Sterlite Technologies Announces Acquisition of Global Telecom Software Company Elitecore Technologies

PUNE, India, September 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

- In Line With Sterlite's Overall Strategy of Widening Telecom Portfolio of Offerings to its Global Customers With Software Solutions for Operations Support, Business Support and Revenue Management 

- Elitecore's Portfolio Enables Sterlite to Serve Telco Operators' Mission Critical Applications That Drive Profitability and Scalability 

- Acquisition for an Overall Enterprise Value of Approximately Rs 180 Crore in an All Cash Deal 

Sterlite Technologies Limited ("Sterlite") has entered into a definitive agreement for the acquisition of Elitecore Technologies Private Limited ("Elitecore"), a global telecom software product company. Elitecore is a leading provider of Operations Support Services/Business Support Services and is majority owned by First Carlyle Ventures Mauritius, whose affiliate is advised by The Carlyle Group. Elitecore was established in 1999 by highly experienced software technocrats with over 20 years of experience. Today, it is ranked amongst one of the leading product-centric IT companies from India that has a global customer base.

Elitecore has a rich product portfolio, robust technology platform, strong customer track record and excellent partnerships. Over the last few years, Elitecore has made significant inroads in both Indian and global telecom operators and has expanded its geographic footprint to include South East Asia, Middle East & Africa and lately Eastern Europe and Latin America. Elitecore is a profitable niche player with FY 15 revenues of Rs 147cr and EBITDA of Rs 16cr and is cash positive on a net debt basis. The company has been continuously profitable for the last 7 years and the financial performance would continue to improve given the strategic decision to build its service capabilities and focus on investing in right growth product categories.

Rationale and transaction highlights  

• This acquisition widens Sterlite's telecom portfolio of offerings to its global customers - in addition to its current offerings comprising optical products and allied system integration services, Sterlite will now offer industry leading software solutions for operations support, business support and revenue management.
• Sterlite has taken a strategic decision to capitalize on the broadband data network creation globally by offering a larger range of products and solutions especially focusing on the high value product segments. Elitecore's portfolio enables Sterlite to serve Telco operators' mission critical applications that drive profitability and scalability.
• This acquisition opens up access to a large multi-billion dollar market which, when combined with the existing large and expanding market for optical products globally, significantly enhances the overall growth opportunity for the company.
• The asset light, non-linear business model of Elitecore offers complementary advantages to Sterlite's current business model catering to requirements of high speed data networks in India and globally.
• Sterlite is committed to growing its optical products business and has implemented expansion plans to increase capacity. It has also undertaken efforts to scale up revenue contribution from services and solutions and the addition of Elitecore's operation will offer significant impetus to the revenue contribution from services.
• Both Sterlite and Elitecore cater to some of the largest telecom service providers globally and this acquisition will enable both companies to cross-sell their suite of offerings.
• This acquisition will be for an overall enterprise value of approximately Rs 180cr in an all-cash deal. The transaction is expected to be value accretive by FY17 and is expected to be closed shortly subject to completion of certain regulatory and statutory formalities. Upon completion of the transaction, Elitecore Technologies is proposed to be merged into Sterlite Technologies.
• Sterlite was advised by Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas on legal matters, PwC on financial diligence, EY on taxation matters and KPMG on transaction structuring matters. Carlyle and Elitecore Technologies were advised by NRS Advisors and Systematix Capital on transaction structuring, J Sagar Associates on legal matters and KPMG on taxation matters.

Commenting on the transaction, Pravin Agarwal, Vice Chairman, Sterlite Technologies Ltd., said, "The transaction follows our strategy to undertake attractive M&A opportunities in the entire telecom value chain. Elitecore has had an excellent performance record, with its management and employees having a wealth of experience and expertise in developing solutions for telecom companies. The acquisition is a lever for Sterlite to create new inflections in the telecom arena that are in line with Sterlite's long-term goals of being an integrated telecom solution provider."

Commenting on the transaction, Nikhil Jain, MD & CEO of Elitecore Technologies, said, "We are very excited about what is a completely transformational development for our Company. With its product-led innovation, cost leadership, geographic reach and proven delivery capability, Sterlite has built a solid reputation with leading global telecom companies in some of the world's most challenging business environments. Elitecore's growth will benefit immensely from Sterlite's market access, geographic reach, delivery capability and financial strength. My team looks forward to join 'Sterlite' and further our shared vision to deliver optimal solutions for our customers' evolving needs."

