29 May 2008

SP Telemedia

Recent media reports have made some statements about Soul Communications Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of SP Telemedia Limited (“Soul”) which last month merged with TPG Holdings Limited (“TPG”).

David Teoh, the Executive Chairman of the newly merged TPG Soul group, has been spending his early weeks in the role understanding the Soul business and taking steps to improve the efficiency and profitability of the group.  He said “The TPG Soul group is already a very profitable participant in the Australian telecommunications industry.  We are initiating and driving positive changes to the operations of the group to improve the business for our customers, our staff and our shareholders.”

The group has achieved an EBITDA of $7 million from the full month’s combined April results of TPG and Soul and currently holds cash reserves in excess of $20 million.

There has been a recent strategic reduction in the number of staff employed in Western Australia, with some functions being moved to New South Wales and other functions being performed off shore.  Soul has paid all employee entitlements, and issued all termination notices, as the law requires.

Soul has been assisting the Australian Workplace Ombudsman in connection with enquiries being made about a company called Soul Shop Pty Ltd, a former dealer of Soul.

Any steps taken by Soul in connection with dealers have been taken under the terms of the contracts with those dealers.

7 April 2008

The merger of SP Telemedia Limited (ASX: SOT), the telecommunications company that trades as SOUL, and TPG Holdings Limited, one of Australia's leading internet service providers, becomes effective today, following approval by SP Telemedia shareholders at a general meeting held in Sydney. Completion of the transaction will be on 22 April 2008.

The combined business has one of Australia's largest DSLAM networks, a 700,000-strong customer base and experienced management. Plans to integrate the two businesses and their networks are already well advanced; and these will create opportunities to increase network traffic, bundle and cross-sell products, reduce future capital and operational costs, and improve cash flow.

Mr Robert Millner, who will retire as chairman of SP Telemedia but remain a non-executive director, said: 'The merger of SP Telemedia and TPG has created one of Australia's largest and most profitable telecommunications companies, well placed to participate in any further industry consolidation. The acquisition of TPG will be earnings per share accretive in FY2009 and forecast EBITDA for the year is expected to exceed $100M. FY2008 earnings will be affected by one-off integration costs.'

Mr David Teoh, who will become executive chairman of SP Telemedia, said: 'The merged business is in an excellent position to continue the strong growth achieved to date by TPG. Through combining SP Telemedia's extensive IP voice, video and data network and mobile and business product capability with TPG's 257 DSLAM network and broadband customer base, we will have significant opportunities to increase competitiveness and expand market share.'

After completion of the Shareholders meeting all the directors of SP Telemedia, other than Mr Robert Millner and Mr Denis Ledbury, resigned their positions and Mr David Teoh Mr Alan Latimer and Mr Joseph Pang were appointed directors of the company.

As announced in February, SP Telemedia shareholders on the register at 17 April 2008 will receive a fully franked special dividend, including the interim dividend, of 2.4 cents per share, payable on 22 May 2008. This dividend will not be paid on shares issued as consideration for the acquisition of TPG.

29 June 2007

TPG Launches $69.99 150GB ADSL2+ Super Plan

TPG Internet are delighted to launch our new 150GB ADSL2+ Super Plan for an unprecedented $69.99 per month.

TPG Internet are responding to increasing customer demand for high download quota plans and are able to deliver the new Super Plan using our significant bandwidth capacity.

We are excited to provide our customers the opportunity to realise the full potential of the internet. The 150GB ADSL2+ Super Plan is ideal for enjoying media-rich content, graphic-intensive online gaming, online streaming TV (IPTV), VoIP phone services as well as new applications and services being developed for super speed connections.

TPG Internet’s 150GB ADSL2+ Super Plan includes 40GB of downloads during peak time and 110GB of downloads during off peak time (1am to 7am customer’s local time). The Super Plan also includes a generous 30MB personal webspace, 20 email addresses and free spam and virus filtering. In addition, customers at eligible exchanges can take advantage of TPG Internet’s free IPTV service which offers a range of news, finance, foreign language and entertainment programs which are not counted against the ADSL2+ download quota.

There are no additional or hidden costs with the new Super Plan. Throttling will apply when download quotas are reached.

“The introduction of the $69.99 150GB ADSL2+ Super Plan will provide customers comprehensive access to a high speed, quality internet service at an affordable price.” said TPG Internet’s General Manager, Mr Vitek Piestrzynski, “We will continue to progress strongly with our national ADSL2+ roll out project to provide this service to more Australians in the near future.”

The new $69.99 150GB ADSL2+ Super Plan is now available. Customers can register online at www.tpg.com.au or by telephone on 1300 360 855.

Media contact:
tpgmarketing@tpg.com.au

4 March 2005

TPG Launches New Broadband Plans with VoIP Services!

TPG are thrilled to announce the establishment of a series of new plans for their Broadband services, both business and residential. TPG has well established itself as a market leader and to continue this leadership a new range of plans have been developed to encompass the growing needs of TPG’s current customers and potential customers.

Broadband penetration in homes is on the rise and TPG’s new range of plans will provide an option for every user in the market. The new plans are designed to suit the needs of all customers, ranging from 200MB downloads to unlimited downloads. Everyone from light internet users, who only check email occasionally, to heavy internet users who do everything online from email to gaming to downloading MP3 files, will be able to take advantage of the plans that TPG has to offer. The new residential plans range in price from $24.95 per month to $79.95 a month, making them a viable option for consumers. TPG’s business plans are also highly competitive ranging from $79.95 per month to $149.95 per month. Most of these plans will also include free calls with TPG’s Virtual Phone Card service, allowing customers to take advantage of the range of services TPG has to offer.

