PRESS RELEASE

The ALBtelecom transaction is closed

4iG acquired majority ownership in a market-leader Albanian telecommunications company

Following the approval of the Albanian authorities, 4iG Plc. acquired 80.27 percent stake in ALBtelecom. The company is the leading landline voice, internet and TV provider in the country located in the West Balkans, and the owner of the largest optical network. In line with its international expansion strategy, the company listed on the Hungarian stock exchange is strengthening its position in the region. As part of the transaction, Çalik Holding became an institutional investor in 4iG.

4iG Plc has further expanded its telecommunications portfolio in the West Balkans: the Budapest based company acquired 80.27 percent stake from Çalik Holding in ALBtelecom. As part of the transaction, one of the leading groups in Turkey, Çalik Holding will carry out a capital increase of more than HUF 8 billion, acquiring less than 5 percent of the shares in the Hungarian info-communication company. The capital increase will be performed at the price per share of HUF 850 as it was preliminarily settled in the agreement. The collaboration could open up further joint business opportunities for the Turkish and the Hungarian company in the Balkans and Central Asia. Çalik Holding is committed to Hungary, where the company intends to expand. The remaining minority stake in the Albanian telecommunications company is still held by the Albanian Ministry of Economy (13.78 percent) and the Albanian Post (2.47 percent), and other shareholders (3.48 percent).

“ALBtelecom is a major player in all fields of telecommunications, a 4P provider that is market leader of landline services in Albania. The company has significant growth potential in mobile and digital solutions that could become one of the key development areas in the future.” – pointed out Gellért Jászai, Chairman and CEO of 4iG Plc. “As one of the largest institutional investors in Albania, 4iG is committed to the development of the telecommunications sector and the participation in the digital transformation of the country." – emphasized the Chairman & CEO.

“We are pleased that ALBtelecom is now owned by a strategic investor committed to the company. By taking this opportunity, I would like to thank all employees of Albtelecom for their efforts and dedication and we are confident that ALBtelecom will continue to achieve remarkable successes. On the other hand, we strongly believe that our partnership with 4iG will add remarkable value for both parties.” – said Mr. Ahmet Çalik, President of Çalik Holding.

ALBtelecom, reaching the jubilee of 110 years in 2022, has 743 colleagues. With around 153,000 landline voice, 118,000 internet, and 66,000 tv subscribers, the company is the most significant provider in Albania. With its 405,000 customers, the firm is the third biggest market player in Albania in the field of mobile services. ALBtelecom's outstanding own telecommunications infrastructure includes Albania's largest 4,500-kilometer optical backbone network and 450 own mobile stations.

Budapest, 04th March 2022

Background information:

4iG Plc, based in Budapest, is one of the leading IT and telecommunications companies in Hungary and one of the leading groups in Hungary's knowledge-based, digital economy. For more than 25 years, 4iG has been in the market of industry and industry-independent innovative technologies. The company is continuously expanding its services and portfolio to meet the changes and needs of the ICT market. The group employs over 5,500 people. 4iG is a broad-spectrum solutions provider with significant interests in IT, satellite telecommunications, telecommunications and telco infrastructure development. The company, listed on Budapest Stock Exchange, aims to build a dominant market position in a wide range of info-communications services in Hungary and the Central and Eastern European and South-Eastern European regions. www.4ig.hu/home

For more information:

Péter Elkán
communications and marketing director
sajto (@) 4ig.hu
www.4ig.hu