Axiata Group Berhad (commonly known as Axiata, formerly known as TM International Berhad), is a Malaysian multinational telecommunications conglomerate with extensive operations in Asia.

Axiata Group Berhad
FormerlyTM International Berhad
(1992–2009)
Company typePublic
MYX: 6888
ISINMYL6888OO001
IndustryTelecommunications
Founded12 June 1992; 32 years ago (1992-06-12)
HeadquartersAxiata Tower, 9 Jalan Stesen Sentral 5, Kuala Lumpur Sentral, 50470 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Areas served
Malaysia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh & Cambodia
ProductsMobile network, network infrastructure, digital internet
RevenueDecrease RM24.203 billion (2020)[1]
Decrease RM1.171 billion (2020)[1]
Decrease RM624.045 million (2020)[1]
Total assetsIncrease RM67.961 billion (2020)[1]
Total equityIncrease RM23.879 billion (2020)[1]
Owners
Number of employees
>25,000 (groupwide)
DivisionsAxiata Digital Labs
Subsidiaries
Websiteaxiata.com

The group

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Axiata's primary business is investment holding and provisioning of telecommunication and consultancy services on an international scale. It mainly focuses on emerging markets in ASEAN and South Asia.[2]

Formerly known as TM International Bhd (TMI), the company was incorporated on 12 June 1992 and was the mobile and international operations arm of Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM).[3] Following the de-merger of TMI from TM, the company was listed on the Main Board of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad in 2008.[3] On 2 April 2009, TMI underwent a rebranding exercise, launching its new name, Axiata, and a new logo.[4]

Its new tagline, Advancing Asia, was also launched, reflecting the company's focus on expansion within Asia.[4]

Axiata controls interests in mobile operators across Malaysia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Cambodia.[5] The Group also has stakes in non-mobile telecommunication operations in Thailand and Pakistan.[6]

Their Board of Directors includes:

  • Tan Sri Shahril Ridza Ridzuan - Chairman, Independent Non-Executive Director
  • Vivek Sood - Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director
  • Dr Hans Wijayasuriya - Group Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Telecommunications Business
  • Dato Dr Nik Ramlah Nik Mahmood - Senior Independent Non-Executive Director
  • Dr David Robert Dean - Independent Non-Executive Director
  • Khoo Gaik Bee - Independent Non-Executive Director
  • Maya Hari - Independent Non-Executive Director
  • Amrit Kaur - Independent Non-Executive Director
  • Thayaparan S Sangarapillai - Independent Non-Executive Director
  • Dr Farid Mohamed Sani - Non-Independent Non-Executive Director, Representative of Khazanah Nasional Berhad
  • Shahin Farouque Jammal Ahmad - Non-Independent Non-Executive Director, Representative of Permodalan Nasional Berhad[7]
  • Mohamad Hafiz Kassim - Non-Independent Non-Executive Director, Representative of Employees Provident Fund

Subsidiary holdings

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On their website in 2019, it was announced that Axiata had approximately 150 million subscribers across Asia and Group revenue of MYR25.3 billion (US$5.77 billion) in 2018.[8] It was also reported that the company employed 12,000 people throughout eleven countries.[6]

Axiata's mobile subsidiaries and associates operate under the brand name 'CelcomDigi' in Malaysia, 'XL' in Indonesia, 'Dialog' in Sri Lanka, 'Robi' in Bangladesh, and 'Smart' in Cambodia. The company formerly operated under the brand name 'Ncell' in Nepal (acquisition from TeliaSonera completed on 12 April 2016[9]), 'M1' in Singapore, and 'Idea' in India.

