25 August 2020

Sale of Moruya based telco set to deliver $785,714 to southern councils

| Ian Campbell
Join the conversation
7
Moruya based Southern Phone is in the process of being sold. Photo: Southern Phone Facebook.

Moruya based Southern Phone is in the process of being sold. Photo: Southern Phone Facebook.

The second-largest home phone provider in regional Australia, the Moruya based Southern Phone is in the process of being sold to one of the countries largest energy providers in a move that will deliver a cash injection to local government.

Southern Phone, has entered into a conditional agreement under which AGL Energy Limited (AGL) is proposing to acquire 100% of the company.

The AGL offer is an all-cash offer of $27.5 million, delivering what the company says is an outstanding return of $785,714 on each shareholder’s total investment of a tiny $2.

Southern Phone Managing Director, David Joss says that “given our shareholders are all local Councils, the proposed acquisition by AGL presents a great opportunity for the Councils to utilise the return to address priorities facing their local communities.”

The telco was formed in 2002 with funding from the Commonwealth Government’s Networking the Nation program. It is owned by 35 local councils, including Snowy Monaro, Goulburn Mulwaree, Bega Valley, Eurobodalla, and Snowy Valleys, each has an equal shareholding.

In the past 14 years, Southern Phone has grown to a customer base of over 100,000. It employs more than 135 people at it’s Moruya HQ.

“Our company has grown to become one of the most successful providers of fixed line, mobile and Internet communications services across regional Australia,” Mr Joss says.

“Our unique Local Government ownership structure has created a community focused business that has achieved great success.

“However, with the advent of the NBN the need for achieving a greater share of the market has significantly increased and the timing is now right for a new shareholding structure.

“AGL is committed to maintaining the Southern Phone brand and products, as well as the existing business operations and telecommunications services to our 100,000 customers, across regional Australia.

“Importantly, AGL will continue to retain the Southern Phone team.

“We believe the AGL offer is a great opportunity for our shareholders, our staff, our customers.”

Southern Phone’s current constitution limits ownership to Australian local government shareholders and it can only self-generate capital, but Mr Joss says that the Southern Phone Board is unanimously recommending shareholders accept the AGL offer.

“The Board has made this decision based on independent advice that the offer represents fair value for shareholders and provides a great outcome for the company, its customers and the regional communities we serve,” he says.

AGL CEO and Managing Director, Brett Redman, says the acquisition presents a range of exciting opportunities for their residential and small business customers.

“We are focused on responding to our customers’ evolving needs as we transform from a major energy retailer to a major, broader essential service provider,” Mr Redman says.

“We believe the acquisition, as part of our broader strategy, will create significant value for our connected customers and also for our shareholders.”

The Southern Phone Board is hoping to have shareholder approval of the sale before the end of November.

Join the conversation

7
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest
Peter Browne2:34 pm 28 Aug 22

service is non existent since agl took over i had been with southern phone for over 10 years but am now thinkig seriously about changing to some one else

I like so many other customers would rather see Southern phones remain as it was a regional business, owned by councils in southern NSW rather than being sold off to AGL. Southern phones have had a great reputation as a communications provider with excellent services at a very fair price, unlike the big telcos.

Scott Mitchell11:40 am 26 Nov 19

This will be the destruction of another great AUSTRALIAN company. The best thing I ever did was join Southern Phone years ago & not have to deal with the absolute mess that Telstra is!!!. Now let’s sit back & watch it turn into Telstra, offshore call centres that are worse than useless (something Southern has always advertised as it strong selling point because they know customers don’t want to talk to overseas call centres that are impossible to understand, don’t know our specific needs ete etc….). Can the shareholders not see through the quick short term cash grab & stay in this for the long term???? Southern was created originally by the government to combat the problems of Telstra that it created by selling it off ironically. When will people learn. Very sad.

Tim Whitaker7:54 am 20 Oct 19

Southern Phone was set up so that profits were returned to the shareholders i.e. the 35 regional councils, regional communities have received the benefit from the money coming from the profits of Southern Phone. Sadly no more. $785,714 might sound a lot of money but how much will we be missing out on. This is a bad result for regional communities, why have we not heard anything from the councils who have accepted this offer?

Ian Campbell7:49 am 21 Oct 19

Hi Tim – Councils haven’t met to consider the offer yet, that will happen between now and the end of November. We’ll keep you posted. Cheers Ian

Geoff Davies10:18 am 18 Oct 19

Southern Phone’s formerly excellent personal service went off a cliff a while back. Originally it was clearly providing good deals as well. Will AGL give a damn? Don’t hold your breath. Never mind all the excited corporate-speak.

Like state premiers, councils can be relied on to jump at the prospect of a (smallish) pot of money, never mind the long-term consequences.

Jeff de Jager8:06 am 18 Oct 19

Look what has happened to the banking industry since the Commonwealth bank was sold off – noone left to “keep the bastards honest”!

Daily Digest

Do you like to know what’s happening around your region? Every day the About Regional team packages up our most popular stories and sends them straight to your inbox for free. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.