Vodafone and e& announce strategic relationship across Europe, Middle East, and Africa

Vodafone Group Plc and Emirates Telecommunications Group Company PJSC (e&) today announced a strategic partnership, bringing the companies closer together in certain areas of their respective businesses.

The partnership establishes e& as a cornerstone shareholder of Vodafone.

Areas in which the companies will collaborate include: Enterprise, with the pair offering joint cross-border digital services to multi-national customers; Procurement, meaning Vodafone and e& will seek to share best practice and may adopt joint-procurement; Carrier, Wholesale, and Roaming; and finally Technology, which includes the pair both adopting and developing OpenRAN.

Hatem Dowidar, the Group Chief Executive Officer of e&, will join the Vodafone Board as a non-executive Director for as long as e& maintains its 14.6 per cent share in Vodafone. e& will also have the ability to nominate a second non-executive Director independent of e&, if its shareholding exceeds 20 per cent.

The e& chief executive officer said: "Our investment in Vodafone is anchored by Vodafone Group's established position and worldwide reputation as a prominent industry player that provides cutting-edge connectivity and digital services. This aligns with e&'s vision of becoming a global telecom and technology player.

''We extend a warm welcome to Margherita Della Valle as Vodafone's newly appointed Group Chief Executive Officer, and we have full confidence in her leadership abilities to steer the company toward growth. We are convinced that our strategic relationship will unlock opportunities for both companies to explore the swiftly expanding global telecom market and next-generation technologies".

Another key term in the agreement is that e& and Vodafone have agreed to certain mutual non-disparagement provisions in relation to public statements about the other party and their respective affiliates, or current or former directors, officers or employees.

Vodafone group chief executive Margherita Della Valle said: "We know e& well and I'm delighted we have strengthened our existing relationship through this strategic partnership. This closer alignment allows us to capture opportunities in our respective markets and brings additional telecoms experience to our Board."

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