The rights and interests conferred to Emirates Telecommunications Group Company PJSC under the Strategic Relationship Agreement with Vodafone Group PLC
Published 24 January 2024
© Crown copyright 2024
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1. The Secretary of State has made a Final Order pursuant to section 26 of the National Security and Investment Act 2021 (“the Act”), which comes into force on 24 January 2024.
2. The Parties who are subject to the order are:
i. Vodafone Group Plc;
ii. Emirates Telecommunications Group Company PJSC
3. Emirates Telecommunications Group Company PJSC, a public joint stock company incorporated in the United Arab Emirates has entered into a Strategic Relationship Agreement that will enable it materially to influence the policy of Vodafone Group Plc (“the Acquisition”).
4. The Acquisition constitutes a trigger event under section 8(8) of the Act.
5. The Secretary of State considers that a risk to national security will arise in relation to Vodafone Group Plc’s role in:
a. supporting the UK Government’s domestic and international initiatives in the telecommunications sector;
b. contributing toward ensuring UK cyber security;
c. acting as a strategic supplier of services to many parts of the UK’s central government, including services provided to UK Government departments which are in support of national security.
6. The final order requires the Parties to:
i. Meet certain notification requirements in relation to any alteration to, or termination of the terms of the Strategic Relationship Agreement;
ii. Meet certain requirements relating to Vodafone’s board composition, board committee membership, and board committee functions;
iii. Establish a National Security Committee to oversee sensitive work that Vodafone and its group perform which has an impact on or is in respect of the national security of the United Kingdom;
7. The Secretary of State considers that the Final Order is necessary and proportionate to mitigate the risk to national security.