Vodafone updates TelstraClear takeover plans

Vodafone New Zealand, the country’s largest mobile operator by subscribers, has revealed further details regarding its agreed NZD840 million (USD668.7 million) takeover of TelstraClear, the New Zealand Business Review has reported. The information, which was included in an updated notice to the anti-trust regulator, suggests that the Auckland-based operator hopes to derive significant savings through reducing management and back-office ‘double-ups’. Further, Vodafone says that it will achieve savings by using TelstraClear’s backhaul and transmission services, thus cutting its reliance on Chorus, the country’s dominant wholesale network access provider. The latest version of Vodafone’s clearance document also flags savings related to wireless spectrum, without offering any additional details; the telco had previously blanked out the efficiencies from the public version of its notice. The Commerce Commission is expected to reveal its decision on whether to approve the deal tomorrow (Friday 7 September).