Spark TowerCo to assume financial responsibility for 10-year future infrastructure build programme
Spark New Zealand to focus on network and spectrum services and other active operating assets that drive market competitiveness
Spark TowerCo separation optimises Spark capital structure and supports long term shareholder value accretion.
Spark New Zealand Limited (‘Spark‘ or the ‘Group‘), formerly Telecom New Zealand, is the country’s largest telecommunications and digital services provider, providing mobile and broadband services across New Zealand. Spark employs 5000 people, servicing consumers, business and government, through 24 regional business hubs and 67 retail stores. Spark’s comprehensive service range covers mobile, broadband, cloud and digital services as well as entertainment. The Company’s infrastructure supports 2.4 million mobile connections and reaches 98 percent of New Zealanders through 1500 mobile sites and 18 data centres.
Spark TowerCo
Spark New Zealand has appointed Forsyth Barr and Jarden to undertake an engagement process to assess the appetite for institutional investors to subscribe capital to its infrastructure subsidiary, Spark TowerCo.
This follows a detailed review of Spark’s capital-intensive future infrastructure needs. The review also focused on the Group’s existing infrastructure portfolio, comprising 1500 passive mobile tower assets. Spark has an ambitious infrastructure build programme ahead to support New Zealand’s increasing data needs and new technologies like 5G, and ultimately 6G. This future build programme will require many smaller sites, closer to the end customer, and greater overall densification. Spark have concluded that infrastructure assets like mobile phone towers do not provide a competitive advantage in the telecommunications business. However, a specialist infrastructure focus on passive mobile phone tower assets does support ongoing service innovation, and efficiency, by reducing costs and increasing speed to market for these infrastructure build programmes.
The issue for Spark is how to finance this infrastructure build programme in the most capital-efficient way.
Spark consider the optimal capital solution is to hive off 1263 of its 1500 mobile phone towers into the subsidiary, Spark TowerCo. This infrastructure owner subsidiary has natural appeal to risk-averse investors with a focus on critical infrastructure assets that generate dependable, recurrent, long term cash flows. Mobile phone towers are ideally suited to investors seeking capital stable returns from privileged assets under long dated contracts with low credit risk counterparties such as Spark.
A key outcome for Spark shareholders is that the substantial investment necessary to modernise its mobile network and improve mobile coverage will be taken up by income-conscious investors who have an appetite for these passive, infrastructure assets. This enables Spark shareholders to optimise their capital returns by focusing on active assets that drive competitiveness and deliver higher margins. These assets are the core network and radio equipment assets that sit on the phone towers and offer differential service levels to that provided by Spark’s competitors, such as Vodaphone.
The Spark TowerCo proposal is similar to the Telstra InfraCo Towers proposal announced several weeks ago. InfraCo Towers will own and operate Telstra’s mobile phone tower assets. The investor demand and resultant market valuations for these Telstra assets should be a useful guide for prospective Spark TowerCo investors.
Image: File
Looking Ahead
Like Telstra, Spark understand the fundamental investment principle that a business doesn’t need to own an asset, in order to exploit it. Separating capital intensive, low risk assets into a separately owned vehicle, with exclusive ‘right of use’ provisions, enhances existing Spark shareholder returns by optimising the use of equity capital.
Spark New Zealand has given Spark TowerCo a 10-year commitment to a comprehensive new tower site build out programme. This is an equally positive outcome for Spark New Zealand shareholders, because it relieves Spark shareholders of equity dilution by not having to contribute substantial fresh capital to passive assets that cannot deliver the superior returns on equity derived from operating assets.
Spark understands that the future is digital as it experiences strong demand from NZ businesses and consumers seeking to digitise and transform their telecommunication needs. This trend is driving demand for Spark’s infrastructure assets.
The ability for Spark to use and operate these infrastructure assets without incurring a substantial capital expenditure burden is positive for Spark shareholder value accretion over the long term.
This Post Market Wrap is presented by Kodari Securities, written by Michael Kodari, CEO at KOSEC.