Keeping in line with TPG’s current plans, all TPG’s new plans are highly affordable and are competitively priced in the current market. TPG Internet’s General Manager, Mr Vitek Piestrzynski stated ‘Our new plans will provide our customers with what they have been asking for, high quality internet connection at low and competitive prices and we are providing them with free telephone calls through our Virtual Phone Card product’.

TPG’s Virtual Phone Card is an easy to use, great rate calling card, which has previously only been available to new broadband customers. The Virtual Phone Card service utilises current VoIP technology to provide a high quality calling service for its customers. As of 14th February, this service is available to all our current and new customers. Combining TPG’s Virtual Phone Card service and broadband plans will enable TPG’s customers to take greater advantage of the overall low cost high quality services TPG has to offer, as well as provide an opportunity to utilise and become familiar with a new product. Further details about these plans and our Virtual Phone Card service can be found at www.tpg.com.au. Virtual Phone Card rates are as low as 8.8c between capital cities and 1c per minute to the UK (www.tpg.com.au/vccard/).

TPG are sure that all current and potential customers will be pleased with this new range of plans and look forward to the continuing growth of both customers and services.

7 January 2005

TPG DONATES $100,000 to UNICEF TSUNAMI APPEAL

TPG has been greatly moved by the tragedy of the Southeast Asian Tsunami and has donated $100,000 to the UNICEF TSUNAMI APPEAL to assist the relief efforts for the millions of persons so severely affected by the Tsunami and its aftermath. We have also appealed to all our staff and will additionally match their donations dollar for dollar.

With millions of people left devastated in our neighbourhood by the Tsunami, UNICEF has been both rushing emergency aid and working with governments to assess pressing priorities.

If you would like to donate as well you can do so online at www.unicef.org.au or by phoning 1300 732 240. No matter what size donation, you too can assist UNICEF in its efforts to help the people that will be affected by this tragedy for many years to come. UNICEF accepts VISA, MasterCard and BankCard

Kind Regards,

TPG Internet
Ph: 1300 360 855
www.tpg.com.au

27 September, 2004

TPG announces the launch of 1.5 Mb High Speed Broadband Plans from $24.95

[Sydney] Market Leader, TPG announced this afternoon the launch of a new range of broadband plans.

The 1.5 Mb Value plan is available for $24.95/mth with 200 MB of downloads (excess downloads are available for 15c per MB, capped at $35. After 20GB speed is throttled to 64K). Users pay no more than $59.95 per month! This plan comes with a FREE USB modem.

The 1.5 Mb Home Unlimited plan is available for $49.95/mth with unlimited downloads (with free 20GB of downloads, thereafter speed is throttled to 64K). This plan also comes with a FREE USB modem. Both plans feature 5-email addresses with FREE Spam and Virus filters, and 10MB of personal webspace.

The 1.5 Mb Business Unlimited plan is available for $99.95/mth and features unlimited downloads, a static IP address, 20 email addresses with FREE Spam and Virus filters, and 30MB of personal webspace.

TPG also is offering users the choice of purchasing a 4 port router for $59.95 with the plans.

TPG Internet’s General Manager, Mr. Vitek Piestrzynski, remarked "The aim of the new Broadband 1.5 Mb plans is to provide our customers with high performance and value for money broadband services."

For further information about TPG’s 1.5 Mb plans and how to register, please visit www.tpg.com.au or contact their customer service team on 1300 360 855.

24 August, 2004

TPG reaches an important milestone - 50,000 Broadband Subscribers.

[Sydney] TPG was presented today with a plaque in recognition of the company's achievement in connecting 50,000 broadband customers nationwide. The General Manager of TPG Internet, Mr Vitek Piestrzynski, was presented the plaque by the Managing Head of Sales at Telstra Wholesale, Mr Martin Mercer.

Mr Mercer recognised TPG as currently being Telstra Wholesale's "largest and fastest growing customer". He also mentioned that "they [TPG] have achieved remarkable growth in the DSL area and I congratulate them on this important milestone." Accepting the plaque on TPG's behalf, Mr Piestrzynski noted that this was a "significant milestone for TPG" and "we are extremely pleased in achieving 50,000 DSL customers, being the number two provider of DSL services, and most importantly satisfying the needs of our customers".

TPG Internet started operation in 1996 and since then has experienced sustained and rapid growth. TPG Internet offers ADSL broadband access, dialup access, permanent connections, email services, Virtual Private Networks (VPN), website and domain name hosting. We have both a domestic and international data backbone enabling us to provide high quality and low cost Network services. We also have our R&D division developing and supporting an extensive range of products and services.

We are very pleased with our achievement in reaching 50,000 DSL customers and it complements our large Internet customer and corporate customer base. Since inception, our business has experienced rapid growth.

We would like to extend a thank you to our customers, as without their loyalty to our company we would not have achieved this result, our partners and especially Telstra with whom we have had a successful partnership over the past 8 years.

The future looks very positive for TPG and the growth we have experienced will continue along with our focus on customer satisfaction. We are, as well, focused on introduction of new services and meeting the demand of the future.