Telefónica 3.13

Telefónica, S.A. is a Spanish multinational broadband and telecommunications provider with operations in Europe, Asia, and North, Central and South America. Operating globally, it is one of the largest telephone operators and mobile network providers in the world. The company is a component of the Euro Stoxx 50 stock market index.The company started as a public telecommunications company. Its head office is in the Distrito Telefónica in Madrid. As well as the Telefónica brand, it also trades as O2, Vivo and Movistar.HistoryThe company was created in Madrid in 1924 as Compañía Telefónica Nacional de España with ITT as one of its major shareholders. Until the liberalisation of the telecom market in 1997, Telefónica was the only telephone operator in Spain and still holds a dominant position . Since 1997, the Spanish government has privatized its interest in the company.OwnershipTelefónica is a 100% listed company with more than 1.5 million direct shareholders. Its share capital currently comprises 4.563.996.485 ordinary shares traded on the Spanish Stock Market (Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao and Valencia) and on those in London, New York, Lima, and Buenos Aires. The five major stockholders include: