by any Lender in writing that it will be required to pay any amount to a Lender under Clause 10 ( Taxes ) or Clause 12 ( Increased costs ); or

 

(b)                                  if circumstances exist such that a Borrower will be required to pay any amount to a Lender under Clause 10 ( Taxes ) or Clause 12 ( Increased Costs ),

 

(c)                                   Vodafone may, whilst (in the case of paragraphs (a) and (b) above) the circumstances giving rise or which will give rise to the requirement continue, serve a notice of prepayment and cancellation on that Lender through the Agent. On the date falling five Business Days after the date of service of the notice:

 

(i)                                      each Borrower will prepay the participations of that Lender in all outstanding Advances made to that Borrower; and

 

(ii)                                   the Lender’s Commitment shall be permanently cancelled on the date of service of the notice.

 

(d)                                  If any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, Vodafone may, at any time whilst the Lender continues to be a Defaulting Lender, give the Agent five Business Days’ notice of cancellation of each Available Commitment of that Lender.

 

(e)                                   On the notice referred to in paragraph (d) above becoming effective, each Available Commitment of the Defaulting Lender shall immediately be reduced to zero.

 

(f)                                    The Agent shall as soon as practicable after receipt of a notice referred to in paragraph (e) above, notify all the Lenders.

 

7.6                                Miscellaneous provisions

 

(a)                                  Any notice of prepayment and/or cancellation under this Agreement is irrevocable. The Agent shall notify the Lenders promptly of receipt of any such notice.

 

(b)                                  All prepayments under this Agreement shall be made together with accrued interest on the amount prepaid and any other amounts due under this Agreement in respect of that prepayment

 

29



 

(including, but not limited to, any amounts payable under Clause 23.2(c) ( Other indemnities ) if not made on the Maturity Date of the relevant Advance).

 

(c)                                   No prepayment or cancellation is permitted except in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement.

 

(d)                                  Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, any amount prepaid in respect of the Facility during the Availability Period may be reborrowed.

 

(e)                                   Subject to Clause 2.2 ( Increase ), no amount of the Total Commitments cancelled under this Agreement may subsequently be reinstated.

 

8.                                       INTEREST

 

8.1                                Interest rate for all Advances

 

(a)                                  The rate of interest on each Advance for its Term, is the rate per annum determined by the Agent to be the aggregate of:

 

(i)                                      the Margin; and

 

(ii)                                   LIBOR or, in the case of an Advance denominated in euro, EURIBOR.

 

8.2                                Due dates

 

Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, accrued interest on each Advance is payable by the relevant Borrower on its Maturity Date and also, in the case of any Advance with a Term longer than six months, at six monthly intervals after its Drawdown Date for so long as the Term is outstanding.

 

8.3                                Default interest

 

(a)                                  If a Borrower fails to pay any amount payable by it under this Agreement when due (an “ Overdue Amount ”), it shall forthwith on demand by the Agent, pay interest on the Overdue Amount from the due date up to the date of actual payment, both before and after judgment, at a rate (the “ Default Rate ”) determined by the Agent to be one per cent. per annum (the “ Default Margin ”) above the higher of:

 

(i)                                      the rate on the Overdue Amount under Clause 8.1 ( Interest rate for all Advances ) immediately before the due date (in the case of principal); and

 

(ii)                                   the rate which would have been payable under Clause 8.1 ( Interest rate for all Advances ) if the Overdue Amount had, during the period of non-payment, constituted an Advance in the currency of the Overdue Amount for such successive Terms of such duration as the Agent may determine (each a “ Designated Term ”),

 

except that during any grace period specified in Clause 18.2 ( Non-payment ) the Default Margin portion of the Default Rate will only apply to overdue payments of principal.

 

(b)                                  The Default Rate will be determined on each Business Day or the first day of, or two Business Days before the first day of, the relevant Designated Term, as appropriate.

 

(c)                                   If the Agent determines that deposits in the currency of the Overdue Amount are not at the relevant time being made available by the Reference Banks to leading banks in the Relevant Interbank Market, the Default Rate will be determined by reference to the cost of funds to the

 

30



 

Agent from whatever sources it selects, acting reasonably at all times, after consultation with the Reference Banks.

 

(d)                                  Default interest will be compounded at the end of each Designated Term.

 

(e)                                   The Agent shall notify Vodafone of the duration of each Designated Term.

 

8.4                                Notification of rates of interest

 

The Agent will promptly notify each relevant Party of the determination of a rate of interest under this Agreement.

 

8.5                                Non-Business Days

 

If a Term would otherwise end on a day which is not a Business Day, that Term shall instead end on the next Business Day in that calendar month (if there is one) or the preceding Business Day (if there is not).

 

9.                                       PAYMENTS

 

9.1                                Place of payment

 

All payments by an Obligor or a Lender under this Agreement shall be made to the Agent to its account at such office or bank in the principal financial centre of the country of the relevant currency (or, in the case of euro, in the principal financial centre of a Participating Member State or London) or as it may notify to that Obligor or Lender in writing for this purpose.

 

9.2                                Funds

 

Payments under this Agreement to the Agent shall be made for value on the due date at such times and in such funds as the Agent may specify to the Party concerned as being customary at the time for the settlement of transactions in the relevant currency in the place for payment.

 

9.3                                Distribution

 

(a)                                  Each payment received by the Agent under this Agreement for another Party shall, subject to paragraphs (b) and (c) below, be made available by the Agent to that Party by payment (on the date of value of receipt and in the currency and funds of receipt) to its account with such bank in the principal financial centre of the country of the relevant currency (or, in the case of euro, in the principal financial centre of a Participating Member State or London) as it may notify to the Agent for this purpose by not less than five Business Days’ prior notice.

 

(b)                                  The Agent may apply any amount received by it for an Obligor in or towards payment (on the date and in the currency and funds of receipt) of any amount due from an Obligor under this Agreement in the same currency on such date or in or towards the purchase of any amount of any currency to be so applied.

 

(c)                                   Where a sum is to be paid under this Agreement to the Agent for the account of another Party, the Agent is not obliged to pay that sum to that Party until it has established that it has actually received that sum. The Agent may, however, assume that the sum has been paid to it in accordance with this Agreement and, in reliance on that assumption, make available to that Party a corresponding amount. If the sum has not been made available but the Agent has paid a corresponding amount to another Party, that Party shall forthwith on demand refund the corresponding amount to the Agent together with interest on that amount from the date of

 

31



 

payment to the date of receipt, calculated at a rate reasonably determined by the Agent to reflect its cost of funds.

 

9.4                                Currency

 

(a)

 

(i)                                      A repayment or prepayment of an Advance is payable in the currency in which the Advance is denominated.

 

(ii)                                   Interest is payable in the currency in which the relevant amount in respect of which it is payable is denominated.

 

(iii)                                Amounts payable in respect of costs, expenses, taxes and the like are payable in the currency in which they are incurred.

 

(iv)                               Any other amount payable under this Agreement is, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, payable in U.S. Dollars.

 

(b)                                  Unless otherwise prohibited by law, if more than one currency or currency unit are at the same time recognised by the central bank of any country as the lawful currency of that country, then:

 

(i)                                      any reference in the Finance Documents to, and any obligations arising under the Finance Documents in, the currency of that country shall be translated into, or paid in, the currency or currency unit of that country designated by the Agent (acting reasonably and after consultation with Vodafone); and

 

(ii)                                   any translation from one currency or currency unit to another shall be at the official rate of exchange recognised by the central bank for the conversion of the currency unit into the other, rounded up or down by the Agent (acting reasonably); and

 

(iii)                                if a change in any currency of a country occurs this Agreement will be amended to the extent the Agent and Vodafone agree (such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld) to be necessary to reflect the change in currency and to put the Lenders and the Obligors in the same position, as far as possible, that they would have been in if no change in currency had occurred.

 

9.5                                Set-off and counterclaim

 

Subject to Clause 28.4 ( Set-off by Obligors ), all payments made by an Obligor under this Agreement shall be made without set-off or counterclaim.

 

9.6                                Non-Business Days

 

(a)                                  If a payment under this Agreement is due on a day which is not a Business Day, the due date for that payment shall instead be the next Business Day in the same calendar month (if there is one) or the preceding Business Day (if there is not).

 

(b)                                  During any extension of the due date for payment of any principal under this Agreement interest is payable on the principal at the rate payable on the original due date.

 

9.7                                Impaired Agent

 

(a)                                  If, at any time, the Agent becomes an Impaired Agent, an Obligor or a Lender which is required to make a payment under the Finance Documents to the Agent in accordance with this Clause 9 ( Payments ) may instead either pay that amount direct to the required recipient or pay that

 

32



 

amount to an interest-bearing account held with an Acceptable Bank and in relation to which no Insolvency Event has occurred and is continuing, in the name of the Obligor or the Lender making the payment and designated as a trust account for the benefit of the Party or Parties beneficially entitled to that payment under the Finance Documents. In each case such payment must be made on the due date for payment under the Finance Documents.

 

(b)                                  All interest accrued on the amount standing to the credit of the trust account shall be for the benefit of the beneficiaries of that trust account pro rata to their respective entitlements.

 

(c)                                   A party who has made a payment in accordance with this Clause 9.7 shall be discharged of the relevant payment obligation under the Finance Documents and shall not take any credit risk with respect to the amounts standing to the credit of the trust account.

 

(d)                                  Promptly upon the appointment of a successor Agent, in accordance with Clause 19.15 ( Resignation of the Agent ), each Party which has made a payment to a trust account in accordance with this Clause 9.7 shall give all requisite instructions to the bank with whom the trust account is held to transfer the amount) together with any accrued interest to the successor Agent for distribution in accordance with Clause 9.3 ( Distribution ).

 

9.8                                Partial payments

 

(a)                                  If the Agent receives a payment insufficient to discharge all the amounts then due and payable by an Obligor under this Agreement, the Agent shall apply that payment towards the obligations of the Obligors under this Agreement in the following order:

 

(i)                                      first , in or towards payment pro rata of any unpaid costs, fees and expenses of the Agent under this Agreement;

 

(ii)                                   secondly , in or towards payment pro rata of any accrued fees due but unpaid under Clause 20 ( Fees );

 

(iii)                                thirdly , in or towards payment pro rata of any interest due but unpaid under this Agreement;

 

(iv)                               fourthly , in or towards payment pro rata of any principal due but unpaid under this Agreement; and

 

(v)                                  fifthly , in or towards payment pro rata of any other sum due but unpaid under this Agreement.

 

(b)                                  The Agent shall, if so directed by all the Lenders, vary the order set out in paragraphs (ii) to (v) above. The Agent shall notify Vodafone of any such variation.

 

(c)                                   Paragraphs (a) and (b) above shall override any appropriation made by any Obligor.

 

10.                                TAXES

 

10.1                         Gross-up

 

All payments by an Obligor to a Finance Party under the Finance Documents shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for or on account of any Relevant Taxes, except to the extent that the Obligor is required by law to make payment subject to any such taxes. Subject to Clause 10.4 ( Qualifying Lenders ) and Clause 10.5 ( U.S. Taxes ), if any Relevant Tax or amounts in respect of Relevant Tax are deducted or withheld from any amounts payable or paid by an

 

33



 

Obligor, to a Finance Party under the Finance Documents (in each case other than a FATCA Deduction), the Obligor shall pay such additional amounts as may be necessary to ensure that the relevant Finance Party receives a net amount equal to the full amount which it would have received had that Relevant Tax or those amounts in respect of Relevant Tax not been so deducted or withheld.

 

10.2                         Indemnity

 

Save to the extent that the relevant Finance Party is compensated by an increased payment under Clause 10.1 ( Gross-up ), but otherwise without prejudice to the provisions of Clause 10.1 ( Gross-up ), but subject to Clause 10.4 ( Qualifying Lenders ) and Clause 10.5 ( U.S. Taxes ), if a Finance Party or the Agent on behalf of that Finance Party is required to make any payment on account of any Relevant Tax on or in relation to any sum received or receivable hereunder by such Finance Party or the Agent on behalf of that Finance Party (including a sum received or receivable under this Clause 10) or any liability in respect of any such payment on account of any Relevant Tax is incurred by such Finance Party or the Agent on behalf of that Finance Party (in all cases other than any Tax on Overall Net Income or any FATCA Deduction), the relevant Obligor shall, within five Business Days of demand by the Agent indemnify such Finance Party against such payment or liability in respect of such payment, together with any interest, penalties, reasonable costs and reasonable expenses payable or incurred in connection therewith other than any such interest, penalties, costs or expenses arising as a result of a failure by a Finance Party to make payment of such tax when due.

 

10.3                         Tax receipts

 

All taxes required by law to be deducted or withheld by an Obligor from any amounts paid or payable under the Finance Documents shall be paid by the relevant Obligor when due and the Obligor shall, within 15 days of the payment being made, deliver to the Agent for the relevant Lender evidence satisfactory to that Lender acting reasonably (including any relevant tax receipts which have been received) that the payment has been duly remitted to the appropriate authority.

 

10.4                         Qualifying Lenders

 

(a)                                  An Obligor is not required to pay to a Lender any amounts under Clause 10.1 ( Gross-up ) or Clause 10.2 ( Indemnity ) in respect of Relevant Tax imposed by the United Kingdom if, on the date on which the payment falls due, the relevant Lender is a Party but is not a Qualifying Lender (other than as a result of the introduction, suspension, withdrawal or cancellation of, or change in, or change in the official interpretation, administration or official application of, any law, regulation having the force of law, tax treaty or any published practice or published concession of any relevant taxing authority in any jurisdiction with which the relevant Lender has a connection, occurring after the Signing Date or, if later, the date on which that Lender becomes a Party).

 

(b)                                  A Treaty Lender shall:

 

(i)                                      promptly and, in any event, within seven Business Days after it becomes a Lender, deliver to its local revenue authority for certification such UK HMRC forms (“ Claim Forms ”) as may be required for any Obligor making a payment to such Treaty Lender to

 

34



 

obtain authorisation from the UK HMRC to make such payment without deduction for or on account of any taxes;

 

(ii)                                   in circumstances where the procedure for Treaty relief contemplated in paragraph (i) above requires a local revenue authority to return a certified Claim Form to the Treaty Lender for submission by that Treaty Lender to the UK HMRC, (a) take all reasonable follow up action available to the Treaty Lender to facilitate the return in a timely manner to the Treaty Lender of such Claim Form, duly stamped or certified by the relevant revenue authority and (b) submit such Claim Form to the UK HMRC as soon as reasonably practicable (and in any event within seven Business Days) after receipt of that Claim Form from the local revenue authority; and

 

(iii)                                in all other circumstances relating to the Treaty relief procedure contemplated in (i) above, following the submission of Claim Forms by the Treaty Lender to the relevant local revenue authority, respond promptly to any further requests any Treaty Lender receives from the relevant local revenue authority and, on receipt of written request from Vodafone to do so, take all reasonable follow up action to facilitate the submission by the relevant local revenue authority of duly stamped or certified Claim Forms to the UK HMRC in a timely manner.

 

If there is any change in the procedure by which certification is to be made or to be notified to the UK HMRC, the Treaty Lender’s obligations shall be modified in such manner as the Treaty Lender may reasonably determine so that such amended obligations shall, as far as possible, have the same or equivalent effect as the original obligations. No Obligor resident in the UK shall be liable to pay any sums to any Treaty Lender under Clause 10.1 ( Gross-up ) or Clause 10.2 ( Indemnity ) unless the Treaty Lender has complied with its obligations under this Clause 10.4.

 

(c)                                   Subject to paragraph (d) below, each Lender warrants to Vodafone, on each date upon which it makes an Advance and on the due date for each payment of interest to the Lender:

 

(i)                                      that it is a Qualifying Lender; and

 

(ii)                                   if it is a Treaty Lender, it has delivered (or will deliver within the time limits specified herein) the forms described in paragraph (b) above.

 

(d)                                  If a Lender or, as the case may be, the Facility Office of a Lender is aware that it is or will become unable to make the warranty set out in paragraph (c) above it will promptly notify the Agent and Vodafone. Notwithstanding such notification to Vodafone, the Agent will promptly notify Vodafone and from the date of the first such notification received by Vodafone the warranty in paragraph (c) above will no longer be made by that Lender.

 

10.5                         U.S. Taxes

 

(a)                                  A U.S. Tax Obligor shall not be required to pay any amount pursuant to Clause 10.1 ( Gross-up ) or any amount pursuant to Clause 10.2 ( Indemnity ) in respect of Relevant Tax imposed by the United States (including, without limitation, federal, state, local or other income taxes, branch profits or franchise taxes “ U.S. Taxes ”) with respect to a sum payable by it pursuant to this Agreement to a Lender if on the date a payment of interest falls due under this Agreement either:

 

35



 

(i)                                      in the case of a Lender which is not a United States person (as such term is defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code), such Lender is not entitled to receive interest payable under this Agreement free and clear of any U.S. Taxes imposed by way of deduction or withholding at the source under applicable law as in effect on the date such Lender becomes a party to this Agreement or, if such Lender has designated a new Facility Office, the date of such designation; or

 

(ii)                                   such Lender has failed to provide the relevant U.S. Tax Obligor with the appropriate form, certificate or other information with respect to such sum payable that it was required to provide pursuant to paragraphs (b) and (c) below; or

 

(iii)                                such Lender is subject to such tax by reason of any connection between the Lender or its Facility Office and the jurisdiction imposing such tax on the Lender or its Facility Office other than a connection arising solely from this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby.

 

(b)                                  At any time after a U.S. Tax Obligor becomes (and while there continues to be a U.S. Tax Obligor) a Party to this Agreement, if a Lender is not a United States person (as such term is defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) it shall submit, as soon as reasonably practicable after:

 

(i)                                      the date on which the U.S. Tax Obligor becomes a Party to this Agreement (if requested by the relevant U.S. Tax Obligor);

 

(ii)                                   the date on which the relevant Lender becomes a Party to this Agreement; or

 

(iii)                                the date on which the relevant Lender designates a new Facility Office,

 

(but, in each case, no later than the due date for the next interest payment), in duplicate to each U.S. Tax Obligor duly completed and signed originals of either United States Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or Form W-8ECI or applicable successor form relating to such Lender and evidencing such Lender’s complete exemption from withholding on all amounts (to which such withholding would otherwise apply) to be received by such Lender, including fees, pursuant to this Agreement in connection with any borrowing by a U.S. Tax Obligor. Thereafter such Lender shall submit to each U.S. Tax Obligor such additional duly completed and signed originals of one or the other such forms (or such successor forms as shall be adopted from time to time by the relevant United States taxation authorities) or any additional information, in each case as may be required under then current United States law or regulations to claim the inapplicability of or exemption from United States withholding taxes on payments in respect of all amounts (to which such withholding would otherwise apply) to be received by such Lender, including fees, pursuant to this Agreement in connection with any borrowing by a U.S. Tax Obligor unless such Lender is unable to do so as a result of a change in, the introduction of, suspension, withdrawal or cancellation of, or change in the official interpretation, administration or official application of, the Code or any regulation promulgated thereunder or of a convention or agreement for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion between the government of the United States and the jurisdiction in which the relevant Lender has a connection, occurring after the date the Lender becomes a Party to this Agreement or, if such Lender has designated a new Facility Office, the date of such designation.

 

36



 

(c)                                   At any time after a U.S. Tax Obligor becomes (and while there continues to be a U.S. Tax Obligor) a Party to this Agreement, if a Lender is a United States person (as such term is defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) it shall, as soon as practicable after:

 

(i)                                      the date on which the U.S. Tax Obligor becomes a Party to this Agreement (if requested by the relevant U.S. Tax Obligor);

 

(ii)                                   the date on which the relevant Lender becomes a Party to this Agreement; or

 

(iii)                                the date on which the relevant Lender designates a new Facility Office,

 

(but, in each case, no later than the due date for the next interest payment), and thereafter, on or before the date that any such form expires or becomes obsolete or after the occurrence of any event requiring a change in the most recent form or forms to be delivered, submit in duplicate to each U.S. Tax Obligor a duly completed and signed United States Internal Revenue form W-9 evidencing that such Lender is such a United States person and shall submit any additional information that may be necessary to avoid United States withholding taxes on all payments, including fees, (to which such withholding would otherwise apply) to be received pursuant to this Agreement in connection with any borrowing by a U.S. Tax Obligor.

 

10.6                         Refund of Tax Credits

 

If any Obligor pays any amount to a Finance Party under this Clause 10 (a “ Tax Payment ”) and that Finance Party obtains a refund of a tax, or a credit against tax by reason of either the circumstances giving rise to the Obligor’s obligation to make the Tax Payment or that Tax Payment (a “ Tax Credit ”) then that Finance Party shall reimburse that Obligor such amount, which that Finance Party determines in good faith, as can be determined to be the proportion of the Tax Credit as will leave that Finance Party (after that reimbursement) in no better or worse position than it would have been in if the Tax Payment had not been paid. Nothing in this Clause 10 shall interfere with the right of each Finance Party to arrange its affairs in whatever manner it thinks fit and no Finance Party is obliged to disclose any information regarding its tax affairs or computations to an Obligor which it reasonably considers confidential.

 

10.7                         FATCA Information

 

(a)                                  Subject to paragraph (c) below, each Party must, within ten Business Days of a reasonable request by another Party;

 

(i)                                      confirm to that other Party whether it is:

 

(A)                                a FATCA Exempt Party; or

 

(B)                                not a FATCA Exempt Party; and

 

(ii)                                   supply to that other Party such forms, documentation and other information relating to its status under FATCA as that other Party reasonably requests for the purposes of that other Party’s compliance with FATCA.

 

(b)                                  If a Party confirms to another Party pursuant to paragraph (a)(i) above that it is a FATCA Exempt Party and it subsequently becomes aware that it is not, or has ceased to be a FATCA Exempt Party, that Party must notify that other Party reasonably promptly.

 

37



 

(c)                                   Paragraph (a) above shall not oblige any Party to do anything, which would or might in its reasonable opinion constitute a breach of:

 

(i)                                      any law or regulation;

 

(ii)                                   any fiduciary duty; or

 

(iii)                                any duty of confidentiality.

 

(d)                                  If a Party fails to confirm whether or not it is a FATCA Exempt Party or to supply forms, documentation or other information requested in accordance with paragraph (a)(i) or (ii) above (including, for the avoidance of doubt, where paragraph (c) above applies), then such Party is to be treated for the purposes of the Finance Documents (and payments made under them) as if it is a not a FATCA Exempt Party until such time as the Party in question provides the requested confirmation, forms, documentation or other information.

 

(e)                                   If a Borrower is a U.S. Tax Obligor, or where the Agent reasonably believes that its obligations under FATCA require it, each Lender shall, within ten Business Days of:

 

(i)                                      where a Borrower is a U.S. Tax Obligor and the relevant Lender is an Original Lender, the date of this Agreement;

 

(ii)                                   where a Borrower is a U.S. Tax Obligor and the relevant Lender is a New Lender, the relevant Transfer Date;

 

(iii)                                the date a new U.S. Tax Obligor accedes as a Borrower; or

 

(iv)                               where the Borrower is not a U.S. Tax Obligor, the date of a request from the Agent,

 

supply to the Agent:

 

(v)                                  a withholding certificate on Form W-8 or Form W-9 (or any successor form) (as applicable); or

 

(vi)                               any withholding statement and other documentation, authorisations and waivers as the Agent may require to certify or establish the status of such Lender under FATCA.

 

The Agent shall provide any withholding certificate, withholding statement, documentation, authorisations and waivers it receives from a Lender pursuant to this paragraph (e) to the Borrower and shall be entitled to rely on any such withholding certificate, withholding statement, documentation, authorisations and waivers provided without further verification. The Agent shall not be liable for any action taken by it under or in connection with this paragraph (e).

 

(f)                                    Each Lender agrees that if any withholding certificate, withholding statement, documentation, authorisations and waivers provided to the Agent pursuant to paragraph (e) above is or becomes materially inaccurate or incomplete, it shall promptly update it and provide such updated withholding certificate, withholding statement, documentation, authorisations and waivers to the Agent unless it is unlawful for the Lender to do so (in

 

38



 

which case the Lender shall promptly notify, in writing, the Agent). The Agent, shall provide any such updated withholding certificate, withholding statement, documentation, authorisations and waivers or a copy of any such notification to the Borrower. The Agent shall not be liable for any action taken by it under or in connection with paragraphs (e) or (f).

 

10.8                         Other information

 

(a)                                  Subject to paragraph (b) below, each Party must, within ten Business Days of a reasonable request by another Party, supply to that other Party such forms, documentation and other information relating to its status as that other Party requests to enable that other Party to comply with any regulations made under section 222 of the Finance Act 2013 or any other applicable law or regulation implementing any similar international arrangements for the exchange of Tax or financial information between jurisdictions.

 

(b)                                  No Party is obliged to do anything under paragraph (a) above which would or might in its reasonable opinion constitute a breach of any applicable:

 

(i)                                      law or regulation;

 

(ii)                                   fiduciary duty; or

 

(iii)                                duty of confidentiality.

 

11.9                         FATCA Deduction

 

(a)                                  Each Party may make any FATCA Deduction it is required to make by FATCA, and any payment required in connection with that FATCA Deduction, and no Party is required to increase any payment in respect of which it makes such FATCA Deduction or otherwise compensate the recipient of the payment for that FATCA Deduction.

 

(b)                                  Each Party must, promptly upon becoming aware that it must make a FATCA Deduction (or that there is any change in the rate or the basis of such FATCA Deduction), notify the Party to whom it is making the payment and, in addition, must notify Vodafone, the Agent shall notify the other Finance Parties.

 

11.                                MARKET DISRUPTION

 

11.1                         Market disturbance

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein contained, if and each time that prior to or on a Drawdown Date relative to an Advance to be made:

 

(a)                                  only one or no Reference Bank supplies a rate for the purposes of determining LIBOR or EURIBOR (as the case may be) in accordance with paragraph (c) of the relevant definition; or

 

(b)                                  the Agent is notified by Lenders whose participations in that Advance would represent 50 per cent. or more of that Advance that (i) deposits in the currency of that Advance may not in the ordinary course of business be available to them in the Relevant Interbank Market for a period equal to the Term concerned in amounts sufficient to fund their

 

39



 

participations in that Advance or (ii) the cost to it of obtaining matching deposits in the Relevant Interbank Market would be in excess of EURIBOR or LIBOR; or

 

(c)                                   the Agent (after consultation with the Reference Banks) shall have determined (which determination shall be conclusive and binding upon all Parties) that by reason of circumstances affecting the Relevant Interbank Market generally, adequate and fair means do not exist for ascertaining the LIBOR or EURIBOR (as the case may be) applicable to such Advance during its Term,

 

the Agent shall promptly give written notice of such determination or notification to Vodafone and to each of the Lenders.

 

11.2                         Alternative rates

 

If the Agent gives a notice under Clause 11.1 ( Market disturbance ):

 

(a)                                  Vodafone and the Lenders whose participations in the relevant Advance would represent 50 per cent. or more of that Advance may (through the Agent) agree that (except in the case of a Rollover Advance) that Advance shall not be borrowed; or

 

(b)                                  in the absence of such agreement by the Drawdown Date specified in the relevant Request (and in any event in the case of a Rollover Advance):

 

(i)                                      the Term of the relevant Advance shall be one month;

 

(ii)                                   the Advance shall be made in the currency requested or, in the case of Clause 11.1(b)(i) ( Market disturbance ), in U.S. Dollars (or, if the currency requested for the relevant Advance is U.S. Dollars, euro); and

 

(iii)                                during the Term of the relevant Advance the rate of interest applicable to such Advance shall be the Margin plus the rate per annum notified by each Lender concerned to the Agent before the last day of such Term to be that which expresses as a percentage rate per annum the cost to such Lender of funding its participation in such Advance from whatever sources it may reasonably select.

 

12.                                INCREASED COSTS

 

12.1                         Increased costs

 

(a)                                  Except as provided below in this Clause 12, Vodafone will forthwith on demand by a Finance Party pay that Finance Party the amount of any increased cost incurred by it or any of its Affiliates as a result of:

 

(i)                                      the introduction of or any change in (or in the interpretation, administration or application of) any law or regulation (including any relating to reserve asset, special deposit, cash ratio, liquidity or capital adequacy requirements or any other form of banking or monetary control);

 

(ii)                                   the compliance with any law or regulation made after the date of this Agreement; or

 

(iii)                                without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the implementation or application of or compliance with Basel III or CRD IV or any other law or regulation which implements Basel III or CRD IV (whether such implementation, application or compliance is by a government, regulator, Finance Party or any of its Affiliates).

 

40



 

(b)                                  Subject to Clause 12.3 ( Basel III cost claims ), promptly following the service of any demand, Vodafone will pay to that Finance Party such amount as that Finance Party certifies in the demand (with sufficient details for the calculations to be verified) will in its reasonable opinion compensate it for the applicable increased cost and in relation to the period expressed to be covered by such demand.

 

(c)                                   When calculating an increased cost, a Finance Party will only apply the costs incurred in relation to the Facility. Nothing contained in this Clause 12.1 shall oblige the Finance Party to disclose any information (other than information which is readily available in the public domain or which is not in the reasonable opinion of the Finance Party confidential) relating to the way in which it employs its capital or arranges its internal financial affairs.

 

(d)                                  In this Agreement “ increased cost ” means:

 

(i)                                      an additional cost incurred by a Finance Party or any of its Holding Companies as a result of it performing, maintaining or funding its obligations under, this Agreement; or

 

(ii)                                   that portion of an additional cost incurred by a Finance Party or any of its Holding Companies in making, funding or maintaining all or any advances comprised in a class of advances formed by or including its participations in the Advances made or to be made under this Agreement as is attributable to it making, funding or maintaining its participations; or

 

(iii)                                a reduction in any amount payable to a Finance Party or the effective return to a Finance Party under this Agreement or on its capital (or the capital of any of its Holding Companies); or

 

(iv)                               the amount of any payment made by a Finance Party, or the amount of interest or other return foregone by a Finance Party, calculated by reference to any amount received or receivable by a Finance Party from any other Party under this Agreement.

 

12.2                         Exceptions

 

Clause 12.1 ( Increased costs ) does not apply to any increased cost:

 

(a)                                  attributable to any tax or amounts in respect of tax; or

 

(b)                                  occurring as a result of any negligence or default by a Lender or its Holding Company relating to a breach of any law or regulation including but not limited to a breach by that Lender or Holding Company of any fiscal, monetary or capital adequacy limit imposed on it by any law or regulation; or

 

(c)                                   to the extent that the increased cost was incurred in respect of any day more than six months before the first date on which it was reasonably practicable to notify Vodafone thereof (except in the case of any retrospective change); or

 

(d)                                  attributable to the implementation or application of or compliance with the “ International Convergence of Capital Measurement and Capital Standards, a Revised Framework ” published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in June 2004 in the form existing on the date of this Agreement (“ Basel II ”) or any other law or regulation which implements Basel II (whether such implementation, application or compliance is

 

41



 

by a government, regulator, Finance Party or any of its Affiliates). For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing shall not include any amendments, supplements, restatements or changes to Basel II to implement Basel III; or

 

(e)                                   attributable to a FATCA Deduction required to be made by a Party

 

12.3                         Basel III Cost claims

 

(a)                                  Vodafone need not make any payment for a Basel III Cost, except to the extent that the Basel III Cost is attributable to an amount of an Advance which has been drawn at any time by an Obligor under this Agreement.

 

(b)                                  Without limiting Clause 12.2 ( Exceptions ) Vodafone need not make any payment for a Basel III Cost unless the claiming Finance Party:

 

(i)                                      provides reasonable detail of the basis of calculation of such Basel III Costs provided that this obligation to provide reasonable detail does not extend to information and detail that a Finance Party considers it is not legally allowed to disclose, is confidential to third parties, is confidential for internal reasons or is price-sensitive in relation to listed shares or other instruments issued by that Finance Party or any of its Affiliates;

 

(ii)                                   confirms to Vodafone that it is the Finance Party’s policy to claim Basel III Costs to a similar extent from similar borrowers in relation to similar facilities; and

 

(iii)                                confirms to Vodafone that it is making a claim for those Basel III Costs within three months of incurring them.

 

(c)                                   If any claim by any Finance Party is made under this Clause 12 ( Increased Costs ) in respect of Basel III Costs, that Finance Party and Vodafone shall enter into discussions (for a period not exceeding 15 Business Days) as to the basis for such claim and whether it is reasonable for Vodafone to pay such claim in the circumstances.

 

(d)                                  If no agreement is reached in respect of the payment of such claim within 15 Business Days of the claim being made, the relevant Finance Party may, within 15 Business Days after the end of such period and by ten Business Days’ prior notice to Vodafone:

 

(i)                                      cancel its Commitments with immediate effect; and

 

(ii)                                   demand the prepayment of its share of all Advances then outstanding together with accrued interest thereon and all other amounts accrued under the Finance Documents.

 

(e)                                   On the expiry of the ten Business Days’ notice period referred to in paragraph (d) above, Vodafone (or, if applicable, the relevant Borrower) shall pay to the Agent for that Finance Party:

 

(i)                                      the participations of that Lender in all outstanding Advances together with accrued interest;

 

(ii)                                   the increased costs originally claimed by that Lender and the increased costs continuing to be incurred by it for the period until payment by Vodafone in full under this Clause 12.3 (Basel III Cost claims);

 

42



 

(iii)                                any amounts payable pursuant to Clause 24.3 (Breakage Costs); and

 

(iv)                               all amounts owing to that Finance Party under the Finance Documents.

 

13.                                ILLEGALITY AND MITIGATION

 

13.1                         Illegality

 

If it becomes unlawful in any jurisdiction for a Lender to give effect to any of its obligations as contemplated by this Agreement or to fund or maintain its participation in any Advance, then the Lender may notify Vodafone through the Agent accordingly and thereupon, but only to the extent necessary to remove the illegality:

 

(a)                                  the Lender’s Available Commitment shall be cancelled immediately; and

 

(b)                                  to the extent that the Lender’s participation has not been transferred pursuant to Clause 26.5 ( Replacement of Lenders ), each Borrower shall, upon request from that Lender within the period allowed or if no period is allowed, forthwith, repay any participation of that Lender in the Advances made to it together with all other amounts payable by it to that Lender under this Agreement and that Lender’s Commitment shall be cancelled immediately in the amount of the participations repaid.

 

13.2                         Mitigation

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of Clauses 8.1 ( Interest rate for all Advances ), 10 ( Taxes ), 12 ( Increased costs ) and 13.1 ( Illegality ), if in relation to a Finance Party circumstances arise which would result in:

 

(a)                                  any deduction, withholding or payment of the nature referred to in Clause 10 ( Taxes ); or

 

(b)                                  any increased cost of the nature referred to in Clause 12 ( Increased Costs ); or

 

(c)                                   a notification pursuant to Clause 13.1 ( Illegality ),

 

then without in any way limiting, reducing or otherwise qualifying the rights of such Finance Party or the Agent, such Finance Party shall promptly upon becoming aware of the same notify the Agent thereof (whereupon the Agent shall promptly notify Vodafone) and such Finance Party shall use reasonable endeavours to transfer its participation in the Facility and its rights hereunder and under the Finance Documents to another financial institution or Facility Office not affected by circumstances having the results set out in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) above and shall otherwise take such reasonable steps as may be open to it to mitigate the effects of such circumstances provided that such Finance Party shall not be under any obligation to take any such action if, in its opinion, to do so would or would be likely to have a material adverse effect upon its business, operations or financial condition or would involve it in any unlawful activity or any activity that is contrary to its policies or any request, guidance or directive of any competent authority (whether or not having the force of law) or (unless indemnified to its satisfaction) would involve it in any significant expense or tax disadvantage.

 

14.                                GUARANTEE

 

14.1                         Guarantee

 

Each Guarantor jointly and severally, irrevocably and unconditionally:

 

43



 

(a)                                  as principal obligor, guarantees to each Finance Party that if and whenever:

 

(i)                                      an amount is due and payable by a Borrower under or in connection with any Finance Document; and

 

(ii)                                   demand for payment of that amount has been made by the Agent on that Borrower,

 

that Guarantor will forthwith on demand by the Agent pay that amount as if that Guarantor instead of that Borrower were expressed to be the principal obligor; and

 

(b)                                  indemnifies each Finance Party on demand against any loss or liability suffered by it if any obligation guaranteed by any Guarantor is or becomes unenforceable, invalid or illegal (the amount of that loss being the amount expressed to be payable by the relevant Borrower in respect of the relevant sum).

 

14.2                         Continuing guarantee

 

This guarantee is a continuing guarantee and will extend to the ultimate balance of all sums payable by the Borrowers under the Finance Documents, regardless of any intermediate payment or discharge in part.

 

14.3                         Reinstatement

 

(a)                                  Where any discharge (whether in respect of the obligations of any Borrower or any security for those obligations or otherwise) is made in whole or in part or any arrangement is made on the faith of any payment, security or other disposition which is avoided or must be restored on insolvency, liquidation or otherwise without limitation, the liability of the Guarantors under this Clause 14 shall continue as if the discharge or arrangement had not occurred (but only to the extent that such payment, security or other disposition is avoided or restored).

 

(b)                                  Each Finance Party may concede or compromise any claim that any payment, security or other disposition is liable to avoidance or restoration.

 

14.4                         Waiver of defences

 

The obligations of each Guarantor under this Clause 14 will not be affected by any act, omission, matter or thing which, but for this provision, would reduce, release or prejudice any of its obligations under this Clause 14 or prejudice or diminish those obligations in whole or in part, including (whether or not known to it or any Finance Party):

 

(a)                                  any time or waiver granted to, or composition with, any Borrower or other person;

 

(b)                                  the release of any other Obligor or any other person under the terms of any composition or arrangement with any creditor of any member of the Consolidated Group;

 

(c)                                   the taking, variation, compromise, exchange, renewal or release of, or refusal or neglect to perfect, take up or enforce, any rights against, or security over assets of, any Obligor or other person or any non-presentation or non-observance of any formality or other requirement in respect of any instrument or any failure to realise the full value of any security;

 

(d)                                  any incapacity or lack of powers, authority or legal personality of or dissolution or change in the members or status of a Borrower or any other person;

 

44



 

(e)                                   any variation (however fundamental) or replacement of a Finance Document so that references to that Finance Document in this Clause 14 shall include each variation or replacement;

 

(f)                                    any unenforceability, illegality or invalidity of any obligation of any person under any Finance Document, to the intent that the Guarantors’ obligations under this Clause 14 shall remain in full force and its guarantee be construed accordingly, as if there were no unenforceability, illegality or invalidity; and

 

(g)                                   any postponement, discharge, reduction, non-provability or other similar circumstance affecting any obligation of any Borrower under a Finance Document resulting from any insolvency, liquidation or dissolution proceedings or from any law, regulation or order so that each such obligation shall, for the purposes of the Guarantors’ obligations under this Clause 14, be construed as if there were no such circumstance.

 

14.5                         Immediate recourse

 

Except as provided in Clause 14.1(a)(ii) ( Guarantee ), each Guarantor waives any right it may have of first requiring any Finance Party (or any trustee or agent on its behalf) to proceed against or enforce any other rights or security or claim payment from any person before claiming from that Guarantor under this Clause 14.

 

14.6                         Appropriations

 

Until all amounts which may be or become payable by the Borrowers under or in connection with the Finance Documents have been irrevocably paid in full, each Finance Party (or any trustee or agent on its behalf) may:

 

(a)                                  refrain from applying or enforcing any other moneys, security or rights held or received by that Finance Party (or any trustee or agent on its behalf) in respect of those amounts, or apply and enforce the same in such manner and order as it sees fit (whether against those amounts or otherwise) and no Guarantor shall be entitled to the benefit of the same; and

 

(b)                                  hold in a suspense account (bearing interest at a commercial rate) any moneys received from any Guarantor or on account of that Guarantor’s liability under this Clause 14, with any interest earned being credited to that account.

 

14.7                         Non-competition

 

Until all amounts which may be or become payable by the Borrowers under or in connection with the Finance Documents have been paid in full, no Guarantor shall, after a claim has been made or by virtue of any payment or performance by it under this Clause 14:

 

(a)                                  be subrogated to any rights, security or moneys held, received or receivable by any Finance Party (or any trustee or agent on its behalf) or be entitled to any right of contribution or indemnity in respect of any payment made or moneys received on account of that Guarantor’s liability under this Clause 14; or

 

(b)                                  claim, rank, prove or vote as a creditor of any Borrower or its estate in competition with any Finance Party (or any trustee or agent on its behalf); or

 

45



 

(c)                                   receive, claim or have the benefit of any payment, distribution or security from or on account of any Borrower, or exercise any right of set-off as against any Borrower.

 

Each Guarantor shall hold in trust for and forthwith pay or transfer to the Agent for the Finance Parties any payment or distribution or benefit of security received by it contrary to this Clause 14.7.

 

14.8                         Additional security

 

This guarantee is in addition to and is not in any way prejudiced by any other security now or hereafter held by any Finance Party.

 

14.9                         Removal of Guarantors

 

(a)                                  Any Guarantor (other than, Vodafone (subject to paragraph (b) below) and, following the Reorganisation Date, NewTopco and any Intermediate Holding Company (subject to paragraph (c) below) of Vodafone) which is not a Borrower, may, at the request of Vodafone and if no Default is continuing, cease to be a Guarantor by entering into a supplemental agreement to this Agreement at the cost of Vodafone in such form as the Agent may reasonably require which shall discharge that Guarantor’s obligations as a Guarantor under this Agreement.

 

(b)                                  If on the Reorganisation Date, NewTopco or any Intermediate Holding Company have acceded as Guarantors in accordance with Clause 26.7 ( Additional Guarantors ) and no Default is continuing or would result from Vodafone’s resignation as a Guarantor, Vodafone may cease to be a Guarantor with effect from the Reorganisation Date by entering into a supplemental agreement to this Agreement at the cost of Vodafone or NewTopco in such form as the Agent may reasonably require which shall discharge Vodafone’s obligations as a Guarantor under this Agreement.

 

(c)                                   If NewTopco has acceded as a Guarantor in accordance with Clause 26.7 ( Additional Guarantors ) and no Default is continuing or would result from Intermediate Holding Company’s resignation as a Guarantor, Intermediate Holding Company may cease to be a Guarantor by entering into a supplemental agreement to this Agreement at the cost of Vodafone or NewTopco in such form as the Agent may reasonably require which shall discharge Intermediate Holding Company’s obligation as a Guarantor under this Agreement.

 

(d)                                  Any Party retiring as a Guarantor in accordance with paragraphs (a), (b) or (c) above (a “ Retiring Guaranto r”) for the purpose of any sale or other disposal of that Retiring Guarantor then on the date such Retiring Guarantor ceases to be a Guarantor:

 

(i)                                      that Retiring Guarantor is released by each other Guarantor from any liability (whether past, present or future and whether actual or contingent) to make a contribution to any other Guarantor arising by reason of the performance by any other Guarantor of its obligations under the Finance Documents; and

 

(ii)                                   each other Guarantor waives any rights it may have by reason of the performance of its obligations under the Finance Documents to take the benefit (in whole or in part and whether by way of subrogation or otherwise) of any rights of the Finance Parties under any Finance Document or of any other security taken pursuant to, or in connection with, any Finance Document where such rights or security are granted by or in relation to the assets of the Retiring Guarantor.

 

46



 

14.10                  Limitation on guarantee of U.S. Guarantors

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Clause 14, the obligations of each Guarantor incorporated in the United States (other than NewTopco and any Intermediate Holding Company, to the extent incorporated in the United States) (a “ U.S. Guarantor ”) under this Clause 14 shall be limited to a maximum aggregate amount equal to the largest amount that would not render its obligations hereunder subject to avoidance as a fraudulent transfer or conveyance under Section 548 of Title 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code or any applicable provisions of comparable state law (collectively, the “ Fraudulent Transfer Laws ”), in each case after giving effect to all other liabilities of such U.S. Guarantor, contingent or otherwise, that are relevant under the Fraudulent Transfer Laws (specifically excluding, however, any liabilities of such U.S. Guarantor in respect of intercompany indebtedness to the Borrowers or Affiliates of the Borrowers to the extent that such indebtedness would be discharged in an amount equal to the amount paid by such U.S. Guarantor hereunder) and after giving effect as assets to the value (as determined under the applicable provisions of the Fraudulent Transfer Laws) of any rights to subrogation, contribution, reimbursement, indemnity or similar rights of such U.S. Guarantor pursuant to (a) applicable law or (b) any agreement providing for an equitable allocation among such U.S. Guarantor and other Affiliates of the Borrowers of obligations arising under guarantees by such parties.

 

15.                                REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

15.1                         Representations and warranties

 

Each Obligor makes the representations and warranties set out in this Clause 15 to each Finance Party (in respect of itself and where relevant its Controlled Subsidiaries only).

 

15.2                         Status

 

(a)                                  It is a duly incorporated and validly existing corporation under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation.

 

(b)                                  Except to the extent specified in the applicable Borrower Accession Agreement or Guarantor Accession Agreement, each Obligor is classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

15.3                         Powers and authority

 

It has the power to:

 

(a)                                  enter into and comply with, all obligations expressed on its part under the Finance Documents;

 

(b)                                  (in the case of a Borrower) to borrow under this Agreement; and

 

(c)                                   (in the case of a Guarantor) to give the guarantee in Clause 14 ( Guarantee ),

 

and has taken all necessary actions to authorise the execution, delivery and performance of the Finance Documents.

 

15.4                         Non-violation

 

The execution, delivery and performance of the Finance Documents will not violate:

 

(a)                                  any provisions of any existing law or regulation or statute applicable to it; or

 

47



 

(b)                                  to any material extent, any provisions of any mortgage, contract or other undertaking to which it or any of its Controlled Subsidiaries which is a member of the Restricted Group is a party or which is binding upon it or any of its Controlled Subsidiaries which is a member of the Restricted Group, the consequences of which would have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Obligors (taken as a whole) to perform their material obligations under the Finance Documents.

 

15.5                         Borrowing limits

 

Borrowings under this Agreement up to and including the maximum amount available under this Agreement, together with borrowings under the 2019 Facility and the 2020 Facility up to and including the maximum amount available under the 2019 Facility and the 2020 Facility, will not cause any limit (except to the extent the limit has been waived) on borrowings or, as the case may be, on the giving of guarantees (whether imposed in its Articles of Association or otherwise), or on the powers of its board of directors, applicable to it to be exceeded.

 

15.6                         Authorisations

 

All necessary consents or authorisations of any governmental authority or agency required by it in connection with the execution, validity, performance or enforceability of the Finance Documents have been obtained and are validly existing.

 

15.7                         No default

 

Neither it nor any of its Controlled Subsidiaries which is a member of the Restricted Group is in default under any law or agreement by which it is bound the consequences of which would have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Obligors (taken as a whole) to perform their payment obligations under the Finance Documents.

 

15.8                         Accounts

 

The audited consolidated financial statements of Vodafone (or, following a Hive Up, NewTopco) most recently delivered to the Agent (which, at the date of this Agreement are the audited consolidated accounts of Vodafone for the year ended 31 March 2015):

 

(a)                                  give a true and fair view of the consolidated financial position of Vodafone (or, following a Hive Up, NewTopco) as at the date to which they were drawn up; and

 

(b)                                  have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied by Vodafone (or, following a Hive Up, NewTopco) at such time, consistently applied except for changes disclosed in such financial statements which are necessary to reflect a change in generally accepted accounting principles or the adoption of international finance reporting standards.

 

15.9                         No Event of Default

 

No Event of Default has occurred and is continuing in respect of it or any of its Subsidiaries which is a member of the Restricted Group.

 

15.10                  Investment Company

 

Each Borrower which is a U.S. Obligor either (i) is not an investment company as defined under United States Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or (ii) is exempt from the registration provisions of the Act pursuant to an exemption under that Act.

 

48



 

15.11                  ERISA

 

(a)                                  Each member of the Controlled USA Group has fulfilled its obligations under the minimum funding standards of ERISA and the Code with respect to each Plan maintained by such member or any member of the Controlled USA Group where non-fulfilment of such obligations would have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Obligors (taken as a whole) to perform their payment obligations under the Finance Documents.

 

(b)                                  Each Obligor is in compliance with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and any other applicable United States Federal or State law with respect to each Plan maintained by such Obligor where non-fulfilment of or non-compliance with such provisions would have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Obligors (taken as a whole) to perform their payment obligations under the Finance Documents.

 

(c)                                   No Reportable Event has occurred with respect to any Plan maintained by an Obligor or any member of the Controlled USA Group and no steps have been taken to reorganise or terminate any Single Employer Plan or by that Obligor to effect a complete or partial withdrawal from any Multi-employer Plan where non-compliance or such Reportable Event, reorganisation, termination or withdrawal would have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Obligors (taken as a whole) to perform their payment obligations under the Finance Documents.

 

(d)                                  No member of the Controlled USA Group has:

 

(i)                                      sought a waiver of the minimum funding standard under Section 412 of the Code in respect of any Plan; or

 

(ii)                                   failed to make any contribution or payment to any Single Employer Plan or Multi-employer Plan, or made any amendment to any Plan, and no other event, transaction or condition has occurred which has resulted or would result in the imposition of a lien or the posting of a bond or other security under ERISA or the Code; or

 

(iii)                                incurred any material, actual liability under Title I or Title IV of ERISA other than a liability to the PBGC for premiums under Section 4007 of ERISA,

 

if such seeking, failure or incurrence would have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Obligors (taken as a whole) to perform their payment obligations under the Finance Documents.

 

15.12                  Anti-Terrorism Laws

 

In this Clause 15.12,

 

Anti-Terrorism Law ” means each of:

 

(a)                                  Executive Order No. 13224 on Terrorist Financing: Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten To Commit, or Support Terrorism issued September 23, 2001, as amended by Order 13268 (as so amended, the “ Executive Order ”);

 

(b)                                  the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, Public Law 107-56 (commonly known as the USA Patriot Act) (the “ USA Patriot Act ”);

 

(c)                                   the Money Laundering Control Act of 1986, 18 U.S.C. sect. 1956; and

 

49



 

(d)                                  any similar law enacted in the United States subsequent to the date of this Agreement.

 

Restricted Party ” means any person listed:

 

(a)                                  in the Annex to the Executive Order;

 

(b)                                  on the “Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons” list maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury; or

 

(c)                                   in any successor list to either of the foregoing.

 

(d)                                  No U.S. Obligor or any of its Subsidiaries:

 

(i)                                      is, or is controlled by, a Restricted Party;

 

(ii)                                   to the best of its knowledge, has received funds or other property from a Restricted Party; or

 

(iii)                                to the best of its knowledge, is in breach of or is the subject of any action or investigation under any Anti-Terrorism Law.

 

(e)                                   Each U.S. Obligor and each of its Subsidiaries have taken reasonable measures to ensure compliance with the Anti-Terrorism Laws.

 

15.13                  Sanctions

 

To the best of its and its Subsidiaries’ knowledge, neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor, to the best of its knowledge, any director, officer, agent or, in respect of Vodafone as at the Signing Date only and in the case of an Obligor which becomes a Party after the Signing Date, the date on which it executes a Borrower Accession Agreement or Guarantor Accession Agreement only, any employee or affiliate of it or any of its Subsidiaries are currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“ OFAC ”) or any equivalent sanctions administered or enforced by the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs or other relevant sanctions authority.

 

15.14                  Times for making representations and warranties

 

(a)                                  The representations and warranties set out in this Clause 15 (excluding Clause 15.10 ( Investment Company ) to Clause 15.12 ( Anti-Terrorism Laws ) (inclusive)):

 

(i)                                      are made by Vodafone on the Signing Date and, in the case of an Obligor which becomes a Party after the Signing Date, will be deemed to be made by that Obligor on the date it executes a Borrower Accession Agreement or Guarantor Accession Agreement; and

 

(ii)                                   are deemed to be made again by each Obligor on the date of each Request and on each Drawdown Date with reference to the facts and circumstances then existing (except to the extent specified to the contrary in Clause 15.13 ( Sanctions ))

 

(b)                                  The representation and warranties set out in Clauses 15.10 ( Investment Company ), 15.11 ( ERISA ) and 15.12 ( Anti-Terrorism Laws ):

 

(i)                                      are made by Vodafone on the date on which the first U.S. Obligor executes a Borrower Accession Agreement or a Guarantor Accession Agreement as the case may be;

 

50



 

(ii)                                   are deemed to be made by each Obligor which becomes a party after the Signing Date on the date it executes a Borrower Accession Agreement or Guarantor Accession Agreement, provided that there is a U.S. Obligor;

 

(iii)                                are deemed to be made again by each Obligor on the date of each Request and on each Drawdown Date with reference to the facts and circumstances then existing, provided that there is a U.S. Obligor.

 

16.                                UNDERTAKINGS

 

16.1                         Duration

 

The undertakings in this Clause 16 will remain in force from the Signing Date for so long as any amount is or may be outstanding under this Agreement or any Commitment is in force.

 

16.2                         Financial information

 

Vodafone shall supply to the Agent:

 

(a)                                  as soon as the same are publicly available (and in any event within 180 days of the end of each of its financial years):

 

(i)                                      the audited consolidated financial statements of the Consolidated Group for that financial year; and

 

(ii)                                   (if published) each other Obligor’s audited statutory accounts for that financial year, consolidated if that Obligor has Subsidiaries and consolidated accounts are prepared and published;

 

(b)                                  as soon as the same are publicly available (and in any event within 90 days of the end of the first half-year of each of its financial years) the interim unaudited financial statements of the Consolidated Group for that half-year;

 

(c)                                   within 20 days of the day on which the accounts referred to in paragraph (a)(i) above or (b) above are posted on Vodafone’s website in accordance with paragraph (e) below (provided that it shall not be a Default under this Clause 16.2 unless Vodafone fails to so supply within 10 days of written request by the Agent (on its own accord or at the request of a Lender) made at any time following the date of such posting) a certificate signed by a Vodafone authorised officer (or following a Hive Up, a NewTopco authorised officer), or in their absence any director of Vodafone or NewTopco, as the case may be, establishing (in reasonable detail) compliance with Clauses 16.8 ( Priority borrowing ) and 17 ( Financial covenant ) as at the date to which those accounts were drawn up and identifying the Principal Subsidiaries and the operating Subsidiaries which are Controlled Subsidiaries; and

 

(d)                                  if, after the date of the most recent certificate delivered pursuant to paragraph (c) above and prior to the date that the next certificate is required to be delivered, a Principal Subsidiary ceases to be Principal Subsidiary as a result of (A) a sale or transfer to or a merger into or with an entity which is not a member of the Restricted Group or (B) the acquisition of a new Principal Subsidiary, a certificate signed by a Vodafone authorised officer (or following a Hive Up, a NewTopco authorised officer), or in their absence any director of Vodafone or NewTopco, as the case may be, which identifies the Principal

 

51



 

Subsidiary which has ceased to be a Principal Subsidiary and the new Principal Subsidiary.

 

(e)                                   Reports required to be delivered pursuant to paragraphs (a)(i) and (b) above for Vodafone shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date on which Vodafone posts such reports to its website on the Internet at the website address listed for Vodafone in Clause 32.2(d) ( Addresses for notices ) or another relevant website to which the Agent and the Lenders have access and such posting shall be deemed to satisfy the reporting requirements of paragraphs (a)(i) and (a)(ii) above. The Borrower shall provide paper copies of the deliverables required by paragraphs (c) above and (d) above to the Agent (in sufficient copies for all the Lenders if the Agent so requests).

 

16.3                         Information — miscellaneous

 

Vodafone shall supply to the Agent:

 

(a)                                  all documents despatched by the ultimate Holding Company of the Controlled Group to its shareholders (or any class of them) or by Vodafone or such ultimate Holding Company to the creditors of the Controlled Group generally (or any class of them) at the same time as they are despatched; and

 

(b)                                  as soon as reasonably practicable, such further publicly available information (including that required to comply with “know your customer” or similar identification procedures) in the possession or control of any member of the Controlled Group regarding the business, financial or corporate affairs of the Controlled Group, as the Agent may reasonably request.

 

16.4                         Notification of Default

 

Vodafone shall notify the Agent of any Default (and the steps, if any, being taken to remedy it) promptly upon becoming aware of it.

 

16.5                         Authorisations

 

Each Obligor shall promptly:

 

(a)                                  obtain, maintain and comply in all material respects with the terms of; and

 

(b)                                  if requested, supply certified copies to the Agent of,

 

any authorisation required under any law or regulation to enable it to perform its obligations under, or for the validity or enforceability of, any Finance Document.

 

16.6                         Pari passu ranking

 

Each Obligor will procure that its obligations under the Finance Documents do and will rank at least pari passu with all its other present and future unsecured and unsubordinated obligations (save for those obligations mandatorily preferred by applicable law).

 

16.7                         Negative pledge

 

No Obligor will, and each Obligor will procure that none of its Subsidiaries which is a member of the Restricted Group will, create or permit to subsist any Security Interest on or over any of its assets except for any Permitted Security Interest.

 

52



 

16.8                         Priority borrowing

 

Each Obligor will procure that none of its Subsidiaries (which is a member of the Restricted Group and which is not a Guarantor) will create, assume, incur, guarantee, permit to subsist or otherwise be liable in respect of any Financial Indebtedness owed to persons outside the Restricted Group except for:

 

(a)                                  Financial Indebtedness of any Subsidiary which became a member of the Restricted Group after 1 February 2015 (unless it became a member of the Restricted Group due to the expansion of the definition of Core Jurisdiction to include members of the European Union after 1 February 2015) provided that:

 

(i)                                      any such Financial Indebtedness is either (A) outstanding before that Subsidiary becomes a member of the Restricted Group and was not created in contemplation of that Subsidiary becoming a member of the Restricted Group and/or (B) drawn at any time under commitments in existence before that Subsidiary becomes a member of the Restricted Group (“ Existing Commitment ”) and that commitment was not created in contemplation of that Subsidiary becoming a member of the Restricted Group and/or (C) drawn at any time under commitments (“ New Commitments ”) which have refinanced Existing Commitments in whole or in part, to the extent that any such New Commitments do not exceed the Existing Commitments, and provided that to the extent that any New Commitment is to be guaranteed by an Obligor, the obligors under the New Commitments will have validly and legally acceded as Additional Guarantors in accordance with Clauses 26.7(a) and 26.7(b)( Additional Guarantors )) prior to any Obligor providing a guarantee of the New Commitments; and

 

(ii)                                   to the extent that the aggregate principal amount of such Financial Indebtedness exceeds the amounts calculated under paragraph (i) above upon that Subsidiary becoming a member of the Restricted Group (measured in the same currency), the excess amount of such Financial Indebtedness shall not fall within this paragraph (a); or

 

(b)                                  Financial Indebtedness under finance or structured tax lease arrangements (including, but not limited to qualifying technological equipment leases) to the extent matched as part of those arrangements by deposits of cash or cash equivalent investments (including, but not limited to securities issued by G7 governments) or other securities rated at least A by S&P or A2 by Moody’s or A by Fitch which are treated by the creditor concerned as available to reduce its net exposure; or

 

(c)                                   Financial Indebtedness which is created with the prior written consent of the Majority Lenders; or

 

(d)                                  Financial Indebtedness to the extent matched by cash balances or cash equivalent investments (including, but not limited to securities issued by G7 governments) or other securities rated at least A by S&P or A2 by Moody’s or A by Fitch, held by members of the Restricted Group which are treated as available for netting by the creditors to whom

 

53



 

that Financial Indebtedness is owed under cash management or netting arrangements in the ordinary course of business; or

 

(e)                                   Financial Indebtedness under any finance lease or structured tax lease arrangements (including, but not limited to qualifying technological equipment leases) entered into in respect of assets which were or are acquired or become part of the Restricted Group after 1 March 2015; or

 

(f)                                    Financial Indebtedness under or in connection with any other finance lease entered into in respect of existing assets or future assets (to the extent they are subject to Security Interests contemplated under paragraph (j) of the definition of “ Permitted Security Interest ”); or

 

(g)                                   Financial Indebtedness under Back to Back Loans; or

 

(h)                                  Financial Indebtedness of any member of the Controlled Group which operates as a finance company to the extent that any such Financial Indebtedness is on-lent to an Obligor or to a member of the Controlled Group outside the Restricted Group; or

 

(i)                                      Financial Indebtedness that has been defeased to the extent that it is subject to Security Interests contemplated under paragraph (u) of the definition of “ Permitted Security Interest ”; or

 

(j)                                     Financial Indebtedness incurred solely in contemplation of an initial public offering or other disposal of the companies or partnerships incurring such Financial Indebtedness, to the extent that (i) the aggregate principal amount of such Financial Indebtedness does not exceed U.S.$5,000,000,000 (or its equivalent in other currencies) whilst such Financial Indebtedness is owed by a member of the Restricted Group; and (ii) the creditors in respect of such Financial Indebtedness have recourse for no more than ninety days to any member of the Controlled Group which is or whose assets are not intended to be subject to the initial public offering or disposal; or

 

(k)                                  Project Finance Indebtedness; or

 

(l)                                      Financial Indebtedness owed to persons outside the Restricted Group under guarantees or other legally binding assurances against financial loss granted by Vodafone Deutschland GmbH or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of any asset, undertaking or business not forming part of the mobile or wireless telecommunications business of the Restricted Group; or

 

(m)                              Financial Indebtedness under this Agreement; or

 

(n)                                  other Financial Indebtedness to the extent that the sum of:

 

(i)                                      the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Financial Indebtedness of all the members of the Restricted Group which are not Guarantors and owed to persons outside the Restricted Group (other than Financial Indebtedness under paragraphs (a) to (m) above inclusive); plus

 

54



 

(ii)                                   the aggregate unpaid principal amount of Financial Indebtedness secured by Security Interests referred to in paragraph (w) of the definition of “ Permitted Security Interest ” (to the extent not falling within paragraph (i) above),

 

does not exceed €3,500,000,000 or its equivalent in other currencies.

 

Compliance with this Clause 16.8 will be tested on the last day of each financial half year. For the purposes of paragraph (n) above, Financial Indebtedness of the Restricted Group not denominated in (or which has not been swapped into) Sterling shall be notionally converted (from the currency in which it is denominated or, as the case may be, into which it has been swapped) to Sterling at the rate of exchange used in the management accounts of the relevant Obligor for that relevant financial quarter.

 

16.9                         Disposals

 

No Obligor will, and each Obligor will procure that none of its Subsidiaries which is a member of the Restricted Group will, either in a single transaction or in a series of transactions, whether related or not and whether voluntarily or involuntarily, make any Asset Disposals other than:

 

(a)                                  Asset Disposals:

 

(i)                                      on arm’s length terms which are, in the opinion of an Obligor, at fair market value; or

 

(ii)                                   required by law or any governmental authority or agency (including without limitation any authority or agency of the European Union); or

 

(iii)                                made in good faith for the purpose of carrying on the business of the Controlled Group which it is reasonable to believe will benefit the Controlled Group; and

 

(b)                                  a transfer of all or any part of the assets of the Controlled Group to NewTopco and/or any Intermediate Holding Company of Vodafone.

 

16.10                  Restriction on Acquisitions

 

Vodafone will not, and will procure that no member of the Controlled Group will, make any Acquisition unless the major part of the Controlled Group’s business remains telecommunications, data communications and associated businesses.

 

16.11                  Margin Stock

 

(a)                                  In this Clause 16.11,

 

Margin Regulations ” means Regulations T, U and X issued by the Board of Governors of the United States Federal Reserve System.

 

Margin Stock ” means “margin stock” or “margin securities” as defined in the Margin Regulations.

 

(b)                                  No Obligor may:

 

(i)                                      extend credit for the purpose, directly or indirectly, of buying or carrying Margin Stock; or

 

(ii)                                   use any Advance, directly or indirectly, to buy or carry Margin Stock or for any other purpose in violation of the Margin Regulations.

 

55



 

16.12                  Sanctions

 

Each Obligor shall ensure, to the best of its ability, that the proceeds of Advances will not, directly or indirectly, be lent to any person or entity (whether or not related to Vodafone) for the purpose of financing the activities of any person or for the benefit of any country currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC or any equivalent sanctions administered or enforced by the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs or other relevant sanctions authority.

 

17.                                FINANCIAL COVENANT

 

17.1                         Financial ratio

 

Vodafone will procure that for each Ratio Period the ratio of Net Debt of the Consolidated Group to two times Adjusted Group Operating Cash Flow for such Ratio Period will not exceed 3.75:1.

 

17.2                         Calculation times and periods

 

(a)                                  The first test date for the financial ratio specified in Clause 17.1 ( Financial ratio ) will occur on 30 September 2015.

 

(b)                                  Each subsequent test date will be on the last day of each financial half year and year of Vodafone or, following a Hive Up, NewTopco. The financial ratio will be calculated using data for the period (each a “ Ratio Period ”) ending on each test date and beginning 6 months before the relevant test date.

 

17.3                         Information sources

 

(a)                                  Subject to adjustments that may be required by the operation of definitions in Clause 17.1 ( Financial ratio ), all information for calculation of the financial ratios set out in Clause 17.1 ( Financial ratio ) and Clause 18.5 ( Cross default ) will be extracted from figures denominated in the base currency (as defined in paragraph (c) below used in the preparation of and extracted from:

 

(i)                                      the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements of Vodafone, or following a Hive Up, NewTopco;

 

(ii)                                   the consolidated annual financial statements of Vodafone, or following a Hive Up, NewTopco; or

 

(iii)                                Vodafone’s, or following a Hive Up, NewTopco’s consolidated management accounts,

 

as the case may be, which in respect of paragraphs (i) and (ii) above were delivered to the Agent under Clause 16.2(a) and 16.2(b) ( Financial information ).

 

(b)                                  Information from Vodafone’s, or following a Hive Up, NewTopco’s consolidated management accounts will be disclosed only when the relevant interim or annual financial statements and compliance certificates are delivered to the Agent or as required in connection with Clause 18.5(a)(ii) ( Cross default ).

 

(c)                                   Any amount outstanding in a currency other than the currency used in the latest consolidated published financial statements (the “ base currency ”) is to be taken into account at the base currency equivalent of that amount calculated at the rate used in the latest consolidated financial

 

56



 

statements delivered to the Agent under Clause 16.2 ( Financial information ) or the latest consolidated management accounts, as appropriate.

 

17.4                         Know Your Customer

 

Each Lender shall promptly upon the request of the Agent supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Agent (for itself) in order for the Agent to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents.

 

18.                                DEFAULT

 

18.1                         Events of Default

 

Each of the events set out in Clauses 18.2 ( Non-payment ) to 18.15 ( United States Bankruptcy Laws ) (inclusive) is an Event of Default (whether or not caused by any reason whatsoever outside the control of any Obligor or any other person).

 

18.2                         Non-payment

 

An Obligor does not pay within four Business Days (the “ Initial Grace Period ”) of the due date any amount payable by it under the Finance Documents at the place at, and in the currency in, which it is expressed to be payable unless its failure to pay is caused by:

 

(a)                                  administrative or technical error and payment is made within a further two Business Days after the expiry of the Initial Grace Period; or

 

(b)                                  a Disruption Event and payment is made within a further four Business Days after the expiry of the Initial Grace Period;

 

18.3                         Breach of other obligations

 

(a)                                  Vodafone does not comply with Clause 17 ( Financial Covenant ).

 

(b)                                  An Obligor does not comply with any provision of the Finance Documents (other than those referred to in paragraph (a) above or in Clause 18.2 ( Non-payment )) and such failure (if capable of remedy before the expiry of such period) continues unremedied for a period of 21 days from the earlier of the date on which (i) such Obligor has become aware of the failure to comply or (ii) the Agent gives notice to Vodafone requiring the same to be remedied.

 

18.4                         Misrepresentation

 

A representation or warranty made or repeated by any Obligor in any Finance Document is found to be untrue in any respect material in the context of performance of the Finance Documents when made or deemed to have been made.

 

18.5                         Cross default

 

(a)

 

(i)                                      Any Financial Indebtedness of any Obligor is:

 

(A)                                not paid when due or within any originally applicable grace period; or

 

(B)                                declared due, or is capable of being declared due, prior to its specified maturity as a result of an event of default (howsoever described) except this paragraph (a)(i) does not apply to:

 

57



 

(I)                                    Financial Indebtedness quoted or listed on a stock exchange; or

 

(II)                               Financial Indebtedness of an Obligor arising solely under paragraph (f) of the definition of “ Financial Indebtedness ” in Clause 1.1 ( Definitions ); or

 

(ii)                                   any Financial Indebtedness of any Principal Subsidiary is:

 

(A)                                not paid when due or within any originally applicable grace period; or

 

(B)                                declared due prior to its specified maturity as a result of an event of default (howsoever described) and is not paid within three Business Days of being declared due,

 

except this paragraph (a)(i) only applies if the ratio calculated in accordance with Clause 17.1 ( Financial ratio ) for the most recent Ratio Period is greater than 3.25:1; or

 

(iii)                                an Event of Default has occurred under the 2019 Facility or the 2020 Facility and is continuing.

 

(b)                                  Paragraph (a) above does not apply:

 

(i)                                      to Project Finance Indebtedness; or

 

(ii)                                   to Financial Indebtedness which in aggregate is less than £100,000,000 (or equivalent currency); or

 

(iii)                                where the payment or occurrence of the event concerned is being contested in good faith; or

 

(iv)                               where the default is under a bond and is capable of waiver without bondholder consent; or

 

(v)                                  to Financial Indebtedness owed to a member of the Restricted Group.

 

18.6                         Winding up

 

An order is made or an effective resolution is passed for winding up any Obligor or any Principal Subsidiary (except for the purposes of a reconstruction or amalgamation on terms previously approved in writing by the Majority Lenders) or a petition is presented (which is not set aside or withdrawn within the earlier of 30 days of its presentation or by not later than the date for the hearing of such petition) for an administration order or for the winding up of any Obligor or any Principal Subsidiary except where demonstrated to the reasonable satisfaction of the Majority Lenders that any such petition is being contested in good faith.

 

18.7                         Insolvency process

 

(a)                                  A liquidator, administrator, receiver, trustee, sequestrator or similar officer is appointed in respect of all or any part of the assets of any Obligor or any Principal Subsidiary which generates a material part of the revenues of that Obligor or that Principal Subsidiary; or

 

(b)                                  any Obligor or any Principal Subsidiary, by reason of financial difficulties, enters into a composition, assignment or a moratorium in respect of any indebtedness or arrangement with any class of its creditors.

 

58



 

18.8                         Enforcement proceedings

 

A distress, execution, attachment or other legal process is levied, enforced or sued out upon or against all or any part of the assets of any Obligor or any Principal Subsidiary which generates a material part of the revenues of that Obligor or that Principal Subsidiary except where the same is being contested in good faith or is removed, discharged or paid within 30 days.

 

18.9                         Insolvency

 

Any Obligor or any Principal Subsidiary is deemed under Section 123(1)(e) or 123(2) of the Insolvency Act 1986 to be unable to pay its debts.

 

18.10                  Similar proceedings

 

Anything having a substantially similar effect to any of the events specified in Clauses 18.6 ( Winding up ) to 18.9 ( Insolvency ) inclusive shall occur under the laws of any applicable jurisdiction in relation to any Obligor or any Principal Subsidiary.

 

18.11                  Unlawfulness

 

It is or becomes unlawful for any Obligor to perform any of its payment or other material obligations under the Finance Documents.

 

18.12                  Guarantee

 

The guarantee of any Guarantor under Clause 14 ( Guarantee ) is not effective or is alleged by an Obligor to be ineffective for any reason (other than by reason of written release or waiver by the Finance Parties or in accordance with Clause 14.9 ( Removal of Guarantors )).

 

18.13                  Cessation of business

 

Any Obligor or any Principal Subsidiary ceases to carry on all or substantially all of its business otherwise than:

 

(a)                                  as a result of a transfer of all or any part of its business to a member of the Restricted Group or

 

(b)                                  as a result of a disposal permitted under Clause 16.9 ( Disposals ); or

 

(c)                                   with the prior written consent of the Majority Lenders.

 

18.14                  Litigation

 

Any litigation proceedings are current which are reasonably likely to be adversely determined and which would have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Obligors (taken as a whole) to perform their payment obligations under the Finance Documents.

 

18.15                  United States Bankruptcy Laws

 

(a)                                  In this Clause 18.15 and Clause 18.16 ( Acceleration ):

 

U.S. Bankruptcy Law ” means the United States Bankruptcy Code or any other United States Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law.

 

U.S. Debtor ” means an Obligor that is incorporated or organized under the laws of the United States or any State of the United States (including the District of Columbia) or that has a place of business or property in the United States.

 

(b)                                  Any of the following occurs in respect of a U.S. Debtor:

 

59



 

(i)                                      it makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors;

 

(ii)                                   it commences a voluntary case or proceeding under any U.S. Bankruptcy Law; or

 

(iii)                                an involuntary case under any U.S. Bankruptcy Law is commenced against it and is not controverted within 20 days or is not dismissed or stayed within 60 days after commencement of the case; or

 

(iv)                               an order for relief or other order approving any case or proceeding is entered under any U.S. Bankruptcy Law.

 

18.16                  Acceleration

 

(a)                                  On and at any time after the occurrence of an Event of Default while such event is continuing the Agent may, and if so directed by the Majority Lenders, will by notice to Vodafone, declare that an Event of Default has occurred and:

 

(i)                                      if not already cancelled under paragraph (b) below, cancel the Total Commitments; and/or

 

(ii)                                   demand that all the Advances, together with accrued interest, and all other amounts accrued under the Finance Documents be immediately due and payable, whereupon they shall become immediately due and payable; and/or

 

(iii)                                demand that all the Advances be payable on demand, whereupon they shall immediately become payable on demand.

 

(b)                                  If an Event of Default described in Clause 18.15 ( United States Bankruptcy Laws ) occurs, the Commitments which are available to any U.S. Debtor will, if not already cancelled under this Agreement, be immediately and automatically cancelled and all amounts owed by any U.S. Debtor outstanding under the Finance Documents will be immediately and automatically due and payable, without the requirement of notice or any other formality.

 

19.                                THE AGENT, THE ARRANGER AND THE REFERENCE BANKS

 

19.1                         Appointment and duties of the Agent

 

Each Finance Party (other than the Agent) irrevocably appoints the Agent to act as its agent under and in connection with the Finance Documents and each Finance Party irrevocably authorises the Agent on its behalf to perform the duties and to exercise the rights, powers and discretions that are specifically delegated to it under or in connection with the Finance Documents, together with any other incidental rights, powers and discretions. The Agent shall have only those duties which are expressly specified in this Agreement. Those duties are solely of a mechanical and administrative nature.

 

19.2                         Role of the Arranger

 

Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the Arranger has no obligations of any kind to any other Party under or in connection with any Finance Document.

 

19.3                         Relationship

 

The relationship between the Agent and the other Finance Parties is that of agent and principal only. Nothing in this Agreement constitutes the Agent as trustee or fiduciary for any other Party

 

60



 

or any other person and the Agent need not hold in trust any moneys paid to it for a Party or be liable to account for interest on those moneys.

 

19.4                         Majority Lenders’ directions

 

(a)                                  The Agent will be fully protected if it acts in accordance with the instructions of the Majority Lenders in connection with the exercise of any right, power or discretion or any matter not expressly provided for in the Finance Documents. Any such instructions given by the Majority Lenders will be binding on all the Lenders. In the absence of such instructions the Agent may act as it considers to be in the best interests of all the Lenders.

 

(b)                                  The Agent is not authorised to act on behalf of a Lender (without first obtaining that Lender’s consent) in any legal or arbitration proceedings relating to any Finance Document.

 

19.5                         Delegation

 

The Agent may act under the Finance Documents through its personnel and agents.

 

19.6                         Responsibility for documentation

 

Neither the Agent nor the Arranger is responsible to any other Party for:

 

(a)                                  the execution, genuineness, validity, enforceability or sufficiency of any Finance Document or any other document by any other Party; or

 

(b)                                  the collectability of amounts payable under any Finance Document; or

 

(c)                                   the accuracy of any statements (whether written or oral) made in or in connection with any Finance Document by any other Party.

 

19.7                         Default

 

(a)                                  The Agent is not obliged to monitor or enquire as to whether or not a Default has occurred. The Agent will not be deemed to have knowledge of the occurrence of a Default. However, if the Agent receives notice from a Party referring to this Agreement, describing the Default and stating that the event is a Default, it shall promptly notify the Lenders of such notice.

 

(b)                                  The Agent may require the receipt of security satisfactory to it whether by way of payment in advance or otherwise, against any liability or loss which it will or may incur in taking any proceedings or action arising out of or in connection with any Finance Document before it commences these proceedings or takes that action.

 

19.8                         Exoneration

 

(a)                                  Without limiting paragraph (b) below, the Agent will not be liable to any other Party for any action taken or not taken by it under or in connection with any Finance Document, unless directly caused by its negligence or wilful misconduct or breach of any of its obligations under or in connection with the Finance Documents.

 

(b)                                  No Party may take any proceedings against any officer, employee or agent being an individual of the Agent in respect of any claim it might have against the Agent or in respect of any act or omission of any kind (including negligence or wilful misconduct) by that officer, employee or agent in relation to any Finance Document.

 

(c)                                   Any officer, employee or agent being an individual of the Agent may rely on paragraph (b) above and enforce its terms under the Contract (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.

 

61



 

(d)                                  Nothing in this Agreement shall oblige the Agent or the Arranger to carry out any “know your customer” or other checks in relation to any person on behalf of any Lender and each Lender confirms to the Agent and the Arranger that it is solely responsible for any such checks it is required to carry out and that it may not rely on any statement in relation to such checks made by the Agent or the Arranger.

 

19.9                         Reliance

 

The Agent may:

 

(a)                                  rely on any notice or document reasonably believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed by, or with the authority of, the proper person;

 

(b)                                  rely on any statement made by a director or employee of any person regarding any matters which may reasonably be assumed to be within his knowledge or within his power to verify; and

 

(c)                                   engage, pay for and rely on legal or other professional advisers selected by it (including those in the Agent’s employment and those representing a Party other than the Agent).

 

19.10                  Credit approval and appraisal

 

Without affecting the responsibility of any Obligor for information supplied by it or on its behalf in connection with any Finance Document, each Lender confirms that it:

 

(a)                                  has made its own independent investigation and assessment of the financial condition and affairs of each Obligor and its related entities in connection with its participation in this Agreement and has not relied exclusively on any information provided to it by the Agent or the Arranger in connection with any Finance Document; and

 

(b)                                  will continue to make its own independent appraisal of the creditworthiness of each Obligor and its related entities while any amount is or may be outstanding under the Finance Documents or any Commitment is in force.

 

19.11                  Information

 

(a)                                  The Agent shall promptly forward to the person concerned the original or a copy of any document which is delivered to the Agent by a Party for that person.

 

(b)                                  The Agent shall promptly supply a Lender with a copy of each document received by the Agent under Clause 4 ( Conditions precedent ), 26.7 ( Additional Guarantors ) or 26.8 ( Additional Borrowers ) upon the request and at the expense of that Lender.

 

(c)                                   Except where this Agreement specifically provides otherwise, the Agent is not obliged to review or check the accuracy or completeness of any document it forwards to another Party.

 

(d)                                  The Agent shall provide to Vodafone within five Business Days of a request by Vodafone (but no more than once per calendar month), a list (which may be in electronic form) setting out the names of the Lenders as at the date of that request, their respective Commitments, the address and fax number (and the department or officer, if any, for whose attention any communication is to be made or document to be delivered under or in connection with the Finance Documents), the electronic mail address and/or any other information required to enable the sending and receipt of information by electronic mail or other electronic means to and by each Lender to

 

62



 

whom any communication under or in connection with the Finance Documents may be made by that means and the account details of each Lender for any payment to be distributed by the Agent to that Lender under the Finance Documents.

 

(e)                                   Except as provided above, the Agent has no duty:

 

(i)                                      either initially or on a continuing basis to provide any Lender with any credit or other information concerning the financial condition or affairs of any Obligor or any related entity of any Obligor whether coming into its possession or that of any of its related entities before, on or after the Signing Date; or

 

(ii)                                   unless specifically requested to do so by a Lender in accordance with this Agreement, to request any certificates or other documents from any Obligor.

 

19.12                  The Agent and the Arranger individually

 

(a)                                  If it is also a Lender, each of the Agent and the Arranger has the same rights and powers under this Agreement as any other Lender and may exercise those rights and powers as though it were not the Agent or the Arranger.

 

(b)                                  Each of the Agent and the Arranger may:

 

(i)                                      carry on any business with an Obligor or its related entities;

 

(ii)                                   act as agent or trustee for, or in relation to any financing involving, an Obligor or its related entities; and

 

(iii)                                retain any profits or remuneration in connection with its activities under the Finance Documents, or in relation to any of the foregoing.

 

19.13                  Indemnities

 

(a)                                  Without limiting the liability of any Obligor under the Finance Documents, each Lender shall forthwith on demand indemnify the Agent for its proportion of any liability or loss incurred by the Agent in any way relating to or arising out of its acting as the Agent, except to the extent that the liability or loss arises directly from the Agent’s negligence or wilful misconduct.

 

(b)                                  A Lender’s proportion of the liability or loss set out in paragraph (a) above is the proportion which its Commitment bears to the Total Commitments at the date of demand or, if the Total Commitments have been cancelled, bore to the Total Commitments immediately before being cancelled.

 

19.14                  Compliance

 

(a)                                  The Agent may refrain from doing anything which might, in its reasonable opinion, constitute a breach of any law or regulation or be otherwise actionable at the suit of any person, and may do anything which, in its reasonable opinion, is necessary or desirable to comply with any law or regulation of any jurisdiction.

 

(b)                                  Without limiting paragraph (a) above, the Agent need not disclose any information relating to any Obligor or any of its related entities if the disclosure might, in the opinion of the Agent, constitute a breach of any law or regulation or any duty of secrecy or confidentiality or be otherwise actionable at the suit of any person.

 

63



 

19.15                  Resignation of the Agent

 

(a)                                  Notwithstanding its irrevocable appointment, the Agent may resign by giving notice to the Lenders and Vodafone, in which case the Agent may forthwith appoint one of its Affiliates as successor Agent or, failing that, the Majority Lenders may after consultation with Vodafone appoint a reputable and experienced bank as successor Agent.

 

(b)                                  If the appointment of a successor Agent is to be made by the Majority Lenders but they have not, within 30 days after notice of resignation, appointed a successor Agent which accepts the appointment, the retiring Agent following consultation with Vodafone may appoint a successor Agent.

 

(c)                                   The resignation of the retiring Agent and the appointment of any successor Agent will both become effective only upon the successor Agent notifying all the Parties that it accepts the appointment. On giving the notification and receiving such approval, the successor Agent will succeed to the position of the retiring Agent and the term “ Agent ” will mean the successor Agent.

 

(d)                                  The retiring Agent shall, at its own cost, make available to the successor Agent such documents and records and provide such assistance as the successor Agent may reasonably request for the purposes of performing its functions as the Agent under this Agreement.

 

(e)                                   Upon its resignation becoming effective, this Clause 19 shall continue to benefit the retiring Agent in respect of any action taken or not taken by it under or in connection with the Finance Documents while it was the Agent and, subject to paragraph (d) above, it shall have no further obligation under any Finance Document.

 

(f)                                    The Majority Lenders may by notice to the Agent, require it to resign in accordance with paragraph (a) above. In this event, the Agent shall resign in accordance with paragraph (a) above but it shall not be entitled to appoint one of its Affiliates as successor Agent.

 

(g)                                   Any successor Agent and each of the other Parties shall have the same rights and obligations amongst themselves as they would have had if such successor had been an original party to this Agreement.

 

(h)                                  The Agent shall resign in accordance with paragraph (a) above (and, to the extent applicable, shall use reasonable endeavours to appoint a successor Agent pursuant to paragraph (c) above) if on or after the date which is three months before the earliest FATCA Application Date relating to any payment to the Agent under the Finance Documents, either:

 

(i)                                      the Agent fails to respond to a request under Clause 10.7 ( FATCA Information ) and Vodafone or a Lender reasonably believes that the Agent will not be (or will have ceased to be) a FATCA Exempt Party on or after that FATCA Application Date;

 

(ii)                                   the information supplied by the Agent pursuant to Clause 10.7 ( FATCA Information ) indicates that the Agent will not be (or will have ceased to be) a FATCA Exempt Party on or after that FATCA Application Date; or

 

(iii)                                the Agent notifies Vodafone and the Lenders that the Agent will not be (or will have ceased to be) a FATCA Exempt Party on or after that FATCA Application Date;

 

64



 

and (in each case) Vodafone or a Lender reasonably believes that a Party will be required to make a FATCA Deduction that would not be required if the Agent were a FATCA Exempt Party, and Vodafone or that Lender, by notice to the Agent requires it to resign.

 

19.16                  Lenders

 

The Agent may treat each Lender as a Lender, entitled to payments under this Agreement and as acting through its Facility Office(s) until it has received notice from the Lender to the contrary by not less than five Business Days prior to the relevant payment.

 

19.17                  Chinese wall

 

In acting as Agent or Arranger, the agency and syndications division of each of the Agent and the Arranger shall be treated as a separate entity from its other divisions and departments. Any information acquired at any time by the Agent or the Arranger otherwise than in the capacity of the Agent or the Arranger through its agency and syndications division (whether as financial advisor to any member of the Consolidated Group or otherwise) may be treated as confidential by the Agent or the Arranger and shall not be deemed to be information possessed by the Agent or the Arranger in their capacity as such. Each Finance Party acknowledges that the Agent and the Arranger may, now or in the future, be in possession of, or provided with, information relating to the Obligors which has not or will not be provided to the other Finance Parties. Each Finance Party agrees that, except as expressly provided in this Agreement, neither the Agent nor the Arranger will be under any obligation to provide, or under any liability for failure to provide, any such information to the other Finance Parties.

 

19.18                  Role of Reference Banks

 

(a)                                  No Reference Bank is under any obligation to provide a quotation or any other information to the Agent.

 

(b)                                  No Reference Bank will be liable for any action taken by it under or in connection with any Finance Document, or for any Reference Bank Quotation, unless directly caused by its gross negligence or wilful misconduct.

 

(c)                                   No Party (other than the relevant Reference Bank) may take any proceedings against any officer, employee or agent of any Reference Bank in respect of any claim it might have against that Reference Bank or in respect of any act or omission of any kind by that officer, employee or agent in relation to any Finance Document, or to any Reference Bank Quotation, and any officer, employee or agent of each Reference Bank may rely on this Clause 19.18 subject to Clause 1.2 ( Construction ) and the provisions of the Third Parties Act.

 

19.19                  Third party Reference Banks

 

A Reference Bank which is not a Party may rely on Clause 19.18 ( Role of Reference Banks ), Clause 25.2 ( Other exceptions ) and Clause 27.3 ( Confidentiality of Funding Rates and Reference Bank Quotations ) subject to Clause 1.2 ( Construction ) and the provisions of the Third Parties Act.

 

65



 

20.                                FEES

 

20.1                         Commitment fee

 

(a)                                  Vodafone shall pay to the Agent for distribution to each Lender pro rata to the proportion its Commitment bears to the Total Commitments from time to time a commitment fee at the rate of 0.085 per cent. per annum of any undrawn, uncancelled amount of the Total Commitments on each day.

 

(b)                                  Commitment fee is calculated and accrues on a daily basis on and from the Signing Date and is payable quarterly in arrears. Accrued and unpaid commitment fee is also payable to the Agent for the relevant Lender(s) on any amount of its Commitment which is cancelled voluntarily by the Borrower at the time the cancellation takes effect (but only in respect of the period up to the date of cancellation).

 

(c)                                   No commitment fee is payable to the Agent (for the account of a Lender) on any Available Commitment of that Lender for any day on which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender.

 

20.2                         Front-end fees

 

Vodafone shall pay to the Original Lender a front-end fee in the amount and on the date specified in the relevant Fee Letter.

 

20.3                         VAT

 

Any fee referred to in this Clause 20 is exclusive of any United Kingdom value added tax. If any value added tax is so chargeable, it shall be paid by Vodafone at the same time as it pays the relevant fee.

 

21.                                EXPENSES

 

21.1                         Initial and special costs

 

Vodafone shall forthwith on demand pay the Agent and the Arranger the amount of all out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including but not limited to legal fees up to an amount agreed, in the case of (a)(i) below, with the Arranger) reasonably incurred by any of them in connection with:

 

(a)                                  the negotiation, preparation, printing and execution of:

 

(i)                                      this Agreement and any other documents referred to in this Agreement; and

 

(ii)                                   any other Finance Document (other than a Novation Certificate) executed after the Signing Date;

 

(b)                                  any amendment, waiver, consent or suspension of rights (or any proposal for any of the foregoing) requested by or on behalf of an Obligor and relating to a Finance Document or a document referred to in any Finance Document or any amendment to this Agreement to reflect a change in currency of a country pursuant to Clause 9.4(b)(iii) ( Currency ); and

 

(c)                                   any other agency matter not of an ordinary administrative nature, arising out of or in connection with a Finance Document in the amount agreed between the Agent and Vodafone at the relevant time.

 

66



 

21.2                         Enforcement costs

 

Vodafone shall within five Business Days of receiving written demand pay to each Finance Party the amount of all costs and expenses (including but not limited to legal fees) incurred (or in the case of (b) below reasonably incurred) by it:

 

(a)                                  in connection with the enforcement of any Finance Document; or

 

(b)                                  in connection with the preservation of any rights under any Finance Document.

 

22.                                STAMP DUTIES

 

Vodafone shall pay and within five Business Days of receiving written demand indemnify each Finance Party against any liability it incurs in respect of any stamp, registration or similar tax which is or becomes payable in any jurisdiction in or through which any payment under the Finance Documents is made or any Obligor is incorporated or has any assets in connection with the entry into, performance or enforcement of any Finance Document.

 

23.                                INDEMNITIES

 

23.1                         Currency indemnity

 

(a)                                  If a Finance Party receives an amount in respect of an Obligor’s liability under the Finance Documents or if that liability is converted into a claim, proof, judgment or order in a currency other than the currency (the “ Contractual Currency ”) in which the amount is expressed to be payable under the relevant Finance Document:

 

(i)                                      that Obligor shall indemnify that Finance Party as an independent obligation against any loss or liability arising out of or as a result of the conversion;

 

(ii)                                   if the amount received by that Finance Party, when converted into the Contractual Currency at a market rate in the usual course of its business, is less than the amount owed in the Contractual Currency, the Obligor concerned shall forthwith on demand pay to that Finance Party an amount in the Contractual Currency equal to the deficit (provided that if the amount received by the Finance Party following such conversion is greater than the amount owed, the Finance Party shall pay to such Obligor an amount equal to the excess); and

 

(iii)                                the Obligor shall pay to the Finance Party concerned on demand any exchange costs and taxes payable in connection with any such conversion.

 

(b)                                  Each Obligor waives any right it may have in any jurisdiction to pay any amount under the Finance Documents in a currency other than that in which it is expressed to be payable.

 

23.2                         Other indemnities

 

Vodafone shall forthwith on demand indemnify each Finance Party against any loss or liability which that Finance Party incurs as a consequence of:

 

(a)                                  the occurrence of any Default; or

 

(b)                                  the operation of Clause 18.16 ( Acceleration ); or

 

(c)                                   any payment of principal or an Overdue Amount being received from any source otherwise than in the case of an Advance on its Maturity Date (and, for the purposes of

 

67



 

this paragraph (c), the Maturity Date of an Overdue Amount is the last day of each Designated Term); or

 

(d)                                  a Default or an action or omission by an Obligor resulting in an Advance not being disbursed after a Borrower has delivered a Request for that Advance.

 

Vodafone’s liability in each case includes any loss or expense, (excluding loss of Margin) in respect or on account of funds borrowed, contracted for or utilised to fund any amount payable under any Finance Document, any amount repaid or prepaid or any Advance.

 

23.3        Breakage costs

 

If a Finance Party receives or recovers any payment of principal of an Advance or of an Overdue Amount other than on its Maturity Date or, as the case may be, the last day of the Designated Term for the purposes of calculation of the amount payable by Vodafone under Clause 23.2(c) ( Other indemnities ) in respect of the amount so received or recovered, that Finance Party shall calculate:

 

(a)                                  the additional interest (excluding the Margin) which would have been payable on the principal so received or recovered had it been received or recovered on the relevant Maturity Date or, as the case may be, the last day of the Designated Term; and

 

(b)                                  the amount of interest which would have been payable to that Finance Party on the relevant Maturity Date or, as the case may be, the last day of the Designated Term concerned in respect of a deposit by that Finance Party in the currency of the amount received or recovered placed with a prime bank in London earning interest from (and including) the earliest Business Day for placing deposits in such currency following receipt of that amount up to (but excluding) the relevant Maturity Date or, as the case may be, the last day of the applicable Designated Term,

 

and if the amount payable under paragraph (a) above is greater than the amount payable under paragraph (b) above, Vodafone will, forthwith on receipt of a demand from the relevant Finance Party pursuant to Clause 23.2(c) ( Other indemnities ), pay to that Finance Party an amount equal to the difference between the amount payable under paragraphs (a) and (b) above.

 

24.          EVIDENCE AND CALCULATIONS

 

24.1        Accounts

 

Accounts maintained by a Finance Party in connection with this Agreement are prima facie evidence of the matters to which they relate (except in a case of manifest error).

 

24.2        Certificates and determinations

 

Any certification or determination by a Finance Party of a rate or amount under this Agreement is, in the absence of manifest error, prima facie evidence of the matters to which it relates.

 

24.3        Calculations

 

Interest and the fees payable under Clause 20.1 ( Commitment fee ) accrue from day to day and are calculated on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed and a year of 360 days.

 

68



 

25.          AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS

 

25.1        Procedure

 

(a)                                  Subject to Clause 25.2 ( Exceptions ) and Clause 25.4 ( NewTopco ), any term of the Finance Documents may be amended or waived with the agreement of Vodafone and the Majority Lenders. The Agent may effect, on behalf of the Lenders, an amendment to which the Majority Lenders have agreed.

 

(b)                                  The Agent shall promptly notify the other Parties of any amendment or waiver effected under paragraph (a) above, and any such amendment or waiver shall be binding on all the Parties.

 

25.2        Exceptions

 

An amendment or waiver which relates to:

 

(a)                                  the definition of “Majority Lenders” in Clause 1.1 ( Definitions ); or

 

(b)                                  an extension of the date for, or a decrease in an amount or a change in the currency of, any payment under the Finance Documents; or

 

(c)                                   an increase in or extension of a Lender’s Commitment or a change to the Margin; or

 

(d)                                  a change in the guarantee under Clause 14 ( Guarantee ) otherwise than in accordance with Clause 26.7 ( Additional Guarantors ) or Clause 14.9 ( Removal of Guarantors ); or

 

(e)                                   a term of a Finance Document which expressly requires the consent of each Lender;

 

(f)                                    Clause 26.5 ( Replacement of Lenders );

 

(g)                                   Clause 29 ( Pro rata sharing ), Clause 2.4 ( Nature of rights and obligations ) or this Clause 25; or

 

(h)           any Term exceeding six months,

 

may not be effected without the consent of each Lender. Any amendment or waiver which changes, or relates to the rights and/or obligations of the Agent or a Reference Bank shall also require the Agent’s of that Reference Bank’s (as applicable) agreement.

 

25.3        Replacement of Screen Rate

 

(a)                                  Subject to Clause 26.2 (Exceptions), if any Screen Rate is not available for a currency which can be selected for an Advance, any amendment or waiver which relates to providing for another benchmark rate to apply in relation to that currency in place of that Screen Rate (or which relates to aligning any provision of a Finance Document to the use of that other benchmark rate) may be made with the consent of the Majority Lenders and the Obligors.

 

(b)                                  If any Lender fails to respond to a request for an amendment or waiver described in paragraph (a) above within 5 Business Days (unless Vodafone and the Agent agree to a longer time period in relation to any request) of that request being made:

 

(i)                                      its Commitment shall not be included for the purpose of calculating the Total Commitments under the Facility when ascertaining whether any relevant percentage of Total Commitments has been obtained to approve that request; and

 

69



 

(ii)                                   its status as Lender shall be disregarded for the purpose of ascertaining whether the agreement of any specified group of Lenders has been obtained to approve that request.

 

25.4        NewTopco

 

Any amendment substituting a reference to Vodafone with a reference to NewTopco:

 

(a)                                  to any procedural or administrative provision of this Agreement; or

 

(b)                                  which puts the Parties in substantially the same position as applied prior to the Hive Up,

 

may be effected by agreement between NewTopco and the Agent.

 

25.5        Waivers and remedies cumulative

 

The rights of each Party under the Finance Documents:

 

(a)                                  may be exercised as often as necessary;

 

(b)                                  are cumulative and not exclusive of its rights under the general law; and

 

(c)                                   may be waived only in writing and specifically.

 

Delay in exercising or non-exercise of any such right is not a waiver of that right.

 

25.6        Disenfranchisement of Defaulting Lenders

 

(a)                                  For so long as a Defaulting Lender has any Available Commitment, in ascertaining the Majority Lenders or whether any given percentage (including, for the avoidance of doubt, unanimity) of the Total Commitments has been obtained to approve any request for a consent, waiver, amendment or other vote under the Finance Documents, that Defaulting Lender’s commitments will be reduced by the amount of its Available Commitments.

 

(b)                                  For the purposes of this Clause 25.6, the Agent may assume that the following Lenders are Defaulting Lenders:

 

(i)                                      any Lender which has notified the Agent that it has become a Defaulting Lender;

 

(ii)                                   any Lender in relation to which it is aware that any of the events or circumstances referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of the definition of “Defaulting Lender” has occurred, and in the case of the events or circumstances referred to in paragraph (a) of the definition of “Defaulting Lender”, none of the exceptions to that paragraph apply,

 

unless it has received notice to the contrary from the Lender concerned (together with any supporting evidence reasonably requested by the Agent) or the Agent is otherwise aware that the Lender has ceased to be a Defaulting Lender.

 

25.7        Replacement of a Defaulting Lender

 

(a)                                  Vodafone may, at any time a Lender has become and continues to be a Defaulting Lender, by giving five Business Days’ prior written notice to the Agent and such Lender:

 

(i)                                      replace such Lender by requiring such Lender to (and such Lender shall) transfer pursuant to Clause 26 ( Changes to the Parties ) all (and not part only) of its rights and obligations under this Agreement; or

 

(ii)                                   require such Lender to (and such Lender shall) transfer pursuant to Clause 26 ( Changes to the Parties ) all (and not part only) of the undrawn Commitments of the Lender,

 

70



 

to a Lender or other bank or financial institution, (a “ Replacement Lender ”) selected by Vodafone, and which is acceptable to the Agent (acting reasonably) and which confirms its willingness to assume and does assume all the obligations or all the relevant obligations of the transferring Lender (including the assumption of the transferring Lender’s participations or unfunded participations (as the case may be) on the same basis as the transferring Lender) for a purchase price in cash payable at the time of transfer equal to the outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s participation in the outstanding Advances and all accrued interest, Break Costs and other amounts payable in relation thereto under the Finance Documents.

 

(b)                                  Any transfer of rights and obligations of a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this Clause 25.7 shall be subject to the following conditions:

 

(i)                                      Vodafone shall have no right to replace the Agent;

 

(ii)                                   neither the Agent nor the Defaulting Lender shall have any obligation to Vodafone to find a Replacement Lender;

 

(iii)                                the transfer must take place no later than 45 Business Days after the notice referred to in paragraph (a) above; and

 

in no event shall a Defaulting Lender be required to pay or surrender to the Replacement Lender any of the fees received by the Defaulting Lender pursuant to the Finance Documents.

 

(c)                                   An amendment or waiver which relates to this Clause 25 may not be effected without the consent of each Lender.

 

26.          CHANGES TO THE PARTIES

 

26.1        Transfers by Obligors

 

(a)                                  No Obligor may assign, transfer, novate or dispose of any of, or any interest in, its rights and/or obligations under this Agreement provided that without any further consent from the Lenders or the Agent it may, subject to paragraph (b) below and provided that no Default is continuing or would result from any such transfer, transfer its rights and obligations under this Agreement to NewTopco or any Intermediate Holding Company and NewTopco or the Intermediate Holding Company will execute a document, or documents, in favour of the Lenders in form and substance the same as this Agreement, with references to such Obligor in this Agreement amended to mean NewTopco or such Intermediate Holding Company (as applicable), provided that if such transfer is to an Intermediate Holding Company, the Agent may, within 30 days of receipt of notification of such transfer, require NewTopco to accede as a Guarantor. The Agent shall (and is hereby authorised to) execute on behalf of the Finance Parties any such document or documents executed by NewTopco or the Intermediate Holding Company provided that the conditions set out in this Clause 26.1 are satisfied.

 

(b)                                  The transfer of rights and obligations under this Agreement to NewTopco or any Intermediate Holding Company shall not require the consent of the Lenders or the Agent provided that NewTopco or the Intermediate Holding Company, as applicable, is incorporated and tax resident in the United Kingdom or in the United States and prior to such transfer Vodafone provides satisfactory evidence to the Agent that it is tax resident in one of those jurisdictions. Subject to paragraph (c) below, the prior written consent of the Majority Lenders shall be required in

 

71



 

relation to the transfer of rights and obligations to a NewTopco or an Intermediate Holding Company incorporated elsewhere.

 

(c)                                   All Lender consent will be required for any transfer of rights under this Agreement to a NewTopco or an Intermediate Holding Company to the extent the transferee is incorporated or established or carrying on its principal business in a country which is subject to OFAC sanctions, United Nations sanctions under Article 41 of the UN Charter, or any equivalent sanctions administered or enforced by the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, or other relevant sanctions authority.

 

26.2        Transfers by Lenders

 

(a)                                  A Lender (the “ Existing Lender ”) may at any time assign, transfer or novate any of its rights and/or obligations under this Agreement to another bank, financial institution, central bank or federal reserve (the “ New Lender ”) provided that:

 

(i)                                      subject to paragraph (b) below Vodafone (or following a Hive Up, NewTopco) has, except while an Event of Default is continuing or in the case of an assignment, transfer or novation to an Affiliate or another Lender, given its prior written consent (in the case of a transfer to a financial institution, such consent to be in its absolute discretion and, in the case of a transfer to a bank, central bank or federal reserve such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); and

 

(ii)                                   in the case of a partial assignment, transfer or novation of rights and/or obligations, a minimum amount of U.S.$8,000,000 in aggregate and in multiples of U.S.$1,000,000 (unless to an Affiliate or to a Lender or the Agent agrees otherwise) must be assigned, transferred or novated.

 

(b)                                  Vodafone must respond to a request for its consent to a transfer made under paragraph (a)(i) above as soon as is reasonably practicable and, in any event, no later than 15 Business Days after the day on which it received the request, or Vodafone will be deemed to have given its consent to the transfer.

 

(c)                                   A transfer of obligations will be effective only if either:

 

(i)                                      the obligations are novated in accordance with Clause 26.4 ( Procedure for novations ); or

 

(ii)                                   the New Lender gives prior written notice to Vodafone and, except while an Event of Default is continuing or in the case of an assignment, transfer or novation to an Affiliate or another Lender, obtains the consent of Vodafone in accordance with paragraph (a)(i) above and confirms to the Agent and Vodafone that it undertakes to be bound by the terms of this Agreement as a Lender in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent. On the transfer becoming effective in this manner the Existing Lender shall be relieved of its obligations under this Agreement to the extent that they are transferred to the New Lender; and

 

(iii)                                the Agent has performed all “know your customer” or other checks relating to any person that it is required to carry out in relation to such assignment to a New Lender, the completion of which the Agent shall promptly notify to the Existing Lender and the New Lender.

 

72



 

(d)                                  Nothing in this Agreement restricts the ability of a Lender to sub-contract an obligation if that Lender remains liable under this Agreement for that obligation.

 

(e)                                   On each occasion an Existing Lender assigns, transfers or novates any of its rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (other than to an Affiliate), the New Lender shall, on the date the assignment, transfer and/or novation takes effect, pay to the Agent for its own account a fee of U.S.$3,000.

 

(f)                                    An Existing Lender is not responsible to a New Lender for:

 

(i)                                      the execution, genuineness, validity, enforceability or sufficiency of any Finance Document or any other document; or

 

(ii)                                   the collectability of amounts payable under any Finance Document; or

 

(iii)                                the accuracy of any statements (whether written or oral) made in connection with any Finance Document.

 

(g)                                   Each New Lender confirms to the Existing Lender and the other Finance Parties that it:

 

(i)                                      has made its own independent investigation and assessment of the financial condition and affairs of each Obligor and its related entities in connection with its participation in this Agreement and has not relied exclusively on any information provided to it by the Existing Lender in connection with any Finance Document; and

 

(ii)                                   will continue to make its own independent appraisal of the creditworthiness of each Obligor and its related entities while any amount is or may be outstanding under this Agreement or any Commitment is in force.

 

(h)                                  Nothing in any Finance Document obliges an Existing Lender to:

 

(i)                                      accept a re transfer from a New Lender of any of the rights and/or obligations assigned, transferred or novated under this Clause 26; or

 

(ii)                                   support any losses incurred by the New Lender by reason of the non-performance by any Obligor of its obligations under this Agreement or otherwise.

 

(i)                                      Any reference in this Agreement to a Lender includes a New Lender but excludes a Lender if no amount is or may be owed to or by it under this Agreement and its Commitment has been cancelled or reduced to nil.

 

(j)                                     If any assignment, transfer or novation results either:

 

(i)                                      at the time of the assignment, transfer or novation; or

 

(ii)                                   at any future time where the additional amount was caused as a result of laws and/or regulations in force at the date of the assignment, transfer or novation,

 

in additional amounts becoming due under Clause 10 ( Taxes ) or amounts becoming due under Clause 12 ( Increased costs ), the New Lender shall be entitled to receive such additional amounts only to the extent that the Existing Lender would have been so entitled had there been no such assignment, transfer or novation.

 

73



 

26.3        Affiliates of Lenders

 

(a)                                  Each Lender may fulfil its obligations in respect of any Advance through an Affiliate if:

 

(i)                                      the relevant Affiliate is specified in this Agreement as a Lender or becomes a Lender by means of a Novation Certificate in accordance with this Agreement and subject to any consent required under Clause 26.2 ( Transfers by Lenders ); and

 

(ii)                                   the Advances in which that Affiliate will participate are specified in this Agreement or in a notice given by that Lender to the Agent.

 

In this event, the Lender and the Affiliate will participate in Advances in the manner provided for in sub-paragraph (a)(ii) above.

 

(b)                                  If paragraph (a) above applies, the Lender and its Affiliate will be treated as having a single Commitment and a single vote, but, for all other purposes, will be treated as separate Lenders.

 

26.4        Procedure for novations

 

(a)           A novation is effected if:

 

(i)                                      the Existing Lender and the New Lender deliver to the Agent a duly completed certificate (a “ Novation Certificate ”), substantially in the form of Part I of Schedule 4, with such amendments as the Agent approves to achieve a substantially similar effect (which may be delivered by fax and confirmed by delivery of a hard copy original but the fax will be effective irrespective of whether confirmation is received); and

 

(ii)                                   the Agent executes it (as soon as practicable for it to do so).

 

(b)                                  Each Party (other than the Existing Lender and the New Lender) irrevocably authorises the Agent to execute any duly completed Novation Certificate on its behalf.

 

(c)                                   To the extent that they are expressed to be the subject of the novation in the Novation Certificate:

 

(i)                                      the Existing Lender and the other Parties (the “ Existing Parties ”) will be released from their obligations to each other (the “ Discharged Obligations ”);

 

(ii)                                   the New Lender and the Existing Parties will assume obligations towards each other which differ from the Discharged Obligations only insofar as they are owed to or assumed by the New Lender instead of the Existing Lender;

 

(iii)                                the rights of the Existing Lender against the Existing Parties and vice versa (the “ Discharged Rights ”) will be cancelled; and

 

(iv)                               the New Lender and the Existing Parties will acquire rights against each other which differ from the Discharged Rights only insofar as they are exercisable by or against the New Lender instead of the Existing Lender,

 

all on the date of execution of the Novation Certificate by the Agent or, if later, the date specified in the Novation Certificate.

 

(d)                                  If the effective date of a novation is after the date a Request is received by the Agent but before the date the requested Advance is disbursed to the relevant Borrower, the Existing Lender shall be obliged to participate in that Advance in respect of its Discharged Obligations notwithstanding

 

74



 

that novation, and the New Lender shall reimburse the Existing Lender for its participation in that Advance and all interest and fees thereon up to the date of reimbursement (in each case to the extent attributable to the Discharged Obligations) within three Business Days of the Drawdown Date of that Advance.

 

(e)                                   The Agent shall only be obliged to execute a Novation Certificate delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender once it is satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to the transfer to such New Lender.

 

26.5        Replacement of Lenders

 

(a)           In this Clause 26.5:

 

Non-consenting Lender ” means a Lender which does not agree to a consent or amendment to, or a waiver of, a provision of a Finance Document requested by Vodafone where:

 

(i)                                      the consent, waiver or amendment requires the consent of all the Lenders;

 

(ii)                                   a period of not less than 15 Business Days (or such other longer period as agreed from time to time between the Agent and Vodafone) has elapsed from the date the consent, waiver or amendment was requested; and

 

(iii)          80 per cent. of the Lenders have agreed to the consent, waiver or amendment.

 

Prepayment Lender ” means, at any time, a Lender in respect of which:

 

(i)                                      a Borrower is at that time entitled to serve a notice under Clauses 7.5(a) to (c) ( Right of prepayment and cancellation ) (inclusive), but has not done so; or

 

(ii)                                   a Borrower becomes obliged to repay any amount in accordance with Clause 13.1 ( Illegality ).

 

Relevant Lender ” means:

 

(i)            a Prepayment Lender; or

 

(ii)           a Non-Consenting Lender.

 

Replacement Lender ” means a Lender or any other bank or financial institution selected by Vodafone which:

 

(i)                                      in the case of a person which is not an existing Lender is acceptable to the Agent (acting reasonably); and

 

(ii)                                   is willing to assume all of the obligations of the Relevant Lender.

 

(b)                                  Subject to paragraph (e) below, Vodafone may, on giving 10 Business Days’ prior notice to the Agent and a Relevant Lender, require that Relevant Lender to transfer all of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to a Replacement Lender.

 

(c)                                   On receipt of a notice under paragraph (b) above the Relevant Lender must transfer all of its rights and obligations under this Agreement:

 

(i)            in accordance with Clause 26.2 ( Transfers by Lenders );

 

75



 

(ii)           on the date specified in the notice;

 

(iii)          to the Replacement Lender specified in the notice; and

 

(iv)          for a purchase price equal to the aggregate of:

 

(i)                                      the Relevant Lender’s share in the outstanding Facility;

 

(ii)                                   any Break Costs incurred by the Relevant Lender as a result of the transfer; and

 

(iii)                                all accrued interest, fees and other amounts payable to the Relevant Lender under this Agreement as at the transfer date.

 

(d)                                  No member of the Consolidated Group may make any payment or assume any obligation to or on behalf of the Replacement Lender as an inducement for a Replacement Lender to become a Lender, other than as provided in paragraph (c) above.

 

(e)                                   Notwithstanding the above, Vodafone’s right to replace:

 

(i)                                      a Non-Consenting Lender may only be exercised within 45 Business Days after the date the consent, waiver or amendment was requested by Vodafone;

 

(ii)                                   a Prepayment Lender may only be exercised whilst it is entitled to serve a notice under Clause 7.5 ( Right of prepayment and cancellation ) or whilst a Borrower is obliged to make a payment under Clause 13.1 ( Illegality ) (as applicable); and

 

(iii)                                a Non-Consenting Lender or Prepayment Lender under this Clause 26.5 shall in no way oblige such Non-Consenting Lender or Prepayment Lender to pay or surrender any of the fees received by such Lender pursuant to the Finance Documents.

 

26.6        Pro rata interest settlement

 

If the Agent has notified the Lenders that it is able to distribute interest payments on a “pro rata basis” to Existing Lenders and New Lenders then (in respect of any transfer pursuant to Clause 26.2 ( Transfers by Lenders ) or any novation pursuant to Clause 26.4 ( Procedure for novations ) the transfer date of which, in each case, is after the date of such notification and is not on the last day of a Term):

 

(a)                                  any interest or fees in respect of the relevant participation which are expressed to accrue by reference to the lapse of time shall continue to accrue in favour of the Existing Lender up to but excluding the transfer date (“ Accrued Amounts ”) and shall become due and payable to the Existing Lender (without further interest accruing on them) on the last day of the current Term (or, if the Term is longer than six Months, on the next of the dates which falls at six monthly intervals after the first day of that Term); and

 

(b)                                  the rights assigned or transferred by the Existing Lender will not include the right to the Accrued Amounts so that, for the avoidance of doubt:

 

(i)                                      when the Accrued Amounts become payable, those Accrued Amounts will be payable for the account of the Existing Lender; and

 

(ii)                                   the amount payable to the New Lender on that date will be the amount which would, but for the application of this Clause 26.6, have been payable to it on that date, but after deduction of the Accrued Amounts.

 

76



 

26.7        Additional Guarantors

 

(a)

 

(i)                                      Vodafone will procure that NewTopco and any Intermediate Holding Company of Vodafone will become an Additional Guarantor on or before the Reorganisation Date by executing and delivering the documents set out in paragraph (a)(iii) below on or before the Reorganisation Date.

 

(ii)                                   Subject to Vodafone’s prior written consent, any other member of the Consolidated Group may become an Additional Guarantor.

 

(iii)                                The relevant company will become an Additional Guarantor upon:

 

(A)                                the delivery to the Agent of a Guarantor Accession Agreement duly executed by that company; and

 

(B)                                delivery to the Agent of all those other documents listed in Part II of Schedule 2, in each case in the agreed form or in such other form and substance satisfactory to the Agent.

 

(b)                                  The execution of a Guarantor Accession Agreement constitutes confirmation by the Additional Guarantor concerned that the representations and warranties set out in Clauses 15.1 ( Representations and warranties ) to 15.6 ( Authorisations ) to be made by it on the date of the Guarantor Accession Agreement are correct, as if made with reference to the facts and circumstances then existing.

 

26.8        Additional Borrowers

 

(a)

 

(i)                                      Any member of the Restricted Group, or following a Hive Up (and subject to the proviso below), NewTopco or any Intermediate Holding Company, in each case, incorporated and tax resident in the United Kingdom or in the United States or, subject to the prior written consent of the Majority Lenders (or, if sub-paragraph (a)(iii) below applies, all the Lenders), elsewhere which Vodafone nominates may become an Additional Borrower, provided that on or prior to the date on which NewTopco or any Intermediate Holding Company accedes as an Additional Borrower it also accedes as an Additional Guarantor.

 

(ii)                                   The relevant member of the Restricted Group (or NewTopco or any Intermediate Holding Company, as applicable) will become an Additional Borrower upon:

 

(A)                                the delivery to the Agent of a Borrower Accession Agreement duly executed by that member of the Restricted Group (or NewTopco or any Intermediate Holding Company, as applicable); and

 

(B)                                delivery to the Agent of all those other documents listed in Part III of Schedule 2, in each case in the agreed form or in such other form and substance satisfactory to the Agent.

 

(iii)                                All Lender consent will be required for any Additional Borrower to the extent the Additional Borrower is incorporated or established or carrying on its principal business in a country which is subject to OFAC sanctions, United Nations sanctions under Article 41

 

77



 

of the UN Charter or any equivalent sanctions administered or enforced by the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury or other relevant sanctions authority

 

(b)            The execution of a Borrower Accession Agreement constitutes confirmation by the Additional Borrower concerned that the representations and warranties set out in Clauses 15.1 ( Representations and warranties ) to 15.6 ( Authorisations ) to be made by it on the date of the Borrower Accession Agreement are correct, as if made with reference to the facts and circumstances then existing.

 

26.9         Removal of Borrowers

 

(a)            Any Borrower (other than Vodafone (subject to paragraph (b) below) or, if applicable, NewTopco) which has no liabilities to the Finance Parties in respect of outstanding Advances or any other liabilities to the Finance Parties under the Finance Documents (other than as a Guarantor) may, at the request of Vodafone and if no Default is outstanding or will result from such action, cease to be a Borrower by entering into a supplemental agreement to this Agreement at the cost of Vodafone in such form as the Agent may reasonably require which shall discharge that Borrowers’ obligations as a Borrower under this Agreement.

 

(b)            If on the Reorganisation Date:

 

(i)             NewTopco and any Intermediate Holding Company has acceded as a Guarantor in accordance with Clause 26.7 ( Additional Guarantors );

 

(ii)            Vodafone has no liabilities to the Finance Parties in respect of outstanding Advances or any other liabilities to the Finance Parties under the Finance Documents (other than as a Guarantor); and

 

(iii)           no Default is continuing,

 

Vodafone may cease to be a Borrower with effect from the Reorganisation Date by entering into a supplemental agreement to this Agreement at the cost of Vodafone or NewTopco in such form as the Agent may reasonably require which shall discharge Vodafone’s obligations as a Borrower under this Agreement.

 

26.10       Reference Banks

 

If a Reference Bank (or, if a Reference Bank is not a Lender, the Lender of which it is an Affiliate) ceases to be a Lender, the Agent shall (in consultation with Vodafone) appoint another Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender which is not a Reference Bank to replace that Reference Bank.

 

26.11       Register

 

The Agent, acting solely for this purpose as agent of the Borrowers, shall keep a register of all the Parties including in the case of Lenders, their respective commitments, the obligations owing to each, and the details of their Facility Office notified to the Agent from time to time, and shall supply any other Party (at that Party’s expense) with a copy of the register on request.

 

The Agent shall record in the register any transfer by an Obligor or by a Lender described in Clause 26.1(a) or 26.1(b) ( Transfers by Obligors ) or 26.2 ( Transfers by Lenders ), respectively, and any other modification to the Borrowers, Lenders, Guarantors, or outstanding obligations. The Agent shall record the names and addresses of each Lender and the respective Commitments of and obligations owing to each Lender. The entries in the register shall, in the

 

78



 

absence of manifest error, be conclusive and each Obligor, the Agent, and each Lender shall treat each person whose name is recorded in the register as a Lender notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. The register shall be available for inspection by each Obligor at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

26.12       Security over Lenders’ rights

 

In addition to the other rights provided to Lenders under this Clause 26, each Lender may at any time charge, assign or otherwise create Security in or over (whether by way of collateral or otherwise) all or any of its rights under any Finance Document to secure obligations of that Lender including, without limitation:

 

(a)            any charge, assignment or other Security to secure obligations to a federal reserve or central bank; and

 

(b)            with the prior written consent of Vodafone (or following a Hive Up, NewTopco), such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed, in the case of any Lender which is a fund, any charge, assignment or other Security granted to any holders (or trustee or representatives of holders) of obligations owed, or securities issued, by that Lender as security for those obligations or securities,

 

except that no such charge, assignment or Security shall:

 

(i)             release a Lender from any of its obligations under the Finance Documents or substitute the beneficiary of the relevant charge, assignment or other Security for the Lender as a party to any of the Finance Documents; or

 

(ii)            require any payments to be made by an Obligor or grant to any person any more extensive rights than those required to be made or granted to the relevant Lender under the Finance Documents.

 

27.           DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION

 

27.1         Disclosure

 

(a)            A Lender may disclose to any of its Affiliates, directors, employees, officers, professional advisers or auditors; any person to whom or for whose benefit a Lender charges, assigns or otherwise creates security (or may do so) pursuant to Clause 26.12 ( Security over Lenders’ rights ); or any person with whom it is proposing to enter, or has entered into, any kind of transfer, participation or other agreement in relation to this Agreement:

 

(i)             a copy of any Finance Document; and

 

(ii)            any information which that Lender has acquired under or in connection with any Finance Document,

 

provided that a Lender shall not disclose any such information:

 

(i)             to any of its Affiliates, directors, employees, officers, professional advisers or auditors or a federal reserve or central bank, unless the recipient is informed that such information is confidential; or

 

79



 

(ii)            to any other person unless that person has provided to that Lender a confidentiality undertaking addressed to that Lender and Vodafone substantially in the form of Schedule 5 or such other form as Vodafone may approve.

 

(b)            Paragraphs 1(a), 1(c), 2(b), 3, 6, 8, 9 and 12 of Schedule 5 ( Form of Confidentiality Undertaking from New Lender ) shall be deemed to be incorporated herein as if set out in full ( mutatis mutandis ), but as if references therein to “we” “us” or “our” were to each Finance Party and references to “you” were to Vodafone and as if the Confidential Information included in any Funding Rate or Reference Bank Quotation.

 

27.2         Disclosure to numbering service providers

 

(a)            Any Finance Party may disclose to any national or international numbering service provider appointed by that Finance Party to provide identification numbering services in respect of this Agreement, the Facility and/or one or more Obligors the following information:

 

(i)             names of Obligors;

 

(ii)            country of domicile of Obligors;

 

(iii)           place of incorporation of Obligors;

 

(iv)           date of this Agreement;

 

(v)            the name of the Agent and the Arranger;

 

(vi)           date of each amendment and restatement of this Agreement;

 

(vii)          amount of Total Commitments;

 

(viii)         currencies of the Facility;

 

(ix)           type of the Facility;

 

(x)            ranking of the Facility;

 

(xi)           Maturity Date for the Facility;

 

(xii)          changes to any of the information previously supplied pursuant to paragraphs (a)(i) to (a)(ix) above (inclusive); and

 

(xiii)         such other information agreed between such Finance Party and Vodafone,

 

to enable such numbering service provider to provide its usual syndicated loan numbering identification services.

 

(b)            The Parties acknowledge and agree that each identification number assigned to this Agreement, the Facility and/or one or more Obligors by a numbering service provider and the information associated with each such number may be disclosed to users of its services in accordance with the standard terms and conditions of that numbering service provider.

 

(c)            If requested, the Agent shall notify Vodafone and the other Finance Parties of:

 

(i)             the name of any numbering service provider appointed by the Agent in respect of this Agreement, the Facility and/or one or more Obligors; and

 

80



 

(ii)            the number or, as the case may be, numbers assigned to this Agreement, the Facility and/or one or more Obligors by such numbering service provider.

 

27.3         Confidentiality of Funding Rates and Reference Bank Quotations

 

(a)            Confidentiality and Disclosure

 

(i)             The Agent and each Obligor agree to keep each Funding Rate (and, in the case of the Agent, each Reference Bank Quotation) confidential and not to disclose it to anyone, save to the extent permitted by paragraphs (ii), (iii) and (iv) below.

 

(ii)            The Agent may disclose:

 

(A)           any Funding Rate (but not, for the avoidance of doubt, any Reference Bank Quotation) to Vodafone pursuant to Clause 8.4( Notification of rates of interest ); and

 

(B)           any Funding Rate or any Reference Bank Quotation to any person appointed by it to provide administration services in respect of one or more of the Finance Documents to the extent necessary to enable such service provider to provide those services if the service provider to whom that information is to be given has entered into a confidentiality agreement substantially in the form of the LMA Master Confidentiality Undertaking for Use With Administration/Settlement Service Providers or such other form of confidentiality undertaking agreed between the Agent and the relevant Lender or Reference Bank, as the case may be.

 

(iii)           The Agent may disclose any Funding Rate or any Reference Bank Quotation, and each Obligor may disclose any Funding Rate, to:

 

(A)           any of its Affiliates and any of its or their officers, directors, employees, professional advisers, auditors, partners and representatives if any person to whom that Funding Rate or Reference Bank Quotation is to be given pursuant to this paragraph (A) is informed in writing of its confidential nature and that it may be price-sensitive information except that there shall be no such requirement to so inform if the recipient is subject to professional obligations to maintain the confidentiality of that Funding Rate or Reference Bank Quotation or is otherwise bound by requirements of confidentiality in relation to it;

 

(B)           any person to whom information is required or requested to be disclosed by any court of competent jurisdiction or any governmental, banking, taxation or other regulatory authority or similar body, the rules of any relevant stock exchange or pursuant to any applicable law or regulation if the person to whom that Funding Rate or Reference Bank Quotation is to be given is informed in writing of its confidential nature and that it may be price-sensitive information except that there shall be no requirement to so inform if, in the opinion of the Agent or the relevant Obligor, as the case may be, it is not practicable to do so in the circumstances;

 

81



 

(C)           any person to whom information is required to be disclosed in connection with, and for the purposes of, any litigation, arbitration, administrative or other investigations, proceedings or disputes if the person to whom that Funding Rate or Reference Bank Quotation is to be given is informed in writing of its confidential nature and that it may be price-sensitive information except that there shall be no requirement to so inform if, in the opinion of the Agent or the relevant Obligor, as the case may be, it is not practicable to do so in the circumstances; and

 

(D)           any person with the consent of the relevant Lender or Reference Bank, as the case may be.

 

(iv)           The Agent’s obligations in this Clause 27.3relating to Reference Bank Quotations are without prejudice to its obligations to make notifications under Clause 8.4 ( Notification of rates of interest ) provided that (other than pursuant to paragraph (ii)(A) above) the Agent shall not include the details of any individual Reference Bank Quotation as part of any such notification.

 

(b)            Other Obligations

 

(i)             The Agent and each Obligor acknowledge that each Funding Rate (and, in the case of the Agent, each Reference Bank Quotation) is or may be price-sensitive information and that its use may be regulated or prohibited by applicable legislation including securities law relating to insider dealing and market abuse and the Agent and each Obligor undertake not to use any Funding Rate or, in the case of the Agent, any Reference Bank Quotation for any unlawful purpose.

 

(ii)            The Agent and each Obligor agree (to the extent permitted by law and regulation) to inform the relevant Lender or Reference Bank, as the case may be:

 

(A)           of the circumstances of any disclosure made pursuant to paragraphs (a)(iii)(B) or (a)(iii)(C) above except where such disclosure is made to any of the persons referred to in that paragraph during the ordinary course of its supervisory or regulatory function; and

 

(B)           upon becoming aware that any information has been disclosed in breach of this Clause 27.3

 

27.4         No Event of Default

 

No Event of Default will occur under Clause 18.3 ( Breach of other obligations) by reason only of an Obligor’s failure to comply with this Clause 27.

 

28.           SET-OFF

 

28.1         Contractual set-off

 

Whilst an Event of Default subsists each Obligor authorises each Finance Party to apply any credit balance to which that Obligor is entitled on any account of that Obligor with that Finance Party or any sum due and payable by that Lender to that Obligor in satisfaction of any sum due and payable from that Obligor to that Finance Party under the Finance Documents but unpaid.

 

82



 

For this purpose, each Finance Party is authorised to purchase with the moneys standing to the credit of any such account such other currencies as may be necessary to effect such application.

 

28.2         Set-off not mandatory

 

No Finance Party shall be obliged to exercise any right given to it by Clause 28.1 ( Contractual set-off ).

 

28.3         Notice of set-off

 

Any Finance Party exercising its rights under Clause 28.1 ( Contractual set-off ) shall notify Vodafone promptly after set-off is applied.

 

28.4         Set-off by Obligors

 

Any Obligor may at any time on or after a Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender set off amounts owed by that Obligor to that Lender under the Finance Documents against any credit balance on any account of that Obligor with that Lender or any other sum due and payable by that Lender to that Obligor (regardless of the place of payment, booking branch or currency of either obligation). If the obligations are in different currencies, that Obligor may convert either obligation at the Agent’s Spot Rate of Exchange (or, if there is no such rate, at a market rate of exchange reasonably selected by Vodafone) for the purpose of the set-off. If an Obligor exercises such rights of set off: (i) it shall notify the Lender promptly thereafter; and (ii) the Lender shall treat any such obligation owed by the Lender to that Obligor as if it was a payment received by the Lender from that Obligor in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

 

29.           PRO RATA SHARING

 

29.1         Redistribution

 

If any amount owing by an Obligor under any Finance Document to a Finance Party (the “ Recovering Finance Party ”) is discharged by payment, set-off or any other manner other than through the Agent in accordance with Clause 9 ( Payments ) (a “ Recovery ”), then:

 

(a)            the Recovering Finance Party shall, within three Business Days, notify details of the Recovery to the Agent;

 

(b)            the Agent shall determine whether the Recovery is in excess of the amount which the Recovering Finance Party would have received had the Recovery been received by the Agent and distributed in accordance with Clause 9 ( Payments );

 

(c)            subject to Clause 29.3 ( Exceptions ), the Recovering Finance Party shall, within three Business Days of demand by the Agent, pay to the Agent an amount (the “ Redistribution ”) equal to the excess;

 

(d)            the Agent shall treat the Redistribution as if it were a payment by the Obligor concerned under Clause 9 ( Payments ) and shall pay the Redistribution to the Finance Parties (other than the Recovering Finance Party) in accordance with Clause 9.8 ( Partial payments ); and

 

(e)            after payment of the full Redistribution, the Recovering Finance Party will be subrogated to the portion of the claims paid under paragraph (d) above, and that Obligor will owe the Recovering Finance Party a debt which is equal to the Redistribution, immediately payable and of the type originally discharged.

 

83



 

29.2         Reversal of redistribution

 

If under Clause 29.1 ( Redistribution ):

 

(a)            a Recovering Finance Party must subsequently return a Recovery, or an amount measured by reference to a Recovery, to an Obligor; and

 

(b)            the Recovering Finance Party has paid a Redistribution in relation to that Recovery,

 

each Finance Party shall, within three Business Days of demand by the Recovering Finance Party through the Agent, reimburse the Recovering Finance Party all or the appropriate portion of the Redistribution paid to that Finance Party. Thereupon the subrogation in Clause 29.1(e) ( Redistribution ) will operate in reverse to the extent of the reimbursement.

 

29.3         Exceptions

 

(a)            A Recovering Finance Party need not pay a Redistribution to the extent that it would not, after the payment, have a valid claim against the Obligor concerned in the amount of the Redistribution pursuant to Clause 29.1(e) ( Redistribution ).

 

(b)            A Recovering Finance Party is not obliged to share with any other Finance Party any amount which the Recovering Finance Party has received or recovered as a result of taking legal proceedings, if the other Finance Party had an opportunity to participate in those legal proceedings but did not do so and did not take separate legal proceedings.

 

30.           SEVERABILITY

 

If a provision of any Finance Document is or becomes illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, that shall not affect:

 

(a)            the legality, validity or enforceability in that jurisdiction of any other provision of the Finance Documents; or

 

(b)            the legality, validity or enforceability in other jurisdictions of that or any other provision of the Finance Documents.

 

31.           COUNTERPARTS

 

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, and this has the same effect as if the signatures on the counterparts were on a single copy of this Agreement.

 

32.           NOTICES

 

32.1         Giving of notices

 

(a)            All notices or other communications under or in connection with this Agreement shall be given in writing or by facsimile. Any such notice will be deemed to be given as follows:

 

(i)             if in writing, when delivered; and

 

(ii)            if by facsimile, when received.

 

However, a notice given in accordance with the above but received on a non-working day or after business hours in the place of receipt will only be deemed to be given on the next working day in that place.

 

84



 

(b)            Any Party may agree with any other Party to give and receive notices by telex in which case the notice will be deemed given when the correct answerback is received.

 

32.2         Addresses for notices

 

(a)            The address and facsimile number of each Party (other than the Agent and Vodafone) for all notices under or in connection with this Agreement are:

 

(i)             that notified by that Party for this purpose to the Agent on or before it becomes a Party; or

 

(ii)            any other notified by that Party for this purpose to the Agent by not less than five Business Days’ notice.

 

(b)            The address and facsimile numbers of the Agent are:

 

The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.

Ropemaker Place

25 Ropemaker Street

London

EC2Y 9AN

 

Contact:

Loan Participation Services EOSC London

 

Attention: Ganesh Ganeshwaran / Cheri Linney

 

 

Telephone:

+44 (0)20 7577 1185/1545

 

 

Facsimile:

+44 (0)20 7577 1559

 

 

Email:

Loanparticipation@uk.mufg.jp

 

or such other as the Agent may notify to the other Parties by not less than five Business Days’ notice.

 

(c)            The address, facsimile number and website of Vodafone are:

 

Vodafone Group Plc

One Kingdom Street

Paddington Central

London

W2 6BY

 

Contact:

Group Treasury Director

 

 

Telephone:

07879496611

 

 

Facsimile:

01635 676 746

 

 

Email:

neil.garrod@vodafone.com

 

 

Website:

http://www.vodafone.com/start/investor_relations/financial_reports. html

 

or such other as Vodafone may notify to the other Parties by not less than five Business Days’ notice.

 

85



 

(d)            The Agent shall, promptly upon request from any Party, give to that Party the address or facsimile number of any other Party applicable at the time for the purposes of this Clause 32.

 

32.3         Communication when Agent is an Impaired Agent

 

If the Agent is an Impaired Agent the Parties may, instead of communicating with each other through the Agent, communicate with each other directly and (while the Agent is an Impaired Agent) all the provisions of the Finance Documents which require communications to be made or notices to be given to or by the Agent shall be varied so that communications may be made and notices given to or by the relevant Parties directly. This provision shall not operate after a successor Agent has been appointed.

 

33.           LANGUAGE

 

(a)            Any notice given under or in connection with any Finance Document shall be in English.

 

(b)            All other documents provided under or in connection with any Finance Document shall be:

 

(i)             in English; or

 

(ii)            if not in English, accompanied by a certified English translation and, in this case, the English translation shall prevail unless the document is a statutory or other official document.

 

34.           JURISDICTION

 

34.1         Submission

 

(a)            Each Party agrees that the courts of England have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any disputes in connection with any Finance Document or any non-contractual obligation arising out of or in connection with any Finance Document and accordingly submits to the jurisdiction of the English courts.

 

(b)            Notwithstanding paragraph (a) above, for the benefit of the Finance Parties, any New York State court or U.S. Federal court sitting in the City and County of New York also has jurisdiction to settle any dispute in connection with any Finance Document, involving a U.S. Obligor, and each U.S Obligor submits to the jurisdiction of those courts.

 

(c)            The English courts and (in respect of a dispute involving a U.S. Obligor) New York courts are the most appropriate and convenient courts to settle any such dispute and each Obligor and U.S. Obligor, as applicable, waives objection to those courts on the grounds of inconvenient forum or otherwise in relation to proceedings in connection with any Finance Document.

 

34.2         Service of process

 

(a)            Without prejudice to any other mode of service, each Obligor (other than an Obligor incorporated in England and Wales):

 

(i)             irrevocably appoints Vodafone as its agent for service of process relating to any proceedings before the English courts in connection with any Finance Document (and Vodafone accepts this appointment);

 

(ii)            agrees that failure by a process agent to notify the relevant Obligor of the process will not invalidate the proceedings concerned;

 

86



 

(iii)           consents to the service of process relating to any such proceedings by prepaid posting of a copy of the process to its address for the time being applying under Clause 32.2 ( Addresses for notices ); and

 

(iv)           agrees that if the appointment of any person mentioned in paragraph (i) or (ii) above ceases to be effective, the relevant Obligor shall immediately appoint a further person in England to accept service of process on its behalf in England and, failing such appointment within 15 days, the Agent is entitled to appoint such a person by notice to Vodafone.

 

(b)            Prior to the accession of a U.S. Obligor who is not incorporated or having a place of business in New York State such U.S. Obligor must appoint an agent for service of process in any proceedings before any court located in the State of New York on terms reasonably satisfactory to the Agent.

 

34.3         Forum convenience and enforcement abroad

 

Each Obligor:

 

(a)            waives objection to the English courts on grounds of inconvenient forum or otherwise as regards proceedings in connection with a Finance Document; and

 

(b)            agrees that a judgment or order of an English court in connection with a Finance Document is conclusive and binding on it and may be enforced against it in the courts of any other jurisdiction.

 

34.4      Non-exclusivity

 

Nothing in this Clause 34 limits the right of a Finance Party to bring proceedings against an Obligor in connection with any Finance Document:

 

(a)            in any other court of competent jurisdiction; or

 

(b)            concurrently in more than one jurisdiction.

 

35.           GOVERNING LAW

 

This Agreement and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law.

 

36.           USA PATRIOT ACT

 

Each Finance Party that is subject to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act hereby notifies each Obligor that pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act, prior to making an Advance hereunder, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Obligors, which information includes the name and address of the Obligors and other information that will allow such Finance Party to identify the Obligors in accordance with the USA Patriot Act. Each Obligor agrees that it will provide each Finance Party with such information as it may request in order for such Finance Party to satisfy the requirements of the USA Patriot Act.

 

37.           WAIVER OF TRIAL BY JURY

 

EACH PARTY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION IN CONNECTION WITH ANY FINANCE DOCUMENT OR ANY

 

87



 

TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED BY ANY FINANCE DOCUMENT. THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE FILED AS A WRITTEN CONSENT TO TRIAL BY THE COURT.

 

THIS AGREEMENT has been entered into on the date stated at the beginning of this Agreement.

 

88



 

SCHEDULE 1

 

LENDERS AND COMMITMENTS

 

Original Lender

 

Commitment (U.S.$)

 

The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.

 

1,000,000,000

 

Total

 

1,000,000,000

 

 

89



 

SCHEDULE 2

 

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT DOCUMENTS

 

PART I

 

TO BE DELIVERED BEFORE THE FIRST ADVANCE

 

1.              Constitutional documents

 

A copy of the articles of association and certificate of incorporation of Vodafone.

 

2.              Authorisations

 

(a)            A certificate signed by an authorised signatory confirming, amongst other things, that approval of Vodafone’s Treasury Dealing Mandate dated 28 July 2014 remains in full force and effect and that the delegation of signing powers contained therein and in the power of attorney referred to in the Treasury Dealing Mandate cover:

 

(i)             approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, this Agreement, and any other Finance Document and authorising the specified persons to execute and, where applicable, deliver this Agreement and any other Finance Document; and

 

(ii)            authorising a specified person or persons, on its behalf, to sign and/or despatch all documents and notices (including any Request) to be signed and/or despatched by it under or in connection with the Finance Documents;

 

(b)            a certified copy of the power of attorney referred to in the Treasury Dealing Mandate;

 

(c)            a specimen of the signature of each person authorised by Vodafone’s Treasury Dealing Mandate referred to in paragraph (a) above and the power of attorney referred to in paragraph (b) above;

 

(d)            a certificate of an authorised signatory of Vodafone confirming that as at the first Drawdown Date the borrowing of the Total Commitments in full and the borrowing of the Total Commitments under (and as defined in) the 2019 Facility and the 2020 Facility in full would not together cause any borrowing limit or limit on the giving of guarantees binding on it to be exceeded (whether as a result of such limit having been waived or otherwise);

 

(e)            a certificate of an authorised signatory of Vodafone certifying that each copy document specified in this Part I of Schedule 2 and supplied by Vodafone is correct, complete and in full force and effect as at a date no earlier than the Signing Date.

 

3.              Legal opinions

 

A legal opinion Linklaters LLP, English law counsel to Vodafone, in relation to English law.

 

4.              Fee Letter

 

Duly executed Fee Letter referred to in Clause 20.2 ( Front-end fees ).

 

90



 

PART II

 

TO BE DELIVERED BY AN ADDITIONAL GUARANTOR

 

1.              A Guarantor Accession Agreement, duly executed (if appropriate, under seal) by the Additional Guarantor.

 

2.              A copy of the memorandum (if applicable) and articles of association and certificate of incorporation (or other equivalent constitutional documents) of the Additional Guarantor.

 

3.              A copy of a resolution of the board of directors of the Additional Guarantor:

 

(a)            approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Guarantor Accession Agreement and resolving that it execute the Guarantor Accession Agreement as a deed;

 

(b)            authorising a specified person or persons to execute the Guarantor Accession Agreement as a deed; and

 

(c)            authorising a specified person or persons, on its behalf, to sign and/or despatch all documents to be signed and/or despatched by it under or in connection with this Agreement.

 

4.              If the Additional Guarantor is not NewTopco and the lawyers referred to in paragraph 10 below advise it to be necessary or desirable, a copy of a resolution, signed by all the holders of the issued or allotted shares in the Additional Guarantor, approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Guarantor Accession Agreement.

 

5.              If the Additional Guarantor is not NewTopco, a copy of a resolution of the board of directors of each corporate shareholder in the Additional Guarantor:

 

(a)            approving the terms of the resolution referred to in paragraph 4 above; and

 

(b)            authorising a specified person or persons to sign the resolution on its behalf.

 

6.              A certificate of a director of the Additional Guarantor certifying that the borrowing of the Total Commitments in full and the borrowing of the Total Commitments under (and as defined in) the 2019 Facility and the 2020 Facility in full would not together cause any borrowing limit or limit on the giving of guarantees binding on it to be exceeded (whether as a result of such limit being waived or otherwise).

 

7.              A copy of any other authorisation or other document, opinion or assurance which the Agent considers to be necessary or desirable in connection with the entry into and performance of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Guarantor Accession Agreement or for the validity and enforceability of any Finance Document.

 

8.              A specimen of the signature of each person authorised by the resolutions referred to in paragraphs 3 and, if applicable, 5 above.

 

9.              A copy of the latest annual statutory audited accounts of the Additional Guarantor.

 

10.           A legal opinion of Linklaters LLP, legal advisers to Vodafone, and, if applicable, other lawyers approved by the Agent in the place of incorporation of the Additional Guarantor addressed to the Finance Parties.

 

91



 

11.           A certificate of an authorised signatory of the Additional Guarantor certifying that each copy document specified in this Part II of Schedule 2 is correct, complete and in full force and effect as at a date no earlier than the date of the Guarantor Accession Agreement.

 

92



 

PART III

 

TO BE DELIVERED BY AN ADDITIONAL BORROWER

 

1.              A Borrower Accession Agreement, duly executed (if appropriate, under seal) by the Additional Borrower.

 

2.              A copy of the memorandum and articles of association and certificate of incorporation (or other equivalent constitutional documents) of the Additional Borrower.

 

3.              A copy of a resolution of the board of directors of the Additional Borrower:

 

(a)            approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Borrower Accession Agreement and resolving that it execute the Borrower Accession Agreement;

 

(b)            authorising a specified person or persons to execute the Borrower Accession Agreement; and

 

(c)            authorising a specified person or persons, on its behalf, to sign and/or despatch all documents to be signed and/or despatched by it under or in connection with this Agreement.

 

4.              A certificate of a director of the Additional Borrower certifying that the borrowing of the Total Commitments in full and the borrowing of the Total Commitments under (and as defined in) the 2019 Facility and the 2020 Facility in full would not together cause any borrowing limit or limit on the giving of guarantees binding on it to be exceeded (whether as a result of such limit being waived or otherwise).

 

5.              A copy of any other authorisation or other document, opinion or assurance which the Agent considers to be necessary or desirable in connection with the entry into and performance of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Borrower Accession Agreement or for the validity and enforceability of any Finance Document.

 

6.              A specimen of the signature of each person authorised by the resolutions referred to in paragraph 3 above.

 

7.              A copy of the latest annual statutory audited accounts of the Additional Borrower (if any).

 

8.              A legal opinion of Linklaters LLP, legal advisers to Vodafone, and, if applicable, other lawyers approved by the Agent in the place of incorporation of the Additional Borrower addressed to the Finance Parties.

 

9.              A certificate of an authorised signatory of the Additional Borrower certifying that each copy document specified in this Part III of Schedule 2 is correct, complete and in full force and effect as at a date no earlier than the date of the Borrower Accession Agreement.

 

93



 

SCHEDULE 3

 

FORM OF REQUEST

 

To:           THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD. as Agent

 

From:      [BORROWER]

 

Date:       [            ]

 

Vodafone Group Plc U.S.$[              ] Revolving Credit Agreement dated [              ] 2015 (as amended from time to time)

 

1.              We wish to utilise the Facility by way of Advances as follows:

 

(a)

Drawdown Date:

[            ]

 

 

 

(b)

Requested Amount (including currency):

[            ]

 

 

 

(c)

Term:

[            ]

 

 

 

(d)

Payment Instructions:

[            ]

 

2.              We confirm that each condition specified in [Clause 4.2 ( Conditions to all drawdowns and rollovers )] 1  is satisfied on the date of this Request and this Advance would not cause any borrowing limit binding on us to be exceeded.

 

[By:

 

 

 

 

[BORROWER]

 

 

 

Authorised Signatory

 

 


1      Delete as applicable depending on whether the Advance is a Rollover Advance.

 

94



 

SCHEDULE 4

 

FORMS OF ACCESSION DOCUMENTS

 

PART I

 

NOVATION CERTIFICATE

 

To:

THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD. as Agent

 

 

 

 

From:

[THE EXISTING LENDER] and [THE NEW LENDER]

Date: [                     ]]

 

Vodafone Group Plc U.S.$[              ] Revolving Credit Agreement dated [              ] 2015 (as amended from time to time)

 

We refer to Clause 26.4 ( Procedure for novations ).

 

1.      We [            ] (the “ Existing Lender ”) and [            ] (the “ New Lender ”) agree to the Existing Lender and the New Lender novating all the Existing Lender’s rights and obligations referred to in the Schedule in accordance with Clause 26.4 ( Procedure for novations ).

 

2.      The specified date for the purposes of [Clause 26.4(c) ( Procedure for novations )] is [date of novation].

 

3.      The Facility Office and address for notices of the New Lender for the purposes of Clause 32.2 ( Addresses for notices ) are set out in the Schedule.

 

4.      The New Lender confirms that it has given notice to Vodafone of the entry into of this Novation Certificate [and has obtained Vodafone’s consent] 2  in accordance with Clause 26.2(c)(ii) ( Transfers by Lenders ).

 

5.      This Novation Certificate and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law.

 


2      Delete as applicable depending on whether Vodafone’s consent is required.

 

95



 

The Schedule

 

Rights and obligations to be novated

 

[ Details of the rights and obligations of the Existing Lender to be novated. ]

 

[New Lender]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Facility Office

 

Address for notices]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Existing Lender]

 

[New Lender]

 

THE BANK OF TOKYO-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

By:

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date:

 

Date:

 

Date:

 

96



 

PART II

 

GUARANTOR ACCESSION AGREEMENT

 

To:

THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD. as Agent

 

 

From:

[PROPOSED GUARANTOR]

 

 

 

Date: [           ]

 

Vodafone Group Plc U.S. $[            ] Revolving Credit Agreement dated [            ] 2015 (as amended from time to time) (the “Credit Agreement”)

 

Terms used in this Deed which are defined in the Credit Agreement shall have the same meaning in this Deed as in the Credit Agreement.

 

We refer to Clause 26.7 ( Additional Guarantors ).

 

We, [name of company] of [Registered Office] (Registered no. [            ]) agree to become an Additional Guarantor and to be bound by the terms of the Credit Agreement as an Additional Guarantor in accordance with Clause 26.7 ( Additional Guarantors ). [In addition, we also agree to become bound by all the terms of the Credit Agreement expressed to apply to or be binding on NewTopco] 3

 

Our address for notices for the purposes of Clause 32.2 ( Addresses for notices ) is:

 

[              ]

 

[ If not classified as a corporation : [Name of company] is [classified as a partnership/OR/ disregarded as an entity separate from its owner] and is owned by [NAME OF OWNER(S)] for U.S. federal income tax purposes.]

 

This Deed and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law.

 

 

Executed as a deed by

)

Director

[PROPOSED GUARANTOR]

)

 

acting by

)

Director/Secretary

And

)

 

 


3      Only in the case of accession by NewTopco.

 

97



 

PART III

 

BORROWER ACCESSION AGREEMENT

 

To:

THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD. as Agent

 

 

From:

[PROPOSED BORROWER]

 

 

 

[Date]

 

Vodafone Group Plc -U.S.$[            ] Revolving Credit Agreement dated [            ] 2015 (as amended from time to time) (the “Credit Agreement”)

 

Terms used herein which are defined in the Credit Agreement shall have the same meaning herein as in the Credit Agreement.

 

We refer to Clause 26.8 ( Additional Borrowers ).

 

We, [Name of company] of [Registered Office] (Registered no. [              ] agree to become party to and to be bound by the terms of the Credit Agreement as an Additional Borrower in accordance with Clause 26.8 ( Additional Borrowers ).

 

The address for notices of the Additional Borrower for the purposes of Clause 32.2 ( Addresses for notices ) is:

 

[            ]

 

[If not classified as a corporation: [Name of company] is [classified as a partnership/OR/ disregarded as an entity separate from its owner] and is owned by [NAME OF OWNER(S)] for U.S. federal income tax purposes.]

 

This Agreement and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law.

 

[ADDITIONAL BORROWER]

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD. By:

 

 

98



 

SCHEDULE 5

 

FORM OF CONFIDENTIALITY UNDERTAKING FROM NEW LENDER

 

To :                           [Existing Lender];

 

Vodafone Group Plc;

 

Dear Sirs

 

We refer to the U.S.$[[ Revolving Credit Agreement dated [              ] 2015 (as amended from time to time) (the “ Credit Agreement ”) between, among others, Vodafone Group Plc and The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. (as Agent).

 

This is a confidentiality undertaking referred to in Clause 27 ( Disclosure of information ) of the Credit Agreement. A term defined in the Credit Agreement has the same meaning in this undertaking.

 

We are considering entering into contractual relations with [insert name of Lender] (the “ Existing Lender ”) and understand that it is a condition of our receiving information about Vodafone Group Plc and its related companies and any Finance Document and/or any information under or in connection with any Finance Document that we execute this undertaking.

 

1.                                       Confidentiality undertaking

 

We undertake (a) to keep the Confidential Information confidential and not to disclose it to anyone except as provided for by paragraph 2 below and to ensure that the Confidential Information is protected with security measures and a degree of care that would apply to our own confidential information, (b) to use the Confidential Information only for the Permitted Purpose, (c) to use all reasonable endeavours to ensure that any person to whom we pass any Confidential Information (unless disclosed under paragraph 2(b) below) acknowledges and complies with the provisions of this letter as if that person were also a party to it and (d) not to make enquiries of any member of the Consolidated Group or any of their officers, directors, employees or professional advisers relating directly or indirectly to the Facility, other than directly to the Group Treasurer of Vodafone.

 

2.                                       Permitted disclosure

 

You agree that we may disclose Confidential Information:

 

(a)                                  to members of the Purchaser Group and their officers, directors, employees and professional advisers to the extent necessary for the Permitted Purpose and to any auditors of members of the Purchaser Group;

 

(b)                                  where requested or required by any court of competent jurisdiction or any competent judicial, governmental, supervisory or regulatory body, (ii) where required by the rules of any stock exchange on which the shares or other securities of any member of the Purchaser Group are listed or (iii) where required by the laws or regulations of any country with jurisdiction over the affairs of any member of the Purchaser Group.

 

99



 

3.                                       Notification of required or unauthorised disclosure

 

We agree (to the extent permitted by law) to inform you of the full circumstances of any disclosure under paragraph 2(b) above or upon becoming aware that Confidential Information has been disclosed in breach of this letter.

 

4.                                       Return of copies

 

If you so request in writing, we shall return all Confidential Information supplied by you to us and destroy or permanently erase all copies of Confidential Information made by us and use all reasonable endeavours to ensure that anyone to whom we have supplied any Confidential Information destroys or permanently erases such Confidential Information and any copies made by them, in each case save to the extent that we or the recipients are required to retain any such Confidential Information by any applicable law, rule or regulation or by any competent judicial, governmental, supervisory or regulatory body or in accordance with internal policy, or where the Confidential Information has been disclosed under paragraph 2(b) above.

 

5.                                       Continuing obligations

 

The obligations in this letter are continuing and, in particular, shall survive the termination of any discussions or negotiations between you and us. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, the obligations in this letter shall cease (a) if we become a party to the Facility or (b) twelve months after we have returned all Confidential Information supplied to us by you and destroyed or permanently erased all copies of Confidential Information made by us (other than any such Confidential Information or copies which have been disclosed under paragraph 2 above (other than paragraph 2(a)) or which, pursuant to paragraph 4 above, are not required to be returned or destroyed provided that any such Confidential Information retained in accordance with paragraph 4 above shall remain confidential, subject to paragraph 2, for the period during which it is retained).

 

6.                                       Consequences of breach, etc.

 

We acknowledge and agree that you or members of the Consolidated Group (each a “ Relevant Person ”) may be irreparably harmed by the breach of the terms hereof and damages may not be an adequate remedy; each Relevant Person may be granted an injunction or specific performance for any threatened or actual breach of the provisions of this letter by any member of the Purchaser Group.

 

7.                                       No waiver; amendments, etc.

 

This letter sets out the full extent of our obligations of confidentiality owed to you in relation to the information the subject of this letter. No failure or delay in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder will operate as a waiver thereof nor will any single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege preclude any further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privileges hereunder. The terms of this letter and our obligations hereunder may only be amended or modified by written agreement between us.

 

100



 

8.                                       Inside information

 

We acknowledge that some or all of the Confidential Information is or may be price-sensitive information and that the use of such information may be regulated or prohibited by applicable legislation relating to insider dealing and we undertake not to use any Confidential Information for any unlawful purpose.

 

9.                                       Nature of undertakings

 

The undertakings given by us under this letter are given to you and (without implying any fiduciary obligations on your part) are also given for the benefit of each other member of the Consolidated Group.

 

10.                                Governing law and jurisdiction

 

This letter and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and the parties submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.

 

11.                                Third party rights

 

(a)                                  Subject to paragraphs 6 and 9 above the terms of this letter may be enforced and relied upon only by you and us and the operation of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 is excluded.

 

(b)                                  Notwithstanding any provisions of this letter, the parties of this letter do not require the consent of any Relevant Person to rescind or vary this letter at any time.

 

12.                                Definitions

 

In this letter:

 

Confidential Information ” means any information relating to Vodafone, the Consolidated Group and/or the Facility provided to us by you or any of your Affiliates or advisers, in whatever form, and includes information given orally and any document, electronic file or any other way of representing or recording information which contains or is derived or copied from such information but excludes information that (a) is or becomes public knowledge other than as a direct or indirect result of any breach of this letter or (b) is known by us before the date the information is disclosed to us by you or any of your affiliates or advisers or is lawfully obtained by us thereafter, other than from a source which is connected with the Consolidated Group and which, in either case, as far as we are aware, has not been obtained in violation of, and is not otherwise subject to, any obligation of confidentiality;

 

Permitted Purpose ” means considering and evaluating whether to enter into the Facility; and

 

101



 

Purchaser Group ” means us, each of our holding companies and subsidiaries and each subsidiary of each of our holding companies (as each such term is defined in the Companies Act 1985).

 

Yours faithfully

 

 

 

 

 

For and on behalf of

 

[New Lender]

 

 

102



 

SCHEDULE 6

 

FORM OF INCREASE CONFIRMATION

 

To:

THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD. as Agent and Vodafone, for and on behalf of each Obligor

 

 

From:

[the Increase Lender] (the “ Increase Lender ”)

 

 

 

[DATE]

 

Vodafone Group Plc U.S.$[            ] Revolving Credit Agreement dated [            ] 2015 (as amended from time to time) (the “Credit Agreement”)

 

1.                                       We refer to the Credit Agreement. This agreement (the “ Agreement ”) shall take effect as an Increase Confirmation for the purpose of the Credit Agreement. Terms defined in the Credit Agreement have the same meaning in this Agreement unless given a different meaning in this Agreement.

 

2.                                       We refer to clause 2.2 ( Increase ) of the Credit Agreement.

 

3.                                       The Increase Lender agrees to assume and will assume all of the obligations corresponding to the Commitment specified in the Schedule (the “ Relevant Commitment ”) as if it was an Original Lender under the Credit Agreement.

 

4.                                       The proposed date on which the increase in relation to the Increase Lender and the Relevant Commitment is to take effect (the “ Increase Date ”) is [              ].

 

5.                                       On the Increase Date, the Increase Lender becomes party to the relevant Finance Documents as a Lender.

 

6.                                       The Facility Office and address, fax number and attention details for notices to the Increase Lender for the purposes of Clause 32.2 ( Addresses for notices ) are set out in the Schedule.

 

7.                                       The Increase Lender expressly acknowledges the limitations on the Lenders’ obligations referred to in Clause 2.2(f) ( Increase ).

 

8.                                       The Increase Lender confirms, for the benefit of the Agent and without liability to any Obligor, that it is:

 

(a)                                  [a Qualifying Lender (other than a Treaty Lender);]

 

(b)                                  [a Treaty Lender;]

 

(c)                                   [not a Qualifying Lender]. 4

 

[9]                                  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and this has the same effect as if the signatures on the counterparts were on a single copy of this Agreement.

 

[9/10]                This Agreement and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English Law.

 

[10/11]         This Agreement has been entered into on the date stated at the beginning of this Agreement.

 


4            Delete as applicable — each Increase Lender is required to confirm which of these three categories it falls within.

 

103



 

The Schedule

 

Relevant Commitment/rights and obligations to be assumed by the Increase Lender

 

[ insert relevant details ]

 

[ Facility office address, fax number and attention details for notices and account details for payments ]

 

[Increase Lender]

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

This Agreement is accepted as an Increase Confirmation for the purpose of the Credit Agreement by the Agent and the Increase Date is confirmed as [              ].

 

Agent

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

104



 

Signatories

 

Borrower and Guarantor

 

 

 

VODAFONE GROUP PLC

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

105



 

The Arranger

 

 

 

THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD.

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

106



 

Original Lender

 

 

 

THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD.

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

107



 

Agent

 

 

 

THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD.

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

108


Exhibit 4.8

 

U.S.$1,000,000,000

 

FACILITY AGREEMENT

 

dated 09 November 2015

 

for

 

VODAFONE GROUP PLC

 

with

 

MIZUHO BANK, LTD.

as the Arranger

 

and

 

MIZUHO BANK, LTD.

as the Agent

 

and

 

MIZUHO BANK, LTD.

as the Original Lender

 

Linklaters

Ref: L-213979

Linklaters LLP

 



 

CONTENTS

 

CLAUSE

 

 

PAGE

 

 

 

 

1.

Interpretation

 

1

 

 

 

 

2.

The Facility

 

25

 

 

 

 

3.

Purpose

 

28

 

 

 

 

4.

Conditions precedent

 

28

 

 

 

 

5.

Advances

 

28

 

 

 

 

6.

Repayment

 

30

 

 

 

 

7.

Prepayment and cancellation

 

31

 

 

 

 

8.

Interest

 

33

 

 

 

 

9.

Payments

 

34

 

 

 

 

10.

Taxes

 

37

 

 

 

 

11.

Market disruption

 

44

 

 

 

 

12.

Increased costs

 

45

 

 

 

 

13.

Illegality and mitigation

 

48

 

 

 

 

14.

Guarantee

 

49

 

 

 

 

15.

Representations and warranties

 

53

 

 

 

 

16.

Undertakings

 

58

 

 

 

 

17.

Financial covenant

 

63

 

 

 

 

18.

Default

 

65

 

 

 

 

19.

The Agent, the Arranger and the reference banks

 

69

 

 

 

 

20.

Fees

 

75

 

 

 

 

21.

Expenses

 

76

 

 

 

 

22.

Stamp duties

 

76

 

 

 

 

23.

Indemnities

 

76

 

 

 

 

24.

Evidence and calculations

 

78

 

 

 

 

25.

Amendments and waivers

 

78

 

i



 

26.

Changes to the Parties

 

81

 

 

 

 

27.

Disclosure of information

 

91

 

 

 

 

28.

Set-off

 

95

 

 

 

 

29.

Pro rata sharing

 

95

 

 

 

 

30.

Severability

 

96

 

 

 

 

31.

Counterparts

 

97

 

 

 

 

32.

Notices

 

97

 

 

 

 

33.

Language

 

98

 

 

 

 

34.

Jurisdiction

 

99

 

 

 

 

35.

Governing law

 

100

 

 

 

 

36.

USA Patriot Act

 

100

 

 

 

 

37.

Waiver of trial by jury

 

100

 

THE SCHEDULES

 

SCHEDULE

 

PAGE

 

 

 

SCHEDULE 1 Lenders and Commitments

 

102

 

 

 

SCHEDULE 2 Conditions precedent documents

 

103

 

 

 

SCHEDULE 3 Form of request

 

108

 

 

 

SCHEDULE 4 Forms of Accession documents

 

109

 

 

 

SCHEDULE 5 Form of Confidentiality Undertaking from New Lender

 

113

 

 

 

SCHEDULE 6 Form of Increase confirmation

 

117

 

ii



 

THIS AGREEMENT is dated 09 November 2015 and made between:

 

(1)                                  VODAFONE GROUP PLC (registered number 1833679) as borrower (“ Vodafone ”);

 

(2)                                  MIZUHO BANK, LTD. as mandated lead arranger (the “ Arranger ”);

 

(3)                                  THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTION LISTED in Schedule 1 (Lenders and Commitments) as the original lender; and

 

(4)                                  MIZUHO BANK, LTD. as agent (in this capacity the “ Agent ”).

 

IT IS AGREED as follows:

 

1.                                       INTERPRETATION

 

1.1                                Definitions

 

In this Agreement:

 

Acceptable bank ” means a bank or financial institution which has a rating for its long-term unsecured and non-credit enhanced debt obligations of A- or higher by S&P or Fitch or A3 or higher by Moody’s or a comparable rating from an internationally recognised credit rating agency.

 

Acquisition ” means the acquisition of any interest in the share capital (or equivalent) or in the business or undertaking of any company or other person (including, without limitation, any partnership or joint venture).

 

Additional Borrower ” means any member of the Restricted Group which becomes an additional borrower pursuant to Clause 26.8 ( Additional Borrowers ) and which has not been released as a borrower in accordance with Clause 26.9 ( Removal of Borrowers ) .

 

Additional Guarantor ” means any member of the Consolidated Group which at such time has become a Guarantor in accordance with Clause 26.7 ( Additional Guarantors ) and has not been released in accordance with Clause 14.9 ( Removal of Guarantors ) .

 

Adjusted Group Operating Cash Flow ” means, without double counting, in relation to any period, a sum equal to the Consolidated Group’s total operating profit or loss for continuing operations, acquisitions (as a component of continuing operations) and discontinued operations before taxation, interest and after:

 

(a)                                  adding depreciation;

 

(b)                                  adding amortisation;

 

(c)                                   deducting the profit or adding any loss on exceptional items which are included in the foregoing;

 

(d)                                  deducting any gain or adding any loss on disposal of tangible or intangible fixed assets;

 

(e)                                   adjusting for movements in working capital (being movements in stock, creditors, provision, and debtors);

 



 

(f)                                    adding dividends or proceeds of a similar nature received from any entity not in the Consolidated Group; and

 

(g)                                   excluding exceptional items,

 

and for the avoidance of doubt excluding (other than as set out in paragraph (f) above) the results of any entity not in the Consolidated Group.

 

Advance ” means an advance made to a Borrower by the Lenders under the Facility.

 

Affiliate ” means, in relation to a person, a Subsidiary or a Holding Company of that person and any other Subsidiary of that Holding Company.

 

Agent’s Spot Rate of Exchange ” means the spot rate of exchange as determined by the Agent for the purchase of the relevant Optional Currency in the London foreign exchange market with U.S. Dollars at or about 11.00 a.m. on a particular day.

 

Asset Disposal ” means any sale, transfer, grant, lease or other disposal of an asset (which for the avoidance of doubt does not include returns to shareholders) by any member of the Controlled Group to a person outside the Controlled Group made after the Signing Date.

 

Available Cash ” means:

 

(a)                                  cash in hand and cash in deposits repayable on demand with any Qualifying Financial Institution;

 

(b)                                  the marked to market position of in the money derivative contracts; and

 

(c)                                   Liquid Resources,

 

to the extent denominated in any freely convertible and transferable currencies, beneficially owned and unencumbered by any Security Interests other than Permitted Security Interests.

 

Available Commitment ” means a Lender’s Commitment minus:

 

(a)                                  the amount of its participation in any outstanding Advances (other than, in relation to any proposed Advance, that Lender’s participation in any Advances that are due to be repaid or prepaid on or before the proposed Drawdown Date); and

 

(b)                                  in relation to any proposed Advance, the amount of its participation in any Advances that are due to be made on or before the proposed Drawdown Date.

 

Availability Period ” means the period from the Signing Date up to and including the date which is 364 days after the Signing Date or, if that day is not a Business Day, the preceding Business Day.

 

Back to Back Loan ” means any Financial Indebtedness made available to a member of the Restricted Group to the extent that the economic exposure of the creditor in respect of that Financial Indebtedness (taking any related transactions together) is reduced by reason of that creditor:

 

2



 

(a)                                  having recourse directly or indirectly to a deposit of cash or cash equivalent investments beneficially owned by any member of the Restricted Group placed, as part of a related transaction, with that creditor (or an Affiliate of that creditor) or a financial institution approved by that creditor; or

 

(b)                                  having granted a funded sub-participation or similar arrangement to a member of the Restricted Group.

 

Basel III means:

 

(a)                                  the agreements on capital requirements, a leverage ratio and liquidity standards contained in “Basel III: A global regulatory framework for more resilient banks and banking systems”, “Basel III: International framework for liquidity risk measurement, standards and monitoring” and “Guidance for national authorities operating the countercyclical capital buffer” published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in December 2010, each as amended, supplemented or restated;

 

(b)                                  the rules for global systemically important banks contained in “Global systemically important banks: assessment methodology and the additional loss absorbency requirement- Rules text” published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in November 2011, as amended, supplemented or restated; and

 

(c)                                   any further guidance or standards published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision relating to “Basel III”.

 

Basel III Cost” means any increased cost attributable to the introduction, implementation or application of or compliance with or change in Basel III or CRD IV or any other law or regulation which implements Basel III or CRD IV.

 

Borrower ” means Vodafone or an Additional Borrower.

 

Borrower Accession Agreement ” means an agreement substantially in the form of Part III of Schedule 4 or with such amendments as the Agent may approve (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) or may reasonably require.

 

Business Day ” means a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks and the interbank and foreign exchange markets are open for general business in London and:

 

(a)                                  if a payment is required in U.S. Dollars, New York;

 

(b)                                  if a payment is required in euro, a TARGET Day; or

 

(c)                                   if a payment is required in any other currency, the principal financial centre of the country of the country of that currency.

 

Change of Control ” has the meaning given to it in Clause 7.4 ( Change of Control ).

 

Code means the US Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

 

3



 

Commitment ” means in respect of the Original Lender, the amount in U.S. Dollars set opposite the name of that Lender in Schedule 1 ( Lenders and Commitments ) or assumed by it in accordance with Clause 2.2 ( Increase ) in each case to the extent not transferred, cancelled or reduced under or in accordance with this Agreement.

 

Consolidated Group ” means Vodafone (or, following a Hive Up, NewTopco), its IFRS Consolidated Subsidiaries and Joint Ventures.

 

Contractual Currency ” has the meaning given to it in Clause 23.1(a) ( Currency indemnity ).

 

Controlled Group ” means Vodafone (or, following a Hive Up, NewTopco) and its Controlled Subsidiaries.

 

Controlled Subsidiaries ” means, those Subsidiaries of Vodafone (or, following a Hive Up, NewTopco) in which Vodafone or NewTopco, as the case may be, controls more than 50 per cent. of such Subsidiaries voting rights and has recourse to the cash flows of the Subsidiary. Until the first certificate is given by Vodafone to the Agent in accordance with Clause 16.2(c) ( Financial information ) (in respect of the financial half-year ended 30 September 2015), the Controlled Subsidiaries include, without limitation, the following operating Subsidiaries: Vodafone AG & Co.; Vodafone Romania S.A.; Vodafone Czech Republic A.S..; Vodafone Albania Sh.A; Vodafone GmbH; Vodafone Egypt Telecommunications S.A.E; Vodafone España S.A.; Vodafone India Limited; Vodafone Hungary Mobile Telecommunications Ltd; Vodafone Ireland Limited; Vodafone Libertel B.V.; Vodafone Limited; Vodafone Malta Limited; Vodafone New Zealand Limited; Vodafone Omnitel N.V.; Vodafone-Panafon Hellenic Telecommunications Company S.A.; Vodafone Telekomunikasyon A.S.; Vodafone Portugal-Comunicações Pessoais S.A. Vodacom Group Limited; Ghana Telecommunication Company Limited and Cable & Wireless Worldwide Plc.

 

Controlled USA Group ” means all members of a controlled group of corporations and all trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) under common control which, together with any U.S. Obligor, are treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code.

 

Core Jurisdictions ” are member states of the European Union as at 1 January 2015 (being Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the UK), Japan, United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Switzerland and any other states which become members of the European Union after 1 January 2015 provided that Vodafone has notified the Agent in writing of its agreement to their inclusion in this definition of Core Jurisdictions.

 

CRD IV means (A) Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on prudential requirements for credit institutions and investment firms and (B) Directive 2013/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on access to the activity of credit institutions and the prudential supervision of credit institutions and investment firms.

 

CTA ” means the Corporation Tax Act 2009.

 

4



 

Default ” means (a) an Event of Default or (b) an event which, with the expiry of any grace period or giving of any notice specified in Clause 18.2 ( Non-payment ), 18.3 ( Breach of other obligations ), 18.5 ( Cross default ), 18.6 ( Winding up ), 18.8 ( Enforcement proceedings ) or 18.10 ( Similar proceedings ) would constitute an Event of Default.

 

Default Margin ” has the meaning given to it in Clause 8.3 ( Default interest ).

 

Default Rate ” has the meaning given to it in Clause 8.3 ( Default interest ).

 

Defaulting Lender ” means any Lender:

 

(a)                                  which has failed to make its participation in an Advance available or has notified the Agent that it will not make its participation in an Advance available by the Drawdown Date of that Advance in accordance with Clause 5.5 ( Payment of proceeds );

 

(b)                                  which has otherwise rescinded or repudiated a Finance Document; or

 

(c)                                   with respect to which an Insolvency Event has occurred and is continuing,

 

unless, in the case of paragraph (a) above:

 

(i)                                      its failure to pay is caused by:

 

(A)                                administrative or technical error and payment is made within three Business Days of its due date; or

 

(B)                                a Disruption Event and payment is made within eight Business Days of its due date; or

 

(ii)                                   the Lender is disputing in good faith whether it is contractually obliged to make the payment in question.

 

Designated Term ” has the meaning given to it in Clause 8.3(a)(ii) ( Default interest ).

 

Discharged Obligations ” has the meaning given to it in Clause 26.4(c)(i) ( Procedure for novations ).

 

Discharged Rights ” has the meaning given to it in Clause 26.4(c)(iii) ( Procedure for novations ).

 

Disruption Event ” means either or both of:

 

(a)                                  a material disruption to those payment or communications systems or to those financial markets which are, in each case, required to operate in order for payments to be made in connection with the Facility (or otherwise in order for the payment transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents to be carried out) which disruption is not caused by, and is beyond the control of, any of the Parties; or

 

5



 

(b)                                  the occurrence of any other event which results in a disruption (of a technical or systems-related nature) to the treasury or payments operations of a Party preventing that, or any other Party:

 

(i)                                      from performing its payment obligations under the Finance Documents; or

 

(ii)                                   from communicating with other Parties in accordance with the terms of the Finance Documents,

 

(and which (in either such case)) is not caused by, and is beyond the control of, the Party whose operations are disrupted.

 

Drawdown Date ” means the date for the making of an Advance.

 

ERISA ” means the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (or any successor legislation thereto), and any rule or regulation issued thereunder from time to time in effect.

 

EURIBOR ” means in relation to any Advance or unpaid sum in euro:

 

(a)                                  the applicable Screen Rate;

 

(b)                                  if no Screen Rate is available for the Required Period of that Advance or unpaid sum, the Interpolated Screen Rate for that Advance or unpaid sum; or

 

(c)                                   if no Screen Rate is available for the Required Period of that Advance or unpaid sum and it is not possible to calculate an Interpolated Screen Rate for that Advance or unpaid sum, the Reference Bank Rate,

 

as of, in the case of paragraphs (a) and (c) above, 11.00 a.m. (Brussels time) on the Rate Fixing Day for euro and (in each case) for a period in length equal to the Required Period, and for the purposes of this definition and the definition of “ Interpolated Screen Rate ”, “ Required Period ” means the Term of such Advance, or the period in respect of which EURIBOR falls to be determined in relation to any unpaid sum.

 

Event of Default ” means an event specified as such in Clause 18 ( Default ).

 

Existing Commitment ” has the meaning given to it in Clause 16.8(a)(i) ( Priority borrowing ).

 

Existing Lender ” has the meaning given to it in Clause 26.2(a) ( Transfers by Lenders ).

 

Existing Parties ” has the meaning given to it in Clause 26.4(c)(i) ( Procedure for novations ).

 

Facility ” means the multicurrency revolving credit facility referred to in Clause 2.1 ( Facility ).

 

Facility Office ” means the office(s) notified by a Lender to the Agent:

 

(a)                                  on or before the date it becomes a Lender; or

 

(b)                                  by not less than five Business Days’ notice,

 

as the office(s) through which it will perform all or any of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

FATCA ” means:

 

6



 

(a)                                  sections 1471 to 1474 of the Code or any associated regulations;

 

(b)                                  any treaty, law or regulation of any other jurisdiction, or relating to an intergovernmental agreement between the United States and any other jurisdiction, which (in either case) facilitates the implementation of any law or regulation referred to in paragraph (a) above; and

 

(c)                                   any agreement pursuant to the implementation of any treaty, law or regulation referred to in paragraphs (a) or (b) above with the United States Internal Revenue Service, the government of the United States or any governmental or taxation authority in any other jurisdiction.

 

FATCA Application Date ” means:

 

(a)                                  in relation to a “withholdable payment” described in section 1473(1)(A)(i) of the Code (which relates to payments of interest and certain other payments from sources within the United States), 1 July 2014;

 

(b)                                  in relation to a “withholdable payment” described in section 1473(1)(A)(ii) of the Code (which relates to “gross proceeds” from the disposition of property of a type that can produce interest from sources within the United States), 1 January 2017; or

 

(c)                                   in relation to a “passthru payment” described in section 1471(d)(7) of the Code not falling within paragraphs (a) or (b) above, 1 January 2017,

 

or, in each case, such other date from which such payment may become subject to a deduction or withholding required by FATCA as a result of any change in FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

 

FATCA Deduction ” means a deduction or withholding from a payment under a Finance Document required by FATCA.

 

FATCA Exempt Party ” means a Party that is entitled to receive payments free from any FATCA Deduction.

 

Fee Letters ” means each letter dated on or about the date of this Agreement between the Original Lender and Vodafone setting out the amount of the fees referred to in Clause 20.2 ( Front-end fees ) and any other letter designated by Vodafone and the Agent as a “Fee Letter”.

 

Final Maturity Date ” means the last day of the Availability Period.

 

Finance Document ” means this Agreement, each Fee Letter, Novation Certificate, Borrower Accession Agreement, Guarantor Accession Agreement and Increase Confirmation and any other document agreed in writing as such by the Agent and Vodafone.

 

Finance Party ” means the Arranger, a Lender or the Agent.

 

Financial Indebtedness ” means any indebtedness in respect of:

 

7



 

(a)                                  moneys borrowed or raised by way of loan or redeemable preference shares or in the form of any debenture, bond, note, loan stock, commercial paper or similar instrument;

 

(b)                                  any acceptance credit, bill-discounting, note purchase or documentary credit facility;

 

(c)                                   any finance lease;

 

(d)                                  any receivables purchase, factoring or discounting arrangement under which there is recourse in whole or in part to any member of the relevant group;

 

(e)                                   any other transaction having the commercial effect of a borrowing; and

 

(f)                                    any guarantees or other legally binding assurance against financial loss in respect of the indebtedness of any person arising under an obligation falling within (a) to (e) above (but, for the avoidance of doubt, excluding any guarantees in respect of indebtedness falling within (i) to (v) below),

 

but without double counting and excluding (i) preference shares which are not accounted for as indebtedness under IFRS GAAP, (ii) any convertible or exchangeable debt which must or, at the option of the issuer, may be converted or exchanged without condition (other than the availability of sufficient authorised share capital of the issuer), prior to or upon the date any amount of principal would otherwise fall due in respect of that debt, into equity share capital or preference shares, which in each case are not redeemable on or before the Final Maturity Date, (iii) deferred consideration in respect of the cost of Acquisitions, (iv) obligations of any member of the relevant group arising under any form of exchangeable, convertible, option or other similar instrument issued by that member of the relevant group in connection with a transaction the commercial effect of which is to effect the disposal by that member of the relevant group of shares or partnership or other ownership interests in any other person or entity (whether or not having a separate legal identity), provided that any such instrument may not, on or prior to the Final Maturity Date, be converted (whether by acceleration, maturity or otherwise) into cash or any other instrument constituting or evidencing Financial Indebtedness and (v) for the avoidance of doubt, derivatives primarily entered into to manage currency, credit or interest rate risks or to assist in purchasing or selling shares.

 

Fitch ” means Fitch Investors Services Inc.

 

Funding Rate ” means any rate notified to the Agent by a Lender pursuant to Clause 11.2(b)(iii) ( Alternative rates ).

 

Guarantor ” means each of:

 

(a)                                  Vodafone; and

 

(b)                                  each Additional Guarantor.

 

Guarantor Accession Agreement ” means a deed substantially in the form of Part II of Schedule 4 or with such amendments as the Agent may approve (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) or may reasonably require.

 

8



 

Hive Up ” means a reorganisation by way of a scheme of arrangement (other than in an insolvency) or otherwise under which Vodafone becomes a Subsidiary of NewTopco, NewTopco controls (directly or indirectly) all of the voting rights in Vodafone (other than any voting rights in Vodafone in respect of the 50,000 7 per cent. fixed rate shares issued in 1999 or any other voting rights in Vodafone held by holders of a class of capital issued by Vodafone, where such voting rights relate only to any variation in the rights attaching to that class of capital issued by Vodafone) and NewTopco becomes the listed ultimate Holding Company of the Consolidated Group.

 

Holding Company ” means in relation to a person, an entity of which that person is a Subsidiary.

 

HMRC ” means HM Revenue & Customs.

 

IFRS Consolidated Subsidiaries ” means those Subsidiaries of Vodafone (or, following a Hive Up, NewTopco) which would be required to be fully consolidated (which excludes proportionate consolidation) in the consolidated accounts of Vodafone (or, following a Hive Up, NewTopco) in accordance with IFRS GAAP.

 

IFRS GAAP ” means the generally accepted accounting principles applied in the preparation of the IFRS consolidated audited accounts of Vodafone for the year ended 31 March 2014 or later audited accounts, if notified by Vodafone in writing to the Agent within three months (or such longer period as may be agreed by the Agent) of publication of such audited accounts.

 

Impaired Agent ” means the Agent at any time when:

 

(a)                                  it has failed to make (or has notified a Party that it will not make) a payment required to be made by it under the Finance Documents by the due date for payment;

 

(b)                                  the Agent otherwise rescinds or repudiates a Finance Document;

 

(c)                                   (if the Agent is also a Lender) it is a Defaulting Lender under paragraph (a) or (b) of the definition of Defaulting Lender; or

 

(d)                                  an Insolvency Event has occurred and is continuing with respect to the Agent;

 

unless, in the case of paragraph (a) above:

 

(i)                                      its failure to pay is caused by:

 

(A)                                administrative or technical error and payment is made within three Business Days of its due date; or

 

(B)                                a Disruption Event and payment is made within eight Business Days of its due date; or

 

(ii)                                   the Agent is disputing in good faith whether it is contractually obliged to make the payment in question.

 

Increase Confirmation ” means a confirmation substantially in the form set out in Schedule 6 ( Form of Increase confirmation ).

 

9



 

Increase Lender ” has the meaning given to that term in Clause 2.2 ( Increase ).

 

Insolvency Event ” in relation to a Finance Party, means that the Finance Party:

 

(a)                                  is dissolved (other than pursuant to a consolidation, amalgamation or merger);

 

(b)                                  becomes insolvent or is unable to pay its debts or fails or admits in writing its inability to pay its debts as they become due in each case under the laws of any relevant jurisdiction applicable to that Finance Party;

 

(c)                                   makes a general assignment, arrangement or composition with or for the benefit of its creditors;

 

(d)                                  has made against it a judgment of insolvency or bankruptcy or any other relief under any bankruptcy or insolvency law or other similar law affecting creditors’ rights, or an order is made for its winding-up or liquidation;

 

(e)                                   has an order made against it for a bank insolvency pursuant to Part 2 of the Banking Act 2009 or a bank administration pursuant to Part 3 of the Banking Act 2009;

 

(f)                                    has a resolution passed for its winding-up, official management or liquidation (other than pursuant to a consolidation, amalgamation or merger);

 

(g)                                   seeks or becomes subject to the appointment of an administrator, provisional liquidator, conservator, receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for it or for all or substantially all its assets other than by way of Undisclosed Administration;

 

(h)                                  has a secured party take possession of all or substantially all its assets or has a distress, execution, attachment, sequestration or other legal process levied, enforced or sued on or against all or substantially all its assets and such secured party maintains possession, or any such process is not dismissed, discharged, stayed or restrained, in each case within 30 days thereafter; or

 

(i)                                      causes or is subject to any event with respect to it which, under the applicable laws of any jurisdiction, has an analogous effect to any of the events specified in paragraphs (a) to (h) above.

 

Intermediate Holding Company ” means, in relation to Vodafone, an entity (other than NewTopco) which is a Subsidiary of NewTopco and of which Vodafone is a Subsidiary.

 

Interpolated Screen Rate ” means, in relation to LIBOR or EURIBOR for any Advance or unpaid sum, the rate (rounded to the same number of decimal places as the two relevant Screen Rates) which results from interpolating on a linear basis between:

 

(a)                                  the applicable Screen Rate for the longest period (for which that Screen Rate is available) which is less than the Required Period of that Advance or unpaid sum; and

 

10



 

(b)                                  the applicable Screen Rate for the shortest period (for which that Screen Rate is available) which exceeds the Required Period of that Advance or unpaid sum,

 

each as of 11.00 a.m. (London time) in the case of LIBOR and 11.00 a.m. (Brussels time) in the case of EURIBOR on the Rate Fixing Day for the currency of that Advance.

 

ITA 2007 ” means the Income Tax Act 2007.

 

Joint Venture ” means at any time an entity (which is not an IFRS Consolidated Subsidiary) in which any member of the Consolidated Group holds a long term interest and shares control under a contractual arrangement where each venturer has a veto over policy decisions and which is, or will be, accounted for on a proportionate basis in the consolidated accounts of Vodafone (or, following a Hive Up, NewTopco) for that time, and shall exclude any entity which is accounted for on an equity basis in those accounts (in each case, in accordance with the generally applicable accounting principles applied to those accounts)..

 

Lender ” means each Original Lender and each Increase Lender (if any).

 

LIBOR ” means in relation to any Advance or unpaid sum in a currency other than euro:

 

(a)                                  the applicable Screen Rate;

 

(b)                                  if no Screen Rate is available for the Required Period of that Advance or unpaid sum, the Interpolated Screen Rate for that Advance or unpaid sum; or

 

(c)                                   if no Screen Rate is available for the currency of that Advance or the Required Period of that Advance or unpaid sum and it is not possible to calculate an Interpolated Screen Rate for that Advance or unpaid sum, the Reference Bank Rate,

 

as of, in the case of paragraphs (a) and (c) above, 11.00 a.m. (London time) on the Rate Fixing Day for the currency of that Advance or unpaid sum and (in each case) for a period equal to the Required Period and for the purposes of this definition and the definition of “ Interpolated Screen Rate ”, “ Required Period means the Term of such Advance or the period in respect of which LIBOR falls to be determined in relation to any unpaid sum.

 

Liquid Resources ” means a current asset investment held as a readily disposable store of value which can be disposed of without curtailing or disrupting the business of the disposer and which is either:

 

(a)                                  readily convertible into a known amount of cash at or close to its carrying value; or

 

(b)                                  traded in an active market.

 

Majority Lenders ” means, at any time:

 

(a)                                  Lenders whose Commitments aggregate more than 60 per cent. of the Total Commitments; or

 

11



 

(b)                                  if the Total Commitments have been reduced to zero, Lenders whose Commitments aggregated more than 60 per cent. of the Total Commitments immediately before the reduction.

 

Margin ” means 0.30 per cent. per annum.

 

Maturity Date ” means the last day of the Term of an Advance.

 

Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors’ Service, Inc.

 

Multi-employer Plan ” means a “multi-employer plan” as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which any U.S. Obligor or any member of the Controlled USA Group has an obligation to contribute.

 

Net Debt ” means at any time, Total Gross Borrowings less Available Cash, both at that time. Net Debt for any Ratio Period will be calculated as the aggregate of Net Debt outstanding on the last day of each month during the relevant Ratio Period (as shown in Vodafone’s, or following a Hive Up, NewTopco’s, consolidated management accounts prepared at the end of each month during the relevant Ratio Period) divided by the number of months during the relevant Ratio Period.

 

NewTopco ” means a company used for the purposes of a Hive Up.

 

New Lender ” has the meaning given to it in Clause 26.2(a) ( Transfers by Lenders ).

 

Novation Certificate ” has the meaning given to it in Clause 26.4(a)(i) ( Procedure for novations ).

 

Obligor ” means each Borrower and each Guarantor.

 

Operating Cash Flow ” means, without double counting, total operating profit or loss for continuing operations before taxation, interest and after (i) adding depreciation, (ii) adding amortisation, (iii) deducting the profit or adding the loss on exceptional items which are included in the foregoing, (iv) deducting any gain or adding any loss on disposal of tangible or intangible fixed assets, (v) adjusting for movements in working capital (being movements in stock, creditors, provisions and debtors) and (vi) excluding exceptional items.

 

Optional Currency ” means, in relation to any Advance or proposed Advance, euro or Yen.

 

Original Dollar Amount ” means:

 

(a)                                  the principal amount of an Advance denominated in U.S. Dollars; or

 

(b)                                  the principal amount of an Advance denominated in any other currency, translated into U.S. Dollars on the basis of the Agent’s Spot Rate of Exchange on the date of receipt by the Agent of the Request for that Advance.

 

Original Lender ” means a financial institution or other entity listed in Schedule 1 ( Lenders and Commitments ) or a transferee, successor or permitted assignee of such financial institution or other entity which is for the time being participating in the Facility.

 

Overdue Amount ” has the meaning given to it in Clause 8.3(a) ( Default interest ).

 

12



 

Participating Member State ” means any member state of the European Union that has the euro as its lawful currency in accordance with legislation of the European Union relating to Economic and Monetary Union.

 

Party ” means a party to this Agreement.

 

PBGC ” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA, or any successor.

 

Permitted Security Interest ” means:

 

(a)                                  any Security Interest arising out of retention of title provisions or created or subsisting over documents of title, insurance policies (including any export credit agencies’ agreements) and sale contracts in relation to commercial goods in each case created or made in the ordinary course of business to secure the purchase price of such goods or loans to finance such purchase price; or

 

(b)                                  any Security Interest over any assets acquired by a member of the Restricted Group after 1 February 2015 (and/or over the assets of any person that becomes a member of the Restricted Group after 1 February 2015) provided that:

 

(i)                                   any such Security Interest is in existence before such acquisition or before such person becomes a member of the Restricted Group and is not created in contemplation of such acquisition or such person becoming a member of the Restricted Group; and

 

(ii)                                to the extent that the aggregate principal amount secured by such Security Interest upon such acquisition or such person becoming a member of the Restricted Group thereafter exceeds (measured in the same currency) the amount available to be drawn (assuming all drawdown conditions will be met) under the relevant commitment existing at the time of such acquisition or such person becoming a member of the Restricted Group, such Security Interest shall not fall within this paragraph (b);

 

for the purposes of this paragraph (b) Restricted Group shall not include any companies which have become members of the Restricted Group due to the expansion of the definition of Core Jurisdiction to include any other states which become members of the European Union after 1 January 2015; or

 

(c)                                   any Security Interest created for the purpose of securing obligations of Vodafone (or, following a Hive Up, NewTopco) or any member of the Restricted Group under any agreement (including, without limitation, any agreement under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 or Section 111 of the Local Government Act 1972) entered into with a local or other public authority

 

13



 

and related to the development or maintenance of property owned by Vodafone (or, following a Hive Up, NewTopco) or any member of the Restricted Group; or

 

(d)                                  any Security Interest created on or subsisting over any asset held in Clearstream Banking, société anonyme or Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. as operator of the Euroclear System, or any other securities depository or any clearing house pursuant to the standard terms and procedures of the relevant clearing house applicable in the normal course of trading; or

 

(e)                                   any Security Interest which arises in connection with any cash management, set-off or netting arrangements made between banks or financial institutions and any member(s) of the Restricted Group in the ordinary course of business; or

 

(f)                                    any Security Interest created in favour of a plaintiff or defendant in any action of the court or tribunal before whom such action is brought as pre-judgment security for costs or expenses where any member of the Restricted Group is prosecuting or defending such action in the bona fide interest of the Controlled Group; or

 

(g)                                   any Security Interest created pursuant to any order of attachment, distraint, garnishee order, arrestment, adjudication or injunction or interdict restraining disposal of assets or similar legal process arising in connection with pre-judgment court proceedings; or

 

(h)                                  any Security Interest which arises by operation of law in the ordinary course of trading and securing an amount not more than 45 days overdue or which is being contested in good faith on the basis of favourable legal advice; or

 

(i)                                      any Security Interest over shares in entities which are not members of the Restricted Group which do not secure Financial Indebtedness of the Restricted Group (or over shares and/or other ownership interests in and/or loans to entities which are Project Finance Subsidiaries to secure Project Finance Indebtedness); or

 

(j)                                     to the extent they constitute Security Interests (or to the extent that the relevant transaction includes the creation of any Security Interest over the assets which are the subject of the finance lease), finance leases in respect of existing or future assets; or

 

(k)                                  any Security Interest comprising a right of set-off which arises by agreement between parties providing mutual rights of set-off or operation of law or by agreement having substantially the same effect; or

 

(l)                                      any Security Interest for taxes, assessments or charges not yet due or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and (unless the

 

14



 

amount thereof is not material to the Consolidated Group’s financial condition) for which adequate reserves are being maintained (in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles); or

 

(m)                              deposits or pledges to secure obligations under workers’ compensation, social security or similar laws, or under unemployment insurance; or

 

(n)                                  any Security Interest created with the prior written consent of the Majority Lenders; or

 

(o)                                  any Security Interest over deposits of cash or cash equivalent investments securing (directly or indirectly) Financial Indebtedness under (i) finance or structured tax lease arrangements as described in Clause 16.8(b) ( Priority borrowing ) or (ii) Back to Back Loans; or

 

(p)                                  any Security Interest securing Project Finance Indebtedness over the assets (or the income, cash flow or other proceeds deriving from the assets) which are the subject of that Project Finance Indebtedness; or

 

(q)                                  any Security Interest (a “ Substitute Security Interest ”) which replaces any other Security Interest permitted under paragraphs (a) to (p) above inclusive and which secures an amount not exceeding the principal amount secured by such permitted Security Interest (or, in the case of paragraph (b) above, the amount available to be drawn, assuming all drawdown conditions will be met) at the time it is replaced together with any interest accruing on such amounts from the date such Substitute Security Interest is created or arises and any related fees or expenses provided that the existing Security Interest to be replaced is released and all amounts secured thereby are paid or otherwise discharged in full at or prior to the time of such Substitute Security Interest being created or arising; or

 

(r)                                     any Security Interest over the shares or other interests as described in paragraph (iv) of the last paragraph of the definition of Financial Indebtedness securing indebtedness of a kind referred to in that paragraph; or

 

(s)                                    any Security Interest created (i) between Obligors (including by an Obligor to a member of the Restricted Group which concurrently becomes an Obligor) or (ii) by a member of the Restricted Group which is not an Obligor in favour of an Obligor or to another member of the Restricted Group; or

 

(t)                                     any Security Interest over Available Cash created in the ordinary course of business to secure obligations, liabilities or performance criteria in relation to any mobile telecommunications licence where such Security Interest is required to be in compliance with the requirements of the relevant telecommunications regulator or an associated governmental or regulatory body; or

 

15



 

(u)                                  any Security Interest over Available Cash created to defease (directly or indirectly) Financial Indebtedness in the form of debentures, bonds, notes, loan stock, or other similar instruments issued by a Controlled Subsidiary where (A) such Financial Indebtedness was either in existence at the Signing Date or (B) if the Subsidiary became a Controlled Subsidiary after the Signing Date such Financial Indebtedness existed at the time that the Controlled Subsidiary became a part of the Controlled Group and was not created in contemplation of that Controlled Subsidiary becoming part of the Controlled Group; or

 

(v)                                  any Security Interest over loan notes or other securities issued by Verizon Communications Inc. or any of its affiliates in connection with the acquisition of Vodafone’s interest in Verizon Wireless (the “ Verizon Notes ”), provided that:

 

(i)                                   the maximum aggregate principal amount of Verizon Notes which may be subject to Security Interests pursuant to this paragraph (v) is U.S.$5,000,000,000;

 

(ii)                                the Security Interest is removed or discharged within 30 months from the date of issuance of the Verizon Notes; and

 

(iii)                             the Security Interest was created for the purpose of, or in contemplation of, an issuance by Vodafone of loan notes or other securities which are secured by that Security Interest (the “ Secured Notes ”), provided that any holders of the Secured Notes shall not have any recourse to Vodafone in respect of any amounts outstanding (other than interest payable) under or in connection with the Secured Notes; or

 

(w)                                any other Security Interest (in addition to those listed in (a) to (v) above) where the aggregate principal amount secured by all such Security Interests does not exceed €3,000,000,000 or its equivalent.

 

Plan ” means an “employee benefit plan” as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA.

 

Principal Subsidiary ” means, from the date that each notice is given by Vodafone to the Agent pursuant to Clause 16.2(c) ( Financial information ) or, as the case may be, Clause 16.2(d) ( Financial information ) the four Controlled Subsidiaries which are members of the Restricted Group whose revenues are primarily generated by operations licensed by telecommunications authorities in Core Jurisdictions (excluding for this purpose any Subsidiaries whose principal activity is to act as a Holding Company of other Subsidiaries) that had the largest, if positive or smallest if negative Operating Cash Flow in the previous financial year of Vodafone or, following the Reorganisation Date, NewTopco.

 

Until the first notice is given by Vodafone to the Agent (in respect of the financial half-year ended 30 September 2015), the Principal Subsidiaries are Vodafone Limited, Vodafone GmbH, Vodafone Omnitel N.V. and Vodafone Libertel B.V. being Vodafone’s principal subsidiaries operating in UK, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, respectively.

 

16



 

For the purposes of this definition, until such new notice is given by Vodafone to the Agent pursuant to Clause 16.2(c) ( Financial information ) or, as the case may be, Clause 16.2(d) ( Financial information ), if any Principal Subsidiary sells, transfers, merges into or with or otherwise disposes of the majority of its undertakings or assets whether by a single transaction or a number of related transactions (unless such Principal Subsidiary is the surviving entity following such merger) (the “ Seller ”) to any member of the Restricted Group (the “ Purchaser ”), then from the date of the relevant sale, transfer, merger or disposal the Purchaser shall be deemed to become a Principal Subsidiary and the Seller shall no longer be deemed to be a Principal Subsidiary.

 

On the date of each notice given by Vodafone (or as the case may be, NewTopco) to the Agent pursuant to Clause 16.2(c) ( Financial information ) or, as the case may be, Clause 16.2(d) ( Financial information ), any Subsidiary which is identified as a Principal Subsidiary in the relevant notice, which was not identified as such in the immediately preceding notice, shall be deemed to immediately replace any Subsidiary which was a Principal Subsidiary immediately prior to the delivery of the notice and which is not named in such notice.

 

Project Finance Indebtedness ” means any Financial Indebtedness which finances or otherwise relates to the acquisition, development, ownership and/or operation of an asset or combination of assets whether directly or indirectly, where the Financial Indebtedness is incurred pursuant to facilities available prior to the date the relevant entity becomes a member of the Controlled Group (and not created in contemplation of the acquisition):

 

(a)                                  which is incurred by a Project Finance Subsidiary; or

 

(b)                                  in respect of which the person or persons to whom such borrowing is or may be owed by the relevant debtor (whether or not a member of the Controlled Group) has or have no recourse whatsoever to any member of the Controlled Group (other than to a Project Finance Subsidiary) for any payment or repayment in respect thereof other than:

 

(i)                                      recourse to such debtor for amounts limited to the cash flow or net cash flow (other than historic cash flow or historic net cash flow) from such asset or assets; and/or

 

(ii)                                   recourse to such debtor for the purpose only of enabling amounts to be claimed in respect of such Financial Indebtedness in an enforcement of any Security Interest given by such debtor over such asset or assets or the income, cash flow or other proceeds deriving from the asset (or given by any shareholder or the like in the debtor over its shares and/or other ownership interest in and/or loans to the debtor) to secure such Financial Indebtedness or any recourse referred to in paragraph (iii) below, provided that:

 

(A)                                the extent of such recourse to such debtor is limited solely to the amount of any recoveries made on any such enforcement; and

 

17



 

(B)           such person or persons are not entitled, by virtue of any right or claim arising out of or in connection with such Financial Indebtedness, to commence proceedings for the winding up or dissolution of the debtor or to appoint or procure the appointment of any receiver, trustee or similar person or officer in respect of the debtor or any of its assets (save only for the assets the subject of that Security Interest); and/or

 

(iii)           recourse:

 

(A)           to such debtor generally, or directly or indirectly to a member of the Controlled Group, under any form of assurance, undertaking or support which recourse is limited to a claim for damages (other than liquidated damages and damages required to be calculated in a specific way) for breach of an obligation (not being a payment obligation or any obligation to procure payment by another or an indemnity in respect thereof or any obligation to comply or procure compliance by another with any financial ratios or other tests of financial condition) by the person against whom such recourse is available; and/or

 

(B)           to shares and/or other ownership interest in and/or loans to and/or the assets of such debtor and/or any Project Finance Subsidiary owned by a member of the Controlled Group; or

 

(c)            which the Majority Lenders have agreed in writing to treat as Project Finance Indebtedness.

 

Project Finance Subsidiary ” means any member of the Controlled Group:

 

(a)            whose principal assets and business are constituted by the ownership, acquisition, development and/or operation of any asset or combination of assets whether directly or indirectly; and

 

(b)            none of whose Financial Indebtedness in respect of the financing of the ownership, acquisition, development and/or operation of any such asset benefits from any recourse whatsoever (including, without limitation, any obligation to subscribe for equity or provide loans) to any member of the Controlled Group (other than such person or another Project Finance Subsidiary) in respect of any payment or repayment in respect thereof, except as expressly referred to in paragraph (b)(iii) of the definition of “ Project Finance Indebtedness ”; and

 

(c)            which has been designated as such by Vodafone by written notice to the Agent.

 

18



 

Qualifying Financial Institution ” means any bank or financial institution that as part of its business generally receives deposits or other repayable funds and grants credits for its own account.

 

Qualifying Lender ” means a Lender which is beneficially entitled to interest payable to that Lender in respect of an Advance and is:

 

(a)            a Lender;

 

(i)            which is a bank (as defined for the purpose of Section 879 of the ITA 2007) making an Advance under this Agreement; or

 

(ii)           in respect of an Advance made under this Agreement by a person that was a bank (as defined for the purpose of Section 879 of the ITA 2007) at the time that that Advance was made,

 

and which is within the charge to United Kingdom corporation tax as respects any payments of interest made in respect of that Advance at the time payments are made (or in the case of sub-paragraph (i) above would be within such charge as respects such payments apart from section 18A of the CTA); or

 

(b)            a Treaty Lender.

 

Rate Fixing Day ” means:

 

(a)            the second TARGET Day before the Drawdown Date for an Advance denominated in euro; or

 

(b)            the second Business Day before the Drawdown Date for an Advance denominated in U.S. Dollars or Yen,

 

or such other day as the Agent, after consultation with Vodafone and the Lenders, may designate as market practice in the Relevant Interbank Market for leading banks to give quotations in the relevant currency for delivery on the relevant Drawdown Date.

 

Ratio Period ” has the meaning given to it in Clause 17.2 ( Calculation times and periods ).

 

Recovering Finance Party ” has the meaning given to it in Clause 29.1 ( Redistribution ).

 

Recovery ” has the meaning given to it in Clause 29.1 ( Redistribution ).

 

Redistribution ” has the meaning given to it in Clause 29.1(c) ( Redistribution ).

 

Reference Bank ” means, subject to Clause 26.10, Mizuho Bank, Ltd. or any other bank or financial institution agreed by Vodafone and the Agent.

 

Reference Bank Quotation ” means any quotation supplied to the Agent by a Reference Bank.

 

Reference Bank Rate ” means the arithmetic mean of the rates (rounded upwards to four decimal places) as supplied to the Agent at its request by the Reference Banks:

 

(a)            in relation to LIBOR:

 

19



 

(i)            (other than where paragraph (ii) below applies) as the rate at which the relevant Reference Bank could borrow funds in the London interbank market in the relevant currency and for the relevant period were it to do so by asking for and then accepting interbank offers for deposits in reasonable market size in that currency and for that period; or

 

(ii)           if different, as the rate (if any and applied to the relevant Reference Bank and the relevant currency and period) which contributors to the applicable Screen Rate are asked to submit to the relevant administrator,

 

(b)            in relation to EURIBOR:

 

(i)            (other than where paragraph (ii) below applies) as the rate at which the relevant Reference Bank believes that one prime bank is quoting to another prime bank for interbank term deposits in euro within the Participating Member States for the relevant period; or

 

(ii)           if different, as the rate (if any and applied to the relevant Reference Bank and the relevant period) which contributors to the applicable Screen Rate are asked to submit to the relevant administrator.

 

Relevant Interbank Market ” means, in relation to euro, the European interbank market and, in relation to any other currency, the London interbank market.

 

Relevant Tax ” means any tax imposed or levied by or in (or by any political sub-division or taxing authority of any of the following):

 

(a)            the UK;

 

(b)            the United States; or

 

(c)            any other jurisdiction in or through which any payment under the Finance Documents is made.

 

Reportable Event ” means a reportable event as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA and the regulations issued under such section with respect to a Plan, excluding, however, such events as to which the PBGC by regulation waived the requirement of Section 4043(a) of ERISA that it be notified within 30 days of the occurrence of such event, provided, however, that a failure to meet the minimum funding standard of Section 412 of the Code and of Section 302 of ERISA shall be a Reportable Event regardless of the issuance of any such waiver of the notice requirement in accordance with either Section 4043(a) of ERISA or Section 412(d) of the Code.

 

Reorganisation Date ” means the date NewTopco or any other Intermediate Holding Company acquires any shares or assets (other than the shares in Vodafone acquired pursuant to the Hive Up) in circumstances where the aggregate market value of the assets of Vodafone (as determined by Vodafone (acting reasonably)) immediately following the acquisition is an amount which represents 95 per cent. or less of the aggregate market value of the assets of NewTopco (as determined by Vodafone (acting reasonably)) at that time.

 

20



 

Request ” means a request made by a Borrower to utilise the Facility, substantially in the form of Schedule 3 (or in such other form as may be agreed by the Agent and Vodafone).

 

Requested Amount ” means the amount requested in a Request.

 

Restricted Group ” means Vodafone, NewTopco (following the Reorganisation Date) and any Controlled Subsidiary (other than a Project Finance Subsidiary) of Vodafone or, following the Reorganisation Date, NewTopco:

 

(a)            whose principal operations or assets are located in a Core Jurisdiction; and/or

 

(b)            whose revenues are primarily generated by operations licensed by telecommunications authorities in Core Jurisdictions,

 

but excludes any Controlled Subsidiary whose principal business is satellite telecommunications.

 

Rollover Advance ” means any Advance made during the Availability Period which is drawn down to refinance in whole or in part any outstanding Advance where, after making and applying the proceeds of that Advance, the aggregate principal amount outstanding under the Facility is not greater than the aggregate amount outstanding under the Facility immediately prior to the Advance being made.

 

S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s Rating Services.

 

Screen Rate ” means:

 

(a)            in relation to LIBOR, the London interbank offered rate administered by ICE Benchmark Administration Limited (or any other person which takes over the administration of that rate) for the relevant currency and period displayed on pages LIBOR01 or LIBOR02 of the Thomson Reuters screen (or any replacement Thomson Reuters page which displays that rate); and

 

(b)            in relation to EURIBOR, the euro interbank offered rate administered by the European Money Markets Institute (or any other person which takes over the administration of that rate) for the relevant period displayed on page EURIBOR01 of the Thomson Reuters screen (or any replacement Thomson Reuters page which displays that rate),

 

or, in each case, on the appropriate page of such other information service which publishes that rate from time to time in place of Thomson Reuters. If such page or service ceases to be available, the Agent may specify another page or service displaying the relevant rate after consultation with Vodafone.

 

Security Interest ” means any mortgage, charge, assignment by way of security, pledge, lien or other security interest securing any obligation of any person.

 

Separate Loan ” has the meaning given to that term in Clause 6.2 ( Separate Loans ).

 

Signing Date ” means the date of this Agreement.

 

21



 

Single Employer Plan ” means a Plan which is maintained by any U.S. Obligor or any member of the Controlled USA Group for employees of Vodafone or any member of the Controlled USA Group.

 

Subsidiary ” means:

 

(a)            a subsidiary within the meaning of section 1159 of the Companies Act 2006; and

 

(b)            unless the context otherwise requires, a subsidiary undertaking within the meaning of section 1162 of the Companies Act 2006.

 

Substitute Security Interest ” has the meaning given to it in the definition of Permitted Security Interest, paragraph (q).

 

TARGET Day ” means a day on which the Trans-European Automated Real-Time Gross Settlement Express Transfer (TARGET) payment system which utilises a single shared platform and which was launched on 19 November 2007 and is open for the settlement of payments in euro.

 

Tax Credit ” has the meaning given to it in Clause 10.6 ( Refund of Tax Credits ).

 

Tax on Overall Net Income ” in relation to a Finance Party, means any tax on the overall net income, profits or gains of that Finance Party or any of its Holding Companies (or the overall net income, profits or gains of a division or branch of that Finance Party or any of its Holding Companies).

 

Tax Payment ” has the meaning given to it in Clause 10.6 ( Refund of Tax Credits ).

 

Taxes Act ” means the Corporation Tax Act 2010.

 

Term ” means the period selected by a Borrower in a Request for which the Advance is to be outstanding.

 

Total Commitments ” means the aggregate for the time being of the Commitments, being at the date of this Agreement, U.S.$1,000,000,000.

 

Total Gross Borrowings ” means at any time, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Financial Indebtedness of the Consolidated Group (including the marked to market position of out of the money derivative contracts).

 

Treaty Lender ” means a Lender which is (i) resident (as such term is defined in the appropriate double taxation treaty) in a country with which the United Kingdom has an appropriate double taxation treaty under which residents of that country are entitled to complete exemption from United Kingdom tax on interest and is entitled to apply under the Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) (General) Regulations 1970 to have interest paid to its Facility Office without withholding or deduction for or on account of United Kingdom taxation; and (ii) does not carry on business in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment with which the investments under this Agreement in respect of which the interest is paid are effectively connected; and for this purpose “double taxation treaty” means any convention or agreement between the government of the United Kingdom and any other government for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and capital gains.

 

22



 

UK ” or “ United Kingdom ” means the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, the Channel Islands).

 

Undisclosed Administration ” means in relation to a Lender the appointment of an administrator, provisional liquidator, conservator, receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official by a supervisory authority or regulator under or based on the laws of the country where such Lender is subject to home jurisdiction supervision if applicable law requires that such appointment is not to be publicly disclosed.

 

United States ” means the United States of America.

 

U.S. Obligor ” means any Obligor which is incorporated in the United States or any State thereof (including the District of Columbia).

 

U.S. Tax Obligor ” means:

 

(a)            a Borrower which is resident for tax purposes in the United States; or

 

(b)            an Obligor some or all of whose payments under the Finance Documents are from sources within the United States for United States federal income tax purposes.

 

2019 Facility ” means the €3,860,000,000 multicurrency revolving five year facility dated 28 March 2014 with a capacity of €3,860,000,000 as at March 2014 and made between, amongst others, Vodafone Group Plc, the Arrangers and the Lenders identified therein and the Royal Bank of Scotland plc as Agent and Euro Swingline Agent as identified therein and due 28 March 2019.

 

2020 Facility ” means the U.S.$3,935,000,000 multicurrency revolving five year facility dated 27 February 2015 with a capacity of U.S.$3,935,000,000 as at February 2015 and made between, amongst others, Vodafone Group Plc, the Arrangers and Lenders identified therein and The Royal Bank of Scotland plc as Agent and US Swingline Agent and due 27 February 2020.

 

1.2           Construction

 

(a)            In this Agreement, unless the contrary intention appears, a reference to:

 

(i)            agreed form ” means, in relation to any document, such document in a form previously agreed in writing by or on behalf of the Agent and Vodafone;

 

(ii)           assets ” of any person includes all or any part of that person’s business, operations, undertaking, property, assets, revenues (including any right to receive revenues) and uncalled capital;

 

(iii)          an “ authorisation ” includes an authorisation, consent, approval, resolution, licence, exemption, filing, registration and notarisation;

 

(iv)          a “ finance lease ” has the meaning given to it in IAS 17 as in effect at 1 April 2013;

 

23



 

(v)           indebtedness ” is a reference to any obligation for the payment or repayment of money, whether as principal or surety and whether present or future, actual or contingent;

 

(vi)          a “ month ” is a reference to a period starting on one day in a calendar month and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the next calendar month, except that, if there is no numerically corresponding day in the month in which that period ends, that period shall end on the last Business Day in that month;

 

(vii)         a “ regulation ” includes any regulation, rule, official directive, request or guideline (in each case, whether or not having the force of law, but if not having the force of law, is generally complied with by the persons to whom it is addressed) of any governmental or supranational body, agency, department or regulatory, self regulatory authority or organisation; and

 

(viii)        the determination of the extent to which a rate is “ for a period equal in length ” to the Term of any interest period shall disregard any inconsistency arising from the last day of the Term of such interest period being determined pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; and

 

(ix)          U.S.$ ”, “ USD ” and “ U.S. Dollars ” denote the lawful currency of the United States. “ £ ”, “ GBP ” and “ Sterling ” denote the lawful currency of the United Kingdom. “ ”, “ EUR ” and “ euro ” denote the single currency of the Participating Member States. “ ¥ ” and “ Yen ” denote the lawful currency of Japan.

 

(x)            a provision of a law is a reference to that provision as amended or re-enacted;

 

(xi)           a Clause or a Schedule is a reference to a clause of or a schedule to this Agreement;

 

(xii)          a person includes its successors, transferees and assigns;

 

(xiii)         words importing the plural shall include the singular and vice versa;

 

(xiv)         a Finance Document or another document is a reference to that Finance Document or that other document as novated or, with the approval of Vodafone, amended or supplemented; and

 

(xv)          a time of day is a reference to London time.

 

(b)            Unless the contrary intention appears, a term used in any other Finance Document or in any notice given under or in connection with any Finance Document has the same meaning in that Finance Document or notice as in this Agreement.

 

(c)            The index to and the headings in this Agreement are for convenience only and are to be ignored in construing this Agreement.

 

24



 

(d)            Unless expressly provided to the contrary in a Finance Document, a person who is not a party to a Finance Document may not enforce any of its terms under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.

 

(e)            Subject to Clause 25.2 ( Exceptions ) but otherwise notwithstanding any term of any Finance Document, the consent of any third party is not required for any variation (including any release or compromise of any liability under) or termination of that Finance Document.

 

2.              THE FACILITY

 

2.1           Facility

 

Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Lenders grant to the Borrowers a committed multicurrency revolving U.S.$1,000,000,000 facility under which the Lenders will, when requested by a Borrower, make cash advances in U.S. Dollars or Optional Currencies to that Borrower on a revolving basis during the Availability Period.

 

2.2           Increase

 

(a)            Vodafone may by giving prior notice to the Agent by no later than the date falling 60 Business Days after the effective date of a cancellation of:

 

(i)             the Available Commitments of a Defaulting Lender in accordance with Clause 7.5(d) ( Right of prepayment and cancellation ); or

 

(ii)            the Commitments of a Lender in accordance with Clause 13.1 ( Illegality ),

 

request that the Total Commitments be increased (and the Total Commitments shall be so increased in an aggregate amount of up to the amount of the Available Commitments or Commitments so cancelled as follows:

 

(A)           the increased Commitments will be assumed by one or more Lenders or other banks or financial institutions (each an “ Increase Lender ”) selected by Vodafone and which is further acceptable to the Agent (acting reasonably)) and each of which confirms its willingness to assume and does assume all the obligations of a Lender corresponding to that part of the increased Commitments which it is to assume, as if it had been an Original Lender;

 

(B)           each of the Obligors and any Increase Lender shall assume obligations towards one another and/or acquire rights against one another as the Obligors and the Increase Lender would have assumed and/or acquired had the Increase Lender been an Original Lender;

 

(C)           each Increase Lender shall become a Party as a “ Lender ” and any Increase Lender and each of the other Finance Parties shall assume obligations towards one another and acquire rights against one another

 

25



 

as that Increase Lender and those Finance Parties would have assumed and/or acquired had the Increase Lender been an Original Lender;

 

(D)           the Commitments of the other Lenders shall continue in full force and effect; and

 

(E)            any increase in the Total Commitments shall take effect on the date specified by Vodafone in the notice referred to above or any later date on which the conditions set out in paragraph (b) below are satisfied.

 

(b)            An increase in the Total Commitments will only be effective on:

 

(i)             the execution by the Agent of an Increase Confirmation from the relevant Increase Lender;

 

(ii)           in relation to an Increase Lender which is not a Lender immediately prior to the relevant increase the performance by the Agent of all necessary “ know your customer ” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to the assumption of the increased Commitments by that Increase Lender, the completion of which the Agent shall promptly notify to Vodafone and the Increase Lender.

 

(c)            Each Increase Lender, by executing the Increase Confirmation, confirms (for the avoidance of doubt) that the Agent has authority to execute on its behalf any amendment or waiver that has been approved by or on behalf of the requisite Lender or Lenders in accordance with this Agreement on or prior to the date on which the increase becomes effective.

 

(d)            Unless the Agent otherwise agrees or the increased Commitment is assumed by an existing Lender, Vodafone shall, on the date upon which the increase takes effect, pay to the Agent (for its own account) a fee of U.S.$ 3,000 and Vodafone shall promptly on demand pay the Agent the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees) reasonably incurred by it in connection with any increase in Commitments under this Clause 2.2.

 

(e)            Vodafone may pay to the Increase Lender a fee in the amount and at the times agreed between Vodafone and the Increase Lender in a letter between Vodafone and the Increase Lender setting out that fee. A reference in this Agreement to a Fee Letter shall include any letter referred to in this paragraph (e).

 

(f)             Clause 26.2(f) to 26.2(j) inclusive ( Transfers by Lenders ) shall apply mutatis mutandis in this Clause 2.2 in relation to an Increase Lender as if references in that Clause to:

 

(i)             an “ Existing Lender ” were references to all the Lenders immediately prior to the relevant increase;

 

(ii)            the “ New Lender ” were references to that “ Increase Lender ”; and

 

26



 

(iii)           a “ retransfer ” were references to a “ transfer ”.

 

2.3           Number of Requests and Advances

 

(a)            Unless the Agent agrees otherwise, no more than one Request may be delivered on any one day but that Request may specify any number of Advances.

 

(b)            Unless the Agent agrees otherwise, no more than 10 Advances may be outstanding at any one time.

 

2.4           Nature of rights and obligations

 

(a)            The obligations of a Finance Party and each Obligor under the Finance Documents are several. Failure of a Finance Party or an Obligor to carry out those obligations does not relieve any other Party of its obligations under the Finance Documents. No Finance Party or Obligor is responsible for the obligations of any other Finance Party or Obligor under the Finance Documents save and to the extent that the relevant obligations are guaranteed by another Obligor.

 

(b)            The rights of a Finance Party under the Finance Documents are divided rights. A Finance Party may, except as otherwise stated in the Finance Documents, separately enforce those rights.

 

2.5           Vodafone as Obligors’ agent

 

Each Obligor:

 

(a)            irrevocably authorises and instructs Vodafone to give and receive as agent on its behalf all notices (including Requests) and sign all documents in connection with the Finance Documents on its behalf (including but not limited to amendments and variations and execution of any new Finance Documents) and take such other action as may be necessary or desirable under or in connection with the Finance Documents; and

 

(b)            confirms that it will be bound by any action taken by Vodafone under or in connection with the Finance Documents.

 

2.6           Actions of Vodafone as Obligors’ agent

 

The respective liabilities of each of the Obligors under the Finance Documents shall not be in any way affected by:

 

(a)            any irregularity (or purported irregularity) in any act done by or any failure (or purported failure) by Vodafone; or

 

(b)            Vodafone acting (or purporting to act) in any respect outside any authority conferred upon it by any Obligor; or

 

27



 

(c)                                   the failure (or purported failure) by or inability (or purported inability) of Vodafone to inform any Obligor of receipt by it of any notification under this Agreement.

 

3.                                       PURPOSE

 

3.1                                Purpose

 

Each Advance will be used for general corporate purposes of the Consolidated Group including, but not limited to, Acquisitions and in or towards providing support for the Consolidated Group’s continuing commercial paper programme.

 

3.2                                No monitoring

 

Without affecting the obligations of any Borrower in any way, no Finance Party is bound to monitor or verify the application of the proceeds of any Advance.

 

4.                                       CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

 

4.1                                Initial conditions precedent

 

The obligations of each Finance Party to any Borrower under this Agreement are subject to the conditions precedent that the Agent has notified Vodafone and the Lenders that it has received all of the documents set out in Part I of Schedule 2 in the agreed form or such other form and substance satisfactory to the Agent. The Agent will give such notice of receipt within two Business Days after receiving the relevant documents and finding them in form and substance satisfactory to it.

 

4.2                                Conditions to all drawdowns and rollovers

 

The obligations of each Lender to participate in any Advance are subject to the further conditions precedent that on the date of the Request for the Advance (if applicable) and on the date on which the relevant amount is to be drawn down:

 

(a)                                  the representations and warranties in Clause 15 ( Representations and Warranties ) are correct and will be correct immediately after the relevant Advance or amount is drawn down in each case in all material respects; and

 

(b)                                  in the case of a Rollover Advance, no Event of Default is continuing or would result from the proposed Advance, and in the case of any other drawdown, no Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from drawdown of the relevant Advance or amount.

 

5.                                       ADVANCES

 

5.1                                Receipt of Requests

 

A Borrower may borrow Advances under the Facility if the Agent receives, not later than 5.00 p.m. on the third Business Day before the proposed Drawdown Date a duly completed Request.

 

28



 

5.2                                Completion of Requests for Advances

 

A Request for an Advance will not be regarded as having been duly completed unless:

 

(a)                                  the Drawdown Date is a Business Day falling during the Availability Period;

 

(b)                                  only one currency is specified for each separate Advance and the Requested Amount for each separate Advance is in a minimum amount:

 

(i)                                      if in euro, of €25,000,000;

 

(ii)                                   if in U.S. Dollars, of U.S.$25,000,000; or

 

(iii)                                if in Yen, of  ¥3,000,000,000.

 

or, in any such case:

 

(A)                                if less, is in an amount equal to the unutilised portion of the Total Commitments; or

 

(B)                                such other amount as Vodafone and the Agent may agree;

 

(c)                                   only one Term for each separate Advance is specified which:

 

(i)                                      does not overrun the Final Maturity Date; and

 

(ii)                                   is a period of seven days, one month, two, three (or such comparable period as the Borrower may adopt to reflect international futures exchange settlement dates) or six months (or such other period as may be agreed by Vodafone and (if not more than six months) the Agent or (if more than six months) all of the Lenders); and

 

(d)                                  the payment instructions comply with Clause 9.1 ( Place of payment ).

 

5.3                                Amount of each Lender’s participation in an Advance

 

The amount of a Lender’s participation in an Advance will be the proportion of the Requested Amount which its Commitment bears to the Total Commitment, in each case on the date of receipt of the relevant Request.

 

5.4                                Notification of the Lenders

 

The Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the details of the requested Advance and the amount of its participation in such Advance.

 

5.5                                Payment of proceeds

 

Subject to the terms of this Agreement, each Lender shall make its participation in an Advance available to the Agent for the Borrower concerned for value on the relevant Drawdown Date.

 

29



 

6.                                       REPAYMENT

 

6.1                                Repayment of Advances

 

(a)                                  Each Borrower shall repay each Advance made to it in full on its Maturity Date to the Agent for the Lenders, but since the Facility is available on a revolving basis during the Availability Period amounts repaid may be reborrowed subject to the terms of this Agreement.

 

(b)                                  No Advance may be outstanding after the Final Maturity Date.

 

6.2                                Separate Loans

 

(a)                                  At any time when a Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, the maturity date of each of the participations of that Lender in the Facility then outstanding will be automatically extended to the earlier of:

 

(i)                                      the first Business Day falling 364 days after the date on which the Agent or a Borrower gives notice to the Defaulting Lender and the other Parties that the relevant Lender has become a Defaulting Lender, and will be treated as separate Facility (the “ Separate Loans ”) denominated in the currency in which the relevant participations are outstanding; and

 

(ii)                                   the last day of the Availability Period.

 

(b)                                  A Borrower to whom a Separate Loan is outstanding may prepay that Separate Loan by giving 10 Business Days’ prior notice to the Agent. The Agent will forward a copy of a prepayment notice received in accordance with this paragraph (b) to the Defaulting Lender concerned as soon as practicable on receipt.

 

(c)                                   Interest in respect of a Separate Loan will accrue for successive Terms selected by a Borrower by the time and date specified by the Agent acting reasonably and will be payable by that Borrower to the Defaulting Lender on the last day of each Term of that Advance.

 

(d)                                  The terms of this Agreement relating to the Facility generally shall continue to apply to Separate Loans other than to the extent inconsistent with paragraphs (a) to (c) above inclusive in which case those paragraphs shall prevail in respect of any Separate Loans.

 

(e)                                   If at any time while a Separate Loan is outstanding the Borrower transfers the relevant Defaulting Lender’s outstanding participations to a Replacement Lender in accordance with Clause 26.5 ( Replacement of Lenders ), each Separate Loan transferred to the Replacement Lender will automatically become, on the last day of the current Term for each such Separate Loan, an Advance and paragraphs (a) to (c) above (inclusive) shall

 

30



 

cease to apply to that Advance while such Replacement Lender is not a Defaulting Lender.

 

7.                                       PREPAYMENT AND CANCELLATION

 

7.1                                Automatic cancellation of Total Commitments

 

The Commitments of each Lender shall be automatically cancelled at the close of business in London on the Final Maturity Date.

 

7.2                                Voluntary cancellation

 

Vodafone may by giving not less than one Business Day’s prior written notice to the Agent, cancel the unutilised portion of the Total Commitments in whole or in part (but, if in part, in an aggregate minimum amount of U.S.$75,000,000) in such proportions as Vodafone may designate in the notice of cancellation. Any cancellation in part shall be applied against the Commitment of each Lender pro rata.

 

7.3                                Voluntary prepayment

 

(a)                                  Any Borrower may by giving not less than five Business Days’ prior written notice to the Agent, prepay the whole or any part of the Advances (but, if in part, in an aggregate minimum Original Dollar Amount, taking all prepayments made by all the Borrowers on the same day together, of U.S.$100,000,000).

 

(b)                                  Any voluntary prepayment in part made under paragraph (a) above will be applied against all the Advances pro rata (or against such Advances as Vodafone (or the relevant Borrower) may designate in the notice of prepayment).

 

7.4                                Change of Control

 

If control of Vodafone (other than as a result of a Hive Up) or, following a Hive Up, NewTopco, passes to any person acting either individually or in concert (a “ Change of Control ”):

 

(a)                                  Vodafone shall, promptly upon becoming aware thereof, notify the Agent who shall inform the Lenders;

 

(b)                                  any Lender may, if it determines that as a result of the Change of Control:

 

(i)                                      the level of its exposure to Vodafone, NewTopco and/or the entity which acquires control of Vodafone or NewTopco, as the case may be is unacceptably high in each case in the sole opinion of the Lender; or

 

(ii)                                   it no longer wishes (in its sole discretion and acting in good faith) to continue lending to Vodafone or NewTopco, as the case may be (whether for relationship, internal policy or any other reason);

 

propose to Vodafone (through the Agent) the revised terms (if any) which it requires in order to continue to participate in the Facility; and

 

31



 

(c)                                   if those revised terms have not been agreed with that Lender (or that Lender is not prepared, for one or more of the reasons set out in paragraph (b)(i) or (b)(ii) above, to continue on any terms) within 30 days of the date of notification in paragraph (a) above (or such longer period as that Lender may agree in writing) then on expiry of 30 days from the date of notification in paragraph (a) above that Lender may by notice to the Agent (which shall promptly inform Vodafone) cancel the whole (but not part only) of such Lender’s Commitment and following service of such notice:

 

(i)                                      such Lender’s Commitment shall be cancelled on the date of service of the notice or as specified in it; and

 

(ii)                                   all such Lender’s outstanding Advances shall be repaid or prepaid on the last day of the then current Term applicable thereto, and no amount may be outstanding to such Lender thereafter.

 

For the purposes of this Clause 7.4, “ control ” has the meaning given to it in relation to a body corporate by Section 1124 of the Taxes Act.

 

7.5                                Right of prepayment and cancellation

 

If:

 

(a)                                  any Borrower is required to pay or is notified by any Lender in writing that it will be required to pay any amount to a Lender under Clause 10 ( Taxes ) or Clause 12 ( Increased costs ); or

 

(b)                                  if circumstances exist such that a Borrower will be required to pay any amount to a Lender under Clause 10 ( Taxes ) or Clause 12 ( Increased Costs ),

 

(c)                                   Vodafone may, whilst (in the case of paragraphs (a) and (b) above) the circumstances giving rise or which will give rise to the requirement continue, serve a notice of prepayment and cancellation on that Lender through the Agent. On the date falling five Business Days after the date of service of the notice:

 

(i)                                      each Borrower will prepay the participations of that Lender in all outstanding Advances made to that Borrower; and

 

(ii)                                   the Lender’s Commitment shall be permanently cancelled on the date of service of the notice.

 

(d)                                  If any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, Vodafone may, at any time whilst the Lender continues to be a Defaulting Lender, give the Agent five Business Days’ notice of cancellation of each Available Commitment of that Lender.

 

(e)                                   On the notice referred to in paragraph (d) above becoming effective, each Available Commitment of the Defaulting Lender shall immediately be reduced to zero.

 

32



 

(f)                                    The Agent shall as soon as practicable after receipt of a notice referred to in paragraph (e) above, notify all the Lenders.

 

7.6                                Miscellaneous provisions

 

(a)                                  Any notice of prepayment and/or cancellation under this Agreement is irrevocable. The Agent shall notify the Lenders promptly of receipt of any such notice.

 

(b)                                  All prepayments under this Agreement shall be made together with accrued interest on the amount prepaid and any other amounts due under this Agreement in respect of that prepayment (including, but not limited to, any amounts payable under Clause 23.2(c) ( Other indemnities ) if not made on the Maturity Date of the relevant Advance).

 

(c)                                   No prepayment or cancellation is permitted except in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement.

 

(d)                                  Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, any amount prepaid in respect of the Facility during the Availability Period may be reborrowed.

 

(e)                                   Subject to Clause 2.2 ( Increase ), no amount of the Total Commitments cancelled under this Agreement may subsequently be reinstated.

 

8.                                       INTEREST

 

8.1                                Interest rate for all Advances

 

(a)                                  The rate of interest on each Advance for its Term, is the rate per annum determined by the Agent to be the aggregate of:

 

(i)                                      the Margin; and

 

(ii)                                   LIBOR or, in the case of an Advance denominated in euro, EURIBOR.

 

8.2                                Due dates

 

Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, accrued interest on each Advance is payable by the relevant Borrower on its Maturity Date and also, in the case of any Advance with a Term longer than six months, at six monthly intervals after its Drawdown Date for so long as the Term is outstanding.

 

8.3                                Default interest

 

(a)                                  If a Borrower fails to pay any amount payable by it under this Agreement when due (an “ Overdue Amount ”), it shall forthwith on demand by the Agent, pay interest on the Overdue Amount from the due date up to the date of actual payment, both before and after judgment, at a rate (the “ Default Rate ”) determined by the Agent to be one per cent. per annum (the “ Default Margin ”) above the higher of:

 

33



 

(i)                                      the rate on the Overdue Amount under Clause 8.1 ( Interest rate for all Advances ) immediately before the due date (in the case of principal); and

 

(ii)                                   the rate which would have been payable under Clause 8.1 ( Interest rate for all Advances ) if the Overdue Amount had, during the period of non-payment, constituted an Advance in the currency of the Overdue Amount for such successive Terms of such duration as the Agent may determine (each a “ Designated Term ”),

 

except that during any grace period specified in Clause 18.2 ( Non-payment ) the Default Margin portion of the Default Rate will only apply to overdue payments of principal.

 

(b)                                  The Default Rate will be determined on each Business Day or the first day of, or two Business Days before the first day of, the relevant Designated Term, as appropriate.

 

(c)                                   If the Agent determines that deposits in the currency of the Overdue Amount are not at the relevant time being made available by the Reference Banks to leading banks in the Relevant Interbank Market, the Default Rate will be determined by reference to the cost of funds to the Agent from whatever sources it selects, acting reasonably at all times, after consultation with the Reference Banks.

 

(d)                                  Default interest will be compounded at the end of each Designated Term.

 

(e)                                   The Agent shall notify Vodafone of the duration of each Designated Term.

 

8.4                                Notification of rates of interest

 

The Agent will promptly notify each relevant Party of the determination of a rate of interest under this Agreement.

 

8.5                                Non-Business Days

 

If a Term would otherwise end on a day which is not a Business Day, that Term shall instead end on the next Business Day in that calendar month (if there is one) or the preceding Business Day (if there is not).

 

9.                                       PAYMENTS

 

9.1                                Place of payment

 

All payments by an Obligor or a Lender under this Agreement shall be made to the Agent to its account at such office or bank in the principal financial centre of the country of the relevant currency (or, in the case of euro, in the principal financial centre of a Participating Member State or London) or as it may notify to that Obligor or Lender in writing for this purpose.

 

9.2                                Funds

 

Payments under this Agreement to the Agent shall be made for value on the due date at such times and in such funds as the Agent may specify to the Party concerned as being customary at the time for the settlement of transactions in the relevant currency in the place for payment.

 

34



 

9.3                                Distribution

 

(a)                                  Each payment received by the Agent under this Agreement for another Party shall, subject to paragraphs (b) and (c) below, be made available by the Agent to that Party by payment (on the date of value of receipt and in the currency and funds of receipt) to its account with such bank in the principal financial centre of the country of the relevant currency (or, in the case of euro, in the principal financial centre of a Participating Member State or London) as it may notify to the Agent for this purpose by not less than five Business Days’ prior notice.

 

(b)                                  The Agent may apply any amount received by it for an Obligor in or towards payment (on the date and in the currency and funds of receipt) of any amount due from an Obligor under this Agreement in the same currency on such date or in or towards the purchase of any amount of any currency to be so applied.

 

(c)                                   Where a sum is to be paid under this Agreement to the Agent for the account of another Party, the Agent is not obliged to pay that sum to that Party until it has established that it has actually received that sum. The Agent may, however, assume that the sum has been paid to it in accordance with this Agreement and, in reliance on that assumption, make available to that Party a corresponding amount. If the sum has not been made available but the Agent has paid a corresponding amount to another Party, that Party shall forthwith on demand refund the corresponding amount to the Agent together with interest on that amount from the date of payment to the date of receipt, calculated at a rate reasonably determined by the Agent to reflect its cost of funds.

 

9.4                                Currency

 

(a)

 

(i)                                      A repayment or prepayment of an Advance is payable in the currency in which the Advance is denominated.

 

(ii)                                   Interest is payable in the currency in which the relevant amount in respect of which it is payable is denominated.

 

(iii)                                Amounts payable in respect of costs, expenses, taxes and the like are payable in the currency in which they are incurred.

 

(iv)                               Any other amount payable under this Agreement is, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, payable in U.S. Dollars.

 

(b)                                  Unless otherwise prohibited by law, if more than one currency or currency unit are at the same time recognised by the central bank of any country as the lawful currency of that country, then:

 

35



 

(i)                                   any reference in the Finance Documents to, and any obligations arising under the Finance Documents in, the currency of that country shall be translated into, or paid in, the currency or currency unit of that country designated by the Agent (acting reasonably and after consultation with Vodafone); and

 

(ii)                                any translation from one currency or currency unit to another shall be at the official rate of exchange recognised by the central bank for the conversion of the currency unit into the other, rounded up or down by the Agent (acting reasonably); and

 

(iii)                             if a change in any currency of a country occurs this Agreement will be amended to the extent the Agent and Vodafone agree (such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld) to be necessary to reflect the change in currency and to put the Lenders and the Obligors in the same position, as far as possible, that they would have been in if no change in currency had occurred.

 

9.5                                Set-off and counterclaim

 

Subject to Clause 28.4 ( Set-off by Obligors ), all payments made by an Obligor under this Agreement shall be made without set-off or counterclaim.

 

9.6                                Non-Business Days

 

(a)                                  If a payment under this Agreement is due on a day which is not a Business Day, the due date for that payment shall instead be the next Business Day in the same calendar month (if there is one) or the preceding Business Day (if there is not).

 

(b)                                  During any extension of the due date for payment of any principal under this Agreement interest is payable on the principal at the rate payable on the original due date.

 

9.7                                Impaired Agent

 

(a)                                  If, at any time, the Agent becomes an Impaired Agent, an Obligor or a Lender which is required to make a payment under the Finance Documents to the Agent in accordance with this Clause 9 ( Payments ) may instead either pay that amount direct to the required recipient or pay that amount to an interest-bearing account held with an Acceptable Bank and in relation to which no Insolvency Event has occurred and is continuing, in the name of the Obligor or the Lender making the payment and designated as a trust account for the benefit of the Party or Parties beneficially entitled to that payment under the Finance Documents. In each case such payment must be made on the due date for payment under the Finance Documents.

 

(b)                                  All interest accrued on the amount standing to the credit of the trust account shall be for the benefit of the beneficiaries of that trust account pro rata to their respective entitlements.

 

36



 

(c)                                   A party who has made a payment in accordance with this Clause 9.7 shall be discharged of the relevant payment obligation under the Finance Documents and shall not take any credit risk with respect to the amounts standing to the credit of the trust account.

 

(d)                                  Promptly upon the appointment of a successor Agent, in accordance with Clause 19.15 ( Resignation of the Agent ), each Party which has made a payment to a trust account in accordance with this Clause 9.7 shall give all requisite instructions to the bank with whom the trust account is held to transfer the amount) together with any accrued interest to the successor Agent for distribution in accordance with Clause 9.3 ( Distribution ).

 

9.8                                Partial payments

 

(a)                                  If the Agent receives a payment insufficient to discharge all the amounts then due and payable by an Obligor under this Agreement, the Agent shall apply that payment towards the obligations of the Obligors under this Agreement in the following order:

 

(i)                                      first , in or towards payment pro rata of any unpaid costs, fees and expenses of the Agent under this Agreement;

 

(ii)                                   secondly , in or towards payment pro rata of any accrued fees due but unpaid under Clause 20 ( Fees );

 

(iii)                                thirdly , in or towards payment pro rata of any interest due but unpaid under this Agreement;

 

(iv)                               fourthly , in or towards payment pro rata of any principal due but unpaid under this Agreement; and

 

(v)                                  fifthly , in or towards payment pro rata of any other sum due but unpaid under this Agreement.

 

(b)                                  The Agent shall, if so directed by all the Lenders, vary the order set out in paragraphs (ii) to (v) above. The Agent shall notify Vodafone of any such variation.

 

(c)                                   Paragraphs (a) and (b) above shall override any appropriation made by any Obligor.

 

10.                                TAXES

 

10.1                         Gross-up

 

All payments by an Obligor to a Finance Party under the Finance Documents shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for or on account of any Relevant Taxes, except to the extent that the Obligor is required by law to make payment subject to any such taxes. Subject to Clause 10.4 ( Qualifying Lenders ) and Clause 10.5 ( U.S. Taxes ), if any Relevant Tax or amounts in respect of Relevant Tax are deducted or withheld from any amounts payable or paid by an Obligor, to a Finance Party under the Finance Documents (in each case other than a FATCA

 

37



 

Deduction), the Obligor shall pay such additional amounts as may be necessary to ensure that the relevant Finance Party receives a net amount equal to the full amount which it would have received had that Relevant Tax or those amounts in respect of Relevant Tax not been so deducted or withheld.

 

10.2         Indemnity

 

Save to the extent that the relevant Finance Party is compensated by an increased payment under Clause 10.1 ( Gross-up ), but otherwise without prejudice to the provisions of Clause 10.1 ( Gross-up ), but subject to Clause 10.4 ( Qualifying Lenders ) and Clause 10.5 ( U.S. Taxes ), if a Finance Party or the Agent on behalf of that Finance Party is required to make any payment on account of any Relevant Tax on or in relation to any sum received or receivable hereunder by such Finance Party or the Agent on behalf of that Finance Party (including a sum received or receivable under this Clause 10) or any liability in respect of any such payment on account of any Relevant Tax is incurred by such Finance Party or the Agent on behalf of that Finance Party (in all cases other than any Tax on Overall Net Income or any FATCA Deduction), the relevant Obligor shall, within five Business Days of demand by the Agent indemnify such Finance Party against such payment or liability in respect of such payment, together with any interest, penalties, reasonable costs and reasonable expenses payable or incurred in connection therewith other than any such interest, penalties, costs or expenses arising as a result of a failure by a Finance Party to make payment of such tax when due.

 

10.3         Tax receipts

 

All taxes required by law to be deducted or withheld by an Obligor from any amounts paid or payable under the Finance Documents shall be paid by the relevant Obligor when due and the Obligor shall, within 15 days of the payment being made, deliver to the Agent for the relevant Lender evidence satisfactory to that Lender acting reasonably (including any relevant tax receipts which have been received) that the payment has been duly remitted to the appropriate authority.

 

10.4         Qualifying Lenders

 

(a)            An Obligor is not required to pay to a Lender any amounts under Clause 10.1 ( Gross-up ) or Clause 10.2 ( Indemnity ) in respect of Relevant Tax imposed by the United Kingdom if, on the date on which the payment falls due, the relevant Lender is a Party but is not a Qualifying Lender (other than as a result of the introduction, suspension, withdrawal or cancellation of, or change in, or change in the official interpretation, administration or official application of, any law, regulation having the force of law, tax treaty or any published practice or published concession of any relevant taxing authority in any jurisdiction with which the relevant Lender has a connection, occurring after the Signing Date or, if later, the date on which that Lender becomes a Party).

 

(b)            A Treaty Lender shall:

 

38



 

(i)             promptly and, in any event, within seven Business Days after it becomes a Lender, deliver to its local revenue authority for certification such UK HMRC forms (“ Claim Forms ”) as may be required for any Obligor making a payment to such Treaty Lender to obtain authorisation from the UK HMRC to make such payment without deduction for or on account of any taxes;

 

(ii)            in circumstances where the procedure for Treaty relief contemplated in paragraph (i) above requires a local revenue authority to return a certified Claim Form to the Treaty Lender for submission by that Treaty Lender to the UK HMRC, (a) take all reasonable follow up action available to the Treaty Lender to facilitate the return in a timely manner to the Treaty Lender of such Claim Form, duly stamped or certified by the relevant revenue authority and (b) submit such Claim Form to the UK HMRC as soon as reasonably practicable (and in any event within seven Business Days) after receipt of that Claim Form from the local revenue authority; and

 

(iii)           in all other circumstances relating to the Treaty relief procedure contemplated in (i) above, following the submission of Claim Forms by the Treaty Lender to the relevant local revenue authority, respond promptly to any further requests any Treaty Lender receives from the relevant local revenue authority and, on receipt of written request from Vodafone to do so, take all reasonable follow up action to facilitate the submission by the relevant local revenue authority of duly stamped or certified Claim Forms to the UK HMRC in a timely manner.

 

If there is any change in the procedure by which certification is to be made or to be notified to the UK HMRC, the Treaty Lender’s obligations shall be modified in such manner as the Treaty Lender may reasonably determine so that such amended obligations shall, as far as possible, have the same or equivalent effect as the original obligations. No Obligor resident in the UK shall be liable to pay any sums to any Treaty Lender under Clause 10.1 ( Gross-up ) or Clause 10.2 ( Indemnity ) unless the Treaty Lender has complied with its obligations under this Clause 10.4.

 

(c)            Subject to paragraph (d) below, each Lender warrants to Vodafone, on each date upon which it makes an Advance and on the due date for each payment of interest to the Lender:

 

(i)             that it is a Qualifying Lender; and

 

(ii)            if it is a Treaty Lender, it has delivered (or will deliver within the time limits specified herein) the forms described in paragraph (b) above.

 

(d)            If a Lender or, as the case may be, the Facility Office of a Lender is aware that it is or will become unable to make the warranty set out in paragraph (c) above it will promptly notify the Agent and Vodafone. Notwithstanding such notification to Vodafone, the Agent will promptly notify Vodafone and from the date of the first such notification received by Vodafone the warranty in paragraph (c) above will no longer be made by that Lender.

 

39



 

10.5         U.S. Taxes

 

(a)            A U.S. Tax Obligor shall not be required to pay any amount pursuant to Clause 10.1 ( Gross-up ) or any amount pursuant to Clause 10.2 ( Indemnity ) in respect of Relevant Tax imposed by the United States (including, without limitation, federal, state, local or other income taxes, branch profits or franchise taxes “ U.S. Taxes ”) with respect to a sum payable by it pursuant to this Agreement to a Lender if on the date a payment of interest falls due under this Agreement either:

 

(i)             in the case of a Lender which is not a United States person (as such term is defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code), such Lender is not entitled to receive interest payable under this Agreement free and clear of any U.S. Taxes imposed by way of deduction or withholding at the source under applicable law as in effect on the date such Lender becomes a party to this Agreement or, if such Lender has designated a new Facility Office, the date of such designation; or

 

(ii)           such Lender has failed to provide the relevant U.S. Tax Obligor with the appropriate form, certificate or other information with respect to such sum payable that it was required to provide pursuant to paragraphs (b) and (c) below; or

 

(iii)          such Lender is subject to such tax by reason of any connection between the Lender or its Facility Office and the jurisdiction imposing such tax on the Lender or its Facility Office other than a connection arising solely from this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby.

 

(b)            At any time after a U.S. Tax Obligor becomes (and while there continues to be a U.S. Tax Obligor) a Party to this Agreement, if a Lender is not a United States person (as such term is defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) it shall submit, as soon as reasonably practicable after:

 

(i)             the date on which the U.S. Tax Obligor becomes a Party to this Agreement (if requested by the relevant U.S. Tax Obligor);

 

(ii)            the date on which the relevant Lender becomes a Party to this Agreement; or

 

(iii)           the date on which the relevant Lender designates a new Facility Office,

 

(but, in each case, no later than the due date for the next interest payment), in duplicate to each U.S. Tax Obligor duly completed and signed originals of either United States Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or Form W-8ECI or applicable successor form relating to such Lender and evidencing such Lender’s complete exemption from withholding on all amounts (to which such withholding would otherwise apply) to be received by such Lender, including fees, pursuant to this Agreement in connection with any borrowing by a U.S. Tax Obligor. Thereafter such Lender shall submit to each U.S. Tax Obligor such additional duly completed and signed

 

40



 

originals of one or the other such forms (or such successor forms as shall be adopted from time to time by the relevant United States taxation authorities) or any additional information, in each case as may be required under then current United States law or regulations to claim the inapplicability of or exemption from United States withholding taxes on payments in respect of all amounts (to which such withholding would otherwise apply) to be received by such Lender, including fees, pursuant to this Agreement in connection with any borrowing by a U.S. Tax Obligor unless such Lender is unable to do so as a result of a change in, the introduction of, suspension, withdrawal or cancellation of, or change in the official interpretation, administration or official application of, the Code or any regulation promulgated thereunder or of a convention or agreement for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion between the government of the United States and the jurisdiction in which the relevant Lender has a connection, occurring after the date the Lender becomes a Party to this Agreement or, if such Lender has designated a new Facility Office, the date of such designation.

 

(c)            At any time after a U.S. Tax Obligor becomes (and while there continues to be a U.S. Tax Obligor) a Party to this Agreement, if a Lender is a United States person (as such term is defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) it shall, as soon as practicable after:

 

(i)             the date on which the U.S. Tax Obligor becomes a Party to this Agreement (if requested by the relevant U.S. Tax Obligor);

 

(ii)            the date on which the relevant Lender becomes a Party to this Agreement; or

 

(iii)           the date on which the relevant Lender designates a new Facility Office,

 

(but, in each case, no later than the due date for the next interest payment), and thereafter, on or before the date that any such form expires or becomes obsolete or after the occurrence of any event requiring a change in the most recent form or forms to be delivered, submit in duplicate to each U.S. Tax Obligor a duly completed and signed United States Internal Revenue form W-9 evidencing that such Lender is such a United States person and shall submit any additional information that may be necessary to avoid United States withholding taxes on all payments, including fees, (to which such withholding would otherwise apply) to be received pursuant to this Agreement in connection with any borrowing by a U.S. Tax Obligor.

 

10.6         Refund of Tax Credits

 

If any Obligor pays any amount to a Finance Party under this Clause 10 (a “ Tax Payment ”) and that Finance Party obtains a refund of a tax, or a credit against tax by reason of either the circumstances giving rise to the Obligor’s obligation to make the Tax Payment or that Tax Payment (a “ Tax Credit ”) then that Finance Party shall reimburse that Obligor such amount, which that Finance Party determines in good faith, as can be determined to be the proportion of the Tax Credit as will leave that Finance Party (after that reimbursement) in no better or worse position than it would have been in if the Tax Payment had not been paid. Nothing in this Clause 10 shall interfere with the right of each Finance Party to arrange its affairs in whatever manner it thinks fit and no Finance Party is obliged to disclose any information regarding its tax affairs or computations to an Obligor which it reasonably considers confidential.

 

41



 

10.7         FATCA Information

 

(a)            Subject to paragraph (c) below, each Party must, within ten Business Days of a reasonable request by another Party;

 

(i)             confirm to that other Party whether it is:

 

(A)           a FATCA Exempt Party; or

 

(B)           not a FATCA Exempt Party; and

 

(ii)            supply to that other Party such forms, documentation and other information relating to its status under FATCA as that other Party reasonably requests for the purposes of that other Party’s compliance with FATCA.

 

(b)            If a Party confirms to another Party pursuant to paragraph (a)(i) above that it is a FATCA Exempt Party and it subsequently becomes aware that it is not, or has ceased to be a FATCA Exempt Party, that Party must notify that other Party reasonably promptly.

 

(c)            Paragraph (a) above shall not oblige any Party to do anything, which would or might in its reasonable opinion constitute a breach of:

 

(i)             any law or regulation;

 

(ii)            any fiduciary duty; or

 

(iii)           any duty of confidentiality.

 

(d)            If a Party fails to confirm whether or not it is a FATCA Exempt Party or to supply forms, documentation or other information requested in accordance with paragraph (a)(i) or (ii) above (including, for the avoidance of doubt, where paragraph (c) above applies), then such Party is to be treated for the purposes of the Finance Documents (and payments made under them) as if it is a not a FATCA Exempt Party until such time as the Party in question provides the requested confirmation, forms, documentation or other information.

 

(e)            If a Borrower is a U.S. Tax Obligor, or where the Agent reasonably believes that its obligations under FATCA require it, each Lender shall, within ten Business Days of:

 

(i)            where a Borrower is a U.S. Tax Obligor and the relevant Lender is an Original Lender, the date of this Agreement;

 

(ii)           where a Borrower is a U.S. Tax Obligor and the relevant Lender is a New Lender, the relevant Transfer Date;

 

(iii)          the date a new U.S. Tax Obligor accedes as a Borrower; or

 

42



 

(iv)           where the Borrower is not a U.S. Tax Obligor, the date of a request from the Agent,

 

supply to the Agent:

 

(v)            a withholding certificate on Form W-8 or Form W-9 (or any successor form) (as applicable); or

 

(vi)          any withholding statement and other documentation, authorisations and waivers as the Agent may require to certify or establish the status of such Lender under FATCA.

 

The Agent shall provide any withholding certificate, withholding statement, documentation, authorisations and waivers it receives from a Lender pursuant to this paragraph (e) to the Borrower and shall be entitled to rely on any such withholding certificate, withholding statement, documentation, authorisations and waivers provided without further verification. The Agent shall not be liable for any action taken by it under or in connection with this paragraph (e).

 

(f)             Each Lender agrees that if any withholding certificate, withholding statement, documentation, authorisations and waivers provided to the Agent pursuant to paragraph (e) above is or becomes materially inaccurate or incomplete, it shall promptly update it and provide such updated withholding certificate, withholding statement, documentation, authorisations and waivers to the Agent unless it is unlawful for the Lender to do so (in which case the Lender shall promptly notify, in writing, the Agent). The Agent, shall provide any such updated withholding certificate, withholding statement, documentation, authorisations and waivers or a copy of any such notification to the Borrower. The Agent shall not be liable for any action taken by it under or in connection with paragraphs (e) or (f).

 

10.8         Other information

 

(a)            Subject to paragraph (b) below, each Party must, within ten Business Days of a reasonable request by another Party, supply to that other Party such forms, documentation and other information relating to its status as that other Party requests to enable that other Party to comply with any regulations made under section 222 of the Finance Act 2013 or any other applicable law or regulation implementing any similar international arrangements for the exchange of Tax or financial information between jurisdictions.

 

(b)            No Party is obliged to do anything under paragraph (a) above which would or might in its reasonable opinion constitute a breach of any applicable:

 

(i)             law or regulation;

 

(ii)            fiduciary duty; or

 

43



 

(iii)           duty of confidentiality.

 

11.9         FATCA Deduction

 

(a)            Each Party may make any FATCA Deduction it is required to make by FATCA, and any payment required in connection with that FATCA Deduction, and no Party is required to increase any payment in respect of which it makes such FATCA Deduction or otherwise compensate the recipient of the payment for that FATCA Deduction.

 

(b)            Each Party must, promptly upon becoming aware that it must make a FATCA Deduction (or that there is any change in the rate or the basis of such FATCA Deduction), notify the Party to whom it is making the payment and, in addition, must notify Vodafone, the Agent shall notify the other Finance Parties.

 

11.           MARKET DISRUPTION

 

11.1         Market disturbance

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein contained, if and each time that prior to or on a Drawdown Date relative to an Advance to be made:

 

(a)            only one or no Reference Bank supplies a rate for the purposes of determining LIBOR or EURIBOR (as the case may be) in accordance with paragraph (c) of the relevant definition; or

 

(b)            the Agent is notified by Lenders whose participations in that Advance would represent 50 per cent. or more of that Advance that (i) deposits in the currency of that Advance may not in the ordinary course of business be available to them in the Relevant Interbank Market for a period equal to the Term concerned in amounts sufficient to fund their participations in that Advance or (ii) the cost to it of obtaining matching deposits in the Relevant Interbank Market would be in excess of EURIBOR or LIBOR; or

 

(c)            the Agent (after consultation with the Reference Banks) shall have determined (which determination shall be conclusive and binding upon all Parties) that by reason of circumstances affecting the Relevant Interbank Market generally, adequate and fair means do not exist for ascertaining the LIBOR or EURIBOR (as the case may be) applicable to such Advance during its Term,

 

the Agent shall promptly give written notice of such determination or notification to Vodafone and to each of the Lenders.

 

11.2         Alternative rates

 

If the Agent gives a notice under Clause 11.1 ( Market disturbance ):

 

44



 

(a)            Vodafone and the Lenders whose participations in the relevant Advance would represent 50 per cent. or more of that Advance may (through the Agent) agree that (except in the case of a Rollover Advance) that Advance shall not be borrowed; or

 

(b)            in the absence of such agreement by the Drawdown Date specified in the relevant Request (and in any event in the case of a Rollover Advance):

 

(i)             the Term of the relevant Advance shall be one month;

 

(ii)            the Advance shall be made in the currency requested or, in the case of Clause 11.1(b)(i) ( Market disturbance ), in U.S. Dollars (or, if the currency requested for the relevant Advance is U.S. Dollars, euro); and

 

(iii)          during the Term of the relevant Advance the rate of interest applicable to such Advance shall be the Margin plus the rate per annum notified by each Lender concerned to the Agent before the last day of such Term to be that which expresses as a percentage rate per annum the cost to such Lender of funding its participation in such Advance from whatever sources it may reasonably select.

 

12.           INCREASED COSTS

 

12.1         Increased costs

 

(a)            Except as provided below in this Clause 12, Vodafone will forthwith on demand by a Finance Party pay that Finance Party the amount of any increased cost incurred by it or any of its Affiliates as a result of:

 

(i)             the introduction of or any change in (or in the interpretation, administration or application of) any law or regulation (including any relating to reserve asset, special deposit, cash ratio, liquidity or capital adequacy requirements or any other form of banking or monetary control);

 

(ii)            the compliance with any law or regulation made after the date of this Agreement; or

 

(iii)           without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the implementation or application of or compliance with Basel III or CRD IV or any other law or regulation which implements Basel III or CRD IV (whether such implementation, application or compliance is by a government, regulator, Finance Party or any of its Affiliates).

 

(b)            Subject to Clause 12.3 ( Basel III cost claims ), promptly following the service of any demand, Vodafone will pay to that Finance Party such amount as that Finance Party certifies in the demand (with sufficient details for the calculations to be verified) will in its

 

45



 

reasonable opinion compensate it for the applicable increased cost and in relation to the period expressed to be covered by such demand.

 

(c)            When calculating an increased cost, a Finance Party will only apply the costs incurred in relation to the Facility. Nothing contained in this Clause 12.1 shall oblige the Finance Party to disclose any information (other than information which is readily available in the public domain or which is not in the reasonable opinion of the Finance Party confidential) relating to the way in which it employs its capital or arranges its internal financial affairs.

 

(d)            In this Agreement “ increased cost ” means:

 

(i)             an additional cost incurred by a Finance Party or any of its Holding Companies as a result of it performing, maintaining or funding its obligations under, this Agreement; or

 

(ii)            that portion of an additional cost incurred by a Finance Party or any of its Holding Companies in making, funding or maintaining all or any advances comprised in a class of advances formed by or including its participations in the Advances made or to be made under this Agreement as is attributable to it making, funding or maintaining its participations; or

 

(iii)           a reduction in any amount payable to a Finance Party or the effective return to a Finance Party under this Agreement or on its capital (or the capital of any of its Holding Companies); or

 

(iv)           the amount of any payment made by a Finance Party, or the amount of interest or other return foregone by a Finance Party, calculated by reference to any amount received or receivable by a Finance Party from any other Party under this Agreement.

 

12.2         Exceptions

 

Clause 12.1 ( Increased costs ) does not apply to any increased cost:

 

(a)            attributable to any tax or amounts in respect of tax; or

 

(b)            occurring as a result of any negligence or default by a Lender or its Holding Company relating to a breach of any law or regulation including but not limited to a breach by that Lender or Holding Company of any fiscal, monetary or capital adequacy limit imposed on it by any law or regulation; or

 

(c)            to the extent that the increased cost was incurred in respect of any day more than six months before the first date on which it was reasonably practicable to notify Vodafone thereof (except in the case of any retrospective change); or

 

46



 

(d)            attributable to the implementation or application of or compliance with the “ International Convergence of Capital Measurement and Capital Standards, a Revised Framework ” published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in June 2004 in the form existing on the date of this Agreement (“ Basel II ”) or any other law or regulation which implements Basel II (whether such implementation, application or compliance is by a government, regulator, Finance Party or any of its Affiliates). For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing shall not include any amendments, supplements, restatements or changes to Basel II to implement Basel III; or

 

(e)            attributable to a FATCA Deduction required to be made by a Party

 

12.3         Basel III Cost claims

 

(a)            Vodafone need not make any payment for a Basel III Cost, except to the extent that the Basel III Cost is attributable to an amount of an Advance which has been drawn at any time by an Obligor under this Agreement.

 

(b)            Without limiting Clause 12.2 ( Exceptions ) Vodafone need not make any payment for a Basel III Cost unless the claiming Finance Party:

 

(i)             provides reasonable detail of the basis of calculation of such Basel III Costs provided that this obligation to provide reasonable detail does not extend to information and detail that a Finance Party considers it is not legally allowed to disclose, is confidential to third parties, is confidential for internal reasons or is price-sensitive in relation to listed shares or other instruments issued by that Finance Party or any of its Affiliates;

 

(ii)           confirms to Vodafone that it is the Finance Party’s policy to claim Basel III Costs to a similar extent from similar borrowers in relation to similar facilities; and

 

(iii)          confirms to Vodafone that it is making a claim for those Basel III Costs within three months of incurring them.

 

(c)            If any claim by any Finance Party is made under this Clause 12 ( Increased Costs ) in respect of Basel III Costs, that Finance Party and Vodafone shall enter into discussions (for a period not exceeding 15 Business Days) as to the basis for such claim and whether it is reasonable for Vodafone to pay such claim in the circumstances.

 

(d)            If no agreement is reached in respect of the payment of such claim within 15 Business Days of the claim being made, the relevant Finance Party may, within 15 Business Days after the end of such period and by ten Business Days’ prior notice to Vodafone:

 

47



 

(i)            cancel its Commitments with immediate effect; and

 

(ii)           demand the prepayment of its share of all Advances then outstanding together with accrued interest thereon and all other amounts accrued under the Finance Documents.

 

(e)            On the expiry of the ten Business Days’ notice period referred to in paragraph (d) above, Vodafone (or, if applicable, the relevant Borrower) shall pay to the Agent for that Finance Party:

 

(i)            the participations of that Lender in all outstanding Advances together with accrued interest;

 

(ii)           the increased costs originally claimed by that Lender and the increased costs continuing to be incurred by it for the period until payment by Vodafone in full under this Clause 12.3 (Basel III Cost claims);

 

(iii)          any amounts payable pursuant to Clause 24.3 (Breakage Costs); and

 

(iv)          all amounts owing to that Finance Party under the Finance Documents.

 

13.           ILLEGALITY AND MITIGATION

 

13.1         Illegality

 

If it becomes unlawful in any jurisdiction for a Lender to give effect to any of its obligations as contemplated by this Agreement or to fund or maintain its participation in any Advance, then the Lender may notify Vodafone through the Agent accordingly and thereupon, but only to the extent necessary to remove the illegality:

 

(a)            the Lender’s Available Commitment shall be cancelled immediately; and

 

(b)            to the extent that the Lender’s participation has not been transferred pursuant to Clause 26.5 ( Replacement of Lenders ), each Borrower shall, upon request from that Lender within the period allowed or if no period is allowed, forthwith, repay any participation of that Lender in the Advances made to it together with all other amounts payable by it to that Lender under this Agreement and that Lender’s Commitment shall be cancelled immediately in the amount of the participations repaid.

 

13.2         Mitigation

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of Clauses 8.1 ( Interest rate for all Advances ), 10 ( Taxes ), 12 ( Increased costs ) and 13.1 ( Illegality ), if in relation to a Finance Party circumstances arise which would result in:

 

(a)            any deduction, withholding or payment of the nature referred to in Clause 10 ( Taxes ); or

 

(b)            any increased cost of the nature referred to in Clause 12 ( Increased Costs ); or

 

48



 

(c)            a notification pursuant to Clause 13.1 ( Illegality ),

 

then without in any way limiting, reducing or otherwise qualifying the rights of such Finance Party or the Agent, such Finance Party shall promptly upon becoming aware of the same notify the Agent thereof (whereupon the Agent shall promptly notify Vodafone) and such Finance Party shall use reasonable endeavours to transfer its participation in the Facility and its rights hereunder and under the Finance Documents to another financial institution or Facility Office not affected by circumstances having the results set out in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) above and shall otherwise take such reasonable steps as may be open to it to mitigate the effects of such circumstances provided that such Finance Party shall not be under any obligation to take any such action if, in its opinion, to do so would or would be likely to have a material adverse effect upon its business, operations or financial condition or would involve it in any unlawful activity or any activity that is contrary to its policies or any request, guidance or directive of any competent authority (whether or not having the force of law) or (unless indemnified to its satisfaction) would involve it in any significant expense or tax disadvantage.

 

14.           GUARANTEE

 

14.1         Guarantee

 

Each Guarantor jointly and severally, irrevocably and unconditionally:

 

(a)            as principal obligor, guarantees to each Finance Party that if and whenever:

 

(i)             an amount is due and payable by a Borrower under or in connection with any Finance Document; and

 

(ii)            demand for payment of that amount has been made by the Agent on that Borrower,

 

that Guarantor will forthwith on demand by the Agent pay that amount as if that Guarantor instead of that Borrower were expressed to be the principal obligor; and

 

(b)            indemnifies each Finance Party on demand against any loss or liability suffered by it if any obligation guaranteed by any Guarantor is or becomes unenforceable, invalid or illegal (the amount of that loss being the amount expressed to be payable by the relevant Borrower in respect of the relevant sum).

 

14.2         Continuing guarantee

 

This guarantee is a continuing guarantee and will extend to the ultimate balance of all sums payable by the Borrowers under the Finance Documents, regardless of any intermediate payment or discharge in part.

 

14.3         Reinstatement

 

(a)            Where any discharge (whether in respect of the obligations of any Borrower or any security for those obligations or otherwise) is made in whole or in part or any

 

49



 

arrangement is made on the faith of any payment, security or other disposition which is avoided or must be restored on insolvency, liquidation or otherwise without limitation, the liability of the Guarantors under this Clause 14 shall continue as if the discharge or arrangement had not occurred (but only to the extent that such payment, security or other disposition is avoided or restored).

 

(b)            Each Finance Party may concede or compromise any claim that any payment, security or other disposition is liable to avoidance or restoration.

 

14.4         Waiver of defences

 

The obligations of each Guarantor under this Clause 14 will not be affected by any act, omission, matter or thing which, but for this provision, would reduce, release or prejudice any of its obligations under this Clause 14 or prejudice or diminish those obligations in whole or in part, including (whether or not known to it or any Finance Party):

 

(a)            any time or waiver granted to, or composition with, any Borrower or other person;

 

(b)            the release of any other Obligor or any other person under the terms of any composition or arrangement with any creditor of any member of the Consolidated Group;

 

(c)            the taking, variation, compromise, exchange, renewal or release of, or refusal or neglect to perfect, take up or enforce, any rights against, or security over assets of, any Obligor or other person or any non-presentation or non-observance of any formality or other requirement in respect of any instrument or any failure to realise the full value of any security;

 

(d)            any incapacity or lack of powers, authority or legal personality of or dissolution or change in the members or status of a Borrower or any other person;

 

(e)            any variation (however fundamental) or replacement of a Finance Document so that references to that Finance Document in this Clause 14 shall include each variation or replacement;

 

(f)             any unenforceability, illegality or invalidity of any obligation of any person under any Finance Document, to the intent that the Guarantors’ obligations under this Clause 14 shall remain in full force and its guarantee be construed accordingly, as if there were no unenforceability, illegality or invalidity; and

 

(g)            any postponement, discharge, reduction, non-provability or other similar circumstance affecting any obligation of any Borrower under a Finance Document resulting from any insolvency, liquidation or dissolution proceedings or from any law, regulation or order so that each such obligation shall, for the

 

50



 

purposes of the Guarantors’ obligations under this Clause 14, be construed as if there were no such circumstance.

 

14.5         Immediate recourse

 

Except as provided in Clause 14.1(a)(ii) ( Guarantee ), each Guarantor waives any right it may have of first requiring any Finance Party (or any trustee or agent on its behalf) to proceed against or enforce any other rights or security or claim payment from any person before claiming from that Guarantor under this Clause 14.

 

14.6         Appropriations

 

Until all amounts which may be or become payable by the Borrowers under or in connection with the Finance Documents have been irrevocably paid in full, each Finance Party (or any trustee or agent on its behalf) may:

 

(a)            refrain from applying or enforcing any other moneys, security or rights held or received by that Finance Party (or any trustee or agent on its behalf) in respect of those amounts, or apply and enforce the same in such manner and order as it sees fit (whether against those amounts or otherwise) and no Guarantor shall be entitled to the benefit of the same; and

 

(b)            hold in a suspense account (bearing interest at a commercial rate) any moneys received from any Guarantor or on account of that Guarantor’s liability under this Clause 14, with any interest earned being credited to that account.

 

14.7         Non-competition

 

Until all amounts which may be or become payable by the Borrowers under or in connection with the Finance Documents have been paid in full, no Guarantor shall, after a claim has been made or by virtue of any payment or performance by it under this Clause 14:

 

(a)            be subrogated to any rights, security or moneys held, received or receivable by any Finance Party (or any trustee or agent on its behalf) or be entitled to any right of contribution or indemnity in respect of any payment made or moneys received on account of that Guarantor’s liability under this Clause 14; or

 

(b)            claim, rank, prove or vote as a creditor of any Borrower or its estate in competition with any Finance Party (or any trustee or agent on its behalf); or

 

(c)            receive, claim or have the benefit of any payment, distribution or security from or on account of any Borrower, or exercise any right of set-off as against any Borrower.

 

Each Guarantor shall hold in trust for and forthwith pay or transfer to the Agent for the Finance Parties any payment or distribution or benefit of security received by it contrary to this Clause 14.7.

 

51



 

14.8         Additional security

 

This guarantee is in addition to and is not in any way prejudiced by any other security now or hereafter held by any Finance Party.

 

14.9         Removal of Guarantors

 

(a)            Any Guarantor (other than, Vodafone (subject to paragraph (b) below) and, following the Reorganisation Date, NewTopco and any Intermediate Holding Company (subject to paragraph (c) below) of Vodafone) which is not a Borrower, may, at the request of Vodafone and if no Default is continuing, cease to be a Guarantor by entering into a supplemental agreement to this Agreement at the cost of Vodafone in such form as the Agent may reasonably require which shall discharge that Guarantor’s obligations as a Guarantor under this Agreement.

 

(b)            If on the Reorganisation Date, NewTopco or any Intermediate Holding Company have acceded as Guarantors in accordance with Clause 26.7 ( Additional Guarantors ) and no Default is continuing or would result from Vodafone’s resignation as a Guarantor, Vodafone may cease to be a Guarantor with effect from the Reorganisation Date by entering into a supplemental agreement to this Agreement at the cost of Vodafone or NewTopco in such form as the Agent may reasonably require which shall discharge Vodafone’s obligations as a Guarantor under this Agreement.

 

(c)            If NewTopco has acceded as a Guarantor in accordance with Clause 26.7 ( Additional Guarantors ) and no Default is continuing or would result from Intermediate Holding Company’s resignation as a Guarantor, Intermediate Holding Company may cease to be a Guarantor by entering into a supplemental agreement to this Agreement at the cost of Vodafone or NewTopco in such form as the Agent may reasonably require which shall discharge Intermediate Holding Company’s obligation as a Guarantor under this Agreement.

 

(d)            Any Party retiring as a Guarantor in accordance with paragraphs (a), (b) or (c) above (a “ Retiring Guaranto r”) for the purpose of any sale or other disposal of that Retiring Guarantor then on the date such Retiring Guarantor ceases to be a Guarantor:

 

(i)             that Retiring Guarantor is released by each other Guarantor from any liability (whether past, present or future and whether actual or contingent) to make a contribution to any other Guarantor arising by reason of the performance by any other Guarantor of its obligations under the Finance Documents; and

 

(ii)            each other Guarantor waives any rights it may have by reason of the performance of its obligations under the Finance Documents to take the benefit (in whole or in part and whether by way of subrogation or otherwise) of any rights of the Finance Parties under any Finance Document or of any other security taken pursuant to, or in connection with, any Finance Document where

 

52



 

such rights or security are granted by or in relation to the assets of the Retiring Guarantor.

 

14.10       Limitation on guarantee of U.S. Guarantors

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Clause 14, the obligations of each Guarantor incorporated in the United States (other than NewTopco and any Intermediate Holding Company, to the extent incorporated in the United States) (a “ U.S. Guarantor ”) under this Clause 14 shall be limited to a maximum aggregate amount equal to the largest amount that would not render its obligations hereunder subject to avoidance as a fraudulent transfer or conveyance under Section 548 of Title 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code or any applicable provisions of comparable state law (collectively, the “ Fraudulent Transfer Laws ”), in each case after giving effect to all other liabilities of such U.S. Guarantor, contingent or otherwise, that are relevant under the Fraudulent Transfer Laws (specifically excluding, however, any liabilities of such U.S. Guarantor in respect of intercompany indebtedness to the Borrowers or Affiliates of the Borrowers to the extent that such indebtedness would be discharged in an amount equal to the amount paid by such U.S. Guarantor hereunder) and after giving effect as assets to the value (as determined under the applicable provisions of the Fraudulent Transfer Laws) of any rights to subrogation, contribution, reimbursement, indemnity or similar rights of such U.S. Guarantor pursuant to (a) applicable law or (b) any agreement providing for an equitable allocation among such U.S. Guarantor and other Affiliates of the Borrowers of obligations arising under guarantees by such parties.

 

15.           REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

15.1         Representations and warranties

 

Each Obligor makes the representations and warranties set out in this Clause 15 to each Finance Party (in respect of itself and where relevant its Controlled Subsidiaries only).

 

15.2         Status

 

(a)            It is a duly incorporated and validly existing corporation under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation.

 

(b)            Except to the extent specified in the applicable Borrower Accession Agreement or Guarantor Accession Agreement, each Obligor is classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

15.3         Powers and authority

 

It has the power to:

 

(a)            enter into and comply with, all obligations expressed on its part under the Finance Documents;

 

(b)            (in the case of a Borrower) to borrow under this Agreement; and

 

(c)            (in the case of a Guarantor) to give the guarantee in Clause 14 ( Guarantee ),

 

53



 

and has taken all necessary actions to authorise the execution, delivery and performance of the Finance Documents.

 

15.4         Non-violation

 

The execution, delivery and performance of the Finance Documents will not violate:

 

(a)            any provisions of any existing law or regulation or statute applicable to it; or

 

(b)            to any material extent, any provisions of any mortgage, contract or other undertaking to which it or any of its Controlled Subsidiaries which is a member of the Restricted Group is a party or which is binding upon it or any of its Controlled Subsidiaries which is a member of the Restricted Group, the consequences of which would have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Obligors (taken as a whole) to perform their material obligations under the Finance Documents.

 

15.5         Borrowing limits

 

Borrowings under this Agreement up to and including the maximum amount available under this Agreement, together with borrowings under the 2019 Facility and the 2020 Facility up to and including the maximum amount available under the 2019 Facility and the 2020 Facility, will not cause any limit (except to the extent the limit has been waived) on borrowings or, as the case may be, on the giving of guarantees (whether imposed in its Articles of Association or otherwise), or on the powers of its board of directors, applicable to it to be exceeded.

 

15.6         Authorisations

 

All necessary consents or authorisations of any governmental authority or agency required by it in connection with the execution, validity, performance or enforceability of the Finance Documents have been obtained and are validly existing.

 

15.7         No default

 

Neither it nor any of its Controlled Subsidiaries which is a member of the Restricted Group is in default under any law or agreement by which it is bound the consequences of which would have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Obligors (taken as a whole) to perform their payment obligations under the Finance Documents.

 

15.8         Accounts

 

The audited consolidated financial statements of Vodafone (or, following a Hive Up, NewTopco) most recently delivered to the Agent (which, at the date of this Agreement are the audited consolidated accounts of Vodafone for the year ended 31 March 2015):

 

(a)            give a true and fair view of the consolidated financial position of Vodafone (or, following a Hive Up, NewTopco) as at the date to which they were drawn up; and

 

54



 

(b)            have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied by Vodafone (or, following a Hive Up, NewTopco) at such time, consistently applied except for changes disclosed in such financial statements which are necessary to reflect a change in generally accepted accounting principles or the adoption of international finance reporting standards.

 

15.9         No Event of Default

 

No Event of Default has occurred and is continuing in respect of it or any of its Subsidiaries which is a member of the Restricted Group.

 

15.10       Investment Company

 

Each Borrower which is a U.S. Obligor either (i) is not an investment company as defined under United States Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or (ii) is exempt from the registration provisions of the Act pursuant to an exemption under that Act.

 

15.11       ERISA

 

(a)            Each member of the Controlled USA Group has fulfilled its obligations under the minimum funding standards of ERISA and the Code with respect to each Plan maintained by such member or any member of the Controlled USA Group where non-fulfilment of such obligations would have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Obligors (taken as a whole) to perform their payment obligations under the Finance Documents.

 

(b)            Each Obligor is in compliance with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and any other applicable United States Federal or State law with respect to each Plan maintained by such Obligor where non-fulfilment of or non-compliance with such provisions would have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Obligors (taken as a whole) to perform their payment obligations under the Finance Documents.

 

(c)            No Reportable Event has occurred with respect to any Plan maintained by an Obligor or any member of the Controlled USA Group and no steps have been taken to reorganise or terminate any Single Employer Plan or by that Obligor to effect a complete or partial withdrawal from any Multi-employer Plan where non-compliance or such Reportable Event, reorganisation, termination or withdrawal would have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Obligors (taken as a whole) to perform their payment obligations under the Finance Documents.

 

(d)            No member of the Controlled USA Group has:

 

(i)             sought a waiver of the minimum funding standard under Section 412 of the Code in respect of any Plan; or

 

(ii)            failed to make any contribution or payment to any Single Employer Plan or Multi- employer Plan, or made any amendment to any Plan, and no other event,

 

55



 

transaction or condition has occurred which has resulted or would result in the imposition of a lien or the posting of a bond or other security under ERISA or the Code; or

 

(iii)          incurred any material, actual liability under Title I or Title IV of ERISA other than a liability to the PBGC for premiums under Section 4007 of ERISA,

 

if such seeking, failure or incurrence would have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Obligors (taken as a whole) to perform their payment obligations under the Finance Documents.

 

15.12       Anti-Terrorism Laws

 

In this Clause 15.12,

 

Anti-Terrorism Law ” means each of:

 

(a)            Executive Order No. 13224 on Terrorist Financing: Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten To Commit, or Support Terrorism issued September 23, 2001, as amended by Order 13268 (as so amended, the “ Executive Order ”);

 

(b)            the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, Public Law 107-56 (commonly known as the USA Patriot Act) (the “ USA Patriot Act ”);

 

(c)            the Money Laundering Control Act of 1986, 18 U.S.C. sect. 1956; and

 

(d)            any similar law enacted in the United States subsequent to the date of this Agreement.

 

Restricted Party ” means any person listed:

 

(a)            in the Annex to the Executive Order;

 

(b)            on the “Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons” list maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury; or

 

(c)            in any successor list to either of the foregoing.

 

(d)            No U.S. Obligor or any of its Subsidiaries:

 

(i)             is, or is controlled by, a Restricted Party;

 

(ii)            to the best of its knowledge, has received funds or other property from a Restricted Party; or

 

(iii)           to the best of its knowledge, is in breach of or is the subject of any action or investigation under any Anti-Terrorism Law.

 

(e)            Each U.S. Obligor and each of its Subsidiaries have taken reasonable measures to ensure compliance with the Anti-Terrorism Laws.

 

56



 

15.13       Sanctions

 

To the best of its and its Subsidiaries’ knowledge, neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor, to the best of its knowledge, any director, officer, agent or, in respect of Vodafone as at the Signing Date only and in the case of an Obligor which becomes a Party after the Signing Date, the date on which it executes a Borrower Accession Agreement or Guarantor Accession Agreement only, any employee or affiliate of it or any of its Subsidiaries are currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“ OFAC ”) or any equivalent sanctions administered or enforced by the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs or other relevant sanctions authority.

 

15.14       Times for making representations and warranties

 

(a)            The representations and warranties set out in this Clause 15 (excluding Clause 15.10 ( Investment Company ) to Clause 15.12 ( Anti-Terrorism Laws ) (inclusive)):

 

(i)             are made by Vodafone on the Signing Date and, in the case of an Obligor which becomes a Party after the Signing Date, will be deemed to be made by that Obligor on the date it executes a Borrower Accession Agreement or Guarantor Accession Agreement; and

 

(ii)            are deemed to be made again by each Obligor on the date of each Request and on each Drawdown Date with reference to the facts and circumstances then existing (except to the extent specified to the contrary in Clause 15.13 ( Sanctions ))

 

(b)            The representation and warranties set out in Clauses 15.10 ( Investment Company ), 15.11 ( ERISA ) and 15.12 ( Anti-Terrorism Laws ):

 

(i)            are made by Vodafone on the date on which the first U.S. Obligor executes a Borrower Accession Agreement or a Guarantor Accession Agreement as the case may be;

 

(ii)           are deemed to be made by each Obligor which becomes a party after the Signing Date on the date it executes a Borrower Accession Agreement or Guarantor Accession Agreement, provided that there is a U.S. Obligor;

 

(iii)          are deemed to be made again by each Obligor on the date of each Request and on each Drawdown Date with reference to the facts and circumstances then existing, provided that there is a U.S. Obligor.

 

57



 

16.                                UNDERTAKINGS

 

16.1                         Duration

 

The undertakings in this Clause 16 will remain in force from the Signing Date for so long as any amount is or may be outstanding under this Agreement or any Commitment is in force.

 

16.2                         Financial information

 

Vodafone shall supply to the Agent:

 

(a)                                  as soon as the same are publicly available (and in any event within 180 days of the end of each of its financial years):

 

(i)                                   the audited consolidated financial statements of the Consolidated Group for that financial year; and

 

(ii)                                (if published) each other Obligor’s audited statutory accounts for that financial year, consolidated if that Obligor has Subsidiaries and consolidated accounts are prepared and published;

 

(b)                                  as soon as the same are publicly available (and in any event within 90 days of the end of the first half-year of each of its financial years) the interim unaudited financial statements of the Consolidated Group for that half-year;

 

(c)                                   within 20 days of the day on which the accounts referred to in paragraph (a)(i) above or (b) above are posted on Vodafone’s website in accordance with paragraph (e) below (provided that it shall not be a Default under this Clause 16.2 unless Vodafone fails to so supply within 10 days of written request by the Agent (on its own accord or at the request of a Lender) made at any time following the date of such posting) a certificate signed by a Vodafone authorised officer (or following a Hive Up, a NewTopco authorised officer), or in their absence any director of Vodafone or NewTopco, as the case may be, establishing (in reasonable detail) compliance with Clauses 16.8 ( Priority borrowing ) and 17 ( Financial covenant ) as at the date to which those accounts were drawn up and identifying the Principal Subsidiaries and the operating Subsidiaries which are Controlled Subsidiaries; and

 

(d)                                  if, after the date of the most recent certificate delivered pursuant to paragraph (c) above and prior to the date that the next certificate is required to be delivered, a Principal Subsidiary ceases to be Principal Subsidiary as a result of (A) a sale or transfer to or a merger into or with an entity which is not a member of the Restricted Group or (B) the acquisition of a new Principal Subsidiary, a certificate signed by a Vodafone authorised officer (or following a Hive Up, a NewTopco authorised officer), or in their absence any director of Vodafone or

 

58



 

NewTopco, as the case may be, which identifies the Principal Subsidiary which has ceased to be a Principal Subsidiary and the new Principal Subsidiary.

 

(e)                                   Reports required to be delivered pursuant to paragraphs (a)(i) and (b) above for Vodafone shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date on which Vodafone posts such reports to its website on the Internet at the website address listed for Vodafone in Clause 32.2(d) ( Addresses for notices ) or another relevant website to which the Agent and the Lenders have access and such posting shall be deemed to satisfy the reporting requirements of paragraphs (a)(i) and (a)(ii) above. The Borrower shall provide paper copies of the deliverables required by paragraphs (c) above and (d) above to the Agent (in sufficient copies for all the Lenders if the Agent so requests).

 

16.3                         Information — miscellaneous

 

Vodafone shall supply to the Agent:

 

(a)                                  all documents despatched by the ultimate Holding Company of the Controlled Group to its shareholders (or any class of them) or by Vodafone or such ultimate Holding Company to the creditors of the Controlled Group generally (or any class of them) at the same time as they are despatched; and

 

(b)                                  as soon as reasonably practicable, such further publicly available information (including that required to comply with “know your customer” or similar identification procedures) in the possession or control of any member of the Controlled Group regarding the business, financial or corporate affairs of the Controlled Group, as the Agent may reasonably request.

 

16.4                         Notification of Default

 

Vodafone shall notify the Agent of any Default (and the steps, if any, being taken to remedy it) promptly upon becoming aware of it.

 

16.5                         Authorisations

 

Each Obligor shall promptly:

 

(a)                                  obtain, maintain and comply in all material respects with the terms of; and

 

(b)                                  if requested, supply certified copies to the Agent of,

 

any authorisation required under any law or regulation to enable it to perform its obligations under, or for the validity or enforceability of, any Finance Document.

 

16.6                         Pari passu ranking

 

Each Obligor will procure that its obligations under the Finance Documents do and will rank at least pari passu with all its other present and future unsecured and unsubordinated obligations (save for those obligations mandatorily preferred by applicable law).

 

59



 

16.7                         Negative pledge

 

No Obligor will, and each Obligor will procure that none of its Subsidiaries which is a member of the Restricted Group will, create or permit to subsist any Security Interest on or over any of its assets except for any Permitted Security Interest.

 

16.8                         Priority borrowing

 

Each Obligor will procure that none of its Subsidiaries (which is a member of the Restricted Group and which is not a Guarantor) will create, assume, incur, guarantee, permit to subsist or otherwise be liable in respect of any Financial Indebtedness owed to persons outside the Restricted Group except for:

 

(a)                                  Financial Indebtedness of any Subsidiary which became a member of the Restricted Group after 1 February 2015 (unless it became a member of the Restricted Group due to the expansion of the definition of Core Jurisdiction to include members of the European Union after 1 February 2015) provided that:

 

(i)                                      any such Financial Indebtedness is either (A) outstanding before that Subsidiary becomes a member of the Restricted Group and was not created in contemplation of that Subsidiary becoming a member of the Restricted Group and/or (B) drawn at any time under commitments in existence before that Subsidiary becomes a member of the Restricted Group (“ Existing Commitment ”) and that commitment was not created in contemplation of that Subsidiary becoming a member of the Restricted Group and/or (C) drawn at any time under commitments (“ New Commitments ”) which have refinanced Existing Commitments in whole or in part, to the extent that any such New Commitments do not exceed the Existing Commitments, and provided that to the extent that any New Commitment is to be guaranteed by an Obligor, the obligors under the New Commitments will have validly and legally acceded as Additional Guarantors in accordance with Clauses 26.7(a) and 26.7(b)( Additional Guarantors )) prior to any Obligor providing a guarantee of the New Commitments; and

 

(ii)                                   to the extent that the aggregate principal amount of such Financial Indebtedness exceeds the amounts calculated under paragraph (i) above upon that Subsidiary becoming a member of the Restricted Group (measured in the same currency), the excess amount of such Financial Indebtedness shall not fall within this paragraph (a); or

 

(b)                                  Financial Indebtedness under finance or structured tax lease arrangements (including, but not limited to qualifying technological equipment leases) to the extent matched as part of those arrangements by deposits of cash or cash

 

60



 

equivalent investments (including, but not limited to securities issued by G7 governments) or other securities rated at least A by S&P or A2 by Moody’s or A by Fitch which are treated by the creditor concerned as available to reduce its net exposure; or

 

(c)                                   Financial Indebtedness which is created with the prior written consent of the Majority Lenders; or

 

(d)                                  Financial Indebtedness to the extent matched by cash balances or cash equivalent investments (including, but not limited to securities issued by G7 governments) or other securities rated at least A by S&P or A2 by Moody’s or A by Fitch, held by members of the Restricted Group which are treated as available for netting by the creditors to whom that Financial Indebtedness is owed under cash management or netting arrangements in the ordinary course of business; or

 

(e)                                   Financial Indebtedness under any finance lease or structured tax lease arrangements (including, but not limited to qualifying technological equipment leases) entered into in respect of assets which were or are acquired or become part of the Restricted Group after 1 March 2015; or

 

(f)                                    Financial Indebtedness under or in connection with any other finance lease entered into in respect of existing assets or future assets (to the extent they are subject to Security Interests contemplated under paragraph (j) of the definition of “ Permitted Security Interest ”); or

 

(g)                                   Financial Indebtedness under Back to Back Loans; or

 

(h)                                  Financial Indebtedness of any member of the Controlled Group which operates as a finance company to the extent that any such Financial Indebtedness is on-lent to an Obligor or to a member of the Controlled Group outside the Restricted Group; or

 

(i)                                      Financial Indebtedness that has been defeased to the extent that it is subject to Security Interests contemplated under paragraph (u) of the definition of “ Permitted Security Interest ”; or

 

(j)                                     Financial Indebtedness incurred solely in contemplation of an initial public offering or other disposal of the companies or partnerships incurring such Financial Indebtedness, to the extent that (i) the aggregate principal amount of such Financial Indebtedness does not exceed U.S.$5,000,000,000 (or its equivalent in other currencies) whilst such Financial Indebtedness is owed by a member of the Restricted Group; and (ii) the creditors in respect of such Financial Indebtedness have recourse for no more than ninety days to any

 

61



 

member of the Controlled Group which is or whose assets are not intended to be subject to the initial public offering or disposal; or

 

(k)                                  Project Finance Indebtedness; or

 

(l)                                      Financial Indebtedness owed to persons outside the Restricted Group under guarantees or other legally binding assurances against financial loss granted by Vodafone Deutschland GmbH or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of any asset, undertaking or business not forming part of the mobile or wireless telecommunications business of the Restricted Group; or

 

(m)                              Financial Indebtedness under this Agreement; or

 

(n)                                  other Financial Indebtedness to the extent that the sum of:

 

(i)                                      the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Financial Indebtedness of all the members of the Restricted Group which are not Guarantors and owed to persons outside the Restricted Group (other than Financial Indebtedness under paragraphs (a) to (m) above inclusive); plus

 

(ii)                                   the aggregate unpaid principal amount of Financial Indebtedness secured by Security Interests referred to in paragraph (w) of the definition of “ Permitted Security Interest ” (to the extent not falling within paragraph (i) above),

 

does not exceed €3,500,000,000 or its equivalent in other currencies.

 

Compliance with this Clause 16.8 will be tested on the last day of each financial half year. For the purposes of paragraph (n) above, Financial Indebtedness of the Restricted Group not denominated in (or which has not been swapped into) Sterling shall be notionally converted (from the currency in which it is denominated or, as the case may be, into which it has been swapped) to Sterling at the rate of exchange used in the management accounts of the relevant Obligor for that relevant financial quarter.

 

16.9                         Disposals

 

No Obligor will, and each Obligor will procure that none of its Subsidiaries which is a member of the Restricted Group will, either in a single transaction or in a series of transactions, whether related or not and whether voluntarily or involuntarily, make any Asset Disposals other than:

 

(a)                                  Asset Disposals:

 

(i)                                      on arm’s length terms which are, in the opinion of an Obligor, at fair market value; or

 

(ii)                                   required by law or any governmental authority or agency (including without limitation any authority or agency of the European Union); or

 

62



 

(iii)                                made in good faith for the purpose of carrying on the business of the Controlled Group which it is reasonable to believe will benefit the Controlled Group; and

 

(b)                                  a transfer of all or any part of the assets of the Controlled Group to NewTopco and/or any Intermediate Holding Company of Vodafone.

 

16.10                  Restriction on Acquisitions

 

Vodafone will not, and will procure that no member of the Controlled Group will, make any Acquisition unless the major part of the Controlled Group’s business remains telecommunications, data communications and associated businesses.

 

16.11                  Margin Stock

 

(a)                                  In this Clause 16.11,

 

Margin Regulations ” means Regulations T, U and X issued by the Board of Governors of the United States Federal Reserve System.

 

Margin Stock ” means “margin stock” or “margin securities” as defined in the Margin Regulations.

 

(b)                                  No Obligor may:

 

(i)                                      extend credit for the purpose, directly or indirectly, of buying or carrying Margin Stock; or

 

(ii)                                   use any Advance, directly or indirectly, to buy or carry Margin Stock or for any other purpose in violation of the Margin Regulations.

 

16.12                  Sanctions

 

Each Obligor shall ensure, to the best of its ability, that the proceeds of Advances will not, directly or indirectly, be lent to any person or entity (whether or not related to Vodafone) for the purpose of financing the activities of any person or for the benefit of any country currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC or any equivalent sanctions administered or enforced by the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs or other relevant sanctions authority.

 

17.                                FINANCIAL COVENANT

 

17.1                         Financial ratio

 

Vodafone will procure that for each Ratio Period the ratio of Net Debt of the Consolidated Group to two times Adjusted Group Operating Cash Flow for such Ratio Period will not exceed 3.75:1.

 

63



 

17.2                         Calculation times and periods

 

(a)                                  The first test date for the financial ratio specified in Clause 17.1 ( Financial ratio ) will occur on 30 September 2015.

 

(b)                                  Each subsequent test date will be on the last day of each financial half year and year of Vodafone or, following a Hive Up, NewTopco. The financial ratio will be calculated using data for the period (each a “ Ratio Period ”) ending on each test date and beginning 6 months before the relevant test date.

 

17.3                         Information sources

 

(a)                                  Subject to adjustments that may be required by the operation of definitions in Clause 17.1 ( Financial ratio ), all information for calculation of the financial ratios set out in Clause 17.1 ( Financial ratio ) and Clause 18.5 ( Cross default ) will be extracted from figures denominated in the base currency (as defined in paragraph (c) below used in the preparation of and extracted from:

 

(i)                                      the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements of Vodafone, or following a Hive Up, NewTopco;

 

(ii)                                   the consolidated annual financial statements of Vodafone, or following a Hive Up, NewTopco; or

 

(iii)                                Vodafone’s, or following a Hive Up, NewTopco’s consolidated management accounts,

 

as the case may be, which in respect of paragraphs (i) and (ii) above were delivered to the Agent under Clause 16.2(a) and 16.2(b) ( Financial information ).

 

(b)                                  Information from Vodafone’s, or following a Hive Up, NewTopco’s consolidated management accounts will be disclosed only when the relevant interim or annual financial statements and compliance certificates are delivered to the Agent or as required in connection with Clause 18.5(a)(ii) ( Cross default ).

 

(c)                                   Any amount outstanding in a currency other than the currency used in the latest consolidated published financial statements (the “ base currency ”) is to be taken into account at the base currency equivalent of that amount calculated at the rate used in the latest consolidated financial statements delivered to the Agent under Clause 16.2 ( Financial information ) or the latest consolidated management accounts, as appropriate.

 

17.4                         Know Your Customer

 

Each Lender shall promptly upon the request of the Agent supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Agent (for itself) in order for the Agent to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with all necessary “ know your

 

64



 

customer ” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents.

 

18.                                DEFAULT

 

18.1                         Events of Default

 

Each of the events set out in Clauses 18.2 ( Non-payment ) to 18.15 ( United States Bankruptcy Laws ) (inclusive) is an Event of Default (whether or not caused by any reason whatsoever outside the control of any Obligor or any other person).

 

18.2                         Non-payment

 

An Obligor does not pay within four Business Days (the “ Initial Grace Period ”) of the due date any amount payable by it under the Finance Documents at the place at, and in the currency in, which it is expressed to be payable unless its failure to pay is caused by:

 

(a)                                  administrative or technical error and payment is made within a further two Business Days after the expiry of the Initial Grace Period; or

 

(b)                                  a Disruption Event and payment is made within a further four Business Days after the expiry of the Initial Grace Period;

 

18.3                         Breach of other obligations

 

(a)                                  Vodafone does not comply with Clause 17 ( Financial Covenant ).

 

(b)                                  An Obligor does not comply with any provision of the Finance Documents (other than those referred to in paragraph (a) above or in Clause 18.2 ( Non-payment )) and such failure (if capable of remedy before the expiry of such period) continues unremedied for a period of 21 days from the earlier of the date on which (i) such Obligor has become aware of the failure to comply or (ii) the Agent gives notice to Vodafone requiring the same to be remedied.

 

18.4                         Misrepresentation

 

A representation or warranty made or repeated by any Obligor in any Finance Document is found to be untrue in any respect material in the context of performance of the Finance Documents when made or deemed to have been made.

 

18.5                         Cross default

 

(a)

 

(i)                                      Any Financial Indebtedness of any Obligor is:

 

(A)                                not paid when due or within any originally applicable grace period; or

 

(B)                                declared due, or is capable of being declared due, prior to its specified maturity as a result of an event of default (howsoever described) except this paragraph (a)(i) does not apply to:

 

65



 

(I)                                    Financial Indebtedness quoted or listed on a stock exchange; or

 

(II)                               Financial Indebtedness of an Obligor arising solely under paragraph (f) of the definition of “ Financial Indebtedness ” in Clause 1.1 ( Definitions ); or

 

(ii)                                   any Financial Indebtedness of any Principal Subsidiary is:

 

(A)                                not paid when due or within any originally applicable grace period; or

 

(B)                                declared due prior to its specified maturity as a result of an event of default (howsoever described) and is not paid within three Business Days of being declared due,

 

except this paragraph (a)(i) only applies if the ratio calculated in accordance with Clause 17.1 ( Financial ratio ) for the most recent Ratio Period is greater than 3.25:1; or

 

(iii)                                an Event of Default has occurred under the 2019 Facility or the 2020 Facility and is continuing.

 

(b)                                  Paragraph (a) above does not apply:

 

(i)                                      to Project Finance Indebtedness; or

 

(ii)                                   to Financial Indebtedness which in aggregate is less than £100,000,000 (or equivalent currency); or

 

(iii)                                where the payment or occurrence of the event concerned is being contested in good faith; or

 

(iv)                               where the default is under a bond and is capable of waiver without bondholder consent; or

 

(v)                                  to Financial Indebtedness owed to a member of the Restricted Group.

 

18.6                         Winding up

 

An order is made or an effective resolution is passed for winding up any Obligor or any Principal Subsidiary (except for the purposes of a reconstruction or amalgamation on terms previously approved in writing by the Majority Lenders) or a petition is presented (which is not set aside or withdrawn within the earlier of 30 days of its presentation or by not later than the date for the hearing of such petition) for an administration order or for the winding up of any Obligor or any Principal Subsidiary except where demonstrated to the reasonable satisfaction of the Majority Lenders that any such petition is being contested in good faith.

 

18.7                         Insolvency process

 

(a)                                  A liquidator, administrator, receiver, trustee, sequestrator or similar officer is appointed in respect of all or any part of the assets of any Obligor or any Principal Subsidiary which generates a material part of the revenues of that Obligor or that Principal Subsidiary; or

 

66



 

(b)                                  any Obligor or any Principal Subsidiary, by reason of financial difficulties, enters into a composition, assignment or a moratorium in respect of any indebtedness or arrangement with any class of its creditors.

 

18.8                         Enforcement proceedings

 

A distress, execution, attachment or other legal process is levied, enforced or sued out upon or against all or any part of the assets of any Obligor or any Principal Subsidiary which generates a material part of the revenues of that Obligor or that Principal Subsidiary except where the same is being contested in good faith or is removed, discharged or paid within 30 days.

 

18.9                         Insolvency

 

Any Obligor or any Principal Subsidiary is deemed under Section 123(1)(e) or 123(2) of the Insolvency Act 1986 to be unable to pay its debts.

 

18.10                  Similar proceedings

 

Anything having a substantially similar effect to any of the events specified in Clauses 18.6 ( Winding up ) to 18.9 ( Insolvency ) inclusive shall occur under the laws of any applicable jurisdiction in relation to any Obligor or any Principal Subsidiary.

 

18.11                  Unlawfulness

 

It is or becomes unlawful for any Obligor to perform any of its payment or other material obligations under the Finance Documents.

 

18.12                  Guarantee

 

The guarantee of any Guarantor under Clause 14 ( Guarantee ) is not effective or is alleged by an Obligor to be ineffective for any reason (other than by reason of written release or waiver by the Finance Parties or in accordance with Clause 14.9 ( Removal of Guarantors )).

 

18.13                  Cessation of business

 

Any Obligor or any Principal Subsidiary ceases to carry on all or substantially all of its business otherwise than:

 

(a)                                  as a result of a transfer of all or any part of its business to a member of the Restricted Group or

 

(b)                                  as a result of a disposal permitted under Clause 16.9 ( Disposals ); or

 

(c)                                   with the prior written consent of the Majority Lenders.

 

18.14                  Litigation

 

Any litigation proceedings are current which are reasonably likely to be adversely determined and which would have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Obligors (taken as a whole) to perform their payment obligations under the Finance Documents.

 

67



 

18.15       United States Bankruptcy Laws

 

(a)            In this Clause 18.15 and Clause 18.16 ( Acceleration ):

 

U.S. Bankruptcy Law ” means the United States Bankruptcy Code or any other United States Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law.

 

U.S. Debtor ” means an Obligor that is incorporated or organized under the laws of the United States or any State of the United States (including the District of Columbia) or that has a place of business or property in the United States.

 

(b)            Any of the following occurs in respect of a U.S. Debtor:

 

(i)            it makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors;

 

(ii)           it commences a voluntary case or proceeding under any U.S. Bankruptcy Law; or

 

(iii)          an involuntary case under any U.S. Bankruptcy Law is commenced against it and is not controverted within 20 days or is not dismissed or stayed within 60 days after commencement of the case; or

 

(iv)          an order for relief or other order approving any case or proceeding is entered under any U.S. Bankruptcy Law.

 

18.16       Acceleration

 

(a)            On and at any time after the occurrence of an Event of Default while such event is continuing the Agent may, and if so directed by the Majority Lenders, will by notice to Vodafone, declare that an Event of Default has occurred and:

 

(i)            if not already cancelled under paragraph (b) below, cancel the Total Commitments; and/or

 

(ii)           demand that all the Advances, together with accrued interest, and all other amounts accrued under the Finance Documents be immediately due and payable, whereupon they shall become immediately due and payable; and/or

 

(iii)          demand that all the Advances be payable on demand, whereupon they shall immediately become payable on demand.

 

(b)            If an Event of Default described in Clause 18.15 ( United States Bankruptcy Laws ) occurs, the Commitments which are available to any U.S. Debtor will, if not already cancelled under this Agreement, be immediately and automatically cancelled and all amounts owed by any U.S. Debtor outstanding under the Finance Documents will be immediately and automatically due and payable, without the requirement of notice or any other formality.

 

68



 

19.           THE AGENT, THE ARRANGER AND THE REFERENCE BANKS

 

19.1         Appointment and duties of the Agent

 

Each Finance Party (other than the Agent) irrevocably appoints the Agent to act as its agent under and in connection with the Finance Documents and each Finance Party irrevocably authorises the Agent on its behalf to perform the duties and to exercise the rights, powers and discretions that are specifically delegated to it under or in connection with the Finance Documents, together with any other incidental rights, powers and discretions. The Agent shall have only those duties which are expressly specified in this Agreement. Those duties are solely of a mechanical and administrative nature.

 

19.2         Role of the Arranger

 

Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the Arranger has no obligations of any kind to any other Party under or in connection with any Finance Document.

 

19.3         Relationship

 

The relationship between the Agent and the other Finance Parties is that of agent and principal only. Nothing in this Agreement constitutes the Agent as trustee or fiduciary for any other Party or any other person and the Agent need not hold in trust any moneys paid to it for a Party or be liable to account for interest on those moneys.

 

19.4         Majority Lenders’ directions

 

(a)            The Agent will be fully protected if it acts in accordance with the instructions of the Majority Lenders in connection with the exercise of any right, power or discretion or any matter not expressly provided for in the Finance Documents. Any such instructions given by the Majority Lenders will be binding on all the Lenders. In the absence of such instructions the Agent may act as it considers to be in the best interests of all the Lenders.

 

(b)            The Agent is not authorised to act on behalf of a Lender (without first obtaining that Lender’s consent) in any legal or arbitration proceedings relating to any Finance Document.

 

19.5         Delegation

 

The Agent may act under the Finance Documents through its personnel and agents.

 

19.6         Responsibility for documentation

 

Neither the Agent nor the Arranger is responsible to any other Party for:

 

(a)            the execution, genuineness, validity, enforceability or sufficiency of any Finance Document or any other document by any other Party; or

 

(b)            the collectability of amounts payable under any Finance Document; or

 

69



 

(c)            the accuracy of any statements (whether written or oral) made in or in connection with any Finance Document by any other Party.

 

19.7         Default

 

(a)            The Agent is not obliged to monitor or enquire as to whether or not a Default has occurred. The Agent will not be deemed to have knowledge of the occurrence of a Default. However, if the Agent receives notice from a Party referring to this Agreement, describing the Default and stating that the event is a Default, it shall promptly notify the Lenders of such notice.

 

(b)            The Agent may require the receipt of security satisfactory to it whether by way of payment in advance or otherwise, against any liability or loss which it will or may incur in taking any proceedings or action arising out of or in connection with any Finance Document before it commences these proceedings or takes that action.

 

19.8         Exoneration

 

(a)            Without limiting paragraph (b) below, the Agent will not be liable to any other Party for any action taken or not taken by it under or in connection with any Finance Document, unless directly caused by its negligence or wilful misconduct or breach of any of its obligations under or in connection with the Finance Documents.

 

(b)            No Party may take any proceedings against any officer, employee or agent being an individual of the Agent in respect of any claim it might have against the Agent or in respect of any act or omission of any kind (including negligence or wilful misconduct) by that officer, employee or agent in relation to any Finance Document.

 

(c)            Any officer, employee or agent being an individual of the Agent may rely on paragraph (b) above and enforce its terms under the Contract (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.

 

(d)            Nothing in this Agreement shall oblige the Agent or the Arranger to carry out any “know your customer” or other checks in relation to any person on behalf of any Lender and each Lender confirms to the Agent and the Arranger that it is solely responsible for any such checks it is required to carry out and that it may not rely on any statement in relation to such checks made by the Agent or the Arranger.

 

19.9         Reliance

 

The Agent may:

 

(a)            rely on any notice or document reasonably believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed by, or with the authority of, the proper person;

 

(b)            rely on any statement made by a director or employee of any person regarding any matters which may reasonably be assumed to be within his knowledge or within his power to verify; and

 

70



 

(c)            engage, pay for and rely on legal or other professional advisers selected by it (including those in the Agent’s employment and those representing a Party other than the Agent).

 

19.10       Credit approval and appraisal

 

Without affecting the responsibility of any Obligor for information supplied by it or on its behalf in connection with any Finance Document, each Lender confirms that it:

 

(a)            has made its own independent investigation and assessment of the financial condition and affairs of each Obligor and its related entities in connection with its participation in this Agreement and has not relied exclusively on any information provided to it by the Agent or the Arranger in connection with any Finance Document; and

 

(b)            will continue to make its own independent appraisal of the creditworthiness of each Obligor and its related entities while any amount is or may be outstanding under the Finance Documents or any Commitment is in force.

 

19.11       Information

 

(a)            The Agent shall promptly forward to the person concerned the original or a copy of any document which is delivered to the Agent by a Party for that person.

 

(b)            The Agent shall promptly supply a Lender with a copy of each document received by the Agent under Clause 4 ( Conditions precedent ), 26.7 ( Additional Guarantors ) or 26.8 ( Additional Borrowers ) upon the request and at the expense of that Lender.

 

(c)            Except where this Agreement specifically provides otherwise, the Agent is not obliged to review or check the accuracy or completeness of any document it forwards to another Party.

 

(d)            The Agent shall provide to Vodafone within five Business Days of a request by Vodafone (but no more than once per calendar month), a list (which may be in electronic form) setting out the names of the Lenders as at the date of that request, their respective Commitments, the address and fax number (and the department or officer, if any, for whose attention any communication is to be made or document to be delivered under or in connection with the Finance Documents), the electronic mail address and/or any other information required to enable the sending and receipt of information by electronic mail or other electronic means to and by each Lender to whom any communication under or in connection with the Finance Documents may be made by that means and the account details of each Lender for any payment to be distributed by the Agent to that Lender under the Finance Documents.

 

(e)            Except as provided above, the Agent has no duty:

 

71



 

(i)            either initially or on a continuing basis to provide any Lender with any credit or other information concerning the financial condition or affairs of any Obligor or any related entity of any Obligor whether coming into its possession or that of any of its related entities before, on or after the Signing Date; or

 

(ii)           unless specifically requested to do so by a Lender in accordance with this Agreement, to request any certificates or other documents from any Obligor.

 

19.12       The Agent and the Arranger individually

 

(a)            If it is also a Lender, each of the Agent and the Arranger has the same rights and powers under this Agreement as any other Lender and may exercise those rights and powers as though it were not the Agent or the Arranger.

 

(b)            Each of the Agent and the Arranger may:

 

(i)            carry on any business with an Obligor or its related entities;

 

(ii)           act as agent or trustee for, or in relation to any financing involving, an Obligor or its related entities; and

 

(iii)          retain any profits or remuneration in connection with its activities under the Finance Documents, or in relation to any of the foregoing.

 

19.13       Indemnities

 

(a)            Without limiting the liability of any Obligor under the Finance Documents, each Lender shall forthwith on demand indemnify the Agent for its proportion of any liability or loss incurred by the Agent in any way relating to or arising out of its acting as the Agent, except to the extent that the liability or loss arises directly from the Agent’s negligence or wilful misconduct.

 

(b)            A Lender’s proportion of the liability or loss set out in paragraph (a) above is the proportion which its Commitment bears to the Total Commitments at the date of demand or, if the Total Commitments have been cancelled, bore to the Total Commitments immediately before being cancelled.

 

19.14       Compliance

 

(a)            The Agent may refrain from doing anything which might, in its reasonable opinion, constitute a breach of any law or regulation or be otherwise actionable at the suit of any person, and may do anything which, in its reasonable opinion, is necessary or desirable to comply with any law or regulation of any jurisdiction.

 

(b)            Without limiting paragraph (a) above, the Agent need not disclose any information relating to any Obligor or any of its related entities if the disclosure might, in the opinion

 

72



 

of the Agent, constitute a breach of any law or regulation or any duty of secrecy or confidentiality or be otherwise actionable at the suit of any person.

 

19.15       Resignation of the Agent

 

(a)            Notwithstanding its irrevocable appointment, the Agent may resign by giving notice to the Lenders and Vodafone, in which case the Agent may forthwith appoint one of its Affiliates as successor Agent or, failing that, the Majority Lenders may after consultation with Vodafone appoint a reputable and experienced bank as successor Agent.

 

(b)            If the appointment of a successor Agent is to be made by the Majority Lenders but they have not, within 30 days after notice of resignation, appointed a successor Agent which accepts the appointment, the retiring Agent following consultation with Vodafone may appoint a successor Agent.

 

(c)            The resignation of the retiring Agent and the appointment of any successor Agent will both become effective only upon the successor Agent notifying all the Parties that it accepts the appointment. On giving the notification and receiving such approval, the successor Agent will succeed to the position of the retiring Agent and the term “ Agent ” will mean the successor Agent.

 

(d)            The retiring Agent shall, at its own cost, make available to the successor Agent such documents and records and provide such assistance as the successor Agent may reasonably request for the purposes of performing its functions as the Agent under this Agreement.

 

(e)            Upon its resignation becoming effective, this Clause 19 shall continue to benefit the retiring Agent in respect of any action taken or not taken by it under or in connection with the Finance Documents while it was the Agent and, subject to paragraph (d) above, it shall have no further obligation under any Finance Document.

 

(f)             The Majority Lenders may by notice to the Agent, require it to resign in accordance with paragraph (a) above. In this event, the Agent shall resign in accordance with paragraph (a) above but it shall not be entitled to appoint one of its Affiliates as successor Agent.

 

(g)            Any successor Agent and each of the other Parties shall have the same rights and obligations amongst themselves as they would have had if such successor had been an original party to this Agreement.

 

(h)            The Agent shall resign in accordance with paragraph (a) above (and, to the extent applicable, shall use reasonable endeavours to appoint a successor Agent pursuant to paragraph (c) above) if on or after the date which is three months before the earliest FATCA Application Date relating to any payment to the Agent under the Finance Documents, either:

 

73



 

(i)            the Agent fails to respond to a request under Clause 10.7 ( FATCA Information ) and Vodafone or a Lender reasonably believes that the Agent will not be (or will have ceased to be) a FATCA Exempt Party on or after that FATCA Application Date;

 

(ii)           the information supplied by the Agent pursuant to Clause 10.7 ( FATCA Information ) indicates that the Agent will not be (or will have ceased to be) a FATCA Exempt Party on or after that FATCA Application Date; or

 

(iii)          the Agent notifies Vodafone and the Lenders that the Agent will not be (or will have ceased to be) a FATCA Exempt Party on or after that FATCA Application Date;

 

and (in each case) Vodafone or a Lender reasonably believes that a Party will be required to make a FATCA Deduction that would not be required if the Agent were a FATCA Exempt Party, and Vodafone or that Lender, by notice to the Agent requires it to resign.

 

19.16       Lenders

 

The Agent may treat each Lender as a Lender, entitled to payments under this Agreement and as acting through its Facility Office(s) until it has received notice from the Lender to the contrary by not less than five Business Days prior to the relevant payment.

 

19.17       Chinese wall

 

In acting as Agent or Arranger, the agency and syndications division of each of the Agent and the Arranger shall be treated as a separate entity from its other divisions and departments. Any information acquired at any time by the Agent or the Arranger otherwise than in the capacity of the Agent or the Arranger through its agency and syndications division (whether as financial advisor to any member of the Consolidated Group or otherwise) may be treated as confidential by the Agent or the Arranger and shall not be deemed to be information possessed by the Agent or the Arranger in their capacity as such. Each Finance Party acknowledges that the Agent and the Arranger may, now or in the future, be in possession of, or provided with, information relating to the Obligors which has not or will not be provided to the other Finance Parties. Each Finance Party agrees that, except as expressly provided in this Agreement, neither the Agent nor the Arranger will be under any obligation to provide, or under any liability for failure to provide, any such information to the other Finance Parties.

 

19.18       Role of Reference Banks

 

(a)            No Reference Bank is under any obligation to provide a quotation or any other information to the Agent.

 

(b)            No Reference Bank will be liable for any action taken by it under or in connection with any Finance Document, or for any Reference Bank Quotation, unless directly caused by its gross negligence or wilful misconduct.

 

74



 

(c)            No Party (other than the relevant Reference Bank) may take any proceedings against any officer, employee or agent of any Reference Bank in respect of any claim it might have against that Reference Bank or in respect of any act or omission of any kind by that officer, employee or agent in relation to any Finance Document, or to any Reference Bank Quotation, and any officer, employee or agent of each Reference Bank may rely on this Clause 19.18 subject to Clause 1.2 ( Construction ) and the provisions of the Third Parties Act.

 

19.19       Third party Reference Banks

 

A Reference Bank which is not a Party may rely on Clause 19.18 ( Role of Reference Banks ), Clause 25.2 ( Other exceptions ) and Clause 27.3 ( Confidentiality of Funding Rates and Reference Bank Quotations ) subject to Clause 1.2 ( Construction ) and the provisions of the Third Parties Act.

 

20.           FEES

 

20.1         Commitment fee

 

(a)            Vodafone shall pay to the Agent for distribution to each Lender pro rata to the proportion its Commitment bears to the Total Commitments from time to time a commitment fee at the rate of 0 per cent. per annum of any undrawn, uncancelled amount of the Total Commitments on each day.

 

(b)            Commitment fee is calculated and accrues on a daily basis on and from the Signing Date and is payable quarterly in arrears. Accrued and unpaid commitment fee is also payable to the Agent for the relevant Lender(s) on any amount of its Commitment which is cancelled voluntarily by the Borrower at the time the cancellation takes effect (but only in respect of the period up to the date of cancellation).

 

(c)            No commitment fee is payable to the Agent (for the account of a Lender) on any Available Commitment of that Lender for any day on which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender.

 

20.2         Front-end fees

 

Vodafone shall pay to the Original Lender a front-end fee in the amount and on the date specified in the relevant Fee Letter.

 

20.3         VAT

 

Any fee referred to in this Clause 20 is exclusive of any United Kingdom value added tax. If any value added tax is so chargeable, it shall be paid by Vodafone at the same time as it pays the relevant fee.

 

75



 

21.           EXPENSES

 

21.1         Initial and special costs

 

Vodafone shall forthwith on demand pay the Agent and the Arranger the amount of all out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including but not limited to legal fees up to an amount agreed, in the case of (a)(i) below, with the Arranger) reasonably incurred by any of them in connection with:

 

(a)            the negotiation, preparation, printing and execution of:

 

(i)             this Agreement and any other documents referred to in this Agreement; and

 

(ii)            any other Finance Document (other than a Novation Certificate) executed after the Signing Date;

 

(b)            any amendment, waiver, consent or suspension of rights (or any proposal for any of the foregoing) requested by or on behalf of an Obligor and relating to a Finance Document or a document referred to in any Finance Document or any amendment to this Agreement to reflect a change in currency of a country pursuant to Clause 9.4(b)(iii) ( Currency ); and

 

(c)            any other agency matter not of an ordinary administrative nature, arising out of or in connection with a Finance Document in the amount agreed between the Agent and Vodafone at the relevant time.

 

21.2         Enforcement costs

 

Vodafone shall within five Business Days of receiving written demand pay to each Finance Party the amount of all costs and expenses (including but not limited to legal fees) incurred (or in the case of (b) below reasonably incurred) by it:

 

(a)            in connection with the enforcement of any Finance Document; or

 

(b)            in connection with the preservation of any rights under any Finance Document.

 

22.           STAMP DUTIES

 

Vodafone shall pay and within five Business Days of receiving written demand indemnify each Finance Party against any liability it incurs in respect of any stamp, registration or similar tax which is or becomes payable in any jurisdiction in or through which any payment under the Finance Documents is made or any Obligor is incorporated or has any assets in connection with the entry into, performance or enforcement of any Finance Document.

 

23.           INDEMNITIES

 

23.1         Currency indemnity

 

(a)            If a Finance Party receives an amount in respect of an Obligor’s liability under the Finance Documents or if that liability is converted into a claim, proof, judgment or order

 

76



 

in a currency other than the currency (the “ Contractual Currency ”) in which the amount is expressed to be payable under the relevant Finance Document:

 

(i)             that Obligor shall indemnify that Finance Party as an independent obligation against any loss or liability arising out of or as a result of the conversion;

 

(ii)            if the amount received by that Finance Party, when converted into the Contractual Currency at a market rate in the usual course of its business, is less than the amount owed in the Contractual Currency, the Obligor concerned shall forthwith on demand pay to that Finance Party an amount in the Contractual Currency equal to the deficit (provided that if the amount received by the Finance Party following such conversion is greater than the amount owed, the Finance Party shall pay to such Obligor an amount equal to the excess); and

 

(iii)           the Obligor shall pay to the Finance Party concerned on demand any exchange costs and taxes payable in connection with any such conversion.

 

(b)            Each Obligor waives any right it may have in any jurisdiction to pay any amount under the Finance Documents in a currency other than that in which it is expressed to be payable.

 

23.2         Other indemnities

 

Vodafone shall forthwith on demand indemnify each Finance Party against any loss or liability which that Finance Party incurs as a consequence of:

 

(a)            the occurrence of any Default; or

 

(b)            the operation of Clause 18.16 ( Acceleration ); or

 

(c)            any payment of principal or an Overdue Amount being received from any source otherwise than in the case of an Advance on its Maturity Date (and, for the purposes of this paragraph (c), the Maturity Date of an Overdue Amount is the last day of each Designated Term); or

 

(d)            a Default or an action or omission by an Obligor resulting in an Advance not being disbursed after a Borrower has delivered a Request for that Advance.

 

Vodafone’s liability in each case includes any loss or expense, (excluding loss of Margin) in respect or on account of funds borrowed, contracted for or utilised to fund any amount payable under any Finance Document, any amount repaid or prepaid or any Advance.

 

23.3         Breakage costs

 

If a Finance Party receives or recovers any payment of principal of an Advance or of an Overdue Amount other than on its Maturity Date or, as the case may be, the last day of the Designated Term for the purposes of calculation of the amount payable by Vodafone under Clause 23.2(c) ( Other indemnities ) in respect of the amount so received or recovered, that Finance Party shall calculate:

 

77



 

(a)            the additional interest (excluding the Margin) which would have been payable on the principal so received or recovered had it been received or recovered on the relevant Maturity Date or, as the case may be, the last day of the Designated Term; and

 

(b)            the amount of interest which would have been payable to that Finance Party on the relevant Maturity Date or, as the case may be, the last day of the Designated Term concerned in respect of a deposit by that Finance Party in the currency of the amount received or recovered placed with a prime bank in London earning interest from (and including) the earliest Business Day for placing deposits in such currency following receipt of that amount up to (but excluding) the relevant Maturity Date or, as the case may be, the last day of the applicable Designated Term,

 

and if the amount payable under paragraph (a) above is greater than the amount payable under paragraph (b) above, Vodafone will, forthwith on receipt of a demand from the relevant Finance Party pursuant to Clause 23.2(c) ( Other indemnities ), pay to that Finance Party an amount equal to the difference between the amount payable under paragraphs (a) and (b) above.

 

24.           EVIDENCE AND CALCULATIONS

 

24.1         Accounts

 

Accounts maintained by a Finance Party in connection with this Agreement are prima facie evidence of the matters to which they relate (except in a case of manifest error).

 

24.2         Certificates and determinations

 

Any certification or determination by a Finance Party of a rate or amount under this Agreement is, in the absence of manifest error, prima facie evidence of the matters to which it relates.

 

24.3         Calculations

 

Interest and the fees payable under Clause 20.1 ( Commitment fee ) accrue from day to day and are calculated on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed and a year of 360 days.

 

25.           AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS

 

25.1         Procedure

 

(a)            Subject to Clause 25.2 ( Exceptions ) and Clause 25.4 ( NewTopco ), any term of the Finance Documents may be amended or waived with the agreement of Vodafone and the Majority Lenders. The Agent may effect, on behalf of the Lenders, an amendment to which the Majority Lenders have agreed.

 

(b)            The Agent shall promptly notify the other Parties of any amendment or waiver effected under paragraph (a) above, and any such amendment or waiver shall be binding on all the Parties.

 

78



 

25.2         Exceptions

 

An amendment or waiver which relates to:

 

(a)            the definition of “Majority Lenders” in Clause 1.1 ( Definitions ); or

 

(b)            an extension of the date for, or a decrease in an amount or a change in the currency of, any payment under the Finance Documents; or

 

(c)            an increase in or extension of a Lender’s Commitment or a change to the Margin; or

 

(d)            a change in the guarantee under Clause 14 ( Guarantee ) otherwise than in accordance with Clause 26.7 ( Additional Guarantors ) or Clause 14.9 ( Removal of Guarantors ); or

 

(e)            a term of a Finance Document which expressly requires the consent of each Lender;

 

(f)             Clause 26.5 ( Replacement of Lenders );

 

(g)            Clause 29 ( Pro rata sharing ), Clause 2.4 ( Nature of rights and obligations ) or this Clause 25; or

 

(h)            any Term exceeding six months,

 

may not be effected without the consent of each Lender. Any amendment or waiver which changes, or relates to the rights and/or obligations of the Agent or a Reference Bank shall also require the Agent’s of that Reference Bank’s (as applicable) agreement.

 

25.3         Replacement of Screen Rate

 

(a)            Subject to Clause 26.2 (Exceptions), if any Screen Rate is not available for a currency which can be selected for an Advance, any amendment or waiver which relates to providing for another benchmark rate to apply in relation to that currency in place of that Screen Rate (or which relates to aligning any provision of a Finance Document to the use of that other benchmark rate) may be made with the consent of the Majority Lenders and the Obligors.

 

(b)            If any Lender fails to respond to a request for an amendment or waiver described in paragraph (a) above within 5 Business Days (unless Vodafone and the Agent agree to a longer time period in relation to any request) of that request being made:

 

(i)             its Commitment shall not be included for the purpose of calculating the Total Commitments under the Facility when ascertaining whether any relevant percentage of Total Commitments has been obtained to approve that request; and

 

79



 

(ii)            its status as Lender shall be disregarded for the purpose of ascertaining whether the agreement of any specified group of Lenders has been obtained to approve that request.

 

25.4         NewTopco

 

Any amendment substituting a reference to Vodafone with a reference to NewTopco:

 

(a)            to any procedural or administrative provision of this Agreement; or

 

(b)            which puts the Parties in substantially the same position as applied prior to the Hive Up, may be effected by agreement between NewTopco and the Agent.

