UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE
ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16
OR 15d-16 OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT
OF 1934
For the month of November, 2024.
Commission File Number: 001-38763
MILLICOM INTERNATIONAL CELLULAR S.A.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its
Charter)
148-150, Boulevard de la Pétrusse
L-2330 Luxembourg
Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
(Address of principal executive office)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files
or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:
Form 20-F x
Form 40-F ¨
MILLICOM INTERNATIONAL CELLULAR S.A.
INDEX TO FURNISHED MATERIAL
Item
______
| 1. | Press release dated November 29, 2024. |
Item 1
Millicom (Tigo)
intends to consolidate listing of shares on NASDAQ U.S. by delisting SDRs from Nasdaq Stockholm and resumes
shareholder remuneration
Luxembourg,
November 29, 2024 – Millicom
International Cellular S.A. ("Millicom" or the “Company”), today announced that the
Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) has approved the following corporate actions, to simplify the trading of
its shares and to resume shareholder remuneration, supported by the Company’s strong financial performance in 2024 and positive
outlook for 2025 and beyond:
| 1. | Application
for delisting of the Company's Swedish Depositary Receipts (“SDR”) from Nasdaq
Stockholm (to be made at the earliest end of February 2025): The Company anticipates
that consolidating the listing of its shares onto one single exchange, the Nasdaq Stock Market
in the United States (“Nasdaq U.S.”), will provide improved levels of liquidity
to its shareholders, appropriate access to capital for Millicom, attract new investors focused
on Latin America, potential inclusion on certain equity indices, a simplified corporate governance
structure and a reduction in administrative costs; |
| 2. | $150
million Share Repurchase Program: The program is intended to enhance shareholder value,
as further outlined below; and |
| 3. | Dividend
Policy and Interim Dividend Declaration: Millicom having reached its intermediate leverage
goal, the Board’s current intention is to propose to restart recurring dividends as
means of shareholder remuneration, which would then be presented to the AGM for shareholder
approval. Meanwhile, the Board has approved an interim dividend of $1.00 per share (or its
equivalent in SEK per SDR), i.e. approximately $172 million (to be adjusted for the number
of treasury shares held by Millicom at the time of the record date of the Interim Dividend),
expected to be paid on or around January 10, 2025. |
Application
for delisting of the Company's SDRs from Nasdaq Stockholm
Consolidating
the listing of the Company’s shares on the Nasdaq U.S. is a logical next step in Millicom’s journey to become a more efficient
company with a simplified corporate governance structure and to solidify its position as a leading provider of fixed and mobile telecommunications
services in Latin America, a region where most of its peers are US-listed.
The
Company’s primary goal in consolidating its listing on Nasdaq U.S., is to increase trading liquidity for its shareholders and to
provide appropriate access to capital for Millicom, reaching a larger pool of potential shareholders, while maintaining the same high
level of standards of reporting and governance.
To
achieve this, the Company (i) will maintain the current listing of its ordinary shares on the Nasdaq U.S. (“Millicom U.S. Shares”
or “Shares”) under the ticker symbol TIGO and (ii) intends to apply to delist the Company's SDR from Nasdaq Stockholm. The
application for delisting will be submitted to Nasdaq Stockholm no earlier than three months after the date of this press release in
line with Swedish good stock market practice (which the Swedish Securities Counsel has confirmed in its statement AMN 2024:72, when consulted
by Millicom regarding good stock market practice in relation to the intended delisting).
Millicom’s
SDRs traded on Nasdaq Stockholm have equivalent economic and voting rights as the Millicom U.S. Shares that will remain listed on Nasdaq
U.S. Currently, unrelated to a future delisting, holders of SDRs can convert SDRs into Millicom U.S. Shares for a fee paid to the SDR
custodian (SEB), as per the procedures described on Millicom’s website. However, Millicom will as soon as possible provide further
details regarding the transfer instructions to be given by SDR holders to their Swedish nominee/custodian bank or broker in relation
to the conversion process in light of the delisting and the related termination of the SDRs, and how to act in relation thereto. Such
further details will include that directly registered SDR-holders must have or open an account that enables them to receive the US Shares,
such as a securities custody account, an investment savings account (Sw. investeringssparkonto) or an endowment insurance (Sw.
kapitalförsäkring). SDR holders that convert SDRs into Millicom U.S. Shares before such upcoming more detailed communication
may not benefit from any improved conditions which may be applied in preparation for the upcoming delisting and termination of the SDRs
(including potentially as regards removal or reduction of any fees involved).
