Vocus offloading NZ business to cut debt

Vocus aims to sell its New Zealand business by the end of June and is looking at offloading other assets.

Vocus is aiming to sell its New Zealand business by the end of June as part of the internet provider's strategy of offloading non-core assets to slash debt.

Vocus said on Monday it plans to sell the unit operating NZ broadband providers Orcon and Slingshot by the end of its current financial year.

ASX-listed Vocus has been reviewing the potential divestment of non-core assets since heavy writedowns dragged it to the $1.46 billion full-year loss it announced in August.

The loss followed a two-year expansion spree that included the purchase of Amcom and Nextgen, plus a merger with rival M2 Group.

Vocus chief executive Geoff Horth said the company had received offers across its entire portfolio since announcing the review.

Australia's fourth largest telco, which also operates retail brands Dodo and iPrimus, said on Monday it has appointed advisers for the sale of its Australian Data Centre assets

It said all proceeds would also be used to slash debt and provide further strategic options.

Mr Horth said Dodo and iPrimus had increased the company's NBN subscriber base by 29 per cent in the first quarter of the current financial year, but that gains were offset by the fact that almost one in 10 of its customers were marooned in legacy brands.

"At the moment, we have sister brand activities to try and migrate them across very, very quickly and get to being a two primary-brand business so that drag disappears," Mr Horth said.

Vocus shares have fallen almost 75 per cent since May 2016, with the company also facing a proposed class action alleging it engaged in "misleading and deceptive conduct" over its 2017 financial guidance.

At 1540 AEDT on Monday, Vocus shares were down 3.0 cents, or 1.0 per cent, at $2.78.


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Source: AAP


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Vocus offloading NZ business to cut debt | SBS News