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Denis O'Brien is selling about €2 billion of his company - but he gets to stay boss

It’s all looking up for DOB.

MEDIA AND TELECOMS tycoon Denis O’Brien’s Digicel could raise nearly $2.3 billion when it floats on the New York Stock Exchange.

The company, which is based in Bermuda, has released documents in the US updating its plans to go public.

They reveal it expects to sell over 142 million new shares at between $13 and $16 apiece. At the top end of the range, the float would net the company close to $2.3 billion (€2.05 billion).

O’Brien, who founded the company in 2000 and remains its chairman, will hold onto more than 193 million shares, valuing his stake at potentially more than $3 billion (€2.7 billion).

However the Irish billionaire’s shares will carry 10 times the weight in any ballots, giving him control over 94% of Digicel.

In a list of risks to investors, the filings noted this would give O’Brien “significant influence over those matters requiring approval by shareholders”, such as electing directors, changing the company’s constitution and other transactions.

“(O’Brien’s) interests may not in all cases align with other shareholders’ interests,” the documents said.

Clinton Global Initiative O'Brien shares a stage with the CEO of Goldman Sachs in 2013 AP Photo / Craig Ruttle AP Photo / Craig Ruttle / Craig Ruttle

No more debts

In the year to March, Digicel turned over $2.79 billion (€2.5 billion) in revenue but recorded a net loss of $157.6 million (€141.4 million).

It boasts more than 13 million mobile subscribers in 31 markets across the Caribbean and Pacific islands, and is the biggest provider in 21 of those territories.

The company said it plans to use about $1.3 billion (€1.17 billion) of the net proceeds from the share sale to pay off all its debts.

READ: Top Irish earners are paying more tax than the Swedes >

READ: Denis O’Brien has been clogging people’s Twitter timelines with something a little different >

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42 Comments
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    Mute plato
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    Aug 27th 2012, 1:54 PM

    79% say it unacceptable to give a mobile phone to people under 18 ?? Am I reading that right? Almost every teenager I know has a mobile phone.

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    Mute plato
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    Aug 27th 2012, 1:55 PM

    Oops that was 8 not 18.. Knew I hadn’t read it correctly.. D’oh !!

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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    Aug 27th 2012, 2:02 PM

    8? Seriously what does an 8 year old child need a mobile for?

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    Mute Thomas M Bourke
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    Aug 28th 2012, 9:47 AM

    In my daughter’s class (9/10 year olds) last year there were a few who had cellphones

    I remember having change for the callbox at the school…

    needless to say, while she may have a kindle to read books on, she does *not* have a cellphone!

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    Mute fitszenpatrik
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    Aug 27th 2012, 3:34 PM

    Technology certainly divides our household.
    Since we got an electric fence down the middle of our living room the rows have reduced greatly.

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    Mute Niamh
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    Aug 27th 2012, 4:26 PM

    That was really funny!! :-D

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    Mute Thomas M Bourke
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    Aug 28th 2012, 9:48 AM

    ours is made of lego… thing is my daughter designed the fence and now cannot go to the toilet without causing a row as she crosses her own fence!

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    Mute John Quill
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    Aug 27th 2012, 1:38 PM

    OMG, totes maze LOL! LMAO!

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    Mute Mary Kavanagh
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    Aug 27th 2012, 5:13 PM

    Lol to fitsen.. :D

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    Mute BlackQueen
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    Aug 28th 2012, 7:14 AM

    So tired of seeing ipad instead of tablet device. Even psychologists aren’t immune from fruit control!

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