As
mentioned above, the application for delisting will, in line with Swedish good stock market practice as confirmed to Millicom by the
Swedish Securities Council, not be submitted to Nasdaq Stockholm until at the earliest three months from today. The delisting is conditional
on Nasdaq Stockholm thereafter approving the delisting application, which it is expected to do within a few days of receipt of the application
for delisting. The SDRs will remain listed for trading at Nasdaq Stockholm until such last day of trading as Nasdaq Stockholm will decide.
It is currently not possible to say when such last day of trading will be, but Millicom currently expects it to be approximately two
to three weeks after the submission of the delisting application.
$150
million Share Repurchase Program
On
May 23, 2024, the AGM of Millicom resolved to authorize (the “Authorization”) the Board to adopt a share repurchase plan
subject to certain conditions. Based on the Authorization, the Board decided today to initiate a repurchase program of SDRs and Shares
(the “Share Repurchase Program”) worth up to $150
million (or its equivalent in Swedish Krona (“SEK”)). The purpose of the Share Repurchase Program is to reduce the capital
of Millicom by distributing funds to the shareholders, thus enhancing shareholder value, and to meet obligations under Millicom’s
share-based incentive plans or other compensation programs. The repurchases may also have the effect of mitigating any potential stock
price volatility that may arise during the delisting period, though there can be no guarantee that the Share Repurchase Program would
have this or any other effect on any price or trading volatility of the SDRs and Shares.
The
Share Repurchase Program will be implemented in accordance with the Authorization, the Nasdaq Nordic Main Market Rulebook for Issuers
of Shares (“Nasdaq Rulebook”), applicable law including the Luxembourg law of 10 August 1915 on commercial companies, as
amended, and the EU Market Abuse Regulation No. 596/2014 (“MAR”), and it will be executed consistently with the provisions
of Article 5 of MAR and the Commission Delegated Regulation No. 2016/1052 (“Safe Harbor Regulation”). The Share Repurchase
Program will be managed by a brokerage firm which makes its trading decisions concerning the timing and quantity of the purchases of
SDRs and Shares independently of Millicom based on the framework agreed at inception. The Share Repurchase Program will be conducted
under the following conditions:
| · | Repurchases
may take place during the period between December 9, 2024 and May 21, 2025. |
| · | The
maximum level of SDRs and Shares that may be repurchased will be the lower of $150 million
(approximately SEK 1.65 billion) in aggregate purchase price, or 17,200,000 SDRs / Shares
(the latter corresponding to approximately 10% of Millicom’s share capital, which is
the maximum number allowed under the Authorization). |
| · | Payment
for the repurchases will be made in cash. |
| · | SDRs
and Shares may be repurchased on Nasdaq Stockholm or Nasdaq U.S., respectively, at a price
per share within the registered interval for the share price prevailing at any time (the
spread), that is, the interval between the highest buying price and the lowest selling price
on the regulated market where the purchases are made. |
| · | The
repurchased SDRs and Shares will ultimately be transferred to employees of the Company’s
group in connection with any existing or future Company’s share-based incentive plan
or be cancelled, as the case may be. |
In
addition to repurchases under the Share Repurchase Program described above, but with the same purpose, Millicom may also, under the Authorization
and before the commencement of repurchases under the Share Repurchase Program, effectuate separate repurchases outside the scope of the
Safe Harbor Regulation under article 5 of MAR to the extent permitted under MAR and other applicable rules. If so, the execution of those
repurchases will be disclosed and deducted from the maximum amounts and numbers of SDRs of the Share Repurchase Program as stipulated
above.
