UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15D-16
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY 2006
TELECOM ITALIA S.p.A.
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
Piazza degli Affari 2
20123 Milan, Italy
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files
or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:
FORM 20-F [X] FORM 40-F [ ]
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YES [ ] NO [X]
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to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- _______
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PRESS RELEASE
TELECOM ITALIA SIGNS AGREEMENT FOR THE SALE OF 100% OF DIGITEL VENEZUELA
FOR A TOTAL OF $425 MILLION
THE OPERATION WILL PERMIT A REDUCTION OF GROUP DEBT OF APPROXIMATELY $425 MILLION
Milan, 20 January 2006 - Telecom Italia, through its subsidiary TIM International N.V., today signed an agreement for the sale of 100% of the capital of the Venezualan mobile operator Corporaciòn Digitel C.A. (Digitel) to Telvenco S.A., a company owned by Oswaldo Cisneros, for a price of $425 million (enterprise value).
Finalization of the agreement will only take place once the necessary authorizations have been obtained from the relevant Venezualan authorities.
At the consolidated level, the disposal will bring Telecom Italia a reduction of net financial debt of over $425 million.
Digitel is the leading GSM operator in the country. In 2005, it had more than 1.7 million customers, generated revenues of approximately 287 million euro and posted a gross operating margin of approximately 79 million euro. The company is authorized to offer mobile GSM telecommunications services in the central region of Venezuala (Gran Caracas, Miranda, Carabobo, Aragua, Falcón, Yaracuy, Cojedes, Guárico and Vargas).
The disposal of Digitel is part of the Telecom Italia Group’s strategy of rationalizing its portfolio of international holdings and focusing on countries where it is possible to exploit the potential of integrating fixed and mobile platforms, and to operate with a national licence.
Telecom Italia
Media Relation
Corporate and Wireline Press Office
+39.06.3688.2610
www.telecomitalia.it/stampa
Telecom Italia
Investor Relations
+39. 02 8595 4131
www.telecomitalia.it/investor_relations
Cautionary Statement for Purposes of the "Safe Harbor" Provision of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Private Securities Litigation reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for forward-looking statements. The Press Release included in this Form 6-K contains certain forward looking statements and forecasts reflecting management's current views with respect to certain future events. The ability of the Telecom Italia Group to achieve its projected results is dependant on many factors which are outside of management's control. Actual results may differ materially from those projected or implied in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking information involves risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect expected results and are based on certain key assumptions. The following important factors could cause the Telecom Italia Group's actual results to differ materially from those projected or implied in any forward- looking statements: - the continuing impact of increased competition in a liberalized market, including competition from global and regional alliances formed by other telecommunications operators in the core domestic fixed-line and wireless markets of the Telecom Italia Group; - the ability of the Telecom Italia Group to introduce new services to stimulate increased usage of its fixed and wireless networks to offset declines in its fixed-line business due to the continuing impact of regulatory required price reductions, market share loss and pricing pressures generally; - the ability of the Telecom Italia Group to achieve cost-reduction targets in the time frame established or to continue the process of rationalizing its non-core assets; - the impact of regulatory decisions and changes in the regulatory environment; - the impact of the slowdown in Latin American economies and the slow recovery of economies generally on the international business of the Telecom Italia Group focused on Latin America and on its foreign investments and capital expenditures; - the continuing impact of rapid changes in technologies; - the impact of political and economic developments in Italy and other countries in which the Telecom Italia Group operates; - the impact of fluctuations in currency exchange and interest rates; - Telecom Italia's ability to continue the implementation of its 2002-2004 Industrial Plan, including the rationalization of its corporate structure and the disposition of Telecom Italia's interests in various companies; - the ability of the Telecom Italia Group to successfully achieve its debt reduction targets; - Telecom Italia's ability to successfully roll out its UMTS networks and services and to realize the benefits of its investment in UMTS licenses and related capital expenditures; - Telecom Italia's ability to successfully implement its internet strategy; - the ability of the Telecom Italia Group to achieve the expected return on the significant investments and capital expenditures it has made in Latin America and in Europe; - the amount and timing of any future impairment charges for Telecom Italia's licences, goodwill or other assets; and - the impact of litigation or decreased mobile communications usage arising from actual or perceived health risks or other problems relating to mobile handsets or transmission masts. The foregoing factors should not be construed as exhaustive. Due to such uncertainties and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the group will achieve its projected results.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Date: January 20th, 2006
TELECOM ITALIA S.p.A.
BY: /s/ Carlo De Gennaro
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Carlo De Gennaro
Company Manager