"Michael Kodari is one of the world's most consistent, top performing investor. A philanthropist and one of the prominent experts of the financial markets, he has been referred to as ‘the brightest 21st century entrepreneur in wealth management' by CNBC Asia and featured on Forbes. Featured on TV as the "Money Expert", on the weekly Sunday program "Elevator Pitch", he is recognised internationally by governments as he was the guest of honour for the event "Inside China's Future", chosen by the Chinese government from the funds management industry, attended by industry leaders, when they arrived in Sydney Australia, on April 2014. Michael and George Soros were the only two financiers in the world invited and chosen by the Chinese government to provide advice, and their expertise on Chinese government asset allocation offshore. With a strong background in funds management and stockbroking, Michael has worked with some of the most successful investors and consulted to leading financial institutions. He was the youngest person ever to appear on the expert panel for Fox, Sky News Business Channel at the age of 25 where he demonstrated his skillset across a 3 year period forming the most consistent track record and getting all his predictions right over that period. Michael writes for key financial publications, is regularly interviewed by various media and conducts conferences around the world."
Gold prices fall over 2% to below $4,000, as investors shift from safe-haven assets after Gaza ceasefire news.
Gold prices have fallen sharply, dropping over two per cent to below $4,000 per ounce, as investors took profits following the announcement of a Gaza ceasefire agreement. The deal between Israel and Hamas triggered a shift away from safe-haven assets, with silver and platinum also sliding.
The U.S. dollar strengthened as markets responded to the news, making precious metals more expensive for foreign buyers. Analysts say the pullback is likely temporary, with long-term demand for gold and silver expected to remain strong amid global instability and rising debt levels.
Market experts warn that volatility will continue as geopolitical tensions persist, even as short-term optimism grows around the Middle East peace process.
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In Short:
– Gold prices fell over 2% to below $4,000 per ounce due to a stronger dollar and profit-taking.
– Silver eased to $48.93 per ounce, influenced by market activity and ongoing high demand despite supply issues.
Gold prices fell over 2% on Thursday, dropping below $4,000 per ounce. The decline followed a strong rise earlier in the year and was influenced by a stronger dollar and profit-taking after a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.Spot gold decreased to $3,959.48 per ounce, while U.S. gold futures for December delivery settled at $3,972.6.
Silver also experienced a slight decline, easing from its record high to $48.93 per ounce. The dollar index increased, making gold more expensive for overseas buyers.
Traders noted increased activity in the market as profit-taking coincided with reduced tensions in a historically volatile region.
An independent metals trader stated that while gold and silver may need to consolidate further, the underlying demand drivers remain intact.
Market Overview
Gold surpassed $4,000 per ounce on Wednesday, reaching $4,059.05, boosted by geopolitical tensions and strong demand from central banks. The asset has gained about 52% this year, reflecting a significant increase due to various economic factors. The U.S. central bank’s decision to cut rates in September also contributed to the rally, with expectations for future cuts in the coming months.
Silver’s price increase of 69% this year is tied closely to similar economic trends impacting gold. Notably, liquidity issues in the silver market are being exacerbated by strong demand and tight supply conditions. Other precious metals, such as platinum and palladium, also saw declines during this period.
In Short:
– North Korean hackers stole over $2 billion in cryptocurrency in 2025, nearly tripling last year’s total.
– A shift to social engineering tactics has led to increased targeting of high-net-worth individuals for cyber attacks.
North Korean hackers have reportedly stolen over $2 billion in cryptocurrency assets in 2025, setting a record with three months still left in the year.
Data from blockchain analytics firm Elliptic indicates that this amount nearly triples the total stolen last year, accounting for approximately 13% of North Korea’s estimated GDP and raising the regime’s total crypto theft to over $6 billion since 2017.
A significant portion of the 2025 theft is attributed to the February hack of cryptocurrency exchange Bybit, which amounted to $1.46 billion.
The FBI has linked this breach to state-sponsored North Korean hackers, who exploited weaknesses in Bybit’s wallet management system. More than 30 additional cyber attacks have also been associated with North Korea this year, including notable breaches at LND.fi and WOO X.
Shift In Tactics
A shift in methodology among North Korean hackers has been observed, as they now focus on social engineering rather than technical exploits. According to Elliptic, the primary vulnerability lies with individuals rather than technology.
High-net-worth individuals and corporate executives are increasingly targeted due to their relatively weaker security measures.
The hackers utilise deceptive tactics, including phishing schemes and fake job offers, to access private cryptocurrency wallets. Intelligence reports suggest that the stolen funds are used to finance North Korea’s nuclear programmes.
The regime has also improved its money laundering techniques by employing various cryptocurrencies and mixing methods to obscure fund origins. Blockchain analysts are actively tracking these stolen assets, with notable progress achieved in identifying recoverable funds.