(Ottawa) – September 8, 2014
Export Development Canada (EDC) today announced it has provided more than EUR 180 M in financing to Spain’s Telefónica to make it easier for Telefónica to buy products and services from Alcatel Lucent (ALU).
ALU, the French–owned telecommunications equipment company, has operations in a number of Canadian cities focusing on research and development, sales, and customer service. ALU’s strong exports, history of creating jobs, and their experience helping Canadian suppliers grow into dynamic exporters make them a strategic partner for EDC.
“EDC’s financing will not only help ALU grow its business with Telefónica, but it will also help open the door for Canadian companies to enter the supply chains of both telecommunications giants,” said Stephen Wilhelm, Regional Vice President for Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, EDC.
“Alcatel–Lucent plays an important role in the Canadian information and communications technology sector, creating jobs and contributing to the growth of Canada’s expertise within the sector,” said Carl Burlock, Financing and Investments, EDC. “When EDC invests in large strategic partners, it creates business and job opportunities within their Canadian supply chains,” added Burlock.
EDC has been providing financing to Telefónica since 2006 as they continue to purchase and partner with Canadian–based companies.
By growing its business with Telefónica, ALU is strengthening its relationship with one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world, with operations in 24 countries and a customer base of over 315 million subscribers.
Founded in 1924, Telefónica is one of the largest telecommunications companies worldwide, headquartered in Madrid, Spain. They have operations in 24 countries and a customer base of over 315 million subscribers. Telefónica is a wholly listed company, and its capital is traded on the Spanish Stock Exchanges (Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao and Valencia) and on those of London, New York, Lima and Buenos Aires.
Alcatel–Lucent is at the forefront of global communications, providing products and innovations in IP and cloud networking, as well as ultra–broadband fixed and wireless access to service providers and their customers, and to enterprises and institutions throughout the world.
Alcatel Lucent innovations have resulted in our Group being recognized by Thomson Reuters as a Top 100 Global Innovator, as well as being named by MIT Technology Review as amongst 2012’s Top 50 “World’s Most Innovative Companies”.
With revenues of Euro 14.4 billion in 2013, Alcatel–Lucent is listed on the Paris and New York stock exchanges (Euronext and NYSE: ALU). The company is incorporated in France and headquartered in Paris, offices in Ottawa.
EDC is Canada’s export credit agency, providing financing and insurance solutions locally and around the world to help Canadian companies of any size respond to international business opportunities. As a profitable Crown corporation that operates on commercial principles, EDC works together with private– and public– sector financial institutions to create greater capacity for Canadian companies to engage in trade and investment.
For more information about how EDC can help your company, visit www.edc.ca.
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Phil Taylor
Export Development Canada
(613) 598–2904
ptaylor@edc.ca