Country Brand Ownership
  Bangladesh Robi Axiata Limited 61.82%
  Cambodia Smart Axiata Co., Ltd 72.48%
  Indonesia PT XL Axiata Tbk 66.60%
  Malaysia CelcomDigi Berhad 33.1%
  Sri Lanka Dialog Axiata PLC 73.75%

On 4 January 2018, Bloomberg reported that Axiata was planning a domestic IPO of its tower subsidiary edotco.[10] The IPO was expected to raise as much as $500 million.[10]

On 15 February 2019, Axiata sold off its entire shares in 'M1' to Konnectivity Pte Ltd for RM1.65 billion, citing the need for capital reallocation and new priorities in line with its vision to be the Next Generation Digital Champion by 2022.[11]

On 21 June 2021, Axiata, Telenor and Digi agreed to a potential merger of Celcom and Digi to create a stronger telco in Malaysia, coming after advanced discussions that took place two months earlier. The merger was expected to be completed by the end of 2022.[12][13][14] The deal was approved by both Celcom and Digi shareholders on 18 November 2022. The merged company would be named CelcomDigi. At completion, Axiata and Telenor would hold equal ownership of 33.1% each in the newly merged company. The merger completed on 30 November 2022, and the new company began operations the next day.[15][16][17][18][19][20]

On December 1, 2023, the United Kingdom-based Spectrlite UK Limited acquired 100 percent ownership of Reynolds Holdings Limited from Axiata UK of Axiata Group Berhad. Reynolds owns an 80 percent equity stake in Ncell.[21]

Competitors

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Axiata Group meets main competitors across the Indonesian market (Telkomsel). In 2019, Axiata held second place in Indonesia.[22] In Bangladesh, Axiata (Robi) also held second place, and the main competitor was Telenor (Grameenphone).

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Axiata Group Berhad 2020 Annual Report" (PDF). Axiata. 31 December 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 July 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  2. ^ "Axiata moves to centralise its treasury". FinanceAsia. 22 June 2010. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
  3. ^ a b "TM International to list on 28 April". The Star. 12 April 2008. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
  4. ^ a b "TMI unveils new name but limits itself to Asia". The Star. 3 April 2009. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
  5. ^ Axiata. "Axiata Group – One of Asia's largest telecommunications groups". axiata.com. Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  6. ^ a b "Axiata Delivers Another Strong Performance into 2010 with 1Q PATAMI of RM921 million" (PDF). Corporate Communications, Group Strategy, Axiata Group Berhad. 27 May 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 August 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
  7. ^ "Meet The Team - Board of Directors". Axiata. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  8. ^ Axiata. "Axiata Group – One of Asia's largest telecommunications groups". axiata.com. Archived from the original on 22 March 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  9. ^ "TeliaSonera quits nepal, Ncell sold to Malaysian Telco group Axiata for 1.03Bil USD • TechSansar.com". TechSansar.com. TechSansar. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  10. ^ a b "Wireless carrier Axiata's unit may seek KL listing". The Straits Times. 5 January 2018. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  11. ^ "Axiata disposed its unit, M1 Ltd for RM1.65 bil | New Straits Times". 15 February 2019.
  12. ^ "Axiata, Telenor and Digi Sign Transaction Agreements for the Proposed Merger of Celcom and Digi". Axiata. 21 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  13. ^ "Axiata and Telenor in Advanced Discussions to Merge Celcom and Digi". Axiata. 8 April 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  14. ^ "Axiata, Telenor, Digi sign agreements to merge Malaysian mobile ops". The Star. 21 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  15. ^ "Axiata shareholders approve proposed Celcom-Digi merger". The Star.
  16. ^ "Digi gets shareholders' green light for proposed merger with Celcom". The Star.
  17. ^ "Axiata, Telenor complete Celcom-Digi merger | New Straits Times". NST Online. 1 December 2022.
  18. ^ "Axiata, Telenor announce completion of Celcom-Digi merger". The Edge Malaysia.
  19. ^ "Axiata and Telenor Announce the Successful Completion of the Celcom and Digi Merger". Yahoo Finance. 30 November 2022.
  20. ^ "Historic merger marks new chapter in Malaysia's digitalisation journey - Telenor Group". www.telenor.com.
  21. ^ "Spectrlite UK Buys Axiata's Ncell Shares for $50 Million". 1 December 2023.
  22. ^ Rayana, Uday (15 April 2019). "Empat Tahun Menahkodai XL, Apa Yang Sudah Ditorehkan Dian Siswarini?".
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