--Acquisition to immediately increase revenues by 20% (US$2.5 million) versus 2004 numbers --Acquisition to increase revenue run rate to $18 million and improve earnings by 300,000
MONTREAL, April 4, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- TelePlus Enterprises, Inc. (OTCBB:TLPE) (http://www.teleplus.ca), a vertically integrated provider of wireless and landline communications products and services across North America, is pleased to announce today that it has closed the acquisition of Keda Consulting Corp. ("Keda") and Freedom Phones Lines ("Freedom") announced in a release dated December 13, 2004.
As part of the transaction, Keda has changed its name to TelePlus Connect Corp. ("TelePlus Connect") and Keda's management has taken over the operations of TelePlus' prepaid landline and long distance telephone service division. The TelePlus Connect business plan calls for the company to pick up $112 million in revenue and $28 million in EBITDA over the next 60 months. The terms of the transaction call for TelePlus to pay the shareholders of Keda on an earn-out basis based on the achievement by TelePlus Connect of specific EBITDA benchmarks during the next 48 months.
TelePlus Connect's new management counts over 40 years experience in the telecommunications industry, having held various senior management positions with firms such as ACC Canada, AT&T, Axxent Corporation and CAM-NET Communications.
Simultaneous to the close of Keda, TelePlus has also closed the acquisition of Freedom also announced in the release dated December 13, 2004. The Terms of the transaction call for TelePlus to pay a combination of cash and stock valued at USD$833k to the shareholders of Freedom. Freedom shall be rolled in TelePlus Connect and its management will join our company. Freedom currently services 3,300 customers in Ontario, Canada with local and long distance prepaid telephone services. Freedom currently generates yearly revenues of US$2.5 million and EBITDA $300,000.
"We are delighted to have closed the acquisition of Keda and Freedom," stated TelePlus CEO Marius Silvasan. "Both acquisitions are an important milestone in the continued growth of our landline and long distance prepaid business. These two acquisitions not only provide us with an immediate increase in top-line revenues but also favorably contribute, from day one, to our earnings. We have also structured the payment of Keda's purchase price in a way which is tied to the creation of shareholder value. In fact the purchase price is tied to the achievement of specific EBITDA targets, which shall ensure the delivery of long-term value to our shareholders. We are no longer just an operator of wireless retail stores but have successfully diversified our business in the resell of wireless, landline, long distance and internet services. We now have the ability to reach our customers in a variety of ways while leveraging the synergies among our various business units," added Marius Silvasan, CEO
"We are very excited with the conclusion of these transactions. It is our goal to become a major player in the landline and long distance prepaid industry," stated Steve Kerekes. "The acquisition of Freedom Phone Lines is the first step in allowing us to achieve our goal and we are pleased to become members of the TelePlus organization and look forward to helping TelePlus realize its business strategy."
This press release is available on the TelePlus' Investor Relation's site for investor questions, commentary and feedback. Investors are asked to visit http://www.agoracom.com and select the TelePlus Investor Relations HUB. Alternatively, investors can e-mail their questions or comments directly to TLPE@agoracom.com or asked to be placed on the TelePlus investor e-mail list to receive all future press releases directly.
About TelePlus http://www.teleplus.ca
TelePlus Enterprises, Inc. ("TelePlus") is a vertically integrated provider of wireless and landline products and services across North America. The Company's retail division--TelePlus Retail Services, Inc.--owns and operates a national chain of TelePlus branded stores in major shopping malls, selling a comprehensive line of wireless and portable communication devices. TelePlus Wireless, Corp. operates a virtual wireless network selling cellular network access to distributors in the United States. TelePlus Connect, Corp. is a reseller of landline and long distance services including Internet services.
About Keda Consulting Corp.
KEDA Consulting Corp. has been providing a broad range of management consulting services to the North American Telecommunications industry for over 10 years, specializing in Business Development, Sales and Marketing and Operations.
About Freedom Phone Lines
Freedom Phone Lines, headquartered in Ontario, Canada, is a Bell Canada reseller of landline and long distance services. Freedom currently services over 3,300 customers in the Ontario area.
The statements which are not historical facts contained in this press release are forward-looking statements that involve certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to risks associated with the uncertainty of future financial results, additional financing requirements, development and acquisition of new product lines and services, government approval processes, the impact of competitive products or pricing a technological changes, the effect of economic conditions and other uncertainties, and the risk factors set forth from time to time in the Company's SEC reports, including but not limited to its annual report on Form 10-KSB; its quarterly reports on Forms 10-QSB; and any reports on Form 8-K. TelePlus Enterprises, Inc. takes no obligation to update or correct forward-looking statements.