Commenting on the transaction, Shankar Narayanan, Managing Director of The Carlyle Group, and Co-Head of the Carlyle Asia growth capital team, said, "Elitecore is a great example of a win-win corporate-private equity relationship where Carlyle has partnered with a management team with passion, resourcefulness and integrity to build a world-class telecom product and solutions business. I am pleased that Carlyle has been able to leverage its global resources and network of portfolio companies to help Elitecore achieve superior growth and transform the business. We are proud to have been associated with the Company and the management team and wish them great success."

About Sterlite Technologies  

Sterlite Technologies Limited (STL) develops & delivers products, solutions and infrastructure for telecom & power transmission networks, globally. STL is among the global leaders in all its business areas of optical fibre, fibre optic cables, power conductors and HV / EHV power cables through its operations in India, China and Brazil. As the most integrated Optical Fiber Company in the world, STL is pioneering Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) deployment in India to enable high speed broadband connectivity. STL is developing several power transmission infrastructure projects spanning over 5,500 Circuit Kms, across India. Listed on Stock Exchanges BSE & NSE in Mumbai, India, Sterlite Technologies is a public company with broad shareholder base.

About The Carlyle Group 

The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) is a global alternative asset manager with $193 billion of assets under management across 128 funds and 159 fund of funds vehicles as of June 30, 2015. Carlyle's purpose is to invest wisely and create value on behalf of its investors, many of whom are public pensions. Carlyle invests across four segments - Corporate Private Equity, Real Assets, Global Market Strategies and Investment Solutions - in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, North America and South America. Carlyle has expertise in various industries, including: aerospace, defense & government services, consumer & retail, energy, financial services, healthcare, industrial, real estate, technology & business services, telecommunications & media and transportation. The Carlyle Group employs more than 1,700 people in 35 offices across six continents.

About Elitecore Technologies Limited 

Established in 1999, Elitecore Technologies is a global provider of software product and services company with over 15 years of experience in delivering BSS, Packet Core and Carrier Wi-Fi Solution with flexibility of modular as well as pre-integrated offerings. Elitecore has proven case references with over 150 deployments for 52 CSPs across 40 countries. Being a traditional IP solutions player, Elitecore products are highly responsive to next-generation services, fulfilling operator's monetization and customer experience needs ensuring faster time-to-market and reduced TCO. Gartner in its Magic Quadrant report for IRCM (Integrate Revenue and Customer Management ) 2014 has rated Elitecore as one of the fastest growing companies and listed it as a "Niche player". Elitecore is the Winner of Deloitte Fast 50. Elitecore's other products include 24 online access gateway and NEOX IP Telephony. Headquartered in Ahmedabad, Elitecore has a team of over 700 strong industry professionals spread across its offices in India, SEA, UAE and Africa.

Forward-looking and cautionary statements: Certain words and statements in this release concerning Sterlite Technologies Limited and its prospects, and other statements relating to Sterlite Technologies' expected financial position, business strategy, the future development of Sterlite Technologies' operations and the general economy in India, are forward looking statements. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of Sterlite Technologies Limited, or industry results, to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding Sterlite Technologies' present and future business strategies and the environment in which Sterlite Technologies Limited will operate in the future. The important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from such forward-looking statements include, among others, changes in government policies or regulations of India and, in particular, changes relating to the administration of Sterlite Technologies' industry, and changes in general economic, business and credit conditions in India. Additional factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from such forward-looking statements, many of which are not in Sterlite Technologies' control, include, but are not limited to, those risk factors discussed in Sterlite Technologies' various filings with the National Stock Exchange, India and the Bombay Stock Exchange, India. These filings are available at http://www.nseindia.com and http://www.bseindia.com. 

Registered office:  

Survey No. 68/1, Rakholi Village, Madhuban Dam Road, Silvassa - 396 230

Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli, India

Phone: +91 20 30514000, Fax: +91.20.30514113

CIN: L 31300DN2000PLC000340

http://www.sterlitetechnologies.com

Contact

Corporate Communications

Manish Ingole
Sterlite Technologies Limited
Phone: +91.20.30514000
Email: [email protected] / [email protected]   

Investor Relations

Vishal Aggarwal
Sterlite Technologies Limited
Phone: +91.20.30514000
Email: [email protected] / [email protected]