Axtel Announces 65% Participation During the Early Tender Period and the Signing of the Tower Sale Agreement with American Tower Corp

SAN PEDRO GARZA GARCIA, Mexico--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Axtel, S.A.B. de C.V. (BMV: AXTELCPO; OTC: AXTLY) (“AXTEL” or “the Company”), a Mexican fixed-line integrated telecommunications company, today announced that the Company has obtained 65% aggregate participation as of the expiration of the Early Tender Date with respect to the exchange offers being made by its subsidiary Axtel Capital, S. de R.L. de C.V. to exchange any and all of AXTEL’s outstanding Senior Notes due 2017 and 2019 (the “Old Notes”) for new Senior Secured Notes and Senior Secured Convertible Dollar-indexed Notes, both due in 2020 (the “New Notes”), and a cash payment (the “Exchange Offers”).

“We are also in the final stage of successfully closing the notes’ exchange offer. This will strengthen AXTEL’s capital structure and permit the Company to continue implementing its key strategic initiatives.”

Additionally, the Company is also pleased to announce the signing of definitive agreements with MATC Digital, S. de R.L. de C.V., a subsidiary of American Tower Corporation (“American Tower”), for the sale of 883 telecommunication sites for approximately US$250 million. As previously informed, AXTEL is agreeing to lease back space on these telecommunication sites from American Tower for initial minimum lease terms ranging from 6 to 15 years depending on the technology installation at each site. The closing of this transaction is conditioned upon and expected to occur concurrently with the closing of the Exchange Offers on January 31, 2013.

Mr. Felipe Canales, AXTEL´s Chief Financial Officer, stated, “We are very pleased with the tower sale transaction. Not only because it is a key element of the recapitalization strategy we announced mid last year, but also because we are partnering with American Tower, a world-class company that will significantly contribute to enhance our operating performance”. Mr. Canales went on to state, “We are also in the final stage of successfully closing the notes’ exchange offer. This will strengthen AXTEL’s capital structure and permit the Company to continue implementing its key strategic initiatives."

Other important information

The consummation of the Exchange Offers and related consent solicitations are subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Exchange. The complete terms and conditions of the Exchange Offers and consent solicitations are described in the Offer to Exchange, copies of which may be obtained by eligible holders by contacting D.F. King & Co., Inc., the information agent for the exchange offers and consent solicitations, at 48 Wall Street, 22nd Floor, New York, New York 10005, [phone] (collect) or [phone] (toll free), or [e-mail]. The New Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act, or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements, and will therefore be subject to substantial restrictions on transfer.

This announcement is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the New Notes nor an offer to purchase Old Notes nor a solicitation of Consents. The Exchange Offers and Consent Solicitations are being made solely by means of the Offer to Exchange and the related Consent and Letter of Transmittal.

About AXTEL

AXTEL is a Mexican telecommunications company with significant growth in the broadband segment, and one of the leading companies in information and communication technologies solutions in the corporate, financial and government sectors. The Company serves all market segments - corporate, financial, government, wholesale and residential with the most robust offering of integrated communications services in Mexico. Its world-class network consists of different access technologies like fiber optic, fixed wireless access, point to point and point to multipoint links, in order to offer solutions tailored to the needs of its customers.

AXTEL's shares, represented by Ordinary Participation Certificates or CPOs, trade on the Mexican Stock Exchange under the symbol 'AXTELCPO' since 2005.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains certain forward-looking statements regarding the future events or the future financial performance of AXTEL that are made pursuant to the safe harbor for forward-looking statements provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements reflect management's current views with respect to future events or financial performance, and are based on management's current assumptions and information currently available and are not guarantees of the Company's future performance. The timing of certain events and actual results could differ materially from those projected or contemplated by the forward-looking statements due to a number of factors including, but not limited to those inherent to operating in a highly regulated industry, strong competition, commercial and financial execution, economic conditions, among others.