 

25.5         Waivers and remedies cumulative

 

The rights of each Party under the Finance Documents:

 

(a)            may be exercised as often as necessary;

 

(b)            are cumulative and not exclusive of its rights under the general law; and

 

(c)            may be waived only in writing and specifically.

 

Delay in exercising or non-exercise of any such right is not a waiver of that right.

 

25.6         Disenfranchisement of Defaulting Lenders

 

(a)            For so long as a Defaulting Lender has any Available Commitment, in ascertaining the Majority Lenders or whether any given percentage (including, for the avoidance of doubt, unanimity) of the Total Commitments has been obtained to approve any request for a consent, waiver, amendment or other vote under the Finance Documents, that Defaulting Lender’s commitments will be reduced by the amount of its Available Commitments.

 

(b)            For the purposes of this Clause 25.6, the Agent may assume that the following Lenders are Defaulting Lenders:

 

(i)             any Lender which has notified the Agent that it has become a Defaulting Lender;

 

(ii)            any Lender in relation to which it is aware that any of the events or circumstances referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of the definition of “Defaulting Lender” has occurred, and in the case of the events or circumstances referred to in paragraph (a) of the definition of “Defaulting Lender”, none of the exceptions to that paragraph apply,

 

unless it has received notice to the contrary from the Lender concerned (together with any supporting evidence reasonably requested by the Agent) or the Agent is otherwise aware that the Lender has ceased to be a Defaulting Lender.

 

80



 

25.7         Replacement of a Defaulting Lender

 

(a)            Vodafone may, at any time a Lender has become and continues to be a Defaulting Lender, by giving five Business Days’ prior written notice to the Agent and such Lender:

 

(i)            replace such Lender by requiring such Lender to (and such Lender shall) transfer pursuant to Clause 26 ( Changes to the Parties ) all (and not part only) of its rights and obligations under this Agreement; or

 

(ii)           require such Lender to (and such Lender shall) transfer pursuant to Clause 26 ( Changes to the Parties ) all (and not part only) of the undrawn Commitments of the Lender,

 

to a Lender or other bank or financial institution, (a “ Replacement Lender ”) selected by Vodafone, and which is acceptable to the Agent (acting reasonably) and which confirms its willingness to assume and does assume all the obligations or all the relevant obligations of the transferring Lender (including the assumption of the transferring Lender’s participations or unfunded participations (as the case may be) on the same basis as the transferring Lender) for a purchase price in cash payable at the time of transfer equal to the outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s participation in the outstanding Advances and all accrued interest, Break Costs and other amounts payable in relation thereto under the Finance Documents.

 

(b)            Any transfer of rights and obligations of a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this Clause 25.7 shall be subject to the following conditions:

 

(i)             Vodafone shall have no right to replace the Agent;

 

(ii)            neither the Agent nor the Defaulting Lender shall have any obligation to Vodafone to find a Replacement Lender;

 

(iii)           the transfer must take place no later than 45 Business Days after the notice referred to in paragraph (a) above; and

 

in no event shall a Defaulting Lender be required to pay or surrender to the Replacement Lender any of the fees received by the Defaulting Lender pursuant to the Finance Documents.

 

(c)            An amendment or waiver which relates to this Clause 25 may not be effected without the consent of each Lender.

 

26.           CHANGES TO THE PARTIES

 

26.1         Transfers by Obligors

 

(a)            No Obligor may assign, transfer, novate or dispose of any of, or any interest in, its rights and/or obligations under this Agreement provided that without any further consent from the Lenders or the Agent it may, subject to paragraph (b) below and provided that no Default is continuing or would result from any such transfer, transfer its rights and obligations under this Agreement to NewTopco or any Intermediate Holding Company

 

81



 

and NewTopco or the Intermediate Holding Company will execute a document, or documents, in favour of the Lenders in form and substance the same as this Agreement, with references to such Obligor in this Agreement amended to mean NewTopco or such Intermediate Holding Company (as applicable), provided that if such transfer is to an Intermediate Holding Company, the Agent may, within 30 days of receipt of notification of such transfer, require NewTopco to accede as a Guarantor. The Agent shall (and is hereby authorised to) execute on behalf of the Finance Parties any such document or documents executed by NewTopco or the Intermediate Holding Company provided that the conditions set out in this Clause 26.1 are satisfied.

 

(b)            The transfer of rights and obligations under this Agreement to NewTopco or any Intermediate Holding Company shall not require the consent of the Lenders or the Agent provided that NewTopco or the Intermediate Holding Company, as applicable, is incorporated and tax resident in the United Kingdom or in the United States and prior to such transfer Vodafone provides satisfactory evidence to the Agent that it is tax resident in one of those jurisdictions. Subject to paragraph (c) below, the prior written consent of the Majority Lenders shall be required in relation to the transfer of rights and obligations to a NewTopco or an Intermediate Holding Company incorporated elsewhere.

 

(c)            All Lender consent will be required for any transfer of rights under this Agreement to a NewTopco or an Intermediate Holding Company to the extent the transferee is incorporated or established or carrying on its principal business in a country which is subject to OFAC sanctions, United Nations sanctions under Article 41 of the UN Charter, or any equivalent sanctions administered or enforced by the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, or other relevant sanctions authority.

 

26.2         Transfers by Lenders

 

(a)            A Lender (the “ Existing Lender ”) may at any time assign, transfer or novate any of its rights and/or obligations under this Agreement to another bank, financial institution, central bank or federal reserve (the “ New Lender ”) provided that:

 

(i)            subject to paragraph (b) below Vodafone (or following a Hive Up, NewTopco) has, except while an Event of Default is continuing or in the case of an assignment, transfer or novation to an Affiliate or another Lender, given its prior written consent (in the case of a transfer to a financial institution, such consent to be in its absolute discretion and, in the case of a transfer to a bank, central bank or federal reserve such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); and

 

(ii)           in the case of a partial assignment, transfer or novation of rights and/or obligations, a minimum amount of U.S.$8,000,000 in aggregate and in multiples

 

82



 

of U.S.$1,000,000 (unless to an Affiliate or to a Lender or the Agent agrees otherwise) must be assigned, transferred or novated.

 

(b)            Vodafone must respond to a request for its consent to a transfer made under paragraph (a)(i) above as soon as is reasonably practicable and, in any event, no later than 15 Business Days after the day on which it received the request, or Vodafone will be deemed to have given its consent to the transfer.

 

(c)            A transfer of obligations will be effective only if either:

 

(i)            the obligations are novated in accordance with Clause 26.4 ( Procedure for novations ); or

 

(ii)           the New Lender gives prior written notice to Vodafone and, except while an Event of Default is continuing or in the case of an assignment, transfer or novation to an Affiliate or another Lender, obtains the consent of Vodafone in accordance with paragraph (a)(i) above and confirms to the Agent and Vodafone that it undertakes to be bound by the terms of this Agreement as a Lender in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent. On the transfer becoming effective in this manner the Existing Lender shall be relieved of its obligations under this Agreement to the extent that they are transferred to the New Lender; and

 

(iii)          the Agent has performed all “know your customer” or other checks relating to any person that it is required to carry out in relation to such assignment to a New Lender, the completion of which the Agent shall promptly notify to the Existing Lender and the New Lender.

 

(d)            Nothing in this Agreement restricts the ability of a Lender to sub-contract an obligation if that Lender remains liable under this Agreement for that obligation.

 

(e)            On each occasion an Existing Lender assigns, transfers or novates any of its rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (other than to an Affiliate), the New Lender shall, on the date the assignment, transfer and/or novation takes effect, pay to the Agent for its own account a fee of U.S.$3,000.

 

(f)             An Existing Lender is not responsible to a New Lender for:

 

(i)             the execution, genuineness, validity, enforceability or sufficiency of any Finance Document or any other document; or

 

(ii)            the collectability of amounts payable under any Finance Document; or

 

(iii)           the accuracy of any statements (whether written or oral) made in connection with any Finance Document.

 

(g)            Each New Lender confirms to the Existing Lender and the other Finance Parties that it:

 

83



 

(i)             has made its own independent investigation and assessment of the financial condition and affairs of each Obligor and its related entities in connection with its participation in this Agreement and has not relied exclusively on any information provided to it by the Existing Lender in connection with any Finance Document; and

 

(ii)           will continue to make its own independent appraisal of the creditworthiness of each Obligor and its related entities while any amount is or may be outstanding under this Agreement or any Commitment is in force.

 

(h)            Nothing in any Finance Document obliges an Existing Lender to:

 

(i)            accept a re transfer from a New Lender of any of the rights and/or obligations assigned, transferred or novated under this Clause 26; or

 

(ii)           support any losses incurred by the New Lender by reason of the non-performance by any Obligor of its obligations under this Agreement or otherwise.

 

(i)             Any reference in this Agreement to a Lender includes a New Lender but excludes a Lender if no amount is or may be owed to or by it under this Agreement and its Commitment has been cancelled or reduced to nil.

 

(j)             If any assignment, transfer or novation results either:

 

(i)            at the time of the assignment, transfer or novation; or

 

(ii)           at any future time where the additional amount was caused as a result of laws and/or regulations in force at the date of the assignment, transfer or novation,

 

in additional amounts becoming due under Clause 10 ( Taxes ) or amounts becoming due under Clause 12 ( Increased costs ), the New Lender shall be entitled to receive such additional amounts only to the extent that the Existing Lender would have been so entitled had there been no such assignment, transfer or novation.

 

26.3         Affiliates of Lenders

 

(a)            Each Lender may fulfil its obligations in respect of any Advance through an Affiliate if:

 

(i)             the relevant Affiliate is specified in this Agreement as a Lender or becomes a Lender by means of a Novation Certificate in accordance with this Agreement and subject to any consent required under Clause 26.2 ( Transfers by Lenders ); and

 

(ii)            the Advances in which that Affiliate will participate are specified in this Agreement or in a notice given by that Lender to the Agent.

 

In this event, the Lender and the Affiliate will participate in Advances in the manner provided for in sub-paragraph (a)(ii) above.

 

84



 

(b)            If paragraph (a) above applies, the Lender and its Affiliate will be treated as having a single Commitment and a single vote, but, for all other purposes, will be treated as separate Lenders.

 

26.4         Procedure for novations

 

(a)            A novation is effected if:

 

(i)             the Existing Lender and the New Lender deliver to the Agent a duly completed certificate (a “ Novation Certificate ”), substantially in the form of Part I of Schedule 4, with such amendments as the Agent approves to achieve a substantially similar effect (which may be delivered by fax and confirmed by delivery of a hard copy original but the fax will be effective irrespective of whether confirmation is received); and

 

(ii)            the Agent executes it (as soon as practicable for it to do so).

 

(b)            Each Party (other than the Existing Lender and the New Lender) irrevocably authorises the Agent to execute any duly completed Novation Certificate on its behalf.

 

(c)            To the extent that they are expressed to be the subject of the novation in the Novation Certificate:

 

(i)            the Existing Lender and the other Parties (the “ Existing Parties ”) will be released from their obligations to each other (the “ Discharged Obligations ”);

 

(ii)           the New Lender and the Existing Parties will assume obligations towards each other which differ from the Discharged Obligations only insofar as they are owed to or assumed by the New Lender instead of the Existing Lender;

 

(iii)          the rights of the Existing Lender against the Existing Parties and vice versa (the “ Discharged Rights ”) will be cancelled; and

 

(iv)          the New Lender and the Existing Parties will acquire rights against each other which differ from the Discharged Rights only insofar as they are exercisable by or against the New Lender instead of the Existing Lender,

 

all on the date of execution of the Novation Certificate by the Agent or, if later, the date specified in the Novation Certificate.

 

(d)            If the effective date of a novation is after the date a Request is received by the Agent but before the date the requested Advance is disbursed to the relevant Borrower, the Existing Lender shall be obliged to participate in that Advance in respect of its Discharged Obligations notwithstanding that novation, and the New Lender shall reimburse the Existing Lender for its participation in that Advance and all interest and fees thereon up to the date of reimbursement (in each case to the extent attributable to

 

85



 

the Discharged Obligations) within three Business Days of the Drawdown Date of that Advance.

 

(e)            The Agent shall only be obliged to execute a Novation Certificate delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender once it is satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to the transfer to such New Lender.

 

26.5         Replacement of Lenders

 

(a)            In this Clause 26.5:

 

Non-consenting Lender ” means a Lender which does not agree to a consent or amendment to, or a waiver of, a provision of a Finance Document requested by Vodafone where:

 

(i)             the consent, waiver or amendment requires the consent of all the Lenders;

 

(ii)            a period of not less than 15 Business Days (or such other longer period as agreed from time to time between the Agent and Vodafone) has elapsed from the date the consent, waiver or amendment was requested; and

 

(iii)           80 per cent. of the Lenders have agreed to the consent, waiver or amendment.

 

Prepayment Lender ” means, at any time, a Lender in respect of which:

 

(i)             a Borrower is at that time entitled to serve a notice under Clauses 7.5(a) to (c) ( Right of prepayment and cancellation ) (inclusive), but has not done so; or

 

(ii)            a Borrower becomes obliged to repay any amount in accordance with Clause 13.1 ( Illegality ).

 

Relevant Lender ” means:

 

(i)             a Prepayment Lender; or

 

(ii)            a Non-Consenting Lender.

 

Replacement Lender ” means a Lender or any other bank or financial institution selected by Vodafone which:

 

(i)             in the case of a person which is not an existing Lender is acceptable to the Agent (acting reasonably); and

 

(ii)            is willing to assume all of the obligations of the Relevant Lender.

 

(b)            Subject to paragraph (e) below, Vodafone may, on giving 10 Business Days’ prior notice to the Agent and a Relevant Lender, require that Relevant Lender to transfer all of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to a Replacement Lender.

 

(c)            On receipt of a notice under paragraph (b) above the Relevant Lender must transfer all of its rights and obligations under this Agreement:

 

86



 

(i)             in accordance with Clause 26.2 ( Transfers by Lenders );

 

(ii)            on the date specified in the notice;

 

(iii)           to the Replacement Lender specified in the notice; and

 

(iv)           for a purchase price equal to the aggregate of:

 

(i)            the Relevant Lender’s share in the outstanding Facility;

 

(ii)           any Break Costs incurred by the Relevant Lender as a result of the transfer; and

 

(iii)          all accrued interest, fees and other amounts payable to the Relevant Lender under this Agreement as at the transfer date.

 

(d)            No member of the Consolidated Group may make any payment or assume any obligation to or on behalf of the Replacement Lender as an inducement for a Replacement Lender to become a Lender, other than as provided in paragraph (c) above.

 

(e)            Notwithstanding the above, Vodafone’s right to replace:

 

(i)             a Non-Consenting Lender may only be exercised within 45 Business Days after the date the consent, waiver or amendment was requested by Vodafone;

 

(ii)            a Prepayment Lender may only be exercised whilst it is entitled to serve a notice under Clause 7.5 ( Right of prepayment and cancellation ) or whilst a Borrower is obliged to make a payment under Clause 13.1 ( Illegality ) (as applicable); and

 

(iii)           a Non-Consenting Lender or Prepayment Lender under this Clause 26.5 shall in no way oblige such Non-Consenting Lender or Prepayment Lender to pay or surrender any of the fees received by such Lender pursuant to the Finance Documents.

 

26.6         Pro rata interest settlement

 

If the Agent has notified the Lenders that it is able to distribute interest payments on a “pro rata basis” to Existing Lenders and New Lenders then (in respect of any transfer pursuant to Clause 26.2 ( Transfers by Lenders ) or any novation pursuant to Clause 26.4 ( Procedure for novations ) the transfer date of which, in each case, is after the date of such notification and is not on the last day of a Term):

 

(a)            any interest or fees in respect of the relevant participation which are expressed to accrue by reference to the lapse of time shall continue to accrue in favour of the Existing Lender up to but excluding the transfer date (“ Accrued Amounts ”) and shall become due and payable to the Existing Lender (without further interest accruing on them) on the last day of the current Term (or, if the Term is

 

87



 

longer than six Months, on the next of the dates which falls at six monthly intervals after the first day of that Term); and

 

(b)            the rights assigned or transferred by the Existing Lender will not include the right to the Accrued Amounts so that, for the avoidance of doubt:

 

(i)            when the Accrued Amounts become payable, those Accrued Amounts will be payable for the account of the Existing Lender; and

 

(ii)           the amount payable to the New Lender on that date will be the amount which would, but for the application of this Clause 26.6, have been payable to it on that date, but after deduction of the Accrued Amounts.

 

26.7         Additional Guarantors

 

(a)

 

(i)             Vodafone will procure that NewTopco and any Intermediate Holding Company of Vodafone will become an Additional Guarantor on or before the Reorganisation Date by executing and delivering the documents set out in paragraph (a)(iii) below on or before the Reorganisation Date.

 

(ii)            Subject to Vodafone’s prior written consent, any other member of the Consolidated Group may become an Additional Guarantor.

 

(iii)           The relevant company will become an Additional Guarantor upon:

 

(A)           the delivery to the Agent of a Guarantor Accession Agreement duly executed by that company; and

 

(B)           delivery to the Agent of all those other documents listed in Part II of Schedule 2, in each case in the agreed form or in such other form and substance satisfactory to the Agent.

 

(b)            The execution of a Guarantor Accession Agreement constitutes confirmation by the Additional Guarantor concerned that the representations and warranties set out in Clauses 15.1 ( Representations and warranties ) to 15.6 ( Authorisations ) to be made by it on the date of the Guarantor Accession Agreement are correct, as if made with reference to the facts and circumstances then existing.

 

26.8         Additional Borrowers

 

(a)

 

(i)             Any member of the Restricted Group, or following a Hive Up (and subject to the proviso below), NewTopco or any Intermediate Holding Company, in each case, incorporated and tax resident in the United Kingdom or in the United States or, subject to the prior written consent of the Majority Lenders (or, if sub-paragraph

 

88



 

(a)(iii) below applies, all the Lenders), elsewhere which Vodafone nominates may become an Additional Borrower, provided that on or prior to the date on which NewTopco or any Intermediate Holding Company accedes as an Additional Borrower it also accedes as an Additional Guarantor.

 

(ii)            The relevant member of the Restricted Group (or NewTopco or any Intermediate Holding Company, as applicable) will become an Additional Borrower upon:

 

(A)           the delivery to the Agent of a Borrower Accession Agreement duly executed by that member of the Restricted Group (or NewTopco or any Intermediate Holding Company, as applicable); and

 

(B)           delivery to the Agent of all those other documents listed in Part III of Schedule 2, in each case in the agreed form or in such other form and substance satisfactory to the Agent.

 

(iii)           All Lender consent will be required for any Additional Borrower to the extent the Additional Borrower is incorporated or established or carrying on its principal business in a country which is subject to OFAC sanctions, United Nations sanctions under Article 41 of the UN Charter or any equivalent sanctions administered or enforced by the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury or other relevant sanctions authority

 

(b)            The execution of a Borrower Accession Agreement constitutes confirmation by the Additional Borrower concerned that the representations and warranties set out in Clauses 15.1 ( Representations and warranties ) to 15.6 ( Authorisations ) to be made by it on the date of the Borrower Accession Agreement are correct, as if made with reference to the facts and circumstances then existing.

 

26.9         Removal of Borrowers

 

(a)            Any Borrower (other than Vodafone (subject to paragraph (b) below) or, if applicable, NewTopco) which has no liabilities to the Finance Parties in respect of outstanding Advances or any other liabilities to the Finance Parties under the Finance Documents (other than as a Guarantor) may, at the request of Vodafone and if no Default is outstanding or will result from such action, cease to be a Borrower by entering into a supplemental agreement to this Agreement at the cost of Vodafone in such form as the Agent may reasonably require which shall discharge that Borrowers’ obligations as a Borrower under this Agreement.

 

(b)            If on the Reorganisation Date:

 

(i)             NewTopco and any Intermediate Holding Company has acceded as a Guarantor in accordance with Clause 26.7 ( Additional Guarantors );

 

89



 

(ii)           Vodafone has no liabilities to the Finance Parties in respect of outstanding Advances or any other liabilities to the Finance Parties under the Finance Documents (other than as a Guarantor); and

 

(iii)          no Default is continuing,

 

Vodafone may cease to be a Borrower with effect from the Reorganisation Date by entering into a supplemental agreement to this Agreement at the cost of Vodafone or NewTopco in such form as the Agent may reasonably require which shall discharge Vodafone’s obligations as a Borrower under this Agreement.

 

26.10       Reference Banks

 

If a Reference Bank (or, if a Reference Bank is not a Lender, the Lender of which it is an Affiliate) ceases to be a Lender, the Agent shall (in consultation with Vodafone) appoint another Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender which is not a Reference Bank to replace that Reference Bank.

 

26.11       Register

 

The Agent, acting solely for this purpose as agent of the Borrowers, shall keep a register of all the Parties including in the case of Lenders, their respective commitments, the obligations owing to each, and the details of their Facility Office notified to the Agent from time to time, and shall supply any other Party (at that Party’s expense) with a copy of the register on request.

 

The Agent shall record in the register any transfer by an Obligor or by a Lender described in Clause 26.1(a) or 26.1(b) ( Transfers by Obligors ) or 26.2 ( Transfers by Lenders ), respectively, and any other modification to the Borrowers, Lenders, Guarantors, or outstanding obligations. The Agent shall record the names and addresses of each Lender and the respective Commitments of and obligations owing to each Lender. The entries in the register shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and each Obligor, the Agent, and each Lender shall treat each person whose name is recorded in the register as a Lender notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. The register shall be available for inspection by each Obligor at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

26.12       Security over Lenders’ rights

 

In addition to the other rights provided to Lenders under this Clause 26, each Lender may at any time charge, assign or otherwise create Security in or over (whether by way of collateral or otherwise) all or any of its rights under any Finance Document to secure obligations of that Lender including, without limitation:

 

(a)            any charge, assignment or other Security to secure obligations to a federal reserve or central bank; and

 

(b)            with the prior written consent of Vodafone (or following a Hive Up, NewTopco), such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed, in the case of any Lender which is a fund, any charge, assignment or other Security granted to any

 

90



 

holders (or trustee or representatives of holders) of obligations owed, or securities issued, by that Lender as security for those obligations or securities,

 

except that no such charge, assignment or Security shall:

 

(i)             release a Lender from any of its obligations under the Finance Documents or substitute the beneficiary of the relevant charge, assignment or other Security for the Lender as a party to any of the Finance Documents; or

 

(ii)           require any payments to be made by an Obligor or grant to any person any more extensive rights than those required to be made or granted to the relevant Lender under the Finance Documents.

 

27.           DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION

 

27.1         Disclosure

 

(a)            A Lender may disclose to any of its Affiliates, directors, employees, officers, professional advisers or auditors; any person to whom or for whose benefit a Lender charges, assigns or otherwise creates security (or may do so) pursuant to Clause 26.12 ( Security over Lenders’ rights ); or any person with whom it is proposing to enter, or has entered into, any kind of transfer, participation or other agreement in relation to this Agreement:

 

(i)             a copy of any Finance Document; and

 

(ii)            any information which that Lender has acquired under or in connection with any Finance Document,

 

provided that a Lender shall not disclose any such information:

 

(i)             to any of its Affiliates, directors, employees, officers, professional advisers or auditors or a federal reserve or central bank, unless the recipient is informed that such information is confidential; or

 

(ii)            to any other person unless that person has provided to that Lender a confidentiality undertaking addressed to that Lender and Vodafone substantially in the form of Schedule 5 or such other form as Vodafone may approve.

 

(b)            Paragraphs 1(a), 1(c), 2(b), 3, 6, 8, 9 and 12 of Schedule 5 ( Form of Confidentiality Undertaking from New Lender ) shall be deemed to be incorporated herein as if set out in full ( mutatis mutandis ), but as if references therein to “we” “us” or “our” were to each Finance Party and references to “you” were to Vodafone and as if the Confidential Information included in any Funding Rate or Reference Bank Quotation.

 

91



 

27.2         Disclosure to numbering service providers

 

(a)            Any Finance Party may disclose to any national or international numbering service provider appointed by that Finance Party to provide identification numbering services in respect of this Agreement, the Facility and/or one or more Obligors the following information:

 

(i)             names of Obligors;

 

(ii)            country of domicile of Obligors;

 

(iii)           place of incorporation of Obligors;

 

(iv)           date of this Agreement;

 

(v)            the name of the Agent and the Arranger;

 

(vi)           date of each amendment and restatement of this Agreement;

 

(vii)          amount of Total Commitments;

 

(viii)         currencies of the Facility;

 

(ix)           type of the Facility;

 

(x)            ranking of the Facility;

 

(xi)           Maturity Date for the Facility;

 

(xii)          changes to any of the information previously supplied pursuant to paragraphs (a)(i) to (a)(ix) above (inclusive); and

 

(xiii)         such other information agreed between such Finance Party and Vodafone,

 

to enable such numbering service provider to provide its usual syndicated loan numbering identification services.

 

(b)            The Parties acknowledge and agree that each identification number assigned to this Agreement, the Facility and/or one or more Obligors by a numbering service provider and the information associated with each such number may be disclosed to users of its services in accordance with the standard terms and conditions of that numbering service provider.

 

(c)            If requested, the Agent shall notify Vodafone and the other Finance Parties of:

 

(i)             the name of any numbering service provider appointed by the Agent in respect of this Agreement, the Facility and/or one or more Obligors; and

 

(ii)            the number or, as the case may be, numbers assigned to this Agreement, the Facility and/or one or more Obligors by such numbering service provider.

 

92



 

27.3         Confidentiality of Funding Rates and Reference Bank Quotations

 

(a)            Confidentiality and Disclosure

 

(i)             The Agent and each Obligor agree to keep each Funding Rate (and, in the case of the Agent, each Reference Bank Quotation) confidential and not to disclose it to anyone, save to the extent permitted by paragraphs (ii), (iii) and (iv) below.

 

(ii)            The Agent may disclose:

 

(A)           any Funding Rate (but not, for the avoidance of doubt, any Reference Bank Quotation) to Vodafone pursuant to Clause 8.4 ( Notification of rates of interest ); and

 

(B)           any Funding Rate or any Reference Bank Quotation to any person appointed by it to provide administration services in respect of one or more of the Finance Documents to the extent necessary to enable such service provider to provide those services if the service provider to whom that information is to be given has entered into a confidentiality agreement substantially in the form of the LMA Master Confidentiality Undertaking for Use With Administration/Settlement Service Providers or such other form of confidentiality undertaking agreed between the Agent and the relevant Lender or Reference Bank, as the case may be.

 

(iii)          The Agent may disclose any Funding Rate or any Reference Bank Quotation, and each Obligor may disclose any Funding Rate, to:

 

(A)           any of its Affiliates and any of its or their officers, directors, employees, professional advisers, auditors, partners and representatives if any person to whom that Funding Rate or Reference Bank Quotation is to be given pursuant to this paragraph (A) is informed in writing of its confidential nature and that it may be price-sensitive information except that there shall be no such requirement to so inform if the recipient is subject to professional obligations to maintain the confidentiality of that Funding Rate or Reference Bank Quotation or is otherwise bound by requirements of confidentiality in relation to it;

 

(B)           any person to whom information is required or requested to be disclosed by any court of competent jurisdiction or any governmental, banking, taxation or other regulatory authority or similar body, the rules of any relevant stock exchange or pursuant to any applicable law or regulation if the person to whom that Funding Rate or Reference Bank Quotation is to be given is informed in writing of its confidential nature and that it may be price-sensitive information except that there shall be no requirement to so

 

93



 

inform if, in the opinion of the Agent or the relevant Obligor, as the case may be, it is not practicable to do so in the circumstances;

 

(C)           any person to whom information is required to be disclosed in connection with, and for the purposes of, any litigation, arbitration, administrative or other investigations, proceedings or disputes if the person to whom that Funding Rate or Reference Bank Quotation is to be given is informed in writing of its confidential nature and that it may be price-sensitive information except that there shall be no requirement to so inform if, in the opinion of the Agent or the relevant Obligor, as the case may be, it is not practicable to do so in the circumstances; and

 

(D)           any person with the consent of the relevant Lender or Reference Bank, as the case may be.

 

(iv)           The Agent’s obligations in this Clause 27.3relating to Reference Bank Quotations are without prejudice to its obligations to make notifications under Clause 8.4 ( Notification of rates of interest ) provided that (other than pursuant to paragraph (ii)(A) above) the Agent shall not include the details of any individual Reference Bank Quotation as part of any such notification.

 

(b)            Other Obligations

 

(i)             The Agent and each Obligor acknowledge that each Funding Rate (and, in the case of the Agent, each Reference Bank Quotation) is or may be price-sensitive information and that its use may be regulated or prohibited by applicable legislation including securities law relating to insider dealing and market abuse and the Agent and each Obligor undertake not to use any Funding Rate or, in the case of the Agent, any Reference Bank Quotation for any unlawful purpose.

 

(ii)            The Agent and each Obligor agree (to the extent permitted by law and regulation) to inform the relevant Lender or Reference Bank, as the case may be:

 

(A)           of the circumstances of any disclosure made pursuant to paragraphs (a)(iii)(B) or (a)(iii)(C) above except where such disclosure is made to any of the persons referred to in that paragraph during the ordinary course of its supervisory or regulatory function; and

 

(B)           upon becoming aware that any information has been disclosed in breach of this Clause 27.3

 

27.4         No Event of Default

 

No Event of Default will occur under Clause 18.3 ( Breach of other obligations) by reason only of an Obligor’s failure to comply with this Clause 27.

 

94



 

28.           SET-OFF

 

28.1         Contractual set-off

 

Whilst an Event of Default subsists each Obligor authorises each Finance Party to apply any credit balance to which that Obligor is entitled on any account of that Obligor with that Finance Party or any sum due and payable by that Lender to that Obligor in satisfaction of any sum due and payable from that Obligor to that Finance Party under the Finance Documents but unpaid. For this purpose, each Finance Party is authorised to purchase with the moneys standing to the credit of any such account such other currencies as may be necessary to effect such application.

 

28.2         Set-off not mandatory

 

No Finance Party shall be obliged to exercise any right given to it by Clause 28.1 ( Contractual set-off ).

 

28.3         Notice of set-off

 

Any Finance Party exercising its rights under Clause 28.1 ( Contractual set-off ) shall notify Vodafone promptly after set-off is applied.

 

28.4         Set-off by Obligors

 

Any Obligor may at any time on or after a Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender set off amounts owed by that Obligor to that Lender under the Finance Documents against any credit balance on any account of that Obligor with that Lender or any other sum due and payable by that Lender to that Obligor (regardless of the place of payment, booking branch or currency of either obligation). If the obligations are in different currencies, that Obligor may convert either obligation at the Agent’s Spot Rate of Exchange (or, if there is no such rate, at a market rate of exchange reasonably selected by Vodafone) for the purpose of the set-off. If an Obligor exercises such rights of set off: (i) it shall notify the Lender promptly thereafter; and (ii) the Lender shall treat any such obligation owed by the Lender to that Obligor as if it was a payment received by the Lender from that Obligor in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

 

29.           PRO RATA SHARING

 

29.1         Redistribution

 

If any amount owing by an Obligor under any Finance Document to a Finance Party (the “ Recovering Finance Party ”) is discharged by payment, set-off or any other manner other than through the Agent in accordance with Clause 9 ( Payments ) (a “ Recovery ”), then:

 

(a)            the Recovering Finance Party shall, within three Business Days, notify details of the Recovery to the Agent;

 

(b)            the Agent shall determine whether the Recovery is in excess of the amount which the Recovering Finance Party would have received had the Recovery been received by the Agent and distributed in accordance with Clause 9 ( Payments );

 

95



 

(c)            subject to Clause 29.3 ( Exceptions ), the Recovering Finance Party shall, within three Business Days of demand by the Agent, pay to the Agent an amount (the “ Redistribution ”) equal to the excess;

 

(d)            the Agent shall treat the Redistribution as if it were a payment by the Obligor concerned under Clause 9 ( Payments ) and shall pay the Redistribution to the Finance Parties (other than the Recovering Finance Party) in accordance with Clause 9.8 ( Partial payments ); and

 

(e)            after payment of the full Redistribution, the Recovering Finance Party will be subrogated to the portion of the claims paid under paragraph (d) above, and that Obligor will owe the Recovering Finance Party a debt which is equal to the Redistribution, immediately payable and of the type originally discharged.

 

29.2         Reversal of redistribution

 

If under Clause 29.1 ( Redistribution ):

 

(a)            a Recovering Finance Party must subsequently return a Recovery, or an amount measured by reference to a Recovery, to an Obligor; and

 

(b)            the Recovering Finance Party has paid a Redistribution in relation to that Recovery,

 

each Finance Party shall, within three Business Days of demand by the Recovering Finance Party through the Agent, reimburse the Recovering Finance Party all or the appropriate portion of the Redistribution paid to that Finance Party. Thereupon the subrogation in Clause 29.1(e) ( Redistribution ) will operate in reverse to the extent of the reimbursement.

 

29.3         Exceptions

 

(a)            A Recovering Finance Party need not pay a Redistribution to the extent that it would not, after the payment, have a valid claim against the Obligor concerned in the amount of the Redistribution pursuant to Clause 29.1(e) ( Redistribution ).

 

(b)            A Recovering Finance Party is not obliged to share with any other Finance Party any amount which the Recovering Finance Party has received or recovered as a result of taking legal proceedings, if the other Finance Party had an opportunity to participate in those legal proceedings but did not do so and did not take separate legal proceedings.

 

30.           SEVERABILITY

 

If a provision of any Finance Document is or becomes illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, that shall not affect:

 

(a)            the legality, validity or enforceability in that jurisdiction of any other provision of the Finance Documents; or

 

96



 

(b)            the legality, validity or enforceability in other jurisdictions of that or any other provision of the Finance Documents.

 

31.           COUNTERPARTS

 

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, and this has the same effect as if the signatures on the counterparts were on a single copy of this Agreement.

 

32.           NOTICES

 

32.1         Giving of notices

 

(a)            All notices or other communications under or in connection with this Agreement shall be given in writing or by facsimile. Any such notice will be deemed to be given as follows:

 

(i)             if in writing, when delivered; and

 

(ii)            if by facsimile, when received.

 

However, a notice given in accordance with the above but received on a non-working day or after business hours in the place of receipt will only be deemed to be given on the next working day in that place.

 

(b)            Any Party may agree with any other Party to give and receive notices by telex in which case the notice will be deemed given when the correct answerback is received.

 

32.2         Addresses for notices

 

(a)            The address and facsimile number of each Party (other than the Agent and Vodafone) for all notices under or in connection with this Agreement are:

 

(i)             that notified by that Party for this purpose to the Agent on or before it becomes a Party; or

 

(ii)            any other notified by that Party for this purpose to the Agent by not less than five Business Days’ notice.

 

(b)            The address and facsimile numbers of the Agent are:

 

97



 

Mizuho Bank, Ltd.

Bracken House

One Friday Street

London EC4M 9JA

Contact:                                                 Joanne Randall / Stephen Watson

 

Telephone:                                    0207 012 4484 / 0207 012 4522

 

Facsimile:                                          -

 

Email:                                                             MIZUHOCB.LOANSADMIN@MHCB.CO.UK

 

or such other as the Agent may notify to the other Parties by not less than five Business Days’ notice.

 

(c)                                   The address, facsimile number and website of Vodafone are:

 

Vodafone Group Plc

One Kingdom Street

Paddington Central

London

W2 6BY

 

Contact:                                                 Group Treasury Director

 

Telephone:                                    07879496611

 

Facsimile:                                          01635 676 746

 

Email:                                                             neil.garrod@vodafone.com

 

Website:                                                  http://www.vodafone.com/start/investor_relations/financial_reports. html

 

or such other as Vodafone may notify to the other Parties by not less than five Business Days’ notice.

 

(d)                                  The Agent shall, promptly upon request from any Party, give to that Party the address or facsimile number of any other Party applicable at the time for the purposes of this Clause 32.

 

32.3                         Communication when Agent is an Impaired Agent

 

If the Agent is an Impaired Agent the Parties may, instead of communicating with each other through the Agent, communicate with each other directly and (while the Agent is an Impaired Agent) all the provisions of the Finance Documents which require communications to be made or notices to be given to or by the Agent shall be varied so that communications may be made and notices given to or by the relevant Parties directly. This provision shall not operate after a successor Agent has been appointed.

 

33.                                LANGUAGE

 

(a)                                  Any notice given under or in connection with any Finance Document shall be in English.

 

98



 

(b)                                  All other documents provided under or in connection with any Finance Document shall be:

 

(i)                                   in English; or

 

(ii)                                if not in English, accompanied by a certified English translation and, in this case, the English translation shall prevail unless the document is a statutory or other official document.

 

34.                                JURISDICTION

 

34.1                         Submission

 

(a)                                  Each Party agrees that the courts of England have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any disputes in connection with any Finance Document or any non-contractual obligation arising out of or in connection with any Finance Document and accordingly submits to the jurisdiction of the English courts.

 

(b)                                  Notwithstanding paragraph (a) above, for the benefit of the Finance Parties, any New York State court or U.S. Federal court sitting in the City and County of New York also has jurisdiction to settle any dispute in connection with any Finance Document, involving a U.S. Obligor, and each U.S Obligor submits to the jurisdiction of those courts.

 

(c)                                   The English courts and (in respect of a dispute involving a U.S. Obligor) New York courts are the most appropriate and convenient courts to settle any such dispute and each Obligor and U.S. Obligor, as applicable, waives objection to those courts on the grounds of inconvenient forum or otherwise in relation to proceedings in connection with any Finance Document.

 

34.2                         Service of process

 

(a)                                  Without prejudice to any other mode of service, each Obligor (other than an Obligor incorporated in England and Wales):

 

(i)                                      irrevocably appoints Vodafone as its agent for service of process relating to any proceedings before the English courts in connection with any Finance Document (and Vodafone accepts this appointment);

 

(ii)                                agrees that failure by a process agent to notify the relevant Obligor of the process will not invalidate the proceedings concerned;

 

(iii)                             consents to the service of process relating to any such proceedings by prepaid posting of a copy of the process to its address for the time being applying under Clause 32.2 ( Addresses for notices ); and

 

(iv)                            agrees that if the appointment of any person mentioned in paragraph (i) or (ii) above ceases to be effective, the relevant Obligor shall immediately appoint a

 

99



 

further person in England to accept service of process on its behalf in England and, failing such appointment within 15 days, the Agent is entitled to appoint such a person by notice to Vodafone.

 

(b)                                  Prior to the accession of a U.S. Obligor who is not incorporated or having a place of business in New York State such U.S. Obligor must appoint an agent for service of process in any proceedings before any court located in the State of New York on terms reasonably satisfactory to the Agent.

 

34.3                         Forum convenience and enforcement abroad

 

Each Obligor:

 

(a)                                  waives objection to the English courts on grounds of inconvenient forum or otherwise as regards proceedings in connection with a Finance Document; and

 

(b)                               agrees that a judgment or order of an English court in connection with a Finance Document is conclusive and binding on it and may be enforced against it in the courts of any other jurisdiction.

 

34.4                         Non-exclusivity

 

Nothing in this Clause 34 limits the right of a Finance Party to bring proceedings against an Obligor in connection with any Finance Document:

 

(a)                                  in any other court of competent jurisdiction; or

 

(b)                                  concurrently in more than one jurisdiction.

 

35.                                GOVERNING LAW

 

This Agreement and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law.

 

36.                                USA PATRIOT ACT

 

Each Finance Party that is subject to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act hereby notifies each Obligor that pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act, prior to making an Advance hereunder, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Obligors, which information includes the name and address of the Obligors and other information that will allow such Finance Party to identify the Obligors in accordance with the USA Patriot Act. Each Obligor agrees that it will provide each Finance Party with such information as it may request in order for such Finance Party to satisfy the requirements of the USA Patriot Act.

 

37.                                WAIVER OF TRIAL BY JURY

 

EACH PARTY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION IN CONNECTION WITH ANY FINANCE DOCUMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED BY ANY FINANCE DOCUMENT. THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE FILED AS A WRITTEN CONSENT TO TRIAL BY THE COURT.

 

100



 

THIS AGREEMENT has been entered into on the date stated at the beginning of this Agreement.

 

101



 

SCHEDULE 1

 

LENDERS AND COMMITMENTS

 

Original Lender

 

Commitment (U.S.$)

 

 

 

Mizuho Bank, Ltd.

 

1,000,000,000

 

 

 

Total

 

1,000,000,000

 

102



 

SCHEDULE 2

 

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT DOCUMENTS

 

PART I

 

TO BE DELIVERED BEFORE THE FIRST ADVANCE

 

1.                                       Constitutional documents

 

A copy of the articles of association and certificate of incorporation of Vodafone.

 

2.                                       Authorisations

 

(a)                                  A certificate signed by an authorised signatory confirming, amongst other things, that approval of Vodafone’s Treasury Dealing Mandate dated 28 July 2014 remains in full force and effect and that the delegation of signing powers contained therein and in the power of attorney referred to in the Treasury Dealing Mandate cover:

 

(i)                                   approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, this Agreement, and any other Finance Document and authorising the specified persons to execute and, where applicable, deliver this Agreement and any other Finance Document; and

 

(ii)                                authorising a specified person or persons, on its behalf, to sign and/or dispatch all documents and notices (including any Request) to be signed and/or despatched by it under or in connection with the Finance Documents;

 

(b)                                  a certified copy of the power of attorney referred to in the Treasury Dealing Mandate;

 

(c)                                   a specimen of the signature of each person authorised by Vodafone’s Treasury Dealing Mandate referred to in paragraph (a) above and the power of attorney referred to in paragraph (b) above;

 

(d)                                  a certificate of an authorised signatory of Vodafone confirming that as at the first Drawdown Date the borrowing of the Total Commitments in full and the borrowing of the Total Commitments under (and as defined in) the 2019 Facility and the 2020 Facility in full would not together cause any borrowing limit or limit on the giving of guarantees binding on it to be exceeded (whether as a result of such limit having been waived or otherwise);

 

(e)                                   a certificate of an authorised signatory of Vodafone certifying that each copy document specified in this Part I of Schedule 2 and supplied by Vodafone is correct, complete and in full force and effect as at a date no earlier than the Signing Date.

 

3.                                       Legal opinions

 

A legal opinion Linklaters LLP, English law counsel to Vodafone, in relation to English law.

 

103



 

4.                                       Fee Letter

 

Duly executed Fee Letter referred to in Clause 20.2 ( Front-end fees ).

 

104



 

PART II

 

TO BE DELIVERED BY AN ADDITIONAL GUARANTOR

 

1.                                       A Guarantor Accession Agreement, duly executed (if appropriate, under seal) by the Additional Guarantor.

 

2.                                       A copy of the memorandum (if applicable) and articles of association and certificate of incorporation (or other equivalent constitutional documents) of the Additional Guarantor.

 

3.                                       A copy of a resolution of the board of directors of the Additional Guarantor:

 

(a)                                  approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Guarantor Accession Agreement and resolving that it execute the Guarantor Accession Agreement as a deed;

 

(b)                                  authorising a specified person or persons to execute the Guarantor Accession Agreement as a deed; and

 

(c)                                   authorising a specified person or persons, on its behalf, to sign and/or despatch all documents to be signed and/or despatched by it under or in connection with this Agreement.

 

4.                                       If the Additional Guarantor is not NewTopco and the lawyers referred to in paragraph 10 below advise it to be necessary or desirable, a copy of a resolution, signed by all the holders of the issued or allotted shares in the Additional Guarantor, approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Guarantor Accession Agreement.

 

5.                                       If the Additional Guarantor is not NewTopco, a copy of a resolution of the board of directors of each corporate shareholder in the Additional Guarantor:

 

(a)                                  approving the terms of the resolution referred to in paragraph 4 above; and

 

(b)                                  authorising a specified person or persons to sign the resolution on its behalf.

 

6.                                       A certificate of a director of the Additional Guarantor certifying that the borrowing of the Total Commitments in full and the borrowing of the Total Commitments under (and as defined in) the 2019 Facility and the 2020 Facility in full would not together cause any borrowing limit or limit on the giving of guarantees binding on it to be exceeded (whether as a result of such limit being waived or otherwise).

 

7.                                       A copy of any other authorisation or other document, opinion or assurance which the Agent considers to be necessary or desirable in connection with the entry into and performance of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Guarantor Accession Agreement or for the validity and enforceability of any Finance Document.

 

8.                                       A specimen of the signature of each person authorised by the resolutions referred to in paragraphs 3 and, if applicable, 5 above.

 

9.                                       A copy of the latest annual statutory audited accounts of the Additional Guarantor.

 

105



 

10.                                A legal opinion of Linklaters LLP, legal advisers to Vodafone, and, if applicable, other lawyers approved by the Agent in the place of incorporation of the Additional Guarantor addressed to the Finance Parties.

 

11.                                A certificate of an authorised signatory of the Additional Guarantor certifying that each copy document specified in this Part II of Schedule 2 is correct, complete and in full force and effect as at a date no earlier than the date of the Guarantor Accession Agreement.

 

106



 

PART III

 

TO BE DELIVERED BY AN ADDITIONAL BORROWER

 

1.                                       A Borrower Accession Agreement, duly executed (if appropriate, under seal) by the Additional Borrower.

 

2.                                       A copy of the memorandum and articles of association and certificate of incorporation (or other equivalent constitutional documents) of the Additional Borrower.

 

3.                                       A copy of a resolution of the board of directors of the Additional Borrower:

 

(a)                                  approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Borrower Accession Agreement and resolving that it execute the Borrower Accession Agreement;

 

(b)                                  authorising a specified person or persons to execute the Borrower Accession Agreement; and

 

(c)                                   authorising a specified person or persons, on its behalf, to sign and/or despatch all documents to be signed and/or despatched by it under or in connection with this Agreement.

 

4.                                       A certificate of a director of the Additional Borrower certifying that the borrowing of the Total Commitments in full and the borrowing of the Total Commitments under (and as defined in) the 2019 Facility and the 2020 Facility in full would not together cause any borrowing limit or limit on the giving of guarantees binding on it to be exceeded (whether as a result of such limit being waived or otherwise).

 

5.                                       A copy of any other authorisation or other document, opinion or assurance which the Agent considers to be necessary or desirable in connection with the entry into and performance of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Borrower Accession Agreement or for the validity and enforceability of any Finance Document.

 

6.                                       A specimen of the signature of each person authorised by the resolutions referred to in paragraph 3 above.

 

7.                                       A copy of the latest annual statutory audited accounts of the Additional Borrower (if any).

 

8.                                       A legal opinion of Linklaters LLP, legal advisers to Vodafone, and, if applicable, other lawyers approved by the Agent in the place of incorporation of the Additional Borrower addressed to the Finance Parties.

 

9.                                       A certificate of an authorised signatory of the Additional Borrower certifying that each copy document specified in this Part III of Schedule 2 is correct, complete and in full force and effect as at a date no earlier than the date of the Borrower Accession Agreement.

 

107



 

SCHEDULE 3

 

FORM OF REQUEST

 

To:

Mizuho Bank, Ltd. as Agent

 

 

From:

[BORROWER]

 

 

Date:

[         ]

 

Vodafone Group Plc U.S.$1,000,000,000 Revolving Credit Agreement dated [          ] 2015 (as

amended from time to time)

 

1.                                       We wish to utilise the Facility by way of Advances as follows:

 

(a)                                  Drawdown Date:                                                                                                     [              ]

 

(b)                                  Requested Amount (including currency):                      [              ]

 

(c)                                   Term:                                                                                                                                                                [              ]

 

(d)                                  Payment Instructions:                                                                            [              ]

 

2.                                       We confirm that each condition specified in [Clause 4.2 ( Conditions to all drawdowns and rollovers )] 1  is satisfied on the date of this Request and this Advance would not cause any borrowing limit binding on us to be exceeded.

 

[By:

 

 

 

[BORROWER]

 

 

 

Authorised Signatory

 

 


1               Delete as applicable depending on whether the Advance is a Rollover Advance.

 

108



 

SCHEDULE 4

 

FORMS OF ACCESSION DOCUMENTS

 

PART I

 

NOVATION CERTIFICATE

 

To:

Mizuho Bank, Ltd. as Agent

 

 

 

 

From:

[THE EXISTING LENDER] and [THE NEW LENDER]

Date: [             ]]

 

Vodafone Group Plc U.S.$1,000,000,000 Revolving Credit Agreement dated [         ] 2015 (as

amended from time to time)

 

We refer to Clause 26.4 ( Procedure for novations ).

 

1.                                       We [          ] (the “ Existing Lender ”) and [            ] (the “ New Lender ”) agree to the Existing Lender and the New Lender novating all the Existing Lender’s rights and obligations referred to in the Schedule in accordance with Clause 26.4 ( Procedure for novations ).

 

2.                                       The specified date for the purposes of [Clause 26.4(c) ( Procedure for novations )] is [date of novation].

 

3.                                       The Facility Office and address for notices of the New Lender for the purposes of Clause 32.2 ( Addresses for notices ) are set out in the Schedule.

 

4.                                       The New Lender confirms that it has given notice to Vodafone of the entry into of this Novation Certificate [and has obtained Vodafone’s consent] 2  in accordance with Clause 26.2(c)(ii) ( Transfers by Lenders ).

 

5.                                       This Novation Certificate and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law.

 


2               Delete as applicable depending on whether Vodafone’s consent is required.

 

109



 

The Schedule

 

Rights and obligations to be novated

 

[ Details of the rights and obligations of the Existing Lender to be novated. ]

 

[New Lender]

 

 

 

 

 

[Facility Office

Address for notices]

 

 

 

 

[Existing Lender]

[New Lender]

[ · ]

 

 

 

By:

By:

By:

 

 

 

Date:

Date:

Date:

 

110



 

PART II

 

GUARANTOR ACCESSION AGREEMENT

 

To:

Mizuho Bank, Ltd. as Agent

 

 

From:

[PROPOSED GUARANTOR]

 

Date: [         ]

 

Vodafone Group Plc U.S.$1,000,000,000 Revolving Credit Agreement dated [         ] 2015 (as

amended from time to time) (the “Credit Agreement”)

 

Terms used in this Deed which are defined in the Credit Agreement shall have the same meaning in this Deed as in the Credit Agreement.

 

We refer to Clause 26.7 ( Additional Guarantors ).

 

We, [name of company] of [Registered Office] (Registered no. [         ]) agree to become an Additional Guarantor and to be bound by the terms of the Credit Agreement as an Additional Guarantor in accordance with Clause 26.7 ( Additional Guarantors ). [In addition, we also agree to become bound by all the terms of the Credit Agreement expressed to apply to or be binding on NewTopco] 3

 

Our address for notices for the purposes of Clause 32.2 ( Addresses for notices ) is:

 

[           ]

 

[ If not classified as a corporation : [Name of company] is [classified as a partnership/OR/ disregarded as an entity separate from its owner] and is owned by [NAME OF OWNER(S)] for U.S. federal income tax purposes.]

 

This Deed and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law.

 

Executed as a deed by

)

Director

[PROPOSED GUARANTOR]

)

 

acting by

)

Director/Secretary

And

)

 

 


3               Only in the case of accession by NewTopco.

 

111



 

PART III

 

BORROWER ACCESSION AGREEMENT

 

To:

Mizuho Bank, Ltd. as Agent

 

 

From:

[PROPOSED BORROWER]

 

[Date]

 

Vodafone Group Plc - U.S.$1,000,000,000 Revolving Credit Agreement dated [            ] 2015 (as

amended from time to time) (the “Credit Agreement”)

 

Terms used herein which are defined in the Credit Agreement shall have the same meaning herein as in the Credit Agreement.

 

We refer to Clause 26.8 (Additional Borrowers).

 

We, [Name of company] of [Registered Office] (Registered no. [            ] agree to become party to and to be bound by the terms of the Credit Agreement as an Additional Borrower in accordance with Clause 26.8 (Additional Borrowers).

 

The address for notices of the Additional Borrower for the purposes of Clause 32.2 (Addresses for notices) is:

 

[            ]

 

[If not classified as a corporation: [Name of company] is [classified as a partnership/OR/ disregarded as an entity separate from its owner] and is owned by [NAME OF OWNER(S)] for U.S. federal income tax purposes.]

 

This Agreement and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law.

 

[ADDITIONAL BORROWER]

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

[ · ] By:

 

 

112



 

SCHEDULE 5

 

FORM OF CONFIDENTIALITY UNDERTAKING FROM NEW LENDER

 

To :

[Existing Lender];

 

 

 

Vodafone Group Plc;

 

Dear Sirs

 

We refer to the U.S.$1,000,000,000 Revolving Credit Agreement dated [         ] 2015 (as amended from time to time) (the “ Credit Agreement ”) between, among others, Vodafone Group Plc and Mizuho Bank, Ltd. (as Agent).

 

This is a confidentiality undertaking referred to in Clause 27 ( Disclosure of information ) of the Credit Agreement. A term defined in the Credit Agreement has the same meaning in this undertaking.

 

We are considering entering into contractual relations with [insert name of Lender] (the “ Existing Lender ”) and understand that it is a condition of our receiving information about Vodafone Group Plc and its related companies and any Finance Document and/or any information under or in connection with any Finance Document that we execute this undertaking.

 

1.                                       Confidentiality undertaking

 

We undertake (a) to keep the Confidential Information confidential and not to disclose it to anyone except as provided for by paragraph 2 below and to ensure that the Confidential Information is protected with security measures and a degree of care that would apply to our own confidential information, (b) to use the Confidential Information only for the Permitted Purpose, (c) to use all reasonable endeavours to ensure that any person to whom we pass any Confidential Information (unless disclosed under paragraph 2(b) below) acknowledges and complies with the provisions of this letter as if that person were also a party to it and (d) not to make enquiries of any member of the Consolidated Group or any of their officers, directors, employees or professional advisers relating directly or indirectly to the Facility, other than directly to the Group Treasurer of Vodafone.

 

2.                                       Permitted disclosure

 

You agree that we may disclose Confidential Information:

 

(a)                                  to members of the Purchaser Group and their officers, directors, employees and professional advisers to the extent necessary for the Permitted Purpose and to any auditors of members of the Purchaser Group;

 

(b)                                  where requested or required by any court of competent jurisdiction or any competent judicial, governmental, supervisory or regulatory body, (ii) where required by the rules of any stock exchange on which the shares or other securities of any member of the Purchaser Group are listed or (iii) where required by the laws or regulations of any country with jurisdiction over the affairs of any member of the Purchaser Group.

 

113



 

3.                                       Notification of required or unauthorised disclosure

 

We agree (to the extent permitted by law) to inform you of the full circumstances of any disclosure under paragraph 2(b) above or upon becoming aware that Confidential Information has been disclosed in breach of this letter.

 

4.                                       Return of copies

 

If you so request in writing, we shall return all Confidential Information supplied by you to us and destroy or permanently erase all copies of Confidential Information made by us and use all reasonable endeavours to ensure that anyone to whom we have supplied any Confidential Information destroys or permanently erases such Confidential Information and any copies made by them, in each case save to the extent that we or the recipients are required to retain any such Confidential Information by any applicable law, rule or regulation or by any competent judicial, governmental, supervisory or regulatory body or in accordance with internal policy, or where the Confidential Information has been disclosed under paragraph 2(b) above.

 

5.                                       Continuing obligations

 

The obligations in this letter are continuing and, in particular, shall survive the termination of any discussions or negotiations between you and us. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, the obligations in this letter shall cease (a) if we become a party to the Facility or (b) twelve months after we have returned all Confidential Information supplied to us by you and destroyed or permanently erased all copies of Confidential Information made by us (other than any such Confidential Information or copies which have been disclosed under paragraph 2 above (other than paragraph 2(a)) or which, pursuant to paragraph 4 above, are not required to be returned or destroyed provided that any such Confidential Information retained in accordance with paragraph 4 above shall remain confidential, subject to paragraph 2, for the period during which it is retained).

 

6.                                       Consequences of breach, etc.

 

We acknowledge and agree that you or members of the Consolidated Group (each a “ Relevant Person ”) may be irreparably harmed by the breach of the terms hereof and damages may not be an adequate remedy; each Relevant Person may be granted an injunction or specific performance for any threatened or actual breach of the provisions of this letter by any member of the Purchaser Group.

 

7.                                       No waiver; amendments, etc.

 

This letter sets out the full extent of our obligations of confidentiality owed to you in relation to the information the subject of this letter. No failure or delay in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder will operate as a waiver thereof nor will any single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege preclude any further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privileges hereunder. The terms of this letter and our obligations hereunder may only be amended or modified by written agreement between us.

 

114



 

8.                                       Inside information

 

We acknowledge that some or all of the Confidential Information is or may be price-sensitive information and that the use of such information may be regulated or prohibited by applicable legislation relating to insider dealing and we undertake not to use any Confidential Information for any unlawful purpose.

 

9.                                       Nature of undertakings

 

The undertakings given by us under this letter are given to you and (without implying any fiduciary obligations on your part) are also given for the benefit of each other member of the Consolidated Group.

 

10.                                Governing law and jurisdiction

 

This letter and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and the parties submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.

 

11.                                Third party rights

 

(a)                                  Subject to paragraphs 6 and 9 above the terms of this letter may be enforced and relied upon only by you and us and the operation of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 is excluded.

 

(b)                                  Notwithstanding any provisions of this letter, the parties of this letter do not require the consent of any Relevant Person to rescind or vary this letter at any time.

 

12.                                Definitions

 

In this letter:

 

Confidential Information ” means any information relating to Vodafone, the Consolidated Group and/or the Facility provided to us by you or any of your Affiliates or advisers, in whatever form, and includes information given orally and any document, electronic file or any other way of representing or recording information which contains or is derived or copied from such information but excludes information that (a) is or becomes public knowledge other than as a direct or indirect result of any breach of this letter or (b) is known by us before the date the information is disclosed to us by you or any of your affiliates or advisers or is lawfully obtained by us thereafter, other than from a source which is connected with the Consolidated Group and which, in either case, as far as we are aware, has not been obtained in violation of, and is not otherwise subject to, any obligation of confidentiality;

 

Permitted Purpose ” means considering and evaluating whether to enter into the Facility; and

 

115



 

Purchaser Group ” means us, each of our holding companies and subsidiaries and each subsidiary of each of our holding companies (as each such term is defined in the Companies Act 1985).

 

Yours faithfully

 

 

 

 

 

For and on behalf of

 

 

 

[New Lender]

 

 

116



 

SCHEDULE 6

 

FORM OF INCREASE CONFIRMATION

 

To:

Mizuho Bank, Ltd. as Agent and Vodafone, for and on behalf of each Obligor

 

 

From:

[the Increase Lender] (the “ Increase Lender ”)

 

[DATE]

 

Vodafone Group Plc U.S.$1,000,000,000 Revolving Credit Agreement dated [        ] 2015 (as

amended from time to time) (the “Credit Agreement”)

 

1.                                       We refer to the Credit Agreement. This agreement (the “ Agreement ”) shall take effect as an Increase Confirmation for the purpose of the Credit Agreement. Terms defined in the Credit Agreement have the same meaning in this Agreement unless given a different meaning in this Agreement.

 

2.                                       We refer to clause 2.2 ( Increase ) of the Credit Agreement.

 

3.                                       The Increase Lender agrees to assume and will assume all of the obligations corresponding to the Commitment specified in the Schedule (the “ Relevant Commitment ”) as if it was an Original Lender under the Credit Agreement.

 

4.                                       The proposed date on which the increase in relation to the Increase Lender and the Relevant Commitment is to take effect (the “ Increase Date ”) is [         ].

 

5.                                       On the Increase Date, the Increase Lender becomes party to the relevant Finance Documents as a Lender.

 

6.                                       The Facility Office and address, fax number and attention details for notices to the Increase Lender for the purposes of Clause 32.2 ( Addresses for notices ) are set out in the Schedule.

 

7.                                       The Increase Lender expressly acknowledges the limitations on the Lenders’ obligations referred to in Clause 2.2(f) ( Increase ).

 

8.                                       The Increase Lender confirms, for the benefit of the Agent and without liability to any Obligor, that it is:

 

(a)                                  [a Qualifying Lender (other than a Treaty Lender);]

 

(b)                                  [a Treaty Lender;]

 

(c)                                   [not a Qualifying Lender]. 4

 

[9]                                  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and this has the same effect as if the signatures on the counterparts were on a single copy of this Agreement.

 


4               Delete as applicable — each Increase Lender is required to confirm which of these three categories it falls within.

 

117



 

[9/10] This Agreement and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English Law.

 

[10/11] This Agreement has been entered into on the date stated at the beginning of this Agreement.

 

The Schedule

Relevant Commitment/rights and obligations to be assumed by the Increase Lender

 

[ insert relevant details ]

 

[ Facility office address, fax number and attention details for notices and account details for payments ]

 

[Increase Lender]

 

By:

 

This Agreement is accepted as an Increase Confirmation for the purpose of the Credit Agreement by the Agent and the Increase Date is confirmed as [          ].

 

Agent

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

118



 

Signatories

 

Borrower and Guarantor

 

 

 

VODAFONE GROUP PLC

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

119



 

The Arranger

 

 

 

MIZUHO BANK, LTD.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robert Pettitt

 

 

Robert Pettitt, Deputy General Manager

 

 

120



 

Original Lender

 

 

 

MIZUHO BANK, LTD.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robert Pettitt

 

 

Robert Pettitt, Deputy General Manager

 

 

121



 

Agent

 

 

 

MIZUHO BANK, LTD.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robert Pettitt

 

 

Robert Pettitt, Deputy General Manager

 

 

122


Exhibit 4.9

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT

 

 

19 FEBRUARY 2016

 

VODAFONE GROUP PLC

 

£1,440,000,000

 

1.50 per cent. Subordinated Mandatory Convertible Bonds due 2017

 

 

ALLEN & OVERY

 

Allen & Overy LLP

 

 



 

 

CONTENTS

 

 

Clause

 

Page

 

 

 

1.

Subscription

4

2.

Closing

5

3.

Undertakings

5

4.

Fees, Expenses and Stamp Duties

7

5.

Representations and Warranties of the Issuer and Indemnity

7

6.

Conditions

12

7.

Managers’ Representations, Warranties and Undertakings

12

8.

Termination

14

9.

Notices

14

10.

Governing Law

15

11.

Miscellaneous

15

 

 

 

Schedule

 

 

 

 

 

1.

Managers’ Underwriting Commitments

17

 

 

 

Signatories

19

 



 

THIS AGREEMENT is made on 19 February 2016 BETWEEN :

 

(1)                                  VODAFONE GROUP PLC , a company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales with registered number 01833679 (the Issuer );

 

(2)                                  MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INTERNATIONAL PLC ( Morgan Stanley ); and

 

(3)                                  J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES PLC ( J.P. Morgan and together with Morgan Stanley, the Managers ).

 

WHEREAS :

 

(A)                                The Issuer proposes to issue £1,440,000,000 1.50 per cent. Subordinated Mandatory Convertible Bonds due 2017 (the Bonds , which expression where the context admits shall include the Global Bond (as defined below)).

 

(B)                                The Bonds will be in registered form in the denomination of £100,000 each, and will be constituted by a Trust Deed (the Trust Deed ) between the Issuer and The Law Debenture Trust Corporation p.l.c. as trustee (the Trustee ) and will be issued subject to and with the benefit of an Agency Agreement (the Agency Agreement ) between the Issuer, the Trustee and the agents named therein, and with the benefit of a Calculation Agency Agreement dated the date of this Agreement (the Calculation Agency Agreement ) between the Issuer and Conv-Ex Advisors Limited.

 

(C)                                The Bonds will be convertible into fully paid ordinary shares in the Issuer (the Shares ) in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Bonds (the Conditions ).

 

(D)                                In addition to the Bonds, the Issuer proposes to issue £1,440,000,000 2.00 Subordinated Mandatory Convertible Bonds due 2019 (the Tranche B Bonds ), which shall be constituted by a separate trust deed between the Issuer and the Trustee, and which shall be issued subject to and with the benefit of a separate agency agreement and calculation agency agreement in each case between the Issuer and the agents named therein. The Issuer and the Managers have entered into a separate subscription agreement dated 19 February 2016 in relation to the Tranche B Bonds.

 

(E)                                 The Issuer and Morgan Stanley have entered into a confirmation dated on or about the date of this Agreement evidencing the equity put and call option transaction entered on or about the date of this Agreement, which is expressed to be subject to a deemed agreement in the form of an ISDA 2002 Master Agreement with a Schedule thereto in the form appended to such confirmation, together with a deemed ISDA 1995 Credit Support Annex (Bilateral Form — Transfer) with such elections, variables and amendments thereto as are appended to such confirmation (together, the Morgan Stanley Option ).

 

(F)                                  The Issuer and J.P. Morgan have entered into a confirmation dated on or about the date of this Agreement evidencing the equity put and call option transaction entered on or about the date of this Agreement, which is expressed to be subject to a deemed agreement in the form of an ISDA 2002 Master Agreement with a Schedule thereto in the form appended to such confirmation, together with a deemed ISDA 1995 Credit Support Annex (Bilateral Form — Transfer) with such elections, variables and amendments thereto as are appended to such confirmation (together, the J.P. Morgan Option and together with the Morgan Stanley Option, the Options ).

 

(G)                                Certain additional documents, as set out in Schedule 2 hereto, have been, or are expected to be, entered in connection with the Options. Such documents, together with the Options, are collectively referred to herein as the Hedging and Security Documents .

 

3



 

(H)                               Unless otherwise defined herein, all words and expressions defined in the Conditions shall, where the context so requires and admits, have the same respective meanings in this Agreement.

 

IT IS AGREED as follows:

 

1.                                       SUBSCRIPTION

 

1.1                                Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Issuer agrees to issue the Bonds and each Manager severally, and not jointly, agrees to subscribe and pay for, or to procure subscriptions and payment for, the principal amount of the Bonds set out against its name as its underwriting commitment in Schedule 1 hereto on 25 February 2016, or such later date, not being later than 10 March 2016, as the Issuer and the Managers may agree (the Closing Date ) at a subscription price of 100 per cent. of the principal amount of the Bonds (the Subscription Price ).

 

1.2                                The Issuer confirms that:

 

(a)                                  it has authorised the Managers to offer Bonds on its behalf for subscription at the Subscription Price subject to the provisions of Clause 7;

 

(b)                                  the Issuer has approved the arrangements made on its behalf by the Managers for announcements in respect of the Bonds to be published on such dates and in such newspapers or other publications as it may agree.

 

1.3                                If either Manager shall fail on the Closing Date to subscribe and pay for any of the Bonds which it is obliged to subscribe and pay for under this Agreement (the Defaulted Bonds ), the non-defaulting Manager shall have the right but not the obligation, within 48 hours thereafter, to subscribe and pay for all, but not less than all, of the Defaulted Bonds upon the terms herein set forth; if, however the non-defaulting Manager shall not have completed such arrangements within such 48 hour period, then:

 

(a)                                  if the principal amount of Defaulted Bonds does not exceed 10 per cent. of the aggregate principal amount of Bonds to be subscribed and paid for on such date, the non-defaulting Manager shall be obliged to subscribe and pay for the full principal amount thereof; or

 

(b)                                  if the principal amount of Defaulted Bonds exceeds 10 per cent. of the aggregate principal amount of Bonds to be subscribed and paid for on such date, this Agreement shall terminate without any liability on the part of the non-defaulting Manager.

 

No action taken pursuant to this Clause 1.3 shall relieve a defaulting Manager from liability in respect of its default. In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination of this Agreement, the non-defaulting Manager or the Issuer shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date for a period not exceeding seven days in order to effect any consequential changes in the documents or arrangements relating to the offering of the Bonds.

 

Upon this Agreement terminating in accordance with the provisions of sub-clause 1.3(b) above, it shall be of no further effect and no party shall be under any liability to any other in respect of this Agreement, save in respect of the liability of any defaulting Manager as provided in the previous paragraph and except that (i) the Issuer shall remain liable for the payment of all costs and expenses referred to in Clause 4 and already incurred or incurred in consequence of such termination, (ii) any liability arising before or in relation to such termination shall not be affected by the provisions of this Clause and (iii) the provisions of Clauses 5.4, and 9 to 11 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

 

4



 

1.4                                The Conditions will be set out in the Trust Deed (subject as stated therein) and will, on the date hereof, be in a form substantially agreed by the parties hereto, as initialled for identification purposes by Allen & Overy LLP and Linklaters LLP, with such amendments (if any) as may be agreed in writing between the Issuer and the Managers following the date hereof.

 

1.5                                In connection with the issue and offering of the Bonds, the Managers and any of their respective Affiliates, each acting as an investor for its own account, may take up Bonds and in that capacity may retain, purchase or sell Bonds and any other securities of the Issuer or related investments for their own account and may offer or sell such securities or other investments otherwise than in connection with the issue and offering of the Bonds. Accordingly, references in this document to the Bonds being offered or placed should be read as including any offering or placement of securities to the Managers and any of their respective Affiliates acting in such capacity. The Managers do not intend to disclose the extent of any such investment or transactions otherwise than in accordance with any legal or regulatory obligation to do so. Each Manager may perform all or any of the functions expressed to be performed by it under this Agreement through any Affiliate. For the purpose of this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires, Affiliate means, with respect to a given person, any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with that person from time to time (and its respective directors, officers, employees and agents from time to time).

 

1.6                                Without prejudice to the obligations owed by the Managers to the Issuer under this Agreement, by executing this Agreement, each of the Managers hereby agrees to be bound by the provisions of the ICMA Agreement Among Managers English Law Version 2 (Managers Only Equity-Related Issues) (the AAM ), save that Clause 3 of the AAM shall not apply and any reference to “Lead Manager” and/or to “Managers” therein shall be deemed to be a reference to the Managers.

 

2.                                       CLOSING

 

The net subscription monies in respect of the Bonds (representing the Subscription Price, less the Fee (as defined in Clause 4 below) in respect of the Bonds and all costs and expenses pursuant to, or pursuant to any arrangement referred to in, Clause 4) will be paid by J.P. Morgan on behalf of the Managers to the Issuer at or around 10.00 a.m. (London time) on the Closing Date, for value the Closing Date, in immediately available funds to such account as shall be notified by the Issuer to J.P. Morgan at least three (3) business days prior to the Closing Date against delivery of a duly executed global bond in or substantially in the form provided in the Trust Deed (the Global Bond ) to a common depositary for Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. and for Clearstream Banking, société anonyme and the registration of the holding of the Bonds by a nominee for such common depositary in the register maintained by the registrar for the Bonds.

 

3.                                       UNDERTAKINGS

 

3.1                                The Issuer undertakes with the Managers and each of them that:

 

(a)                                  it will on or before the Closing Date, execute the Trust Deed, the Agency Agreement, the Escrow Agreements, the Interest Rate Swaps and the Issuer Security Deeds;

 

(b)                                  the Issuer shall promptly after becoming aware of the occurrence thereof notify each Manager of (A) any condition, event or act which would after the issue of the Bonds (or would with the expiry of any grace period and/or the lapse of time and/or, in the case of Condition 10, the giving of notice) constitute an Enforcement Event (as defined in Condition 10) or (B) any breach of the representations and warranties or undertakings contained in this Agreement;

 

(c)                                   if, following the date of this Agreement and before the Closing Date, the Issuer becomes aware that any of the conditions specified in Clause 6 will not be satisfied, the Issuer shall

 

5



 

forthwith notify the Managers to this effect giving full details thereof. In such circumstances, the Managers shall be entitled (but not bound) by notice in writing to the Issuer to be released and discharged from its obligations under this Agreement;

 

(d)                                  during the period commencing on the date hereof and ending 90 days from the date of this Agreement (both dates inclusive), it will not and it will procure that none of its subsidiaries or any other party acting on its or their behalf (other than the Managers) will, without the prior written consent of the Managers (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) (i) directly or indirectly, issue, offer, pledge, sell, contract to issue or sell, issue or sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to issue or sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Shares or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Shares, (ii) enter into any swap or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, any of the economic consequences of ownership of Shares, whether any such swap or transaction described in (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Shares or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, or (iii) announce the intention to implement any of the transactions described in (i) or (ii) above. The foregoing sentence shall not apply (a) to the issue and performance of the Bonds or the entry into and performance of the Options or (b) to the issue and performance of the Tranche B Bonds or (c) upon exercise of options in respect of Shares existing as at the date hereof or (d) to the grant of options or vesting of awards under any employees’ share scheme existing and publicly disclosed as of the date of this Agreement or (e) the issue of Shares pursuant to the Issuer’s dividend reinvestment plan or (f) upon exercise of options in respect of senior leadership team directors. For the purposes of this sub-clause 3.1(d), Shares shall include participation certificates and any depositary or other receipt, instrument, rights or entitlement representing Shares;

 

(e)                                   it will use all reasonable endeavours to obtain the listing of the Bonds on a recognised stock exchange (as such term is defined in section 1005 of the Income Tax Act 2007) by no later than 25 August 2016. Unless required for the purposes of listing (in which case the Issuer shall obtain the prior written consent of the Managers, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), the applicable listing document shall not refer to the Managers;

 

(f)                                    in the event that a significant new factor, material mistake or inaccuracy arises or is noted relating to the information included in the Relevant Information which is capable of affecting the assessment by investors of the assets and liabilities, financial position, profits and losses, and prospects of the Issuer and/or the rights attaching to the Bonds, the Issuer shall, prior to any subsequent issue of Bonds, update or amend the Relevant Information (following consultation with the Managers);

 

(g)                                   it will ensure, to the best of its ability, that proceeds raised in connection with the issue of the Bonds will not, directly or indirectly, be lent, contributed or otherwise made available to any person or entity (whether or not related to the Issuer) for the purpose of financing the activities of any person or for the benefit of any country currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury ( OFAC ) or any equivalent sanctions administered or enforced by the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury or other relevant sanctions authority; and

 

(h)                                  it will not, between the date hereof and the Closing Date (both dates inclusive), do any act or thing which, had the Bonds then been in issue, would, pursuant to the Conditions, result in an adjustment to the Conversion Price.

 

6



 

4.                                       FEES, EXPENSES AND STAMP DUTIES

 

4.1                                In consideration of the agreement by the Managers to act as the managers in relation to the issue of the Bonds and to subscribe and pay for or procure subscriptions and payment for the Bonds as provided above, the Issuer shall pay to the Managers a combined management and underwriting commission equal to 0.25 per cent. of the principal amount of the Bonds (the Fee ), which shall be split equally between the Managers.

 

4.2                                J.P. Morgan on behalf of the Managers shall be entitled to deduct the Fee from the Subscription Price as provided in Clause 2 and the Issuer shall not be concerned with the apportionment of such payments between the Managers or the payment of them to any other person.

 

4.3                                The Issuer shall bear and pay all costs and expenses incurred in, or in connection with, the issue of the Bonds, making the initial delivery of the Bonds and listing the Bonds on the relevant stock exchange, and shall also pay the remuneration of the Trustee and the agents appointed under the Agency Agreement and the Calculation Agency Agreement, and the expenses incurred by any of them, and the fees and expenses of the Trustee’s and the Managers’ legal advisers (including, in each case, any value added tax or other similar tax properly chargeable thereon).

 

4.4                                The Issuer undertakes that it will pay promptly, and in any event before any penalty becomes payable, any stamp, documentary, registration or similar duty or tax (including any stamp duty reserve tax) payable in connection with the entry into, performance, enforcement or admissibility in evidence of any Bond, any of the Agreements or any communication pursuant thereto and that it will indemnify each Manager against any liability with respect to or resulting from any delay in paying or omission to pay any such duty or tax.

 

4.5                                All payments by the Issuer under this Agreement shall be paid without set off or counterclaim, and free and clear of and without deduction or withholding for or on account of, any present or future taxes, levies, imports, duties, fees, assessments or other charges of whatever nature, imposed by the United Kingdom or by any department, agency or other political sub division or taxing authority thereof or therein, and all interest, penalties or similar liabilities with respect thereto ( Taxes ). If any Taxes are required by law to be deducted or withheld in connection with any such payment, the Issuer will increase the amount paid so that the full amount of such payment is received by the payee as if no such deduction or withholding had been made. In addition, the Issuer agrees to indemnify and hold the Managers harmless against any Taxes which they are required to pay in respect of any amount paid by the Issuer under this Agreement. If the Issuer pays any additional amount to a payee under this Clause (a Tax Payment ) and that payee obtains a refund of a tax, or a credit against tax by reason of the Tax Payment (a Tax Credit ) then that payee shall reimburse the Issuer such amount as can be determined to be the proportion of the Tax Credit as will leave that payee (after that reimbursement) in no better or worse position than it would have been if the Tax Payment had not been paid. Nothing in this Clause shall interfere with the right of each payee to arrange its tax affairs in whatever manner it thinks fit and no payee is obliged to disclose any information regarding its tax affairs or computations to the Issuer which it reasonably considers confidential.

 

5.                                       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE ISSUER AND INDEMNITY

 

5.1                                As at the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, the Issuer hereby represents, warrants and undertakes to the Managers and each of them as follows (with the agreement by the Managers to subscribe and pay for, or to procure subscriptions and payment for, the Bonds being deemed to have been made on the basis of, and in reliance on, such representations, warranties and agreements):

 

(a)

 

7



 

(i)                                      that the most recently published audited consolidated and unconsolidated financial statements of the Issuer (the audited accounts ) were prepared in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards (formerly International Accounting Standards) issued by the International Accounting Standards Board ( IASB ) and interpretations issued by the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee of the IASB (as amended, supplemented or re-issued from time to time) consistently applied (except as disclosed therein) and that they give a true and fair view of (A) the consolidated and unconsolidated financial condition of the Issuer as at the date to which they were prepared and (B) the consolidated results of operations of the Issuer for the financial period ended on the relevant date;

 

(ii)                                   that, except as disclosed in the Public Statements, there has been no material adverse change in the financial position or prospects of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries (together the Group ) since the date of the audited accounts.

 

As used herein, Subsidiary means any entity which is a subsidiary within the meaning of Section 1159 of the Companies Act 2006;

 

(b)                                  that (i) the factual statements contained in any of the Public Statements, press releases issued or to be issued in connection with the issue and offering of the Bonds (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any other materials authorised in writing by the Issuer for use by the Managers in the marketing, offering and distribution of the Bonds (the Press Releases ), the term sheets prepared in connection with the issue and offering of the Bonds, or any amendment or supplement thereto (the Term Sheets ) or the Conditions are in every material respect, true and accurate and not misleading and that to the best of the knowledge and belief of the Issuer there are no other facts in relation thereto the omission of which would make any statement in such documents misleading in any material respect, (ii) the statements of intention, opinion, belief or expectation contained in such documents are honestly made or held and (iii) all reasonable care has been taken to ascertain such facts and to verify the accuracy of all such statements.

 

As used herein, Public Statements means any information released to the public or made available to potential investors by or on behalf of the Issuer or any Subsidiary, whether such information was required to be made public by applicable law and regulation (including, but not limited to, all filings required by the London Stock Exchange plc and/or English law) or otherwise, on or after the date of publication of the audited financial statements of the Issuer as at and for the year ended 31 March 2015 (including, without limitation, such audited financial statements of the Issuer);

 

(c)                                   that (i) the Issuer has complied with, and will continue to comply with, the requirements applicable to it under the Financial Conduct Authority’s Listing Rules and Disclosure and Transparency Rules and (ii) the issue of the Bonds will not cause the Issuer to contravene section 118 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended) (the FSMA ) or the provisions of Part V of the Criminal Justice Act 1993;

 

(d)                                  that the Issuer has been duly incorporated and is validly existing under the laws of its incorporation with full power and authority and to execute and perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Hedging and Security Documents to which it is a party, the Trust Deed, the Calculation Agency Agreement and the Agency Agreement (together the Agreements );

 

(e)                                   that all corporate approvals and authorisations required by the Issuer for or in connection with (i) the execution, issue and offering of the Bonds and compliance by the Issuer with the terms of the Bonds and (ii) the execution and delivery of, and compliance with the terms of, the Agreements have been obtained and are in full force and effect and, in the case of Bonds,

 

8



 

upon due execution of the Bonds and the appropriate entries being made in the register of Bondholders in accordance with the Trust Deed and the Agency Agreement, the Bonds will constitute, and, in the case of the Agreements, the Agreements constitute or (as the case may be) will constitute, legal, valid and binding obligations of the Issuer enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, subject to the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting the rights of creditors generally;

 

(f)                                    that (i) the execution and delivery of the Agreements are not contrary to the provisions of the Articles of Association of the Issuer and (ii) as at the Closing Date, the issue of the Bonds and the performance of the terms of the Bonds and the Agreements will not be contrary to the provisions of the Articles of Association of the Issuer and will not result in any breach, to any material extent, of the terms of, or constitute a default under, any statute, instrument, agreement or order to which the Issuer is a party or by which the Issuer or its property is bound;

 

(g)                                   that no event has occurred which would constitute (after the issue of the Bonds) an “Enforcement Event” thereunder or which with the giving of notice or lapse of time or fulfilment of any other condition would (after the issue of the Bonds) constitute such an “Enforcement Event”;

 

(h)                                  that, except as disclosed in the Public Statements, (i) the Issuer is not in breach of the terms of, or in default under, any instrument, agreement or order to which it is a party or by which it or its property is bound the consequence of which would have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Issuer to perform its payment obligations under the Bonds; and (ii) neither the Issuer nor any member of the Group is involved, or has been involved, in any legal or arbitration proceedings (including any proceedings which are pending or threatened of which the Issuer is aware) which may have, or have had, a significant effect on the financial position of the Group;

 

(i)                                      that (i) as at the date of this Agreement, no consent, approval, authorisation, order, filing, registration or qualification of or with any court or governmental authority is required and no other action or thing (including, without limitation, the payment of any stamp or other similar tax or duty) is required to be taken, fulfilled or done by the Issuer for or in connection with (A) the execution, issue and offering of the Bonds and compliance by the Issuer with the terms of the Bonds or (B) the execution and delivery of, and compliance with the terms of, the Agreements and (ii) if, after the date of this Agreement, any such consent, approval, authorisation, order, filing, registration or qualification of or with any court or governmental authority or any other action or thing (including, without limitation, the payment of any stamp or other similar tax or duty) is required to be taken, fulfilled or done by the Issuer, it has been taken, fulfilled or done by the Issuer;

 

(j)                                     that the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, directors, officers, agents, employees (i) are conducting their business in compliance with applicable anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws and regulations, including the UK Bribery Act 2010, (ii) maintain an effective anti-bribery compliance programme which monitors compliance and detects violations and (iii) shall not give or receive any bribes, including in relation to any public official;

 

(k)                                  that none of the Issuer, its affiliates, nor any persons acting on any of their behalf (other than either Manager), has engaged or will engage in any directed selling efforts (as defined in Rule 902(c) under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act )) with respect to the Bonds or the Shares to be delivered upon conversion of the Bonds (together with the Bonds, the Securities );

 

9



 

(l)                                      that the Issuer, its affiliates and each person acting on any of their behalf (other than either Manager) have complied and will comply with the offering restrictions requirement of Regulation S under the Securities Act ( Regulation S );

 

(m)                              that the Issuer is a “foreign issuer” (as such term is defined in Regulation S);

 

(n)                                  that, as of the Closing Date, the Bonds will not be of the same class (within the meaning of Rule 144A(d)(3)(i) under the Securities Act) as securities (i) listed on a national securities exchange in the United States which is registered under Section 6 of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act ) or (ii) quoted in any U.S. “automated inter-dealer quotation system” (as such term is used in the Exchange Act), and the Issuer is subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act;

 

(o)                                  that the Issuer is not, and as a result of any offer and sale of the Securities will not be, an “investment company” under, and as such term is defined in, the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;

 

(p)                                  that neither the Issuer nor any of its affiliates (as defined in Rule 501(b) of Regulation D under the Securities Act), nor any person acting on its or their behalf (other than each of the Managers, their respective affiliates and each person who controls them (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and each of their respective directors, officers, employees and agents (each a Relevant Party ), as to which the Issuer makes no representation or warranty), (i) has made offers or sales of any security, or solicited offers to buy, or otherwise negotiated in respect of, any security, under circumstances that would require the registration of the Securities under the Securities Act; or (ii) has engaged or will engage in any form of general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act) in connection with any offer or sale of the Securities in the United States;

 

(q)                                  that neither the Issuer nor any of its affiliates (as defined in Rule 501(b) of Regulation Dunder the Securities Act), nor any person acting on its or their behalf (other than any Relevant Party, as to which the Issuer makes no representation or warranty), has taken or will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or to result in, or that has constituted or which might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, the stabilisation in violation of applicable laws or manipulation of the price of any security to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities;

 

(r)                                     that, to the best of the Issuer’s and its Subsidiaries’ knowledge, neither the Issuer, nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the best of the Issuer’s knowledge, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries are currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC or any equivalent sanctions administered or enforced by the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury or other relevant sanctions authority; and

 

(s)                                    that, to the best of the Issuer’s and its Subsidiaries’ knowledge, the operations of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries are and have been in all material respects conducted in compliance with applicable financial record keeping and reporting requirements and money laundering statutes in the United Kingdom and in all jurisdictions in which the Issuer and its Subsidiaries conduct business, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, Money Laundering Laws ), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to Money Laundering Laws is, to the best of the

 

10



 

Issuer’s and its Subsidiaries’ knowledge, pending and, to the best of the Issuer’s knowledge, no such actions, suits or proceedings are threatened or contemplated.

 

5.2                                The Issuer shall be deemed to repeat the representations, warranties and agreements contained in Clause 5.1 on each day falling prior to the Closing Date.

 

5.3                                The representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Clause shall continue in full force and effect notwithstanding the actual or constructive knowledge of either Manager with respect to any of the matters referred to in the representations and warranties set out above, any investigation by or on behalf of the Managers or completion of the subscription and issue of the Bonds PROVIDED always that each of the above representations, warranties and agreements shall be qualified by, and to the extent of, any information disclosed in writing for the purpose of such qualification to, and acknowledged in writing for such purpose by, the relevant Manager before the relevant date on which such representations, warranties and agreements are given.

 

5.4                                Without prejudice to the other rights or remedies of the Managers, the Issuer undertakes with the Managers and each of them that if any Manager or any Relevant Party relating to such Manager incurs any direct liability, damages, cost, loss or expense (excluding any consequential economic loss but including, without limitation, legal fees, costs and expenses reasonably incurred) (a Loss ) as a result of or in relation to:

 

(a)                                  any actual or alleged (other than an allegation made by any Relevant Party) breach of the representations, warranties and undertakings contained in, or made or deemed to be made by the Issuer pursuant to, this Agreement; or

 

(b)                                  any untrue or misleading (or allegedly (other than an allegation made by any Relevant Party) untrue or misleading) statement in, or any omission (or alleged (other than an allegation made by any Relevant Party) omission) from, the Public Statements, the Term Sheets or the Conditions (together the Relevant Information ); or

 

(c)                                   any untrue or misleading (or allegedly (other than an allegation made by any Relevant Party) untrue or misleading) statement in any additional written information provided by the Issuer to the Managers in connection with the issue and offering of the Bonds,

 

the Issuer shall pay to that Manager on demand an amount equal to such Loss. Neither Manager shall have any duty or obligation, whether as fiduciary or trustee for any Relevant Party or otherwise, to recover any such payment or to account to any other person for any amounts paid to it under this Clause 5.4.

 

5.5                                In case any action shall be brought against any Relevant Party in respect of which indemnity may be sought from the Issuer the Relevant Party shall promptly notify the Issuer in writing and shall employ such legal advisers as may be agreed between such Relevant Party and the Issuer or, in default of agreement, as such Relevant Party may select. The Issuer shall have the option to elect to assume the defence thereof, and shall employ such legal advisers as may be agreed between such Relevant Party and the Issuer (or, in default of agreement, as the Relevant Party may select) unless such Relevant Party reasonably objects to the assumption on the grounds that there are legal defences available to it which are different from or in addition to and may conflict with those available to the Issuer. If the Issuer shall elect to assume the defence thereof, the Relevant Party shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional legal advisers retained by it. If the Issuer does not elect to assume the defence thereof, then the Relevant Party shall do so and shall employ such legal advisers as may be agreed between such Relevant Party and the Issuer or, in default of agreement, as such Relevant Party may select. The Issuer shall not be liable in respect of any settlement of any such action effected without its consent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed, nor shall it be liable for any legal or other expenses incurred by the Relevant Party where the Issuer

 

11



 

has elected to assume the defence in accordance with and subject to the above provisions and such expenses are incurred following such assumption.

 

6.                                       CONDITIONS

 

6.1                                This Agreement and the respective rights and obligations of the parties to this Agreement on the Closing Date are conditional upon:

 

(a)                                  the representations and warranties set out in Clause 5.1 being true, accurate and correct, in each case, as if such representations and warranties were repeated on the Closing Date, there being no outstanding material breach of any of the obligations of the Issuer under this Agreement which has not been expressly waived by the Managers prior to the Closing Date and the Relevant Information containing all material information relating to the assets and liabilities, financial position and profits and losses of the Issuer and nothing having happened or being expected to happen which would require the Relevant Information to be supplemented or updated;

 

(b)                                  the delivery to the Managers on or before the Closing Date of:

 

(i)                                      legal opinions dated the Closing Date in such form and with such contents as the Managers and the Trustee may reasonably require from Linklaters LLP, legal advisers to the Issuer as to matters of English law and from Allen & Overy LLP, legal advisers to the Managers and the Trustee as to matters of English law; and

 

(ii)                                   a certificate signed by a duly authorised officer of the Issuer to the effect stated in sub-clause 6.1(a);

 

(c)                                   the execution of the Trust Deed, the Agency Agreement, the Escrow Agreements, the Interest Rate Swaps and the Issuer Security Deeds by the parties thereto on or before the Closing Date; and

 

(d)                                  the delivery to the Managers of certified copies of all corporate and other consents, approvals or authorisations required in connection with the issue of the Bonds, the entry into of the Agreements by the Issuer and the performance by the Issuer of its obligations under the Bonds and the Agreements.

 

6.2                                In the event that any of the foregoing conditions is not satisfied, the Managers shall be entitled (but not bound) by notice in writing to the Issuer to be released and discharged from their respective obligations under the agreement reached under this Agreement.

 

7.                                       MANAGERS’ REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND UNDERTAKINGS

 

7.1                                Each Manager understands that the Securities have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. Each Manager represents, warrants and agrees that it has offered and sold, and will offer and sell the Bonds, (i) as part of their distribution at any time and (ii) otherwise until 40 days after the later of the commencement of the offering and the Closing Date, only in accordance with Regulation S. Accordingly, none of the Managers, their affiliates nor any persons acting on its or their behalf have engaged or will engage in any directed selling efforts (as defined in Regulation S) with respect to the Securities and it and they have complied and will comply with the offering restrictions requirements of Regulation S. Each Manager agrees that, prior to confirmation of the sale of the Securities, it will have sent to each distributor, dealer or person

 

12



 

receiving a selling concession, fee or other remuneration that purchases the Securities from it during the distribution compliance period a confirmation notice substantially to the following effect:

 

“The securities covered hereby have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act ), and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, “U.S. Persons” (i) as part of their distribution at any time or (ii) otherwise until 40 days after the completion of the distribution of the securities as determined and certified by the relevant Manager, except in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act ( Regulation S ). Terms used above have the meanings given to them by Regulation S.”.

 

7.2                                Terms used in Clause 7.1 have the meanings given to them by Regulation S.

 

7.3                                Each Manager represents and agrees that:

 

(a)                                  it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the Bonds in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom; and

 

(b)                                  it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated any invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of the FSMA) received by it in connection with the issue of any Bonds in circumstances in which section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to the Issuer.

 

7.4                                No action has been taken by the Issuer or any of the Managers that would, or is intended to, permit a public offer of the Bonds or possession or distribution of any offering or publicity material relating to the Bonds in any country or jurisdiction where any such action for that purpose is required. Accordingly, each Manager undertakes that it will not, directly or indirectly, offer or sell any Bonds or have in its possession, distribute or publish any offering circular, prospectus, form of application, advertisement or other document or information in any country or jurisdiction except under circumstances that will result in compliance with any applicable laws and regulations and all offers and sales of Bonds by it will be made on the same terms.

 

7.5                                Without prejudice to the generality of Clause 7.4, each Manager agrees that it will obtain any consent, approval or permission which is required for the offer, purchase or sale by it of Bonds under the laws and regulations in force in any jurisdiction to which it is subject or in which it makes such offers, purchases or sales and it will comply with all such laws and regulations.

 

7.6                                Without prejudice to the other rights and remedies of the Issuer, each Manager severally undertakes with the Issuer that if the Issuer or any Issuer Relevant Party incurs any Loss as a result of any breach by such Manager of any of its undertakings contained in Clause 7, such Manager shall pay to the Issuer or any Issuer Relevant Party, as the case may be, on demand an amount equal to such Loss provided that, without prejudice to any other claim the Issuer or the Issuer Relevant Party, as the case may be, may have against such Manager, no Manager shall be liable under this Clause 7.6 as a result of the sale of Bonds to any person believed in good faith by such Manager, on reasonable grounds after making all reasonable investigations, to be a person to whom Bonds could legally be sold in compliance with the provisions in this Clause. The provisions of Clause 5.5 will apply mutatis mutandis to this Clause 7.6. For the purposes of this Clause,  Issuer Relevant Party means each of the affiliates of the Issuer and each person who controls the Issuer (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and each of their respective directors, officers, employees and agents.

 

7.7                                The representations, warranties and undertakings of each of the Managers under this Clause 7 are several and not joint.

 

13



 

8.                                       TERMINATION

 

The Managers may (after consultation with the Issuer, if practicable), by notice to the Issuer, terminate this Agreement at any time prior to payment of the net subscription monies to the Issuer if in the opinion of the Managers:

 

(a)                                  there shall have been such a change in national or international financial, political or economic conditions or currency exchange rates or exchange controls as would in its view be likely to prejudice materially the success of the offering and distribution of the Bonds or dealings in the Bonds in the secondary market and, upon such notice being given, the parties to this Agreement shall (except for any liability of the Issuer in relation to expenses as provided in the agreement referred to in Clause 4 and except for any liability arising before or in relation to such termination) be released and discharged from their respective obligations under this Agreement; or

 

(b)                                  there has been since the time of execution of this Agreement, any material adverse effect on the financial or trading condition, prospects, results of operations, business or general affairs of either the Issuer or the Group; or

 

(c)                                   the subscription agreement dated 19 February 2016 between the Issuer and the Managers and relating to the Tranche B Bonds terminates.

 

9.                                       NOTICES

 

9.1                                Any notice or notification in any form to be given by the Managers to the Issuer may be given by either Manager on behalf of the Managers and may be delivered in person or sent by fax addressed to:

 

VODAFONE GROUP PLC

Vodafone House

The Connection

Newbury

Berkshire RG14 2FN

United Kingdom

 

Fax Number:                                                             +44 1635 676746

Attention of:                                                               Director of Treasury

 

9.2                                Any notice or notification in any form to be given by the Issuer to the Managers or any of them may be delivered in person or sent by fax addressed to:

 

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES PLC

25 Bank Street

Canary Wharf

London E14 5JP

United Kingdom

 

Fax Number:                                                             +44 20 3493 1453

Attention of:                                                               Equity Linked Capital Markets Syndicate Desk

 

and

 

14



 

MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INTERNATIONAL PLC

25 Cabot Square

Canary Wharf

London E14 4QA

United Kingdom

 

Fax Number:                                                             +44 207 425 8990

Attention of:                                                               Head of Equity Capital Markets

 

9.3                                Any such notice or notification shall be in English and shall take effect, in the case of a letter, at the time of delivery and, in the case of fax, at the time of despatch.

 

10.                                GOVERNING LAW

 

This Agreement and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of England.

 

11.                                MISCELLANEOUS

 

11.1                         Time shall be of the essence of this Agreement.

 

11.2                         The heading to each Clause is included for convenience only and shall not affect the construction of this Agreement.

 

11.3                         This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which, taken together, shall constitute one and the same agreement and any party may enter into this Agreement by executing a counterpart.

 

11.4                         It is acknowledged that the Issuer has discussed with the Managers its principles for allocation and pricing of the Bonds and the factors all parties believe to be relevant to the allocation and pricing of the Bonds and that the Issuer and the Managers have agreed the objectives and process for the allocation and pricing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties hereto agree and acknowledge that any allocation of Bonds to either Manager will be at the Issuer’s sole discretion.

 

11.5                         The Issuer acknowledges and agrees that each Manager is part of its own financial services group (the group ) which includes, among other businesses, equity and debt securities trading (both for clients and as principal), securities offerings, fund management, financing services and financial advisory services and, accordingly, in no circumstance shall either Manager have any liability by reason of any member of its group conducting such other businesses or acting in its own interests or in the interests of other clients in respect of matters affecting the Issuer or any other company involved in this Agreement, including, where in so acting, any member of the relevant group acts in a manner which is adverse to the interests of the Issuer or any other party involved in this Agreement. In addition, as a result of duties of confidentiality, each Manager may be prohibited from disclosing information to the Issuer, or such disclosure may be inappropriate, and the Issuer agrees that no member of either Manager’s group will be under a duty to use or disclose any non-public information acquired from, or during the course of carrying on business for, any other person. The Issuer expressly acknowledges and agrees that, in the ordinary course of business, each of the Managers and other parts of their respective groups at any time (i) may invest on a principal basis or manage funds that invest, make or hold long or short positions, finance positions or trade or otherwise effect transactions, for their own accounts or the accounts of customers, in equity, debt or other securities or financial instruments (including derivatives, bank loans or other obligations) of the Issuer or any other company that may be involved in any proposed transaction, and (ii) may provide or arrange financing and other financial services to other companies that may be involved in

 

15



 

any proposed transaction or a competing transaction, in each case whose interests may conflict with those of the Issuer.

 

11.6                         The Issuer agrees that neither Manager is acting as a financial adviser or fiduciary to or an agent of the Issuer or any other person in respect of the timing, terms, structure or price of the Bonds and confirms that it will not claim or allege that either Manager has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect to it, or owes a fiduciary or similar duty to the Issuer, in connection with the issue and offering of the Bonds or the process leading thereto. Nothing in this paragraph shall exclude or restrict any duty or liability of the Managers which they have under the FSMA or the arrangements for regulating the Managers thereunder to any extent prohibited by those arrangements. The Issuer confirms that it will not claim or allege that the Managers are liable for the timing, terms or structure of the arrangements contemplated in this Agreement, for the offer price being set at a level that is too high or too low, or for any sales of securities by investors to which such securities are allocated.

 

11.7                         A person who is not a party to this Agreement has no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any term of this Agreement, but this does not affect any right or remedy of a third party which exists or is available apart from that Act.

 

AS WITNESS the hands of the parties (or their duly authorised representatives) on the date which appears first on page 1.

 

16



 

SCHEDULE 1

 

MANAGERS’ UNDERWRITING COMMITMENTS

 

Manager

 

Principal amount of Bonds

 

J.P. Morgan Securities plc

 

£

720,000,000

 

 

 

 

 

Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc

 

£

720,000,000

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL:

 

£

1,440,000,000

 

 

17



 

SCHEDULE 2

 

THE HEDGING AND SECURITY DOCUMENTS

 

The following documents are expected to be entered in connection with the Options on or before the Closing Date:

 

(a)                                  an escrow agreement among the Issuer, Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., London Branch (the Morgan Stanley Escrow Agreement );

 

(b)                                  an escrow agreement among the Issuer, J.P. Morgan and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., London Branch (the J.P. Morgan Escrow Agreement and together with the Morgan Stanley Escrow Agreement, the Escrow Agreements );

 

(c)                                   interest rate swap arrangements between the Issuer and Morgan Stanley and between the Issuer and J.P. Morgan (together, the Interest Rate Swaps );

 

(d)                                  an English law governed security deed between the Issuer (as Chargor) and Morgan Stanley (as Secured Party) (the Morgan Stanley Security Deed ); and

 

(e)                                   an English law governed security deed between the Issuer (as Chargor) and J.P. Morgan (as Secured Party) (the J.P. Morgan Security Deed and together with the Morgan Stanley Security Deed, the Issuer Security Deeds ).

 



 

SIGNATORIES

 

VODAFONE GROUP PLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Neil Garrod

 

 

Neil Garrod

 

 

Group Treasury Director

 

 

 

 

 

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES PLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INTERNATIONAL PLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 



 

SIGNATORIES

 

VODAFONE GROUP PLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES PLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Pedro Lami

 

 

Pedro Lami, Ed

 

 

 

 

 

MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INTERNATIONAL PLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 



 

SIGNATORIES

 

VODAFONE GROUP PLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES PLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INTERNATIONAL PLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Adam Pickard

 

 

Adam Pickard

 

 

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

 

 


Exhibit 4.10

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT

 

 

19 FEBRUARY 2016

 

VODAFONE GROUP PLC

 

£1,440,000,000

 

2.00 per cent. Subordinated Mandatory Convertible Bonds due 2019

 

 

ALLEN & OVERY

 

Allen & Overy LLP

 



 

CONTENTS

 

Clause

 

Page

 

 

 

1.

Subscription

4

2.

Closing

5

3.

Undertakings

5

4.

Fees, Expenses and Stamp Duties

7

5.

Representations and Warranties of the Issuer and Indemnity

7

6.

Conditions

12

7.

Managers’ Representations, Warranties and Undertakings

12

8.

Termination

14

9.

Notices

14

10.

Governing Law

15

11.

Miscellaneous

15

 

 

 

Schedule

 

 

 

 

 

1.

Managers’ Underwriting Commitments

17

 

 

 

Signatories

19

 



 

THIS AGREEMENT is made on 19 February 2016 BETWEEN :

 

(1)                                  VODAFONE GROUP PLC , a company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales with registered number 01833679 (the Issuer );

 

(2)                                  MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INTERNATIONAL PLC ( Morgan Stanley ); and

 

(3)                                  J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES PLC ( J.P. Morgan and together with Morgan Stanley, the Managers ).

 

WHEREAS :

 

(A)                                The Issuer proposes to issue £1,440,000,000 2.00 per cent. Subordinated Mandatory Convertible Bonds due 2019 (the Bonds , which expression where the context admits shall include the Global Bond (as defined below)).

 

(B)                                The Bonds will be in registered form in the denomination of £100,000 each, and will be constituted by a Trust Deed (the Trust Deed ) between the Issuer and The Law Debenture Trust Corporation p.l.c. as trustee (the Trustee ) and will be issued subject to and with the benefit of an Agency Agreement (the Agency Agreement ) between the Issuer, the Trustee and the agents named therein, and with the benefit of a Calculation Agency Agreement dated the date of this Agreement (the Calculation Agency Agreement ) between the Issuer and Conv-Ex Advisors Limited.

 

(C)                                The Bonds will be convertible into fully paid ordinary shares in the Issuer (the Shares ) in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Bonds (the Conditions ).

 

(D)                                In addition to the Bonds, the Issuer proposes to issue £1,440,000,000 1.50 Subordinated Mandatory Convertible Bonds due 2017 (the Tranche A Bonds ), which shall be constituted by a separate trust deed between the Issuer and the Trustee, and which shall be issued subject to and with the benefit of a separate agency agreement and calculation agency agreement in each case between the Issuer and the agents named therein. The Issuer and the Managers have entered into a separate subscription agreement dated 19 February 2016 in relation to the Tranche A Bonds.

 

(E)                                 The Issuer and Morgan Stanley have entered into a confirmation dated on or about the date of this Agreement evidencing the equity put and call option transaction entered on or about the date of this Agreement, which is expressed to be subject to a deemed agreement in the form of an ISDA 2002 Master Agreement with a Schedule thereto in the form appended to such confirmation, together with a deemed ISDA 1995 Credit Support Annex (Bilateral Form — Transfer) with such elections, variables and amendments thereto as are appended to such confirmation (together, the Morgan Stanley Option ).

 

(F)                                  The Issuer and J.P. Morgan have entered into a confirmation dated on or about the date of this Agreement evidencing the equity put and call option transaction entered on or about the date of this Agreement, which is expressed to be subject to a deemed agreement in the form of an ISDA 2002 Master Agreement with a Schedule thereto in the form appended to such confirmation, together with a deemed ISDA 1995 Credit Support Annex (Bilateral Form — Transfer) with such elections, variables and amendments thereto as are appended to such confirmation (together, the J.P. Morgan Option and together with the Morgan Stanley Option, the Options ).

 

(G)                                Certain additional documents, as set out in Schedule 2 hereto, have been, or are expected to be, entered in connection with the Options. Such documents, together with the Options, are collectively referred to herein as the Hedging and Security Documents .

 

3



 

(H)                               Unless otherwise defined herein, all words and expressions defined in the Conditions shall, where the context so requires and admits, have the same respective meanings in this Agreement.

 

IT IS AGREED as follows:

 

1.                                       SUBSCRIPTION

 

1.1                                Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Issuer agrees to issue the Bonds and each Manager severally, and not jointly, agrees to subscribe and pay for, or to procure subscriptions and payment for, the principal amount of the Bonds set out against its name as its underwriting commitment in Schedule 1 hereto on 25 February 2016, or such later date, not being later than 10 March 2016, as the Issuer and the Managers may agree (the Closing Date ) at a subscription price of 100 per cent. of the principal amount of the Bonds (the Subscription Price ).

 

1.2                                The Issuer confirms that:

 

(a)                                  it has authorised the Managers to offer Bonds on its behalf for subscription at the Subscription Price subject to the provisions of Clause 7;

 

(b)                                  the Issuer has approved the arrangements made on its behalf by the Managers for announcements in respect of the Bonds to be published on such dates and in such newspapers or other publications as it may agree.

 

1.3                                If either Manager shall fail on the Closing Date to subscribe and pay for any of the Bonds which it is obliged to subscribe and pay for under this Agreement (the Defaulted Bonds ), the non-defaulting Manager shall have the right but not the obligation, within 48 hours thereafter, to subscribe and pay for all, but not less than all, of the Defaulted Bonds upon the terms herein set forth; if, however the non-defaulting Manager shall not have completed such arrangements within such 48 hour period, then:

 

(a)                                  if the principal amount of Defaulted Bonds does not exceed 10 per cent. of the aggregate principal amount of Bonds to be subscribed and paid for on such date, the non-defaulting Manager shall be obliged to subscribe and pay for the full principal amount thereof; or

 

(b)                                  if the principal amount of Defaulted Bonds exceeds 10 per cent. of the aggregate principal amount of Bonds to be subscribed and paid for on such date, this Agreement shall terminate without any liability on the part of the non-defaulting Manager.

 

No action taken pursuant to this Clause 1.3 shall relieve a defaulting Manager from liability in respect of its default. In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination of this Agreement, the non-defaulting Manager or the Issuer shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date for a period not exceeding seven days in order to effect any consequential changes in the documents or arrangements relating to the offering of the Bonds.

 

Upon this Agreement terminating in accordance with the provisions of sub-clause 1.3(b) above, it shall be of no further effect and no party shall be under any liability to any other in respect of this Agreement, save in respect of the liability of any defaulting Manager as provided in the previous paragraph and except that (i) the Issuer shall remain liable for the payment of all costs and expenses referred to in Clause 4 and already incurred or incurred in consequence of such termination, (ii) any liability arising before or in relation to such termination shall not be affected by the provisions of this Clause and (iii) the provisions of Clauses 5.4, and 9 to 11 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

 

4



 

1.4                                The Conditions will be set out in the Trust Deed (subject as stated therein) and will, on the date hereof, be in a form substantially agreed by the parties hereto, as initialled for identification purposes by Allen & Overy LLP and Linklaters LLP, with such amendments (if any) as may be agreed in writing between the Issuer and the Managers following the date hereof.

 

1.5                                In connection with the issue and offering of the Bonds, the Managers and any of their respective Affiliates, each acting as an investor for its own account, may take up Bonds and in that capacity may retain, purchase or sell Bonds and any other securities of the Issuer or related investments for their own account and may offer or sell such securities or other investments otherwise than in connection with the issue and offering of the Bonds. Accordingly, references in this document to the Bonds being offered or placed should be read as including any offering or placement of securities to the Managers and any of their respective Affiliates acting in such capacity. The Managers do not intend to disclose the extent of any such investment or transactions otherwise than in accordance with any legal or regulatory obligation to do so. Each Manager may perform all or any of the functions expressed to be performed by it under this Agreement through any Affiliate. For the purpose of this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires, Affiliate means, with respect to a given person, any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with that person from time to time (and its respective directors, officers, employees and agents from time to time).

 

1.6                                Without prejudice to the obligations owed by the Managers to the Issuer under this Agreement, by executing this Agreement, each of the Managers hereby agrees to be bound by the provisions of the ICMA Agreement Among Managers English Law Version 2 (Managers Only Equity-Related Issues) (the AAM ), save that Clause 3 of the AAM shall not apply and any reference to “Lead Manager” and/or to “Managers” therein shall be deemed to be a reference to the Managers.

 

2.                                       CLOSING

 

The net subscription monies in respect of the Bonds (representing the Subscription Price, less the Fee (as defined in Clause 4 below) in respect of the Bonds and all costs and expenses pursuant to, or pursuant to any arrangement referred to in, Clause 4) will be paid by J.P. Morgan on behalf of the Managers to the Issuer at or around 10.00 a.m. (London time) on the Closing Date, for value the Closing Date, in immediately available funds to such account as shall be notified by the Issuer to J.P. Morgan at least three (3) business days prior to the Closing Date against delivery of a duly executed global bond in or substantially in the form provided in the Trust Deed (the Global Bond ) to a common depositary for Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. and for Clearstream Banking, société anonyme and the registration of the holding of the Bonds by a nominee for such common depositary in the register maintained by the registrar for the Bonds.

 

3.                                       UNDERTAKINGS

 

3.1                                The Issuer undertakes with the Managers and each of them that:

 

(a)                                  it will on or before the Closing Date, execute the Trust Deed, the Agency Agreement, the Escrow Agreements, the Interest Rate Swaps and the Issuer Security Deeds;

 

(b)                                  the Issuer shall promptly after becoming aware of the occurrence thereof notify each Manager of (A) any condition, event or act which would after the issue of the Bonds (or would with the expiry of any grace period and/or the lapse of time and/or, in the case of Condition 10, the giving of notice) constitute an Enforcement Event (as defined in Condition 10) or (B) any breach of the representations and warranties or undertakings contained in this Agreement;

 

(c)                                   if, following the date of this Agreement and before the Closing Date, the Issuer becomes aware that any of the conditions specified in Clause 6 will not be satisfied, the Issuer shall

 

5



 

forthwith notify the Managers to this effect giving full details thereof. In such circumstances, the Managers shall be entitled (but not bound) by notice in writing to the Issuer to be released and discharged from its obligations under this Agreement;

 

(d)                                  during the period commencing on the date hereof and ending 90 days from the date of this Agreement (both dates inclusive), it will not and it will procure that none of its subsidiaries or any other party acting on its or their behalf (other than the Managers) will, without the prior written consent of the Managers (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) (i) directly or indirectly, issue, offer, pledge, sell, contract to issue or sell, issue or sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to issue or sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Shares or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Shares, (ii) enter into any swap or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, any of the economic consequences of ownership of Shares, whether any such swap or transaction described in (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Shares or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, or (iii) announce the intention to implement any of the transactions described in (i) or (ii) above. The foregoing sentence shall not apply (a) to the issue and performance of the Bonds or the entry into and performance of the Options or (b) to the issue and performance of the Tranche A Bonds or (c) upon exercise of options in respect of Shares existing as at the date hereof or (d) to the grant of options or vesting of awards under any employees’ share scheme existing and publicly disclosed as of the date of this Agreement or (e) the issue of Shares pursuant to the Issuer’s dividend reinvestment plan or (f) upon exercise of options in respect of senior leadership team directors. For the purposes of this sub-clause 3.1(d), Shares shall include participation certificates and any depositary or other receipt, instrument, rights or entitlement representing Shares;

 

(e)                                   it will use all reasonable endeavours to obtain the listing of the Bonds on a recognised stock exchange (as such term is defined in section 1005 of the Income Tax Act 2007) by no later than 25 August 2016. Unless required for the purposes of listing (in which case the Issuer shall obtain the prior written consent of the Managers, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), the applicable listing document shall not refer to the Managers;

 

(f)                                    in the event that a significant new factor, material mistake or inaccuracy arises or is noted relating to the information included in the Relevant Information which is capable of affecting the assessment by investors of the assets and liabilities, financial position, profits and losses, and prospects of the Issuer and/or the rights attaching to the Bonds, the Issuer shall, prior to any subsequent issue of Bonds, update or amend the Relevant Information (following consultation with the Managers);

 

(g)                                   it will ensure, to the best of its ability, that proceeds raised in connection with the issue of the Bonds will not, directly or indirectly, be lent, contributed or otherwise made available to any person or entity (whether or not related to the Issuer) for the purpose of financing the activities of any person or for the benefit of any country currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury ( OFAC ) or any equivalent sanctions administered or enforced by the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury or other relevant sanctions authority; and

 

(h)                                  it will not, between the date hereof and the Closing Date (both dates inclusive), do any act or thing which, had the Bonds then been in issue, would, pursuant to the Conditions, result in an adjustment to the Conversion Price.

 

6



 

4.                                       FEES, EXPENSES AND STAMP DUTIES

 

4.1                                In consideration of the agreement by the Managers to act as the managers in relation to the issue of the Bonds and to subscribe and pay for or procure subscriptions and payment for the Bonds as provided above, the Issuer shall pay to the Managers a combined management and underwriting commission equal to 0.25 per cent. of the principal amount of the Bonds (the Fee ), which shall be split equally between the Managers.

 

4.2                                J.P. Morgan on behalf of the Managers shall be entitled to deduct the Fee from the Subscription Price as provided in Clause 2 and the Issuer shall not be concerned with the apportionment of such payments between the Managers or the payment of them to any other person.

 

4.3                                The Issuer shall bear and pay all costs and expenses incurred in, or in connection with, the issue of the Bonds, making the initial delivery of the Bonds and listing the Bonds on the relevant stock exchange, and shall also pay the remuneration of the Trustee and the agents appointed under the Agency Agreement and the Calculation Agency Agreement, and the expenses incurred by any of them, and the fees and expenses of the Trustee’s and the Managers’ legal advisers (including, in each case, any value added tax or other similar tax properly chargeable thereon).

 

4.4                                The Issuer undertakes that it will pay promptly, and in any event before any penalty becomes payable, any stamp, documentary, registration or similar duty or tax (including any stamp duty reserve tax) payable in connection with the entry into, performance, enforcement or admissibility in evidence of any Bond, any of the Agreements or any communication pursuant thereto and that it will indemnify each Manager against any liability with respect to or resulting from any delay in paying or omission to pay any such duty or tax.

 

4.5                                All payments by the Issuer under this Agreement shall be paid without set off or counterclaim, and free and clear of and without deduction or withholding for or on account of, any present or future taxes, levies, imports, duties, fees, assessments or other charges of whatever nature, imposed by the United Kingdom or by any department, agency or other political sub division or taxing authority thereof or therein, and all interest, penalties or similar liabilities with respect thereto ( Taxes ). If any Taxes are required by law to be deducted or withheld in connection with any such payment, the Issuer will increase the amount paid so that the full amount of such payment is received by the payee as if no such deduction or withholding had been made. In addition, the Issuer agrees to indemnify and hold the Managers harmless against any Taxes which they are required to pay in respect of any amount paid by the Issuer under this Agreement. If the Issuer pays any additional amount to a payee under this Clause (a Tax Payment ) and that payee obtains a refund of a tax, or a credit against tax by reason of the Tax Payment (a Tax Credit ) then that payee shall reimburse the Issuer such amount as can be determined to be the proportion of the Tax Credit as will leave that payee (after that reimbursement) in no better or worse position than it would have been if the Tax Payment had not been paid. Nothing in this Clause shall interfere with the right of each payee to arrange its tax affairs in whatever manner it thinks fit and no payee is obliged to disclose any information regarding its tax affairs or computations to the Issuer which it reasonably considers confidential.

 

5.                                       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE ISSUER AND INDEMNITY

 

5.1                                As at the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, the Issuer hereby represents, warrants and undertakes to the Managers and each of them as follows (with the agreement by the Managers to subscribe and pay for, or to procure subscriptions and payment for, the Bonds being deemed to have been made on the basis of, and in reliance on, such representations, warranties and agreements):

 

(a)

 

7



 

(i)                                      that the most recently published audited consolidated and unconsolidated financial statements of the Issuer (the audited accounts ) were prepared in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards (formerly International Accounting Standards) issued by the International Accounting Standards Board ( IASB ) and interpretations issued by the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee of the IASB (as amended, supplemented or re-issued from time to time) consistently applied (except as disclosed therein) and that they give a true and fair view of (A) the consolidated and unconsolidated financial condition of the Issuer as at the date to which they were prepared and (B) the consolidated results of operations of the Issuer for the financial period ended on the relevant date;

 

(ii)                                   that, except as disclosed in the Public Statements, there has been no material adverse change in the financial position or prospects of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries (together the Group ) since the date of the audited accounts.

 

As used herein, Subsidiary means any entity which is a subsidiary within the meaning of Section 1159 of the Companies Act 2006;

 

(b)                                  that (i) the factual statements contained in any of the Public Statements, press releases issued or to be issued in connection with the issue and offering of the Bonds (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any other materials authorised in writing by the Issuer for use by the Managers in the marketing, offering and distribution of the Bonds (the Press Releases ), the term sheets prepared in connection with the issue and offering of the Bonds, or any amendment or supplement thereto (the Term Sheets ) or the Conditions are in every material respect, true and accurate and not misleading and that to the best of the knowledge and belief of the Issuer there are no other facts in relation thereto the omission of which would make any statement in such documents misleading in any material respect, (ii) the statements of intention, opinion, belief or expectation contained in such documents are honestly made or held and (iii) all reasonable care has been taken to ascertain such facts and to verify the accuracy of all such statements.

 

As used herein, Public Statements means any information released to the public or made available to potential investors by or on behalf of the Issuer or any Subsidiary, whether such information was required to be made public by applicable law and regulation (including, but not limited to, all filings required by the London Stock Exchange plc and/or English law) or otherwise, on or after the date of publication of the audited financial statements of the Issuer as at and for the year ended 31 March 2015 (including, without limitation, such audited financial statements of the Issuer);

 

(c)                                   that (i) the Issuer has complied with, and will continue to comply with, the requirements applicable to it under the Financial Conduct Authority’s Listing Rules and Disclosure and Transparency Rules and (ii) the issue of the Bonds will not cause the Issuer to contravene section 118 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended) (the FSMA ) or the provisions of Part V of the Criminal Justice Act 1993;

 

(d)                                  that the Issuer has been duly incorporated and is validly existing under the laws of its incorporation with full power and authority and to execute and perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Hedging and Security Documents to which it is a party, the Trust Deed, the Calculation Agency Agreement and the Agency Agreement (together the Agreements );

 

(e)                                   that all corporate approvals and authorisations required by the Issuer for or in connection with (i) the execution, issue and offering of the Bonds and compliance by the Issuer with the terms of the Bonds and (ii) the execution and delivery of, and compliance with the terms of, the Agreements have been obtained and are in full force and effect and, in the case of Bonds,

 

8



 

upon due execution of the Bonds and the appropriate entries being made in the register of Bondholders in accordance with the Trust Deed and the Agency Agreement, the Bonds will constitute, and, in the case of the Agreements, the Agreements constitute or (as the case may be) will constitute, legal, valid and binding obligations of the Issuer enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, subject to the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting the rights of creditors generally;

 

(f)                                    that (i) the execution and delivery of the Agreements are not contrary to the provisions of the Articles of Association of the Issuer and (ii) as at the Closing Date, the issue of the Bonds and the performance of the terms of the Bonds and the Agreements will not be contrary to the provisions of the Articles of Association of the Issuer and will not result in any breach, to any material extent, of the terms of, or constitute a default under, any statute, instrument, agreement or order to which the Issuer is a party or by which the Issuer or its property is bound;

 

(g)                                   that no event has occurred which would constitute (after the issue of the Bonds) an “Enforcement Event” thereunder or which with the giving of notice or lapse of time or fulfilment of any other condition would (after the issue of the Bonds) constitute such an “Enforcement Event”;

 

(h)                                  that, except as disclosed in the Public Statements, (i) the Issuer is not in breach of the terms of, or in default under, any instrument, agreement or order to which it is a party or by which it or its property is bound the consequence of which would have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Issuer to perform its payment obligations under the Bonds; and (ii) neither the Issuer nor any member of the Group is involved, or has been involved, in any legal or arbitration proceedings (including any proceedings which are pending or threatened of which the Issuer is aware) which may have, or have had, a significant effect on the financial position of the Group;

 

(i)                                      that (i) as at the date of this Agreement, no consent, approval, authorisation, order, filing, registration or qualification of or with any court or governmental authority is required and no other action or thing (including, without limitation, the payment of any stamp or other similar tax or duty) is required to be taken, fulfilled or done by the Issuer for or in connection with (A) the execution, issue and offering of the Bonds and compliance by the Issuer with the terms of the Bonds or (B) the execution and delivery of, and compliance with the terms of, the Agreements and (ii) if, after the date of this Agreement, any such consent, approval, authorisation, order, filing, registration or qualification of or with any court or governmental authority or any other action or thing (including, without limitation, the payment of any stamp or other similar tax or duty) is required to be taken, fulfilled or done by the Issuer, it has been taken, fulfilled or done by the Issuer;

 

(j)                                     that the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, directors, officers, agents, employees (i) are conducting their business in compliance with applicable anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws and regulations, including the UK Bribery Act 2010, (ii) maintain an effective anti-bribery compliance programme which monitors compliance and detects violations and (iii) shall not give or receive any bribes, including in relation to any public official;

 

(k)                                  that none of the Issuer, its affiliates, nor any persons acting on any of their behalf (other than either Manager), has engaged or will engage in any directed selling efforts (as defined in Rule 902(c) under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act )) with respect to the Bonds or the Shares to be delivered upon conversion of the Bonds (together with the Bonds, the Securities );

 

9



 

(l)                                      that the Issuer, its affiliates and each person acting on any of their behalf (other than either Manager) have complied and will comply with the offering restrictions requirement of Regulation S under the Securities Act ( Regulation S );

 

(m)                              that the Issuer is a “foreign issuer” (as such term is defined in Regulation S);

 

(n)                                  that, as of the Closing Date, the Bonds will not be of the same class (within the meaning of Rule 144A(d)(3)(i) under the Securities Act) as securities (i) listed on a national securities exchange in the United States which is registered under Section 6 of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act ) or (ii) quoted in any U.S. “automated inter-dealer quotation system” (as such term is used in the Exchange Act), and the Issuer is subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act;

 

(o)                                  that the Issuer is not, and as a result of any offer and sale of the Securities will not be, an “investment company” under, and as such term is defined in, the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;

 

(p)                                  that neither the Issuer nor any of its affiliates (as defined in Rule 501(b) of Regulation D under the Securities Act), nor any person acting on its or their behalf (other than each of the Managers, their respective affiliates and each person who controls them (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and each of their respective directors, officers, employees and agents (each a Relevant Party ), as to which the Issuer makes no representation or warranty), (i) has made offers or sales of any security, or solicited offers to buy, or otherwise negotiated in respect of, any security, under circumstances that would require the registration of the Securities under the Securities Act; or (ii) has engaged or will engage in any form of general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act) in connection with any offer or sale of the Securities in the United States;

 

(q)                                  that neither the Issuer nor any of its affiliates (as defined in Rule 501(b) of Regulation D under the Securities Act), nor any person acting on its or their behalf (other than any Relevant Party, as to which the Issuer makes no representation or warranty), has taken or will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or to result in, or that has constituted or which might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, the stabilisation in violation of applicable laws or manipulation of the price of any security to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities;

 

(r)                                     that, to the best of the Issuer’s and its Subsidiaries’ knowledge, neither the Issuer, nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the best of the Issuer’s knowledge, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries are currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC or any equivalent sanctions administered or enforced by the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury or other relevant sanctions authority; and

 

(s)                                    that, to the best of the Issuer’s and its Subsidiaries’ knowledge, the operations of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries are and have been in all material respects conducted in compliance with applicable financial record keeping and reporting requirements and money laundering statutes in the United Kingdom and in all jurisdictions in which the Issuer and its Subsidiaries conduct business, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, Money Laundering Laws ), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to Money Laundering Laws is, to the best of the

 

10



 

Issuer’s and its Subsidiaries’ knowledge, pending and, to the best of the Issuer’s knowledge, no such actions, suits or proceedings are threatened or contemplated.

 

5.2                                The Issuer shall be deemed to repeat the representations, warranties and agreements contained in Clause 5.1 on each day falling prior to the Closing Date.

 

5.3                                The representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Clause shall continue in full force and effect notwithstanding the actual or constructive knowledge of either Manager with respect to any of the matters referred to in the representations and warranties set out above, any investigation by or on behalf of the Managers or completion of the subscription and issue of the Bonds PROVIDED always that each of the above representations, warranties and agreements shall be qualified by, and to the extent of, any information disclosed in writing for the purpose of such qualification to, and acknowledged in writing for such purpose by, the relevant Manager before the relevant date on which such representations, warranties and agreements are given.

 

5.4                                Without prejudice to the other rights or remedies of the Managers, the Issuer undertakes with the Managers and each of them that if any Manager or any Relevant Party relating to such Manager incurs any direct liability, damages, cost, loss or expense (excluding any consequential economic loss but including, without limitation, legal fees, costs and expenses reasonably incurred) (a Loss ) as a result of or in relation to:

 

(a)                                  any actual or alleged (other than an allegation made by any Relevant Party) breach of the representations, warranties and undertakings contained in, or made or deemed to be made by the Issuer pursuant to, this Agreement; or

 

(b)                                  any untrue or misleading (or allegedly (other than an allegation made by any Relevant Party) untrue or misleading) statement in, or any omission (or alleged (other than an allegation made by any Relevant Party) omission) from, the Public Statements, the Term Sheets or the Conditions (together the Relevant Information ); or

 

(c)                                   any untrue or misleading (or allegedly (other than an allegation made by any Relevant Party) untrue or misleading) statement in any additional written information provided by the Issuer to the Managers in connection with the issue and offering of the Bonds,

 

the Issuer shall pay to that Manager on demand an amount equal to such Loss. Neither Manager shall have any duty or obligation, whether as fiduciary or trustee for any Relevant Party or otherwise, to recover any such payment or to account to any other person for any amounts paid to it under this Clause 5.4.

 

5.5                                In case any action shall be brought against any Relevant Party in respect of which indemnity may be sought from the Issuer the Relevant Party shall promptly notify the Issuer in writing and shall employ such legal advisers as may be agreed between such Relevant Party and the Issuer or, in default of agreement, as such Relevant Party may select. The Issuer shall have the option to elect to assume the defence thereof, and shall employ such legal advisers as may be agreed between such Relevant Party and the Issuer (or, in default of agreement, as the Relevant Party may select) unless such Relevant Party reasonably objects to the assumption on the grounds that there are legal defences available to it which are different from or in addition to and may conflict with those available to the Issuer. If the Issuer shall elect to assume the defence thereof, the Relevant Party shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional legal advisers retained by it. If the Issuer does not elect to assume the defence thereof, then the Relevant Party shall do so and shall employ such legal advisers as may be agreed between such Relevant Party and the Issuer or, in default of agreement, as such Relevant Party may select. The Issuer shall not be liable in respect of any settlement of any such action effected without its consent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed, nor shall it be liable for any legal or other expenses incurred by the Relevant Party where the Issuer

 

11



 

has elected to assume the defence in accordance with and subject to the above provisions and such expenses are incurred following such assumption.

 

6.                                       CONDITIONS

 

6.1                                This Agreement and the respective rights and obligations of the parties to this Agreement on the Closing Date are conditional upon:

 

(a)                                  the representations and warranties set out in Clause 5.1 being true, accurate and correct, in each case, as if such representations and warranties were repeated on the Closing Date, there being no outstanding material breach of any of the obligations of the Issuer under this Agreement which has not been expressly waived by the Managers prior to the Closing Date and the Relevant Information containing all material information relating to the assets and liabilities, financial position and profits and losses of the Issuer and nothing having happened or being expected to happen which would require the Relevant Information to be supplemented or updated;

 

(b)                                  the delivery to the Managers on or before the Closing Date of:

 

(i)                                      legal opinions dated the Closing Date in such form and with such contents as the Managers and the Trustee may reasonably require from Linklaters LLP, legal advisers to the Issuer as to matters of English law and from Allen & Overy LLP, legal advisers to the Managers and the Trustee as to matters of English law; and

 

(ii)                                   a certificate signed by a duly authorised officer of the Issuer to the effect stated in sub-clause 6.1(a);

 

(c)                                   the execution of the Trust Deed, the Agency Agreement, the Escrow Agreements, the Interest Rate Swaps and the Issuer Security Deeds by the parties thereto on or before the Closing Date; and

 

(d)                                  the delivery to the Managers of certified copies of all corporate and other consents, approvals or authorisations required in connection with the issue of the Bonds, the entry into of the Agreements by the Issuer and the performance by the Issuer of its obligations under the Bonds and the Agreements.

 

6.2                                In the event that any of the foregoing conditions is not satisfied, the Managers shall be entitled (but not bound) by notice in writing to the Issuer to be released and discharged from their respective obligations under the agreement reached under this Agreement.

 

7.                                       MANAGERS’ REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND UNDERTAKINGS

 

7.1                                Each Manager understands that the Securities have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. Each Manager represents, warrants and agrees that it has offered and sold, and will offer and sell the Bonds, (i) as part of their distribution at any time and (ii) otherwise until 40 days after the later of the commencement of the offering and the Closing Date, only in accordance with Regulation S. Accordingly, none of the Managers, their affiliates nor any persons acting on its or their behalf have engaged or will engage in any directed selling efforts (as defined in Regulation S) with respect to the Securities and it and they have complied and will comply with the offering restrictions requirements of Regulation S. Each Manager agrees that, prior to confirmation of the sale of the Securities, it will have sent to each distributor, dealer or person

 

12



 

receiving a selling concession, fee or other remuneration that purchases the Securities from it during the distribution compliance period a confirmation notice substantially to the following effect:

 

“The securities covered hereby have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act ), and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, “U.S. Persons” (i) as part of their distribution at any time or (ii) otherwise until 40 days after the completion of the distribution of the securities as determined and certified by the relevant Manager, except in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act ( Regulation S ). Terms used above have the meanings given to them by Regulation S.”.

 

7.2                                Terms used in Clause 7.1 have the meanings given to them by Regulation S.

 

7.3                                Each Manager represents and agrees that:

 

(a)                                  it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the Bonds in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom; and

 

(b)                                  it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated any invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of the FSMA) received by it in connection with the issue of any Bonds in circumstances in which section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to the Issuer.

 

7.4                                No action has been taken by the Issuer or any of the Managers that would, or is intended to, permit a public offer of the Bonds or possession or distribution of any offering or publicity material relating to the Bonds in any country or jurisdiction where any such action for that purpose is required. Accordingly, each Manager undertakes that it will not, directly or indirectly, offer or sell any Bonds or have in its possession, distribute or publish any offering circular, prospectus, form of application, advertisement or other document or information in any country or jurisdiction except under circumstances that will result in compliance with any applicable laws and regulations and all offers and sales of Bonds by it will be made on the same terms.

 

7.5                                Without prejudice to the generality of Clause 7.4, each Manager agrees that it will obtain any consent, approval or permission which is required for the offer, purchase or sale by it of Bonds under the laws and regulations in force in any jurisdiction to which it is subject or in which it makes such offers, purchases or sales and it will comply with all such laws and regulations.

 

7.6                                Without prejudice to the other rights and remedies of the Issuer, each Manager severally undertakes with the Issuer that if the Issuer or any Issuer Relevant Party incurs any Loss as a result of any breach by such Manager of any of its undertakings contained in Clause 7, such Manager shall pay to the Issuer or any Issuer Relevant Party, as the case may be, on demand an amount equal to such Loss provided that, without prejudice to any other claim the Issuer or the Issuer Relevant Party, as the case may be, may have against such Manager, no Manager shall be liable under this Clause 7.6 as a result of the sale of Bonds to any person believed in good faith by such Manager, on reasonable grounds after making all reasonable investigations, to be a person to whom Bonds could legally be sold in compliance with the provisions in this Clause. The provisions of Clause 5.5 will apply mutatis mutandis to this Clause 7.6. For the purposes of this Clause,  Issuer Relevant Party means each of the affiliates of the Issuer and each person who controls the Issuer (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and each of their respective directors, officers, employees and agents.

 

7.7                                The representations, warranties and undertakings of each of the Managers under this Clause 7 are several and not joint.

 

13



 

8.                                       TERMINATION

 

The Managers may (after consultation with the Issuer, if practicable), by notice to the Issuer, terminate this Agreement at any time prior to payment of the net subscription monies to the Issuer if in the opinion of the Managers:

 

(a)                                  there shall have been such a change in national or international financial, political or economic conditions or currency exchange rates or exchange controls as would in its view be likely to prejudice materially the success of the offering and distribution of the Bonds or dealings in the Bonds in the secondary market and, upon such notice being given, the parties to this Agreement shall (except for any liability of the Issuer in relation to expenses as provided in the agreement referred to in Clause 4 and except for any liability arising before or in relation to such termination) be released and discharged from their respective obligations under this Agreement; or

 

(b)                                  there has been since the time of execution of this Agreement, any material adverse effect on the financial or trading condition, prospects, results of operations, business or general affairs of either the Issuer or the Group; or

 

(c)                                   the subscription agreement dated 19 February 2016 between the Issuer and the Managers and relating to the Tranche A Bonds terminates.

 

9.                                       NOTICES

 

9.1                                Any notice or notification in any form to be given by the Managers to the Issuer may be given by either Manager on behalf of the Managers and may be delivered in person or sent by fax addressed to:

 

VODAFONE GROUP PLC

Vodafone House

The Connection

Newbury

Berkshire RG14 2FN

United Kingdom

 

Fax Number:                         +44 1635 676746

Attention of:                           Director of Treasury

 

9.2                                Any notice or notification in any form to be given by the Issuer to the Managers or any of them may be delivered in person or sent by fax addressed to:

 

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES PLC

25 Bank Street

Canary Wharf

London E14 5JP

United Kingdom

 

Fax Number:                         +44 20 3493 1453

Attention of:                           Equity Linked Capital Markets Syndicate Desk

 

and

 

14



 

MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INTERNATIONAL PLC

25 Cabot Square

Canary Wharf

London E14 4QA

United Kingdom

 

Fax Number:                         +44 207 425 8990

Attention of:                           Head of Equity Capital Markets

 

9.3                                Any such notice or notification shall be in English and shall take effect, in the case of a letter, at the time of delivery and, in the case of fax, at the time of despatch.

 

10.                                GOVERNING LAW

 

This Agreement and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of England.

 

11.                                MISCELLANEOUS

 

11.1                         Time shall be of the essence of this Agreement.

 

11.2                         The heading to each Clause is included for convenience only and shall not affect the construction of this Agreement.

 

11.3                         This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which, taken together, shall constitute one and the same agreement and any party may enter into this Agreement by executing a counterpart.

 

11.4                         It is acknowledged that the Issuer has discussed with the Managers its principles for allocation and pricing of the Bonds and the factors all parties believe to be relevant to the allocation and pricing of the Bonds and that the Issuer and the Managers have agreed the objectives and process for the allocation and pricing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties hereto agree and acknowledge that any allocation of Bonds to either Manager will be at the Issuer’s sole discretion.

 

11.5                         The Issuer acknowledges and agrees that each Manager is part of its own financial services group (the group ) which includes, among other businesses, equity and debt securities trading (both for clients and as principal), securities offerings, fund management, financing services and financial advisory services and, accordingly, in no circumstance shall either Manager have any liability by reason of any member of its group conducting such other businesses or acting in its own interests or in the interests of other clients in respect of matters affecting the Issuer or any other company involved in this Agreement, including, where in so acting, any member of the relevant group acts in a manner which is adverse to the interests of the Issuer or any other party involved in this Agreement. In addition, as a result of duties of confidentiality, each Manager may be prohibited from disclosing information to the Issuer, or such disclosure may be inappropriate, and the Issuer agrees that no member of either Manager’s group will be under a duty to use or disclose any non-public information acquired from, or during the course of carrying on business for, any other person. The Issuer expressly acknowledges and agrees that, in the ordinary course of business, each of the Managers and other parts of their respective groups at any time (i) may invest on a principal basis or manage funds that invest, make or hold long or short positions, finance positions or trade or otherwise effect transactions, for their own accounts or the accounts of customers, in equity, debt or other securities or financial instruments (including derivatives, bank loans or other obligations) of the Issuer or any other company that may be involved in any proposed transaction, and (ii) may provide or arrange financing and other financial services to other companies that may be involved in

 

15



 

any proposed transaction or a competing transaction, in each case whose interests may conflict with those of the Issuer.

 

11.6                         The Issuer agrees that neither Manager is acting as a financial adviser or fiduciary to or an agent of the Issuer or any other person in respect of the timing, terms, structure or price of the Bonds and confirms that it will not claim or allege that either Manager has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect to it, or owes a fiduciary or similar duty to the Issuer, in connection with the issue and offering of the Bonds or the process leading thereto. Nothing in this paragraph shall exclude or restrict any duty or liability of the Managers which they have under the FSMA or the arrangements for regulating the Managers thereunder to any extent prohibited by those arrangements. The Issuer confirms that it will not claim or allege that the Managers are liable for the timing, terms or structure of the arrangements contemplated in this Agreement, for the offer price being set at a level that is too high or too low, or for any sales of securities by investors to which such securities are allocated.

 

11.7                         A person who is not a party to this Agreement has no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any term of this Agreement, but this does not affect any right or remedy of a third party which exists or is available apart from that Act.

 

AS WITNESS the hands of the parties (or their duly authorised representatives) on the date which appears first on page 1.

 

16



 

SCHEDULE 1

 

MANAGERS’ UNDERWRITING COMMITMENTS

 

Manager

 

Principal amount of Bonds

 

 

 

 

 

J.P. Morgan Securities plc

 

£

720,000,000

 

 

 

 

 

Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc

 

£

720,000,000

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL:

 

£

1,440,000,000

 

 

17



 

SCHEDULE 2

 

THE HEDGING AND SECURITY DOCUMENTS

 

The following documents are expected to be entered in connection with the Options on or before the Closing Date:

 

(a)                                  an escrow agreement among the Issuer, Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., London Branch (the Morgan Stanley Escrow Agreement );

 

(b)                                  an escrow agreement among the Issuer, J.P. Morgan and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., London Branch (the J.P. Morgan Escrow Agreement and together with the Morgan Stanley Escrow Agreement, the Escrow Agreements );

 

(c)                                   interest rate swap arrangements between the Issuer and Morgan Stanley and between the Issuer and J.P. Morgan (together, the Interest Rate Swaps );

 

(d)                                  an English law governed security deed between the Issuer (as Chargor) and Morgan Stanley (as Secured Party) (the Morgan Stanley Security Deed ); and

 

(e)                                   an English law governed security deed between the Issuer (as Chargor) and J.P. Morgan (as Secured Party) (the J.P. Morgan Security Deed and together with the Morgan Stanley Security Deed, the Issuer Security Deeds ).

 



 

SIGNATORIES

VODAFONE GROUP PLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Neil Garrod

 

NEIL GARROD

 

GROUP TREASURY DIRECTOR

 

 

 

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES PLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INTERNATIONAL PLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 



 

SIGNATORIES

 

VODAFONE GROUP PLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES PLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Pedro Lami

 

 

Pedro Lami, Ed

 

 

 

 

 

MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INTERNATIONAL PLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 



 

SIGNATORIES

 

VODAFONE GROUP PLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES PLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INTERNATIONAL PLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Adam Pickard

 

 

Adam Pickard

 

 

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

 

 


Exhibit 4.32

 

 

 

 

Gerard Kleisterlee

Chairman

 

23 September 2015

 

STRICTLY PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIDAL

 

Mr David Nish

Kiloran

Houston Road

Kilmacolm

Renfrewshire

PA13 4NY

 

Dear David,

 

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORSHIP OF VODAFONE GROUP PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY

 

Further to our discussions, this letter is to confirm the terms of your appointment as a non-executive director of Vodafone Group Public Limited Company (the “Company”).

 

1               Role

 

Your obligations and responsibilities as a non-executive director are to the Company and, like all directors, you should act at all times in the best interests of the Company, exercising your independent judgment on all matters. Non-executive directors have the same general legal responsibilities to the Company as any other director. The Board as a whole is collectively responsible for promoting the success of the Company by directing and supervising the Company’s affairs. Your appointment as a non-executive director of the Company is subject to the Company’s Articles of Association (the “Articles”) and the latter will prevail in the event of any conflict between them and the terms of this letter. A copy of the current version of the Articles is available on the Company’s website at www.vodafone.com.

 

In my view, the role of the non-executive director has a number of key elements and I look forward to your contribution in these areas:

 

·               Strategy: you should constructively challenge and contribute to the development of strategy;

 

·               Performance: you should scrutinise the performance of management in meeting agreed goals and objectives and monitor the reporting of performance;

 

·               Risk: you should satisfy yourself that financial information is accurate and that financial controls and systems of risk management are robust and defensible; and

 

·               People: non-executive directors are responsible for determining appropriate levels of remuneration of executive directors and have a prime role in appointing, and where necessary removing, senior management and in succession planning.

 

Vodafone Group Plc

Our ref: 053k-SM

Vodafone House, The Connection, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2FN, England

T      +44 1635 673915

T+44 (0)1635 33251 F+44 (0)1635 580857 www.vodafone.com

F      +44 1635 580761

 

Registered Office: Vodafone House, The Connection, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2FN, England, Registered in England No. 1833679

 



 

2               Appointment and Term

 

Subject to the terms of this letter, your appointment as a director will commence on 1 January 2016 (“the Effective Date”).

 

The Articles require that directors submit themselves for re-election by shareholders periodically and as a Board we have resolved that all the Directors will submit themselves for re-election every year. The Nominations and Governance Committee each year reviews and considers the submission of the directors for re-election and considers the membership of the Board committees. In the event that when you submit yourself for re-election you are not elected, your appointment as director will automatically terminate. You will not be entitled to receive any compensation from the Company in respect of the termination of your directorship. In accordance with the recommendations of the UK Corporate Governance Code, after nine years’ service on the Board, a director may not be considered independent.

 

Overall, we anticipate a time commitment from you involving attendance at all Board meetings (the Company currently has eight each year), the Annual General Meeting (usually held in July each year) and at least one Company/site visit per year. You will be expected to devote appropriate preparation time ahead of each meeting. In addition, each of the principal Board Committees meets about four or five times a year (and in some cases more frequently) and you are expected to attend all the meetings of the Committee(s) of which you are member. You should anticipate being a member of at least one of these Committees beginning on a date to be agreed between us.

 

By accepting this appointment, you have confirmed that you are able to allocate sufficient time to meet the expectations of your role. If you are unable to attend a Board meeting or Committee meeting in person, I hope, nevertheless, that you will be able to join those meetings either by videoconference or teleconference facilities. I would be grateful if, before accepting additional commitments that might affect the time you are able to devote to your role as a non-executive director of the Company, you would seek my agreement.

 

3               Fees

 

As you will be a non-executive director of the Company, the Board as a whole will determine your remuneration in accordance with the requirements of good corporate governance, and the Financial Conduct Authority’s Listing Rules. The fee for your services is £115,000.00 per annum and it is paid in equal instalments monthly in arrears. No separate fee is payable for membership of a Board Committee (unless you are the Chair of the Committee). You may elect to be paid either in cash or in the Company’s shares. Please let me know if you may prefer to receive shares. You will also be entitled to be repaid all travelling and other expenses properly incurred in performing your duties in accordance with the Articles. Payment of all fees will cease immediately after your appointment as a non-executive director of the Company terminates for any reason.

 

4               Dealing in the Company’s shares

 

You shall (and you shall procure that your “connected persons”, including your spouse and any dependent children shall) comply with the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 1993, the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, the Financial Conduct Authority’s Model Code as set out in the Listing Rules and rules and regulations laid down by the Company from time to time in relation to dealing in the Company’s shares. Further guidance is provided in your director information pack.

 

2



 

5               Competitive Businesses

 

In view of the sensitive and confidential nature of the Company’s business you agree that for so long as you are a non-executive director of the Company you will not, without the consent of the Board, which shall not be withheld unreasonably, be engaged or interested in any capacity in any business or with any company which is, in the reasonable opinion of the Board, competitive with the business of any company in the Group. In the event that you become aware of any potential conflicts of interest, these should be disclosed to me and to the Company Secretary as soon as possible.

 

6               Confidentiality

 

You agree that you will not make use of, divulge or communicate to any person (except in the proper performance of your duties) any of the trade secrets or other confidential information of or relating to any company in the Group which you have received or obtained from or through the Company. This restriction shall continue to apply after the termination of your appointment without limit in point of time but shall cease to apply to information or knowledge which comes into the public domain otherwise than through your default or which shall have been received by you from a third party entitled to disclose the same to you.

 

Your attention is also drawn to the requirements under both legislation and regulation as to the disclosure of inside information. Consequently, you should avoid making any statements that might risk a breach of these requirements without prior clearance from me or from the Company Secretary. Please note that all media enquiries concerning the Company must be referred immediately to the Group External Affairs Director.

 

7               Illness or Incapacity

 

If you are prevented by illness or incapacity from carrying out your duties for a period exceeding three consecutive calendar months or at different times for a period exceeding in aggregate three calendar months in any one period of twelve calendar months or if you become prohibited by law or under the Articles from being a non-executive director of the Company, then the Company may terminate your appointment immediately.

 

8               Effect of Termination

 

Upon termination of your appointment howsoever arising, you shall immediately or upon request of the Company, resign from office as a non-executive director of the Company and all other offices held by you in any other companies in the Group and your membership of any organisation acquired by virtue of your tenure of any such office, and should you fail to do so, the Company is hereby irrevocably authorised to appoint some person in your name and on your behalf to sign any documents and do anything necessary or requisite to give effect thereto.

 

9               Return of Company Property

 

You agree that upon termination of your appointment as a non-executive director, you will immediately deliver to the Company all property belonging to the Company or any member of its Group, including all documents or other records made or compiled or acquired by you during your appointment concerning the business, finances or affairs of the Group.

 

3



 

10            Independent Professional Advice

 

In accordance with the UK Corporate Governance Code, the Board has agreed procedures for directors in the furtherance of their duties to take independent professional advice if necessary, at the Company’s expense. A copy of the relevant Board resolution is enclosed in your director information pack. Naturally, if you have any queries or difficulties at any time please feel free to discuss them with me. I am also available at all times to provide you with information and advice you may need.

 

11            Indemnification and Insurance

 

You will have the benefit of the following indemnity in relation to liability incurred in your capacity as a Director of the Company. This indemnity is as wide as English law currently permits:

 

(i)             The Company will provide funds to cover costs as incurred by you in defending legal proceedings brought against you in your capacity as, or as a result of your being or having been, a Director of the Company including criminal proceedings and proceedings brought by the Company itself or an Associated Company;

 

(ii)            The Company will indemnify you in respect of any proceedings brought by third parties, including both legal and financial costs of an adverse judgment brought against you in your capacity as, or as a result of your being or having been, a Director of the Company; and

 

(iii)           The Company will indemnify you for liability incurred in connection with any application made to a court for relief from liability, where the court grants such relief.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, the indemnity granted does not cover:

 

(i)             Unsuccessful defence of criminal proceedings, in which instance the Company would seek reimbursement for any funds advanced;

 

(ii)            Unsuccessful defence of an action brought by the Company itself or an Associated Company, in which instance the Company would seek reimbursement for any funds advanced;

 

(iii)           Fines imposed by regulatory bodies;

 

(iv)           Fines imposed in criminal proceedings; and

 

(v)            Liability incurred in connection with any application under Section 144(3) or (4) of the Companies Act 1985 (acquisition of shares by innocent nominee) or section 1157 of the Companies Act 2006 (general power to grant relief in case of honest and reasonable conduct), where the court refuses to grant you relief, and such refusal is final.

 

You will notify the Company as soon as reasonably practicable upon becoming aware of any claim or potential claim against you.

 

The Company maintains Directors and Officers insurance as additional cover for directors which, if the insurance policy so permits, may provide funds in circumstances where the law prohibits the Company from indemnifying directors. Further information will be provided by the Company Secretary.

 

4



 

12            Review Process

 

The performance of individual directors and the whole Board and its committees is evaluated annually. If, in the interim, there are any matters which cause you concern about your role, please discuss them with me as soon as is appropriate.

 

13            Contract for Services

 

It is agreed that you will not be an employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries and that this letter shall not constitute a contract of employment.

 

In this letter:

 

“Board”          means the board of directors of the Company from time to time or any person or committee nominated by the board of directors as its representative or to whom (and to that extent) it has delegated powers for the purposes of this letter.

 

“Group”          means the Company and any other company which is its subsidiary or in which the Company or any subsidiary of the Company controls not less than 25% of the voting shares (where “subsidiary” has the meaning given to it by section 736 of the Companies Act 1985).

 

This letter shall be governed by and construed in accordance with English Law. Both parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English Courts as regards any claim or matter arising in connection with the terms of this letter.

 

Please acknowledge receipt and acceptance of the terms of this letter by signing the enclosed copy and returning it to the Company Secretary. I am greatly looking forward to working with you.

 

Kind regards.

 

 

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Gerard Kleisterlee

 

 

I hereby accept that the terms of this letter constitute the terms of my appointment as a non-executive director of the Company.

 

 

Signed:

/s/ David Nish

 

Date: 25 September 2015

 

[      ]

 

 

 

5


Exhibit 4.35

 

AGREED FORM

 

DATED                          2016

 

LIBERTY GLOBAL EUROPE HOLDING B.V.

 

and

 

LIBERTY GLOBAL PLC

 

and

 

VODAFONE INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS B.V.

 

and

 

VODAFONE GROUP PLC

 

and

 

LYNX GLOBAL EUROPE II B.V.

 


 

CONTRIBUTION AND TRANSFER AGREEMENT

relating to the contribution and/or transfer of

shares in Ziggo Group Holding B.V. and Vodafone Libertel B.V.

to Lynx Global Europe II B.V.

and the formation of the Netherlands joint venture

 


 

Slaughter and May

One Bunhill Row

London EC1Y 8YY

534882157

 



 

CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

1.

Interpretation

5

 

 

 

2.

Sale and purchase and contribution and/or transfer

26

 

 

 

3.

Estimated Vodafone Equalisation Consideration

28

 

 

 

4.

Conditions

30

 

 

 

5.

Conduct of business before Completion

31

 

 

 

6.

Pre-Completion Steps

36

 

 

 

7.

Post-Completion reorganisation

39

 

 

 

8.

Recapitalisation

39

 

 

 

9.

Completion

41

 

 

 

10.

Sellers’ Warranties

43

 

 

 

11.

Purchaser’s warranties and undertakings

49

 

 

 

12.

Remedies and Seller’s limitations on liability

49

 

 

 

13.

KPN Litigation

50

 

 

 

14.

Intrum Justitia Litigation

51

 

 

 

15.

Intellectual Property and Business Information

52

 

 

 

16.

Tax

55

 

 

 

17.

Sellers’ liability

56

 

 

 

18.

Seller Guarantees

56

 

 

 

19.

Effect of Completion

57

 

 

 

20.

Remedies and waivers

57

 

 

 

21.

No double recovery

57

 

 

 

22.

Assignment

58

 

 

 

23.

Further assurance

58

 



 

24.

Entire agreement

58

 

 

 

25.

Notices

59

 

 

 

26.

Announcements

60

 

 

 

27.

Confidentiality

61

 

 

 

28.

Costs and expenses

62

 

 

 

29.

Payments

62

 

 

 

30.

Counterparts

64

 

 

 

31.

Invalidity

64

 

 

 

32.

Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999

64

 

 

 

33.

Choice of governing law

64

 

 

 

34.

Jurisdiction

64

 

 

 

35.

Language

65

 

SCHEDULES AND ATTACHMENTS

 

Schedule 1 (Conditions to Completion)

66

 

 

Schedule 2 (Completion arrangements)

67

 

 

Schedule 3 (Warranties)

70

 

 

Schedule 4 (Limitations on the Sellers’ liability)

90

 

 

Schedule 5 (Conduct of business before Completion)

96

 

 

Schedule 6 (Intentionally left blank)

98

 

 

Schedule 7 (Liberty Global Pre-Completion Reorganisation)

99

 

 

Schedule 8 (Vodafone Pre-Completion Reorganisation)

102

 

 

Schedule 9 (Derivatives)

104

 

 

Schedule 10 (Post-Completion Financial Adjustments)

105

 

 

Schedule 11 (Financial Adjustments: Amounts)

118

 

2



 

Attachment 1 Part A (Basic information about the Target Companies)

124

 

 

Attachment 1 Part B (Basic information about the Subsidiaries)

126

 

 

Attachment 2 (Relevant Properties)

158

 

3



 

THIS AGREEMENT is made on                                                2016

 

PARTIES:

 

1.                                       Liberty Global Europe Holding B.V. , whose corporate seat is at Boeing Avenue 53, 1119 PE Schiphol-Rijk, The Netherlands (registered with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce No. 34359572) (“ Liberty Global ”);

 

2.                                       Liberty Global plc , whose registered office is at Griffin House, 161 Hammersmith Road, London, United Kingdom, W6 8BS (registered in England with No. 08379990) (the “ Liberty Global Guarantor ”);

 

3.                                       Vodafone International Holdings B.V. , whose corporate seat is Rotterdam, The Netherlands, having its office address at Rivium Quadrant 173, 2909 LC Capelle aan den IJssel, The Netherlands (registered with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce No. 24235177) (“ Vodafone ”, with each of Liberty Global and Vodafone being a “ Seller ” and, together, the “ Sellers ”);

 

4.                                       Vodafone Group Plc , whose registered office is at Vodafone House, The Connection, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2FN, United Kingdom (registered in England with No. 01833679) (the “ Vodafone Guarantor ”, with each of the Liberty Global Guarantor and the Vodafone Guarantor being a “ Guarantor ” and, together, the “ Guarantors ”); and

 

5.                                       Lynx Global Europe II B.V. , whose corporate seat is at Boeing Avenue 53, 1119 PE Schiphol-Rijk, The Netherlands (registered with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce No. 65291166) (the “ Purchaser ”),

 

together, the “ parties ”.

 

BACKGROUND:

 

(A)                                Particulars of each Target Group (as defined in this Agreement) are set out in Part A of Attachment 1 (Basic information about the Target Companies) and Part B of Attachment 1 (Basic information about the Subsidiaries).

 

(B)                                Each Seller has agreed to contribute and/or sell and transfer (or procure the contribution and/or transfer of) its Target Company (as defined below) and to assume the obligations imposed on it as a Seller under this Agreement, in each case, on the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement.

 

(C)                                The Purchaser has agreed to accept the contribution and/or purchase of the Shares and to assume the obligations imposed on the Purchaser under this Agreement, in each case, on the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement.

 

(D)                                On 15 February 2016, the Sellers and the Purchaser entered into the Signing Protocol. Each of the Sellers and the Purchaser has obtained all internal corporate approvals and complied with the employee consultation obligations in respect of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement under the Works Council Act ( Wet op de ondernemingsraden ) and the SER Merger Code ( SER-besluit Fusiegedragsregels 2015 ).

 

4



 

(E)                                 In connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Purchaser, Liberty Global and Vodafone, and/or certain members of their respective groups, have entered into or will enter into the Ancillary Documents (as defined below).

 

(F)                                  The Vodafone Guarantor has agreed, with respect to Vodafone, and the Liberty Global Guarantor has agreed, with respect to Liberty Global, to guarantee the payment obligations of the relevant Seller under this Agreement.

 

THE PARTIES AGREE as follows:

 

1.                                       Interpretation

 

1.1                                In this Agreement, the Schedules and the Attachments to it:

 

Accounting Principles

 

has the meaning set out in paragraph 1 of Part A of Schedule 10 ;

 

 

 

Accounts

 

means:

 

 

 

 

 

(i)

with respect to the Vodafone Target Group, the audited financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS as adopted by the European Union and in accordance with Part 9, Book 2 of the Dutch Civil Code for the accounting reference period ended on the Accounts Date, comprising the statement of comprehensive income, the statement of financial position, statement of changes in equity, the statement of cash flows and the notes to the accounts; and

 

 

 

 

 

 

(ii)

with respect to the Liberty Global Target Group (excluding the Liberty Global Reorganisation Companies), the condensed consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with US GAAP for the nine months ended on the Accounts Date comprising in each case, the balance sheet, the statement of operations, the statement of owner’s equity, the statement of cash flows and the notes thereto; and

 

 

 

 

 

 

(iii)

with respect to the Liberty Global Reorganisation Companies the individual balance sheet and statement of operations of each entity for the year ended on the Accounts Date prepared in accordance with US GAAP as set out in the following folders of the relevant Data Room: 16.12.25.05 for UPC Western Europe Holding B.V.; 16.12.25.05 for UPC Western Europe Holding 2 B.V.; 16.12.25.07, 16.12.25.08, 16.12.25.09 and 16.12.25.10 for Liberty Global Content NL B.V.; and

 

5



 

 

 

 

17.10.06 for Ziggo Toestel Financiering B.V.;

 

 

 

 

Accounts Date

 

means:

 

 

 

 

 

 

(i)

with respect to the Vodafone Target Group, 31 March 2015; and

 

 

 

 

 

 

(ii)

with respect to the Liberty Global Target Group (excluding the Liberty Global Reorganisation Companies), 30 September 2015;

 

 

 

 

 

 

(iii)

with respect to the Liberty Global Reorganisation Companies, 31 December 2015;

 

 

 

 

Agreed Shareholder Debt

 

means an equal amount (in respect of principal and accrued interest) of each of:

 

 

 

 

 

 

(i)

the Inter-Company Loan Payables of the Vodafone Target Group pursuant to the Vodafone Inter-Company Loan Agreement (the “ Specified Vodafone IC Loan Payables ”); and

 

 

 

 

 

 

(ii)

the Inter-Company Loan Payables of the Liberty Global Target Group pursuant to the Liberty Global Inter-Company Loan Agreement (the “ Specified Liberty Global IC Loan Payables ”),

 

 

 

 

 

 

in each case in the amount which is the lesser of (A) the aggregate amount of the Specified Vodafone IC Loan Payables and (B) the aggregate amount of the Specified Liberty Global IC Loan Payables, in each case as at the date specified in sub-clause 6.5(C) ;

 

 

 

 

Ajax Contract

 

means the sponsorship agreement entered into between Liberty Global B.V. and AFC Ajax N.V. dated 30 April 2014, as amended;

 

 

 

Ancillary Documents

 

means the Tax Covenant, the Disclosure Letters, the Shareholders Agreement, Deeds of Transfer, the Framework Agreement Term Sheet, the Framework Agreement, the Articles of Association, the Intellectual Property Assignment Agreement, the Brand Licence Agreement and any other agreements entered into pursuant to this Agreement, and “ Ancillary Document ” shall mean any one of them;

 

 

 

Anti-Bribery Law

 

means any applicable law that relates to bribery or corruption, including the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act 2010 and the Dutch penal code;

 

6



 

Articles of Association

 

means the articles of association to be adopted by the Purchaser at Completion in the agreed form;

 

 

 

Books and Records

 

has its common law meaning and includes, without limitation, all notices, correspondence, orders, inquiries, drawings, plans, books of account and other documents and all electronic and other records (excluding software);

 

 

 

Brand

 

has the meaning set out in the Brand Licence Agreement;

 

 

 

Brand Licence Agreement

 

means the brand licence agreement to be entered into by Vodafone Sales & Services Limited and Liberty Global Target Company at Completion in the agreed form;

 

 

 

Business Day

 

means a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks are open for general business in London and The Netherlands;

 

 

 

Business Information

 

means all information (in whatever form held) including (without limitation) all:

 

 

 

 

 

(i)

formulas, designs, specifications, drawings, know-how, manuals and instructions;

 

 

 

 

 

 

(ii)

customer lists, sales, marketing and promotional information;

 

 

 

 

 

 

(iii)

business plans and forecasts;

 

 

 

 

 

 

(iv)

technical or other expertise; and

 

 

 

 

 

 

(v)

all accounting and Tax records, correspondence, orders and enquiries;

 

 

 

CIT Fiscal Unity

 

has the meaning given to in the Tax Covenant;

 

 

 

Completion

 

means completion of the contribution and/or sale and transfer of the Shares and the transfer of the JV Co Shares under this Agreement;

 

 

 

Completion Balance Sheet

 

has the meaning set out in paragraph 1 of Part B of Schedule 10 ;

 

 

 

Completion Date

 

means the date on which Completion takes place in accordance with sub-clause 9.1 ;

 

 

 

Completion Statement Notice

 

has the meaning set out in paragraph 2 of Part C of Schedule 10 ;

 

 

 

Completion

 

has the meaning set out in paragraph 1.2 of Part C of

 

7



 

Statements

 

Schedule 10 ;

 

 

 

Currency MtM Calculation

 

means the USD notional of the relevant FX Derivative divided by the EUR/USD Exchange Rate at Completion expressed as a Euro amount, minus the EUR notional of the relevant FX Derivative. For the avoidance of doubt, this number should be denominated in Euros;

 

 

 

Data Room

 

means, with respect to the Vodafone Target Group, the electronic data room hosted by Intralinks and, with respect to the Liberty Global Target Group, the electronic data room hosted by iRooms, in respect of each of which an index is appended to the relevant Disclosure Letter and a CD/DVD copy of which has been provided to the Purchaser and the other Seller by each Seller on the date of the Signing Protocol;

 

 

 

Deed of Amendment of the Articles of Association

 

means the notarial deed of amendment of the Articles of Association;

 

 

 

Deeds of Transfer

 

means the notarial deeds of (i) transfer of the Shares to the Purchaser and (ii) transfer of the JV Co Shares to Vodafone, executed before the Notary;

 

 

 

Default Interest

 

means interest at the rate of EURIBOR plus two per cent.;

 

 

 

Derivative

 

means any option, swap, future or other derivative transaction entered into in connection with protection against or benefit from fluctuations in any rate or price, or any instrument having a similar effect;

 

 

 

Disclosure Letters

 

means the letters of the same date as this Agreement written by each of the Sellers to the Purchaser in agreed form as at the date of the Signing Protocol for the purposes of sub-clause 12.1 and delivered to the Purchaser on the date of this Agreement;

 

 

 

Disclosures

 

shall have the meaning set out in each of the Disclosure Letters;

 

 

 

Dutch Tax Authority

 

has the meaning set out in sub-clause 6.9 ;

 

 

 

EONIA

 

means a reference rate equal to the overnight mid swap rate calculated and sponsored jointly by the European Banking Federation and ACI - The Financial Market Association (or any company established by the joint sponsors for purposes of compiling and publishing such rates);

 

8



 

Estimated Liberty Global Net Debt

 

means the estimate of what the Liberty Global Net Debt will be as at Completion;

 

 

 

Estimated Liberty Global Working Capital

 

means the estimate of what the Liberty Global Working Capital will be at Completion;

 

 

 

Estimated Vodafone Equalisation Consideration

 

has the meaning set out in sub-clause 3.1 ;

 

 

 

Estimated Vodafone Net Debt

 

means the estimate of what the Vodafone Net Debt will be as at Completion;

 

 

 

Estimated Vodafone Working Capital

 

means the estimate of what the Vodafone Working Capital will be at Completion;

 

 

 

Exchange Rate

 

means, with respect to a particular currency for a particular day, the spot rate of exchange (the closing mid-point) for that currency into euros on such date as published in the London edition of the Financial Times first published thereafter or, where no such rate is published in respect of that currency for such date, at the rate quoted by National Westminster Bank Plc as at the close of business in London as at such date;

 

 

 

Exclusively Related

 

means, in respect of a Target Group, exclusively related to, or used or held for use exclusively in connection with that Target Group;

 

 

 

Existing FX Derivatives

 

means any Derivatives entered into by the Liberty Global Target Group as at 31 December 2015 in connection with protection against or benefit from fluctuations in foreign exchange rates of two or more currencies, details of which are set out in Schedule 9 of this Agreement;

 

 

 

Existing Interest Rate Derivatives

 

means the Interest Rate Derivatives entered into by the Liberty Global Target Group as at 31 December 2015 in connection with protection against or benefit from fluctuations in interest rates, details of which are set out in Schedule 9 of this Agreement;

 

 

 

Existing Technology Services Agreement

 

means the agreements for technology services between: (i) Liberty Global B.V. and the Liberty Global Target Company, dated 15 April 2015 (effective as of April 1st 2015) and the back-to-back agreement between the Liberty Global Target Company and Ziggo B.V., dated 15 April 2015 (effective as of 1 April 2015); and (ii) Liberty Global Services B.V. and UPC Nederland B.V., dated 22 September 2014 (effective as of 1 January 2014), the respective rights in which were

 

9



 

 

 

assigned to Liberty Global B.V. and Ziggo Services B.V., on 15 April 2015;

 

 

 

Exit Notice

 

has the meaning set out in the Shareholders Agreement;

 

 

 

fairly disclosed

 

means disclosed in such a manner and with sufficient detail to enable (i) in relation to the Warranties given by Liberty Global, Vodafone and (ii) in relation to the Warranties given by Vodafone, Liberty Global, to reasonably accurately assess the nature and scope of the fact, matter or other information disclosed;

 

 

 

Final Vodafone Equalisation Consideration

 

has the meaning set out in sub-clause 3.5;

 

 

 

Financing Facilities

 

means any debt facilities, arrangements, instruments, trust deeds, note purchase agreements, indentures, commercial paper facilities or overdraft facilities with banks, other financial institutions or investors providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to such institutions or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such institutions against such receivables), letters of credit, notes, bonds, debentures or other financial indebtedness;

 

 

 

Firm

 

has the meaning set out in paragraph 5 of Part C of Schedule 10 ;

 

 

 

Fiscal Unity

 

means a tax group where the relevant companies are taxed as if there is only one tax payer ( fiscale eenheid ), as described in Article 15 of the Dutch Corporate Income Tax Act 1969 ( Wet op de vennootschapsbelasting 1969 ) and in Article 11 of the Directive of the Council of the European Union on the common system of value added tax (2006/112/EC);

 

 

 

Framework Agreement

 

means the framework services agreement expected to be entered into by the parties at Completion in the agreed form, as contemplated by the Framework Agreement Term Sheet;

 

 

 

Framework Agreement Term Sheet

 

means the term sheet with respect to the Framework Agreement in the agreed form;

 

 

 

Fundamental Warranties

 

means the Warranties at paragraphs 1 (Ownership of the Shares), 2 (Capacity of the Seller), 11 (Insolvency) of Part A of Schedule 3 (Warranties), and the JV Co Shares

 

10



 

 

 

Warranties;

 

 

 

FX Derivatives

 

means any Derivatives entered into by the Liberty Global Target Group in connection with protection against or benefit from fluctuations in foreign exchange rates of two or more currencies;

 

 

 

FX Interest Rate Portion

 

means the interest rate component of the Existing FX Derivatives (being the marked to market valuation in Euros of the Existing FX Derivatives minus the Currency MtM Calculation in relation to the Existing FX Derivatives);

 

 

 

Handset Financing Ruling

 

means the decision by the Dutch Supreme Court ( Hoge Raad der Nederlanden ) on 13 June 2014 in relation to the application of the Dutch Consumer Credit Act ( Wet op het consumentenkrediet ) and the Dutch Financial Supervisory Act ( Wet op het financieel toezicht ) to customer mobile telephone subscription contracts that include the provision of free handsets;

 

 

 

HBO JV

 

means Cooperatie HBO Nederland Cooperatief U.A;

 

 

 

IFRS

 

means international accounting standards within the meaning of IAS Regulation 1606/2002;

 

 

 

Income, Profits or Gains

 

has the meaning set out in the Tax Covenant;

 

 

 

Information Technology

 

means information technology services, software, computer hardware, network and telecommunications equipment;

 

 

 

Initial Vodafone Equalisation Consideration

 

means €1,000,000,000 (1 billion euros);

 

 

 

Intellectual Property

 

means patents, trade marks, rights in designs, copyrights and database rights (whether or not any of these is registered and including applications for registration of any such thing) and all rights or forms of protection of a similar nature or having equivalent or similar effect to any of these which may subsist anywhere in the world;

 

 

 

Intellectual Property Assignment Agreement

 

means the intellectual property assignment agreement to be entered into at Completion in the agreed form;

 

 

 

Inter-Company Loan Payables

 

means, in relation to each member of a Target Group, any amounts owed by that member to any member of the relevant Seller’s Retained Group (which are not Inter-Company Trading Balances), for the avoidance of doubt

 

11



 

 

 

including pursuant to the Liberty Global Inter-Company Loan Agreement and the Vodafone Inter-Company Loan Agreement, in each case together with accrued interest, if any, up to the date of Completion on the terms of the applicable debt;

 

 

 

Inter-Company Loan Receivables

 

means any amounts owed to any member of a Target Group by any member of the relevant Seller’s Retained Group (which are not Inter-Company Trading Balances);

 

 

 

Inter-Company Trading Balances

 

means all amounts owed, outstanding or accrued in the ordinary course of trading, including any amounts in respect of VAT comprised in such amounts, as between any member of a Seller’s Retained Group and any member of that Seller’s Target Group as at Completion in respect of inter-company trading activity and the provision of services, facilities and benefits between them, excluding amounts due in respect of matters which have the characteristics of an intra-group loan;

 

 

 

Interest Rate Derivatives

 

means any Derivative entered into in connection with protection against or benefit from fluctuations in interest rates;

 

 

 

Intrum Justitia Benefit

 

means any benefit (including any cash received or any amount set off against a liability) received pursuant to any judgment, award or settlement of the Intrum Justitia Litigation or otherwise from the counterparty to the Intrum Justitia Litigation less any amounts payable, and which remain unpaid, pursuant to clauses 14.1 and 14.2;

 

 

 

Intrum Justitia Litigation

 

means the litigation, including both the claims and counter-claims made by the parties, ongoing between the Vodafone Target Group and Intrum Justitia, as described in the litigation overview in folder 17.1 of the Data Room;

 

 

 

Intrum Justitia Provision

 

means any provision made in the Vodafone Completion Statement in respect of the Intrum Justitia Litigation;

 

 

 

IPO Notice

 

has the meaning set out in the Shareholders Agreement;

 

 

 

JV Co Shares

 

means shares representing 50 per cent. of the entire issued share capital of the Purchaser as at Completion;

 

 

 

JV Co Shares Warranties

 

means the warranties set out in Part D of Schedule 3 (Warranties) given by Liberty Global to Vodafone;

 

 

 

KPN Litigation

 

means the civil legal proceedings initiated against KPN B.V. and Royal KPN N.V. (together “ KPN ”) by Vodafone Libertel B.V. on 10 December 2015 (case number at court of The

 

12



 

 

 

Hague C/09/502208/15/1413), in which Vodafone Libertel B.V. requests the court of The Hague to rule that (A) KPN has acted tortiously against Vodafone Libertel B.V. and (B) KPN is liable for the damages as a result thereof which are to be further determined;

 

 

 

LG Purchaser Exit Activities

 

has the meaning set out in sub-clause 15.10(B);

 

 

 

Liberty Global Bank Account

 

means Liberty Global’s bank account under the name Liberty Global Europe Holding B.V. with BIC: RBOSNL2A and IBAN: NL13RBOS0759933588;

 

 

 

Liberty Global Capex Shortfall

 

means, in relation to the Liberty Global Target Group, the amount (if any) by which the Liberty Global Capex Spend is less than the Target Liberty Global Capex Spend as at the Completion Date;

 

 

 

Liberty Global Capex Spend

 

means, in relation to the Liberty Global Target Group, the aggregate amount of capital expenditure incurred and capitalised on the balance sheet in line with the relevant Accounting Principles by members of the Liberty Global Target Group during the period from 31 December 2015 up to Completion but excluding (i) any assets transferred from the Seller’s Retained Group, and (ii) expenditure relating to customer-premises equipment;

 

 

 

Liberty Global Cash

 

means, in relation to the Liberty Global Target Group, the aggregate of its cash (by reference to the nominal ledgers of the Liberty Global Target Group) and its cash equivalents, including all interest accrued thereon, as at Completion (but excluding all amounts and items included in the calculation of the Liberty Global Working Capital) comprising each of the line items identified in the column headed “Cash” in Part C of Schedule 11 ;

 

 

 

Liberty Global Completion Statement

 

has the meaning set out in 1 of Part C of Schedule 10 ;

 

 

 

Liberty Global Debt

 

means, in relation to the Liberty Global Target Group, the aggregate borrowings and indebtedness in the nature of borrowing owed to any banking, financial, acceptance credit, lending or other similar institution or organisation, or any other third party, or any member of the Liberty Global Retained Group (which is not an amount or item included in the calculation of the Liberty Global Working Capital), comprising each of the line items identified in the column headed ‘Debt’ in Part C of Schedule 11 , together with those items specifically required to be included in Liberty Global

 

13



 

 

 

Debt by paragraph 3.1 of Part B of Schedule 10 , including:

 

 

 

 

 

(a)

all outstanding principal and accrued and unpaid interest;

 

 

 

 

 

 

(b)

all obligations by way of acceptance credits, discounting or similar facilities, loan stocks, bonds, debentures, notes, overdrafts or any other similar arrangements the purpose of which is to raise money;

 

 

 

 

 

 

(c)

Liberty Global Capex Shortfall;

 

 

 

 

 

 

(d)

Inter-Company Loan Payables (excluding any Agreed Shareholder Debt) and Inter-Company Loan Receivables; and

 

 

 

 

 

 

(e)

vendor financing liabilities;

 

 

 

Liberty Global Deed of Transfer

 

has the meaning set out in sub-clause 2.1

 

 

 

Liberty Global Exit Activities

 

has the meaning set out in sub-clause 15.10(A) ;

 

 

 

Liberty Global Exit Date

 

means the date on which Liberty Global (together with each member of Liberty Global’s Retained Group) ceases to hold a direct or indirect combined interest of 50% or more of the issued share capital in the Purchaser;

 

 

 

Liberty Global Inter-Company Loan Agreement

 

means the amended and restated master loan agreement entered into on 24 November 2015 between Liberty Global Broadband I Limited (as lender) and the Liberty Global Target Company (as borrower), as amended, restated, varied, assigned, novated or transferred from time to time;

 

 

 

Liberty Global Inter-Company Loan Amendment Agreement

 

means the amendment and restatement agreement in relation to the Liberty Global Inter-Company Loan Agreement to be entered into prior to Completion in the agreed form and at a rate of interest on arms’ length terms (and which may be amended from time to time to reflect any rating agency requirements as described in clause 12.5 of the Shareholders Agreement);

 

 

 

Liberty Global JV Patent

 

means any patent or patent application which, as at Completion, is owned (in whole or in part) by the Purchaser or any member of the Purchaser’s Group and has been used by any member of Liberty Global’s Retained Group in the 12 months prior to Completion;

 

14



 

Liberty Global Net Debt

 

means the Liberty Global Cash less the Liberty Global Debt;

 

 

 

Liberty Global Non-Operating Companies

 

means each company in the Liberty Global Target Group which is dormant for accounting purposes, being Torenspits B.V., Plinius Investments B.V., Breedband Breda B.V., TeleCai Den Haag and Ziggo Deelnemingen B.V.;

 

 

 

Liberty Global Participants

 

means those employees of the Liberty Global Target Group who are participants in the Liberty Global Share Schemes immediately prior to Completion;

 

 

 

Liberty Global Patent

 

means any patent or patent application which, as at Completion, is owned (in whole or in part) by Liberty Global or any member of Liberty Global’s Retained Group and has been used by any member of the Liberty Global Target Group in the 12 months prior to Completion;

 

 

 

Liberty Global Pre-Completion Reorganisation

 

has the meaning set out in sub-clause 6.1 ;

 

 

 

Liberty Global Quarterly Update

 

has the meaning set out in sub-clause 3.3(B);

 

 

 

Liberty Global Relief Period

 

means the period running from Completion until the Liberty Global Exit Date;

 

 

 

Liberty Global Reorganisation Companies

 

means UPC Western Europe Holding B.V., UPC Western Europe Holding 2 B.V., Liberty Global Content NL B.V. and Ziggo Toestel Financiering B.V.;

 

 

 

Liberty Global Share Schemes

 

means any share schemes which the Liberty Global Guarantor has in place from time to time;

 

 

 

Liberty Global Shares

 

means shares in the share capital of the Liberty Global Guarantor;

 

 

 

Liberty Global Target Company

 

means Ziggo Group Holding B.V., basic information concerning which is set out in Part A of Attachment 1 (Basic information about the Target Companies);

 

 

 

Liberty Global Target Company Shares

 

means all of the issued and outstanding share capital of the Liberty Global Target Company;

 

 

 

Liberty Global Target Group

 

means Liberty Global Target Company and all its Subsidiaries, together with ZUM B.V. and the Liberty Global Reorganisation Companies;

 

15



 

Liberty Global Transferred Group

 

has the meaning given in the Tax Covenant;

 

 

 

Liberty Global Working Capital

 

means, in relation to the Liberty Global Target Group, the working capital as at Completion comprising each of the line items identified in the column headed “Working Capital” in Part C of Schedule 11 , for the avoidance of doubt including any Inter-Company Trading Balances;

 

 

 

Long Stop Date

 

means the date falling 18 months after the date of the Signing Protocol;

 

 

 

Management Accounts

 

means:

 

 

 

 

 

(i)

with respect to the Vodafone Target Group, the unaudited monthly management accounts of the Vodafone Target Group for the nine months ended 31 December 2015 in the form contained in the relevant Data Room;

 

 

 

 

 

 

(ii)

with respect to the Liberty Global Target Group, the unaudited monthly management accounts of the Liberty Global Target Group for the 12 months ended 31 December 2015 in the form contained in the relevant Data Room;

 

 

 

Mast Sites

 

means any tower or other structure, including structures affixed to buildings, to which radio antennae and associated equipment are attached and connected for the purposes of providing mobile network coverage;

 

 

 

Material Contract

 

means any written contract of any member of a Target Group calling for payments by any party thereto in excess of €10,000,000 in any one year other than any Financing Facility;

 

 

 

Material Financing Facilities

 

means Financing Facilities exceeding €50,000,000;

 

 

 

Material Liberty Global Litigation

 

means any dispute, action, claim, proceedings, litigation, arbitration or other dispute resolution process concerning the Liberty Global Group in connection with (i) the LIRA foundation; (ii) the VEVAM foundation; (iii) the PAM association; and (iv) the litigation instigated by ROVI Guide Inc. against Ziggo B.V. (and others) in relation to alleged patent infringements, as set out in the litigation overview in folder 10.01 of the relevant Data Room;

 

 

 

Material Licence

 

means all licences for the use of radio frequencies for mobile telecommunications held by the Vodafone Target

 

16



 

 

 

Group on 1 January 2016;

 

 

 

Material Vodafone Litigation

 

means any dispute, action, claim, proceedings, litigation, arbitration or other dispute resolution process concerning the Vodafone Target Group in connection with (i) the dispute concerning the Vodafone Target Group with Authority for Consumers and Markets ( Autoriteit Consument en Markt ) regarding mobile termination fees (“ MTRs ”); (ii) Intrum Justitia; (iii) Stichting ConTel and Consumentenclaim B.V.; (iv) Orange Caraïbes SA and (v) the PAM association, as set out in the litigation overview in folder 17.1 of the Data Room, but for the avoidance of doubt, excluding the KPN Litigation;

 

 

 

Network

 

has the meaning set out in paragraph 16.3 of Part A of Schedule 3 (Warranties);

 

 

 

Notary

 

means any civil law notary ( notaris ) of NautaDutilh N.V. or any of their deputies;

 

 

 

Notary Bank Account

 

means the non-exclusive notarial quality account ( notariële kwaliteitsrekening ) of the Notary held with ABN AMRO Bank N.V., Rotterdam branch, Coolsingel 119, 3000 DD Rotterdam, the Netherlands, under the name Kwaliteitsrekening Notarissen Amsterdam NautaDutilh N.V. , with BIC: ABNANL2A and IBAN: NL60ABNA0452477999;

 

 

 

Pension Scheme

 

means:

 

 

 

 

 

(A) with respect to the Vodafone Target Group: (i) the pension scheme conducted by Vodafone Libertel B.V. by Nationale-Nederlanden Premium Pension Institution B.V. and Nationale-Nederlanden Levensverzekering Maatschappij N.V. with effective date 1 January 2015 and (ii) the pension scheme conducted by mITE Systems B.V.( Pensioenreglement Zwitserleven Exclusief ) as of 1 January 2015 and the Uitvoeringsovereenkomst in respect of contract number 1.009.594-012; or

 

 

 

 

 

(B) with respect to the Liberty Global Target Group, each of (i) the pension scheme conducted by ABP ( Keuzepensioen ), (ii) the pension scheme conducted by PNO ( Media (1) ), and (iii) the three pension schemes conducted by Nationale Nederlanden ( Prestatie Pensioen Ziggo Services B.V., Prestatie Pensioen Ziggo Zakelijk Services B.V. and Prestatie Pensioen Esprit Telecom/ Zoranet ), in each case for members of the Liberty Global Target Group as at the date of the Signing Protocol;

 

 

 

Postponed Long Stop

 

means the Long Stop Date as postponed in accordance

 

17



 

Date

 

with sub-clause 4.8 ;

 

 

 

Pre-Completion Liberty Global Net Debt Adjustment

 

means an amount equal to 50% of the difference between the aggregate Estimated Liberty Global Net Debt and the aggregate Target Liberty Global Net Debt and, if the aggregate Estimated Liberty Global Net Debt is greater than the aggregate Target Liberty Global Net Debt, such amount shall be expressed as a positive number (or, if the aggregate Estimated Liberty Global Net Debt is less than the aggregate Target Liberty Global Net Debt, such amount shall be expressed as a negative number);

 

 

 

Pre-Completion Liberty Global Working Capital Adjustment

 

means an amount equal to 50% of the difference between the aggregate Estimated Liberty Global Working Capital and the aggregate Target Liberty Global Working Capital and, if the aggregate Estimated Liberty Global Working Capital is greater than the aggregate Target Liberty Global Working Capital, such amount shall be expressed as a positive number (or, if the aggregate Estimated Liberty Global Working Capital is less than the aggregate Target Liberty Global Working Capital, such amount shall be expressed as a negative number);

 

 

 

Pre-Completion Vodafone Net Debt Adjustment

 

means an amount equal to 50% of the difference between the aggregate Estimated Vodafone Net Debt and the aggregate Target Vodafone Net Debt and, if the aggregate Estimated Vodafone Net Debt is greater than the aggregate Target Vodafone Net Debt, such amount shall be expressed as a positive number (or, if the aggregate Estimated Vodafone Net Debt is less than the aggregate Target Vodafone Net Debt, such amount shall be expressed as a negative number);

 

 

 

Pre-Completion Vodafone Working Capital Adjustment

 

means an amount equal to 50% of the difference between the aggregate Estimated Vodafone Working Capital and the aggregate Target Vodafone Working Capital and, if the aggregate Estimated Vodafone Working Capital is greater than the aggregate Target Vodafone Working Capital, such amount shall be expressed as a positive number (or, if the aggregate Estimated Vodafone Working Capital is less than the aggregate Target Vodafone Working Capital, such amount shall be expressed as a negative number);

 

 

 

Preparing Party

 

has the meaning set out in paragraph 2 of Part C of Schedule 10 ;

 

 

 

Previous Pension Schemes

 

has the meaning set out in paragraph 21.2 of Part A of Schedule 3 ;

 

 

 

Property ” or

 

means freehold, leasehold or other immovable property in

 

18



 

Properties

 

any part of the world;

 

 

 

Property Owner

 

means, in relation to any Relevant Property, the person referred to as the owner in Attachment 2 (Relevant Properties);

 

 

 

Purchaser Bank Account

 

means the Purchaser’s bank account to be notified in writing by Liberty Global to Vodafone on or before the date falling 3 Business Days prior to Completion;

 

 

 

Purchaser’s Group

 

means the Purchaser and its subsidiaries and subsidiary undertakings from time to time;

 

 

 

Purchaser’s Relief

 

has the meaning given in the Tax Covenant;

 

 

 

Purchaser’s Repayment

 

has the meaning given in the Tax Covenant;

 

 

 

Recapitalisation

 

means a Recapitalisation and/or a Refinancing, in each case occurring on or after the Completion Date, and as defined in the Shareholders Agreement;

 

 

 

Rejecting Party

 

has the meaning set out in paragraph 2 of Part C of Schedule 10 ;

 

 

 

Relevant Parent Company

 

means the company that is considered the parent company ( moedermaatschappij ) of a Fiscal Unity, and, as such, is primarily liable for any Tax of the Fiscal Unity;

 

 

 

Relevant Property

 

means the Property or Properties referred to in Attachment 2 (Relevant Properties);

 

 

 

Relevant Regulatory Authority

 

means the European Commission, the Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets, and the Dutch Minister for Economic Affairs;

 

 

 

Relief

 

means any loss, relief, allowance or credit in respect of any Tax and any deduction in computing Income, Profits or Gains for the purposes of any Tax or any right to repayment of Tax;

 

 

 

Retained Group

 

means, in respect of each Seller, that Seller, its subsidiaries and subsidiary undertakings from time to time, any holding company of the Seller and all other subsidiaries or subsidiary undertakings of any such holding company (excluding the Purchaser, that Seller’s Target Company and any subsidiaries or subsidiary undertakings of that Target Company);

 

19



 

Senior Employee

 

means any employee of a Target Group with a base salary of €300,000 or above;

 

 

 

Share Purchase Documents

 

means this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents;

 

 

 

Shareholders Agreement

 

means the shareholders agreement to be entered into by the parties at Completion in the agreed form;

 

 

 

Shares

 

means the Vodafone Target Company Shares and the Liberty Global Target Company Shares;

 

 

 

Signing Protocol

 

means the signing protocol in relation to this Agreement dated 15 February 2016 between the Sellers and the Purchaser;

 

 

 

Specific Accounting Treatments

 

has the meaning set out in paragraph 1 of Part A of Schedule 10 ;

 

 

 

Standard Essential Patent

 

means any patent necessary in order to comply with and implement an industry standard (and, for the purposes of this definition, a given patent is “necessary” to achieve an industry standard if use of that industry standard requires infringement of the relevant patent);

 

 

 

Subsidiary

 

means at any relevant time any then subsidiary or subsidiary undertaking of a Target Company, basic information concerning each current subsidiary and subsidiary undertaking of each Target Company being set out in Part B of Attachment 1 (Basic information about the Subsidiaries);

 

 

 

Target Company

 

means each of Vodafone Target Company and Liberty Global Target Company;

 

 

 

Target Group

 

means the Vodafone Target Group or the Liberty Global Target Group (as applicable);

 

 

 

Target Liberty Global Capex Spend

 

means, in relation to the Liberty Global Target Group, the amount of Liberty Global Capex Spend set out in Part D of Schedule 11 ;

 

 

 

Target Liberty Global Net Debt

 

means, in relation to the Liberty Global Target Group, the amount of Liberty Global Net Debt set out in Part A of Schedule 11 ;

 

 

 

Target Liberty Global Working Capital

 

means, in relation to the Liberty Global Target Group, the amount of Liberty Global Working Capital set out in Part A of Schedule 11 ;

 

20



 

Target Vodafone Capex Spend

 

means, in relation to the Vodafone Target Group, the amount of Vodafone Capex Spend set out in Part D of Schedule 11 ;

 

 

 

Target Vodafone Net Debt

 

means, in relation to the Vodafone Target Group, the amount of Vodafone Net Debt set out in Part A of Schedule 11 ;

 

 

 

Target Vodafone Working Capital

 

means, in relation to the Vodafone Target Group, the amount of Vodafone Working Capital set out in Part A of Schedule 11 ;

 

 

 

Tax

 

has the meaning given to that expression in the Tax Covenant;

 

 

 

Tax Authority

 

has the meaning given to that expression in the Tax Covenant;

 

 

 

Tax Covenant

 

means the Tax Covenant in the agreed form;

 

 

 

Tax Return

 

has the meaning given in the Tax Covenant;

 

 

 

Tax Warranties

 

means the Warranties set out in paragraphs 23 to 31 of Part A of Schedule 3 and paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part C of Schedule 3 , and “ Tax Warranty ” shall be construed accordingly;

 

 

 

Transaction Announcement

 

means the announcement to be made by the Vodafone Guarantor and the Liberty Global Guarantor substantially in the agreed form;

 

 

 

TS Intercompany Loan

 

has the meaning given to it in sub-clause 2.1(B) ;

 

 

 

TS Intercompany Payable

 

has the meaning given to it in sub-clause 2.1(B) ;

 

 

 

TS Technology Fee

 

has the meaning given to it in sub-clause 2.1(B) ;

 

 

 

UPC SFA

 

means the senior secured credit facility agreement originally dated 16 January 2004 (as amended and restated from time and most recently on 9 February 2016) between (among others) UPC Broadband Holding BV and The Bank of Nova Scotia as facility agent;

 

 

 

US GAAP

 

means the generally accepted accounting standards, principles and practices in the United States in effect for the time being;

 

21



 

VAT

 

means:

 

 

 

 

 

(i)

within the European Union, any tax imposed by any Member State in conformity with the Directive of the Council of the European Union on the common system of value added tax (2006/112/EC); and

 

 

 

 

 

 

(ii)

outside the European Union, any tax corresponding to, or substantially similar to, the common system of value added tax referred to in paragraph (i) of this definition;

 

 

 

VF Purchaser Exit Activities

 

has the meaning given to it in sub-clause 15.9(B) ;

 

 

 

Vodafone Bank Account

 

means Vodafone’s bank account with BIC DEUTNL2A and IBAN NL64DEUT0265121868;

 

 

 

Vodafone Capex Shortfall

 

means, in relation to the Vodafone Target Group, the amount (if any) by which the Vodafone Capex Spend is less than the Target Vodafone Capex Spend as at the Completion Date;

 

 

 

Vodafone Capex Spend

 

means, in relation to the Vodafone Target Group, the aggregate amount of capital expenditure incurred and capitalised on the balance sheet in line with the relevant Accounting Principles by members of the Vodafone Target Group during the period from 31 December 2015 up to Completion but excluding: (i) any assets transferred from the Seller’s Retained Group; and (ii) expenditure relating to consumer customer-premises equipment;

 

 

 

Vodafone Cash

 

means, in relation to the Vodafone Target Group, the aggregate of its cash (by reference to the nominal ledgers of the Vodafone Target Group) and its cash equivalents, including all interest accrued thereon, as at Completion (but excluding all amounts and items included in the calculation of the Vodafone Working Capital) comprising each of the line items identified in the column headed “Cash” in Part C of Schedule 11 ;

 

 

 

Vodafone Completion Statement

 

has the meaning set out in paragraph 1 of Part C of Schedule 10 ;

 

 

 

Vodafone Debt

 

means, in relation to the Vodafone Target Group, the aggregate borrowings and indebtedness in the nature of borrowing owed to any banking, financial, acceptance credit, lending or other similar institution or organisation, or any other third party, or any member of the Vodafone Retained Group (which is not an amount or item included in

 

22



 

 

 

the calculation of the Vodafone Working Capital), comprising each of the line items identified in the column headed “Debt” in Part C of Schedule 11 , together with those items specifically required to be included in Vodafone Debt by paragraph 2.1 of Part B of Schedule 10 , including:

 

 

 

 

 

(a)

all outstanding principal and accrued and unpaid interest;

 

 

 

 

 

 

(b)

all obligations by way of acceptance credits, discounting or similar facilities, loan stocks, bonds, debentures, notes, overdrafts or any other similar arrangements the purpose of which is to raise money;

 

 

 

 

 

 

(c)

Vodafone Capex Shortfall;

 

 

 

 

 

 

(d)

Inter-Company Loan Payables (excluding any Agreed Shareholder Debt) and Inter-Company Loan Receivables; and

 

 

 

 

 

 

(e)

vendor financing liabilities;

 

 

 

Vodafone Exit Activities

 

has the meaning set out in sub-clause 15.9(A) ;

 

 

 

Vodafone Exit Date

 

means the date on which Vodafone (together with each member of Vodafone’s Retained Group) ceases to hold a direct or indirect combined interest of 50% or more of the issued share capital in the Purchaser;

 

 

 

Vodafone Inter-Company Loan Agreement

 

means the loan agreement entered into on 20 December 2012 between Vodafone 2 (as lender) and the Vodafone Target Company (as borrower) and assigned on 23 January 2013 by Vodafone 2 (as lender) to Vodafone Investments Luxembourg S.à r.l. (as new lender), as amended, restated, varied, assigned, novated or transferred from time to time (including, for the avoidance of doubt, by the Vodafone Inter-Company Loan Amendment Agreement);

 

 

 

Vodafone Inter-Company Loan Amendment Agreement

 

means the loan agreement amending the Vodafone Inter-Company Loan Agreement to be entered into by the Vodafone Target Company (as borrower) and Vodafone Investments Luxembourg S.à r.l. prior to Completion in the agreed form and at a rate of interest on arm’s length terms (and which may be amended from time to time to reflect any rating agency requirements as described in clause 12.5 of the Shareholders Agreement);

 

23



 

Vodafone JV Patent

 

means any patent or patent application which, as at Completion, is owned (in whole or in part) by the Purchaser or any member of the Purchaser’s Group and has been used by any member of Vodafone’s Retained Group in the 12 months prior to Completion;

 

 

 

Vodafone Net Debt

 

means the Vodafone Cash less the Vodafone Debt;

 

 

 

Vodafone Participants

 

means those employees of the Vodafone Target Group who are participants in the Vodafone Share Schemes immediately prior to Completion;

 

 

 

Vodafone Patent

 

means any patent or patent application which, as at Completion, is owned (in whole or in part) by Vodafone or any member of Vodafone’s Retained Group and has been used by any member of the Vodafone Target Group in the 12 months prior to Completion;

 

 

 

Vodafone Pre-Completion Reorganisation

 

has the meaning set out in sub-clause 6.2 ;

 

 

 

Vodafone Quarterly Update

 

has the meaning set out in sub-clause 3.3;

 

 

 

Vodafone Relief Period

 

means the period running from Completion until the Vodafone Exit Date;

 

 

 

Vodafone Share Schemes

 

means any share schemes which the Vodafone Guarantor has in place from time to time;

 

 

 

Vodafone Shares

 

means the shares in the share capital of the Vodafone Guarantor;

 

 

 

Vodafone Target Company

 

means Vodafone Libertel B.V., basic information concerning which is set out in Part A of Attachment 1 (Basic information about the Target Companies);

 

 

 

Vodafone Target Company Shares

 

means all of the issued and outstanding share capital of the Vodafone Target Company;

 

 

 

Vodafone Target Group

 

means Vodafone Target Company and all its Subsidiaries;

 

 

 

Vodafone Transferred Group

 

has the meaning given in the Tax Covenant;

 

 

 

Vodafone Working Capital

 

means, in relation to the Vodafone Target Group, the working capital as at Completion comprising each of the line items identified in the column headed “Working Capital”

 

24



 

 

 

in Part C of Schedule 11 , for the avoidance of doubt including any Inter-Company Trading Balances;

 

 

 

Warranties

 

means the warranties set out in Schedule 3 (Warranties) given by the Sellers, other than the JV Co Shares Warranties, and “ Warranty ” shall be construed accordingly; and

 

 

 

Working Hours

 

means 8.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. on a Business Day.

 

1.2                                In this Agreement, unless otherwise specified or the context otherwise requires:

 

(A)                                references to clauses, sub-clauses, paragraphs, sub-paragraphs, Schedules and Attachments are to clauses, sub-clauses, paragraphs and sub-paragraphs of, and Schedules and Attachments to, this Agreement;

 

(B)                                references to any document in the “ agreed form ” means that document in a form agreed by the Sellers and initialled for the purposes of identification on behalf of each of the Sellers, as validly amended from time to time;

 

(C)                                the singular shall include the plural and vice versa, and use of any gender includes the other genders;

 

(D)                                except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, any express reference to an enactment (which includes any legislation in any jurisdiction) includes references to: (i) that enactment as amended, consolidated or re-enacted by or under any other enactment before or after the date of this Agreement; (ii) any enactment which that enactment re-enacts (with or without modification); and (iii) any subordinate legislation (including regulations) made before or after the date of this Agreement under that enactment as amended, consolidated or re-enacted as described in paragraph (i) or paragraph (ii) above, except to the extent that any of the matters referred to in paragraph (i) to paragraph (iii) (inclusive) above occurs after the date of this Agreement and increases or alters the liability of a Seller or the Purchaser under this Agreement;

 

(E)                                 references to a “ company ” shall be construed so as to include any corporation or other body corporate, wherever and however incorporated or established;

 

(F)                                  references to a “ person ” shall be construed so as to include any individual, firm, company, corporation, body corporate, government, state or agency of a state, local or municipal authority or government body or any joint venture, association, partnership, works council or employee representative body (whether or not having separate legal personality);

 

(G)                                the expression “ body corporate ”, “ debentures ”, “ holding company ”, “ subsidiary undertaking ” and “ wholly-owned subsidiary ” shall have the meaning given in schedule 10 of the Large and Medium-sized Companies and Group (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 (SI 2008 No. 410);

 

25



 

(H)                               references to a “ subsidiary ” has the meaning given to that term in article 2:24a of the Dutch Civil Code;

 

(I)                                    any reference to a “ day ” (including the phrase “ Business Day ”) shall mean a period of 24 hours running from midnight to midnight;

 

(J)                                    references to times are to Central European Time;

 

(K)                                references to “ costs ” and/or “ expenses ” suffered or incurred by a person shall not include any amount in respect of VAT comprised in such costs or expenses for which either that person or, if relevant, any other member of the VAT group to which that person belongs is entitled to credit as input tax;

 

(L)                                 references to “ writing shall include any modes of reproducing words in a legible and non-transitory form;

 

(M)                             references to “ including or “ includes shall mean including or includes without limitation;

 

(N)                                references to “ greater shall be construed so that, for example, 10 represents a greater amount than 5, and -5 represents a greater amount than -10;

 

(O)                                references to “ less shall be construed so that, for example, 5 represents a lesser amount than 10, and -10 represents a lesser amount than -5;

 

(P)                                  references to any English legal term for any action, remedy, method of judicial proceeding, legal document, legal status, court, official, or any legal concept or thing shall in respect of any jurisdiction other than England be deemed to include what most nearly approximates in that jurisdiction to the English legal term;

 

(Q)                                all headings and titles are inserted for convenience only and are to be ignored in the interpretation of this Agreement; and

 

(R)                                the Schedules and Attachments form part of this Agreement and shall have the same force and effect as if expressly set out in the body of this Agreement, and any reference to this Agreement shall include the Schedules and Attachments.

 

2.                                       Sale and purchase and contribution and/or transfer

 

2.1                                On and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at Completion the following steps shall occur sequentially in the order set out below:

 

(A)                                Liberty Global shall contribute with full title guarantee, by way of share premium contribution, and the Purchaser shall accept, the Liberty Global Target Company Shares free from all charges and encumbrances and from all other rights exercisable by third parties, together with all rights attached or accruing to them at Completion, pursuant to a notarial deed to that effect to be executed before the Notary (the “ Liberty Global Deed of Transfer ”);

 

26



 

(B)                                immediately following the step set out in sub-clause 2.1(A) (and subject to sub-clause 6.3A ), the Existing Technology Services Agreement will be terminated in consideration for Ziggo Services B.V. and Ziggo B.V. each paying a termination fee to Liberty Global B.V. (the “ TS Technology Fee ”), such amount either to be left outstanding as an intercompany payable (a “ TS Intercompany Payable ”) or to be funded by an intra-group loan from Liberty Global (a “ TS Intercompany Loan ”);

 

(C)                                immediately following the step set out in sub-clause 2.1(B) (and subject to sub-clause 6.3A ), Liberty Global shall procure that:

 

(i)                                      if a TS Intercompany Payable is created pursuant to the step set out in sub-clause 2.1(B) , Liberty Global B.V. will assign all of its rights under the TS Intercompany Payable to Liberty Global, and then Liberty Global will immediately assign its rights under the TS Intercompany Payable to the Purchaser as a share premium contribution and subsequent assignments will immediately take place in the same form down the corporate chain to UPC Nederland Holding III B.V. or Ziggo Bond Company B.V. (as applicable), which will then immediately either assign the relevant TS Intercompany Payable to Ziggo Services B.V. or Ziggo B.V. (as applicable) and as a share premium contribution or settle the TS Intercompany Payable in exchange for the issue of shares, such that the TS Intercompany Payable is extinguished; or

 

(ii)                                   if a TS Intercompany Loan is created pursuant to the step set out in sub-clause 2.1(B) , Liberty Global will assign all of its rights under the TS Intercompany Loan to the Purchaser as a share premium contribution and subsequent assignments will immediately take place in the same form down the corporate chain to UPC Nederland Holding III B.V. or Ziggo Bond Company B.V. (as applicable), which will then immediately either assign the relevant TS Intercompany Loan to Ziggo Services B.V. or Ziggo B.V. (as applicable) as a share premium contribution or settle the TS Intercompany Loan in exchange for the issue of shares, such that the TS Intercompany Loan is extinguished;

 

(D)                                immediately following the step(s) set out in sub-clause 2.1(C) Liberty Global shall procure that the Purchaser adopts the Articles of Association (in accordance with sub-paragraph 1(F) of Part B of Schedule 2 (Completion arrangements));

 

(E)                                 immediately following the step set out in sub-clause 2.1(D), Liberty Global shall transfer with full title guarantee, and Vodafone shall accept, the JV Co Shares free from all charges and encumbrances and from all other rights exercisable by third parties, together with all rights attached or accruing to them at Completion, pursuant to a notarial deed to that effect to be executed before the Notary (the “ Parties’ Deed of Transfer ”); and

 

(F)                                  immediately following the step set out in sub-clause 2.1(E) , Vodafone shall contribute with full title guarantee, by way of share premium contribution, and the Purchaser shall accept, the Vodafone Target Company Shares free from all

 

27



 

charges and encumbrances and from all other rights exercisable by third parties, together with all rights attached or accruing to them at Completion, pursuant to a notarial deed to that effect to be executed before the Notary (the “ Vodafone Deed of Transfer ”).

 

2.2                                Vodafone shall procure that, on or prior to Completion, any and all rights of pre-emption over the Vodafone Target Company Shares and Liberty Global shall procure that, on or prior to Completion, any and all rights of pre-emption over the Liberty Global Target Company Shares and the JV Co Shares, in each case, are waived irrevocably by the persons entitled thereto.

 

2.3                                If the Sellers agree in writing no fewer than four Business Days prior to Completion:

 

(A)                                the steps in sub-clause 2.1 shall be amended so that Liberty Global shall contribute certain of the Liberty Global Target Company Shares (such shares being for the purpose of this sub-clause 2.3 the “ Liberty Global Contribution Shares ”) and sell the remainder of the Liberty Global Target Company Shares (such shares being for the purpose of this sub-clause 2.3 the “ Liberty Global Sale Shares ”), in each case to the Purchaser, free from all charges and encumbrances and from all other rights exercisable by third parties, together with all rights attached or accruing to them at Completion, and the Purchaser shall accept the Liberty Global Target Company Shares;

 

(B)                                the steps in sub-clause 2.1 shall be amended so that Vodafone shall contribute certain of the Vodafone Target Company Shares (such shares being for the purpose of this sub-clause 2.3 the “ Vodafone Contribution Shares ”) and sell the remainder of the Vodafone Target Company Shares (such shares being for the purpose of this sub-clause 2.3 the “ Vodafone Sale Shares ”), in each case to the Purchaser, free from all charges and encumbrances and from all other rights exercisable by third parties, together with all rights attached or accruing to them at Completion, and the Purchaser shall accept the Vodafone Target Company Shares; and

 

(C)                                the transfers of the Liberty Global Sale Shares and the Vodafone Sale Shares in sub-clauses 2.3(A) and 2.3(B) shall be given in consideration for debt left outstanding from the Purchaser (as borrower) to each Seller in equal proportions (as lenders), such debt being on substantially the same terms as those set out in the Vodafone Inter-Company Loan Amendment Agreement and the Liberty Global Inter-Company Loan Amendment Agreement.

 

3.                                       Estimated Vodafone Equalisation Consideration

 

3.1                                Subject to sub-clause 3.2 , one Business Day before Completion, Vodafone shall pay into the Notary Bank Account in accordance with clause 29 an amount equal to the Initial Vodafone Equalisation Consideration:

 

(A)                                plus the Pre-Completion Liberty Global Net Debt Adjustment;

 

(B)                                minus the Pre-Completion Vodafone Net Debt Adjustment;

 

28



 

(C)                                plus the Pre-Completion Liberty Global Working Capital Adjustment; and

 

(D)                                minus the Pre-Completion Vodafone Working Capital Adjustment,

 

(the aggregate of such amounts being the “ Estimated Vodafone Equalisation Consideration ”), all in accordance with sub-clause 9.4 .

 

3.2                                If the Estimated Vodafone Equalisation Consideration is a negative number, one Business Day before Completion, Liberty Global shall pay into the Notary Bank Account in accordance with clause 29 an amount equal to the amount of the Estimated Vodafone Equalisation Consideration (for the avoidance of doubt, being expressed as a positive number), all in accordance with sub-clause 9.4.

 

3.3                                Prior to Completion:

 

(A)                                Vodafone undertakes to keep Liberty Global reasonably informed of its estimates as to the Pre-Completion Vodafone Net Debt Adjustment and Pre-Completion Vodafone Working Capital Adjustment including (unless Liberty Global agrees otherwise) providing Liberty Global, at quarterly meetings or as otherwise agreed by the Sellers, with updates within 15 Business Days of the end of each calendar quarter (31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December) of its estimates as to the Vodafone Net Debt and Vodafone Working Capital as at the end of the relevant calendar quarter in the format set out in Part E of Schedule 11 (Financial Adjustments: Amounts) (a “Vodafone Quarterly Update” ), and, at the reasonable request of Liberty Global, meet with Liberty Global’s representatives to discuss any Vodafone Quarterly Update; and

 

(B)                                Liberty Global undertakes to keep Vodafone reasonably informed of its estimates as to the Pre-Completion Liberty Global Net Debt Adjustment and Pre-Completion Liberty Global Working Capital Adjustment including (unless Vodafone agrees otherwise) providing Vodafone, at quarterly meetings or as otherwise agreed by the Sellers, with updates within 15 Business Days of the end of each calendar quarter (31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December) of its estimates as to the Liberty Global Net Debt and Liberty Global Working Capital as at the end of the relevant calendar quarter in the format set out in Part E of Schedule 11 (Financial Adjustments: Amounts) (a “Liberty Global Quarterly Update” ) and, at the reasonable request of Vodafone, meet with Vodafone’s representatives to discuss any Liberty Global Quarterly Update.

 

3.4                                On the Business Day following the date on which the last in time of the conditions listed in Schedule 1 (Conditions to Completion) shall have been satisfied or waived in accordance with this Agreement or such other date as the parties may agree:

 

(A)                                Vodafone shall notify Liberty Global of the Pre-Completion Vodafone Net Debt Adjustment and Pre-Completion Vodafone Working Capital Adjustment, in each case (a) all estimates being made in good faith, (b) calculated on a basis consistent with the provisions set out in Schedule 10 (Post-Completion Financial Adjustments), and (c) accompanied by reasonable supporting

 

29



 

evidence for such estimates including an explanation of material movements between the last Vodafone Quarterly Update; and

 

(B)                                Liberty Global shall notify Vodafone of the Pre-Completion Liberty Global Net Debt Adjustment and Pre-Completion Liberty Global Working Capital Adjustment, in each case (a) all estimates being made in good faith, (b) calculated on a basis consistent with the provisions set out in Schedule 10 (Post-Completion Financial Adjustments), and (c) accompanied by reasonable supporting evidence for such estimates including an explanation of material movements between the last Liberty Global Quarterly Update.

 

3.5                                Following Completion, the Estimated Vodafone Equalisation Consideration shall be adjusted as set out in Schedule 10 (Post-Completion Financial Adjustments) and the “Final Vodafone Equalisation Consideration” shall be the Estimated Vodafone Equalisation Consideration as adjusted by any payments required to be made under Part D of Schedule 10 (Post-Completion Financial Adjustments). The Final Vodafone Equalisation Consideration shall (subject to further adjustment, if applicable, pursuant to sub-clause 29.8 ) be adopted for all Tax reporting purposes.

 

4.                                       Conditions

 

4.1                                The contribution and/or transfer of the Shares and sale of the JV Co Shares pursuant to this Agreement are in all respects conditional upon those matters listed in Schedule 1 (Conditions to Completion).

 

4.2                                Vodafone will use all reasonable endeavours to fulfil or procure the fulfilment of the conditions listed in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 1 (Conditions to Completion) before the Long Stop Date and will notify the Purchaser and Liberty Global as soon as reasonably practicable of the satisfaction of each such condition.

 

4.3                                Liberty Global will use all reasonable endeavours to fulfil or procure the fulfilment of the conditions listed in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 1 (Conditions to Completion) before the Long Stop Date and will notify the Purchaser and Vodafone as soon as reasonably practicable of the satisfaction of each such condition.

 

4.4                                The Sellers shall consent, cooperate and keep each other reasonably informed regarding communications with, and requests for additional information from, the Relevant Regulatory Authorities regarding the preparation and filing of the notifications necessary for the fulfilment of the conditions in paragraph 1 and paragraph 2 of Schedule 1 (Conditions to Completion). The Sellers shall use their respective best endeavours to provide promptly all information that is requested pursuant to a request by the Relevant Regulatory Authorities. To the extent permitted by law or regulation, the Sellers shall provide each other with a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on any information provided to the Relevant Regulatory Authorities in relation to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

4.5                                The Sellers shall each have an opportunity to approve and mutually agree on the joint contents of any submissions to the Relevant Regulatory Authorities (excluding any information which is confidential to any Seller) and shall be jointly responsible for the accuracy of such contents. Each Seller shall be responsible for the accuracy of the

 

30



 

contents of any submissions to the Relevant Regulatory Authorities that exclusively relate to itself, its Target Group and any member of its Retained Group.

 

4.6                                Each Seller undertakes to disclose in writing to the other anything which will or may prevent any of the conditions set out in Schedule 1 (Conditions to Completion) from being satisfied on or prior to the Long Stop Date immediately after it comes to their attention. Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, this includes disclosure of any indication that any Relevant Regulatory Authority may intend to withhold its approval of, or raise an objection to, or withdraw any licence or authorisation following, or impose a condition on or following, the sale and purchase of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement.

 

4.7                                The condition set out at paragraph 2 (Minister for Economic Affairs) of Schedule 1 (Conditions to Completion) may be waived by the Sellers jointly in writing.

 

4.8                                If any of the conditions set out in Schedule 1 (Conditions to Completion) is not fulfilled by the relevant Seller or Sellers, as the case may be, on or before 5.00 p.m. on the Long Stop Date then the parties may postpone the Long Stop Date by agreement between them (the Long Stop Date, as so postponed, being the “ Postponed Long Stop Date ”).

 

4.9                                If, in the circumstances set out in sub-clause 4.8 , either:

 

(A)                                the Long Stop Date is not postponed; or

 

(B)                                any of the conditions remain to be fulfilled or waived by 5.00 p.m. on the Postponed Long Stop Date,

 

subject to sub-clause 4.10 , this Agreement shall be capable of termination by either party immediately on written notice to the other.

 

4.10                         If this Agreement terminates in accordance with sub-clause 4.9, and without limiting the relevant Seller’s right to claim damages, all obligations of the parties under this Agreement shall end (except for the provisions of this clause 4.10 and clauses 1 (Interpretation) and 25 (Notices) to 35 (Language) inclusive) but (for the avoidance of doubt) all rights and liabilities of the parties which have accrued before termination shall continue to exist.

 

5.                                       Conduct of business before Completion

 

5.1                                Subject to applicable law and to sub-clause 5.2 , each Seller shall procure that, between the date of the Signing Protocol and Completion, no member of its Target Group will undertake, and each Seller warrants that no member of its Target Group has undertaken since the date of the Signing Protocol, any act which is outside the ordinary course of the business of such Target Group member as carried on at the date of the Signing Protocol without the prior written consent of the other Seller (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), which consent states that it is being given for the purposes of this sub-clause 5.1 . In particular, each Seller shall procure that no member of its Target Group will undertake, and each Seller warrants that no member of its Target Group has undertaken since the date of the Signing Protocol, any of the acts

 

31



 

or matters listed in Schedule 5 (Conduct of business before Completion) without the prior written consent of the other Seller identified as being for the purposes of this sub-clause 5.1 (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

 

5.2                                Sub-clause 5.1 shall not operate so as to restrict or prevent:

 

(A)                                the Liberty Global Pre-Completion Reorganisation;

 

(B)                                the Vodafone Pre-Completion Reorganisation;

 

(C)                                any action taken by Vodafone or any member of its Retained Group in connection with the KPN Litigation or any distribution to its Retained Group of any payment, or damages made or awarded pursuant to any judgement, award or settlement of the KPN Litigation;

 

(D)                                any action taken by Vodafone or any member of its Retained Group in connection with any matter listed in sub-clauses 10.17 and 10.18 or by Liberty Global or any member of its Retained Group in connection with any matter listed in sub-clause 10.16;

 

(E)                                 any matter reasonably undertaken by any member of a Target Group or a Retained Group in the case of an emergency or disaster or other serious incident or circumstance with the intention of minimising any adverse effect on the relevant Target Group (and of which the other Seller and the Purchaser will be promptly notified);

 

(F)                                  any matter to the extent that it is expressly provided for (i) in the case of Liberty Global, in the document entitled “16.12.20. 20160127 Lynx LRP December Roll_v14.xlsx” set out in folder 16.12.20 of the Liberty Global Data Room, or (ii) in the case of Vodafone, in the Vodafone 2017 Budget set out in folder 10.1.2.8 of the Vodafone Data Room and/or the Vodafone Long Range Plan set out in folder 10.1.2.3 of the Vodafone Data Room;

 

(G)                                completion or performance of any obligation undertaken pursuant to any contract or arrangement entered into by or relating to any member of the relevant Target Group before the date of the Signing Protocol and fairly disclosed in the relevant Data Room.

 

(H)                               preparation for any Recapitalisation in accordance with the principles set out in Schedule 3 (excluding paragraph (A)) to the Shareholders Agreement or (ii) preparation for and implementation of any refinancing (other than refinancing of any bonds) or repayment of the Financing Facilities of the Liberty Global Target Group or (iii) any activity, in the reasonable opinion of Liberty Global, required to manage the covenants of the Liberty Global Target Group and, for the avoidance of doubt, nothing in Schedule 5 shall place any restriction on the price or margin at which financial indebtedness (other than bonds) may be issued or refinanced;

 

(I)                                    any increase in emoluments of any category of employees of any member of the Target Group where such increase is made in accordance with the normal

 

32



 

practice of the relevant employing member of the relevant Target Group in relation to an annual review process;

 

(J)                                    the payment of any Tax liability, the due date for payment of which falls on or before the Completion Date, or the utilisation or set-off of any Tax relief where, but for such utilisation or set-off, any Tax liability would have arisen of which the due date of payment would have fallen on or before the Completion Date;

 

(K)                                a payment to a member of the relevant Retained Group to reimburse a payment of any Tax liability made on behalf of a member of the Target Group, where the due date for payment to the relevant Retained Group member falls on or before the Completion Date;

 

(L)                                 any other matter required or expressly permitted by the Share Purchase Documents or necessary to implement the transfer of the Shares to the Purchaser and the transfer of the JV Co Shares to Vodafone in accordance with this Agreement;

 

(M)                             any matter required in order to comply with any law or regulation (including the requirements of any relevant governmental or regulatory authority);

 

(N)                                any vendor financing, handset financing or cash management activities by members of the Target Group or the Retained Group, including upstreaming and downstreaming of funds by way of inter-company loans, dividends and/or equity contributions;

 

(O)                                the obtaining of a consumer credit licence by Ziggo Toestel Financiering B.V.; or

 

(P)                                  the granting of any guarantee by UPC Western Europe Holding BV and UPC Western Europe Holding 2 BV in connection with the amendment and restatement of the Intercreditor Agreement (as defined in the UPC SFA).

 

5.3                                Consent under sub-clause 5.1 shall be deemed to have been given to the relevant Seller if such consent has neither been granted nor denied by the other Seller within ten Business Days of the Seller notifying the other in accordance with clause 25 (Notices) of its intention to undertake such act or matter.

 

5.4                                Between the date of this Agreement and Completion, the parties shall cooperate in good faith:

 

(A)                                to agree definitive and legally binding documentation with respect to the Framework Agreement and, if at Completion legally binding documentation with respect to the Framework Agreement has not been agreed, the Framework Agreement Term Sheet shall be binding on the parties in accordance with its terms; and

 

(B)                                to complete the following information in relation to the following appointments to be made under the Shareholders Agreement: the Supervisory Directors; the Chairman (and the sequence in which the Shareholders have the right to appoint the Chairman); the secretary of the Company; the Managing Director

 

33



 

and CEO; the Managing Director and CFO; the CTO; the Head of Consumer Business; the Head of Enterprise Business; the Head of Human Resources; the General Counsel, in each case as those terms are defined in the Shareholders Agreement;

 

(C)                                to agree the board regulations for each of the managing board and supervisory board of the Purchaser; and

 

(D)                                to agree the appropriate corporate policies and procedures to be adopted by the Purchaser (including a bribery and corruption policy, insider dealing policy and data protection and privacy policy), being at least as stringent as the equivalent policies adopted by Vodafone and Liberty Global in relation to their respective Retained Groups (unless otherwise agreed by the Sellers in writing).

 

5.5                                Each of the Sellers undertakes, subject to the limitations of competition law, to keep the other reasonably informed of its Target Group’s trading updates including (unless otherwise agreed between the Sellers) providing such other Seller with copies of its Target Group’s monthly management accounts and key KPIs within 15 Business Days of the end of each calendar month to be provided, with respect to Vodafone, substantially in the form of the Exco Summary Performance Packs contained in folder 10.1.1 of the Data Room, and, with respect to Liberty Global, substantially in the form of the Financial Reports (Monthly Management Accounts and KPIs) contained in folders 2.03.01 and 2.03.02 of the Data Room, and at the reasonable request of the other Seller, meeting with such other Seller’s representatives to discuss such management accounts and KPIs.

 

5.6                                Liberty Global undertakes to Vodafone that, between the date of this Agreement and Completion, it shall procure that the Purchaser:

 

(A)                                shall not incur any liabilities or obligations (whether, in each case, contingent or otherwise) except any immaterial liabilities or obligations which were or are required to be incurred in respect of its incorporation and other than as expressly set out in this Agreement;

 

(B)                                shall not be engaged in any trading or take any action other than directly for the purpose of entering into this Agreement and implementing the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

 

(C)                                shall not act in breach of any applicable law or judgment; and

 

(D)                                shall not waive or otherwise compromise any rights which it has, or which arise, pursuant to or in connection with any of the Share Purchase Documents and will preserve such rights,

 

and Liberty Global warrants to Vodafone that the Purchaser has not done any of the acts set out in sub-clauses (A)  to (D) above since the date of on which the Purchaser was incorporated.

 

5.7                                Liberty Global shall, if it in its absolute discretion elects, procure that Ziggo Toestel Financiering B.V, obtains a consumer credit licence between the date of this Agreement

 

34



 

and Completion. Liberty Global undertakes to notify Vodafone as soon as reasonably practicable if Ziggo Toestel Financiering B.V, obtains such a consumer credit licence prior to Completion.

 

5.8

 

(A)                                Liberty Global warrants to the Purchaser at the date of the Signing Protocol that (i) the Existing Interest Rate Derivatives and the Existing FX Derivatives are the only Derivatives that have been entered into by any member of the Liberty Global Target Group and are outstanding and that no amendments have been made to or actions taken in relation to the Existing Interest Rate Derivatives or the Existing FX Derivatives since 31 December 2015, and (ii) none of the Existing Interest Rate Derivatives or Existing FX Derivatives has been cashed out, settled or closed out and the notional amounts of the Existing Interest Rate Derivatives and Existing FX Derivatives have not been increased or reduced since 31 December 2015.

 

(B)                                Except (i) with the prior written consent of Vodafone (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) or (ii) where Liberty Global and Vodafone agree (each acting reasonably) amendments to the provisions of Schedule 10 (Post-Completion Financial Adjustments) to reflect the relevant action referred to in paragraphs (i) to (iv) below, prior to Completion, Liberty Global undertakes to procure that:

 

(i)                                      no amendments are made to or actions taken in relation to the Existing Interest Rate Derivatives or the Existing FX Derivatives;

 

(ii)                                   no new Derivatives (other than Derivatives entered into in relation to an issue or refinancing of financial indebtedness provided that such Derivatives are entered into in accordance with past practice to hedge to maturity interest rate or currency risk) are entered into by any member of the Liberty Global Target Group and none of the Existing Interest Rate Derivatives or the Existing FX Derivatives is replaced;

 

(iii)                                none of the Existing Interest Rate Derivatives or the Existing FX Derivatives is cashed out, settled or closed out and no action is taken to increase or reduce the notional amounts of the Existing Interest Rate Derivatives or the Existing FX Derivatives, in each case in the period between the date of the Signing Protocol and Completion; and

 

(iv)                               all of the obligations of members of the Liberty Global Target Group under and pursuant to the Existing Interest Rate Derivatives and Existing FX Derivatives are complied with.

 

5.9                                Liberty Global shall use reasonable endeavours (i) on or before Completion, to procure the transfer of the rights and obligations of any member of its Retained Group under the Ajax Contract to a member of the Liberty Global Target Group and (ii) to procure that any member of its Retained Group which is a party to the Ajax Contract shall act in accordance with the reasonable instructions of the Liberty Global Target Group with respect to the fulfilment of the Ajax Contract.

 

5.10                         Vodafone undertakes to the Purchaser that it shall use all reasonable endeavours to comply, and procure that each member of the Vodafone Target Group uses all

 

35



 

reasonable endeavours to comply (in each case between the date of the Signing Protocol and Completion), with the Dutch Consumer Credit Act ( Wet op het consumentenkrediet ), the Dutch Financial Supervisory Act ( Wet op het financieel toezicht ) and all laws and regulations relating to them as a result of the Handset Financing Ruling.

 

5.11                         Liberty Global shall pay to the Purchaser such amount as is required to indemnify the Purchaser and each member of the Purchaser’s Group against all action, claims, proceedings, loss, damage, penalty, payments, costs or expenses (together “ Indemnified TSA Costs ”) incurred by the Purchaser or any member of the Purchaser’s Group in relation to or arising out of the payment of the TS Technology Fee by Ziggo Services B.V. and/or Ziggo B.V. to Liberty Global pursuant to the TSA Steps as envisaged by sub-clauses 2.1(B)  and (C) , provided that for the avoidance of doubt Liberty Global shall not be liable under this sub-clause 5.11 for any Indemnified TSA Costs to the extent that they that arise as a result of or by reference to the non-deductibility and/or non-amortisation for Tax purposes of the TS Technology Fee or any asset attributable to the TS Technology Fee.

 

6.                                       Pre-Completion Steps

 

6.1                                Before Completion, Liberty Global shall carry out the pre-Completion steps set out in, and in accordance with, Schedule 7 (together the “ Liberty Global Pre-Completion Reorganisation ”). At least 5 Business Days before taking any of the steps set out in Schedule 7 or sub-clauses 2.1(B)  and 2.1(C) , Liberty Global shall provide Vodafone with all draft documentation for implementing each step and shall, in its sole discretion, consult with Vodafone in relation to such step or document.

 

6.2                                Before Completion, Vodafone shall carry out the pre-Completion steps set out in, and in accordance with, Schedule 8 (the “ Vodafone Pre-Completion Reorganisation ”). At least 5 Business Days before taking any of the steps set out in Schedule 8, Vodafone shall provide Liberty Global with all draft documentation for implementing each step and shall, in its sole discretion, consult with Liberty Global in relation to such step or document.

 

6.3                                Neither the Liberty Global Pre-Completion Reorganisation nor the Vodafone Pre-Completion Reorganisation may be amended, except with the prior written consent of both Sellers, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

 

6.3A                       Liberty Global and Vodafone shall discuss in good faith the characterisation and Tax implications of the steps outlined in clauses 2.1(B)  and (C)  (the “ TSA Steps ”), with a view to reaching agreement, no later than thirty (30) Business Days prior to Completion, on the most efficient manner to implement the transactions contemplated by the TSA Steps having regard (amongst other things) to the Tax and accounting treatment of those steps for the Purchaser’s Group and the Liberty Global Retained Group.

 

6.4                                Before Completion, subject to the provisions of Schedule 7 and Schedule 8 , each Seller shall procure that each Inter-Company Loan Receivable is settled in full either by payment in cash, by distribution in cash or in specie or by set off against an equal amount of Inter-Company Loan Payables, such that no Inter-Company Loan Receivables will exist at Completion.

 

36



 

6.5                                Unless the Sellers otherwise agree in writing identified as being for the purposes of this sub-clause 6.5 , each Seller shall:

 

(A)                                by no later than ten (10) Business Days before Completion, agree with the other Seller the applicable arms’ length interest rate to be adopted for the purposes of the Liberty Global Inter-Company Loan Amendment Agreement and the Vodafone Inter-Company Loan Amendment Agreement;

 

(B)                                on a date agreed between the Sellers in writing (or, if not agreed, ten (10) Business Days before Completion), notify the other Seller of the amount of each of its respective Inter-Company Loan Payables as at that date; and

 

(C)                                no later than five Business Days after the receipt of the notifications in sub-clause 6.5(B)  (or, if a date is not agreed under sub-clause 6.5(B)) , five Business Days prior to Completion) repay or capitalise (or procure the repayment or capitalisation of) all of its Inter-Company Loan Payables, including all Inter-Company Loan Payables which may have arisen since the date of the notices provided in sub-clause (A) , except its Agreed Shareholder Debt, so that no Inter-Company Loan Payables except the Agreed Shareholder Debt remain outstanding at Completion.

 

For the purposes of this clause 6.5 , a “capitalisation” shall constitute a share premium contribution or a settlement in consideration for the issue of ordinary shares, in which case the lender shall procure that those shares will be transferred directly or indirectly to the direct parent of the borrower or an assignment of the relevant loan receivable by the lender directly or indirectly to the relevant direct parent of the borrower followed by settlement by way of a share premium contribution or in consideration for the issue of ordinary shares (or steps with equivalent effect).

 

6.6                                Immediately following the step set out in clause 6.5 , and subject to agreement by the Sellers with respect to the applicable arms’ length interest rate, (A) Liberty Global shall procure the entry by the relevant members of its Target Group and/or Retained Group into the Liberty Global Inter-Company Loan Amendment Agreement and (B) Vodafone shall procure the entry by the relevant members of its Target Group and/or Retained Group into the Vodafone Inter-Company Loan Amendment Agreement.

 

6.7                                Following the steps in clauses 6.4 and 6.5 (and both prior to and following Completion), either Seller (the “Discussion Notice Sender” ) may issue a notice (a “Discussion Notice” ) to the other Seller (the “Recipient” ), requiring both Sellers to discuss in good faith and cooperate with each other to agree in writing a mutual arrangement in respect of such of their respective Target Groups’ Inter-Company Loan Payables as are outstanding at the date of the Discussion Notice (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Agreed Shareholder Debt). Following the receipt of a Discussion Notice by the Recipient, the Sellers shall so discuss and cooperate for a period of 15 Business Days. If, at the end of such period, the Sellers have not reached such agreement, the Discussion Notice Sender shall be entitled to issue a notice (a “Capitalisation Notice” ) to the Recipient, requiring both Sellers to capitalise (or procure the capitalisation of) their respective Target Groups’ Inter-Company Loan Payables as at the date of the Capitalisation Notice (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Agreed Shareholder Debt) in full, in which case both Sellers shall capitalise (or procure the capitalisation of)

 

37



 

their respective Target Groups’ Inter-Company Loan Payables as at the date of the Capitalisation Notice in full within five Business Days after receipt by the Recipient of the Capitalisation Notice. For the purposes of this clause 6.7 , a “capitalisation” shall constitute a share premium contribution or a settlement in consideration for the issue of ordinary shares, in which case the lender shall procure that those shares will be transferred directly or indirectly to the direct parent of the borrower or an assignment of the relevant loan receivable by the lender directly or indirectly to the relevant direct parent of the borrower followed by settlement by way of a share premium contribution or in consideration for the issue of ordinary shares (or steps with equivalent effect).

 

6.8                                If the Sellers are unable to agree the applicable interest rate that should apply to both the Liberty Global Inter-Company Loan Amendment Agreement and the Vodafone Inter- Company Loan Amendment Agreement by ten (10) Business Days before Completion, either party may issue a Capitalisation Notice in accordance with the procedure set out in clause 6.7 provided that such notice is issued no fewer than five (5) Business Days prior to Completion.

 

Consultation with the Dutch Tax Authority

 

6.9                                Promptly after the date of this Agreement, the Sellers shall jointly consult with the relevant competent department/office of the Tax Authority in The Netherlands (the “ Dutch Tax Authority ”) in order to discuss and agree the Dutch Tax consequences of the internal and external debt financing at the level of the Purchaser and the Target Companies, including pursuant to any Recapitalisation or refinancing (the “ Joint Matter ”), provided that, in relation to the Joint Matter, Liberty Global shall, subject to sub-clause 6.10 , lead and control conduct of any proceedings taken in connection with the Joint Matter (including by sending all correspondence and attending all meetings and calls) unless Liberty Global and Vodafone agree (acting in good faith) that it would be more appropriate for Vodafone to lead and control such proceedings (subject to sub-clause 6.10 ) having regard, amongst other things, to the particular Dutch Tax Authority office that is determined to be responsible for the Joint Matter.

 

6.10                         Where there is or is to be any correspondence, meeting or telephone call with the Dutch Tax Authority in relation to a Joint Matter, each Seller and the Purchaser shall, and shall procure that the relevant Group Company shall:

 

(A)                                promptly send copies of all such correspondence received, and copies of all draft replies, to the other parties;

 

(B)                                give each Seller an opportunity to make comments on all draft replies mentioned in sub-clause (A)  above a reasonable time in advance of the submission of those replies to the Dutch Tax Authority, and shall ensure that all reasonable comments received prior to their submission to the Dutch Tax Authority are properly reflected therein; and

 

(C)                                give reasonable advance notice of any such meeting or call to the other parties and shall permit the other parties’ nominated individual(s) to attend and participate in such meeting or call,

 

38



 

in each case only to the extent that the relevant correspondence, reply, meeting or call relates to the Joint Matter.

 

6.11                         Subject to sub-clause 6.9 , Liberty Global shall be entitled to consult with the Dutch Tax Authority in order to discuss and agree the Dutch Tax consequences of the Liberty Global Pre-Completion Reorganisation and the contribution and/or transfer of the Liberty Global Transferred Group to the Purchaser, provided that Liberty Global shall keep Vodafone reasonably informed of the progress of those discussions.

 

6.12                         Subject to sub-clause 6.9 , Vodafone shall be entitled to consult with the Dutch Tax Authority in order to discuss and agree the Dutch Tax consequences of the Vodafone Pre-Completion Reorganisation and the contribution and/or transfer of the Vodafone Transferred Group to the Purchaser, provided that Vodafone shall keep Liberty Global reasonably informed of the progress of those discussions.

 

6.13                         The Sellers and the Purchaser shall, and the Purchaser shall procure that the members of the Purchaser’s Group shall, subject to compliance with applicable competition and other laws, afford such access to their personnel, books, accounts and records and provide such assistance as is necessary and reasonable to enable each other to conduct matters in accordance with their rights and obligations under sub-clauses 6.9 to 6.12 .

 

7.                                       Post-Completion reorganisation

 

7.1                                Immediately following Completion, the Sellers shall procure that the Purchaser shall contribute the Vodafone Target Company Shares to Ziggo Group Holding B.V..

 

7.2                                Subject to completion of the step set out in sub-clause 7.1 above, on or following Completion, the Purchaser shall procure that the following steps are taken in sufficient time to enable the Recapitalisation to take place in accordance with the provisions of the Shareholders Agreement, in each case unless the Sellers otherwise agree in writing:

 

(A)                                the incorporation of (i) a new wholly owned Subsidiary by the Liberty Global Target Company (“ New Sub-Holdco I ”) and (ii) a new wholly owned Subsidiary by New Holdco I (“ New Sub-Holdco II ”); and

 

(B)                                the contribution of the Vodafone Target Company first to New Sub-Holdco I and then by New Sub-Holdco I to New Sub-Holdco II.

 

8.                                       Recapitalisation

 

8.1                                Prior to and following Completion, the Sellers shall discuss in good faith and cooperate with each other in relation to the matters set out below (it being acknowledged that these matters may involve other members of the Sellers’ respective groups), and each Seller shall use reasonable endeavours to cause its advisers and representatives, including legal and accounting advisers and representatives, to cooperate in relation to the matters set out below, in each case in connection with any Recapitalisation (including any offering or private placement of debt securities) carried out in accordance with the principles set out in Schedule 3 (Warranties) (excluding paragraph (A)) of the Shareholders Agreement and clause 6.9 of this Agreement, including:

 

39



 

(A)           providing the other Seller as promptly as practicable (and in any event no later than on or about Completion) with such financial information (including pro forma information and related reconciliation from IFRS to US GAAP) and other pertinent information (including updates to such information) regarding members of its Target Group as may be reasonably requested in connection with any Recapitalisation, including information that is customary to be included in marketing materials, offering documentation and/or any other documentation or deliverables, and comfort information in connection with auditor comfort letters required by the other Seller’s advisers (together the “ Required Information ”);

 

(B)           participating in a reasonable number of meetings (including customary meetings with the parties acting as lead arrangers or agents for, and prospective lenders and purchasers of, the relevant indebtedness (on the one hand) and senior management, representatives and/or advisors of members of its Target Group with appropriate seniority and expertise (on the other hand)), presentations, road shows, due diligence sessions, drafting sessions and sessions with rating agencies, and assisting with the preparation of materials for such meetings, presentations, road shows and sessions, and otherwise reasonably cooperating with marketing efforts;

 

(C)           issuing customary representation letters to auditors and using its reasonable endeavours to obtain customary consents and comfort letters of independent accountants and customary legal opinions and 10b-5 letters (including providing any information reasonably requested for due diligence purposes);

 

(D)           assisting with the preparation of customary confidential information memoranda and other customary marketing materials to be used in connection with any syndication reasonably deemed necessary by any lead arranger or equivalent person;

 

(E)            assisting with the procurement of public corporate credit ratings, public corporate family ratings and public ratings (as applicable) from each of Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services and Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., respectively, in respect of relevant issuers, borrowers and guarantors and facilities, notes and other instruments issued;

 

(F)            assisting with the preparation of any credit agreements, indentures and similar documents and any pledges, security documents and intercreditor agreements and other financing documents, collateral filings and other certificates and documents, and otherwise reasonably facilitating the pledging of collateral;

 

(G)           providing all such documents and other information about any members of the Target Group as are reasonably requested with respect to applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations including the USA PATRIOT Act;

 

(H)           if requested, arranging for the repayment of indebtedness of its Target Group and using its reasonable endeavours to obtain customary pay-off letters, lien

 

40



 

terminations, title transfers, and instruments of discharge or transfer relating to any collateral to be delivered;

 

(I)             cooperating reasonably with financing sources’ due diligence, to the extent customary and reasonable;

 

(J)             using its reasonable endeavours to provide certificates from the relevant members of the Target Group with respect to the information provided by such members in any offering memorandum or other document; and

 

(K)           consenting to the use of logos of members of the Target Group (subject to such reasonable conditions as the relevant member of the Target Group may impose), provided that such logos are used solely in a manner that is not intended to or reasonably likely to harm or disparage any member of the Target Group or the reputation or goodwill thereof.

 

8.2           The provisions of this clause 8 (Recapitalisation Preparation) shall be subject to applicable law and regulation.

 

9.              Completion

 

9.1           Completion shall take place at the offices of NautaDutilh N.V. at Strawinskylaan 1999, Amsterdam on the last day of the month in which fulfilment or waiver of the conditions set out in clause 4 (Conditions to Completion) takes place, except that where less than five Business Days remain between such fulfilment and service and the last day of the month, Completion shall take place:

 

(A)           on the last day of the following month; or

 

(B)           at such other location, time or date as may be agreed between the Sellers,

 

it being understood that the transfers of the Shares and the JV Co Shares shall take place on Completion at the offices of the Notary by way of execution of the Deeds of Transfer before the Notary.

 

9.2           At Completion, the parties shall comply with their respective obligations in sub-clauses 2.1 to 2.3 (in each case as applicable) and the Sellers shall do those things listed in Part A (Seller’s obligations) and Part D (Execution of Deeds of Transfer) of Schedule 2 (Completion arrangements); the Purchaser shall do, and Liberty Global shall procure that the Purchaser does, those things listed in Part B (Purchaser’s obligations) of Schedule 2 (Completion arrangements); and the Guarantors shall do those things listed in Part E (Guarantors’ obligations) of Schedule 2 (Completion arrangements). Completion shall take place in accordance with Part C (General) of Schedule 2 (Completion arrangements).

 

9.3           No party shall be obliged to complete any of the transactions set out in sub-clauses 2.1 to 2.3 or carry out any of the steps set out in Schedule 2 (Completion arrangements) unless sub-clauses 3.1 or 3.2 (as applicable), 6.1, 6.2, 6.5(C)  and 6.6 or 6.7 (as applicable) have been complied with and irrevocable arrangements are in place for all such transactions and steps to be completed by all relevant parties on the Completion

 

41



 

Date in accordance with the sequence of events set out in this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, (A) both the beneficial and legal ownership of the Liberty Global Target Company Shares and the Vodafone Target Company Shares will transfer to Purchaser at Completion and not before and (B) both the beneficial and legal ownership of the JV Co Shares will transfer to Vodafone at Completion and not before.

 

9.4           If the Estimated Vodafone Equalisation Consideration is:

 

(A)           a positive number, then Vodafone shall procure; or

 

(B)           a negative number, then Liberty Global shall procure,

 

that on the Business Day before the Completion Date, the transfer of the Estimated Vodafone Equalisation Consideration by wire transfer into the Notary Bank Account in accordance with clause 29 . On execution of the Deeds of Transfer, the Notary shall hold the Estimated Vodafone Equalisation Consideration for the benefit of the relevant Seller that is to receive the Estimated Vodafone Equalisation Consideration in accordance with sub-clauses 3.1 and 3.2 . The Notary shall pay (and the parties shall instruct that the Notary shall pay) the Estimated Vodafone Equalisation Consideration to the relevant Seller in accordance with this Agreement (and pay to the relevant Seller(s) any interest to which such Seller(s) are entitled in respect of the Estimated Vodafone Equalisation Payment in accordance with the terms of engagement of the Notary) as soon as reasonably practicable after execution of the Deeds of Transfer and in any event no later than the first Business Day after execution of the Deeds of Transfer.

 

9.5           If, on the date on which Completion is due to take place under sub-clause 9.1 , either Seller has not complied with its obligations under clauses 3.1 or 3.2 (as applicable), 6.1, 6.2, 6.5(C)  and 6.6 or 6.7 (as applicable) or either Seller or the Purchaser has not complied with its obligations under sub-clause 9.2 and Schedule 2 (Completion arrangements) (and such failure to comply is material in the context of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby):

 

(A)           in the event of non-compliance by Liberty Global, Vodafone;

 

(B)           in the event of non-compliance by Vodafone, either Liberty Global or the Purchaser; or

 

(C)           in the event of non-compliance by the Purchaser, Vodafone:

 

may elect to

 

(i)             defer Completion (so that the provisions of this clause 9 shall apply to Completion as so deferred); or

 

(ii)            proceed to Completion as far as practicable (without limiting its rights under this Agreement); or

 

(iii)           terminate this Agreement by notice in writing to the other party.

 

42



 

9.6           If this Agreement is terminated in accordance with sub-clause 9.5 (and without limiting any party’s right to claim damages in respect of the period prior to termination), all obligations of the Seller and the Purchaser under this Agreement shall end (except for the provisions of this clause 9.6 and clauses 1 (Interpretation) and 25 (Notices) to 35 (Language) inclusive) but (for the avoidance of doubt) all rights and liabilities of the parties which have accrued before termination shall continue to exist.

 

10.           Sellers’ Warranties

 

10.1         Subject to sub-clauses 12.1 and 12.2 (Remedies and Sellers’ limitations on liability):

 

(A)           Vodafone warrants to the Purchaser (in respect of the Vodafone Target Group only) that each of the Warranties set out in Part A and Part B of Schedule 3 (Warranties); and

 

(B)           Liberty Global warrants to the Purchaser (in respect of the Liberty Global Target Group only) that each of the Warranties set out in Part A and Part C of Schedule 3 (Warranties),

 

was accurate in all respects at the date of the Signing Protocol.

 

10.2         Subject to sub-clauses 12.1 and 12.2 (Remedies and Sellers’ limitations on liability), each party acknowledges and agrees that:

 

(A)           the Warranties referred to in sub-clause 10.1 are being given by each Seller (as applicable) only to the Purchaser;

 

(B)           any claim in respect of breach of any Warranty given by a Seller to the Purchaser may only be brought (i) after Completion and (ii) by the Purchaser; and

 

(C)           any damages to the Purchaser in respect of breach of any Warranty (i) given by Liberty Global shall be assessed by reference to what the value of the Liberty Global Target Group would have been had the breach of Warranty not occurred and (ii) given by Vodafone shall be assessed by reference to what the value of the Vodafone Target Group would have been had the breach of Warranty not occurred.

 

10.3         Except in the case of fraud, the Purchaser acknowledges that it does not rely on and has not been induced to enter into this Agreement and/or the Ancillary Documents on the basis of any warranties, representations, covenants, undertakings, indemnities or other statements whatsoever, other than the Warranties, and acknowledges that none of the Sellers, any member of each Retained Group, any member of each Target Group or any of their agents, officers or employees have given any such warranties, representations, covenants, undertakings, indemnities or other statements.

 

10.4         Subject to sub-clauses 12.1 and 12.2 (Remedies and Sellers’ limitations on liability):

 

(A)           each Seller warrants, in respect of itself only, to the other Seller in the terms of the Warranties at paragraph 2 of Part A of Schedule 3 (Warranties);

 

43



 

(B)           each Guarantor warrants, in respect of itself only, to the other parties in the terms of the Warranties at paragraph 2 of Part A of Schedule 3 (Warranties) as if references to the Seller were to the relevant Guarantor; and

 

(C)           Liberty Global warrants to Vodafone in the terms of the JV Co Shares Warranties,

 

in each case as at the date of the Signing Protocol.

 

10.5         Each of the Warranties and the JV Co Shares Warranties shall be construed as being separate and independent and (except where expressly provided to the contrary) shall not be limited or restricted by reference to or inference from the terms of any other Warranty.

 

10.6         Any Warranty qualified by the expression “ so far as the Seller is aware ” or any similar expression shall, unless otherwise stated, be deemed to refer to the actual knowledge of:

 

(A)           in the case of Vodafone, Robert Shuter, Carmen Velthuis, Barbara Jongerden, Eben Albertyn, Reinhard Kreft, Michael Bird, Alex Deacon and Pierre Klotz; and

 

(B)           in the case of Liberty Global, Baptiest Coopmans, Ritchy Drost, Jan-Pieter Witsen Elias, Leo Geert van den Berg, Ruben Uppelschoten, Saj Vakilian, Justin Wolfe, Cindy Varga and Volker Libovsky.

 

10.7         Each Seller undertakes to the other Seller and to the Purchaser that, as soon as reasonably practicable upon it becoming aware, between the date of the Signing Protocol and Completion, of any fact, matter or circumstance relating to the Seller or its Target Group, which it is aware is or is reasonably likely to constitute a breach of any of the Fundamental Warranties at the date of the Signing Protocol and/or immediately before Completion by reference to the facts and circumstances then subsisting, it will disclose in writing such fact, matter or circumstance to the other Seller and the Purchaser.

 

10.8         Each of the Fundamental Warranties shall be deemed to be repeated immediately before Completion by reference to the facts, circumstances and knowledge then existing as if references in the Fundamental Warranties to the date of the Signing Protocol were references to the Completion Date.

 

10.9         Liberty Global warrants to the Purchaser that, at the date of the Signing Protocol, none of the Liberty Global Non-Operating Companies (i) was or carrying on any trading activities, or (ii) was subject to in any way, and whether, in each case, contingent or otherwise, any liabilities or obligations (other than ordinary course filing and reporting obligations (including in relation to Tax)), and, subject to Completion having occurred and except to the extent provided for in the Completion Statement of the Liberty Global Target Group, Liberty Global undertakes to pay to the Purchaser such amount as is required to indemnify and hold harmless the Purchaser and each member of the Purchaser’s Group against and in respect of any loss or liability which exists or is suffered or incurred by the Purchaser or any member of the Purchaser’s Group as a

 

44



 

result of or in connection with any such trading activities, liabilities or obligations prior to Completion.

 

10.10       Liberty Global warrants to the Purchaser that, as at the date of the Signing Protocol, Ziggo Toestel Financiering B.V.:

 

(A)           was not carrying on any activities other than directly in connection with preparation to provide hand-set financing;

 

(B)           does not have and is not subject to in any way, and whether, in each case, contingent or otherwise, any liabilities in excess of €1,000,000 (including in relation to Tax), and

 

subject to Completion having occurred and except to the extent provided for in the Completion Statement of the Liberty Global Target Group, Liberty Global undertakes to pay to the Purchaser such amount as is required to indemnify and hold harmless the Purchaser and each member of the Purchaser’s Group against and in respect of any loss or liability which exists or is suffered or incurred by the Purchaser or any member of the Purchaser’s Group, in each case following Completion as a result of or in connection with any breach of the warranties in (A) and (B) above.

 

10.11       Each Seller undertakes, subject to Completion having occurred and except to the extent provided for in the Completion Statement of the relevant Target Group, to pay to the Purchaser such amount as is required in order to indemnify and hold harmless the Purchaser and/or each member of any Target Group against all actions, claims, proceedings, loss, damage, payments, costs and expenses suffered or incurred by the Purchaser and each member of any Target Group in relation to or arising out of any guarantee (including, with respect to Liberty Global, the guarantee provided by UPC Western Europe Holding 2 B.V. with respect to obligations of the Liberty Global Retained Group), indemnity or other contingent obligation given or undertaken by the Purchaser and/or any member of any Target Group in relation to or arising out of any obligations or liabilities of any member of that Seller’s Retained Group.

 

10.12       The Purchaser undertakes, subject to Completion having occurred, to pay to each Seller such amount as is required in order to indemnify and hold harmless the Seller and each member of its Retained Group against all actions, claims, proceedings, loss, damage, payments, costs and expenses suffered or incurred by that Seller and each member of its Retained Group in relation to or arising out of any guarantee, indemnity or other contingent obligation (including any obligation to any third party with respect to a guarantee provided by that third party of the obligations of a member of its Target Group (a “ Third Party Guarantee ”)) given or undertaken by that Seller and each member of its Retained Group in relation to or arising out of any obligations or liabilities of any member of the Purchaser or any Target Group.

 

10.13       Each Seller shall use reasonable endeavours to ensure that, at or as soon as possible following Completion, the Purchaser and each member of each Target Group is released in full from any guarantees (including any obligation with respect to a Third Party Guarantee and, with respect to Liberty Global, the guarantee provided by UPC Western Europe Holding 2 B.V. with respect to obligations of the Liberty Global Retained Group), indemnities, counter indemnities and letters of comfort given to a third

 

45



 

party by any member of any Target Group in respect of any obligation of a member of that Seller’s Retained Group.

 

10.14       The Purchaser shall use reasonable endeavours to ensure that, at or as soon as possible following Completion, each member of each Seller’s Retained Group is released in full from any guarantees (including any obligation with respect to a Third Party Guarantee), indemnities, counter indemnities and letters of comfort given to a third party by any member of that Seller’s Retained Group in respect of any obligation of a member of any Target Group.

 

Liberty Global specific indemnities

 

10.15       Liberty Global undertakes to Vodafone, subject to Completion having occurred, that it shall pay to Vodafone such amount as is required to indemnify and hold harmless Vodafone and each member of its Retained Group against and in respect of any loss or liability suffered or incurred by Vodafone or any member of its Retained Group as a result of or in connection with any breach of the JV Co Shares Warranties.

 

10.16       Liberty Global undertakes to the Purchaser, subject to Completion having occurred and except to the extent provided for as Liberty Global Debt or Liberty Global Working Capital in the Completion Statement of the Liberty Global Target Group, to pay to the Purchaser such amount as is required in order to indemnify and hold harmless the Purchaser and each member of each Target Group against all actions, claims, proceedings, loss, damage, payments, costs and expenses suffered or incurred by the Purchaser and each member of any Target Group in relation to or arising out of any of the Material Liberty Global Litigation to the extent that any such actions, claims, proceedings, loss, damage, payments, costs or expenses relate to the involvement of a member of the Liberty Global Target Group in the relevant Material Liberty Global Litigation.

 

Vodafone specific indemnities

 

10.17       Vodafone undertakes to the Purchaser, subject to Completion having occurred and except to the extent provided for as Vodafone Debt or Vodafone Working Capital in the Completion Statement of the Vodafone Target Group, to pay to the Purchaser such amount as is required in order to indemnify and hold harmless the Purchaser and each member of each Target Group against all (i) actions, claims, proceedings, loss (including loss of profit), damage, payments, costs and/or expenses suffered or incurred by the Purchaser and each member of any Target Group in relation to or arising out of any dispute, action, claim, proceedings, breach of law, invalidity of customer contract, customer complaint, remedial action, or any change of any applicable laws or regulations, in each case whether arising before, on or after Completion in connection with the Handset Financing Ruling, to the extent that any such actions, claims, proceedings, loss (including loss of profit), damage, payments, costs or expenses relate to actions or omissions committed by any member of the Vodafone Target Group or the Vodafone Retained Group in the period prior to Completion and (ii) costs, payments and/or expenses suffered or incurred by the Purchaser and each member of any Target Group on or following Completion for the Vodafone Target Group to establish operating procedures which are compliant with the Dutch Consumer Credit Act ( Wet op het consumentenkrediet ), the Dutch Financial Supervisory Act ( Wet op het financieel

 

46



 

toezicht ) and all laws and regulations relating to them in connection with the Handset Financing Ruling as such Acts, laws, regulation and Ruling are and have been in force up to the Completion Date (the “ Procedures ”). For the avoidance of doubt, there is no obligation in sub-clause 10.17(ii)  in respect of any change of any applicable Acts, laws or regulations following Completion in connection with the Handset Financing Ruling.

 

Each of the Sellers and the Purchaser agrees that, if the Vodafone Target Group has not established the Procedures by the Completion Date, the Purchaser shall, in consultation with Vodafone, prioritise the establishment of such Procedures with effect from Completion and take all reasonable steps in connection with the same as soon as reasonably practicable following Completion

 

10.18       Vodafone undertakes to the Purchaser, subject to Completion having occurred and except to the extent provided for as Vodafone Debt or Vodafone Working Capital in the Completion Statement of the Vodafone Target Group, to pay to the Purchaser such amount as is required in order to indemnify and hold harmless the Purchaser and each member of each Target Group against all actions, claims, proceedings, loss, damage, payments, costs and expenses suffered or incurred by the Purchaser and each member of any Target Group in relation to the Material Vodafone Litigation, to the extent that any such actions, claims, proceedings, loss, damage, payments, costs or expenses relate to the involvement of a member of the Vodafone Target Group in the relevant Material Vodafone Litigation.

 

10.19       The Purchaser shall not be permitted to bring any claim against Vodafone or Liberty Global for any breach of or pursuant to this clause 10 , and neither Liberty Global nor Vodafone shall be permitted to bring any claim against the Purchaser for any breach of or pursuant to this clause 10 , in each case unless Completion has occurred.

 

10.20       Following Completion, upon the Purchaser becoming aware of any notice, claim, action or demand that may reasonably lead to a liability of a Seller pursuant to any indemnity in sub-clauses 10.9 or 10.16 , 10.17 or 10.18 , the Sellers shall procure that the Purchaser shall:

 

(A)           with respect to any matter of which the relevant Seller is not already aware, notify the relevant Seller by written notice including such information as is available to the Purchaser relating to the notice, claim, action or demand;

 

(B)           promptly give such access to its personnel, premises, documents and records which are relevant to the claim (which documents and records, following notice of any claim pursuant to this sub-clause 10.20 , the Purchaser shall take reasonable steps to preserve) to the relevant Seller and its professional advisers as the relevant Seller may reasonably request;

 

(C)           at the option of the relevant Seller, either:

 

(i)             allow the relevant Seller to take the sole conduct of such actions as the Seller may deem appropriate to deny, defend or counterclaim against any such claim in the name of the Purchaser or the relevant member of the Purchaser’s Group and in that connection the Purchaser shall give or procure that each member of the Purchaser’s Group gives to the

 

47



 

relevant Seller all such assistance as it may reasonably require in conducting such action; or

 

(ii)            act solely in accordance with the relevant Seller’s reasonable instructions in avoiding, disputing, resisting, counterclaiming, defending or appealing any such claim and instruct such solicitors or other professional advisors as the relevant Seller may reasonably nominate to act solely in accordance with the relevant Seller’s instructions and on terms that the relevant Seller is responsible for (and shall directly settle) all costs and expenses suffered or incurred by any such solicitors or professional advisers in respect of such instructions;

 

(D)           make no admission of liability, agreement, settlement or compromise with any person in relation to any such claim or adjudication without the prior written consent of the relevant Seller, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed;

 

(E)            take steps as may be reasonable in order to mitigate any potential liability of the relevant Seller under sub-clauses 10.9 or 10.16, 10.17 or 10.18 ; and

 

(F)            not take any action which it knows, or ought reasonably to expect, would be likely to result in, or increase, the liability of the relevant Seller under sub- clauses 10.9 or 10.16, 10.17 or 10.18 .

 

10.21       If as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement a third party consent or waiver is required for a Target Company or any member of the relevant Target Group to continue to exercise rights pursuant to a material contract or licence following Completion (a “ Third Party Consent ”) the Purchaser and the relevant Seller shall procure that the relevant member of the Seller Group shall use all reasonable efforts to obtain any Third Party Consent by Completion, and the other Seller shall cooperate with the relevant Seller in relation to, and provide such assistance as the relevant Seller may reasonably request in relation to, obtaining such Third Party Consent. If any Third Party Consent has not been obtained by Completion, then the Sellers shall procure that the Purchaser shall procure that the relevant Target Company shall use all reasonable efforts to obtain that Third Party Consent and to achieve an alternative solution by which the relevant Target Company shall receive the benefit of the relevant material contract and assume the associated obligations (and each of the Sellers shall cooperate with and provide reasonable assistance to the Purchaser in relation to the same).

 

Vodafone Share Schemes

 

10.22       The Vodafone Guarantor agrees that, following Completion, the Vodafone Participants shall, to the extent permitted by the terms of the Vodafone Share Schemes, continue to be entitled to exercise any rights that they have under the Vodafone Share Schemes immediately prior to Completion (including any rights to exercise any options that they may hold or realise any vested awards) in respect of Vodafone Shares (the “Vodafone Existing Rights” ).

 

10.23       The Vodafone Guarantor undertakes to the Purchaser that it shall bear any and all costs and liabilities (including the cost of any Vodafone Shares used to satisfy the relevant

 

48



 

options or awards) associated with any exercise or realisation by the Vodafone Participants of any Vodafone Existing Rights.

 

Liberty Global Share Schemes

 

10.24       The Liberty Global Guarantor agrees that, following Completion, the Liberty Global Participants shall, to the extent permitted by the terms of the Liberty Global Share Schemes, continue to be entitled to exercise any rights that they have under the Liberty Global Share Schemes immediately prior to Completion (including any rights to exercise any options that they may hold or realise any vested awards) in respect of Liberty Global Shares (the Liberty Global Existing Rights” ).

 

10.25       The Liberty Global Guarantor undertakes to the Purchaser that it shall bear any and all costs and liabilities (including the cost of any Liberty Global Shares used to satisfy the relevant options or awards) associated with any exercise or realisation by the Liberty Global Participants of any Liberty Global Existing Rights.

 

11.           Purchaser’s warranties and undertakings

 

11.1         The Purchaser warrants to the Sellers at the date of the Signing Protocol that it has the requisite capacity, power and authority to enter into and perform the Share Purchase Documents to which it is a party and that its obligations under this Agreement constitute, and its obligations under the other Share Purchase Documents will, when executed and delivered, constitute valid and binding obligations of the Purchaser in accordance with their respective terms.

 

11.2         The Purchaser undertakes that, prior to the Completion Date, it shall take all reasonable steps to effect Completion, and that it will not take any action, enter into any agreement or engage in any trade or other activity, except to the extent required by the Share Purchase Documents. Liberty Global shall procure the Purchaser’s compliance with this clause 11.2 .

 

12.           Remedies and Seller’s limitations on liability

 

12.1         The Purchaser shall not be entitled to claim that any fact, matter or circumstance causes any of the Warranties to be breached if it has been fairly disclosed in or pursuant to this Agreement, either Disclosure Letter, either Data Room prior to 11.59 pm on 7 February 2016 or in any document referred to in the Disclosure Letter or delivered or deemed to be delivered with it.

 

12.2         No liability shall attach to either Seller in respect of claims under the Warranties if and to the extent that the limitations set out in Schedule 4 (Limitations on the Sellers’ liability) apply.

 

12.3         None of the limitations contained in Schedule 4 (Limitations on the Sellers’ liability) shall apply to any claim to the extent that such claim arises or is increased as the consequence of fraud by any director or officer of any member of the relevant Seller’s Retained Group or any person set out in clause 10.6(A)  (in the case of Vodafone) or clause 10.6(B)  (in the case of Liberty Global).

 

49



 

12.4         Between the date of the Signing Protocol and Completion:

 

(A)           if any fact or circumstance arises which would constitute a breach by Vodafone of the warranties given in sub-clause 10.8 , Liberty Global shall be entitled at any time prior to Completion to terminate this Agreement by notice in writing to the other parties; and

 

(B)           if any fact or circumstance arises which would constitute a breach by Liberty Global of the warranties given in sub-clause 10.8 , Vodafone shall be entitled at any time prior to Completion to terminate this Agreement by notice in writing to the other parties.

 

12.5         Neither Seller shall be entitled to exercise any right to terminate pursuant to sub-clause 12.4 if such breach is capable of remedy and within 15 Business Days of receiving notice of the breach it is remedied by the relevant Seller such that each of the other Seller and the Purchaser is in no worse position than it would have been had there been no breach.

 

12.6         If either Seller becomes entitled to terminate this Agreement under sub-clause 12.4 and elects not to do so and Completion occurs, neither it nor the Purchaser shall be entitled to make any claim for damages or exercise any other right, power or remedy under this Agreement or otherwise provided by law in respect of the breach or deemed breach of Warranty giving rise to such right to give notice to terminate.

 

12.7         If this Agreement is terminated in accordance with sub-clause 12.4 , all obligations of the Sellers and the Purchaser under this Agreement shall end (except for the provisions of this clause 12.7 and clauses 1 (Interpretation) and 25 (Notices) to 35 (Language) inclusive) but (for the avoidance of doubt) all rights and liabilities of the parties which have accrued before termination shall continue to exist.

 

12.8         The Disclosures made in each Disclosure Letter shall be made as at the date of the Signing Protocol.

 

13.           KPN Litigation

 

13.1         The Purchaser shall act solely in accordance with the instructions of Vodafone (or a member of its Retained Group) with respect to the conduct of the KPN Litigation and instruct such solicitors or other professional advisors as Vodafone may reasonably nominate to act solely in accordance with Vodafone’s instructions and on terms that the Vodafone is responsible for (and shall directly settle) all costs and expenses incurred by any such solicitors or professional advisers in respect of such instructions. The Purchaser and Liberty Global agree that they shall not, and in the case of the Purchaser shall procure that the Purchaser’s Group shall not and in the case of Liberty Global shall procure that the Liberty Global Retained Group shall not, make any public comment or statement in connection with the KPN Litigation without the prior written consent of Vodafone (save as required by law or any securities exchange or regulatory or governmental body to which that party is subject, wherever situated, including (amongst other bodies) any Tax Authority, the Financial Conduct Authority, the Prudential Regulation Authority, the London Stock Exchange plc, The Panel on Takeovers and Mergers, the SEC or NASDAQ, whether or not the requirement has the force of law).

 

50



 

13.2         Vodafone undertakes (i) promptly to reimburse the Purchaser for the time and reasonable costs of employees or officers of the Purchaser’s Group incurred in connection with its obligations under sub-clause 13.1 , and (ii) to pay on demand to the Purchaser such amount as is required to indemnify and hold harmless the Purchaser and each member of each Target Group against and in respect of any loss or liability which exists or is suffered or incurred by the Purchaser or any such member of such Target Group as a result of or in connection with the KPN Litigation and any related counter-claim or (where made at the request of Vodafone) any other related claim.

 

13.3         The parties agree that Vodafone shall be entitled to the benefit of any payment or damages made or awarded to the Purchaser or any member of any Target Group pursuant to any judgment, award or settlement of the KPN Litigation, less any amounts payable pursuant to clause 13.2 and less any Tax payable as a consequence of or by reference to any such payment or damages or any distribution or other payment made or received in respect thereof (including any Tax chargeable thereon and any deductions or withholdings for or on account of Tax, whether payable by the Purchaser or any member of the Liberty Global Target Group or the Vodafone Target Group, and including any Tax that would have been so payable but for the availability of a Relief). Subject to Completion having occurred, the Purchaser shall ensure that any such amount is promptly paid to Vodafone in the form of a distribution from the Purchaser’s share capital or profit reserves (or in such other form as the parties may agree in writing). The parties agree, in respect of distributions to Vodafone pursuant to this clause 13.3 , that such distributions shall be made on one or more of the shares in the capital of the Purchaser held by Vodafone and not on any of the shares in the capital of the Purchaser held by Liberty Global, and Liberty Global hereby consents to such distributions being made to Vodafone on such terms.

 

14.           Intrum Justitia Litigation

 

14.1         The Purchaser shall act solely in accordance with the instructions of Vodafone (or a member of its Retained Group) with respect to the conduct of the Intrum Justitia Litigation and instruct such solicitors or other professional advisors as Vodafone may reasonably nominate to act solely in accordance with Vodafone’s instructions and on terms that Vodafone is responsible for (and shall directly settle) all costs and expenses incurred by any such solicitors or professional advisers in respect of such instructions.

 

14.2         Vodafone undertakes promptly to reimburse the Purchaser for the time and reasonable costs of employees or officers of the Purchaser’s Group incurred in connection with its obligations under sub-clause 14.1 .

 

14.3         Subject to Completion having occurred, if the Purchaser or any member of the Purchaser’s Group receives any Intrum Justitia Benefit, such recipient shall procure that an amount in cash is promptly paid to Vodafone equal to: (i) 50 per cent. of such Intrum Justitia Benefit less (ii) 50% of any Tax payable as a consequence of or by reference to any such Intrum Justitia Benefit and less (iii) 100 per cent. of any Tax payable as a consequence of or by reference to any distribution or other payment made or received in respect thereof (including any Tax chargeable thereon and any deductions or withholdings for or on account of Tax), to the extent that the aggregate amount of the Intrum Justitia Benefits received by the Purchaser or such member of the Purchaser’s Group is less than or equal to the aggregate amount of the Intrum Justitia Provisions.

 

51



 

Such payments shall take the form of a distribution from the Purchaser’s share capital or profit reserves (or in such other form as the parties may agree in writing). The parties agree, in respect of distributions to Vodafone pursuant to this sub-clause 14.3 , that such distributions shall be made on one or more of the shares in the capital of the Purchaser held by Vodafone and not on any of the shares in the capital of the Purchaser held by Liberty Global, and Liberty Global hereby consents to such distributions being made to Vodafone on such terms.

 

15.           Intellectual Property and Business Information

 

Wrong pockets

 

15.1         If, after Completion, a member of the Purchaser’s Group owns any Intellectual Property or rights in Business Information which, in the 12 months prior to Completion, related to the business of:

 

(A)           Vodafone’s Retained Group (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any rights in the Brand but excluding any Vodafone JV Patents), the Purchaser shall procure that such Intellectual Property and/or rights in Business Information are transferred to Vodafone or a company nominated by Vodafone for nominal consideration as soon as practicable after becoming aware of the ownership of such rights; or

 

(A)           Liberty Global’s Retained Group (excluding any Liberty Global JV Patents), the Purchaser shall procure that such Intellectual Property and/or rights in Business Information are transferred to Liberty Global or a company nominated by Liberty Global for nominal consideration as soon as practicable after becoming aware of the ownership of such rights..

 

15.2         If, after Completion, Vodafone (or a member of Vodafone’s Retained Group) owns any Intellectual Property (excluding any rights in the Brand) and/or rights in Business Information, which, in the 12 months prior to Completion, were used exclusively in the business of the Vodafone Target Group, Vodafone shall procure that such Intellectual Property and/or rights in Business Information are transferred to the Purchaser or a company nominated by the Purchaser for nominal consideration as soon as practicable after becoming aware of the ownership of such rights.

 

15.3         If, after Completion, Liberty Global (or a member of Liberty Global’s Retained Group) owns any Intellectual Property and/or rights in Business Information, which, in the 12 months prior to Completion, were used exclusively in the business of the Liberty Global Target Group, Liberty Global shall procure that such Intellectual Property and/or rights in Business Information are transferred to the Purchaser or a company nominated by the Purchaser for nominal consideration as soon as practicable after becoming aware of the ownership of such rights.

 

Licence of shared Intellectual Property

 

15.4         Vodafone grants, and shall procure the grant by each relevant member of Vodafone’s Retained Group, (in each case with effect from Completion) to the Purchaser a non- exclusive, perpetual, royalty-free licence (with the right to sub-license within the

 

52



 

Purchaser’s Group) of all Intellectual Property and rights in Business Information (in each case excluding: (i) patents; (ii) rights in the Brand (including any Intellectual Property licensed under the Brand Licence); and (iii) any Intellectual Property licensed or made available under the Framework Agreement), for use within the Netherlands only and capable of assignment within the Purchaser’s Group only, in each case owned by Vodafone or a member of Vodafone’s Retained Group and used by the Vodafone Target Group in the 12 months prior to Completion.

 

15.5         Liberty Global grants, and shall procure the grant by each relevant member of Liberty Global’s Retained Group, (in each case with effect from Completion) to the Purchaser a non-exclusive, perpetual, royalty-free licence (with the right to sub-license within the Purchaser’s Group) of all Intellectual Property and rights in Business Information (in each case excluding: (i) patents; and (ii) any Intellectual Property licensed or made available under the Framework Agreement), for use within the Netherlands only and capable of assignment within the Purchaser’s Group only, in each case owned by Liberty Global or a member of Liberty Global’s Retained Group and used by the Liberty Global Target Group in the 12 months prior to Completion.

 

Covenants not to sue

 

15.6         The Purchaser covenants that:

 

(A)           in respect of a Vodafone JV Patent, for the duration of the Vodafone Relief Period it shall not, and shall procure that each member of the Purchaser’s Group shall not, enforce or prosecute that Vodafone JV Patent against any member of Vodafone’s Retained Group with respect to the activities of Vodafone or the relevant member of Vodafone’s Retained Group; and

 

(B)           in respect of a Liberty Global JV Patent, for the duration of the Liberty Global Relief Period it shall not, and shall procure that each member of the Purchaser’s Group shall not, enforce or prosecute that Liberty Global JV Patent against any member of Liberty Global’s Retained Group with respect to the activities of Liberty Global or the relevant member of Liberty Global’s Retained Group.

 

15.7         Vodafone covenants that, in respect of a Vodafone Patent, for the duration of the Vodafone Relief Period, it shall not, and shall procure that each member of Vodafone’s Retained Group shall not, enforce or prosecute that Vodafone Patent against any member of the Purchaser’s Group, in each case with respect to the activities of the Purchaser or relevant member of the Purchaser’s Group in the Netherlands.

 

15.8         Liberty Global covenants that, in respect of a Liberty Global Patent, for the duration of the Liberty Global Relief Period, it shall not, and shall procure that each member of Liberty Global Retained Group shall not, enforce or prosecute that Liberty Global Patent against any member of the Purchaser’s Group, in each case with respect to the activities of the Purchaser or relevant member of the Purchaser’s Group in the Netherlands.

 

53



 

Licence of patents on exit

 

15.9         With effect from the earlier of (i) the date of any IPO Notice, or (ii) the date of an Exit Notice issued by Vodafone (or relevant member of Vodafone’s Retained Group):

 

(A)           Vodafone shall, in respect of any Vodafone JV Patent (excluding Standard Essential Patents, if any) the scope of which encompass any of the activities of Vodafone or any member of Vodafone’s Retained Group carried on as at the Vodafone Exit Date (the “ Vodafone Exit Activities ”), be entitled to request that the Purchaser grant (or procure that that relevant member of the Purchaser’s Group grant) a licence of such Vodafone JV Patents to Vodafone in respect of the Vodafone Exit Activities; and

 

(B)           the Purchaser shall, in respect of any Vodafone Patents (excluding Standard Essential Patents, if any) the scope of which encompass any of the activities of the Purchaser or relevant member of the Purchaser’s Group carried on in the Territory as at the Vodafone Exit Date (the “ VF Purchaser Exit Activities ”), be entitled to request that Vodafone grant (or procure that that relevant member of Vodafone’s Retained Group grant) a licence of such Vodafone Patents to the Purchaser in respect of the VF Purchaser Exit Activities.

 

If Vodafone and/or the Purchaser (as applicable) request a licence in accordance with clause 15.9(A)  or (B)  (as applicable) (the “ Requesting Party ”), then, with effect from the Vodafone Exit Date, the other shall grant, and shall procure the grant by each member of Vodafone’s Retained Group or the Purchaser Group (as applicable), to the Requesting Party, a non-exclusive, perpetual, royalty-free licence (with the right to sub-license within Vodafone’s Retained Group or the Purchaser’s Group, as applicable)) of such Vodafone JV Patents in respect of the Vodafone Exit Activities or such Vodafone Patents in respect of the VF Purchaser Exit Activities (as applicable). Each such licence shall be documented in the form, and contain such other terms, as Vodafone and the Purchaser may agree (if any), each acting reasonably and in good faith.

 

15.10       With effect from the earlier of (i) the date of any IPO Notice, or (ii) the date of an Exit Notice issued by Liberty Global (or relevant member of Liberty Global’s Retained Group):

 

(A)           Liberty Global shall, in respect of any Liberty Global JV Patents (excluding Standard Essential Patents, if any) the scope of which encompass any of the activities of Liberty Global or any member of Liberty Global’s Retained Group carried on as at the Liberty Global Exit Date (the “ Liberty Global Exit Activities ”), be entitled to request that the Purchaser grant (or procure that that relevant member of the Purchaser’s Group grant) a licence of such Liberty Global JV Patents to Liberty Global in respect of the Liberty Global Exit Activities; and

 

(B)           the Purchaser shall, in respect of any Liberty Global Patents (excluding Standard Essential Patents, if any) the scope of which encompass any of the activities of the Purchaser or relevant member of the Purchaser’s Group carried on in the Territory as at the Liberty Global Exit Date (the “ LG Purchaser Exit Activities ”), be entitled to request that Liberty Global grant (or procure that that relevant member of Liberty Global’s Retained Group grant) a licence of such

 

54



 

Liberty Global Patents to the Purchaser in respect of the LG Purchaser Exit Activities.

 

If Liberty Global and/or the Purchaser (as applicable) request a licence in accordance with clause 15.10(A)  or (B)  (as applicable) (the “ Requesting Party ”), then, with effect from the Liberty Global Exit Date, the other shall grant (and shall procure the grant by each member of Liberty Global’s Retained Group or the Purchaser Group (as applicable)), to the Requesting Party a non-exclusive, perpetual, royalty-free licence (with the right to sub-license within Liberty Global’s Retained Group or the Purchaser’s Group, as applicable) of such Liberty Global JV Patents in respect of the Liberty Global Exit Activities or such Liberty Global Patents in respect of the LG Purchaser Exit Activities (as applicable). Each such licence shall be documented in the form, and contain such other terms, as Liberty Global and the Purchaser may agree (if any), each acting reasonably and in good faith.

 

16.           Tax

 

16.1         All sums payable by any Guarantor, Vodafone or Liberty Global (as the case may be) to the Purchaser:

 

(A)           under any indemnity or covenant or undertaking to pay within this Agreement (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, the payment of the Initial Vodafone Equalisation Consideration and the Final Vodafone Equalisation Consideration in accordance with clauses 3 and 29.9 );

 

(B)           by way of damages for breach of any Warranty; or

 

(C)           otherwise pursuant to clause 18 (Seller Guarantees),

 

shall be paid free and clear of all deductions or withholdings for or on account of Tax, save only as may be required by law and, if any such deduction or withholding is required, the party required to make that withholding or deduction shall provide such evidence satisfactory to the Purchaser, acting reasonably, that such deduction or withholding has been made and appropriate payment paid to the relevant Tax Authority.

 

16.2         If any deductions or withholdings are required by law to be made from any of the sums payable as mentioned in sub-clause 16.1 then, except to the extent that the sum constitutes interest, the party making the payment shall be obliged to pay to the Purchaser such additional amount as will, after such deduction or withholding has been made, leave the Purchaser with the same amount as it would have been entitled to receive in the absence of any such requirement to make a deduction or withholding.

 

16.3         If any of the sums payable as mentioned in sub-clause 16.1 is required by law to be brought into charge to Tax within The Netherlands in the hands of the Purchaser, then, except to the extent that the sum constitutes interest, the party making the payment shall pay such additional amount as shall be required to ensure that the total amount paid, less the Tax chargeable on such amount (or which would be chargeable but for the use or set-off of a Purchaser’s Relief or a Purchaser’s Repayment), is equal to the amount that would be payable if the sum payable by the Guarantor, Vodafone or Liberty

 

55



 

Global (as the case may be) were not required by law to be brought into charge to Tax within The Netherlands in the hands of the Purchaser.

 

16.4         Sub-clause 16.3 shall apply in respect of any amount deducted or withheld as contemplated by sub-clause 16.2 as it applies to sums paid to the Purchaser, save to the extent that in computing the Tax chargeable the Purchaser is able to obtain a credit for the amount deducted or withheld.

 

16.5         To the extent that any deduction, withholding, Tax, or use or set-off of a Purchaser’s Relief or Purchaser’s Repayment, in respect of which an additional amount has been paid pursuant to sub-clause 16.2 or 16.3 , or the payment of any additional amount pursuant to sub-clause 16.2 or 16.3 , results in the Purchaser obtaining and utilising a Relief (other than a Relief within (a) or (c) of the definition of Purchaser’s Relief or within (a) or (c) of the definition of Purchaser’s Repayment) (reasonable endeavours having been used to obtain and utilise such Relief), the Purchaser shall pay to the party who paid the additional amount, within 10 Business Days of utilising such Relief, an amount equal to the lesser of the value of the Relief obtained and the additional amount paid under sub-clause 16.2 or 16.3 .

 

17.           Sellers’ liability

 

The obligations of the Sellers under the Share Purchase Documents shall be several and not joint obligations.

 

18.           Seller Guarantees

 

18.1         In consideration for the Purchaser agreeing to accept the Shares, Liberty Global agreeing to sell and Vodafone agreeing to purchase the JV Co Shares and in consideration for the other parties assuming their respective obligations under this Agreement, each Guarantor hereby unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees to the Purchaser the due and punctual payment by the relevant Seller of all amounts payable by it under or pursuant to this Agreement and the Tax Covenant and agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Purchaser against all liabilities, losses, proceedings, claims, damages, costs and expenses that it may suffer or incur as a result of any failure or delay by the relevant Seller to pay any amount when due. The liability of each Guarantor under this Agreement, the Tax Covenant or any other document referred to in it shall not be released or diminished by any variation of the terms of this Agreement or the Tax Covenant (whether or not agreed by the Guarantor), any forbearance, neglect or delay in seeking performance of the obligations hereby imposed or any granting of time for such performance.

 

18.2         If and whenever the relevant Seller defaults for any reason whatsoever in the payment of any amount payable under or pursuant to this Agreement or the Tax Covenant, the Guarantor shall forthwith upon demand unconditionally pay (or procure payment of) the amount in regard to which such default has been made in the manner prescribed by this Agreement or the Tax Covenant and so that the same benefits shall be conferred on the Purchaser as would have been received if such payment had been duly and promptly made by the relevant Seller.

 

56



 

18.3         With respect to each Guarantor, this guarantee is to be a continuing guarantee and accordingly is to remain in force until all the payment obligations of the relevant Seller shall have been performed or satisfied. This guarantee is in addition to, without limiting and not in substitution for, any rights or security which the Purchaser may now or after the date of this Agreement have or hold for the performance and observance of the obligations, commitments and undertakings of the Seller under or in connection with this Agreement and the Tax Covenant.

 

18.4         As a separate and independent stipulation, each Guarantor agrees that any obligation of the relevant Seller which may not be enforceable against or recoverable from the relevant Seller by reason of any legal limitation, disability or incapacity on or of the relevant Seller or any fact or circumstance (other than any relevant limitation imposed by this Agreement or the Tax Covenant) shall nevertheless be enforceable against and recoverable from the Guarantor as though the same had been incurred by the Guarantor and the Guarantor were the sole or principal obligor in respect thereof and shall be performed or paid by the Guarantor on demand.

 

19.           Effect of Completion

 

Any provision of this Agreement and any other documents referred to in it which is capable of being performed after but which has not been performed at or before Completion and all warranties and covenants and other undertakings contained in or entered into pursuant to this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding Completion.

 

20.           Remedies and waivers

 

20.1         Except as provided in clause 12 and Schedule 4 (Limitations on the Sellers’ liability), no delay or omission by any party to this Agreement in exercising any right, power or remedy provided by law or under this Agreement or any other documents referred to in it shall:

 

(A)           affect that right, power or remedy; or

 

(B)           operate as a waiver of it.

 

20.2         Except as provided in clause 12 and Schedule 4 (Limitations on the Sellers’ liability), the single or partial exercise of any right, power or remedy provided by law or under this Agreement shall not, unless otherwise expressly stated, preclude any other or further exercise of it or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy.

 

21.           No double recovery

 

A party shall be entitled to make more than one claim under this Agreement arising out of the same subject matter, fact, event or circumstance but shall not be entitled to recover under this Agreement or any relevant Share Purchase Document or otherwise more than once in respect of the same loss, regardless of whether more than one claim arises in respect of it. No amount in respect of loss shall be taken into account, set off or credited to the extent it has already been specifically provided for in a relevant Completion Statement (excluding any amount that is included as “Other” in the

 

57



 

Completion Statement) or otherwise specifically provided for under this Agreement or any relevant Share Purchase Document, with the intent that there will be no double recovery under this Agreement or any Share Purchase Document or otherwise.

 

22.           Assignment

 

22.1         Except as provided in clause 22.2 , no party shall assign, or purport to assign or grant any interest in, or declare any trust over, all or any part of the benefit of, or its rights or benefits under, the Share Purchase Documents (together with any causes of action arising in connection with any of them) without the prior written consent of the other parties.

 

22.2         On notice to the other parties, the benefit of this Agreement may be assigned and the obligations under this Agreement novated by the relevant Seller to any member of the Seller’s Group which is the legal and beneficial owner from time to time of any or all of the shares in the Purchaser, provided that the relevant assignee shall assign the benefit of this Agreement and novate its obligations under this Agreement, in a manner and to a transferee permitted by this Agreement, before it ceases to be in the Retained Group of the relevant Seller or to be a legal or beneficial owner of shares in the Purchaser.

 

23.           Further assurance

 

Insofar as it is able to do so after Completion, each Seller shall, on being required to do so by the Purchaser or by the other Seller, do all acts and/or execute all documents as (i) the Purchaser or such other Seller may reasonably consider necessary for transferring the Shares to the Purchaser or giving effect to the transactions set out in the Share Purchase Documents, or (ii) in the case of Liberty Global, Vodafone may reasonably consider necessary for transferring the JV Co Shares to Vodafone, in each case, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

24.           Entire agreement

 

24.1         The Share Purchase Documents constitute the whole and only agreement between the parties relating to the contribution and/or transfer of the Shares and the sale of the JV Co Shares.

 

24.2         Except in the case of fraud, each party acknowledges that in entering into the Share Purchase Documents it is not relying upon any Pre-contractual Statement which is not repeated in any Share Purchase Document.

 

24.3         Except in the case of fraud, no party shall have any right of action against any other party to this Agreement arising out of or in connection with any Pre-contractual Statement except to the extent that it is repeated in any Share Purchase Document.

 

24.4         For the purposes of this clause, “ Pre-contractual Statement ” means any draft, agreement, undertaking, representation, warranty, promise, assurance or arrangement of any nature whatsoever, whether or not in writing, relating to the subject matter of the Share Purchase Documents made or given by any person at any time prior to this Agreement becoming legally binding.

 

58



 

24.5         This Agreement may only be varied in writing signed by each of the parties.

 

25.           Notices

 

25.1         A notice under this Agreement shall only be effective if it is in writing and in English. Notice by email shall be effective, provided that such notice is also served in physical hard copy delivered to the relevant address (in which case notice shall be deemed to be duly given by the relevant email and not the physical hard copy).

 

25.2         Notices under this Agreement shall be sent to a party at its addresses for the attention of the individuals set out below:

 

Party and titles of

 

 

 

 

individuals

 

Address

 

E-mail addresses

 

 

 

 

 

Vodafone International Holdings B.V

 

Rivium Quadrant 173, 15th floor,

 

erik.de.rijk@vodafone.com

 

 

2909 LC Capelle aan den IJssel,

 

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the attention of:

 

With a copy to:

 

With a copy to:

Erik de Rijk,

 

 

 

 

Managing Director

 

General Counsel & Company

 

groupcosec@vodafone.com

 

 

Secretary

 

 

.

 

Vodafone Group Plc

 

 

 

 

Vodafone House

 

 

 

 

The Connection

 

 

 

 

Newbury

 

 

 

 

Berkshire RG14 2FN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liberty Global Europe Holding B.V.

 

Boeing Avenue 53, 1119

 

gking@libertyglobal.com

 

 

Schiphol-Rijk, 1070 BT

 

 

 

 

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the attention of:

 

With a copy to:

 

With a copy to:

Graham King, The Legal Department

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deputy General Counsel

 

jevans@libertyglobal.com

 

 

(Jeremy Evans), Liberty Global

 

 

 

 

Europe Ltd, Griffin House, 161

 

 

 

 

Hammersmith Road, London W6

 

 

 

 

8BS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lynx Global Europe II B.V.

 

Boeing Avenue 53, 1119

 

gking@libertyglobal.com

 

 

Schiphol-Rijk, 1070 BT

 

 

 

 

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the attention of:

 

With a copy to:

 

With a copy to:

Graham King, The Legal Department

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deputy General Counsel

 

jevans@libertyglobal.com

 

 

(Jeremy Evans), Liberty Global

 

 

 

 

Europe Ltd, Griffin House, 161

 

 

 

59



 

 

 

Hammersmith Road, London W6

 

 

 

 

8BS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vodafone Group Plc

 

Vodafone House

 

groupcosec@vodafone.com

 

 

The Connection

 

 

For the attention of:

 

Newbury

 

 

Company Secretary

 

Berkshire RG14 2FN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liberty Global plc

 

Griffin House, 161 Hammersmith

 

jevans@libertyglobal.com

 

 

Road, London W6 8BS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the attention of:

 

With a copy to:

 

With a copy to:

Deputy General Counsel (Jeremy

 

 

 

 

Evans)

 

Chief Development Officer

 

asalvato@libertyglobal.com

 

 

(Andrea Salvato), Liberty Global

 

 

 

 

Europe Ltd, Griffin House, 161

 

 

 

 

Hammersmith Road, London W6

 

 

 

 

8BS

 

 

 

Provided that a party may change its notice details on giving notice to the other parties of the change in accordance with this clause.

 

25.3         Any notice given under this Agreement shall, in the absence of earlier receipt, be deemed to have been duly given to all individuals set out against the name of the relevant party in sub-clause 25.2 above, as follows:

 

(A)           if delivered personally, on delivery;

 

(B)           if sent by first class inland post, two clear Business Days after the date of posting; and

 

(C)           if set by airmail, six clear Business Days after the date of posting; and

 

(D)           if sent by e-mail, when sent.

 

25.4         Any notice given under this Agreement outside Working Hours in the place to which it is addressed shall be deemed not to have been given until the start of the next period of Working Hours in such place.

 

25.5         Each party shall notify the other parties in writing of any change to its details in sub-clause 25.2 above from time to time.

 

26.           Announcements

 

26.1         Subject to sub-clauses 26.2 to 26.3 (inclusive), no announcement concerning the contribution and/or transfer of the Shares, the sale of the JV Co Shares or any ancillary matter shall be made by any party without the prior written approval of the others, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

 

60



 

26.2         A party may, whenever practicable after consultation with the other parties, make an announcement concerning the sale of the Shares, the sale of the JV Co Shares or any ancillary matter:

 

(A)           to the extent that any such announcement is consistent with the contents of the Transaction Announcement and provides no further material information beyond what is in those announcements; or

 

(B)           if required by:

 

(i)             law; or

 

(ii)            any securities exchange or regulatory or governmental body to which that party is subject, wherever situated, including (amongst other bodies) any Tax Authority, the Financial Conduct Authority, the Prudential Regulation Authority, the London Stock Exchange plc, The Panel on Takeovers and Mergers, the SEC or NASDAQ, whether or not the requirement has the force of law,

 

and, in the case of (B) above, the party concerned shall take steps as may be reasonable and practicable in the circumstances to agree the contents of the announcement with the other party before making the announcement.

 

26.3         The restrictions contained in this clause shall continue to apply after the termination of this Agreement without limit in time, unless Completion shall occur, in which case they shall terminate upon Completion.

 

27.           Confidentiality

 

27.1         Each party shall treat as confidential all information obtained as a result of negotiating, entering into or performing this Agreement which relates to:

 

(A)           the provisions of this Agreement;

 

(B)           the negotiations relating to this Agreement; or

 

(C)           the other parties,

 

and the Purchaser shall also treat as confidential all information obtained as a result of entering into or performing this Agreement which relates to either Retained Group.

 

27.2         Notwithstanding the other provisions of this clause, a party may disclose any such confidential information:

 

(A)           to the extent required by law or for the purpose of any judicial proceedings or pursuant to a horizontal monitoring agreement entered into between the relevant Tax authority in The Netherlands and the Purchaser or either Seller, any member of the respective Seller’s Retained Group, the Relevant Parent Company or any member of a Target Group;

 

61



 

(B)           to a Tax Authority in connection with the Tax affairs of the Purchaser or either Seller, any member of the respective Seller’s Retained Group, the Relevant Parent Company or any member of a Target Group;

 

(C)           to the extent required by any securities exchange or regulatory or governmental body to which that party is subject or subsists, wherever situated, including (amongst other bodies) any Tax Authority, the Financial Conduct Authority, the Prudential Regulation Authority, the London Stock Exchange plc, The Panel on Takeovers and Mergers, the SEC or NASDAQ, whether or not the requirement for information has the force of law;

 

(D)           to the extent required for the purpose of any arbitration pursuant to clause 34 (Jurisdiction);

 

(E)            to its professional advisers, auditors, financial advisers and bankers provided they have a duty to keep such information confidential;

 

(F)            to the extent the information has come into the public domain through no fault of that party; or

 

(G)           to the extent the disclosure of such confidential information is expressly consented to in writing by each of the other parties prior to such disclosure being made (or, if the information relates only to one party or its group, which is expressly consented to in writing by such party).

 

27.3         The restrictions contained in this clause shall continue to apply after the termination of this Agreement without limit in time, unless Completion shall occur, in which case they shall terminate upon Completion.

 

28.           Costs and expenses

 

Except as otherwise stated in the Share Purchase Documents, each party shall pay its own costs and expenses in relation to the negotiations leading up to the contribution and/or transfer of the Shares, the sale of the JV Co Shares and the preparation, execution and carrying into effect of the Share Purchase Documents. The costs of the Notary incurred as a result of any matter provided in this Agreement shall be borne by the Purchaser.

 

29.           Payments

 

29.1         Any payment to be made pursuant to this Agreement to Vodafone (or any member of the Vodafone Retained Group) shall be made to the Vodafone Bank Account. Vodafone agrees to pay each member of its Retained Group that part of each payment to which it is entitled.

 

29.2         Any payment to be made pursuant to this Agreement to Liberty Global (or any member of the Liberty Global Retained Group) shall be made to the Liberty Global Bank Account. Liberty Global agrees to pay each member of its Retained Group that part of each payment to which it is entitled.

 

62



 

29.3         Any payment to be made pursuant to this Agreement to the Purchaser (or any member of any Target Group) shall be made to the Purchaser Bank Account. The Purchaser agrees to pay each member of any Target Group that part of each payment to which it is entitled.

 

29.4         Any payment to be made pursuant to sub-clauses 3.1 or 3.2 shall be made to the Notary Bank Account.

 

29.5         Payments made under sub-clauses 29.1 to 29.3 (inclusive) shall be in immediately available funds by electronic transfer on the due date for payment. Receipt of the amount due shall be an effective discharge of the relevant payment obligation.

 

29.6         If any sum due for payment in accordance with this Agreement is not paid on the due date for payment, the person in default shall pay Default Interest on that sum from but excluding the due date to and including the date of actual payment calculated on a daily basis.

 

29.7         Where it is agreed or determined that an amount is payable by either Seller to the Purchaser pursuant to any covenant to pay in this Agreement, or as damages in respect of a breach of this Agreement, the Seller which is liable to make the payment under or in respect of this Agreement shall make that payment in cash to the Purchaser in accordance with clause 29.8 , unless both Sellers and the Purchaser have agreed an alternative arrangement for satisfying that obligation to pay the amount so claimed in an efficient manner (including with regard to Tax) that does not prejudice the interests of the Purchaser (which may involve, by way of example only, a subscription for deferred shares in the Purchaser or making an additional contribution to the Purchaser in respect of existing shares in the Purchaser).

 

29.8         Any payment made by a Seller to the Purchaser or by the Purchaser to a Seller under this Agreement or the Tax Covenant shall (so far as possible) be treated as a share premium contribution or a distribution from the Purchaser’s share premium reserves and shall be recorded in the books and records of the Purchaser as a non-stipulated share premium contribution or as a distribution from the Purchaser’s general share premium reserves.

 

29.9         Any payment to be made by Vodafone to Liberty Global or by Liberty Global to Vodafone, as the case may be, in respect of the Estimated Vodafone Equalisation Consideration or the Final Vodafone Equalisation Consideration (or any adjustment thereto pursuant to clause 29.10 or Schedule 10 ) shall (so far as possible) be treated as a share premium contribution to the Purchaser and as a distribution from the Purchaser’s share premium reserves and shall be recorded in the books and records of the Purchaser, Liberty Global and Vodafone accordingly.

 

29.10       If any payment is made by Liberty Global to Vodafone, or by Vodafone to Liberty Global, under or for breach of a warranty, indemnity or covenant to pay in each case pursuant to this Agreement, that payment shall be treated (so far as possible) as taking effect by way of an adjustment of the Vodafone Equalisation Consideration.

 

63



 

30.           Counterparts

 

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, and by the parties to it on separate counterparts, but shall not be effective until each party has executed at least one counterpart. Each counterpart shall constitute an original of this Agreement, but all the counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

31.           Invalidity

 

If at any time any provision of this Agreement is or becomes illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any respect under the law of any jurisdiction, that shall not affect or impair:

 

(A)           the legality, validity or enforceability in that jurisdiction of any other provision of this Agreement; or

 

(B)           the legality, validity or enforceability under the law of any other jurisdiction of that or any other provision of this Agreement.

 

32.           Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999

 

The parties to this Agreement do not intend that any term of this Agreement should be enforceable, by virtue of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999, by any person who is not a party to this Agreement.

 

33.           Choice of governing law

 

This agreement is to be governed by and construed in accordance with English law. Any matter, claim or dispute arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, whether contractual or non-contractual, is to be governed by and determined in accordance with English law.

 

34.           Jurisdiction

 

34.1         Subject to sub-clause 34.2 , all disputes arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be finally settled under the Rules of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (“ ICC ”) by three arbitrators appointed in accordance with the said “ Rules ”.

 

34.2         Nothing in this clause shall prevent any party, before an arbitration has commenced under this clause or any time thereafter, from applying for conservatory and interim relief measures (an “ Injunctive Matter ”), including, but not limited to, temporary restraining orders or preliminary injunctions, or their equivalent, from any court of competent jurisdiction. The parties hereby agree to opt out of the Emergency Arbitrator Provisions under Article 29 of the ICC Rules; such Emergency Arbitrator Provisions shall not apply to any disputes arising out of, in connection with or relating to this Agreement.

 

34.3         The place of arbitration shall be Amsterdam.

 

34.4         The language of the arbitration shall be English.

 

64



 

34.5         The parties agree that in so far as any provision contained in the ICC Rules is incompatible with applicable English or Dutch law, that provision or relevant part of that provision is to be excluded.

 

34.6         The parties undertake to keep confidential all awards in their arbitration, together with all materials in the proceedings created for the purpose of the arbitration and all other documents produced by another party in the proceedings not otherwise in the public domain, save and to the extent that disclosure may be required of a party (A) by law, legal duty or any requirement of a securities exchange or regulatory or governmental body to which that party is subject, (B) to protect or pursue a legal right or (C) to enforce or challenge an award in bona fide legal proceedings before a state court or other judicial authority.

 

35.           Language

 

35.1         Each notice or other communication under or in connection with this Agreement shall be:

 

(A)           in English; or

 

(B)           if not in English, accompanied by an English translation made by a translator, and certified to be accurate.

 

35.2         The receiving party or its agent (as appropriate) shall be entitled to assume the accuracy of and rely upon any English translation of any document provided pursuant to sub-clause 35.1(B) .

 

65



 

Schedule 1

(Conditions to Completion)

 

1.              Competition consents

 

The European Commission having issued a decision under Council Regulation (EC) No. 139/2004 (the “ Merger Regulation ”) (or being deemed to have done so under Article 10(6) of the Merger Regulation) declaring the Transaction compatible with the common market and/or, if any aspect of the acquisition is referred to a competent authority of a European Union or EFTA State or more than one such competent authorities under Article 9 of the Merger Regulation, confirmation having been received from each such competent authority that the Transaction may proceed.

 

2.              Material Licences

 

As at the date of satisfaction of the condition set out in paragraph 1 of this Schedule 1 , no Relevant Regulatory Authority having issued a decision which results in either revocation of or a change to the terms of any Material Licence, in each case, which would result in a material adverse change.

 

66



 

Schedule 2

(Completion arrangements)

 

Part A (Sellers’ obligations)

 

At Completion, each Seller shall:

 

1.              deliver or make available to the Notary the following:

 

(A)           any duly executed, authorised, notarised and, insofar as notarisation is performed by a non-Dutch civil law notary, apostilled power of attorney of the Sellers and the Target Companies under which the relevant Deeds of Transfer will be executed before the Notary on behalf of the Sellers and the Target Companies;

 

(B)           any copies of the deed(s) pursuant to which each of the Sellers has acquired the shares in the capital of the Target Companies;

 

(C)           the original shareholders registers of the Target Companies;

 

2.              deliver or make available the Tax Covenant, the Shareholders Agreement, the Framework Agreement (or, if the Framework Agreement has not been entered into by Completion, the Framework Agreement Term Sheet), the Brand Licence Agreement and the Intellectual Property Assignment Agreement to the other parties to each such agreement in the agreed form duly executed by that Seller;

 

3.              instruct the Notary to have the relevant Deeds of Transfer executed on behalf of the Sellers and the Target Companies;

 

4.              procure the present directors and secretary (if any) of that Seller’s Target Company (other than any director or secretary who the Sellers may agree in writing should continue in office) to resign their offices as such;

 

5.              if agreed by the Sellers in writing, procure the present auditors of that Seller’s Target Company resign their office as such, such resignation to take effect as at Completion;

 

6.              execute a shareholder resolution of that Seller’s Target Company pursuant to which each of the persons who, as the Sellers may agree in writing, shall be appointed directors and/or secretary, such appointments to take effect immediately after Completion;

 

7.              procure that the financial year end of each member of the relevant Target Group is amended (if necessary) to 31 March; and

 

8.              carry out all of the steps required of it at Completion pursuant to this Agreement.

 

9.              At Completion, Liberty Global shall:

 

(A)           execute a shareholder resolution pursuant to which the articles of association of the Purchaser will be amended to adopt the Articles of Association; and

 

67



 

(B)           deliver or make available to the Notary (a copy of) a written resolution of the shareholder of the Purchaser, whereby it shall be resolved to approve the contribution in kind and/or transfer of the Shares.

 

10.           At Completion, Vodafone shall procure the novation by the Vodafone Target Company of all of its rights and obligations under the Vodafone Inter-Company Loan Agreement to the Liberty Global Target Company (or such other member of the Liberty Global Target Group as the parties shall agree in writing).

 

Part B (Purchaser’s obligations)

 

1.              At Completion, the Purchaser shall, and Liberty Global shall procure that the Purchaser

 

shall:

 

(A)           deliver to each of the Sellers, duly executed by the Purchaser, a counterpart original of this Agreement, the Shareholders Agreement, the Tax Covenant and any other Ancillary Document to which it is party;

 

(B)           deliver to the Notary:

 

(i)             a duly executed, authorised, notarised and - insofar notarisation is performed by a non-Dutch civil law notary - apostilled power of attorney of the Purchaser under which the Deeds and Transfer will be executed before the Notary on behalf of the Purchaser;

 

(ii)            the original shareholders register of the Purchaser;

 

(C)           instruct the Notary to have (i) the relevant Deeds of Transfer executed on behalf of the Purchaser, and to update its share register and have such update registered with the Dutch trade register, and (ii) to execute a notarial deed of amendment to amend the articles of association of the Purchaser to adopt the Articles of Association;

 

(D)           deliver to each Seller a copy of the resolution of the directors of the Purchaser authorising the execution by the Purchaser of this Agreement and each of the Ancillary Documents to which it is a party and the performance of its obligations under this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents;

 

(E)            deliver to each Seller a copy of a written resolution of the shareholder of the Purchaser in the agreed form granting the directors of the Purchaser authority to effect each of the other steps required to be undertaken by the Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement;

 

(F)            procure that a shareholder resolution of the Purchaser is passed pursuant to which (i) each of the persons nominated by the Sellers shall be appointed directors of the Purchaser such appointments to take effect immediately after Completion and (ii) the articles of association of the Purchaser will be amended to adopt the Articles of Association; and

 

(G)           carry out all of the steps required of it at Completion pursuant to this Agreement.

 

68



 

Part C (General)

 

1.              All documents and items delivered at Completion pursuant to this Schedule 2 (Completion arrangements) shall be held by the recipient to the order of the person delivering the same until such time as Completion shall be deemed to have taken place.

 

2.              Simultaneously with delivery of all documents and all items required to be delivered at Completion (or waiver of the delivery of it by the person entitled to receive the relevant document or item), the documents and items delivered in accordance with this Schedule 2 shall cease to be held to the order of the person delivering them and Completion shall be deemed to have taken place.

 

Part D (Execution of Deeds of Transfer)

 

Upon receipt by the Notary of a copy of this Agreement, executed by all parties hereto, the documents and instructions described in Part A under 1 and 3 and the documents and instruction described in Part B under 1 (B) and (C) and confirmation by the Notary that the Estimated Vodafone Equalisation Consideration has been received in the Notary Bank Account, the Notary shall (and the Sellers shall instruct that the Notary shall) (i) procure the execution of the Deed of Transfer in respect of the JV Co Shares, pursuant to which the transfer of the JV Co Shares shall become effective; (ii) procure the registration of the transfer of the JV Co Shares to Vodafone in the shareholder register of the Purchaser; (iii) procure the execution of the Deed of Amendment of the Articles of Association; (iv) procure the execution of the Deeds of Transfer in respect of the Shares, pursuant to which the transfer of the Shares shall become effective; (v) procure the registration of the transfer of the Shares to the Purchaser in the shareholders register of the Target Companies; (vi) register the new sole shareholder of the Target Companies with the Dutch trade register; and (vii) de-register the sole shareholder of the Purchaser with the Dutch trade register, all in accordance with the sequence of events set out in sub-clause 2.1 ; and (viii) release the Estimated Vodafone Equalisation Consideration to the Seller which is entitled to it pursuant to sub-clause 9.4 .

 

Part E (Guarantors’ obligations)

 

At Completion, each Guarantor shall deliver or make available each of the Ancillary Documents to which it is a party to the other parties to each relevant Ancillary Document in the agreed form duly executed by that Guarantor.

 

69



 

Schedule 3

(Warranties)

 

Part A — Warranties applicable to each Seller

 

1.              Ownership of the Shares

 

1.1           The Seller has full legal and beneficial right and title to:

 

(A)           in the case of Vodafone, the Vodafone Target Company Shares; and

 

(B)           in the case of Liberty Global, the Liberty Global Target Company Shares.

 

1.2           The Shares comprise the entire issued share capital of the Target Company.

 

1.3           There is no option, warrant, convertible or similar right, right to acquire or subscribe for, mortgage, charge, pledge, lien or other form of security or encumbrance or equity on, over or affecting the Shares or any of them or any shares of any member of the Target Group and there is no agreement or commitment to give or create any and, so far as the Seller is aware, no claim has been made by any person to be entitled to any.

 

2.              Capacity of the Seller

 

2.1           The Seller has been duly incorporated and is validly existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation.

 

2.2           The Seller has the requisite power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under the Share Purchase Documents to which it is a party.

 

2.3           The obligations of the Seller under this Agreement constitute, and the obligations of the Seller under the other Share Purchase Documents will, when executed and delivered, constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Seller, enforceable against the Seller in accordance with their respective terms.

 

2.4           The execution and delivery of, and the performance by the Seller of its obligations under, the Share Purchase Documents will not:

 

(A)           result in a breach of any provision of the articles of association of the Seller;

 

(B)           result in a breach of, or constitute a default under, any instrument to which the Seller is a party or by which the Seller is bound where such breach is material to their ability to perform their obligations under such documents;

 

(C)           result in a breach of any applicable law or regulation by which the Seller is bound;

 

(D)           result in a breach of any order, judgment or decree of any court or governmental agency to which the Seller is a party or by which the Seller is bound where such breach is material to their ability to perform their obligations under such documents; or

 

70



 

(E)            require the consent of its shareholders.

 

2.5           No proposal has been made or resolution adopted for the dissolution or liquidation of the Seller and, so far as the Seller is aware, no circumstances exist which may result in the dissolution or liquidation of the Seller, and no proposal has been made or resolution adopted for a statutory merger ( juridische fusie ) or division ( splitsing ), or a similar arrangement under the laws of any applicable jurisdiction, of the Seller.

 

3.              Target Group structure and corporate matters

 

3.1           The Shares have been validly issued and are fully paid up.

 

3.2           There is no agreement or commitment outstanding which calls for the issue of, or accords to any person the right to call for the issue of, any shares (including the Shares) or any debentures in or securities of any member of the Target Group.

 

3.3           Part B of Attachment 1 (Basic Information about the Subsidiaries) lists all the Subsidiaries of the Target Company and no member of the Target Group has any interest in any other body corporate or undertaking which is not a member of the Target Group and so listed.

 

3.4           The information given in Part A of Attachment 1 (Basic information about the Target Companies) and Part B of Attachment 1 (Basic information about the Subsidiaries) is true and accurate in all material respects.

 

3.5           The shares listed in Part B of Attachment 1 (Basic Information about the Subsidiaries) in respect of each Subsidiary constitute the whole of the issued and allotted share capital of the relevant Subsidiary, are fully paid (or properly credited as fully paid), have been properly and validly allotted, and are legally and beneficially owned by the Target Company or another wholly owned member of the Target Group.

 

3.6           No shares in the capital of any member of the Target Group have been issued and no transfer of shares in the capital of any member of the Target Group has been registered otherwise than in accordance with the articles of association of the relevant member of the Target Group from time to time in force.

 

3.7           No decision has been taken by the management or supervisory board of any member of the Target Group which might reasonably be expected materially to hinder or have a material impact on the transactions contemplated in the Share Documents.

 

3.8           Each member of the Target Group is validly existing under the laws of the country in which it is incorporated or formed and has all requisite corporate or partnership powers and authority to conduct its business as presently conducted and to own its assets and properties as presently owned, and as contemplated to be owned upon Completion.

 

3.9           The copies of the articles of association or other like documents of each member of the Target Group filed with the Dutch trade register are complete and accurate in all material respects and, to the extent required by law, fully set out the rights and restrictions attaching to each class of share capital of the member of the Target Group to which they relate.

 

71



 

3.10         So far as the Seller is aware, the statutory books (including all registers but excluding the minute books and, for the avoidance of doubt, the accounting records) of each member of the Target Group have been properly kept and contain a record which is accurate and complete in all material respects and no notice or allegation that any of them is incorrect or should be rectified has been received.

 

3.11         No proposal has been made or resolution adopted for the dissolution or liquidation of any member of the Target Group and, so far as the Seller is aware, no circumstances exist which may result in the dissolution or liquidation of any member of the Target Group, and no proposal has been made or resolution adopted for a statutory merger ( juridische fusie ) or division ( splitsing )

 

3.12         The Target Company has fully complied with all obligations set forth in 2:262 - 2:271 and 2:274 of the Dutch Civil Code (mitigated large company regime or gemitigeerde structuur regime ).

 

3.13         There is no guarantee, indemnity or other contingent obligation given or undertaken by any member of any Target Group in relation to or arising out of any obligations or liabilities of any member of that Seller’s Retained Group, including in respect of operational matters including equipment, procurement, network rollout and tenders for projects.

 

4.              Accounts and Management Accounts

 

4.1           The Accounts:

 

(A)           with respect to Vodafone, were prepared in accordance with IFRS as adopted by the European Union and comply with the financial reporting requirements included in Part 9, Book 2 of the Dutch Civil Code at the time they were audited; and

 

(B)           with respect to Liberty Global, were prepared in accordance with US GAAP; and

 

(C)           with respect to the Vodafone Target Group show a true and fair view of, and with respect to the Liberty Global Target Group present fairly in all material respects, the financial position of members of the Target Group to which the relevant accounts relate at the Accounts Date and of the profits or losses and cash flow of members of the Target Group to which they relate for the accounting period ended on that date.

 

4.2           No member of the Target Group has failed to fulfil its obligations to timely publish its annual accounts for, with respect to the Liberty Global Target Group, the financial years 2012, 2013 and 2014 or, with respect to the Vodafone Target Group, the financial years 2013, 2014, and 2015.

 

4.3           The Management Accounts of each Target Group were properly prepared using accounting policies consistent with those adopted in the preparation of the Accounts of the relevant Target Group and are not misleading in any material respect (where “material” means any facts, matters, circumstances, issues or events which have or the absence of which would have an aggregate cost, benefit or value to the relevant

 

72



 

Target Group of not less than €5,000,000 (in the case of Vodafone) or €10,000,000 in the case of Liberty Global).

 

4.4           The Data Room contains details of all material guarantees provided to any third party by each of the Liberty Global Reorganisation Companies and ZUM B.V. with respect to the obligations of any person other than members of the Liberty Global Target Group.

 

4.5           ZUMB B.V. does not have and is not subject to in any way, and whether, in each case, contingent or otherwise, any liabilities in excess of €100,000 (including in relation to Tax).

 

5.              Events since the Accounts Date

 

Since the Accounts Date:

 

(A)           There has been no material adverse change in the financial position of the Target Group as a whole;

 

(B)           the business of the Target Group as a whole has been carried on, in all material respects, in the normal course consistent with past practice;

 

(C)           no resolution in general meeting or written resolution of the shareholders of any member of the Target Group has been passed;

 

(D)           no change in the accounting reference period of any member of the Target Group has been made;

 

(E)            no Target Company has issued or agreed to issue any share or loan capital; and

 

(F)            no dividend or other distribution of profits or assets has been declared or made by any member of the Target Group.

 

6.              Inter-Company Loan Receivables

 

There are no Inter-Company Loan Receivables outstanding in respect of any member of the Target Group.

 

7.              Contracts and commitments

 

7.1           No member of the Target Group is a party to:

 

(A)           any agency, distributorship or management agreement other than any such agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business or any such agreements calling for payments by any party thereto in excess of €500,000.

 

(B)           any contract or arrangement which materially restricts its freedom to carry on its business in any part of the world in such manner as it may think fit;

 

73



 

(C)           any joint venture agreement or arrangement or any agreement or arrangement under which it participates with any other person in any business;

 

(D)           any contract or arrangement which relates to matters not within the ordinary business of that member or is not entirely on arms’ length terms;

 

(E)            any Material Contract, except any Material Contract contained in the relevant Data Room in accordance with paragraph 7.2 below.;

 

(F)            any Material Contract which can be terminated in the event of any change in the underlying ownership or control of that member; or

 

(G)           any telecom network or equipment supply contract that is material in the context of the Target Group as a whole other than any contract relating to customer premises equipment, handsets and any other devices used or required at customer premises.

 

7.2           A copy of each Material Contract is contained in the relevant Data Room.

 

7.3           The Seller is not aware of any breach of any Material Contract which would have a material adverse effect on the Target Group as a whole.

 

7.4           So far as the Seller is aware:

 

(A)           all of the Material Contracts to which a member of the Target Group is party are in full force and effect and the terms thereof have been complied with in all material respects by the relevant member of the Target Group; and

 

(B)           there are no grounds for rescission, avoidance or repudiation of any of the Material Contracts to which a member of the Target Group is party and no written notice of termination or of intention to terminate has been given or received in respect of any of them during the 12 months prior to the date of the Signing Protocol.

 

7.5           There is no material deficiency in the accuracy or completeness of the Target Group’s customer data which, either singly or in the aggregate, would be reasonably likely to materially affect the carrying on of the business of the Target Group.

 

7.6           Neither the Seller nor any member of the Target Group have received any complaints from any governmental entity, customer or former customer in the 12 months prior to the date of the Signing Protocol, in each case, which are or would reasonably be likely to be material to the Target Group as a whole.

 

8.              Powers of attorney

 

No member of the Target Group has given any power of attorney or other written authority which is still outstanding or effective to any person to enter into any contract or commitment on its behalf (other than to its directors, officers and employees to enter into routine trading contracts in the normal course of their duties).

 

74



 

9.              Insurances

 

9.1           The Target Group has in place, or benefits from, insurance which is reasonably prudent and customary in respect of the business operated by the Target Group as a whole. So far as the Seller is aware, all material insurance policies are in full force and effect and are not void or voidable, and no individual or related claims for amounts in excess of €100,000 are outstanding.

 

9.2           There are no circumstances which may nullify any insurance policy of any member of the Target Group or which may cause premiums or deductibles to be materially increased.

 

10.           Borrowings

 

10.1         Details of all Material Financing Facilities outstanding or available to a member of the Target Group are contained in the relevant Data Room.

 

10.2         Details of all security granted over any material assets of the Target Group in connection with any Financing Facilities are contained in the relevant Data Room.

 

10.3         No member of the Target Group owes any amount exceeding €10,000,000 under any Financing Facilities to any person outside the Retained Group, other than as set out in the relevant Data Room.

 

10.4         So far as the Seller is aware, no event which is an event of default under or any material breach of any of the terms of any Material Financing Facilities of the Target Group or would entitle any third party to call for repayment prior to normal maturity has occurred or been alleged.

 

10.5         So far as the Seller is aware, no Controlled Company has received any written notice in the 12 months prior to the date of the Signing Protocol to repay any Financing Facility of the Target Group which is repayable on demand in accordance with its terms.

 

11.           Insolvency

 

11.1         No member of the Target Group has either been (i) declared bankrupt ( failliet verklaard ) or (ii) granted a temporary or definitive moratorium of payments ( surséance van betaling ) or (iii) made subject to any insolvency or reorganisation proceedings or (iv) involved in negotiations with any one or more of its creditors or taken any other step with a view to the readjustment or rescheduling of all or part of its debts, nor has, as far as the Seller is aware, any third party applied for a declaration of bankruptcy or any such similar arrangement for any member of the Target Group under the laws of any applicable jurisdiction.

 

11.2         No member of the Target Group is insolvent or has stopped paying or is unable to pay its debts as they fall due.

 

75



 

12.           Licences

 

12.1         All licences (including those relating to telecommunications and radio frequency), consents, permits, authorisations and other permissions and approvals required pursuant to applicable laws and regulations for or in connection with the carrying on of the business being carried on by any member of the Target Group as at the date of the Signing Protocol and the absence of which would have a material adverse effect on the business of the relevant member of the Target Group and ignoring any change of control arising from this Agreement, are in full force and effect and true and accurate copies of the same that are in writing are contained in the relevant Data Room.

 

12.2         Each member of the Target Group carries out its business in all material respects in accordance with the terms of the licences, consents and other permissions and approvals described in paragraph 12.1 above, including with respect to the preparation of regulatory accounts where required. So far as the Seller is aware, all sums due from any member of the Target Group under the licences, consents, permissions and approvals described in paragraph 12.1 above have been paid.

 

12.3         No written notice has been received by any member of the Target Group during the 24 months prior to the date of the Signing Protocol that any such licence, consent, permission or approval described in paragraph 12.1 above is likely to be terminated, revoked, suspended or modified.

 

12.4         So far as the Seller is aware, no member of the Target Group has, in the 24 months prior to the date of the Signing Protocol, committed a material breach of any of the licences, consents, permissions or approvals described in paragraph 12.1 above which is likely to lead to the termination, revocation, suspension or modification of such licence, consent, permission or approval.

 

12.5         No written notice has been received in respect of any investigation, inquiry or proceeding initiated by any regulatory or governmental authority specifically and directly with respect to any of the licences, consents, permissions or approvals described in paragraph 12.1 above which is likely to lead to the termination, revocation, suspension or modification of such licence, consent, permission or approval. So far as the Seller is aware, there are no circumstances that are likely to lead to any investigation, inquiry or proceeding initiated by any regulatory or governmental authority specifically and directly with respect to any of the licences, consents, permissions or approvals described in paragraph 12.1 .

 

13.           Litigation

 

13.1         No member of the Target Group is engaged in any litigation, arbitration or other dispute resolution process, or administrative or criminal proceedings which are currently in progress (or, to the knowledge of the Seller, threatened), whether as claimant, defendant or otherwise which is material in the context of the business of the Target Group taken as a whole, with respect to any such matters other than in respect of the collection of debts in the ordinary course of business.

 

76



 

13.2         So far as the Seller is aware, no material litigation, arbitration or other dispute resolution process, or administrative or criminal proceedings by or against any member of the Target Group is pending or threatened.

 

13.3         No member of the Target Group has received written notice during the 12 months prior to the Signing Protocol of any proposed or pending investigation or inquiry by any regulatory or governmental authority in respect of the business of that member of the Target Group that is likely to be material in the context of that Target Group as a whole.

 

14.           Data protection

 

14.1         Each member of the Target Group complies in all material respects with all applicable data protection laws, rules and regulations including but not limited to the Personal Data Protection Act ( Wet bescherming persoonsgegevens ) and the Telecommunications Act ( Telecommunicatiewet ).

 

14.2         So far as the Seller is aware:

 

(A)           other than any investigation by the Dutch Data Protection Authority ( Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens ) that has been concluded, finalised or otherwise terminated prior to the date of the Signing Protocol, no member of the Target Group has received a notice from the Dutch Data Protection Authority ( Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens ) alleging breach by it of application data protection law and/or a request for any information;

 

(B)           no individual has been awarded compensation from any member of the Target Group under applicable data protection law;

 

(C)           no order has been made against any member of the Target Group for the rectification, blocking, erasure or destruction of any data under applicable data protection law; and

 

(D)           no warrant has been issued under applicable data protection law authorising the Dutch Data Protection Authority ( Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens ) to enter any of the premises of any member of the Target Group.

 

15.           Competition

 

15.1         So far as the Seller is aware, no member of the Target Group is or has in the five years before the date of the Signing Protocol a party to or is concerned with any agreement, or is conducting (or has conducted) itself in a manner which:

 

(A)           infringes Article 101 or 102 of the Treaty on the functioning of the European Union; or

 

(B)           infringes anti-trust legislation in The Netherlands; or

 

(C)           is unenforceable or void (whether in whole or in part) or renders any other member of the Target Group liable to civil, criminal or administrative

 

77



 

proceedings by virtue of any antitrust or similar legislation or any undertakings given or orders made under such legislation in The Netherlands.

 

15.2         So far as the Seller is aware, no member of the Target Group has given an undertaking to, or is subject to any order of or investigation by, or has received any request for information from the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (or any of its predecessors) or the European Commission under Dutch or EC competition legislation where such undertaking, order, investigation or request for information is likely to cause a material loss or liability to the Company.

 

16.           Ownership and adequacy of assets

 

16.1         So far as the Seller is aware, each of the material assets (other than Property and assets which are subject to an indefeasible right of use) included in the Accounts or acquired by any member of the Target Group since the Accounts Date (other than current assets sold, realised or applied in the normal course of trading) is owned both legally and beneficially by the relevant member of the Target Group and each of those assets capable of possession is in the possession of the relevant member of the Target Group (save where in the possession of a third party in the normal course of business).

 

16.2         Except (in the case of the Liberty Global Target Group) pursuant to the Financing Facilities of Liberty Global and the Liberty Global Target Group, so far as the Seller is aware, no option, right to acquire, mortgage, charge, pledge, lien (other than a lien arising by operation of law in the ordinary course of trading) or other form of security or encumbrance or equity on, over or affecting the whole or any part of the undertaking or material assets of any member of the Target Group (including any investment in any other member of the Target Group) is outstanding and there is no agreement or commitment to give or create any and no claim has been made by any person to be entitled to any.

 

16.3         The telecommunication, cable and signal distribution networks and systems of the Target Group (the “Network” ) which are operated for the purposes of the business of the Target Group and any necessary associated software (owned by or licensed to any member of the Target Group or provider of the Network) substantially perform the functions which they are intended to perform in the manner in which they are presently being conducted.

 

16.4         The Network has been materially designed, planned, constructed, implemented, licensed and maintained in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. The Network is in proper operating condition (subject to normal wear and tear) and is fit in all material respects for the purpose for which it is intended.

 

16.5         The Network has not suffered any material service degradations or breakdowns during the past 12 months.

 

16.6         The Target Group owns, or has all rights necessary to use, the Network. So far as the Seller is aware, (i) there are no disputes or challenges to the title and rights of the Target Group in relation to its ownership or operation of any material part of the Network, and (ii) the Target Group is using the Network components pursuant to a valid ownership or usage title.

 

78



 

16.7         The Network has been operated in all material respects with the terms of all applicable agreements for the lease of the Network to the Target Group (the “ Network Lease Agreements ”) and the entry into or performance of the Share Purchase Documents shall not cause a breach or termination of any material Network Lease Agreement.

 

17.           Intellectual Property and Information Technology

 

17.1         All renewal fees due as at the date of the Signing Protocol in respect of the registered Intellectual Property owned by any member of the Target Group have been paid.

 

17.2         So far as the Seller is aware, the Target Group either owns or has a licence to use all material Intellectual Property and material information technology, in each case used to carry on the business conducted by the Target Group in the materially the same manner as currently carried on.

 

17.3         No member of the Target Group nor, so far as the Seller is aware, any other party is in material breach of any of the licences or agreements described in paragraph 17.2 .

 

17.4         So far as the Seller is aware (a) no third party is infringing or making unauthorised use of, or has in the past 12 months infringed or made unauthorised use of, any Intellectual Property or rights in Business Information owned by any member of the Target Group and (b) the activities of the Target Group do not infringe or make unauthorised use of, or have in the past 12 months infringed or made unauthorised use of, any Intellectual Property or rights in Business Information owned by any third party.

 

17.5         So far as the Seller is aware, and save in the ordinary course of business or to its employees, no member of the Target Group has disclosed any confidential Business Information to any third party other than under an obligation of confidentiality.