As
of the date of this press release, the total number of outstanding shares in Millicom is 172,096,305 of which 598,896 are held by Millicom
as treasury shares. Completed acquisitions of own shares will be disclosed and reported in accordance with applicable laws and regulations
as well as Nasdaq Rulebook.
Complete
information on the authorization resolved by the AGM can be found on Millicom’s website.
Dividend Policy and
Interim Dividend Declaration
Millicom
having reached its intermediate leverage goal, the Board’s current intention is to propose to restart recurring dividends as means
of shareholder remuneration, which would then be propsed to the AGM for shareholder approval.
Meanwhile,
the Board has approved the distribution of an interim dividend payment of $1 per share (the “Interim Dividend”) to Millicom
shareholders from the unappropriated net profits on a parent company basis, in accordance with articles 23 of the Company’s articles
of association, currently expected to be paid on January 10, 2025.
At
September 30, 2024 Millicom had unappropriated net profit of USD 2,058,896,447. The interim accounts of Millicom as of September 30,
2024 show that Millicom has sufficient funds available, in accordance with applicable law, to distribute the Interim Dividend which represents
an approximate aggregate dividend of USD 172 million. The Board confirms that, in the absence of losses incurred by Millicom as of 30
September 2024 reducing the said unappropriated net profits below an amount of USD 172 million, the Interim Dividend can be paid out
of the unappropriated net profit available at the date of this press release.
Details
regarding the payment of the Interim Dividend, including in relation to the record date, conversion stoppage, ex-dividend date, and currency
conversions will be communicated shortly.
|
|
As
regards certain tax aspects, Millicom can currently inform investors as follows. In accordance with Luxembourg income tax law, the payment
of the Interim Dividend will be subject to a 15% withholding tax. Millicom will withhold the 15% withholding tax and pay this amount
to the Luxembourg tax administration. The Interim Dividend will be paid net of withholding tax. However, a reduced withholding tax rate
may be foreseen in a double tax treaty concluded between Luxembourg and the country of residence of the shareholder or an exemption may
be available in cases where the Luxembourg withholding tax exemption regime conditions are fulfilled (e.g., for shareholdings representing
at least 10% of the share capital or an acquisition cost of at least Euro 1.2 million for an uninterrupted period of at least 12 months
and held by corporate shareholders that may benefit from the Parent-Subsidiary Directive, respectively are subject to tax at a rate of
at least 8.5% (2024) levied on a tax basis similar to the Luxembourg one and located in a jurisdiction linked with a double tax treaty
with Luxembourg). These shareholders should contact their advisors regarding the procedure and the deadline for a potential refund of
the withholding tax from the Luxembourg tax authority. Holders of Millicom shares and SDRs should consult their tax advisor regarding
potential tax implications.
Regulatory
Statement
This
information was prior to this release inside information and is information that Millicom is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU
Market Abuse Regulation. This information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, at 14:45
CET on November 29, 2024.
