A number of subsidiaries owned by Une EPM Telecomunicaciones, including Edatel and Orbitel, are set to be rebranded under the Tigo Colombia name, La Republica reports. The move is designed to better reflect the identity of the telco’s strategic shareholder, which has owned a stake in the operator since 2014 (see below). Marcelo Cataldo, CEO of Tigo Colombia, commented: ‘In less than five years we managed to materialise a productive integration, which has improved the quality of life of millions of Colombians. We managed to overcome macroeconomic, regulatory and economic obstacles … The simplification of the brand allows us to join with seven other countries in Latin America that already operate with the Tigo brand. This globality positions us throughout the region as a robust and convergent operator.’
Since August 2014 Une EPM (currently trading as Tigo Une Colombia) and Colombia Movil (Tigo Colombia) have been co-owned by state-owned utility firm Empresas Publicas de Medellin (EPM, 50% plus one share) and Luxembourg-based Millicom International Cellular (MIC).
Despite the rebranding exercise, officials have clarified that Une EPM Telecomunicaciones will continue to exist as a legally constituted company without any changes to its corporate name, and any bonds issued in its name will continue under the same terms.