 

17.6         So far as the Seller is aware, there has been no material disruption to the commercial activities of or adverse effect on the business of the Target Group (taken as a whole) in the 12 months prior to the date of the Signing Protocol which has been caused only by any failure, breakdown, security breach, malfunction or data loss of, or other unauthorised access to, any Information Technology used by the Target Group.

 

17.7         There is no material dispute or proceeding regarding any Information Technology used in the Target Company’s business and, as far as seller is aware, there is no fact, circumstance or matter which is likely to give rise to any such dispute.

 

17.8         Each member of the Target Group has adequate disaster recovery plans and security arrangements in place and adequate back-up procedures have been implemented and are complied with. The execution of disaster recovery plans and security arrangements have been adequately tested and the relevant employees and third parties have been adequately informed and, where relevant, trained in the execution thereof.

 

18.           Property

 

18.1         The Relevant Properties constitute all the office premises and switch sites owned, leased, used or occupied by any member of the Target Group.

 

79



 

18.2                         In relation to each Relevant Property, the Property Owner is legally and beneficially entitled to the Relevant Property and is in physical possession and actual occupation of the whole of the Relevant Property for the purpose of the business of the Target Group.

 

18.3                         No Relevant Property is subject to (i) any mortgage or charge (legal or equitable, fixed or floating) or agreements for sale, estate contracts, options, rights of pre-emption, first refusal or other encumbrances (except, in the case of Liberty Global, for security granted pursuant to the Financing Facilities of Liberty Global and the Liberty Global Target Group); or (ii) any rights of use which materially hinder the relevant business of the Target Group in the ordinary course, and no member of the Target Group has entered into any agreement to acquire or dispose of any land or premises or any estate or interest therein which has not completed.

 

18.4                         As far as seller is aware, each Relevant Property has the benefit of such rights and easements as are necessary for the continued use of the Relevant Property for its present purpose.

 

18.5                         So far as the Seller is aware, none of the Relevant Properties or any part thereof is affected to any material extent by any outstanding notice, dispute or complaint. The current use of each Relevant Property is a lawful use for planning or zoning purposes.

 

18.6                         So far as the Seller is aware, in relation to each Relevant Property, there is no subsisting material breach and no non-observance of any material terms contained in any relevant lease, in each case on the part of the Property Owner.

 

19.           The environment, health and safety

 

19.1                         So far as the Seller is aware, in the two years prior to the date of the Signing Protocol, all material environmental, health and safety permits have been obtained and have been complied with in all material respects.

 

19.2                         In the two years prior to the date of the Signing Protocol, no member of the Target Group has received any written notice from any relevant authority under applicable law that such member of the Target Group has any material liability under applicable law relating to environmental, health and safety matters arising or existing as at or prior to the date of the Signing Protocol.

 

20.           Employment

 

20.1                         Copies of the service agreements or contracts of employment (including any side letters and amendments) and copies of any bonus or incentive agreements for each member of the general management team of the Target Group are set out in the relevant Data Room.

 

20.2                         There are no terms or conditions of employment (whether contractual or not) for any employee of the Target Group which are in any way linked to or dependant on the transaction contemplated by this Agreement.

 

80



 

20.3                         Since the Accounts Date, no material change has been made to the emoluments or other terms of engagement of the employees of the Target Group except for increases in emoluments made in accordance with normal Target Group industry practice.

 

20.4                         So far as the Seller is aware, there are no material claims existing or threatened in relation to any member of the Target Group by or in respect of any employee or former employee in respect of their employment.

 

20.5                         Details of any trade union, works council or other body representing the employees of any member of the Target Group are set out the relevant Data Room, together with particulars of any agreement concluded by or in respect of any member of the Target Group for collective bargaining.

 

20.6                         No member of the Target Group is bound by any collective labour agreement, other than as set out in the relevant Data Room.

 

20.7                         There have been no material labour disputes between any Target Group Company and any trade union, works council or other representative body in relation to its employees and no industrial action has been taken in the last three years against any member of the Target Group in relation to its employees.

 

20.8                         There is no redundancy process currently proposed or ongoing which affects any employee of the Target Group and no redundancy process has been undertaken by the Target Group within the last twelve months.

 

20.9                         So far as the Seller is aware, each member of the Target Group has complied in all material respects with all applicable contracts of employment, policies, benefit or bonus schemes and all applicable laws, codes of conduct, collective agreements, orders, declarations and awards relating to its employees and former employees.

 

20.10                  Each member of the Target Group has at all times in all material respects complied with the labour laws applicable to it, including but not limited to the Working Conditions Act ( Arbeidsomstandighedenwet ), the Dutch Works Council Act ( Wet op de ondernemingsraden ) and the European Works Councils Act ( Wet op de Europese ondernemingsraden ) and any implementing regulations. There are no agreements with any works council or other representative body of employees or with any of the Employees with respect to their collective representation.

 

20.11                  No member of the Target Group is bound by any workforce agreement, dismissal procedures agreement, social plan, trade union membership agreement, or any other constitution of or agreement with a trade union or works council or other body representing the employees of any member of the Target Group, including any works council, other than as set out in the relevant Data Room.

 

20.12                  No Senior Employee or director of a member of the Target Group has given or has been given notice of termination of his employment, no employee rescission proceedings have been started in respect of any such Senior Employee or director, no employment agreement has been rescinded ( ontbonden ) and no such Senior Employee or director has indicated that he will leave the Target Group within three months after the date of the Signing Protocol.

 

81



 

20.13                  No member of the Target Group has made any loan or advance to any employee or former or prospective employee of any member of the Target Group, which is outstanding.

 

21.           Pensions

 

21.1                         Other than the Pension Schemes, there is no obligation, agreement or arrangement (whether funded or unfunded) which any member of the Target Group contributes to or has contributed to or may become liable to contribute to or has become or may become liable to satisfy under which benefits are payable on retirement (including pension insurance or excess ( excedent ) insurance) or on death (whether accidental or not) or disability, for or in respect of any present or former employee, director or other officer, or any spouse, child, assign or dependant thereof, of any member of the Target Group or of any predecessor in business of any member of the Target Group.

 

21.2                         Save for obligations in respect of the Pension Schemes, none of the members of the Target Group has obligations in respect of any actual or proposed pension, pre-pension or early retirement, death or disability arrangements committed to any employee or former employee or group of employees or former employees, or their spouses, children, assigns or dependants, of any of the members of the Target Group, and there are no further obligations for any member of the Target Group arising from any previous pension schemes which applied to any employees or former employees, or their spouses, children, assigns or dependants, of a member of the Target Group (together “ Previous Pension Schemes ”).

 

21.3                         Copies of all documents relevant to the Pension Schemes have been fairly disclosed in the relevant Data Room. These documents contain full and accurate particulars of all the benefits provided by and the terms of the relevant Pension Schemes. The Pension Schemes and the Previous Pension Scheme are recognised arrangements for the purposes of the tax regime under which they operate and, so far as the Seller is aware, there is no reason why such recognition might be withdrawn or might cease to apply.

 

21.4                         All employees and former employees of each member of the Target group have participated or participate (as applicable) in the relevant Pension Scheme or Previous Pension Scheme on terms fully consistent with the documents to the Pension Scheme or Previous Pension Scheme.

 

21.5                         No member of the Target Group has any liability to make any material payment to any Pension Scheme or Previous Pension Scheme or any material insurance arrangement held in relation to any Pension Scheme or Previous Pension Scheme which is due, but remains unpaid. All contributions and other payments due under each Pension Scheme and Previous Pension Scheme up to Completion have been fully paid or provided for in the accounts of the relevant member of the Target Group.

 

21.6                         So far as the Seller is aware, each member of the Target Group has, in relation to the Pension Scheme or Previous Pension Scheme, at all times complied in all material respects with the provisions of the Pension Scheme or Previous Pension Scheme documentation and all applicable laws.

 

82



 

21.7                         So far as the Seller is aware, neither any of the Pension Schemes, nor any of the Previous Pension Schemes, nor any member of the Target Group is party to any litigation or similar proceedings which relate to the provision of any benefits under such Pension Scheme or Previous Pension Scheme, nor has any such litigation or similar proceedings been threatened.

 

21.8                         The employees and former employees of any member of the Target Group have legitimately agreed to any and all material changes to the Pension Schemes and/or Previous Pension Schemes.

 

22.           Compliance with Laws and Anti-Bribery

 

22.1                         So far as the Seller is aware, none of the Seller or any member of the Target Group or the Retained Group is in breach of any applicable law (including in relation to anti-bribery and corruption) where such breach is reasonably likely to be material to the Target Group.

 

22.2                         So far as the Seller is aware, with respect to its Target Group, none of the Seller or any member of the Target Group or the Retained Group (or any of their officers or employees) has received notice that any such person is or has been alleged to be in violation of (i) any Anti-Bribery Law or (ii) any sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or by the U.S. Department of State or equivalent measures of the Netherlands, European Union, or the United Nations.

 

23.           The Accounts and Tax

 

23.1         No member of the Target Group has any outstanding liability for:

 

(A)                                Tax in any part of the world assessable or payable by reference to profits, gains, income or distributions earned, received or paid or arising or deemed to arise on or at any time prior to the Accounts Date or in respect of any period starting before the Accounts Date; or

 

(B)                                purchase, value added, sales or other similar tax in any part of the world referable to transactions effected on or before the Accounts Date

 

that is not provided for or, as appropriate, disclosed in full in the Accounts.

 

23.2                         The amount of the provision for deferred Tax liabilities in respect of each member of the Target Group contained in the Accounts was, at the Accounts Date, adequate and fully in accordance with US GAAP, IFRS or accounting practices generally accepted in The Netherlands and commonly adopted by companies carrying on businesses similar to those carried on by that member of the Target Group.

 

23.3                         If all facts and circumstances which are now known to each member of the Target Group or any of the Sellers had been known at the time the Accounts were drawn up, the provision for deferred Tax liabilities that would be contained in the Accounts would be no greater than the provision which is so contained and the provision for deferred Tax assets that would be contained in the Accounts would be no less than the provision

 

83



 

which is so contained, provided that this warranty shall not apply to (i) any provision for deferred Tax assets recognised by Zesko B.V., Ziggo N.V. (now known as Ziggo Holding B.V.), LGE Holdco V B.V., LGE Holdco VI B.V. or LGE Holdco VII B.V.in respect of net operating losses; (ii) (to the extent not already covered by (i)) any other provision for deferred Tax assets in respect of net operating losses generated by those entities; or (iii) any valuation allowance relating to either (i) or (ii).

 

24.                                Tax events since the Accounts Date

 

Since the Accounts Date:

 

(A)                                no member of the Target Group has declared, made or paid any distribution of profits or retained earnings;

 

(B)                                no accounting period of any member of the Target Group has ended, other than Vodafone Systems B.V.as necessary to facilitate the alignment of its balance sheet date with that of Vodafone Libertel B.V.; and

 

(C)                                neither a member of the Target Group nor the Relevant Parent Company in relation to a member of the Target Group has paid or become liable to pay or acted (directly or through an agent or other representative) in such manner as to incur a liability (or potential liability) to pay any interest or penalty in connection with any Tax or otherwise paid any Tax after its due date for payment or become liable to pay any Tax the due date for payment of which has passed or become prospectively liable to pay any Tax the due date for payment of which will arise in the 30 days after the date of the Signing Protocol.

 

25.           Tax Returns, disputes, records and claims, etc.

 

25.1                         Each member of the Target Group and the Relevant Parent Company has made or caused to be made all proper Tax Returns required to be made where the member of the Target Group or the Relevant Parent Company is responsible for the filing of the relevant Tax Returns, or otherwise has provided all necessary information to the company responsible for the filing of the relevant Tax Returns in a timely manner to enable the Tax Returns to be made, and has supplied or caused to be supplied all information required to be supplied, to any Tax Authority.

 

25.2                         There is no dispute or disagreement outstanding nor is any contemplated at the date of the Signing Protocol with any Tax Authority regarding liability or potential liability to any Tax (including in each case penalties or interest) recoverable from any member of the Target Group or the Relevant Parent Company in relation to a member of the Target Group or regarding the availability of any relief from Tax to any member of the Target Group or the Relevant Parent Company in relation to a member of the Target Group and there are no circumstances which make it likely that any such dispute or disagreement will commence.

 

25.3                         One or more members of the Target Group has (i) sufficient records relating to past events, including any elections made, to calculate the taxable profit or loss which would arise on any disposal or on the realisation of any asset owned at the Accounts Date by any member of the Target Group or acquired by any such member since that date but

 

84



 

before Completion and (ii) all other records which any member of the Target Group is required by law to keep in relation to Tax.

 

25.4                         Each member of the Target Group has duly submitted all claims, elections and disclaimers or withdrawals of claims which have been assumed to have been made for the purposes of the Accounts.

 

25.5                         The amount of Tax chargeable on any member of the Target Group or the Relevant Parent Company in relation to a member of the Target Group during any accounting period ended on or within five years before the Accounts Date has not, to any material extent, depended on any concession, agreement or other formal or informal arrangement (including advance tax rulings, advance pricing agreements and horizontal monitoring) with any Tax Authority, other than those arrangements details of which are set out in the relevant Data Room.

 

26.           Tax Status

 

26.1                         No member of the Target Group or the Relevant Parent Company in relation to a member of the Target Group benefits from any preferential Tax regime, granted by law or by special authorisation issued by any Tax Authority or by any other authority (with the exception of the Dutch Fiscal Unity regime as defined in Article 15 of the Dutch Corporate Income Tax Act 1969 ( Wet op de vennootschapsbelasting 1969 ) and in Article 11 of the Directive of the Council of the European Union on the common system of value added tax (2006/112/EC) and the Dutch innovation box of Article 12b of the Dutch Corporate Income Tax Act 1969 ( Wet op de vennootschapsbelasting 1969 )) which could in whole or in part be affected by the signature of this Agreement.

 

26.2                         All shareholdings held by each member of the Target Group qualify and have always qualified for exempt treatment in respect of dividend income and capital gains for Dutch corporate income tax purposes under the participation exemption regime of Article 13 of the Dutch Corporate Income Tax Act 1969 ( Wet op de vennootschapsbelasting 1969 ).

 

26.3                         No member of the Target Group has any receivable on a related entity (within the meaning of Article 10a of the Dutch Corporate Income Tax Act 1969 ( Wet op de vennootschapsbelasting 1969) ) that has been depreciated below nominal value.

 

26.4                         Neither in the current financial year nor in the preceding five (5) financial years have the assets of any member of the Target Group been written down other than in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as applicable for Dutch Tax purposes ( goed koopmansgebruik ).

 

27.           Value added tax

 

27.1                         Each member of the Target Group and the Relevant Parent Company in relation to a member of the Target Group has complied with any obligations to register for the purpose of VAT and has complied in all material respects with its obligations under any Tax legislation relating to VAT.

 

85



 

27.2                         Full, complete, correct and up-to-date records, invoices and other documents appropriate or required for the purposes of any Tax legislation relating to VAT have been made, given, obtained and kept.

 

27.3                         Each member of the Target Group performs VAT relevant transactions and therefore qualifies as VAT taxable person.

 

27.4                         No member of the Target Group has made any non-incidental exempt supplies in its current or preceding VAT periods in the past five years.

 

27.5                         Complete records are maintained to fully support any claim made by any member of the Target Group for bad debt relief under any Tax legislation relating to VAT in the past five years.

 

28.           Deductions and withholdings

 

Each member of the Target Group has made all deductions in respect, or on account, of any Tax from any payments made by it which it is obliged or entitled to make and has accounted in full to the appropriate authority for all amounts so deducted.

 

29.           Residence

 

29.1                         The country which is given in Part A of Attachment 1 (Basic information about the Company) or Part B of Attachment 1 (Basic Information about the Subsidiaries) as the tax residence of the relevant member of the Target Group is the only country whose Tax Authorities seek to charge Tax on the worldwide profits or gains of that member of the Target Group and no member of the Target Group has paid Tax in the past five years on income profits or gains to any Tax Authority in any other country except that mentioned in Part A of Attachment 1 (Basic information about the Company) or Part B of Attachment 1 (Basic Information about the Subsidiaries).

 

29.2                         Any payroll tax liabilities arising in connection with any equity-based payments made or accrued by any member of the Target Group have been fully reported in the appropriate payroll tax returns and all mandatory withholdings in respect of such payments or accruals were paid to the relevant Tax Authority before the last date upon which such amounts could be paid without incurring a liability to interest or a charge or penalty in respect of such amounts.

 

30.           Fiscal Unity

 

30.1                         The relevant Data Room contains a copy of every (a) Fiscal Unity decree issued by the relevant Tax Authority confirming that a member of the Target Group has entered into to a Fiscal Unity with the Relevant Parent Company, and (b) Tax sharing arrangement (including without limitation any arrangement under which Tax losses or Tax reliefs are surrendered or agreed to be surrendered or claimed) in respect of the profits, gains or losses of that member of the Target Group with any company not being another member of the Target Group.

 

30.2                         Except as provided in the Accounts, no member of the Target Group is, nor will it be, under any obligation to make or have any entitlement to receive any payment in respect

 

86



 

of any period ending on or before the Accounts Date under the arrangements referred to in paragraph 30.1 above.

 

31.           Non-arm’s length transactions

 

So far as the Seller is aware, no member of the Group is a party to any transaction or arrangement which is not in accordance with the arm’s length principle as adopted in Article 9 of the OECD Model Convention.

 

Part B — Warranties applicable to Vodafone

 

1.              Adequacy of mast assets

 

The Target Group has the right to use each of the mast sites where the Network is located for the purposes for which it is currently used. In the past two years, no incident has occurred which has materially affected the integrity of the mast sites and their related infrastructure.

 

2.              Network and software

 

Save as would not have a material adverse effect, the members of the Vodafone Target Group have the right to occupy, use and access such of the Mast Sites as are necessary to operate the business of the Vodafone Target Group and use the Network in all material respects for the purposes for which it is currently used. So far as Vodafone is aware, no circumstances exist which materially compromise such rights to occupy, use and access the Mast Sites as necessary to operate the business of the Vodafone Target Companies (save as would not have a material adverse effect on the operation of the business of the Vodafone Target Group). No written notice has been received by any member of the Vodafone Target Group alleging that it (or any other party) is in breach of any obligations under covenants, conditions and agreements relating to the Mast Sites where the remedying of such breach would have a material adverse effect on the current operation of the business of the Vodafone Target Group. Furthermore, no single agreement pursuant to which the Target Group occupies and uses more than 450 Mast Sites is capable of termination for convenience by the landlord or licensor within 36 months of the date of the Signing Protocol, which would materially compromise the right of the members of the Vodafone Target Group to use the Mast Sites.

 

3.              Dormant companies

 

There are no companies in the Vodafone Target Group which are dormant for accounting purposes.

 

Part C - Warranties applicable to Liberty Global

 

1.              Tax Status

 

No member of the Liberty Global Target Group has material uncertain Tax positions (within the meaning of ASC 740-10).

 

87



 

2.              Fiscal Unity

 

In respect of the Liberty Global Transferred Group, the CIT Fiscal Unity headed by LGE HoldCo VI B.V. neither is, nor has been, part of a wider CIT Fiscal Unity and no request is, or will be, filed to establish a CIT Fiscal Unity with Liberty Global Holding B.V. or any other CIT Fiscal Unity, other than as envisaged and agreed between the parties, and in respect of the Vodafone Transferred Group, the CIT Fiscal Unity headed by Liberty Global Holding B.V. neither is, nor has been, part of a wider CIT Fiscal Unity and no request is, or will be, filed to establish a CIT Fiscal Unity with any other CIT Fiscal Unity. If, at the discretion of Liberty Global, step 2.1 of the Liberty Global pre-Completion Reorganisation will be effectuated and following this step a Fiscal Unity for Dutch corporate income tax purposes will be formed, Newco will not form part of this Fiscal Unity, but this Fiscal Unity will be headed by Liberty Global Target Company and include all of the subsidiaries referred to in step 2.1(C) of the Liberty Global pre-Completion Reorganisation (as well as Ziggo Services New B.V.at any point in time prior to Completion), but excluding any company included in the LGE Holdco VI BV Fiscal Unity at the date of the Signing Protocol. The Fiscal Unity headed by Liberty Global Target Company will, prior to Completion not form part of any larger Fiscal Unity for Dutch corporate income tax purposes.

 

3.              Network and software

 

Save as would not have a material adverse effect, the members of the Liberty Global Target Group have the right to use the Liberty Global Cable Network in all material respects for the purposes for which it is currently used. So far as Liberty Global is aware, no circumstances exist which materially compromise such rights to use the Liberty Global Cable Network (save as would not have a material adverse effect on the operation of the business of the Liberty Global Target Group). No written notice has been received by any member of the Liberty Global Target Group alleging that it (or any other party) is in breach of any obligations under covenants, conditions and agreements relating to the Liberty Global Cable Network where the remedying of such breach would have a material adverse effect on the current operation of the business of the Liberty Global Target Group. Furthermore, no single agreement pursuant to which the Target Group is granted rights to use the Liberty Global Cable Network is capable of termination for convenience by the grantor of those rights within 36 months of the date of the Signing Protocol, which would materially compromise the right of the members of the Liberty Global Target Group to use the Liberty Global Cable Network.

 

For these purposes, “ Liberty Global Cable Network ” means the assets comprising the physical infrastructure (including head ends and customer service access points and all network components connecting such head ends with customer service access points, including cables, indefeasible rights of use (“ IRUs ”) with respect to cables, IRUs with respect to capacity and rights of way for cable network) and the logical network (including dense wavelength division multiplexing, Ethernet equipment and all active supporting equipment such as repeaters, nodes, amplifiers, signal re-generators, generators, UPS and IT systems) owned, leased or otherwise used by a Liberty Global Target Company enabling the Liberty Global Target Group to carry on its business.

 

88



 

4.              Dormant companies

 

Torenspits B.V., Plinius Investments B.V., Breedband Breda B.V., TeleCai Den Haag and Ziggo Deelnemingen B.V. are the only members of the Liberty Global Target Group which are dormant for accounting purposes.

 

Part D — Warranties applicable to the JV Co Shares

 

1.                                       The Purchaser is a newly incorporated, validly existing company under the laws of the Netherlands.

 

2.                                       Liberty Global has full legal and beneficial right and title to the JV Co Shares and to all other shares in the share capital of the Purchaser.

 

3.                                       The JV Co Shares comprise 50 per cent. of the entire issued share capital of the Purchaser.

 

4.                                       There is no option, warrant, convertible or similar right, right to acquire or subscribe for, mortgage, charge, pledge, lien or other form of security or encumbrance or equity on, over or affecting any shares in the share capital of the Purchaser (including the JV Co Shares) and there is no agreement or commitment to give or create any and, so far as Liberty Global is aware, no claim has been made by any person to be entitled to any.

 

5.                                       The Purchaser has not incurred any liabilities or obligations (whether, in each case, contingent or otherwise) except any immaterial liabilities or obligations which were or are required to be incurred in respect of its incorporation and other than as set out in this Agreement.

 

6.                                       The Purchaser has not been engaged in any trading or taken any action other than directly for the purpose of entering into this Agreement and implementing the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

7.              The Purchaser is not in breach of any applicable law or judgment.

 

89



 

Schedule 4

(Limitations on the Sellers’ liability)

 

1.              Limitation on quantum and general

 

1.1                                No Seller shall be liable under any of the Warranties in respect of any individual claim (or series of related claims with respect to related facts or circumstances) where the liability agreed or determined in respect of any such claim does not exceed €10,000,000, but once the amount of any such claim against that Seller has exceeded such sum (subject always to sub-paragraph 1.3 ) that Seller shall be liable under the Warranties in respect of the full amount of such claim and not only the amount by which such sum is exceeded.

 

1.2                                No Seller shall be liable under any of the Tax Covenant in respect of any individual claim (or series of related claims with respect to related facts or circumstances) where the liability agreed or determined in respect of any such claim does not exceed €2,000,000, but once the amount of any such claim against that Seller has exceeded such sum, that Seller shall be liable under the Tax Covenant in respect of the full amount of such claim and not only the amount by which such sum is exceeded.

 

1.3                                No Seller shall be liable in respect of any claim or claims under any of the Warranties unless and until the aggregate amount of all such claims (disregarding any claims excluded by paragraph 1.1 above) against that Seller exceeds €100,000,000, but once the aggregate amount of all such claims against that Seller has exceeded such sum, that Seller shall be liable under the Warranties in respect of the full amount of all such claims and not only the amount by which such sum is exceeded.

 

1.4           The aggregate liability of:

 

(A)                                Vodafone, in respect of any claims under any of the Warranties, shall not exceed an amount equal to €750,000,000; and

 

(B)                                Liberty Global, in respect of any claims under any of the Warranties, shall not exceed an amount equal to €750,000,000.

 

1.5                                A Seller shall only be liable in respect of any claim if and to the extent that such claim is admitted by that Seller or finally determined by arbitration.

 

1.6                                No Seller shall be liable in respect of any claim or claims under any of the Warranties to the extent of the net present value of any Tax benefit arising to the Purchaser or the respective Target Group of the relevant Seller which is attributable to the matter giving rise to the claim. The timing and amount of the Tax benefit shall be determined by an independent firm of chartered accountants of international standing as the Sellers may agree or, failing agreement within five days, as appointed by the Chairman of the Netherlands Institute of Registered Accountants at the shared expense of the relevant Seller and the Purchaser.

 

1.7                                Each provision of this Schedule 4 shall be read and construed without prejudice to each of the other provisions of this Schedule 4 .

 

90



 

1.8                                As regards the Tax Covenant, the provisions of this Schedule 4 shall operate to limit the liability of a Seller in so far as any provision in this Schedule 4 is expressed to be applicable to any claim pursuant to the Tax Covenant and the provisions of the Tax Covenant shall further operate to limit the liability of the Sellers in respect of any claim thereunder or (to the extent stated therein) any claim under the Tax Warranties.

 

1.9                                The financial limitations contained in paragraphs 1.1, 1.3, and 1.4 above shall not apply in respect of any claim under the Fundamental Warranties.

 

2.              Time limits for bringing claims

 

2.1                                No claim shall be brought against a Seller in respect of any of the Warranties or under the Tax Covenant unless the Purchaser or the other Seller (as applicable) shall have given to such Seller written notice of such claim promptly and in any event:

 

(A)                                subject to sub-paragraph 2.1(B)  of this Schedule 4 , on or before the date falling 18 months after the Completion Date; or

 

(B)                                in respect of any claims under the Tax Warranties or the Tax Covenant, not later than the date falling three months after the expiry of the period specified by statute during which an assessment of that liability to Tax may be issued by the relevant Tax Authority or, if there is no such period, on or before the date falling three months after the sixth anniversary of the Completion Date.

 

3.              No liability for contingent or non-quantifiable claims

 

If any breach of the Warranties (other than the Tax Warranties) arises by reason of some liability of the relevant Seller’s Target Company, other relevant member of the Seller’s Retained Group or the Purchaser which, at the time such breach or claim is notified to the Seller, is contingent only or otherwise not capable of being quantified, then the Seller shall not be under any obligation to make any payment in respect of such breach or claim unless and until such liability ceases to be contingent or becomes capable of being quantified.

 

4.              Third party claims and conduct of litigation

 

4.1           Notification of potential claims

 

Without prejudice to the obligations of the Purchaser under paragraph 4.2 of this Schedule 4 , if the Purchaser or one of the Sellers (as the case may be) becomes aware of any fact, matter or circumstance that is reasonably likely to give rise to a claim against any Seller or one of the Sellers (as the case may be) under any Share Purchase Document for breach of any, the Purchaser or the Seller (as relevant) shall as soon as reasonably practicable give a notice in writing to that Seller (with a copy to the other Seller) of such facts, matters or circumstances as are then available regarding the potential claim. Failure to give notice within such period shall not affect the rights of the Purchaser or the Seller (as the case may be) to make a relevant claim under any Share Purchase Document for breach of any Warranty, except that the failure shall be taken into account in determining the liability of the other Seller for such claim to the extent

 

91



 

that the notifying Seller establishes that the amount of it is increased, or is not reduced, as a result of such failure.

 

4.2           Notification of claims under this Agreement

 

Notices of claims under this Agreement for breach of any Warranty shall be given by the Purchaser to the relevant Seller (with copy to the other Seller) or by one Seller to the other Seller (as the case may be) within the time limits specified in paragraph 2 of this Schedule 4 and shall specify information (giving reasonable detail) in relation to the basis of the claim and setting out the Purchaser’s or Seller’s (as the case may be) estimate of the amount of losses which are, or are to be, the subject of the claim.

 

4.3           Commencement of Proceedings

 

Any claim notified pursuant to paragraph 4.2 of this Schedule 4 shall (if it has not been previously satisfied, settled or withdrawn) be deemed to be irrevocably withdrawn 9 months after the relevant time limit set out in paragraph 2 of this Schedule 4 unless, at the relevant time, legal proceedings in respect of the relevant claim have been commenced by being both issued and served except:

 

(A)                                where the claim relates to a contingent liability, in which case it shall be deemed to have been withdrawn unless legal proceedings in respect of it have been commenced by being both issued and served with 9 months of it having become an actual liability; or

 

(B)                                where the claim is a claim for breach of any Warranty of which notice is given for the purposes of paragraph 4.2 of this Schedule 4 at a time when the amount set out in paragraph 1.1 of this Schedule 4 has not been exceeded, in which case it shall be deemed to have been withdrawn unless legal proceedings in respect of it have been commenced by being both issued and served within 9 months of the date of any subsequent notification to that Seller pursuant to paragraph 4.2 of this Schedule 4 of one or more claims which result(s) in the total amount claimed in all claims notified to that Seller pursuant to paragraph 4.2 of this Schedule 4 exceeding the amount set out in paragraph 1.1 of this Schedule 4 for the first time.

 

4.4           Conduct of Third Party Claims

 

If the matter or circumstance that is reasonably likely to give rise to a claim against a Seller under any Share Purchase Document (excluding the Tax Covenant) for breach of any Warranty (other than a Tax Warranty) is a result of or in connection with a claim by a third party (a “ Third Party Claim ”) then:

 

(A)                                the Purchaser or other Seller shall as soon as reasonably practicable give written notice thereof to that relevant Seller (with copy to the other Seller);

 

(B)                                the Sellers shall procure that the Purchaser shall provide such reasonable information and access during Working Hours to personnel, premises, books, records and documents (including in electronic form but excluding access to legally privileged information or which would result in a breach of applicable

 

92



 

law) to the relevant Seller or other member of the relevant Seller’s Retained Group and their professional advisors as the relevant Seller may reasonably request;

 

(C)                                subject to the relevant Seller indemnifying and holding harmless the Purchaser (or, as the case may be, the other Seller) against all reasonable costs and expenses (including legal and professional costs and expenses) that may be suffered or incurred thereby, the relevant Seller shall be entitled to take the sole conduct of such claims, actions or demands as the relevant Seller may deem appropriate in the name of the Purchaser, provided that the relevant Seller has consulted with the Purchaser prior to doing so, and in that connection the shall give or cause to be given to the relevant Seller all such assistance as it may reasonably require in avoiding, disputing, resisting, settling, compromising, defending or appealing any such claim, action or demand and shall instruct such solicitors or other professional advisers as that the relevant Seller or such other member of the relevant Seller’s Retained Group may nominate to act on behalf of the Purchaser, as appropriate, but to act in accordance with the instructions of the relevant Seller or other member of the relevant Seller’s Retained Group;

 

(D)                                the Purchaser shall make no admission of liability, agreement, settlement or compromise with any third party in relation to any such claim, action or demand or adjudication without the prior written consent of the relevant Seller such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed;

 

(E)                                 the relevant Seller shall be entitled at any stage and at its absolute discretion to settle any such third party assessment or claim and shall be under no obligation to notify or consult the Purchaser prior to doing so provided such settlement is without admission of any wrongdoing or liability and without prejudice to the limitations in this Schedule 4 ; and

 

(F)                                  any failure by the Purchaser to comply with the provisions of this paragraph 4.4 shall not prevent any claim by the Purchaser or extinguish any liability of the relevant Seller under the Warranty in question but may be taken into account in calculating any such liability of the relevant Seller to the extent that the relevant Seller establishes that such liability is increased or is not reduced by such failure.

 

5.              Mitigation

 

Nothing in this Agreement restricts or limits the general obligation at law of each of the Purchaser and each Target Company to mitigate any loss or damage which it may suffer or incur as a consequence of any breach of Warranty.

 

6.              Recovery from Insurers and other Third Parties

 

6.1                                If, in respect of any matter which would give rise to a claim under the Warranties, any member of the Purchaser’s Group or relevant Seller’s Retained Group (as the case may be) is or may be entitled to claim under any policy of insurance in respect of any matter or event that is likely to give rise to a claim, then no such matter shall be the subject of a

 

93



 

claim under the Warranties unless and until the appropriate member of the Purchaser’s Group or relevant Seller’s Retained Group (as the case may be) shall have made a claim against its insurers and used reasonable endeavours to pursue such claim. If the Purchaser or any member of the Purchaser’s Group shall recover any amount from such insurance claim, the amount of the claim against the Seller shall be reduced by the amount so recovered (less (i) all reasonable costs of recovery, (ii) any Tax thereon, and (iii) any directly related increase in the future premiums payable for such insurance).

 

6.2                                Where any member of the Purchaser’s Group or relevant Seller’s Retained Group (as the case may be) is at any time entitled to recover from a third party (other than an insurer under an insurance policy referred to under paragraph 6.1 ) any sum in respect of any matter giving rise to a claim under the Warranties, the Purchaser or Seller shall, and shall procure that the relevant member of its Group or Retained Group (as the case may be) shall, take reasonable steps to enforce such recovery. If any member of the Purchaser’s Group or relevant Seller’s Retained Group (as the case may be) shall recover any amount from such other person, the amount of the claim against the relevant Seller shall be reduced by the amount so recovered (less (i) all reasonable costs of recovery and (ii) any Tax thereon).

 

6.3                                If a Seller has paid an amount in discharge of any claim against that Seller under this Agreement for breach of any Warranty and subsequently any member of the Purchaser’s Group or relevant Seller’s Retained Group (as the case may be) recovers (whether by payment, discount, credit, relief, insurance or otherwise) from a third party a sum which indemnifies and holds harmless or compensates any member of the Purchaser’s Group or relevant Seller’s Retained Group (as the case may be) (in whole or in part) in respect of the loss or liability which is the subject matter of the claim, the Purchaser or the other Seller (as the case may be) shall pay to the relevant Seller as soon as practicable after receipt an amount equal to (i) the sum recovered from the third party less any costs and expenses incurred in obtaining such recovery and less any Tax payable on any amounts recovered (or Tax that would have been payable on such amounts but for the availability of any Tax relief), or if less (ii) the amount previously paid by such Seller to the Purchaser or other Seller.

 

7.              Matters provided for or taken into account in adjustments

 

7.1           No matter shall be the subject of a claim under the Warranties (other than the Tax Warranties) to the extent that:

 

(A)                                express allowance, provision or reserve in respect of such matter shall have been made in the Accounts; or

 

(B)                                a Completion Statement or any consequent adjustment to the Initial Vodafone Equalisation Consideration expressly provides for such matter.

 

8.              Purchaser’s and other Seller’s knowledge

 

8.1                                The knowledge or awareness of the Purchaser or any of its officers, employees, advisers or agents in respect of any fact, matter or circumstance that could form the basis of a claim under the Warranties shall not preclude the Purchaser from making a claim against Liberty Global for breach of the Warranties.

 

94



 

8.2                                A Seller shall not be liable under the Warranties in relation to any matter where (a) the fact, matter or circumstance underlying such breach of Warranty; and (b) the existence of the breach of such Warranty are within the actual knowledge of the other Seller on or before the date of the Signing Protocol. For these purposes the awareness of each Seller shall be limited to the actual knowledge of the individuals listed in sub-clause 10.6 .

 

9.              Claims only to be brought under relevant Warranties.

 

9.1                                The Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that the only Warranties given in relation to Taxation or any related claims, liabilities or other matters (“ Tax Matters ”) are the Tax Warranties and no other Warranty is given in relation to Tax Matters.

 

95



 

Schedule 5

(Conduct of business before Completion)

 

The acts and matters for the purposes of sub-clause 5.1 are as follows:

 

(A)                                dispose of any material part of its business and undertaking other than a disposal of any business asset where its value is less than €20,000,000;

 

(B)                                acquire shares or (other than in the ordinary course) assets of or in any company or dispose of shares or (other than in the ordinary course) assets of or in any Subsidiary (in each case as applicable) where the value of the relevant shares or assets exceeds €20,000,000;

 

(C)                                participate equity in any partnership or joint venture;

 

(D)                                enter into, materially amend or terminate any Material Contract with any person or enter into any agreement on materially unusual, abnormal or onerous terms, other than amendments in the ordinary course made as part of the management of contracts for the supply and maintenance of equipment and the Target Group’s Network and IT contracts;

 

(E)                                 make any capital commitment which, together with all other capital commitments entered into between the date of the Signing Protocol and Completion, exceeds the sum of €25,000,000 (in the case of Vodafone) or €50,000,000 (in the case of Liberty Global) in aggregate;

 

(F)                                  offer to engage any new employee or consultant at an annual salary or fee per employee or consultant (on the basis of full time employment or consultancy) in excess of €250,000 per annum, except to replace any outgoing employee with an incoming employee on substantially the same terms of employment or (in the case of Liberty Global) in connection with the change of employer or re- employment of an employee of either the UPC and Ziggo groups as part of the post-merger integration of those groups;

 

(G)                                dismiss any Senior Employee, other than for cause or unless not to do so would, in the reasonable opinion of the Seller, damage the business of the Target Group;

 

(H)                               make any material amendment, including increasing emoluments, to the terms of employment of any category of employees, save for (i) increases in emoluments made in accordance with the normal practice of the Retained Group or (ii) (in the case of Liberty Global) in connection with the harmonisation of employment terms between the UPC and Ziggo groups referred to in the Liberty Global Disclosure Letter;

 

(I)                                    alter, amend or vary (i) the accounting policies, (ii) the methods, policies, principles or practices of Tax accounting or (iii) the methods of reporting or claiming income, losses or deductions for Tax purposes, of any member of the Target Group;

 

96



 

(J)                                    change its residence for Tax purposes or create any permanent establishment or other place of business in any other jurisdiction;

 

(K)                                create, allot or issue or grant any option over or other right to subscribe or purchase, or redeem, buy back or reduce, any share capital or securities convertible into share capital (other than to another member of the Target Group);

 

(L)                                 enter into, materially amend or terminate any transaction with any member of the Retained Group other than on arm’s length terms or in the ordinary course of business;

 

(M)                             do or omit to do anything which would be reasonably likely to result in the termination, revocation, suspension, modification or non-renewal of any material licence or consent held by any member of the Target Group and issued or granted by a regulatory or governmental body which is responsible for the authorisation, regulation, licensing and/or supervision of any member of the Target Group;

 

(N)                                grant any guarantee or indemnity for the obligations of any person (other than any member of the Target Group);

 

(O)                                (i) refinance or materially amend the terms of any Financing Facilities relating to bonds in place at the date of the Signing Protocol, (ii) issue any new bonds, (iii) issue any financial indebtedness to any bank or financial institution at a price which is above nominal/par value, or (iv) factor any handset financing receivables;

 

(P)                                  make any loan (other than the granting of trade credit in the ordinary course of business in accordance with the relevant Target Group member’s normal practice) to any person (other than between members of the Target Group or to members of the relevant Seller’s Retained Group);

 

(Q)                                pass any shareholders resolution (except for resolutions passed in respect of ordinary business at its annual general meeting) or alter in any material respect its articles of association or equivalent constitutional documents;

 

(R)                                commence or settle any litigation or arbitration proceedings, where the amount claimed is likely to exceed €20,000,000 other than debt collection in the ordinary course of business;

 

(S)                                  enter into any material lease of any Relevant Property or accept the surrender of any material lease to which a Relevant Property is subject or enter into any material variation of the rent or other terms of any lease under which a Relevant Property is held or any material lease to which a Relevant Property is subject;

 

(T)                                 dispose of or grant any option, material rights over or other material restriction in respect of any Relevant Property;

 

(U)                                enter into any agreement (conditional or otherwise) to do any of the foregoing.

 

97



 

Schedule 6

(Intentionally left blank)

 

98



 

Schedule 7

(Liberty Global Pre-Completion Reorganisation)

 

1.                                       Unless otherwise agreed by each Seller in writing and identified as being for the purposes of this Schedule 7 (such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), the Liberty Global Pre-Completion Reorganisation will comprise the following steps:

 

1.1                                The Purchaser may, at Liberty Global’s sole discretion, elect to be treated for US Tax purposes as a disregarded entity;

 

1.2                                The obligations of Ziggo Group Holding B.V. under the amended and restated master loan agreement with Liberty Global Europe Holding B.V. dated 13 January 2016 will be settled in full by repayment or capitalisation;

 

1.3                                The receivable owed by UPC Broadband Holding B.V. to UPC Western Europe Holding B.V. under the loan agreement dated 22 April 2015 will be either: (i) transferred out of UPC Western Europe Holding B.V. by way of distribution in specie to UPC Broadband Holding B.V. or (ii) settled in full out of the proceeds of a distribution by UPC Western Europe Holding B.V. to UPC Broadband Holding B.V. (which settlement may be effected by way of set-off).

 

1.4                                The receivables owed to Liberty Global Content Netherlands B.V., and the payables owed by Liberty Global Content Netherlands B.V., in each case by or to members of the Liberty Global Retained Group (and excluding any such receivables/payables as are Inter-Company Trading Balances) will be settled in full by repayment, set-off or capitalisation.

 

1.5                                UPC Broadband Holding B.V. will transfer to the Liberty Global Target Company (or a member of the Liberty Global Target Group) all of the issued share capital of UPC Western Europe Holding B.V. for an amount (in debt left outstanding which shall be capitalised pursuant to sub-clause 6.5 ) equal to the fair value of UPC Western Europe Holding B.V. as at the date of the transfer, with the effect that UPC Western Europe Holding B.V. and UPC Western Europe Holding 2 B.V. will become, directly or indirectly, wholly-owned subsidiaries of Liberty Global Target Company;

 

1.6                                Liberty Global Ventures Holding B.V. will transfer to the Liberty Global Target Company (or a member of the Liberty Global Target Group) all of the issued share capital of Liberty Global Content Netherlands B.V. for an amount (in debt left outstanding which shall be capitalised pursuant to sub-clause 6.5 ) equal to fair value of Liberty Global Content Netherlands B.V. as at the date of the transfer;

 

1.7                                Labesa Holding B.V. will transfer to the Liberty Global Target Company (or a member of the Liberty Global Target Group) all of the issued share capital of Ziggo Toestel Financiering B.V. for an amount (in debt left outstanding which shall be capitalised pursuant to sub-clause 6.5 ) equal to the fair value of any such shares as at the date of the transfer; and

 

99



 

1.8                                Liberty Global will procure that ZUMB B.V. is liquidated or, if such liquidation is not complete immediately prior to Completion, Liberty Global will procure that the shares in ZUMB B.V. are transferred to a member of the Liberty Global Retained Group.

 

2.                                       If Liberty Global so determines (in its sole discretion), the Liberty Global Pre-Completion Reorganisation will also comprise either (i) the following additional steps 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3, or (ii) the following additional steps 2.2 and 2.3:

 

2.1

 

(A)                                Liberty Global will incorporate a new company (“ Newco ”) as a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Global;

 

(B)                                Liberty Global will transfer all of the issued share capital in Liberty Global Target Company to Newco;

 

(C)                                as a result of the transfer under step 2.1(B), Liberty Global Target Company and its relevant subsidiaries which are included in a CIT Fiscal Unity with Liberty Global Holding B.V. will be separated from this CIT Fiscal Unity with Liberty Global Holding B.V.;

 

(D)                                Liberty Global Target Company as parent company and its relevant subsidiaries referred to in step 2.1(C) will immediately following separation from the CIT Fiscal Unity with Liberty Global Holding B.V. in step 2.1(C) be included in a successive CIT Fiscal Unity with each other (for the avoidance of doubt, the subsidiaries do not include subsidiaries which are included in a CIT Fiscal Unity with LGE HoldCo VI B.V.);

 

(E)                                 Liberty Global Holding B.V., Liberty Global Target Company and its relevant subsidiaries referred to in step 2.1(C) will file a request with the Dutch Tax Authority to allow a Revaluation Event as defined in the Tax Covenant to be treated as a Roll-Over Revaluation Event as defined in the Tax Covenant to this successive CIT Fiscal Unity between Liberty Global Target Company and such subsidiaries; and

 

(F)                                  Newco will not form part of the CIT Fiscal Unity between Liberty Global Target Company and its subsidiaries referred to in step 2.1(E),

 

provided that if this step is undertaken, Liberty Global will procure that Newco transfers all of the issued share capital in Liberty Global Target Company back to Liberty Global no later than one Business Day prior to Completion;

 

2.2                                UPC Nederland Holding III B.V. will incorporate a new wholly owned subsidiary (“ Ziggo Services New B.V. ”) within the CIT Fiscal Unity with Liberty Global Holding B.V. as parent company or, alternatively, if step 2.1 would be pursued, within the CIT Fiscal Unity with Liberty Global Target Company as parent company; and

 

2.3                                Ziggo Services B.V. will be merged into Ziggo Services New B.V. within the CIT Fiscal Unity with Liberty Global Holding B.V. as parent company, or, alternatively, if step 2.1 would be pursued, within the CIT Fiscal Unity with Liberty Global Target Company as

 

100



 

parent company, and as a result of the merger any reference in this Agreement to Ziggo Services B.V. should be read as a reference to Ziggo Services New B.V.. Liberty Global Holding B.V., as the parent of the Liberty Global Holding B.V. CIT Fiscal Unity, or, alternatively, if step 2.1. would be pursued, the Liberty Global Target Company, as the parent company of the Liberty Global Target CIT Fiscal Unity, will file the necessary request as laid down in article 18 Decree Fiscal Unity 2003. If the merger takes place within the Liberty Global Holding B.V. Fiscal Unity, subject to and in accordance with clause 13.5 and 13.6 of the Tax Covenant, Liberty Global Holding B.V. and the relevant members of the Liberty Global Transferred Group (as defined in the Tax Covenant) will file a request with the Dutch Tax Authority to allow a Revaluation Event as defined in the Tax Covenant to be treated as a Roll-Over Revaluation Event as defined in the Tax Covenant to the relevant Successive CIT Fiscal Unity (as defined in the Tax Covenant) with the Purchaser (if applicable) or Liberty Global Target Company.

 

3.                                       If Liberty Global so determines (in its sole discretion), the Liberty Global Pre-Completion Reorganisation will also comprise the following additional step: the book year end date of the Purchaser, the Liberty Global Target Company and each member of the Liberty Global Target Group will be changed from 31 December to 31 March.

 

101



 

Schedule 8

(Vodafone Pre-Completion Reorganisation)

 

1.                                       Unless otherwise agreed by each Seller in writing and identified as being for the purposes of this Schedule 8 (such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), the Vodafone Pre-Completion Reorganisation will comprise the following steps:

 

1.1                                The obligations of Vodafone Libertel B.V.to Vodafone Europe B.V. under the loan agreement dated 26 March 2013 will be settled in full by repayment or capitalisation.

 

1.2                                The receivable owed by Vodafone to the Vodafone Target Company pursuant to the deposit made by Vodafone Target Company with Vodafone shall be settled in full in accordance with sub-clause 6.4 .

 

1.3                                Vodafone (or Vodafone Europe B.V.) shall establish and settle on or prior to Completion any debt between the CIT Fiscal Unity headed by Vodafone Europe B.V. and the member(s) of the Vodafone Target Group pursuant to the informal tax sharing arrangements between those entities (treating such debt, for the purposes of this Agreement, as an “Inter-Company Payable” which is then settled on or prior to Completion in accordance with clause 6.5 of this Agreement) in anticipation of or resulting from (A) any Schedule 8 Revaluation Event arising as a result of the transactions included in paragraph 2.2 of this Schedule 8 and/or (B) any Revaluation Event (as defined in the Tax Covenant) arising on Completion by reference to the merger of Bell Company B.V. (formerly Vodafone Retail B.V.) into Vodafone Libertel B.V. in 2013).

 

2.                                       If Vodafone so determines (in its sole discretion), the Vodafone Pre-Completion Reorganisation will also comprise the following additional steps:

 

2.1                                mITE Systems B.V will be included in the current CIT Fiscal Unity headed by Vodafone Europe B.V..

 

2.2                                A transfer of assets between the members of the Vodafone Target Group included in the CIT Fiscal Unity headed by Vodafone Europe B.V. (for the avoidance of doubt, not including any transfer of assets to or from a person who is not a member of the Vodafone Target Group) and/or entering into an arrangement with the Dutch Tax Authority in respect of existing recapture periods, in each case which is reasonably expected by Vodafone to result in a step-up in basis of the assets of the Vodafone Target Group prior to or upon Completion. In order to facilitate this, Vodafone International Holdings B.V. may incorporate a new Dutch entity (“ VF Newco ”) outside the existing CIT Fiscal Unity and, shortly before Completion, transfer the shares in Vodafone Libertel B.V. to VF Newco, in which case, Vodafone will procure that VF Newco transfers all of the issued share capital in Vodafone Libertel B.V. back to Vodafone International Holdings B.V. no later than one Business Day prior to Completion.

 

For the purposes of this Schedule 8:

 

102



 

Schedule 8 Revaluation Event ” means the application of the rule laid down in Article 15ai of the Dutch Corporate Income Tax Act ( Wet op de vennootschapsbelasting 1969 ) (as amended or replaced), resulting in either a higher book value of an asset or a lower book value of a liability of any CIT Fiscal Unity Company of the CIT Fiscal Unity with Vodafone Fiscal Unity Parent (as defined in the Tax Covenant) at the relevant Disruption Date (as defined in the Tax Covenant) for Dutch corporate income tax purposes

 

103



 

Schedule 9

(Derivatives)

 

LIBERTY GLOBAL PLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)

December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate due from

 

Interest rate due to

Subsidiary / Final maturity date

 

Notional amount

 

counterparty

 

counterparty

 

 

in millions

 

 

 

 

ABC B.V.:

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 2022

 

1,566.0

 

6 mo. EURIBOR

 

1.66%

January 2016

 

689.0

 

1 mo. EURIBOR + 3.75%

 

6 mo. EURIBOR + 3.59%

January 2016 - January 2017

 

689.0

 

I mo. EURIBOR + 3.75%

 

6 mo. EURIBOR + 3.57%

January 2021

 

500.0

 

6 mo. EURIBOR

 

2.61%

July 2016

 

461.3

 

6 mo. EURIBOR

 

0.20%

July 2016 - January 2023

 

290.0

 

6 mo. EURIBOR

 

2.84%

March 2021

 

175.0

 

6 mo. EURIBOR

 

2.32%

July 2016 - January 2022

 

171.3

 

6 mo. EURIBOR

 

3.44%

 

 

 

Notional

 

Notional

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

amount

 

amount

 

Interest rate

 

Interest rate

 

Subsidiary /

 

due from

 

due to

 

due from

 

due to

 

Final maturity date

 

counterparty

 

counterparty

 

counterparty

 

counterparty

 

 

 

in millions

 

 

 

 

 

Amsterdamse Beheer-en Consultingmaatschappij B.V. ( ABC B.V. ). a subsidiary of Ziggo Group Holding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 2022

 

$

2,350.0

 

1,819.0

 

6 mo. LIBOR + 2.75%

 

4.56%

 

January 2023

 

$

400.0

 

339.0

 

5.88%

 

4.58%

 

 

104



 

Schedule 10

(Post-Completion Financial Adjustments)

 

Part A: Preliminary

 

1.                                       In preparing the Vodafone Completion Statement and the Liberty Global Completion Statement respectively:

 

1.1                                the items and amounts to be included in the calculation of Vodafone Net Debt, Vodafone Working Capital, Liberty Global Net Debt and Liberty Global Working Capital for the purposes of the relevant Completion Statement shall be identified by applying the relevant definition in clause 1 (Interpretation) (subject, where applicable, to the specific accounting treatments referred to in paragraph 1.2(A)  of Part A and Part B of this Schedule 10 );

 

1.2                                in applying each such definition and the provisions of paragraph 1.2(A)  of Part A and Part B of this Schedule 10 and determining which items and amounts are to be included and calculated in the relevant Completion Statement, if and to the extent that the treatment or characterisation of the relevant item or amount or type or category of item or amount:

 

(A)                                is dealt with in the specific accounting treatments set out in:

 

(i)                                      with respect to the Vodafone Completion Statement, in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part B of this Schedule 10 ; or

 

(ii)                                   with respect to the Liberty Global Completion Statement, in paragraphs 1 and 3 of Part B of this Schedule 10 ,

 

(the “ Specific Accounting Treatments ”), the relevant Specific Accounting Treatment(s) shall apply;

 

(B)                                is not dealt with in the Specific Accounting Treatments but is dealt with in the accounting principles, policies, treatments, practices and categorisations (including in relation to the exercise of accounting discretion and judgement) that were in fact adopted and applied in the preparation of the relevant Accounts (the “ Accounting Principles ”), the relevant Accounting Principles shall apply; and

 

(C)                                is not dealt with in either the Specific Accounting Treatments or the Accounting Principles, IFRS (in respect of Vodafone) or US GAAP (in respect of Liberty Global) shall apply, in each case, as at the Completion Date.

 

105



 

Part B: Specific Accounting Treatments

 

1.                                       Specific Accounting Treatments applicable to each Completion Statement

 

1.1                                In order to prepare the respective Completion Statements, a combined balance sheet (“ Completion Balance Sheet ”) will be prepared for each Target Group as at 11:59 p.m. on the Completion Date. The Completion Statements will be prepared from the Completion Balance Sheets, subject to the requirements set out in Part A and Part B of this Schedule 10 .

 

1.2                                The respective Completion Statements and Completion Balance Sheets shall be prepared in Euro and, for the purposes of calculating Vodafone Net Debt, Vodafone Working Capital, Liberty Global Net Debt and Liberty Global Working Capital for any member of a Target Group, (unless otherwise specified in this Schedule 10 ) any amounts which are to be included in any such calculation which are expressed in a currency other than Euros shall be converted into Euros at the Exchange Rate as at the Completion Date.

 

1.3                                In preparing the respective Completion Balance Sheets, assets and liabilities will be classified between the columns headed ‘Cash’, ‘Debt’, ‘Working Capital’ and ‘Other’ on a basis consistent with the classification of the equivalent line item in Part C of Schedule 11 , subject to any other requirements set out in Part B of this Schedule 10 .

 

1.4                                The respective Completion Statements and Completion Balance Sheets shall be prepared as at 11.59 p.m. on the Completion Date, as if the Completion Date were the last day of a financial year and as if appropriate accounting procedures were performed in relation to the accounting records, including detailed analysis of prepayments and accruals, cut-off procedures and other year-end adjustments, but subject always to any specific requirements of the accounting principles and policies set out herein and the hierarchy set out in paragraph 1.2 of Part A of this Schedule 10 . If the Completion Date does not fall upon the date of a normal accounting month end, items accounted for on a time apportioned basis will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.

 

1.5                                The respective Completion Statements and Completion Balance Sheets shall be prepared on the basis that the relevant Target Group is a going concern and shall exclude the effect of change of ownership of the relevant Target Group or the post Completion intentions of the Purchaser (including any post Completion reorganisations).

 

1.6                                In preparing the respective Completion Statements and Completion Balance Sheets no minimum materiality limits shall be applied.

 

1.7                                There shall be no double counting of items in the respective Completion Statements and no amount will be included more than once in the calculation of the Vodafone Net Debt, Vodafone Working Capital, Liberty Global Net Debt and Liberty Global Working Capital.

 

1.8                                The respective Completion Statements and Completion Balance Sheets shall take into account information that provides evidence of conditions that existed at the Completion Date (adjusting events) but shall not take account of information or events that are indicative of conditions that arose after the Completion Date (non-adjusting events).

 

106



 

Adjusting events will be taken into account up to the date of delivery of the respective Completion Statements in accordance with paragraph 1.2 of Part C of this Schedule 10 .

 

1.9                                In preparing the respective Completion Statements and Completion Balance Sheets, the Completion Date shall be treated as the end of a Tax accounting period (i.e. the corporate income tax liability included in the respective Completion Statements shall be based upon a full tax computation calculated as if the Completion Date was the end of an accounting period for tax purposes).

 

1.10                         The following items shall be included as “Other” in the Completion Balance Sheets and excluded from Vodafone Debt, Liberty Global Debt, Vodafone Working Capital and Liberty Global Working Capital:

 

(A)                                Asset retirement obligation provisions;

 

(B)                                Onerous contract liabilities of the Liberty Global Target Group relating to the sale of Film 1 by Liberty Global to Sony;

 

(C)                                Long term personnel related liabilities including any record of, or provision or accrual for, any liability of any member of a Target Group in respect of pension, retirement indemnity or other post-retirement benefits;

 

(D)                                Future earn out/deferred consideration payments for Nexct Group and mITE;

 

(E)                                 Receivables relating to Intrum Justitia Nederland that are subject to the arrangements in clause 14;

 

(F)                                  Deferred tax balances, including (i) any amount in respect of deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities, and (ii) any other asset attributable to Reliefs that would not have arisen to the Purchaser or a Target Company but for the application of the rule in Article 15ai of the Dutch Corporate Income Tax Act (Wet op de vennootschapsbelasting 1969) (as amended or replaced) as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and

 

(G)                                Prepayments or other assets relating to inter-group services provided by the respective Sellers’ Retained Groups.

 

1.2                                The Completion Statements and Completion Balance Sheets shall exclude any obligations, liabilities or assets relating to share based compensation.

 

2.                                       Specific Accounting Treatments applicable to the Vodafone Completion Statement

 

2.1                                The Vodafone Completion Statement shall be prepared so that the following items shall be included in the Vodafone Completion Statement and Completion Balance Sheet as Vodafone Debt:

 

(A)                                Provisions for legal claims, including the provision relating to the claim made by Intrum Justitia Nederland;

 

107



 

(B)                                Restructuring provisions, including any related onerous lease provisions;

 

(C)                                Cash collateralised bank guarantees;

 

(D)                                The liability in respect of home copy storage commissions relating to handheld devices sold (‘Thuiskopieheffing’ cash);

 

(E)                                 Unpaid declared dividends (accrued or otherwise);

 

(F)                                  Unpaid costs incurred relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be borne by the relevant Seller;

 

(G)                                Transaction bonuses payable as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

 

(H)                               Assets and liabilities in respect of corporate income tax (other than deferred tax assets or deferred tax liabilities or other amounts classified as “Other” under paragraph 1.10(F)  of this Part B or paragraph 2.2 of this Part B ); and

 

(I)                                    Liabilities for capital lease obligations.

 

2.2                                The following item shall be included in the Vodafone Completion Statement and Completion Balance Sheet as “Other” and excluded from Vodafone Debt and Vodafone Working Capital: any amount in respect of corporate income tax attributable to the activities of a Vodafone Target Company that, prior to Completion, is a member of the Vodafone Fiscal Unity (as defined in the Tax Covenant) to the extent that such amount is, in accordance with the relevant Accounting Principles, treated as an addition to the equity of that Vodafone Target Company (for example, as additional paid in capital) by virtue of such amount being borne by a person other than that Vodafone Target Company.

 

3.                                       Specific Accounting Treatments applicable to the Liberty Global Completion Statement

 

3.1                                The Liberty Global Completion Statement shall be prepared so that the following items shall be included in the Liberty Global Completion Statement and Completion Balance Sheet as Liberty Global Debt:

 

(A)                                Provisions for legal claims, including the provision relating to the claims made by LIRA and VEVAM;

 

(B)                                Restructuring provisions (which for the avoidance of doubt will exclude any provision relating to the former CEO’s tax status) will be calculated in accordance with the Accounting Principles. The restructuring provisions at Completion shall be reduced by an amount equal to €27 million less “Spend” (where “Spend” is the value of any restructuring costs paid out between the date of the Signing Protocol and Completion up to a maximum of €27 million). The restructuring provisions shall never be less than zero;

 

(C)                                Cash collateralised bank guarantees;

 

108



 

(D)                                Liabilities for capital lease obligations, including in relation to the Kabelweg and Helmond capital leases which are sale and leaseback transactions and the lease obligation relating to the Cisco capital lease for network related equipment;

 

(E)                                 Liabilities in relation to “Crisis Tax” at Completion to the extent the cost will be borne by the Liberty Global Target Group;

 

(F)                                  Liabilities in relation to the former CEO’s tax status at Completion to the extent the cost will be borne by the Liberty Global Target Group;

 

(G)                                Unpaid declared dividends (accrued or otherwise);

 

(H)                               Unpaid costs incurred relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be borne by the relevant Seller;

 

(I)                                    Transaction bonuses payable as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and

 

(J)                                    Assets and liabilities in respect of corporate income tax (other than deferred tax assets or deferred tax liabilities or other amounts classified as “Other” under paragraph 1.10(F)  of this Part B or paragraph 3.2(B)  of this Part B ).

 

3.2                                The following items shall be included in the Liberty Global Completion Statement and Completion Balance Sheet as “Other” and excluded from Liberty Global Debt and Liberty Global Working Capital:

 

(A)                                The Weena and Ziggo lease liabilities;

 

(B)                                Any amount in respect of corporate income tax attributable to the activities of a Liberty Global Target Company that, prior to Completion, is a member of the Liberty Global Fiscal Unity (as defined in the Tax Covenant) to the extent such amount is, in accordance with the relevant Accounting Principles, treated as an addition to equity of that Liberty Global Target Company (for example, as additional paid in capital) by virtue of such amount being borne by a person other than that Liberty Global Target Company; and

 

(C)                                Any amount other than trading balances in relation to HBO JV, including but not limited to the investment, provision against the investment in the HBO JV, loans to the HBO JV, loans from the HBO JV and provision against loans to the HBO JV.

 

3.3                                When determining the value to be included in the Liberty Global Completion Statement and Completion Balance Sheet in respect of Liberty Global Debt, the following principles shall apply:

 

(A)                                Liberty Global Debt

 

Subject to the remainder of this paragraph 3.3 of Part B of this Schedule 10 , Liberty Global Debt (other than Liberty Global Debt listed in paragraph 3.1 of

 

109



 

Part B of this Schedule 10 and the Liberty Global Capex Shortfall) shall be recorded in the Liberty Global Completion Statement at nominal value (denominated in Euros) provided that where such Liberty Global Debt is not denominated in Euros and:

 

(i)                                     the Financing Facility in respect of such Liberty Global Debt does not have a related FX Derivative, the Liberty Global Debt shall be converted into Euros using the Exchange Rate at Completion; or

 

(ii)                                  the Financing Facility in respect of such Liberty Global Debt does have a related FX Derivative, the Liberty Global Debt shall be converted into Euros based on the exchange rate fixed by the related FX Derivative.

 

(B)                                Accrued and unpaid interest

 

Accrued and unpaid interest in respect of Liberty Global Debt (other than Liberty Global Debt listed in paragraph 3.1 of Part B of this Schedule 10 and the Liberty Global Capex Shortfall) shall be calculated as follows:

 

(i)                                     where the Financing Facility in respect of Liberty Global Debt does not have a related FX Derivative or Interest Rate Derivative and:

 

(a)                                  the Liberty Global Debt is denominated in Euros, the accrued and unpaid interest shall be such interest as shall be payable pursuant to the Financing Facility for the period from (but excluding) the date on which the last interest payment was made to (and including) Completion; or

 

(b)                                  the Liberty Global Debt is not denominated in Euros, the accrued and unpaid interest shall be such interest as shall be payable pursuant to the Financing Facility for the period from (but excluding) the date on which the last interest payment was made to (and including) Completion converted into Euros based on the Exchange Rate at Completion; or

 

(ii)                                  where the Financing Facility in respect of Liberty Global Debt has a related Interest Rate Derivative, the accrued and unpaid interest shall be the aggregate of:

 

(a)                                  the net accrued interest payable by the Liberty Global Target Group pursuant to the fixed and floating legs of the related Interest Rate Derivative for the period from (but excluding) the date on which the last interest payment was made or received (as the case may be) to (and including) Completion; and

 

(b)                                  the accrued interest on the Liberty Global Debt for the period from (but excluding) the date on which the last interest payment was made to (and including) Completion; or

 

110



 

(iii)                               where the Financing Facility in respect of Liberty Global Debt has a related FX Derivative, the accrued and unpaid interest shall be the aggregate of:

 

(a)                                  the net accrued interest payable by the Liberty Global Target Group pursuant to the fixed and floating legs of the related FX Derivative for the period from (but excluding) the date on which the last interest payment was made or received (as the case may be) to (and including) Completion, provided that the accrued interest on the non-Euro denominated leg of the swap shall be converted into Euros based on the Exchange Rate at Completion; and

 

(b)                                  the accrued interest on the Liberty Global Debt for the period from (but excluding) the date on which the last interest payment was made to (and including) Completion, provided that the accrued interest shall be converted into Euros based on the Exchange Rate at Completion.

 

(C)                                Existing Interest Rate Derivatives and Existing FX Derivatives

 

The Existing Interest Rate Derivatives and the FX Interest Rate Portion shall not be recorded in the Liberty Global Completion Statement at market value but instead shall be included at EUR (441 million) in the Liberty Global Completion Statement.

 

(D)                                New Derivatives

 

Derivatives (other than Existing Interest Rate Derivatives or Existing FX Derivatives) entered into by a member of the Liberty Global Target Group shall be recorded in the Liberty Global Completion Statement at market value where:

 

(i)                                     if the Derivative is an Interest Rate Derivative which relates to a Financing Facility in respect of Liberty Global Debt, the market value shall be the value of the Interest Rate Derivative calculated using the discount rates derived from mid swap rates based on the EONIA swap rate curve at Completion less any and all net accrued interest calculated in accordance with paragraph 3.3(B)(ii)(a)  above; or

 

(ii)                                  if the Derivative is an FX Derivative which relates to a Financing Facility in respect of Liberty Global Debt, the market value shall be calculated with reference to the Exchange Rate at Completion and the market value of the receive and pay legs of the FX Derivative such that:

 

(a)                                  for the Euro interest rate leg of the FX Derivative, the market value shall be calculated using the discount rates derived from mid swap rates based on the EONIA swap rate curve at Completion, and

 

111



 

(b)                                  for the non-Euro interest rate leg of the FX Derivative, the market value shall be calculated using the discount rates derived from mid swap rates based on a market standard swap rate curve at Completion applicable to the relevant currency at Completion,

 

less:

 

(1)                                  any and all net accrued interest calculated in accordance with paragraph 3.3(B)(iii)(a)  above; and

 

(2)                                  the movement in FX spot rates calculated as the Euro difference between: (a) the non-Euro denominated Liberty Global Debt to which the FX Derivative relates converted into Euros using an exchange rate fixed by the related FX Derivative; and (b) the non-Euro denominated Liberty Global Debt to which the FX Derivative relates converted into Euros using the Exchange Rate at Completion.

 

Liberty Global and Vodafone agree that, in the event of any dispute as to the market standard swap curve applicable for the purposes of paragraph 3.3(D)(ii)(b)  above, then, on the application of either party, the matter may be referred for determination by Goldman Sachs, in its capacity as a leading swap dealer. The market standard swap curve identified by Goldman Sachs for the purposes of paragraph 3.3(D)(ii)(b)  shall be final and binding on the parties and shall not be subject to determination by the Firm pursuant to paragraph 5 of Part C of this Schedule 10 .

 

112



 

Part C: Completion Statement

 

1.                                       After Completion:

 

1.1                                Vodafone shall prepare a draft statement (the “ Vodafone Completion Statement ”) showing the Vodafone Net Debt and Vodafone Working Capital of the Vodafone Target Group; and

 

1.2                                Liberty Global shall prepare a draft statement (the “ Liberty Global Completion Statement ”, together with the Vodafone Completion Statement being the “ Completion Statements ”) showing the Liberty Global Net Debt and Liberty Global Working Capital of the Liberty Global Target Group, and such Completion Statements shall be in the forms set out in Part B of Schedule 11 and incorporate separate statements in the form set out in Part C of Schedule 11 showing the calculation of the Working Capital and Net Debt of the relevant Target Group. The Sellers shall deliver their draft Completion Statements to each other within 60 days after Completion.

 

2.                                       Each Seller shall notify the other in writing (a “ Completion Statement Notice ”) within 45 days after receipt of the other Seller’s draft Completion Statement whether or not it accepts the other Seller’s draft Completion Statement for the purposes of this Agreement. If a Seller (the “ Rejecting Party ”) does not accept the other Seller’s (the “ Preparing Party ”) draft Completion Statement, the Completion Statement Notice shall set out in detail the Rejecting Party’s reasons for such non-acceptance and specify the adjustments which the Rejecting Party proposes should be made to the Preparing Party’s draft Completion Statement in order for it to comply with the requirements of this Agreement. Except for the matters specifically set out in the Completion Statement Notice, the Rejecting Party shall be deemed to have agreed the Preparing Party’s draft Completion Statement in full.

 

3.                                       If the Rejecting Party serves a Completion Statement Notice in accordance with paragraph 2 above, stating in the Completion Statement Notice that the Rejecting Party does not accept the Completion Statement, the Preparing Party and the Rejecting Party shall use all reasonable endeavours to meet and discuss the objections of the Rejecting Party and to agree the adjustments (if any) required to be made to the Preparing Party’s draft Completion Statement, in each case within 30 days after receipt by the Preparing Party of the Completion Statement Notice.

 

4.                                       If the Rejecting Party is satisfied with the draft Completion Statement (either as originally submitted or after adjustments agreed between the Preparing Party and the Rejecting Party pursuant to paragraph 3 ) or if the Rejecting Party fails to give a valid Completion Statement Notice within the 30 day period referred to in paragraph 3 , then the draft Completion Statement (incorporating any agreed adjustments) shall constitute the Completion Statement for the purposes of this Agreement.

 

5.                                       If the Preparing Party and the Rejecting Party do not reach agreement within 30 days after receipt by the Preparing Party of the Completion Statement Notice, then the matters in dispute may be referred (on the application of either the Preparing Party or the Rejecting Party) for determination by an independent firm of chartered accountants of international standing as the Preparing Party and the Rejecting Party shall agree or, failing agreement within five days of the expiry of the 30 day period specified above, by

 

113



 

such firm as shall be appointed by the Chairman of the Netherlands Institute of Registered Accountants (the “ Firm ”). The Firm shall be requested to make its decision within 30 days (or such later date as the Preparing Party, the Rejecting Party and the Firm agree in writing) of confirmation and acknowledgement by the Firm of its appointment. The following provisions shall apply once the Firm has been appointed:

 

5.1                                the Preparing Party and Rejecting Party shall each prepare a written statement within 10 days after the Firm’s appointment on the matters in dispute which (together with the relevant supporting documents) shall be submitted to the Firm for determination and copied at the same time to the other;

 

5.2                                following delivery of their respective submissions, the Rejecting Party and the Preparing Party shall each have the opportunity to comment once only on the other’s submission by written comment delivered to the Firm not later than 10 days after receipt of the other’s submission and, thereafter, neither the Preparing Party nor the Rejecting Party shall be entitled to make further statements or submissions except insofar as the Firm so requests (in which case it shall, on each occasion, give the other party (unless otherwise directed) 10 days to respond to any statements or submission so made);

 

5.3                                in giving its determination, the Firm shall state what adjustments (if any) are necessary, solely for the purposes of this Agreement, to the draft Completion Statement in respect of the matters in dispute in order to comply with the requirements of this Agreement and to determine finally the Completion Statement; and

 

5.4                                the Firm shall act as an expert (and not as an arbitrator) in making its determination which shall, in the absence of manifest error, be final and binding on the parties and, without prejudice to any other rights which they may respectively have under this Agreement, the parties expressly waive, to the extent permitted by law, any rights of recourse they may otherwise have to challenge it.

 

6.                                       The Sellers shall each be responsible for their own costs in connection with the preparation, review and agreement or determination of the draft Completion Statements. The fees and expenses of the Firm shall be borne equally between the Sellers or in such other proportions as the Firm shall determine.

 

7.                                       To enable the Sellers to each meet their obligations under this Schedule 10 , the Purchaser shall provide to each Seller and its respective accountants full access to the accounting, financial, Tax or other Books and Records, employees and premises of the members of the Target Groups, as applicable, and, where relevant, of the Purchaser for the period from Completion to the date that the draft Completion Statement is agreed or determined. The Purchaser shall co-operate fully with the Sellers and shall permit the Sellers and/or their respective representatives to take copies (including electronic copies) of the relevant Books and Records and shall provide all assistance reasonably requested by the Sellers to facilitate the preparation of the Completion Statements.

 

8.                                       If a Rejecting Party serves a Completion Statement Notice stating that it does not accept the Preparing Party’s Completion Statement, it shall ensure that the Preparing Party and the Preparing Party’s nominated representatives shall be given reasonable access to the Rejecting Party’s and the Rejecting Party’s accountants’ working papers relating to the adjustments proposed in the Completion Statement Notice and any other

 

114



 

submissions by or on behalf of the Rejecting Party in relation to the Preparing Party’s Completion Statement. When the Completion Statements have been agreed or determined in accordance with the preceding paragraphs, then the amounts shown in the Completion Statements as the Net Debt and Working Capital for the relevant Target Group shall be final and binding for the purposes of this Agreement.

 

115



 

Part D: Financial Adjustments

 

1.                                       When both Completion Statements have been finally agreed or determined in accordance with this Schedule 10 , the following adjustments shall be made to the Estimated Vodafone Equalisation Consideration. Whichever of the Sellers is then left with any payment obligation under this Part D shall make the applicable payment(s) within 5 Business Days after the date on which the Completion Statements are agreed or determined.

 

2.                                       In relation to Net Debt :

 

2.1                                if the Vodafone Net Debt set out in the Vodafone Completion Statement is greater than the Estimated Vodafone Net Debt, then the Estimated Vodafone Equalisation Consideration shall be reduced by an amount equal to 50% of such difference;

 

2.2                                if the Liberty Global Net Debt set out in the Liberty Global Completion Statement is less than the Estimated Liberty Global Net Debt, then the Estimated Vodafone Equalisation Consideration shall be reduced by an amount equal to 50% of such difference;

 

2.3                                if the Vodafone Net Debt set out in the Vodafone Completion Statement is less than the Estimated Vodafone Net Debt, then the Estimated Vodafone Equalisation Consideration shall be increased by an amount equal to 50% of such difference; and

 

2.4                                if the Liberty Global Net Debt set out in the Liberty Global Completion Statement is greater than the Estimated Liberty Global Net Debt, then the Estimated Vodafone Equalisation Consideration shall be increased by an amount equal to 50% of such difference.

 

3.                                       In relation to Working Capital:

 

3.1                                if the Vodafone Working Capital set out in the Vodafone Completion Statement is greater than the Estimated Vodafone Working Capital, then the Estimated Vodafone Equalisation Consideration shall be reduced by an amount equal to 50% of such difference;

 

3.2                                if the Liberty Global Working Capital set out in the Liberty Global Completion Statement is less than the Estimated Liberty Global Working Capital, then the Estimated Vodafone Equalisation Consideration shall be reduced by an amount equal to 50% of such difference;

 

3.3                                if the Vodafone Working Capital set out in the Vodafone Completion Statement is less than the Estimated Vodafone Working Capital, then the Estimated Vodafone Equalisation Consideration shall be increased by an amount equal to 50% of such difference; and

 

3.4                                if the Liberty Global Working Capital set out in the Liberty Global Completion Statement is greater than the Estimated Liberty Global Working Capital, then the Estimated Vodafone Equalisation Consideration shall be increased by an amount equal to 50% of such difference.

 

116



 

4.                                       Following the application of all adjustments set out in paragraphs 2 and 3 above, the following payments shall be made by Liberty Global or Vodafone (as applicable) in cash within 5 Business Days after the Completion Statements have been finally agreed or determined in accordance with this Schedule 10 :

 

4.1                                if the application of all adjustments set out in paragraphs 2 and 3 above results in a net increase to the Estimated Vodafone Equalisation Consideration, Vodafone shall pay the amount of such increase (expressed as a positive number) to Liberty Global; or

 

4.2                                if the application of all adjustments set out in paragraphs 2 and 3 above results in a net decrease to the Estimated Vodafone Equalisation Consideration, Liberty Global shall pay the amount of such decrease (expressed as a positive number) to Vodafone.

 

General

 

5.                                       Any amount payable pursuant to any of paragraphs 2 to 5 inclusive of this Part D shall be increased by an amount equivalent to interest on such amount at Default Interest for the period from (but excluding) the Completion Date to (and including) the due date for payment of such amount, calculated on a daily basis.

 

117



 

Schedule 11

(Financial Adjustments: Amounts)

 

Part A: Amounts for Target Net Debt and Target Working Capital

 

Vodafone

 

Target Vodafone Net Debt = EUR 0

 

Target Vodafone Working capital = EUR (106,200,000)

 

Liberty Global

 

Target Liberty Global Net Debt = EUR (7,259,000,000)

 

Target Liberty Global Working Capital = EUR (430,100,000)

 

118



 

Part B: Completion Statement Format

 

Vodafone

 

Vodafone Net Debt

 

[ · ]

 

Vodafone Working Capital

 

[ · ]

 

 

Liberty Global

 

Liberty Global Net Debt

 

[ · ]

 

Liberty Global Working Capital

 

[ · ]

 

 

119



 

Part C: Reference Balance Sheet

 

Vodafone

 

The reference balance sheet for Vodafone shall be as set out in document 19.03 of the Liberty Global Data Room in the tab “Lion Reference Balance Sheet”.

 

Liberty Global

 

The reference balance sheet for Liberty Global shall be as set out in document 19.03 of the Liberty Global Data Room in the tab “Lion Reference Balance Sheet”.

 

120



 

Part D: Amounts for Target Capex Spend

 

Vodafone

 

The Target Capex Spend for Vodafone shall be as set out in document 19.02 of the Liberty Global Data Room.

 

Liberty Global

 

The Target Capex Spend for Liberty Global shall be as set out in document 19.01 of the Liberty Global Data Room.

 

121



 

Part E: Form of Quarterly Updates

 

Vodafone Quarterly Updates

 

Vodafone Net Debt

 

[ · ]

 

Vodafone Working Capital

 

[ · ]

 

 

Liberty Global Quarterly Updates

 

Liberty Global Net Debt

 

[ · ]

 

Liberty Global Working Capital

 

[ · ]

 

 

122



 

Signatures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

For and on behalf of Liberty Global Europe Holding B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

For and on behalf of Liberty Global plc

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

For and on behalf of Vodafone International Holdings B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

For and on behalf of Vodafone Group Plc

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

For and on behalf of Lynx Global Europe II B.V.

 

 

123



 

Attachment 1

Part A

(Basic information about the Target Companies)

 

Vodafone Target Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.

 

Registered number

 

 

:

14052264

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.

 

Date of incorporation

 

 

:

29 November 1991

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.

 

Corporate seat

 

 

:

Maastricht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.

 

Address of registered office

 

 

:

Avenue Ceramique 300, 6221 KX

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maastricht, the Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.

 

Class of company

 

 

:

Private limited liability company

 

 

 

 

 

 

( besloten vennootschap met

 

 

 

 

 

 

beperkte aansprakelijkheid )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.

 

Authorised share capital (if any)

 

 

:

EUR 468,750,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.

 

Issued share capital

 

 

:

EUR 93,750,000.60

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8.

 

Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full name

 

Service address

 

Nationality

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Andrew

 

Avenue Ceramique 300, 6221 KX

 

South African

 

 

Shuter

 

Maastricht, the Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barbara Jongerden

 

Avenue Ceramique 300, 6221 KX

 

Dutch

 

 

 

 

Maastricht, the Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carmen Maria

 

Avenue Ceramique 300, 6221 KX

 

Dutch

 

 

Velthuis

 

Maastricht, the Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9.

 

Secretary

 

 

:

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.

 

Accounting reference date

 

 

:

1 April - 31 March

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11.

 

Auditors

 

 

:

PricewaterhouseCoopers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12.

 

Tax residence

 

 

:

The Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13.

 

Registered number

 

 

:

14052264

 

124



 

Liberty Global Target Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.

 

Registered number

 

 

:

34359572

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.

 

Date of incorporation

 

 

:

2 October 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.

 

Place of incorporation

 

 

:

Amsterdam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.

 

Address of registered office

 

 

:

Boeingavenue 53, 1119PE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.

 

Class of company

 

 

:

Besloten Vennootschap

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.

 

Authorised share capital (if any)

 

 

:

EUR 500,000,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.

 

Issued share capital

 

 

:

EUR 224,199,230.26

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8.

 

Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full name

 

Service address

 

Nationality

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liberty Global

 

Boeingavenue 53, 1119PE Schiphol-Rijk

 

The Netherlands

 

 

Europe

 

 

 

 

 

 

Management B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9.

 

Accounting reference date

 

 

:

31 December

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.

 

Auditors

 

 

:

KPMG

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11.

 

Tax residence

 

 

:

The Netherlands

 

125



 

Attachment 1

Part B

(Basic information about the Subsidiaries)

 

1.

Subsidiaries in Vodafone Target Group

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.1

mITE Systems B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(A)

Registered number

:

30194497

 

 

 

 

 

 

(B)

Date of incorporation

:

15 December 2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

(C)

Corporate seat

:

Woerden

 

 

 

 

 

 

(D)

Address of registered office

:

Kronenburgplantsoen 10

 

 

 

 

3401 BP IJsselstijn

 

 

 

 

the Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

(E)

Class of company

:

Private limited liability

 

 

company ( besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid )

 

 

 

 

 

 

(F)

Authorised share capital (if any)

:

EUR 90,000.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

(G)

Issued share capital

:

EUR 27,000.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

(H)

Shareholder(s):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

Full name

Registered address

Shares held

 

 

 

 

 

Vodafone Libertel B.V.

Avenue Ceramique 300

270

 

 

6221 KX Maastricht

 

 

 

the Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(I)

Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full name

Service address

Nationality

 

 

 

 

 

Vodafone Libertel B.V.

Avenue Ceramique 300, 6221

N/A

 

 

KX, Maastricht, the

 

 

 

Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(J)

Secretary:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full name

Service address

 

 

 

 

 

 

N/A

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

(K)

Accounting reference date

:

1 April - 31 March

 

126



 

 

(L)

Auditors

:

PricewaterhouseCoopers

 

 

 

 

 

 

(M)

Tax residence

:

The Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

2.

Subsidiaries in Liberty Global Target Group

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.1

Ziggo Group Holding B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(A)

Registered number

:

61370991

 

 

 

 

 

 

(B)

Date of incorporation

:

2 September 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

(C)

Place of incorporation

:

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

(D)

Address of registered office

:

Atoomweg 100, 3542 AB

 

 

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

(E)

Class of company

:

Besloten Vennootschap

 

 

 

 

 

 

(F)

Authorised share capital (if any)

:

Not Applicable

 

 

 

 

 

 

(G)

Issued share capital

:

EUR 10,004

 

 

 

 

 

 

(H)

Members:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

Full name

Registered address

Shares held

 

 

 

 

 

Liberty Global Europe

Boeingavenue 53, 1119PE

Sole Shareholder

 

Holding B.V.

Schiphol-Rijk

 

 

 

 

 

 

(I)

Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full name

Service address

Nationality

 

 

 

 

 

Johannes Baptiste

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

Dutch

 

Paulus Coopmans

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ritchy Alain Drost

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

Dutch

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(J)

Accounting reference date

:

31 December

 

 

 

 

 

 

(K)

Auditors

:

KPMG

 

 

 

 

 

 

(L)

Tax residence

:

Dutch

 

 

 

 

 

2.2

Ziggo Holding B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(A)

Registered number

:

52444511

 

127



 

 

(B)

Date of incorporation

:

1 April 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

(C)

Place of incorporation

:

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

(D)

Address of registered office

:

Atoomweg 100, 3542

 

 

 

 

AB Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

(E)

Class of company

:

Besloten Vennootschap

 

 

 

 

 

 

(F)

Authorised share capital (if any)

:

Not Applicable

 

 

 

 

 

 

(G)

Issued share capital

:

EUR 200,096,114

 

 

 

 

 

 

(H)

Members:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

Full name

Registered address

Shares held

 

 

 

 

 

LGE HoldCo V B.V.

Boeing avenue 53, 1119PE

Sole shareholder

 

 

Schiphol Rijk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(I)

Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full name

Service address

Nationality

 

 

 

 

 

Johannes Baptiste

Atoomweg 100, 3542 AB

Dutch

 

Paulus Coopmans

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ritchy Alain Drost

Atoomweg 100, 3542 AB

Dutch

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(J)

Accounting reference date

:

31 December

 

 

 

 

 

 

(K)

Auditors

:

KPMG

 

 

 

 

 

 

(L)

Tax residence

:

Dutch

 

 

 

 

 

2.3

Zesko B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(A)

Registered number

:

34131683

 

 

 

 

 

 

(B)

Date of incorporation

:

20 March 2000

 

 

 

 

 

 

(C)

Place of incorporation

:

Amsterdam

 

128



 

 

(D)

Address of registered office

:

Winschoterdiep 60,9723AB

 

 

 

 

Groningen

 

 

 

 

 

 

(E)

Class of company

:

Besloten Vennootschap

 

 

 

 

 

 

(F)

Authorised share capital (if any)

:

Not Applicable

 

 

 

 

 

 

(G)

Issued share capital

:

EUR 941,553,776.31

 

 

 

 

 

 

(H)

Members:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

Full name

Registered address

Shares held

 

 

 

 

 

Ziggo Holding B.V.

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

Sole Shareholder

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(I)

Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full name

Service address

Nationality

 

 

 

 

 

Ritchy Alain Drost

Winschoterdiep 60, 9723AB

Dutch

 

 

Groningen

 

 

 

 

 

 

Johannes Baptiste

Winschoterdiep 60, 9723AB

Dutch

 

Paulus Coopmans

Groningen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(J)

Accounting reference date

:

31 December

 

 

 

 

 

 

(K)

Auditors

:

KPMG

 

 

 

 

 

 

(L)

Tax residence

:

Dutch

 

 

 

 

 

2.4

Torenspits B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(A)

Registered number

:

33242788

 

 

 

 

 

 

(B)

Date of incorporation

:

3 April 1913

 

 

 

 

 

 

(C)

Place of incorporation

:

Amsterdam

 

 

 

 

 

 

(D)

Address of registered office

:

Winschoterdiep

 

 

 

 

60, 9723AB Groningen

 

 

 

 

 

 

(E)

Class of company

:

Besloten Vennootschap

 

 

 

 

 

 

(F)

Authorised share capital (if any)

:

EUR 90,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

(G)

Issued share capital

:

EUR 18,000

 

129



 

 

(H)

Members:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

Full name

Registered address

Shares held

 

 

 

 

 

Zesko B.V.

Winschoterdiep 60, 9723AB

Sole Shareholder

 

 

Groningen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(I)

Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full name

Service address

Nationality

 

 

 

 

 

Amsterdamse Beheer-en

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

The Netherlands

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

Consultingmaatschappij B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(J)

Accounting reference date

:

31 December

 

 

 

 

 

 

(K)

Auditors

:

KPMG

 

 

 

 

 

 

(L)

Tax residence

:

Dutch

 

 

 

 

 

2.5

Plinius Investment B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(A)

Registered number

:

33232525

 

 

 

 

 

 

(B)

Date of incorporation

:

20 June 1984

 

 

 

 

 

 

(C)

Place of incorporation

:

Amsterdam

 

 

 

 

 

 

(D)

Address of registered office

:

Winschoterdiep 60, 9723

 

 

 

 

AB Groningen

 

 

 

 

 

 

(E)

Class of company

:

Besloten Vennootschap

 

 

 

 

 

 

(F)

Authorised share capital (if any)

:

EUR 18,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

(G)

Issued share capital

:

EUR 18,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

(H)

Members:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

Full name

Registered address

Shares held

 

 

 

 

 

Torenspits B.V.

Winschoterdiep 60, 9723AB

Sole Shareholder

 

 

Groningen

 

 

130



 

 

(I)

Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full name

Service address

Nationality

 

 

 

 

 

Amsterdamse Beheer-en

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

The Netherlands

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

Consultingmaatschappij B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(J)

Accounting reference date

:

31 December

 

 

 

 

 

 

(K)

Auditors

:

KPMG

 

 

 

 

 

 

(L)

Tax residence

:

Dutch

 

 

 

 

 

2.6

Ziggo Bond Company B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(A)

Registered number

:

01180301

 

 

 

 

 

 

(B)

Date of incorporation

:

30 March 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

(C)

Place of incorporation

:

Amsterdam

 

 

 

 

 

 

(D)

Address of registered office

:

Winschoterdiep 60

 

 

 

 

9723AB Groningen

 

 

 

 

 

 

(E)

Class of company

:

Besloten Vennootschap

 

 

 

 

 

 

(F)

Authorised share capital (if any)

:

90,000 EUR

 

 

 

 

 

 

(G)

Issued share capital

:

EUR 18,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

(H)

Members:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

Full name

Registered address

Shares held

 

 

 

 

 

Zesko B.V.

Winschoterdiep 60, 9723AB

Sole Shareholder

 

 

Groningen

 

 

 

 

 

 

(I)

Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full name

Service address

Nationality

 

 

 

 

 

Zesko B.V.

Winschoterdiep 60, 9723AB

The Netherlands

 

 

Groningen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(J)

Accounting reference date

:

31 December

 

 

 

 

 

 

(K)

Auditors

:

KPMG

 

 

 

 

 

 

(L)

Tax residence

:

Dutch

 

131



 

2.7

Amsterdams Beheer- en Consultingmaatschappij B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(A)

Registered number

:

33195889

 

 

 

 

 

 

(B)

Date of incorporation

:

25 September 1987

 

 

 

 

 

 

(C)

Place of incorporation

:

Amsterdam

 

 

 

 

 

 

(D)

Address of registered office

:

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

 

 

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

(E)

Class of company

:

Besloten Vennootschap

 

 

 

 

 

 

(F)

Authorised share capital (if any)

:

EUR 20,000,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

(G)

Issued share capital

:

EUR 9,812,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

(H)

Members:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

Full name

Registered address

Shares held

 

 

 

 

 

Ziggo Bond Company B.V.

Winschoterdiep 60, 9723AB

Sole Shareholder

 

 

Groningen

 

 

 

 

 

 

(I)

Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full name

Service address

Nationality

 

 

 

 

 

Johannes Baptiste

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

Dutch

 

Paulus Coopmans

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ritchy Alain Drost

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

Dutch

 

 

 

 

 

 

(J)

Accounting reference date

:

31 December

 

 

 

 

 

 

(K)

Auditors

:

KPMG

 

 

 

 

 

 

(L)

Tax residence

:

Dutch

 

 

 

 

 

2.8

Torenspits II B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(A)

Registered number

:

34262281

 

 

 

 

 

 

(B)

Date of incorporation

:

22 December 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

(C)

Place of incorporation

:

Amsterdam

 

 

 

 

 

 

(D)

Address of registered office

:

Atoomweg 100, 3542 AB

 

 

 

 

Utrecht

 

132



 

 

(E)

Class of company

:

Besloten Vennootschap

 

 

 

 

 

 

(F)

Authorised share capital (if any)

:

EUR 90,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

(G)

Issued share capital

:

EUR 18.001

 

 

 

 

 

 

(H)

Members:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

Full name

Registered address

Shares held

 

 

 

 

 

Amsterdamse Beheer-en

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

Sole Shareholder

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

Consultingmaatschappij B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(I)

Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full name

Service address

Nationality

 

 

 

 

 

Amsterdamse Beheer-en

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

The Netherlands

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

Consultingmaatschappij B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(J)

Accounting reference date

:

31 December

 

 

 

 

 

 

(K)

Auditors

:

KPMG

 

 

 

 

 

 

(L)

Tax residence

:

Dutch

 

 

 

 

 

2.9

Ziggo B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(A)

Registered number

:

37026706

 

 

 

 

 

 

(B)

Date of incorporation

:

12 February 1951

 

 

 

 

 

 

(C)

Place of incorporation

:

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

(D)

Address of registered office

:

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

 

 

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

(E)

Class of company

:

Besloten Vennootschap

 

 

 

 

 

 

(F)

Authorised share capital (if any)

:

EUR 4,429,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

(G)

Issued share capital

:

EUR 885,800

 

133



 

 

(H)

Members:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

Full name

Registered address

Shares held

 

 

 

 

 

Torenspits II B.V.

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

Sole Shareholder

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

(I)

Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full name

Service address

Nationality

 

 

 

 

 

Amsterdamse Beheer-en

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

Dutch

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

Consultingmaatschappij B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(J)

Accounting reference date

:

31 December

 

 

 

 

 

 

(K)

Auditors

:

KPMG, The Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

(L)

Tax residence

:

The Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

2.10

Ziggo Netwerk B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(A)

Registered number

:

37141989

 

 

 

 

 

 

(B)

Date of incorporation

:

29 May 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

(C)

Place of incorporation

:

Groningen

 

 

 

 

 

 

(D)

Address of registered office

:

Winschoterdiep 60

 

 

 

 

9723AB Groningen

 

 

 

 

 

 

(E)

Class of company

:

Besloten Vennootschap

 

 

 

 

 

 

(F)

Authorised share capital (if any)

:

Not applicable

 

 

 

 

 

 

(G)

Issued share capital

:

EUR 18,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

(H)

Members:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

Full name

Registered address

Shares held

 

 

 

 

 

Ziggo B.V.

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

Sole Shareholder

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

134



 

 

(I)

Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full name

Service address

Nationality

 

 

 

 

 

Ziggo B.V.

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

Dutch

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

(J)

Accounting reference date

:

31 December

 

 

 

 

 

 

(K)

Auditors

:

KPMG, The Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

(L)

Tax residence

:

The Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

2.11

Ziggo

Netwerk II B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(A)

Registered number

:

54158923

 

 

 

 

 

 

(B)

Date of incorporation

:

21 December 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

(C)

Place of incorporation

:

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

(D)

Address of registered office

:

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

 

 

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

(E)

Class of company

:

Besloten Vennootschap

 

 

 

 

 

 

(F)

Authorised share capital (if any)

:

Not applicable

 

 

 

 

 

 

(G)

Issued share capital

:

EUR 18,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

(H)

Members:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

Full name

Registered address

Shares held

 

 

 

 

 

Ziggo B.V.

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

Sole Shareholder

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

(I)

Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full name

Service address

Nationality

 

 

 

 

 

Ziggo B.V.

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

Dutch

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(J)

Accounting reference date

:

31 December

 

 

 

 

 

 

(K)

Auditors

:

KPMG The Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

(L)

Tax residence

:

The Netherlands

 

135



 

2.12

Breedband Breda B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(A)

Registered number

:

18077452

 

 

 

 

 

 

(B)

Date of incorporation

:

4 February 2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

(C)

Place of incorporation

:

Breda

 

 

 

 

 

 

(D)

Address of registered office

:

Atoomweg 100, 3542 AB

 

 

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

(E)

Class of company

:

Besloten Vennootschap

 

 

 

 

 

 

(F)

Authorised share capital (if any)

:

EUR 90,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

(G)

Issued share capital

:

EUR 18,401

 

 

 

 

 

 

(H)

Members:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

Full name

Registered address

Shares held

 

 

 

 

 

Ziggo B.V.

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

Sole Shareholder

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(I)

Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full name

Service address

Nationality

 

 

 

 

 

Ziggo B.V.

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

Dutch

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(J)

Accounting reference date

:

31 December

 

 

 

 

 

 

(K)

Auditors

:

KPMG

 

 

 

 

 

 

(L)

Tax residence

:

The Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

2.13

TeleCai Den Haag B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(A)

Registered number

:

27160106

 

 

 

 

 

 

(B)

Date of incorporation

:

10 June 1996

 

 

 

 

 

 

(C)

Place of incorporation

:

‘s-Gravenhage

 

 

 

 

 

 

(D)

Address of registered office

:

Spaarneplein 2, 2515 VK

 

 

 

 

‘s-Gravenhage

 

 

 

 

 

 

(E)

Class of company

:

Besloten Vennootschap

 

136



 

 

(F)

Authorised share capital (if any)

:

EUR 5,000,000,-

 

 

 

 

 

 

(G)

Issued share capital

:

EUR 2,268,901.08

 

 

 

 

 

 

(H)

Members:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

Full name

Registered address

Shares held

 

 

 

 

 

Ziggo B.V.

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

Sole Shareholder

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(I)

Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full name

Service address

Nationality

 

 

 

 

 

Ziggo B.V.

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

Dutch

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(J)

Accounting reference date

:

31 December

 

 

 

 

 

 

(K)

Auditors

:

KPMG

 

 

 

 

 

 

(L)

Tax residence

:

The Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

2.14

Esprit Telecom B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(A)

Registered number

:

17177850

 

 

 

 

 

 

(B)

Date of incorporation

:

13 July 2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

(C)

Place of incorporation

:

Amsterdam

 

 

 

 

 

 

(D)

Address of registered office

:

Monitorweg 1, 1322BJ

 

 

 

 

Almere

 

 

 

 

 

 

(E)

Class of company

:

Besloten Vennootschap

 

 

 

 

 

 

(F)

Authorised share capital (if any)

:

EUR 100,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

(G)

Issued share capital

:

EUR 50,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

(H)

Members:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

Full name

Registered address

Shares held

 

 

 

 

 

Ziggo B.V.

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

Sole Shareholder

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

137



 

 

(I)

Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full name

Service address

Nationality

 

 

 

 

 

Ziggo B.V.

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

Dutch

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(J)

Accounting reference date

:

31 December

 

 

 

 

 

 

(K)

Auditors

:

KPMG

 

 

 

 

 

 

(L)

Tax residence

:

The Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

2.15

Zoranet Connectivity Services B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(A)

Registered number

:

08120615

 

 

 

 

 

 

(B)

Date of incorporation

:

20 January 2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

(C)

Place of incorporation

:

Zwolle

 

 

 

 

 

 

(D)

Address of registered office

:

Assendorperdijk 2,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8012EH Zwolle

 

(E)

Class of company

:

Besloten Vennootschap

 

 

 

 

 

 

(F)

Authorised share capital (if any)

:

EUR 90,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

(G)

Issued share capital

:

EUR 18,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

(H)

Members:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

Full name

Registered address

Shares held

 

 

 

 

 

Esprit Telecom B.V.

Monitorweg 1, 1322BJ Almere

Sole Shareholder

 

 

 

 

 

 

(I)

Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full name

Service address

Nationality

 

 

 

 

 

Esprit Telecom B.V.

Monitorweg 1, 1322BJ Almere

Dutch

 

 

 

 

 

 

(J)

Accounting reference date

:

31 December

 

 

 

 

 

 

(K)

Auditors

:

KPMG

 

 

 

 

 

 

(L)

Tax residence

:

The Netherlands

 

138



 

2.16

XB Facilities B.V

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(A)

Registered number

:

39066884

 

 

 

 

 

 

(B)

Date of incorporation

:

3 March 1998

 

 

 

 

 

 

(C)

Place of incorporation

:

Almere

 

 

 

 

 

 

(D)

Address of registered office

:

Monitorweg 1, 1322BJ

 

 

 

 

Almere

 

 

 

 

 

 

(E)

Class of company

:

Besloten Vennootschap

 

 

 

 

 

 

(F)

Authorised share capital (if any)

:

EUR 200,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

(G)

Issued share capital

:

EUR 18,151.21

 

 

 

 

 

 

(H)

Members:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

Full name

Registered address

Shares held

 

 

 

 

 

Esprit Telecom B.V.

Monitorweg 1, 1322BJ Almere

Sole Shareholder

 

 

 

 

 

(I)

Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full name

Service address

Nationality

 

 

 

 

 

Esprit Telecom B.V.

Monitorweg 1, 1322BJ Almere

Dutch

 

 

 

 

 

 

(J)

Accounting reference date

:

31 December

 

 

 

 

 

 

(K)

Auditors

:

KPMG

 

 

 

 

 

 

(L)

Tax residence

:

The Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

2.17

Ziggo Deelnemingen B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(A)

Registered number

:

59793473

 

 

 

 

 

 

(B)

Date of incorporation

:

22 January 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

(C)

Place of incorporation

:

Amsterdam

 

 

 

 

 

 

(D)

Address of registered office

:

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(E)

Class of company

:

Besloten Vennootschap

 

 

 

 

 

 

(F)

Authorised share capital (if any)

:

Not applicable

 

139



 

 

(G)

Issued share capital

 

:

EUR 100

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(H)

Members:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

 

Full name

Registered address

Shares held

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ziggo B.V.

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

Sole Shareholder

 

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(I)

Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full name

Service address

Nationality

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amsterdamse Beheer-en Consultingmaatschappij B.V

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB
Utrecht

Dutch

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(J)

Accounting reference date

 

:

31 December

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(K)

Auditors

 

:

KPMG, The Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(L)

Tax residence

 

:

The Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.18

HBO Netherlands Distributions B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(A)

Registered number

 

:

53965760

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(B)

Date of incorporation

 

:

17 November 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(C)

Place of incorporation

 

:

Amsterdam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(D)

Address of registered office

 

:

Barbara Strozzilaan 101,

 

 

 

 

 

1083HN Amsterdam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(E)

Class of company

 

:

Besloten Vennootschap

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(F)

Authorised share capital (if any)

 

:

EUR 90,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(G)

Issued share capital

 

:

EUR 18,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(H)

Members:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

 

Full name

Registered address

Shares held

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HBO Nederland Coöperatief U.A.

Barbara Strozzilaan 101,

Sole Shareholder

 

 

 

1083HN Amsterdam

 

 

140



 

 

(I)

Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full name

Service address

Nationality

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HBO Nederland Coöperatief U.A.

Barbara Strozzilaan 101,

Dutch

 

 

 

1083HN Amsterdam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(J)

Accounting reference date

 

:

31 December

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(K)

Auditors

 

:

Ernst&Young

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(L)

Tax residence

 

:

Dutch

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.19

ZUM B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(A)

Registered number

 

:

30277403

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(B)

Date of incorporation

 

:

29 December 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(C)

Place of incorporation

 

:

Amsterdam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(D)

Address of registered office

 

:

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

 

 

 

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(E)

Class of company

 

:

Besloten Vennootschap

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(F)

Authorised share capital (if any)

 

:

Not applicable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(G)

Issued share capital

 

:

EUR 18,004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(H)

Members:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

 

Full name

Registered address

Shares held

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ziggo B.V.

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

Sole Shareholder

 

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(I)

Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full name

Service address

Nationality

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amsterdamse Beheer-en

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB
Utrecht

Dutch

 

 

Consultingmaatschappij B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(J)

Accounting reference date

 

:

31 December

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(K)

Auditors

 

:

KPMG, The Netherlands

 

141



 

 

(L)

Tax residence

 

:

The Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.20

Ziggo Services B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(A)

Registered number

 

:

62393944

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(B)

Date of incorporation

 

:

4 March 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(C)

Place of incorporation

 

:

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(D)

Address of registered office

 

:

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

 

 

 

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(E)

Class of company

 

:

Besloten Vennootschap

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(F)

Authorised share capital (if any)

 

:

Not applicable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(G)

Issued share capital

 

:

EUR 110,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(H)

Members:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

 

Full name

Registered address

Shares held

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UPC Nederland Holding III B.V.

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

Sole Shareholder

 

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(I)

Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full name

Service address

Nationality

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Johannes Baptiste Paulus Coopmans

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

Dutch

 

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ritchy Alain Drost

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

Dutch

 

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(J)

Accounting reference date

 

:

31 December

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(K)

Auditors

 

:

KPMG, The Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(L)

Tax residence

 

:

The Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.21

Ziggo Zakelijk Services B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(A)

Registered number

 

:

33306448

 

142



 

 

(B)

Date of incorporation

 

:

28 September 1998

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(C)

Place of incorporation

 

:

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(D)

Address of registered office

 

:

Atoomweg 100, 1322BJ

 

 

 

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(E)

Class of company

 

:

Besloten Vennootschap

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(F)

Authorised share capital (if any)

 

:

Not applicable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(G)

Issued share capital

 

:

EUR 22,700

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(H)

Members:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

 

Full name

Registered address

Shares held

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ziggo Services B.V.

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

Sole Shareholder

 

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(I)

Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full name

Service address

Nationality

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ziggo Services B.V.

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

Dutch

 

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(J)

Accounting reference date

 

:

31 December

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(K)

Auditors

 

:

KPMG

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(L)

Tax residence

 

:

The Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.22

Ziggo Services Netwerk 2 B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(A)

Registered number

 

:

54092655

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(B)

Date of incorporation

 

:

1 December 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(C)

Place of incorporation

 

:

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(D)

Address of registered office

 

:

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

 

 

 

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(E)

Class of company

 

:

Besloten Vennootschap

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(F)

Authorised share capital (if any)

 

:

Not applicable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(G)

Issued share capital

 

:

EUR 18,000

 

143



 

 

(H)

Members:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

 

Full name

Registered address

Shares held

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ziggo Services B.V.

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

Sole Shareholder

 

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(I)

Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full name

Service address

Nationality

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ziggo Services B.V.

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

Dutch

 

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(J)

Accounting reference date

 

:

31 December

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(K)

Auditors

 

:

KPMG, The Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(L)

Tax residence

 

:

The Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.23

Ziggo Services Employment B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(A)

Registered number

 

:

34118291

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(B)

Date of incorporation

 

:

15 July 1999

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(C)

Place of incorporation

 

:

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(D)

Address of registered office

 

:

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

 

 

 

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(E)

Class of company

 

:

Besloten Vennootschap

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(F)

Authorised share capital (if any)

 

:

Not applicable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(G)

Issued share capital

 

:

EUR 18,200

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(H)

Members:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

 

Full name

Registered address

Shares held

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ziggo Services B.V.

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

Sole Shareholder

 

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

144



 

 

(I)

Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full name

Service address

Nationality

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ziggo Services B.V.

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

Dutch

 

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(J)

Accounting reference date

 

:

31 December

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(K)

Auditors

 

:

KPMG, The Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(L)

Tax residence

 

:

The Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.24

Ziggo Services Mobile B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(A)

Registered number

 

:

34204351

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(B)

Date of incorporation

 

:

19 March 2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(C)

Place of incorporation

 

:

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(D)

Address of registered office

 

:

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

 

 

 

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(E)

Class of company

 

:

Besloten Vennootschap

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(F)

Authorised share capital (if any)

 

:

Not applicable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(G)

Issued share capital

 

:

EUR 34,280

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(H)

Members:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

 

Full name

Registered address

Shares held

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ziggo Services B.V.

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

Sole Shareholder

 

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(I)

Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full name

Service address

Nationality

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ziggo Services B.V.

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

Dutch

 

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(J)

Accounting reference date

 

:

31 December

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(K)

Auditors

 

:

KPMG, The Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(L)

Tax residence

 

:

The Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.25

UPC Nederland Holding I B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(A)

Registered number

 

:

62352865

 

145



 

 

(B)

Date of incorporation

 

:

8 January 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(C)

Place of incorporation

 

:

Amsterdam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(D)

Address of registered office

 

:

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

 

 

 

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(E)

Class of company

 

:

Besloten Vennootschap

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(F)

Authorised share capital (if any)

 

:

Not applicable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(G)

Issued share capital

 

:

EUR 10,002

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(H)

Members:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

 

Full name

Registered address

Shares held

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ziggo Group Holding B.V.