For further information,
please contact:
Press:
Sofía Corral,
Director Corporate Communications
press@millicom.com |
Investors:
Michel
Morin, VP Investor Relations
investors@millicom.com |
About
Millicom
Millicom
(NASDAQ U.S.: TIGO, Nasdaq Stockholm: TIGO_SDB) is a leading provider of fixed and mobile telecommunications services in Latin America. Through our TIGO® and Tigo Business® brands, we provide a
wide range of digital services and products, including TIGO Money for mobile financial services, TIGO Sports for local entertainment,
TIGO ONEtv for pay TV, high-speed data, voice, and business-to-business solutions such as cloud and security. As of September 30, 2024,
Millicom, including its Honduras Joint Venture, employed approximately 15,000 people, and provided mobile and fiber-cable services through
its digital highways to more than 46 million customers, with a fiber-cable footprint over 14 million homes passed. Founded in 1990, Millicom
International Cellular S.A. is headquartered in Luxembourg.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements
included herein that are not historical facts, including without limitation statements concerning future strategy, plans, objectives,
expectations and intentions, projected financial results, liquidity, growth and prospects, are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking
statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time. In the event such risks or uncertainties
materialize, Millicom’s results could be materially adversely affected. In particular, there is uncertainty about global economic
activity and inflation, the demand for Millicom's products and services, and global supply chains. The risks and uncertainties include,
but are not limited to, the following:
| • | global
economic conditions, foreign exchange rate fluctuations and high inflation, as well as local
economic conditions in the markets we serve, which can be impacted by geopolitical developments
outside of our principal geographic markets, such as the armed conflict between Russia and
the Ukraine and related sanctions; |
| • | potential
disruptions due to health crises, including pandemics, epidemics, or other public health
emergencies; geopolitical events, armed conflict, and acts by terrorists; |
| • | telecommunications
usage levels, including traffic, customer growth and the accelerated transition from traditional
to digital services; |
| • | competitive
forces, including pricing pressures, piracy, the ability to connect to other operators’
networks and our ability to retain market share in the face of competition from existing
and new market entrants as well as industry consolidation; |
| • | the
achievement of our operational goals, environmental, social and governance targets, financial
targets and strategic plans, including the acceleration of cash flow growth, the expansion
of our fixed broadband network, the reintroduction of a share repurchase program and the
reduction in net leverage; |
| • | legal
or regulatory developments and changes, or changes in governmental policy, including with
respect to the availability and terms and conditions of spectrum and licenses, the level
of tariffs, laws and regulations which require the provision of services to customers without
charging, tax matters, controls or limits on the purchase of U.S. dollars, the terms of interconnection,
customer access and international settlement arrangements; |
| • | our
ability to grow our mobile financial services business in our Latin American markets; |
| • | adverse
legal or regulatory disputes or proceedings; |
| • | the
success of our business, operating and financing initiatives and strategies, including partnerships
and capital expenditure plans; |
| • | our
expectations regarding the growth in fixed broadband penetration rates and the return that
our investment in broadband networks will yield; |
| • | the
level and timing of the growth and profitability of new initiatives, start-up costs associated
with entering new markets, the successful deployment of new systems and applications to support
new initiatives; |
| • | our
ability to create new organizational structures for the Tigo Money and Towers businesses
and manage them independently to enhance their value; |
| • | relationships
with key suppliers and costs of handsets and other equipment; |
| • | disruptions
in our supply chain due to economic and political instability, the outbreak of war or other
hostilities, public health emergencies, natural disasters and general business conditions; |
| • | our
ability to successfully pursue acquisitions, investments or merger opportunities, integrate
any acquired businesses in a timely and cost-effective manner, divest or restructure assets
and businesses, and achieve the expected benefits of such transactions; |
| • | the
availability, terms and use of capital, the impact of regulatory and competitive developments
on capital outlays, the ability to achieve cost savings and realize productivity improvements; |
| • | technological
development and evolving industry standards, including challenges in meeting customer demand
for new technology and the cost of upgrading existing infrastructure; |
| • | cybersecurity
threats, a security breach or other significant disruption of our IT systems or those of
our business partners, suppliers or customers; |
| • | the
capacity to upstream cash generated in operations through dividends, royalties, management
fees and repayment of shareholder loans; and |
| • | other
factors or trends affecting our financial condition or results of operations. |
A
further list and description of risks, uncertainties and other matters can be found in Millicom’s Registration Statement on Form
20-F, including those risks outlined in “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors,” and in Millicom’s subsequent
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings, all of which are available at www.sec.gov. All forward-looking statements attributable
to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Readers are cautioned
not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date hereof. Except to the extent otherwise
required by applicable law, we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of
new information, future events or otherwise.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
|
MILLICOM INTERNATIONAL CELLULAR S.A.
(Registrant)
|
|
By: |
/s/ Salvador Escalón |
|
|
Name: |
Salvador Escalón |
|
|
Title: |
Executive Vice President, Chief Legal and Compliance Officer |
Date: November 29, 2024
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