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

Sole Shareholder

 

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(I)

Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full name

Service address

Nationality

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Johannes Baptiste Paulus Coopmans

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

Dutch

 

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ritchy Alain Drost

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

Dutch

 

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(J)

Accounting reference date

 

:

31 December

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(K)

Auditors

 

:

KPMG, The Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(L)

Tax residence

 

:

The Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.26

UPC Nederland Holding II B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(A)

Registered number

 

:

62361929

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(B)

Date of incorporation

 

:

9 January 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(C)

Place of incorporation

 

:

Amsterdam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(D)

Address of registered office

 

:

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

 

 

 

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(E)

Class of company

 

:

Besloten Vennootschap

 

146



 

 

(F)

Authorised share capital (if any)

 

:

Not applicable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(G)

Issued share capital

 

:

EUR 10,002

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(H)

Members:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

 

Full name

Registered address

Shares held

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UPC Nederland Holding I B.V.

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

Sole Shareholder

 

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(I)

Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full name

Service address

Nationality

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Johannes Baptiste Paulus Coopmans

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

Dutch

 

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ritchy Alain Drost

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

Dutch

 

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(J)

Accounting reference date

 

:

31 December

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(K)

Auditors

 

:

KPMG, The Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(L)

Tax residence

 

:

The Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.27

UPC Nederland Holding III B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(A)

Registered number

 

:

62366289

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(B)

Date of incorporation

 

:

9 January 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(C)

Place of incorporation

 

:

Amsterdam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(D)

Address of registered office

 

:

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

 

 

 

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(E)

Class of company

 

:

Besloten Vennootschap

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(F)

Authorised share capital (if any)

 

:

Not applicable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(G)

Issued share capital

 

:

EUR 10,002

 

147



 

 

(H)

Members:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

 

Full name

Registered address

Shares held

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UPC Nederland Holding II B.V.

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

Sole Shareholder

 

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(I)

Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full name

Service address

Nationality

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Johannes Baptiste Paulus Coopmans

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

Dutch

 

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ritchy Alain Drost

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

Dutch

 

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(J)

Accounting reference date

 

:

31 December

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(K)

Auditors

 

:

KPMG, The Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(L)

Tax residence

 

:

The Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.28

LGE HoldCo V B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(A)

Registered number

 

:

57657165

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(B)

Date of incorporation

 

:

5 April 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(C)

Place of incorporation

 

:

Amsterdam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(D)

Address of registered office

 

:

Boeingavenue 53, 1119PE

 

 

 

 

 

Schiphol-Rijk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(E)

Class of company

 

:

Besloten Vennootschap

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(F)

Authorised share capital (if any)

 

:

Not Applicable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(G)

Issued share capital

 

:

EUR 20,028

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(H)

Members:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

 

Full name

Registered address

Shares held

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LGE HoldCo VII B.V.

Boeing Avenue 53, 1119PE

11,018

 

 

 

Schiphol-Rijk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LGE HoldCo VIII B.V.

Boeing Avenue 53, 1119PE

6,010

 

 

 

Schiphol-Rijk

 

 

148



 

 

(I)

Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full name

Service address

Nationality

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liberty Global Europe Management B.V.

Boeingavenue 53, 1119PE

Dutch

 

 

 

Schiphol-Rijk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(J)

Accounting reference date

 

:

31 December

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(K)

Auditors

 

:

KPMG

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(L)

Tax residence

 

:

Dutch

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.29

LGE HoldCo VI B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(A)

Registered number

 

:

59389567

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(B)

Date of incorporation

 

:

6 December 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(C)

Place of incorporation

 

:

Amsterdam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(D)

Address of registered office

 

:

Boeingavenue 53, 1119PE

 

 

 

 

 

Schiphol-Rijk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(E)

Class of company

 

:

Besloten Vennootschap

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(F)

Authorised share capital (if any)

 

:

Not Applicable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(G)

Issued share capital

 

:

EUR 10,004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(H)

Members:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

 

Full name

Registered address

Shares held

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ziggo Group Holding B.V.

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

Sole Shareholder

 

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(I)

Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full name

Service address

Nationality

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liberty Global Europe Management B.V.

Boeingavenue 53, 1119PE

Dutch

 

 

 

Schiphol-Rijk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(J)

Accounting reference date

 

:

31 December

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(K)

Auditors

 

:

KPMG

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(L)

Tax residence

 

:

Dutch

 

149



 

2.30

LGE HoldCo VII B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(A)

Registered number

 

:

59416580

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(B)

Date of incorporation

 

:

11 December 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(C)

Place of incorporation

 

:

Amsterdam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(D)

Address of registered office

 

:

Boeingavenue 53, 1119PE

 

 

 

 

 

Schiphol-Rijk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(E)

Class of company

 

:

Besloten Vennootschap

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(F)

Authorised share capital (if any)

 

:

Not Applicable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(G)

Issued share capital

 

:

EUR 10,002

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(H)

Members:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

 

Full name

Registered address

Shares held

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LGE HoldCo VI B.V.

Boeingavenue 53, 1119PE

Sole Shareholder

 

 

 

Schiphol-Rijk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(I)

Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full name

Service address

Nationality

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liberty Global Europe Management B.V.

Boeingavenue 53, 1119PE

Dutch

 

 

 

Schiphol-Rijk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(J)

Accounting reference date

 

:

31 December

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(K)

Auditors

 

:

KPMG

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(L)

Tax residence

 

:

Dutch

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.31

LGE HoldCo VIII B.V

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(A)

Registered number

 

:

61755265

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(B)

Date of incorporation

 

:

27 October 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(C)

Place of incorporation

 

:

Amsterdam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(D)

Address of registered office

 

:

Boeingavenue 53, 1119PE

 

 

 

 

 

Schiphol-Rijk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(E)

Class of company

 

:

Besloten Vennootschap

 

150



 

 

(F)

Authorised share capital (if any)

 

:

Not Applicable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(G)

Issued share capital

 

:

EUR 10,008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(H)

Members:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

 

Full name

Registered address

Shares held

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LGE HoldCo VII B.V

Boeingavenue 53, 1119PE

Sole Shareholder

 

 

 

Schiphol-Rijk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(I)

Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full name

Service address

Nationality

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liberty Global Europe Management B.V.

Boeingavenue 53, 1119PE

Dutch

 

 

 

Schiphol-Rijk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(J)

Accounting reference date

 

:

31 December

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(K)

Auditors

 

:

KPMG

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(L)

Tax residence

 

:

Dutch

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.32

FinCo Partner 1 B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(A)

Registered number

 

:

59735376

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(B)

Date of incorporation

 

:

15 January 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(C)

Place of incorporation

 

:

Amsterdam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(D)

Address of registered office

 

:

Boeingavenue 53, 1119PE

 

 

 

 

 

Schiphol-Rijk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(E)

Class of company

 

:

Besloten Vennootschap

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(F)

Authorised share capital (if any)

 

:

Not applicable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(G)

Issued share capital

 

:

EUR 10,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(H)

Members:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

 

Full name

Registered address

Shares held

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LGE HoldCo VII B.V.

Boeingavenue 53, 1119PE

Sole Shareholder

 

 

 

Schiphol-Rijk

 

 

151



 

 

(I)

Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full name

Service address

Nationality

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liberty Global Europe Management B.V.

Boeingavenue 53, 1119PE

Dutch

 

 

 

Schiphol-Rijk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(J)

Accounting reference date

 

:

31 December

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(K)

Auditors

 

:

KPMG, The Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(L)

Tax residence

 

:

The Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.33

Liberty Global Content Netherlands B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(A)

Registered number

 

:

34186803

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(B)

Date of incorporation

 

:

13 February 2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(C)

Place of incorporation

 

:

Amsterdam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(D)

Address of registered office

 

:

Koningin Wilhelminaplein

 

 

 

 

 

2-4, 1062HK Amsterdam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(E)

Class of company

 

:

Besloten Vennootschap

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(F)

Authorised share capital (if any)

 

:

Not applicable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(G)

Issued share capital

 

:

EUR 18,200

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(H)

Members:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

 

Full name

Registered address

Shares held

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liberty Global Ventures Holding B.V.

Boeingavenue 53, 1119PE

Sole Shareholder

 

 

 

Schiphol-Rijk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(I)

Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full name

Service address

Nationality

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liberty Global Europe Management B.V.

Boeingavenue 53, 1119PE

The Netherlands

 

 

 

Schiphol-Rijk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(J)

Accounting reference date

 

:

31 December

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(K)

Auditors

 

:

KPMG, The Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(L)

Tax residence

 

:

The Netherlands

 

152



 

2.34

UPC Western Europe Holding B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(A)

Registered number

 

:

33296156

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(B)

Date of incorporation

 

:

12 December 1994

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(C)

Place of incorporation

 

:

Amsterdam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(D)

Address of registered office

 

:

Boeingavenue 53, 1119PE

 

 

 

 

 

Schiphol-Rijk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(E)

Class of company

 

:

Besloten Vennootschap

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(F)

Authorised share capital (if any)

 

:

EUR 450,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(G)

Issued share capital

 

:

EUR 180,900

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(H)

Members:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

 

Full name

Registered address

Shares held

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UPC Broadband Holding B.V

Boeingavenue 53, 1119PE

Sole Shareholder

 

 

 

Schiphol-Rijk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(I)

Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full name

Service address

Nationality

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UPC Broadband Holding B.V.

Boeingavenue 53, 1119PE

Dutch

 

 

 

Schiphol-Rijk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(J)

Accounting reference date

 

:

31 December

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(K)

Auditors

 

:

KPMG, The Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(L)

Tax residence

 

:

The Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.35

UPC Western Europe Holding 2 B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(A)

Registered number

 

:

33303479

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(B)

Date of incorporation

 

:

25 May 1998

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(C)

Place of incorporation

 

:

Amsterdam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(D)

Address of registered office

 

:

Kabelweg 51, 1014BA

 

 

 

 

 

Amsterdam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(E)

Class of company

 

:

Besloten Vennootschap

 

153



 

 

(F)

Authorised share capital (if any)

 

:

Not applicable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(G)

Issued share capital

 

:

EUR 45,381

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(H)

Members:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

 

Full name

Registered address

Shares held

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UPC Western Europe Holding B.V.

Boeingavenue 53, 1119PE

Sole Shareholder

 

 

 

Schiphol-Rijk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(I)

Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full name

Service address

Nationality

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Johannes Baptiste Paulus Coopmans

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

Dutch

 

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ritchy Alain Drost

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

Dutch

 

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(J)

Accounting reference date

 

:

31 December

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(K)

Auditors

 

:

KPMG, The Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(L)

Tax residence

 

:

The Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.36

HBO Nederland Coöperatief U.A.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(A)

Registered number

 

:

53943074

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(B)

Date of incorporation

 

:

14 November 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(C)

Place of incorporation

 

:

Amsterdam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(D)

Address of registered office

 

:

Barbara Strozzilaan101,

 

 

 

 

 

1083HN Amsterdam

 

 

 

 

 

 

(i)

Class of company

 

:

Coöperatie met beperkte aansprakelijkheid

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(E)

Authorised share capital (if any)

 

:

Not applicable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(F)

Issued share capital

 

:

Not applicable

 

154



 

 

(G)

Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full name

Service address

Nationality

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ritchy Alain Drost

Barbara Strozzilaan 101,

Dutch

 

 

 

1083HN Amsterdam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Simon Peter Sutton

Barbara Strozzilaan 101,

British

 

 

 

1083HN Amsterdam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stanley Barton Fertig

Barbara Strozzilaan 101,

American

 

 

 

1083HN Amsterdam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hendrik Jan de Groot

Barbara Strozzilaan 101,

Swiss

 

 

 

1083HN Amsterdam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(H)

Accounting reference date

 

:

31 December

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(I)

Auditors

 

:

Ernst & Young

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(J)

Tax residence

 

:

Dutch

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.37

Ziggo Toestel Financiering B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(A)

Registered number

 

:

61665347

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(B)

Date of incorporation

 

:

13 October 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(C)

Place of incorporation

 

:

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(D)

Address of registered office

 

:

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

 

 

 

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(E)

Class of company

 

:

Besloten Vennootschap

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(F)

Authorised share capital (if any)

 

:

Not applicable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(G)

Issued share capital

 

:

EUR 10,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(H)

Members:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

 

Full name

Registered address

Shares held

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Labesa Holding B.V.

Boeingavenue 53, 1119PE

Sole Shareholder

 

 

 

Schiphol-Rijk

 

 

155



 

 

(I)

Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full name

Service address

Nationality

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Johannes Baptiste

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

Dutch

 

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

Paulus Coopmans

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ritchy Alain Drost

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

Dutch

 

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(J)

Accounting reference date

 

:

31 December

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(K)

Auditors

 

:

KPMG, The Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(L)

Tax residence

 

:

The Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.38

Ziggo Financing Partnership

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(A)

Registered number

 

:

1081647

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(B)

Date of incorporation

 

:

24 January 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(C)

Place of incorporation

 

:

Wilmington

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(D)

Address of registered office

 

:

2711 Centerville Road

 

 

 

 

 

Suite 400, Wilmington

 

 

 

 

 

DE 19808

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(E)

Class of company

 

:

Partnership

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(F)

Authorised share capital (if any)

 

:

Not applicable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(G)

Issued share capital

 

:

Not applicable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(H)

Partners:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full name

Service address

Nationality

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ziggo B.V. (Managing Partner)

Atoomweg 100, 3542 AB

Dutch

 

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ziggo Deelnemingen B.V.

Atoomweg 100, 3542AB

Dutch

 

 

 

Utrecht

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(I)

Accounting reference date

 

:

31 December

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(J)

Auditors

 

:

KPMG, The Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(K)

Tax residence

 

:

Transparent

 

156



 

2.39

LG Financing Partnership

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(A)

Registered number

 

:

1087186

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(B)

Date of incorporation

 

:

27 January 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(C)

Place of incorporation

 

:

Wilmington

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(D)

Address of registered office

 

:

2711 Centerville Road

 

 

 

 

 

Suite 400, Newcastle

 

 

 

 

 

County, Wilmington. DE

 

 

 

 

 

19808

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(E)

Class of company

 

:

Partnership

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(F)

Authorised share capital (if any)

 

:

Not applicable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(G)

Issued share capital

 

:

Not applicable

 

 

 

 

 

 

Partners:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full name

Service address

Nationality

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LGE HoldCo VII B.V. (managing partner)

Boeingavenue 53, 1119PE

Dutch

 

 

 

Schiphol-Rijk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finco Partner I B.V.

Boeingavenue 53, 1119PE

Dutch

 

 

 

Schiphol-Rijk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(H)

Accounting reference date

 

:

31 December

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(I)

Auditors

 

:

KPMG,The Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(J)

Tax residence

 

:

Transparent

 

157



 

Attachment 2

(Relevant Properties)

 

Part 1 — Vodafone Relevant Properties

 

158



 

Part 2 — Liberty Global Relevant Properties

 

159



 

Attachment 2

(Vodafone Relevant Properties)

 

Part 1 — Vodafone Relevant Properties

 

Freehold Properties

 

Registered proprietor

 

 

 

Short property

 

 

 

 

(owner)

 

Cadastral description

 

description

 

Title

 

Use

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vodafone Libertel B.V.

 

Arnhem, W, 1135 + 1136

 

Office + technical space

 

19341/42:

 

switch (technical building)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30/03/2007 mr. H.B.H. Kraak, Amsterdam (wijziging tenaamstelling van Vodafone Libertel N.V. naar Vodafone Libertel B.V.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13/12/2001 mr. H.B.H. Kraak, Amsterdam (wijziging tenaamstelling van Libertel N.V. naar Vodafone Libertel N.V.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31/12/2000 mr. H.B.H. Kraak, Amsterdam (fusie Libertel Netwerk B.V. met Libertel N.V.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14183/52:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

28/4/1999 mr H.B.H. Kraak, Amsterdam (wijziging tenaamstelling van Libertel B.V. naar Libertel Netwerk B.V.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3/11/1995 mr. L.C.K. Klein, Amsterdam (levering aan

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Libertel B.V.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31/08/2015 mr. J.L.F.J. Verasdonck, Amsterdam
(levering aan Vodafone Libertel B.V.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vodafone Libertel B.V.

 

Arnhem, W 4466

 

Piece of land

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Liander Infra Oost N.V.:
opstalrecht)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vodafone Libertel B.V.

 

Breda, F, 2089 + F989

 

Office + technical space

 

12997/36

 

switch (technical building)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30/03/2007 mr. H.B.H. Kraak, Amsterdam (wijziging tenaamstelling van Vodafone Libertel N.V. naar Vodafone Libertel B.V.)13/12/2001 mr. H.B.H. Kraak, Amsterdam (wijziging tenaamstelling van Libertel N.V. naar Vodafone Libertel N.V.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31/12/2000 mr. H.B.H. Kraak, Amsterdam (fusie Libertel Netwerk B.V. met Libertel N.V.)),

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

28/4/1999 mr H.B.H. Kraak, Amsterdam (wijziging tenaamstelling van Libertel B.V. naar Libertel Netwerk

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

B.V.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

20/11/1998 mr. M.W.J.M. Giesbers, Maastricht (levering aan Libertel B.V.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12997/36

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30/03/2007 mr. H.B.H. Kraak, Amsterdam (wijziging tenaamstelling van Vodafone Libertel N.V. naar Vodafone Libertel B.V.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13/12/2001 mr. H.B.H. Kraak, Amsterdam (wijziging tenaamstelling van Libertel N.V. naar Vodafone Libertel N.V.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vodafone Libertel B.V.

 

Breda, F 990

 

Technical space

 

31/12/2000 mr. H.B.H. Kraak, Amsterdam (fusie Libertel Netwerk B.V. met Libertel N.V.),

 

Switch (Technical building)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

28/4/1999 mr H.B.H. Kraak, Amsterdam (wijziging tenaamstelling van Libertel B.V. naar Libertel Netwerk B.V.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

20/11/1998 mr. M.W.J.M. Giesbers, Maastricht (levering aan Libertel B.V.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vodafone Libertel B.V.

 

Helpman (Groningen), O 4027 + O 4028 (formerly O 1552 and O 2635 according to cadastre)

 

Office + technical space

 

7617/32

 

30/03/2007 mr. H.B.H. Kraak, Amsterdam (wijziging tenaamstelling van Vodafone Libertel N.V. naar

 

O 4027 not operational anymore. O 4028 is used as a shelter + antenna

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vodafone Libertel B.V.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31/12/2001 mr. H.B.H. Kraak, Amsterdam (wijziging tenaamstelling van Libertel N.V. naar Vodafone Libertel N.V.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31/12/2000 mr. H.B.H. Kraak, Amsterdam (fusie Libertel Netwerk B.V. met Libertel N.V.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

28/4/1999 mr H.B.H. Kraak, Amsterdam (wijziging tenaamstelling van Libertel B.V. naar Libertel Netwerk B.V.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15/05/1996 mr. L.C.K. Klein, Amsterdam (levering aan Libertel B.V.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vodafone Libertel B.V.

 

Venlo, O, 837

 

Office + technical space

 

12541/6

 

switch (technical building)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30/03/2007 mr. H.B.H. Kraak, Amsterdam (wijziging tenaamstelling van Vodafone Libertel N.V. naar Vodafone Libertel B.V.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31/12/2001 mr. H.B.H. Kraak, Amsterdam (wijziging tenaamstelling van Libertel N.V. naar Vodafone Libertel N.V)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31/12/2000 mr. H.B.H. Kraak, Amsterdam (fusie Libertel Netwerk B.V. met Libertel N.V.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

02/07/1999 mr. M.W.J.M. Giesbers, Maastricht (levering aan Libertel Netwerk B.V.)

 

 

 


 


 

Vodafone Libertel B.V.

 

Houten, E, 2294

 

Office + technical space

 

11083/42

 

switch (technical building)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30/03/2007 mr. H.B.H. Kraak, Amsterdam (wijziging tenaamstelling van Vodafone Libertel N.V. naar Vodafone Libertel B.V.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(N.V. Stedin Netten Utrecht: rights in rem Belemmeringenwet Privaatrecht)

 

 

 

 

 

13/12/2001 mr. H.B.H. Kraak, Amsterdam (wijziging tenaamstelling van Libertel N.V. naar Vodafone Libertel N.V)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31/12/2000 mr. H.B.H. Kraak, Amsterdam (fusie Libertel Netwerk B.V. met Libertel N.V.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15/10/1999 mr. M.W.J.M. Giesbers, Maastricht (levering aan Libertel Netwerk B.V.))

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11825/23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30/03/2007 mr. H.B.H. Kraak, Amsterdam (wijziging tenaamstelling van Vodafone Libertel N.V. naar Vodafone Libertel B.V.)13/12/2001 mr. H.B.H. Kraak, Amsterdam (wijziging tenaamstelling van Libertel N.V. naar Vodafone Libertel N.V.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vodafone Libertel B.V.

 

Son en Breugel, B 2383

 

Office and technical space

 

13/12/2001 mr. H.B.H. Kraak, Amsterdam (wijziging tenaamstelling van Libertel N.V. naar Vodafone Libertel N.V)

 

Switch (technical building)

 

Sold, but not yet

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31/12/2000 mr. H.B.H. Kraak, Amsterdam (fusie Libertel Netwerk B.V. met Libertel N.V.)),

 

transferred

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

28/4/1999 mr H.B.H. Kraak, Amsterdam (wijziging tenaamstelling van Libertel B.V. naar Libertel Netwerk B.V.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16/11/1995 mr. L.C.K. Klein, Amsterdam (levering aan Libertel B.V.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leasehold / Right of superficies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Registered lease-
holder / superficiary

 

Cadastral description

 

Title

 

Short property
description

 

Bare owner

 

Duration

 

Short description

 

Use

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vodafone Libertel B.V. (leaseholder)

 

Kralingen, L, 2548

 

19435/26

 

Office + technical space

 

Municipality of Rotter-dam

 

Ending 18/10/2097

 

 

 

switch (technical building)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30/03/2007 mr. H.B.H. Kraak, Amsterdam (wijziging tenaamstelling van Vodafone Libertel N.V. naar Vodafone Libertel B.V.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31/12/2001 mr. H.B.H. Kraak, Amsterdam (wijziging tenaamstelling

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Registered lease-
holder / superficiary

 

Cadastral description

 

Title

 

Short property
description

 

Bare owner

 

Duration

 

Short description

 

Use

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

van Libertel N.V. naar Vodafone Libertel N.V)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31/12/2000 mr. H.B.H. Kraak, Amsterdam (fusie Libertel Netwerk B.V. met Libertel N.V.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1/10/1999 mr. A.A. Schulting, Rotterdam (levering aan Libertel Netwerk B.V.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Attachment 2, Part 2

Liberty Global Relevant Properties

 

The following table sets of information regarding:

 

· Freehold Properties — including: Owner (registered proprietor); Cadastral description (municipality, section, number); Use; Title.

· Leasehold / Right of superficies — including: Leaseholder (registered leaseholder / superficiary); Cadastral description (municipality, section, number); Use; Title; Landlord (bare owner); Start Date and End Date (duration); Rental.

· Other Property — including: Owner; Use; Country.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rental (including service

 

 

 

 

Owner/Leaseholder

 

Cadastral description

 

Use

 

Title

 

Landlord

 

Lease Start

 

Lease End

 

charges) (CC)

 

Country

 

City/ Town

Ziggo Services

 

Mangaanweg 5a, 8445 PW, Heerenveen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Heerenveen

Ziggo Services

 

Wisentweg 52s, 8219 PL, Lelystad

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Lelystad

Ziggo Services

 

Laan van Westroijen, 4003 BA, Tiel

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Tiel

Ziggo Services

 

Hengelder 22 naast voetbalveld, 6902 PA, Zevenaar

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Zevenaar

Ziggo Services

 

Simon Stevinstraat 22, 1097 CA, Amsterdam

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Amsterdam

Ziggo Services

 

Amerbos (bij stadsverwarming-gebouw), 1025 ZM, Amsterdam

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Amsterdam

Ziggo Services

 

Weverstraat 53 (Achter brandweer), 1521 TA, Wormerveer

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Wormerveer

Ziggo Services

 

Hoek Planetenlaan, Meester Jan Gerrits Laan, 2024 EP, Haarlem

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Haarlem

Ziggo Services

 

Emmaplein, 2014 VA, Haarlem

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Haarlem

Ziggo Services

 

Ankerraplantsoen, 2034 TT, Haarlem

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Haarlem

Ziggo Services

 

Nagtzaamplein, 2032 TB, Haarlem

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Haarlem

Ziggo Services

 

Nieuwgraaf / Rivierweg achter Mc Donalds, 6921 RL, Duiven

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Duiven

Ziggo Services

 

Batavierenweg / Randweg (bij gasstation), 6845 AC, Arnhem

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Arnhem

Ziggo Services

 

Pasteurstraat, 6951 CL, Dieren

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Dieren

Ziggo Services

 

Eltensestraat / Parallelweg, 6922 JA, Duiven

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Duiven

Ziggo Services

 

Bennekomseweg bij 126 , 6871 KH, Renkum

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Renkum

Ziggo Services

 

Benedendorpsweg, 6862 WB, Oosterbeek

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Oosterbeek

Ziggo Services

 

Klapstraat, 6931, Westervoort

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Westervoort

Ziggo Services

 

Schoenmakerstraat 145, 1823, Alkmaar

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Alkmaar

Ziggo Services

 

Rogier v/d Weydestraat, 1823, Alkmaar

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Alkmaar

Ziggo Services

 

Muiderwaard 6111, 1824, Alkmaar

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Alkmaar

Ziggo Services

 

Edelhertweg / Passiebloemweg, 1338 KB, Almere

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Almere

Ziggo Services

 

Januaristraat achter 148, 1335 AJ, Almere

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Almere

Ziggo Services

 

Boomgaardweg (Psych. Centrum), 1326 AC, Almere

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Almere

Ziggo Services

 

Operetteweg (bij spoortunnel), 1323 VE, Almere

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Almere

Ziggo Services

 

Kostverloren / Termaaden, 7316 MN, Apeldoorn

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Apeldoorn

Ziggo Services

 

Laurierstraat naast 43, 7322 RB, Apeldoorn

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Apeldoorn

 

1



 

Ziggo Services

 

Paramariboweg 65, 7333 PA, Apeldoorn

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Apeldoorn

Ziggo Services

 

Kruisallee Watergatstraat mtr richting, 7383 AA, Voorst

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Voorst

Ziggo Services

 

Hammerstraat bij 9, 8161 PH, Epe

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Epe

Ziggo Services

 

Vaassenseweg, 7396 NA, Voorst

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Voorst

Ziggo Services

 

Mielweg nabij 41 (spoorweg overgang), 6741 ZW, Ede

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Ede

Ziggo Services

 

Hermesweg t.o. 30, 3771 ND, Barneveld

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Barneveld

Ziggo Services

 

Ericaweg 35, 3776 MD, Stroe

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Stroe

Ziggo Services

 

Nijkerkstraat 20, 3871 KC, Hoevelaken

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Hoevelaken

Ziggo Services

 

Vetkamp / t Hazeveld 11, 3862 XA, Nijkerk

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Nijkerk

Ziggo Services

 

Smutslaan / Hamburgerweg, 3851 ZA, Ermelo

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Ermelo

Ziggo Services

 

Achterweg 4, 8081 RV, Elburg

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Elburg

Ziggo Services

 

Horsterweg / Kluunpad (fietspad bij mast), 3891, Zeewolde

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Zeewolde

Ziggo Services

 

Kiesterzyl 50 (bij schakelstation NUON), 8807 PG, Franekeradeel

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Franekeradeel

Ziggo Services

 

Geldropsedijk bij 2, 5672 AC, Nuenen Gerwen en Nederwetten

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Nuenen Gerwen en Nederwetten

Ziggo Services

 

Achter Apollo 26, 5591 PP, Heeze

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Heeze

Ziggo Services

 

Drieterskuil (parkeerterrein VV Oirschot), 5688 GC, Oirschot

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Oirschot

Ziggo Services

 

Sportlaan 7, 5492 NG, St.Oedenrode

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

St.Oedenrode

Ziggo Services

 

Dr. Timmermanslaan 64, 5741 XE, Beek en Donk

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Beek en Donk

Ziggo Services

 

Slegerstraat 116, 5706 AZ, Helmond

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Helmond

Ziggo Services

 

Straakvenseboschdijk 65, 5703 GW, Helmond

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Helmond

Ziggo Services

 

Wiekenhof 8, 5712 MA, Someren

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Someren

Ziggo Services

 

Heerbaan 34a, 5721 LW, Asten

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Asten

Ziggo Services

 

Oude Liesselse weg 22b, 5751 WP, Deurne

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Deurne

Ziggo Services

 

Lochterweg 7, 5425 VZ, Gemert

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Gemert

Ziggo Services

 

Schimmerik 1, 5503 PM, Veldhoven

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Veldhoven

Ziggo Services

 

Hertstraat, 5521 RK, Eersel

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Eersel

Ziggo Services

 

Lodewijk van Deysellaan 20, 5531 SM, Bladel en Netersel

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Bladel en Netersel

Ziggo Services

 

Eerselsedijk nabij 34, 5571 TM, Bergeyk

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Bergeyk

Ziggo Services

 

Barentzstraat, 5554 PN, Valkenswaard

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Valkenswaard

Ziggo Services

 

S. v. Schaiklaan achter nr. 1, 6027 PL, Maarheeze

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Maarheeze

Ziggo Services

 

Mierloseweg/ J.Peijnenburgweg, 5662 KA, Geldrop

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Geldrop

Ziggo Services

 

Rosvelterweg, 6031 RH, Nederweert

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Nederweert

Ziggo Services

 

Thialfweg t/o 44 (bij ziekenhuis), 8441 PW, Heerenveen

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Heerenveen

Ziggo Services

 

Pasveer 3 (onderstation NUON), 8531 DL, Lemsterland

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Lemsterland

Ziggo Services

 

Larserdreef 696T, 8233 HA, Lelystad

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Lelystad

Ziggo Services

 

Gondel bij 18-01, 8243 BX, Lelystad

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Lelystad

Ziggo Services

 

Badweg 2T, 8223 PA, Lelystad

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Lelystad

Ziggo Services

 

Educalaan (bij moskee), 8251 GC, Dronten

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Dronten

Ziggo Services

 

Tylkedam t.o. 33, 8918 LW, Leeuwarden

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Leeuwarden

Ziggo Services

 

Strjitwei 1a, 9035 VM, Menaldumadeel

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Menaldumadeel

Ziggo Services

 

Ljouwterdyk / Hijumerweg, 9074 CT, Ferwerderadeel

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Ferwerderadeel

 

2



 

Ziggo Services

 

Douwelaan 9E, 9062 EL, Tietjerksteradeel

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Tietjerksteradeel

Ziggo Services

 

Rustenburgerweg 1C, 9255 XH, Tietjerksteradeel

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

1,661.37

 

The Netherlands

 

Tietjerksteradeel

Ziggo Services

 

Tjaarda bij 288, 9202 KW, Smallingerland

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Smallingerland

Ziggo Services

 

Rykswei bij 7, 9011 VA, Rauwerderhem

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Rauwerderhem

Ziggo Services

 

De Mark Meterense Mark,A15 afr.30,a, 4194 SM, Geldermalsen

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Geldermalsen

Ziggo Services

 

Bommelsekade, 5301 KL, Zaltbommel

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Zaltbommel

Ziggo Services

 

Veerweg (Naast Nuon Trafogebouw), 6659 KD, Wamel

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Wamel

Ziggo Services

 

Veilingweg, 5334 LB, Maasdriel

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Maasdriel

Ziggo Services

 

Molenveldweg, 5315 AA, Kerkwijk

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Kerkwijk

Ziggo Services

 

Hoek Meidijk / van Heemstraweg, 5305 VJ, Zuilichem

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Zuilichem

Ziggo Services

 

Winselingseweg op parkeerplaats, 6541 AK, Nijmegen

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Nijmegen

Ziggo Services

 

v Rozenburgweg 152 naast NUON onderstation, 6537 TM, Nijmegen

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Nijmegen

Ziggo Services

 

Veldweg 3, 6585, MookenMiddelaar

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

MookenMiddelaar

Ziggo Services

 

Hoefseweg, 6566 ZR, Millingen a/dRijn

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Millingen a/dRijn

Ziggo Services

 

Dir. Trompstraat t.o. 3, 6644 AK, Ewijk

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Ewijk

Ziggo Services

 

Busstation Druten, 6651 KJ, Druten

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Druten

Ziggo Services

 

Oosterweg, 6602 HA, Wijchen

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Wijchen

Ziggo Services

 

Hildokropstraat 2, 6662 EV, Elst

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Elst

Ziggo Services

 

v. Elkweg (carpoolplaats), 6681 AA, Bemmel

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Bemmel

Ziggo Services

 

Oude Zwolseweg, 8102 RS, Raalte

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Raalte

Ziggo Services

 

Insulindestraat 235, 3038 JP, Rotterdam

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Rotterdam

Ziggo Services

 

Vondelweg t.o.244, 3031 PA, Rotterdam

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Rotterdam

Ziggo Services

 

Parallelstraat 7, 3043 GK, Rotterdam

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Rotterdam

Ziggo Services

 

Van Rijckevorselplein 44, 3065 SM, Rotterdam

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Rotterdam

Ziggo Services

 

Jacques de Graaffweg 1, 3069 ZD, Rotterdam

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

1,038.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Rotterdam

Ziggo Services

 

Gruttostraat 6, 3083 KZ, Rotterdam

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

1,038.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Rotterdam

Ziggo Services

 

Buysstraat 1 K, 3314 CA, Dordrecht

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Dordrecht

Ziggo Services

 

Kromme Zandweg 62B, 3319 LC, Dordrecht

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Dordrecht

Ziggo Services

 

Schenkeldijk 14C, 3328 LA, Dordrecht

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Dordrecht

Ziggo Services

 

Aveling (nabij Voorweg 51), 3193 LC, Rotterdam

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Rotterdam

Ziggo Services

 

Aveling 500, 3191 LB, Rotterdam

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Rotterdam

Ziggo Services

 

Haringvlietweg 1K, 3221 LS, Hellevoetsluis

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Hellevoetsluis

Ziggo Services

 

Dag Hammarskjoldlaan 199K, 3223 HG, Hellevoetsluis

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Hellevoetsluis

Ziggo Services

 

LN v nw Blankenburg 154-170, 3181 EG, Rozenburg

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Rozenburg

Ziggo Services

 

Zuiderzeestraat 7, 3363 CZ, Sliedrecht

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Sliedrecht

Ziggo Services

 

Cord vd Lindenstraat 8K, 3332 CE, Zwijndrecht

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Zwijndrecht

Ziggo Services

 

Havikweg ?, 3334 BJ, Zwijndrecht

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Zwijndrecht

Ziggo Services

 

Sportlaan ?, 2983 AV, Ridderkerk

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Ridderkerk

Ziggo Services

 

Vlietlaan 2V, 2986 AZ, Ridderkerk

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Ridderkerk

Ziggo Services

 

De Rik 22B/26 (nabij bruggeweg), 3232 LA, Brielle

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Brielle

 

3



 

Ziggo Services

 

Wilhelminasingel 15K, 3135 JP, Vlaardingen

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Vlaardingen

Ziggo Services

 

Zwanensingel 1K, 3136 GZ, Vlaardingen

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Vlaardingen

Ziggo Services

 

Lamaireweg ?, 3151 XG, Rotterdam

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Rotterdam

Ziggo Services

 

Hamburg 200, 2993 LG, Barendrecht

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Barendrecht

Ziggo Services

 

Willem Alexanderplantsoen ?, 2991 NA, Barendrecht

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Barendrecht

Ziggo Services

 

Staverseweg 121, 3245 NE, Middelharnis

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Middelharnis

Ziggo Services

 

Huijgenslaan ?, 2651 EG, Berkel en Rodenrijs

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Berkel en Rodenrijs

Ziggo Services

 

Polderslaan ?, 3233 VL, Westvoorne

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Westvoorne

Ziggo Services

 

Populierstraat ?, 4142 EB, Leerdam

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Leerdam

Ziggo Services

 

Bilderdijkstraat ?, 2941 EG, Lekkerkerk

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Lekkerkerk

Ziggo Services

 

Oostveensepad 2 naast scouting gebouw, 7203 DZ, Zutphen

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Zutphen

Ziggo Services

 

Past. Teubnerstraat t.o. 3, 7223 LB, Steenderen

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Steenderen

Ziggo Services

 

Doesburgseweg t.o. fietstunnel Paralle, 6986 AB, Angerlo

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Angerlo

Ziggo Services

 

de Mors 4, 7151 MX, Eibergen

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Eibergen

Ziggo Services

 

Eibergeseweg 10, 7141 CE, Groenlo

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Groenlo

Ziggo Services

 

Rondweg Zuid 1, 6901, Aalten

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Aalten

Ziggo Services

 

Raadhuisstraat 18 naast voetbalveld, 7131 CM, Lichtenvoorde

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Lichtenvoorde

Ziggo Services

 

Zuivelweg t.o. politiebureau, 7021, Zelhem

 

Technical, Hub

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Zelhem

Ziggo

 

Westerbracht 11-15a, 7821 CD, Emmen

 

Technical, Data Centre

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Emmen

Ziggo

 

Damzigt 5, 3454 PS, Utrecht

 

Technical, Data Centre

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Utrecht

Ziggo

 

Goirkekanaaldijk 46, 5046 AT, Tilburg

 

Technical, Data Centre

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Tilburg

Ziggo

 

Asserwijk 1A-2, 9406 XJ, Assen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Assen

Ziggo

 

Sparrenlaan 1, 9401 RA, Assen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Assen

Ziggo

 

Doortocht, 2411 DS, Bodegraven

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Bodegraven

Ziggo

 

Vloed naast 114, 4813 PG, Breda

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Breda

Ziggo

 

Emerweg 48, 4815 NB, Breda

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Breda

Ziggo

 

Hoek straat Wilderdpad/fietspad Burgstsedreef Zilvermeeuw, 4822 ZA, Breda

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Breda

Ziggo

 

Vuchtstraat 86-180 / Doornboslaan, 4816 BP, Breda

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Breda

Ziggo

 

Lange Bedde-talud 87 / Blauwe Kei, 4834 AN, Breda

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Breda

Ziggo

 

Industrieweg 8, 9781 AC, Bedum

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Bedum

Ziggo

 

Oude Pastorie, 6191 HW, Beek

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Beek

Ziggo

 

Broeklaan 120 nst, 5953 NB, Beesel

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Beesel

Ziggo

 

Willinklaan 14, 2121 CV, Bennebroek

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Bennebroek

Ziggo

 

Laan der Vrijheid 97 / Europasingel, 2661 HJ, Lansingerland

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Lansingerland

Ziggo

 

Prins Hendriklaan 24 / Koninginneweg, 1862 EL, Bergen (Nh)

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Bergen (Nh)

Ziggo

 

Eikenboschweg, 5056 GB, Tilburg

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Tilburg

Ziggo

 

Babsloot 30 t.o., 2771 EK, Boskoop

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Boskoop

Ziggo

 

Linthorst homanweg 19, 9411 KC, Midden- Drenthe

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Midden-Drenthe

Ziggo

 

IJsselweg 1, 1695 AX, Hoorn

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Hoorn

Ziggo

 

IJsselweg 1, 1695 AX, Hoorn

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Hoorn

Ziggo

 

Aalbos 3, 1721 PL, Langedijk

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Langedijk

Ziggo

 

Aldenhofweg, 6122 EN, Sittard-Geleen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Sittard-Geleen

Ziggo

 

Gondulfusstraat, 6444 VB, Brunssum

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Brunssum

 

4



 

Ziggo

 

Iepenlaan to 143, 1406 TM, Bussum

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Bussum

Ziggo

 

Dr. Abraham Kuyperlaan 1 G, 1402 SB, Bussum

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Bussum

Ziggo

 

Den Ekker 25, 5683 KE, Best

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Best

Ziggo

 

St Antoniusweg 1A, 5684 LX, Best

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Best

Ziggo

 

Bataweg / De Dieze, 5684 PT, Best

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Best

Ziggo

 

Beneluxlaan, 5283 HD, Boxtel

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Boxtel

Ziggo

 

Veilingweg 1, 1611 BN, Stede Broec

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Stede Broec

Ziggo

 

Harmonielaantje, 1942 EG, Beverwijk

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Beverwijk

Ziggo

 

De Marne 65-71 Naast, 8701 PV, Bolsward

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Bolsward

Ziggo

 

Reviusrondeel, 2902 EA, Capelle Aan Den Ijssel

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Capelle Aan Den Ijssel

Ziggo

 

Hoek Rivierweg / Merellaan, 2902 JA, Capelle Aan Den Ijssel

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Capelle Aan Den Ijssel

Ziggo

 

Bugel/Heer Haleweijnburg, 2907 HC, Capelle Aan Den Ijssel

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Capelle Aan Den Ijssel

Ziggo

 

Dorpstraat/Dokter van Nieveltweg, 1901 GA, Castricum

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Castricum

Ziggo

 

Pampert 2, 7741 JJ, Coevorden

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Coevorden

Ziggo

 

Heiligenberg 22, 5431 SM, Cuijk

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Cuijk

Ziggo

 

Engweg 16 bij, 3972 TZ, Utrechtse Heuvelrug

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Utrechtse Heuvelrug

Ziggo

 

Oude Zuidwoldigerstraat 12-10, 7701 AZ, Hardenberg

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Hardenberg

Ziggo

 

Minister Goselinglaan, 5103 BJ, Dongen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Dongen

Ziggo

 

Brethouwerstraat 27/28, 7721 XM, Dalfsen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Dalfsen

Ziggo

 

Doornenburg 836, 7423 BW, Deventer

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Deventer

Ziggo

 

Londenstraat 5-2, 7418 EE, Deventer

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Deventer

Ziggo

 

Ceintuurbaan 393, 7413 AP, Deventer

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Deventer

Ziggo

 

Hortensialaan 2 naast, 9765 HB, Tynaarlo

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Tynaarlo

Ziggo

 

Gerard Brandtweg to Mink 15, 1602 DE, Enkhuizen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Enkhuizen

Ziggo

 

Boerschaplaan 67, 7824 NB, Emmen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Emmen

Ziggo

 

Laan Van De Eekharst 203, 7823 AE, Emmen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Emmen

Ziggo

 

Marknesserweg 1, 8302 GN, Noordoostpolder

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Noordoostpolder

Ziggo

 

Steengraaf, 5469 TP, Veghel

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Veghel

Ziggo

 

Dolphiaweg 1, 7534 AM, Enschede

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Enschede

Ziggo

 

Vlierstraat 109, 7544 GE, Enschede

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Enschede

Ziggo

 

Wethouder Nijhuisstraat 3 D, 7545 NA, Enschede

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Enschede

Ziggo

 

Anna van Berchemlaan 4c, 4872 TG, Etten-Leur

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Etten-Leur

Ziggo

 

Tamboerijn 17 A, 4876 BT, Etten-Leur

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Etten-Leur

Ziggo

 

Zoerbeemden, 6245 LR, Eijsden

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Eijsden

Ziggo

 

Pisartlaan 1a, 6245 SK, Eijsden

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Eijsden

Ziggo

 

Wilhelminastraat 68a, 4793 EP, Moerdijk

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Moerdijk

Ziggo

 

Voltastraat 2-1, 8801 PL, Franekeradeel

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Franekeradeel

Ziggo

 

Bernhardstraat, 6161 GR, Sittard-Geleen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Sittard-Geleen

Ziggo

 

Voorhoevepark, 6591 AJ, Gennep

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Gennep

Ziggo

 

Boterbloem, 5831 PC, Boxmeer

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Boxmeer

Ziggo

 

Burg. Rensstraat, 5051 CN, Goirle

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Goirle

 

5


 


 

Ziggo

 

Van Iddekingeweg 204—, 9721 CM, Groningen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Groningen

Ziggo

 

Admiraal De Ruyterlaan 1, 9726 GN, Groningen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Groningen

Ziggo

 

Zuiderkruislaan 14-2, 9742 VC, Groningen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Groningen

Ziggo

 

Van Oldenbarneveltlaan 1, 9716 EA, Groningen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Groningen

Ziggo

 

Bakemastraat 1, 9731 LZ, Groningen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Groningen

Ziggo

 

Hogeland 1-2, 8281 JR, Zwartewaterland

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Zwartewaterland

Ziggo

 

Wetterwille 2, 8401 GB, Opsterland

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Opsterland

Ziggo

 

Kiewegracht, 6271 BN, Gulpen-Wittem

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Gulpen-Wittem

Ziggo

 

Stoofweg, 5361 HZ, Grave

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Grave

Ziggo

 

Helenastraat 8, 2595 HA, ‘S-Gravenhage

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

‘S-Gravenhage

Ziggo

 

Nootdorpse landingslaan/Tedingerbroekweg, 2134, Nootdorp

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Nootdorp

Ziggo

 

Den Bulk, 5126 BA, Gilze En Rijen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Gilze En Rijen

Ziggo

 

Roermondseweg 51-57, 6081 NT, Haelen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Haelen

Ziggo

 

Loosbroeksestraat 10 nabij, 5384 SV, Bernheze

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Bernheze

Ziggo

 

Bijlweg /Waddenzeestraat/Nieuweweg 4, 1784 MC, Den Helder

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Den Helder

Ziggo

 

Oosterstreng 3 / Muurpeper 3 bij, 1964 KA, Heemskerk

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Heemskerk

Ziggo

 

Floris van Alkemadestraat/Deb. Bakelaan bij 384, 1962 WE, Heemskerk

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Heemskerk

Ziggo

 

Rieterlaan, 5981 EP, Helden

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Helden

Ziggo

 

St.Anthoniusstraat, 6093 GM, Heythuysen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Heythuysen

Ziggo

 

Burg. Pabstlaan 10 to, 2131 ZP, Haarlemmermeer

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Haarlemmermeer

Ziggo

 

Willemsbos thv nr 75, 2134 EB, Haarlemmermeer

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Haarlemmermeer

Ziggo

 

Demmersweg /Hazenweg 25 nabij, 7556 BM, Hengelo Ov

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Hengelo Ov

Ziggo

 

Poolsterstraat 7 naast, 7557 XM, Hengelo Ov

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Hengelo Ov

Ziggo

 

Boekweitweg 65 naast, 7552 EM, Hengelo Ov

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Hengelo Ov

Ziggo

 

Wethouder voogdgeertstr 66, 7553 HP, Hengelo Ov

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Hengelo Ov

Ziggo

 

De Vos van Steenwijklaan 73, 7902 NP, Hoogeveen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Hoogeveen

Ziggo

 

Nijverheidsweg 15, 9601 LX, Hoogezand- Sappemeer

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Hoogezand- Sappemeer

Ziggo

 

Dirk Camphuysenstraat 1 B, 1702 AH, Heerhugowaard

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Heerhugowaard

Ziggo

 

Heerenweg 19-13, 6414 AC, Heerlen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Heerlen

Ziggo

 

Leidsestraat, 2182 DT, Hillegom

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Hillegom

Ziggo

 

Industrieweg 1, 8861 VG, Harlingen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Harlingen

Ziggo

 

Ringweg /Zeeweg 18, 1852 CM, Heiloo

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Heiloo

Ziggo

 

Zeelandlaan 120, 2101 TR, Heemstede

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Heemstede

Ziggo

 

Zwolseweg 34c, 8141 EZ, Raalte

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Raalte

Ziggo

 

Kooiweg, 4631 SZ, Woensdrecht

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Woensdrecht

Ziggo

 

Noordsingel, 5961 XX, Horst Aan De Maas

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Horst Aan De Maas

Ziggo

 

Lokerenpassage, 5235 KT, S Hertogenbosch

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

S Hertogenbosch

 

6



 

Ziggo

 

Tweede Rompert, 5233 EB, ‘S-Hertogenbosch

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

‘S-Hertogenbosch

Ziggo

 

Lagelandstraat 19, 5213 CP, S Hertogenbosch

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

S Hertogenbosch

Ziggo

 

Lange Schaft 10 (belendend)/Schalkwijkseweg, 3991 MB, Houten

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Houten

Ziggo

 

Kon.Emmaweg achter 30, 3991 BK, Houten

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Houten

Ziggo

 

Marculphusstraat/Eikesstraat 7 t/o, 6013 RC, Hunsel

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Hunsel

Ziggo

 

Torenakker, 5268 BW, Haaren

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Haaren

Ziggo

 

Ericaweg hoek Crailoseweg TO 537/Sijsjesberglaan, 1272 CS, Huizen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Huizen

Ziggo

 

Huizermaatweg naast 41t/m49, 1273 NA, Huizen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Huizen

Ziggo

 

Polderbosdijk 13B, 8501 ZJ, Skarsterlan

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Skarsterlan

Ziggo

 

Hammolenweg 8, 6466 XV, Kerkrade

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Kerkrade

Ziggo

 

Eslaan 18a, 1241 XC, Wijdemeren

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Wijdemeren

Ziggo

 

Hollandsdiep, 5172 AM, Loon Op Zand

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Loon Op Zand

Ziggo

 

Zenegroen 7, 8265 CG, Kampen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Kampen

Ziggo

 

Waezenburglaan 47, 9351 HB, Leek

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Leek

Ziggo

 

Den Hul 14 t/o, 5397 LT, Lith

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Lith

Ziggo

 

Achterweg 48, 2161 GB, Lisse

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Lisse

Ziggo

 

Houtrib 23, 8531 LN, Lemsterland

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Lemsterland

Ziggo

 

Hendrikus Vullinghstraat to 11/Frits Slompstraat, 2264 DW, Leidschendam- Voorburg

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Leidschendam- Voorburg

Ziggo

 

Scholtinkstraat 133, 7581 GK, Losser

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Losser

Ziggo

 

Dragoonsplein 5, 8923 AD, Leeuwarden

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Leeuwarden

Ziggo

 

Groenedijk 7, 1744 KM, Harenkarspel

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Harenkarspel

Ziggo

 

Aan de Fremme 57a, 6269 BK, Margraten

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Margraten

Ziggo

 

Boomstede, 3608 AR, Maarssen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Maarssen

Ziggo

 

Verbindingsweg, 3603 CH, Maarssen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Maarssen

Ziggo

 

Kwistbeeklaan 5, 5991 XH, Maasbree

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Maasbree

Ziggo

 

Groesweg, 5993 NN, Maasbree

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Maasbree

Ziggo

 

De Sonman, 5066 GJ, Oisterwijk

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Oisterwijk

Ziggo

 

Molenhoek 10-1, 7941 CD, Meppel

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Meppel

Ziggo

 

Kruisberg 52 nabij, 6231 RK, Meerssen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Meerssen

Ziggo

 

Meester Ulrichweg 4 nst, 6214 PX, Maastricht

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Maastricht

Ziggo

 

Florijruwe 11M, 6218 CH, Maastricht

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Maastricht

Ziggo

 

Planetenhof 147 nst, 6215 TV, Maastricht

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Maastricht

Ziggo

 

Maasboulevard, 6211 JV, Maastricht

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Maastricht

Ziggo

 

Kelvinstraat, 6227 VA, Maastricht

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Maastricht

Ziggo

 

Balijeweg 100a, 6222 BE, Maastricht

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Maastricht

Ziggo

 

Parallelweg nabij nr. 6, 4255 KC, Nieuwendijk

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Nieuwendijk

Ziggo

 

Gooiweg to 135/Simon Emtinckstraat, 2211 DN, Noordwijkerhout

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Noordwijkerhout

Ziggo

 

Kerkstraat 17, 5253 AN, Heusden

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Heusden

Ziggo

 

Grote Markt 1, 7711 CZ, Dalfsen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Dalfsen

Ziggo

 

Kaalstreek, 6336 AB, Nuth

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Nuth

Ziggo

 

IJweg 1620, 2151 MN, Haarlemmermeer

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Haarlemmermeer

Ziggo

 

Nieuwe Zeeweg, 2201 TM, Noordwijk

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Noordwijk

Ziggo

 

Schoolstraat 8, 7961 NJ, De Wolden

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

De Wolden

Ziggo

 

Haven West 7, 7731 GS, Ommen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Ommen

Ziggo

 

Htg Johannasingel, 5345 CA, Oss

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Oss

 

7



 

Ziggo

 

Spaanderstraat 17, 5348 LA, Oss

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Oss

Ziggo

 

Schapendries 20, 4901 HH, Oosterhout

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Oosterhout

Ziggo

 

Slotjesveld 7A, 4902 ZP, Oosterhout

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Oosterhout

Ziggo

 

Parallelstraat 2, 7722 TD, Dalfsen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Dalfsen

Ziggo

 

Dompvloedslaan 1, 2051 NA, Bloemendaal

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Bloemendaal

Ziggo

 

Venekoterweg 40, 8431 HH, Ooststellingwerf

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Ooststellingwerf

Ziggo

 

Haverdijk, 4841 AG, Breda

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Breda

Ziggo

 

Kerkweg 122 bij, 2371 CK, Alkemade

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Alkemade

Ziggo

 

Westdorplaan 211, 8101 PN, Raalte

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Raalte

Ziggo

 

Terpeborch 72 nst, 5241 KB, S Hertogenbosch

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

S Hertogenbosch

Ziggo

 

Oude Baan 2 achter, 5244 JA, S Hertogenbosch

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

S Hertogenbosch

Ziggo

 

Roderweg 8, 9301 RE, Noordenveld

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Noordenveld

Ziggo

 

Doctor Nolenslaan 26 to, 6074 CA, Roerdalen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Roerdalen

Ziggo

 

Staringlaan, 4707 KC, Roosendaal

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Roosendaal

Ziggo

 

Neonstraat 7a, 7463 PB, Rijssen-Holten

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Rijssen-Holten

Ziggo

 

Dorpenweg 5, 5371 NZ, Oss

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Oss

Ziggo

 

Buziaulaan/Steenvoordelaan, 2284 JK, Rijswijk

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Rijswijk

Ziggo

 

Rijksweg N 324 23a, 5374 RA, Landerd

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Landerd

Ziggo

 

Ledeackersestraat, 5846 AM, Sint Anthonis

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Sint Anthonis

Ziggo

 

Stadshillen, 4651 CX, Steenbergen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Steenbergen

Ziggo

 

Breinderveldweg 7 bij-14, 6365 CM, Schinnen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Schinnen

Ziggo

 

Wendelnesseweg, 5161 ZG, Waalwijk

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Waalwijk

Ziggo

 

Pompstraat, 5481 BM, Schijndel

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Schijndel

Ziggo

 

Bochholtzerweg 34, 6369 TH, Simpelveld

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Simpelveld

Ziggo

 

Utrechtselaan 15a-74, 9501 PV, Stadskanaal

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Stadskanaal

Ziggo

 

Spanbroekerweg / Willemseweg 42, 1715 GP, Opmeer

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Opmeer

Ziggo

 

Noorderstraat 361, 9611 AJ, Hoogezand- Sappemeer

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Hoogezand- Sappemeer

Ziggo

 

Steinderweg 1, 6181 AB, Stein

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Stein

Ziggo

 

Meppelerweg 77 nst, 8331 CT, Steenwijkerland

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Steenwijkerland

Ziggo

 

Ruitersweg 12a, 6114 XZ, Echt-Susteren

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Echt-Susteren

Ziggo

 

Bosstraat 72a nabij, 6071 XX, Swalmen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Swalmen

Ziggo

 

Edisonlaan 9A, 5021 MA, Tilburg

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Tilburg

Ziggo

 

Heieinde 6 (rechts), 5047 SZ, Tilburg

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Tilburg

Ziggo

 

Kaldenkerkerweg 100, 5932 CN, Venlo

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Venlo

Ziggo

 

Rode vaart /Schimmelseweg, 4844 VM, Drimmelen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Drimmelen

Ziggo

 

Kerkweg 81 nabij, 2461 VN, Nieuwkoop

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Nieuwkoop

Ziggo

 

Doelenpad, 4847 AB, Breda

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Breda

Ziggo

 

Pioenroosstraat, 5402 GC, Uden

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Uden

Ziggo

 

Anna van Renesselaan to 6, 1911 KR, Uitgeest

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Uitgeest

Ziggo

 

Deken Dr. Dirckxweg, 4851 AJ, Breda

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Breda

Ziggo

 

Bosstraat 31, 6291 CH, Vaals

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Vaals

Ziggo

 

Hoekenstraat/Lafayettenstraat, 4131 ZE, Vianen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Vianen

Ziggo

 

Corridorweg 4c, 5466 RB, Veghel

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Veghel

 

8



 

Ziggo

 

Sloterbeekstraat 40, 5912 GV, Venlo

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Venlo

Ziggo

 

Zadelmakerstraat 140, 1991 JE, Velsen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Velsen

Ziggo

 

Beukenrode 45, 2215 KN, Teylingen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Teylingen

Ziggo

 

Fuikweg / Zijdewinde 1, 2141 XG, Haarlemmermeer

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Haarlemmermeer

Ziggo

 

Kloosterplein/Herenweg, 3645 DG, De Ronde Venen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

De Ronde Venen

Ziggo

 

Martinilaan, 5262 BR, Vught

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Vught

Ziggo

 

Burg. Middelweerdbaan, , Vleuten

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Vleuten

Ziggo

 

Hoek Vierambachtsweg/Kruisweg, 2481 KR, Jacobswoude

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Jacobswoude

Ziggo

 

Voltaweg 1, 3442 AB, Woerden

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Woerden

Ziggo

 

Doolhofstraat, 6001 XZ, Weert

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Weert

Ziggo

 

Industrieweg, 8131 VZ, Olst-Wijhe

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Olst-Wijhe

Ziggo

 

Ringdijk 7, 3648 EB, De Ronde Venen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

De Ronde Venen

Ziggo

 

Kromveld, 4724 EZ, Roosendaal

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Roosendaal

Ziggo

 

Sluizerweg 10, 1766 GC, Anna Paulowna

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Anna Paulowna

Ziggo

 

Zeugweg / Noorderkwelweg 4, 1771 MB, Wieringermeer

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Wieringermeer

Ziggo

 

Schouwerwzijlsterweg 1, 9951 TG, Winsum

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Winsum

Ziggo

 

Zanderijlaan naast 2/Poortlaan, 2242 GV, Wassenaar

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Wassenaar

Ziggo

 

Binnenbaan 2-4 to, 8471 XB, Weststellingwerf

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Weststellingwerf

Ziggo

 

Staringlaan 18, 2741 GC, Waddinxveen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Waddinxveen

Ziggo

 

zuidelijke rondweg bij rotonde Beyerinklaan/2e Bloksweg, 2742 KK, Waddinxveen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Waddinxveen

Ziggo

 

Energieweg 18, 5145 NW, Waalwijk

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Waalwijk

Ziggo

 

Grafhorsterweg 49a, 8271 CA, Kampen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Kampen

Ziggo

 

Heerenduinweg 45, 1971 JA, Velsen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Velsen

Ziggo

 

Parklaan, 9801 BJ, Zuidhorn

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Zuidhorn

Ziggo

 

Nieuwe Deventerweg 130, 8014 AL, Zwolle

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Zwolle

Ziggo

 

Blaloweg 10, 8041 AH, Zwolle

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Zwolle

Ziggo

 

Biesbosch 13, 8032 VA, Zwolle

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Zwolle

Ziggo

 

Hanekamp 4, 9471 AD, Tynaarlo

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Tynaarlo

Ziggo

 

Essenlaan 11, 1161 EE, Haarlemmermeer

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Haarlemmermeer

Ziggo

 

Onder de Mast 9 nst, 4881 AN, Zundert

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Zundert

Ziggo

 

Absrechtstraat/Benthuizerstraat, 2729 AC, Zoetermeer

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Zoetermeer

Ziggo

 

Dunantstraat 1211 bij, 2713 TP, Zoetermeer

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Zoetermeer

Ziggo

 

Oliver Hardystrook, 2726 TZ, Zoetermeer

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Zoetermeer

Ziggo

 

Nijverheidsweg/Oosterweg 56, 7921 JJ, De Wolden

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

De Wolden

Ziggo

 

Zandvoortselaan naast 1a, 2042 XD, Zandvoort

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Zandvoort

Ziggo

 

Tolweg 38, 1681 NA, Wervershoof

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Wervershoof

Ziggo

 

Leekerpad 3, 1689 VP, Hoorn

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Hoorn

Ziggo

 

Saffierstraat 7, 1812 RM, Alkmaar

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Alkmaar

Ziggo

 

Jan Bommerstraat 2, 9402 NP, Assen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Assen

Ziggo

 

Galjoen 6a, 1186 ZV, Amstelveen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Amstelveen

Ziggo

 

Emerweg 48, 4815 NB, Breda

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Breda

Ziggo

 

Schermerhoek nabij 580, 2905 TW, Capelle Aan Den Ijssel

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Capelle Aan Den Ijssel

Ziggo

 

Pampert 2, 7741 JJ, Coevorden

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Coevorden

Ziggo

 

Keizer Karellaan 185, 7415 ZG, Deventer

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Deventer

 

9



 

Ziggo

 

Populierweg 150, 6222 CT, Maastricht

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Maastricht

Ziggo

 

1e Industrieweg 13c, 5451 GR, Mill En St.Hubert

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Mill En St.Hubert

Ziggo

 

1e Industrieweg 17, 5451 GR, Mill En St.Hubert

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Mill En St.Hubert

Ziggo

 

Damzigt 7, 3454 PS, Utrecht

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Utrecht

Ziggo

 

Ransdalerstraat 1, 6311 AZ, Voerendaal

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Voerendaal

Ziggo

 

Daelweg 4a, 5928 WK, Venlo

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Venlo

Ziggo

 

Dynamostraat 11, 3903 LK, Veenendaal

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Veenendaal

Ziggo

 

Magnesiumstraat 41A, 6031 RV, Nederweert

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Nederweert

Ziggo

 

J.A. Koningstraat 28, 9672 AD, Oldambt

 

Technical, Headend

 

Freehold

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Oldambt

Ziggo Services

 

Amsterdam, Kabelweg 51, 1014 BA

 

Mixed Use (Technical), Office, Retail, Technical (call centre), Data Centre

 

Lease

 

AGNL Cable Cooperatieve U.A.

 

 

 

 

 

2,111,400.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Amsterdam

Ziggo Services

 

Parkeerplaatsen Coengebouw

 

Office, Parking

 

Lease

 

Verwey Vastgoed BV

 

 

 

 

 

43,455.72

 

The Netherlands

 

Amsterdam

Ziggo Services

 

Parkeerplaatsen buiten Einstein

 

Office, Parking

 

Lease

 

Cortona Estates BV

 

 

 

 

 

21,364.81

 

The Netherlands

 

Amsterdam

Ziggo Services

 

Amsterdam, Dynamostraat 66-68, Hal 3

 

Warehouse

 

Lease

 

Lofgren Real Estate I BV

 

 

 

 

 

75,258.12

 

The Netherlands

 

Amsterdam

Ziggo Services

 

Amsterdam, Dynamostraat 66-68, Hal 4

 

Warehouse

 

Lease

 

Lofgren Real Estate I BV

 

 

 

 

 

122,571.84

 

The Netherlands

 

Amsterdam

Ziggo Services

 

Helmond, Brandevoortsedreef 2, 5707 AN

 

Mixed Use (Non-Technical), Office, Warehouse

 

Lease

 

Global Helmond BV

 

 

 

 

 

474,230.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Helmond

Ziggo Services

 

Nijmegen, Takenhofplein 1, 6538 SZ

 

Mixed Use (Non-Technical), Office, Call Centre

 

Lease

 

Bilfinger Real Estate BV

 

 

 

 

 

773,277.60

 

The Netherlands

 

Nijmegen

Ziggo Services

 

Zutphen, Coenensparkstraat 21, 7202 AN

 

Mixed Use (Non-Technical), Office, Warehouse

 

Lease

 

Alliander N.V.

 

 

 

 

 

279,895.44

 

The Netherlands

 

Zutphen

Ziggo Services

 

Leeuwarden, Reviusstraat 2, 8900 CG

 

Mixed Use (Non-Technical), Office, Call Centre

 

Lease

 

APF INTERNATIONAL BV

 

 

 

 

 

1,438,825.88

 

The Netherlands

 

Leeuwarden

Ziggo Services

 

Rotterdam, Weena 170, 3012 NC, 7e Verdiep

 

Mixed Use (Non-Technical), Office, Call Centre

 

Lease

 

Chalet XV BV

 

 

 

 

 

189,569.04

 

The Netherlands

 

Rotterdam

Ziggo Services

 

Rotterdam, Weena 170, 3012 NC

 

Mixed Use (Non-Technical), Office, Call Centre

 

Lease

 

Chalet XV BV

 

 

 

 

 

687,922.92

 

The Netherlands

 

Rotterdam

Ziggo Services

 

Parkeerplaatsen Weena

 

Office, Parking

 

Lease

 

Q-Park Exploitatie B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

89,769.92

 

The Netherlands

 

Rotterdam

Ziggo Services

 

Almere, Traverse 5, 1315 TJ Winkelcentrum Stadhart

 

Retail

 

Lease

 

Unibail-Rodamco Nederland Winkels BV

 

 

 

 

 

57,434.60

 

The Netherlands

 

Almere

Ziggo Services

 

Leeuwarden, Ruiterskwartier 127, 8921 HH

 

Retail

 

Lease

 

Vastned Retail NV

 

 

 

 

 

43,118.40

 

The Netherlands

 

Leeuwarden

Ziggo Services

 

Arnhem, Koningstraat 73, 6811 DJ

 

Retail

 

Lease

 

E B M Beleggingsmaatschappijen BV

 

 

 

 

 

62,494.80

 

The Netherlands

 

Arnhem

Ziggo Services

 

Rotterdam, Lijnbaan 117

 

Retail

 

Lease

 

Dela Vastgoed BV

 

 

 

 

 

102,140.32

 

The Netherlands

 

Rotterdam

Ziggo Services

 

Rotterdam, Zuidplein Hoog 441

 

Retail

 

Lease

 

Dtz Zadelhoff

 

 

 

 

 

75,525.56

 

The Netherlands

 

Rotterdam

Ziggo Services

 

Dordrecht, Achterom 1

 

Retail

 

Lease

 

Nn Vastgoedmanagement

 

 

 

 

 

101,844.60

 

The Netherlands

 

Dordrecht

Ziggo Services

 

Apeldoorn, Hoofdstraat 69

 

Retail

 

Lease

 

Winkelcentrum Oranjerie Holding BV

 

 

 

 

 

160,260.36

 

The Netherlands

 

Apeldoorn

Ziggo Services

 

Amsterdam, Ferdinand Bolstraat

 

Retail

 

Lease

 

Vastned Retail NV

 

 

 

 

 

104,995.92

 

The Netherlands

 

Amsterdam

Ziggo Services

 

Nijmegen, Broerstraat 76

 

Retail

 

Lease

 

Nyenburgstaete BV

 

 

 

 

 

119,419.80

 

The Netherlands

 

Nijmegen

Ziggo Services

 

Amsterdam, Buikslotermeerplein 76

 

Retail

 

Lease

 

Joba Trust BV

 

 

 

 

 

85,947.24

 

The Netherlands

 

Amsterdam

Ziggo Services

 

Eindhoven, Rechtestraat 56

 

Retail

 

Lease

 

Verhuur Onroerend Goed (D Brackel Hoedemakers)

 

 

 

 

 

111,335.64

 

The Netherlands

 

Eindhoven

Ziggo Services

 

Zoetermeer, Goudstraat 32a

 

Warehouse

 

Lease

 

De heer F.E.I. Schaaf

 

38078

 

 

70,000.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Zoetermeer

Ziggo Services

 

Amsterdam Zuidoost, De Passage

 

Other, Entertainment/ Club

 

Lease

 

Black Box Operations B.V.

 

40923

 

42749

 

152,950.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Amsterdam Zuidoost

Ziggo Services

 

Almere, Monitorweg 1

 

Office

 

Lease

 

Omega Properties C.V.

 

40179

 

43190

 

287,920.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Almere

Ziggo

 

Eindhoven, PSV-laan 83-85 (voorheen: Mathildelaan 83-85)

 

Mixed Use (Non-Technical), Office, Call Centre

 

Lease

 

III, Internationales Immobilien-Institut GmbH

 

39678

 

41564

 

768,470.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Eindhoven

 

10



Ziggo

 

Eindhoven, Anton Philipslaan 56

 

Office, Parking

 

Lease

 

PSV Stadionexploitatie B.V.

 

41365

 

43373

 

77,000.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Eindhoven

Ziggo

 

Groningen, Winschoterdiep 60

 

Mixed Use (Non-Technical), Office, Call Centre

 

Lease

 

Tasman Properties C.V.

 

41275

 

43465

 

983,340.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Groningen

Ziggo

 

Groningen, Winschoterdiep 60

 

Office, Parking

 

Lease

 

Tasman Properties C.V.

 

41275

 

 

14,000.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Groningen

Ziggo

 

Heerhugowaard, J. Duikerweg 1

 

Mixed Use (Non-Technical), Office, Call Centre

 

Lease

 

Pardaal B.V., Marseb Vastgoed B.V. en Tovast B.V.

 

39479

 

43131

 

793,428.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Heerhugowaard

Ziggo

 

Rijswijk, Laan van Zuid Hoorn 70

 

Mixed Use (Non-Technical), Office, Call Centre

 

Lease

 

CGI (onderverhuurder)

 

41456

 

41973

 

716,744.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Rijswijk

Ziggo

 

Utrecht, Atoomweg 100

 

Office

 

Lease

 

Merin (voorheen Uni-Invest)

 

39955

 

43606

 

2,178,430.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Utrecht

Ziggo

 

Utrecht, Reactorweg 187

 

Office

 

Lease

 

De Waal Beheer o.g. Utrecht B.V.

 

41275

 

42369

 

160,190.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Utrecht

Ziggo

 

Zwolle, Dokter van Deenweg 140-150

 

Office

 

Lease

 

NSI Kantoren B.V.

 

40787

 

44439

 

746,519.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Zwolle

Ziggo

 

Breda, Heilaar-Noordweg 6a

 

Warehouse

 

Lease

 

De heer B.B.J. van Boxtel

 

39600

 

40694

 

27,500.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Breda

Ziggo

 

De Meern, Veldzigt 6

 

Warehouse

 

Lease

 

R. Kazius tezamen met R.A.J. Kazius

 

41760

 

42490

 

40,000.00

 

The Netherlands

 

De Meern

Ziggo

 

Den Haag, Oder 1

 

Warehouse

 

Lease

 

Abeel Holding B.V.

 

41456

 

42551

 

93,763.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Den Haag

Ziggo

 

Hengelo, Turbinestraat 38

 

Warehouse

 

Lease

 

K.J.A. Oude Wolbers

 

41518

 

42247

 

15,800.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Hengelo

Ziggo

 

Hoogeveen, Buitenvaart 1502

 

Warehouse

 

Lease

 

R. Poel

 

39539

 

40633

 

16,200.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Hoogeveen

Ziggo

 

Roelofarendsveen, Veenderveld 54

 

Warehouse

 

Lease

 

H. van der Perk

 

38718

 

39813

 

24,500.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Roelofarendsveen

Ziggo

 

Schijndel, Molendijk Zuid 15 en 19

 

Warehouse

 

Lease

 

O.O.M. B.V.

 

39479

 

40574

 

27,500.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Schijndel

Ziggo

 

Sneek, Smidsstraat 5

 

Warehouse

 

Lease

 

Essent Vastgoed B.V.

 

39083

 

42735

 

40,080.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Sneek

Ziggo

 

Susteren, Rangeerweg 9

 

Warehouse

 

Lease

 

mevrouw C.M.H.D. Borger en de heer L.J.M.H. Leerssen

 

40787

 

42613

 

70,000.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Susteren

Ziggo

 

Tynaarlo, Handelsweg 23c

 

Warehouse

 

Lease

 

Maatschap Vriezerburg

 

40909

 

42735

 

36,000.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Tynaarlo

Ziggo

 

Zeist, Bergweg 161a

 

Warehouse

 

Lease

 

de heer J. Dijs

 

38777

 

39872

 

24,200.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Zeist

Ziggo

 

Den Haag, Venestraat 41

 

Retail

 

Lease

 

Stichting Alri

 

40634

 

44286

 

350,000.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Den Haag

Ziggo

 

Utrecht, Lange Viestraat 2A

 

Retail

 

Lease

 

Dexa Investments BV

 

40269

 

43921

 

210,000.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Utrecht

Ziggo

 

Zwolle, Diezerstraat 40

 

Retail

 

Lease

 

ASR Vastgoed Vermogensbeheer B.V.

 

40148

 

43799

 

135,024.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Zwolle

Ziggo Services

 

Oudeweg 85 (Achter op het Nuon terein), 2031 CC, Haarlem

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

44562

 

30,024.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Haarlem

Ziggo Services

 

Utrechtseweg 68, 6812 AH, Arnhem

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

43101

 

264,714.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Arnhem

Ziggo Services

 

Scheldestraat 24, 1823 WB, Alkmaar

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

42020

 

32,954.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Alkmaar

Ziggo Services

 

Deventerstraat 46 (NUON gebouw), 7311 LX, Apeldoorn

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

42916

 

13,930.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Apeldoorn

Ziggo Services

 

MTC Brandevoortsedreef 2, 5707 DG, Helmond

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

41651

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Helmond

Ziggo Services

 

Keileweg 63 (OS), 3029 BR, Rotterdam

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

46965

 

51,021.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Rotterdam

Ziggo Services

 

van Karnebeekstraat 29-31, 1067 RG, Amsterdam

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

42794

 

5,712.28

 

The Netherlands

 

Amsterdam

Ziggo Services

 

World Fashion Centre Tower 4 (Parkeergarage), 1062 HH, Amsterdam

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

42825

 

39,263.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Amsterdam

Ziggo Services

 

Montessorischool P. de Hochstr. Hobbemakade, 1071 XL, Amsterdam

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

26,102.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Amsterdam

Ziggo Services

 

Sumatralaan 45 (NOB terrein videocentrum, 1217 GP, Hilversum

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

42947

 

40,294.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Hilversum

Ziggo Services

 

Eikbosserweg 163 (Bunker), 1213 RW, Hilversum

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

42369

 

50,777.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Hilversum

Ziggo Services

 

Zwanebloem 2, 1441 TR, Purmerend

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

46507

 

11,439.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Purmerend

Ziggo Services

 

Jan Vrijmanstraat 123, 1087 MB, Amsterdam

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

47057

 

12,159.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Amsterdam

Ziggo Services

 

Batavierenweg 25 (Gelredome), 6841 HN, Arnhem

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

42094

 

10,842.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Arnhem

Ziggo Services

 

Terwoldseweg t.o. nr.3, 7391 TC, Voorst

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

41365

 

1,661.37

 

The Netherlands

 

Voorst

 

11



 

Ziggo Services

 

Veldkampseweg/Molenweg, 8181 BJ, Heerde

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

50191

 

101.04

 

The Netherlands

 

Heerde

Ziggo Services

 

Kanaaldijk 1a, 8051 CA, Hattem

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

45107

 

1,661.37

 

The Netherlands

 

Hattem

Ziggo Services

 

Oude beekbergerweg 25 (50KV onderstation nuon), 7331HL, Apeldoorn

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

45017

 

1,661.37

 

The Netherlands

 

Apeldoorn

Ziggo Services

 

Von Geusaustraat 191, 2274 RJ, Voorburg

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

1,038.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Voorburg

Ziggo Services

 

De Werf 52, 2544 EK, Den Haag Escamp

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

1,038.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Den Haag Escamp

Ziggo Services

 

Tomatenstraat 184, 2564 CX, Loosduinen/Segbroek

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

1,038.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Loosduinen/Segbroe k

Ziggo Services

 

Cartesiusstraat 1, 2562 SB, Den Haag Centrum

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

1,038.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Den Haag Centrum

Ziggo Services

 

Zuilingstraat 110, 2513 VG, Den Haag Centrum

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

1,038.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Den Haag Centrum

Ziggo Services

 

Nieuwe Schoolstraat 20, 2514 HZ, Den Haag Centrum

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

1,038.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Den Haag Centrum

Ziggo Services

 

v.Diepenburgstraat 3, 2597 PR, Scheveningen

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

1,038.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Scheveningen

Ziggo Services

 

Schenkkade 56, 2595 RA, Voorburg

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

1,038.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Voorburg

Ziggo Services

 

Vijzelstraat 100, 2584 GR, Scheveningen

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

1,038.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Scheveningen

Ziggo Services

 

Boutenstraat 32, 2274 VX, Voorburg

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

1,038.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Voorburg

Ziggo Services

 

Janssoniusstraat 1, 2523 HA, Den Haag Escamp

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

1,038.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Den Haag Escamp

Ziggo Services

 

Lichtenbergweg 6, 2532 AA, Den Haag Escamp

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

1,038.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Den Haag Escamp

Ziggo Services

 

Hengelolaan 13, 2545 JB, Den Haag Escamp

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

1,038.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Den Haag Escamp

Ziggo Services

 

Laagveen 24, 2544 RZ, Den Haag Escamp

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

1,038.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Den Haag Escamp

Ziggo Services

 

Jack Perkstraat 1-3, 2274 GP, Voorburg

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

42428

 

21,268.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Voorburg

Ziggo Services

 

Haagweg 168 , 2282 AJ, Rijswijk

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

42735

 

2,240.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Rijswijk

Ziggo Services

 

Birdaarderstraatweg, 9101 CZ, Dongeradeel

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Dongeradeel

Ziggo Services

 

Hollandseweg 1, 6706 KN, Wageningen

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

41821

 

984.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Wageningen

Ziggo Services

 

Echternachlaan 776 + 782, 5613 KM, Eindhoven

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

12,248.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Eindhoven

Ziggo Services

 

Sleutel 10, 5652 AS, Eindhoven

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

42230

 

19,650.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Eindhoven

Ziggo Services

 

Nijewei bij 93, 8401 AL, Opsterland

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

45078

 

1,661.37

 

The Netherlands

 

Opsterland

Ziggo Services

 

Dragoonsplein t.o. 13, 8923 AD, Leeuwarden

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Leeuwarden

Ziggo Services

 

Hemperserweg 2b, 8935 AA, Leeuwarden

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

825.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Leeuwarden

Ziggo Services

 

Erasmuslaan 1, onder hoofdgebouw Univ., 6525 GE, Nijmegen

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

42308

 

22,162.33

 

The Netherlands

 

Nijmegen

Ziggo Services

 

Rochussenstraat 234, 3015 ZA, Rotterdam

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

47757

 

25,770.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Rotterdam

Ziggo Services

 

Van Enckevoirtlaan 10, 3052 KR, Rotterdam

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

1,038.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Rotterdam

Ziggo Services

 

Vierhavenstraat 4, 3029 BE, Rotterdam

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

1,038.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Rotterdam

Ziggo Services

 

Jan Schierecklaan 2, 3055 AV, Rotterdam

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

1,038.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Rotterdam

Ziggo Services

 

Tinstraat 9, 3067 GP, Rotterdam

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

1,038.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Rotterdam

 

12



 

Ziggo Services

 

Reeweg 14, 3088 KA, Rotterdam

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

1,038.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Rotterdam

Ziggo Services

 

Oranjelaan 1, 3311 DH, Dordrecht

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

1,038.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Dordrecht

Ziggo Services

 

Oudendijk 13, 3318 AG, Dordrecht

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

1,038.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Dordrecht

Ziggo Services

 

Vlaardingweg 62, 3044 CK, Rotterdam

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

44439

 

10,126.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Rotterdam

Ziggo Services

 

Vlambloem 111, 3068 JG, Rotterdam

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

42400

 

33,409.31

 

The Netherlands

 

Rotterdam

Ziggo Services

 

Stolwijkstraat 55C, 3079, Rotterdam

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

42428

 

28,440.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Rotterdam

Ziggo Services

 

Tractieweg 190, 3534 AP, Utrecht

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

43647

 

20,162.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Utrecht

Ziggo Services

 

Marsweg 5 (Op terrein Essent), 8013 PD, Zwolle

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

41784

 

13,078.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Zwolle

Ziggo Services

 

Coenenparkstraat 21a, 7202 AN, Zutphen

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

41926

 

9,984.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Zutphen

Ziggo Services

 

Erdbrinkplein, 7001, Doetinchem

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

46660

 

5,432.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Doetinchem

Ziggo Services

 

Karel Doormanstraat 50-212, 7204 JL, Zutphen

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

43465

 

22,488.84

 

The Netherlands

 

Zutphen

Ziggo Services

 

Moeshof 6, 7161 AS, Neede

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Neede

Ziggo Services

 

Hortensialaan 2 onder de flat, 7101 XA, Winterswijk

 

Technical, Hub

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

42369

 

6,965.89

 

The Netherlands

 

Winterswijk

Ziggo

 

Zandvoorterweg 71, 2111 GT, Bloemendaal

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,630.22

 

The Netherlands

 

Bloemendaal

Ziggo

 

Burg. v. Hasselstraat 9, 4611 BG, Bergen Op Zoom

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Bergen Op Zoom

Ziggo

 

Bieslookstraat 1 > 27, 9731 JS, Groningen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,784.76

 

The Netherlands

 

Groningen

Ziggo

 

Seinpoststraat to 60, 2587 AC, ‘S-Gravenhage

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,271.00

 

The Netherlands

 

‘S-Gravenhage

Ziggo

 

Carnegielaan, 2517 KH, ‘S-Gravenhage

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,271.00

 

The Netherlands

 

‘S-Gravenhage

Ziggo

 

Carnegielaan , 2517 KH, ‘S-Gravenhage

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,462.00

 

The Netherlands

 

‘S-Gravenhage

Ziggo

 

Stieltjesstraat 1 T, 2521 VE, ‘S-Gravenhage

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,271.00

 

The Netherlands

 

‘S-Gravenhage

Ziggo

 

Stieltjesstraat 1 T, 2521 VE, S-Gravenhage

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,045.00

 

The Netherlands

 

S-Gravenhage

Ziggo

 

Woudenbergstraat 10, 2546 VS, ‘S-Gravenhage

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,271.00

 

The Netherlands

 

‘S-Gravenhage

Ziggo

 

Melis Stokelaan 1185, 2541 GA, ‘S-Gravenhage

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,271.00

 

The Netherlands

 

‘S-Gravenhage

Ziggo

 

Pisuissestraat 7 T, 2551 SH, ‘S-Gravenhage

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,271.00

 

The Netherlands

 

‘S-Gravenhage

Ziggo

 

Pisuissestraat 7 T, 2551 SH, ‘S-Gravenhage

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,902.00

 

The Netherlands

 

‘S-Gravenhage

Ziggo

 

Lisdoddeveld, 2492 LX, ‘S-Gravenhage

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,271.00

 

The Netherlands

 

‘S-Gravenhage

Ziggo

 

Spoelsterstraat 74, 7481 KH, Haaksbergen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,565.15

 

The Netherlands

 

Haaksbergen

Ziggo

 

Conradweg 38b, 2031 CM, Haarlem

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

25,235.52

 

The Netherlands

 

Haarlem

Ziggo

 

Marco Polostraat 12 t/o, 5223 RP, S Hertogenbosch

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

S Hertogenbosch

Ziggo

 

Kraanvogellaan 16 A, 5221 GB, S Hertogenbosch

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

S Hertogenbosch

Ziggo

 

De Steenbok, 5215 ME, S Hertogenbosch

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

897.80

 

The Netherlands

 

S Hertogenbosch

Ziggo

 

Erf 1, 3831 NA, Leusden

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

911.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Leusden

Ziggo

 

Brouwerstraat, 5271 XR, Sint-Michielsgestel

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,326.23

 

The Netherlands

 

Sint-Michielsgestel

Ziggo

 

Groenstraat 1a, 5391 KJ, Maasdonk

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,240.71

 

The Netherlands

 

Maasdonk

Ziggo

 

Van Vollenhovenstraat 3, 3016 BE, Rotterdam

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

26,420.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Rotterdam

Ziggo

 

Patentlaan, 2288 GM, Rijswijk

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Rijswijk

Ziggo

 

Zijperweg, 1742 NE, Schagen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,022.50

 

The Netherlands

 

Schagen

 

13



 

Ziggo

 

Albert Cuyplaan 204 H 210, 3764 TX, Soest

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,777.55

 

The Netherlands

 

Soest

Ziggo

 

Bachlaan, 5011 BS, Tilburg

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

678.56

 

The Netherlands

 

Tilburg

Ziggo

 

v. Heeswijkstraat 19 nst, 5071 CT, Tilburg

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,368.10

 

The Netherlands

 

Tilburg

Ziggo

 

Plataanstraat, 5802 EH, Venray

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8,127.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Venray

Ziggo

 

Dunantstraat 1213, 2713 TP, Zoetermeer

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,662.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Zoetermeer

Ziggo

 

Dunantstaat 1211 en 1211a, 2713 TP, Zoetermeer

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

22,518.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Zoetermeer

Ziggo

 

Eikenlaan 263a, 2404 BP, Alphen Aan Den Rijn

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

29,868.88

 

The Netherlands

 

Alphen Aan Den Rijn

Ziggo

 

Chromiumweg 93, 3812 NL, Amersfoort

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

23,348.80

 

The Netherlands

 

Amersfoort

Ziggo

 

Oude Baan 20, 4825 BL, Breda

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10,607.20

 

The Netherlands

 

Breda

Ziggo

 

Lelyweg 17, 4612 PS, Bergen Op Zoom

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,918.88

 

The Netherlands

 

Bergen Op Zoom

Ziggo

 

Daalakkersweg 28-26, 5641 JA, Eindhoven

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,918.88

 

The Netherlands

 

Eindhoven

Ziggo

 

Daalakkersweg 30-28, 5641 JA, Eindhoven

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Eindhoven

Ziggo

 

Valderenstraat 23, 6163 GC, Sittard-Geleen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16,184.88

 

The Netherlands

 

Sittard-Geleen

Ziggo

 

Prinses Beatrixlaan 800, 2595 AN, ‘S-Gravenhage

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10,514.40

 

The Netherlands

 

‘S-Gravenhage

Ziggo

 

Spaarneplein 2, 2515 VK, ‘S-Gravenhage

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

593,416.00

 

The Netherlands

 

‘S-Gravenhage

Ziggo

 

Wilhelmina van Pruisenweg 78 (en 52), 2595 AN, ‘S-Gravenhage

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

95,604.16

 

The Netherlands

 

‘S-Gravenhage

Ziggo

 

Wegtersweg 3, 7556 BP, Hengelo Ov

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

50,375.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Hengelo Ov

Ziggo

 

Spoorsingel 59, 6412 AA, Heerlen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,198.88

 

The Netherlands

 

Heerlen

Ziggo

 

Willemsplein 4, 5223 GW, S Hertogenbosch

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

62,924.00

 

The Netherlands

 

S Hertogenbosch

Ziggo

 

Minckelerstraat 2, 6372 PP, Landgraaf

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

35,823.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Landgraaf

Ziggo

 

Tradeboulevard, 4761 RL, Moerdijk

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,394.40

 

The Netherlands

 

Moerdijk

Ziggo

 

Westhoven 7, 6042 NV, Roermond

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

26,311.52

 

The Netherlands

 

Roermond

Ziggo

 

Zwaanhoefstraat 108, 4702 LC, Roosendaal

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10,607.20

 

The Netherlands

 

Roosendaal

Ziggo

 

Madam Curiestraat 4, 2171 TW, Teylingen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

70,300.92

 

The Netherlands

 

Teylingen

Ziggo

 

Katsbogte 35, 5026 PG, Tilburg

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,918.88

 

The Netherlands

 

Tilburg

Ziggo

 

Plataanstraat 5, 5802 EH, Venray

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

25,007.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Venray

Ziggo

 

Hoflaan 1, 1951 HJ, Velsen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

26,735.65

 

The Netherlands

 

Velsen

Ziggo Services

 

Oude Waterlandseweg (bij ontvangstation), 1358 —, Almere

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

45170

 

10,955.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Almere

Ziggo Services

 

van Nijerodenweg 21A, 1082 GV, Amsterdam

 

Technical, Hub

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

173,876.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Amsterdam

Ziggo Services

 

Bijlmerdreef 5 (Winkelcentrum A’damse Poort), 1102 BN, Amsterdam

 

Technical, Hub

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Amsterdam

Ziggo Services

 

ENW- v. Goghweg. (Op terrein), 1506 JC, Zaanstad

 

Technical, Hub

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Zaanstad

Ziggo Services

 

Korte Stammerdijk, 1382 BL, Weesp

 

Technical, Hub

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Weesp

Ziggo Services

 

Deelenseweg 1, 6816 TR, Arnhem

 

Technical, Hub

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

45170

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Arnhem

Ziggo Services

 

IJssellaan 119, 6825 AZ, Arnhem

 

Technical, Hub

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

45017

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Arnhem

Ziggo Services

 

Molenallee, 7371 EA, Apeldoorn

 

Technical, Hub

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Apeldoorn

Ziggo Services

 

Knuttelweg 9, 6718, Ede

 

Technical, Hub

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

45108

 

1,661.37

 

The Netherlands

 

Ede

Ziggo Services

 

Dieselstraat, 6716 BC, Ede

 

Technical, Hub

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

45108

 

1,661.37

 

The Netherlands

 

Ede

Ziggo Services

 

Weversteeg op parkeerterrein, 6731 BG, Otterlo

 

Technical, Hub

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Otterlo

Ziggo Services

 

Leuvenseweg 70, 3852 AS, Ermelo

 

Technical, Hub

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

42369

 

9,597.11

 

The Netherlands

 

Ermelo

 

14



 

Ziggo Services

 

Industrieweg 67, 8071 CS, Nunspeet

 

Technical, Hub

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Nunspeet

Ziggo Services

 

Heigraaf t.o. 6 op terreingasontvangststation, 8091 CD, Oldebroek

 

Technical, Hub

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

1,661.37

 

The Netherlands

 

Oldebroek

Ziggo Services

 

Leuvenemseweg 34 (terrein NUON), 3847, Harderwijk

 

Technical, Hub

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

45047

 

1,661.37

 

The Netherlands

 

Harderwijk

Ziggo Services

 

Hugo v.d. Goeslaan (bij hoofdingang DAF), 5643 TX, Eindhoven

 

Technical, Hub

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

276.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Eindhoven

Ziggo Services

 

Limburglaan, 5652 AA, Eindhoven

 

Technical, Hub

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

282.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Eindhoven

Ziggo Services

 

Mr. Oppedijk van Veenweg 22C, 9251 GA, Tietjerksteradeel

 

Technical, Hub

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

45139

 

1,661.37

 

The Netherlands

 

Tietjerksteradeel

Ziggo Services

 

De Koaten 43, 9288 GE, Achtkarspelen

 

Technical, Hub

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

45139

 

1,661.37

 

The Netherlands

 

Achtkarspelen

Ziggo Services

 

Tussendiepen t.o. 6, 9206 AD, Smallingerland

 

Technical, Hub

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

45139

 

1,661.37

 

The Netherlands

 

Smallingerland

Ziggo Services

 

Gerdinas Hof, 4191 CC, Geldermalsen

 

Technical, Hub

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

11.34

 

The Netherlands

 

Geldermalsen

Ziggo Services

 

Putselaan 91, 3072 CD, Rotterdam

 

Technical, Hub

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

1,038.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Rotterdam

Ziggo Services

 

Adriaan de Jongstraat 31, 3078 GA, Rotterdam

 

Technical, Hub

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

1,038.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Rotterdam

Ziggo Services

 

Maaswijkweg 9K, 3203 LG, Spijkenisse

 

Technical, Hub

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

683.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Spijkenisse

Ziggo Services

 

Zuidakker 38K, 3206 TJ, Spijkenisse

 

Technical, Hub

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

213.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Spijkenisse

Ziggo Services

 

Schelpenpad 1C, 3225 BZ, Hellevoetsluis

 

Technical, Hub

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Hellevoetsluis

Ziggo Services

 

Bernhardlaan 7C, 3297 CB, Putterhoek

 

Technical, Hub

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

1,038.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Putterhoek

Ziggo Services

 

Langeweg 7, 3261 LJ, Oud-Beijerland

 

Technical, Hub

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

1,038.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Oud-Beijerland

Ziggo Services

 

Winston Churchillaan ?, 3202 GP, Spijkenisse

 

Technical, Hub

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

213.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Spijkenisse

Ziggo Services

 

Industrieweg ?, 3133 EE, Vlaardingen

 

Technical, Hub

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

1,038.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Vlaardingen

Ziggo Services

 

Admiraal de Ruijterweg nabij 17, 3354 XA, Papendrecht

 

Technical, Hub

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

1,038.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Papendrecht

Ziggo Services

 

Langeweg 81, 3251 LH, Goedereede

 

Technical, Hub

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

1,038.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Goedereede

Ziggo Services

 

Industriestraat 18, 3371 XD, Hardinxveld-Giessendam

 

Technical, Hub

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

1,038.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Hardinxveld- Giessendam

Ziggo Services

 

Parallelweg, 4241 XS, Giessenlanden

 

Technical, Hub

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

1,038.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Giessenlanden

Ziggo Services

 

Rijksstraatweg 76, 3281 LW, Numansdorp

 

Technical, Hub

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

1,038.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Numansdorp

Ziggo Services

 

v. Pallandstraat op terrein gasontvangstation (NUON), 7051 DE, Wisch

 

Technical, Hub

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

1,661.37

 

The Netherlands

 

Wisch

Ziggo Services

 

Ettenseweg 13a via poort gasontvangststation, 7071 AA, Gendringen

 

Technical, Hub

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

Very Long Leasehold

 

10,000.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Gendringen

Ziggo

 

Winschoterdiep 50A-60, 9723 AB, Groningen

 

Technical, Data Centre

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Groningen

Ziggo

 

Winschoterdiep 50B, 9723 AB, Groningen

 

Technical, Data Centre

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Groningen

Ziggo

 

Veenseweg 1, 3958 ET, Utrechtse Heuvelrug

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Utrechtse Heuvelrug

 

15



 

Ziggo

 

Wierdensestraat 157a-157 h, 7604 BH, Almelo

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Almelo

Ziggo

 

De Sikkel 23A, 9932 BD, Delfzijl

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,979.15

 

The Netherlands

 

Delfzijl

Ziggo

 

Nieuweweg 1, 1671NP, Medemblik

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Medemblik

Ziggo

 

Akerdijk/Sloterweg 1, 1171 CE, Haarlemmermeer

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Haarlemmermeer

Ziggo

 

Henri Dunantplein 84 TR, 3731 CL, De Bilt

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

De Bilt

Ziggo

 

Von Bonninghausenstr. 79, 7622 TP, Borne

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Borne

Ziggo

 

De Flammert 1033, 5854 NA, Bergen Lb

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Bergen Lb

Ziggo

 

Eemnesserweg to 86, 3743 AG, Baarn

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Baarn

Ziggo

 

Schaepmanlaan, 4102 BW, Culemborg

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,626.68

 

The Netherlands

 

Culemborg

Ziggo

 

Koepoortplaats, 2612 RT, Delft

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Delft

Ziggo

 

Drooghuisstraat 9, 2614 HB, Delft

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Delft

Ziggo

 

Mussenstraat 12, 6101 CS, Echt-Susteren

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Echt-Susteren

Ziggo

 

Vechtstraat 38, 7523 DZ, Enschede

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Enschede

Ziggo

 

Nobelstraat 18, 2513 BD, ‘S-Gravenhage

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

‘S-Gravenhage

Ziggo

 

Parkweg 5-3, 7772 XP, Hardenberg

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Hardenberg

Ziggo

 

Cederhout 4, 1787 RC, Den Helder

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,000.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Den Helder

Ziggo

 

Spoorlaan/Parellaan, 2134, Hoofddorp

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Hoofddorp

Ziggo

 

Paadweg 16, 6431 BS, Heerlen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Heerlen

Ziggo

 

Heerlerbaan 4, 6418 CG, Heerlen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Heerlen

Ziggo

 

Lokveenweg 44-31, 9751 CH, Haren

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Haren

Ziggo

 

Prinsenstraat 71A-1, 8061 ZE, Zwartewaterland

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

788.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Zwartewaterland

Ziggo

 

Prinses Beatrixplantsoen/Juliana v Solberglaan, 3411 DB, Lopik

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Lopik

Ziggo

 

Rijksstraatweg naast 222/Tombelaan, 3956 CW, Utrechtse Heuvelrug

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Utrechtse Heuvelrug

Ziggo

 

Merelhof 2b, 5807 EA, Venray

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Venray

Ziggo

 

Molensingel, 6229 PB, Maastricht

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Maastricht

Ziggo

 

President Rooseveltlaan 191 nst, 6224 CV, Maastricht

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Maastricht

Ziggo

 

Jan ter Gouwweg, 1412 HB, Naarden

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

133.48

 

The Netherlands

 

Naarden

Ziggo

 

Hugo de Vriesstraat 9, 2152 CT, Haarlemmermeer

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Haarlemmermeer

Ziggo

 

Godfried Bomansstraat 3, 7442 TH, Hellendoorn

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Hellendoorn

Ziggo

 

Leeghwaterstraat/Kerklaan, 2912 CM, Nieuwerkerk Aan Den Ijss

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Nieuwerkerk Aan Den Ijss

Ziggo

 

Abtspoelweg, 2343 JB, Oegstgeest

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Oegstgeest

Ziggo

 

Ambachtstraat 19, 5061 KH, Oisterwijk

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Oisterwijk

Ziggo

 

Kleine Kampen, 3911 PK, Rhenen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Rhenen

Ziggo

 

Aalsmeerderweg 745, 1435 EK, Haarlemmermeer

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Haarlemmermeer

Ziggo

 

Sprundelseweg 34 nabij, 4715 RC, Rucphen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Rucphen

Ziggo

 

Mauritsweg(Atalanta), 5121 MS, Gilze En Rijen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Gilze En Rijen

Ziggo

 

Grote Wallerweg 1 A, 1742 NM, Schagen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

186.05

 

The Netherlands

 

Schagen

Ziggo

 

Duistergats/Kapellerweg, 6132 AA, Sittard-Geleen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,774.05

 

The Netherlands

 

Sittard-Geleen

Ziggo

 

Zwartedijk / N243 8, 1636 VK, Schermer

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Schermer

Ziggo

 

Amersfoortsestr./v.Weerdepoelmanweg, 3769 AD, Soest

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Soest

Ziggo

 

Poststraat 261, 5038 DH, Tilburg

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Tilburg

Ziggo

 

Hugo de Grootstraat, 5037 RA, Tilburg

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Tilburg

 

16


 


 

Ziggo

 

De Lage Witsiebaan 398a, 5044 JC, Tilburg

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Tilburg

Ziggo

 

Dongewijkdreef, 5045 NH, Tilburg

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Tilburg

Ziggo

 

Einsteindreef 11, 3563 AX, Utrecht

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Utrecht

Ziggo

 

Saffierlaan 1/Briljantlaan, 3523 CD, Utrecht

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Utrecht

Ziggo

 

Weerdsingel oostzijde achter 93, 3514 AA, Utrecht

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Utrecht

Ziggo

 

Groenedijk / Koldijksterraklaan nabij 57, 3544 AB, Utrecht

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Utrecht

Ziggo

 

Kennedylaan/Oude Leidseweg, 3533 KK, Utrecht

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Utrecht

Ziggo

 

Pr Irenelaan 17, 2273 DJ, Leidschendam-Voorburg

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

960.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Leidschendam- Voorburg

Ziggo

 

Vuurboetsduin, 8899 AT, Vlieland

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Vlieland

Ziggo

 

Abrikozengaarde to 19, 3962 HB, Wijk Bij Duurstede

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Wijk Bij Duurstede

Ziggo

 

Schweibergerweg, 6281 ND, Gulpen-Wittem

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Gulpen-Wittem

Ziggo

 

Raafstraat, 1976 AA, Velsen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

330.62

 

The Netherlands

 

Velsen

Ziggo

 

Purmerenderweg 1, 1461 DD, Beemster

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

121.51

 

The Netherlands

 

Beemster

Ziggo

 

Molenbergstraat 18 nst, 4761 CM, Moerdijk

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

120.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Moerdijk

Ziggo

 

Helderseweg, 1817 BA, Alkmaar

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,917.41

 

The Netherlands

 

Alkmaar

Ziggo

 

Kollenbergweg 80, 1101 AV, Amsterdam

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Amsterdam

Ziggo

 

Rijsenburgselaan 133, 3972 EH, Driebergen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Driebergen

Ziggo

 

Winschoterdiep 50C-50, 9723 AB, Groningen

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Groningen

Ziggo

 

Arkelsedijk, 4206 AC, Gorinchem

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Gorinchem

Ziggo

 

Centraleweg 16, 4931 NB, Geertruidenberg

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Geertruidenberg

Ziggo

 

Voortstraat 21, 6051 JP, Maasbracht

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Maasbracht

Ziggo

 

Gelissendomein 5, 6229 GK, Maastricht

 

Technical, Headend

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

The Netherlands

 

Maastricht

 

17


Exhibit 7

 

UNAUDITED COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES (1)

 

 

 

2016

 

2015

 

2014

 

2013

 

2012

 

 

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

£m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financing costs per consolidated income statement(2)

 

2,124

 

1,736

 

1,554

 

1,596

 

1,768

 

Financing costs — discontinued operations

 

 

 

 

56

 

23

 

One third of rental expense

 

772

 

768

 

718

 

601

 

585

 

Interest capitalized

 

179

 

142

 

3

 

8

 

25

 

Fixed charges

 

3,075

 

2,646

 

2,275

 

2,261

 

2,401

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Loss)/profit before taxation from continuing operations

 

(449

)

1,095

 

(5,270

)

(3,483

)

4,144

 

Share of results of equity accounted associates and joint ventures

 

(44

)

63

 

(278

)

(575

)

(1,129

)

Fixed charges

 

3,075

 

2,646

 

2,275

 

2,261

 

2,401

 

Dividends received from associates and joint ventures

 

 

583

 

4,897

 

5,539

 

4,916

 

Interest capitalized

 

(179

)

(142

)

(3

)

(8

)

(25

)

Earnings

 

2,403

 

4,245

 

1,621

 

3,734

 

10,307

 

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges

 

 

1.6

 

 

1.7

 

4.3

 

Deficiency between fixed charges and earnings

 

672

 

 

654

 

 

 

 


Notes:

(1)              All of the financial information presented in this exhibit is unaudited.

(2)              Fixed charges include (1) interest expensed (2) interest capitalized (3) amortisation of premiums, discounts and capitalised expenses related to indebtedness, and (4) an estimate of the interest within rental expense. These include the financing costs of subsidiaries.  Fixed charges include net foreign exchange losses arising from net foreign exchange movements on certain intercompany loans of £433 million for the year ended 31 March 2016 (2015: £526 million gain, 2014: £21 million gain, 2013: £91 million loss, 2012: £nil), interest expense on settlement of tax issues of £15 million for the year ended 31 March 2016 (2015: £4m credit, 2014: £15 million credit, 2013: £91 million credit, 2012: £23 million expense) and equity put rights and similar arrangements of £nil for the year ended 31 March 2016 (2015: £11 million, 2014: £143 million, 2013: £136 million, 2012: £81 million).

 


Exhibit 12

 

RULE 13a-14(a) CERTIFICATION

 

I, Vittorio Colao, certify that:

 

1.                           I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Vodafone Group Plc (the “Company”);

 

2.                           Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.                           Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.                           The Company’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) for the Company and have:

 

(a)                      Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

(b)                      Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

(c)                       Evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

(d)                      Disclosed in this report any change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.                           The Company’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Company’s auditors and the audit committee of the Company’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

(a)                      All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

(b)                      Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

10 June 2016

 

/s/ Vittorio Colao

Date

Vittorio Colao

 

Chief Executive

 



 

RULE 13a-14(a) CERTIFICATION

 

I, Nick Read, certify that:

 

1.                           I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Vodafone Group Plc (the “Company”);

 

2.                           Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.                           Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.                           The Company’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) for the Company and have:

 

(a)                      Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

(b)                      Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

(c)                       Evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

(d)                      Disclosed in this report any change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.                           The Company’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Company’s auditors and the audit committee of the Company’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

(a)                      All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

(b)                      Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

10 June 2016

 

/s/ Nick Read

Date

Nick Read

 

Chief Financial Officer

 


Exhibit 13

 

RULE 13a-14(b) CERTIFICATION

 

Pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (subsections (a) and (b) of section 1350, chapter 63 of title 18, United States Code), the undersigned officer of Vodafone Group Plc, a company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (the “Company”), hereby certifies, to such officer’s knowledge, that:

 

The Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended 31 March 2016 (the “Report”) of the Company fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

 

10 June 2016

 

/s/ Vittorio Colao

Date

Vittorio Colao

 

Chief Executive

 

 

The foregoing certification is being furnished solely pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (subsections (a) and (b) of section 1350, chapter 63 of title 18, United States Code) and is not being filed as part of the Report or as a separate disclosure document.

 

 

RULE 13a-14(b) CERTIFICATION

 

Pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (subsections (a) and (b) of section 1350, chapter 63 of title 18, United States Code), the undersigned officer of Vodafone Group Plc, a company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (the “Company”), hereby certifies, to such officer’s knowledge, that:

 

The Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended 31 March 2016 (the “Report”) of the Company fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

 

10 June 2016

 

/s/ Nick Read

Date

Nick Read

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

The foregoing certification is being furnished solely pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (subsections (a) and (b) of section 1350, chapter 63 of title 18, United States Code) and is not being filed as part of the Report or as a separate disclosure document.

 


Exhibit 15.1

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on Forms F-3 (No. 333-190307) and S-8 (No. 333- 81825, 333-149634) of Vodafone Group Plc of our report dated 17 May 2016 relating to the consolidated financial statements and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in this Annual Report on Form 20-F.

 

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

 

 

 

London, United Kingdom

 

 

 

10 June 2016

 

 


Exhibit 15.2

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement Nos. 333-81825 and 333-149634 on Form S-8 and Registration Statement No. 333-190307 on Form F-3 of our report dated 20 May 2014, relating to the 2014 consolidated financial statements (before the effects of the retrospective adjustments made in 2015 and 2016 to the segment disclosures in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements) (not presented herein) of Vodafone Group Plc and subsidiaries (the “Group”), appearing in this Annual Report on Form 20-F of Vodafone Group Plc for the year ended 31 March 2016.

 

 

/s/ Deloitte LLP

 

 

 

Deloitte LLP

 

 

 

London, United Kingdom

 

 

 

10 June 2016

 

 


Exhibit 15.3

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement Nos. 333-81825 and 333-149634 on Form S-8 and Registration Statement No. 333-190307 on Form F-3 of Vodafone Group Plc of our report dated February 27, 2014 relating to the 2013 consolidated financial statements of Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless appearing in this Annual Report on Form 20-F of Vodafone Group Plc for the year ended March 31, 2016.

 

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

 

 

 

New York, New York

 

 

 

June 10, 2016