NEW YORK, Oct. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Grupo Marcatel has successfully completed the acquisition of Vivaro Corporation and STi Prepaid, two of the top companies dedicated to the sale and distribution of pre-paid calling cards in the United States.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20101027/CL90342 )

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101027/CL90342 )

Last June, Grupo Marcatel acquired Epana, Kare and Unidos, the three companies that formed Vivaro Corporation; and recently, on October 14th, it concluded the negotiations to acquire STi Prepaid. The integration of both companies brings to Grupo Marcatel a 700% growth in revenue and a 60% share in the prepaid card market.

This growth, said Gustavo M. de la Garza Ortega, Founder and Chairman of Grupo Marcatel, will be reflected mainly in the services offered to the end user, who represents their top priority: "With this acquisition, Grupo Marcatel relies on the strength of the telecommunication industry in Mexico as well as the investment opportunities that the Hispanic market holds in the United States. We are seeking to bring families together, regardless of borders, and, as a carrier, we will keep our policy of absolute honesty in the selling and operation of our cards to position them in the market for their reliability and clean operation."

In recent years, while other companies suffered losses, both Vivaro and STi experienced a fast 25% growth in their prepaid calling card sales, keeping their commitment, seriousness and professionalism in their customer service, mainly focused on the Hispanic market in the United States. Currently, the combined sales of both companies reachover 260 million cards per year with a price range of $2, $5 and $10, which are distributed in more than 25 thousand stores, throughout one of the largest distribution networks in the United States, and will generate for Grupo Marcatel nearly $1 billion dollars in annual sales.

Also, as an unprecedented result, the integration of these companies to Grupo Marcatel will significantly benefit all the telecommunication companies in Mexico and in more than 35 countries around the world, most notably the Dominican Republic, Guatemala and Venezuela in Latin America, and Nigeria and Kenya in Africa, due to an increase of incoming traffic from the United States.

"To us, it has always been very important to offer our customers the best quality in our services; therefore, I did not hesitate to incorporate Vivaro and STi. These are companies which users trust and have great credibility. Now as part of Grupo Marcatel, we will be able to meet the market's toughest demands, ensuring more flexibility through the latest technology," said De la Garza Ortega.

On the other hand, being positioned as one of the largest Mexican suppliers of voice, data and video worldwide, Grupo Marcatel assures all existing users of Vivaro Corporation and STi Prepaid that when they buy their prepaid calling cards, they are also receiving all the support from a strong, committed and empathetic organization.

"Not only we will continue to offer long distance prepaid calling cards; this merger creates one more link in the value chain Marcatel is building, as a carrier responsible of the card's production and distribution. We are also the carrier for one of the largest portions of the incoming calls to Mexico, allowing us to guarantee the best service to our customers," concluded De la Garza Ortega.

The telecommunications sector in Mexico is growing at an annual rate of 20%. This alliance will allow Marcatel to grow at a rate of 40% annually, projecting its consolidation as the leading provider of international integrated telecommunication services from Mexico.

About Grupo Marcatel

Grupo Marcatel is a Mexican corporation and a key player within the telecommunications industry in America, Africa, Europe and Asia, with outstanding presence in Canada, United States, Venezuela, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, Brasil, Great Britain, Spain, South Africa and Mexico, thanks to its high capacity fiber optics network and solid infrastructure. Grupo Marcatel's solutions portfolio include voice and data services, prepaid cards, video transmission, internet connections and call center solutions, among others.

About Vivaro Corporation

Vivaro Corporation provides innovative Telecommunications and Financial Services products to the fast-growing Hispanic community. Headquartered in New York City, Vivaro has a strong international presence and regional offices throughout the United States. Vivaro is composed of three business units: Epana, Unidos and Kare.

About STi Prepaid

STi Prepaid is one of the largest calling cards companies in the U.S. (More than 240 million phone cards each year). It is positioned globally within the top 10 international carriers for minute termination (more than 750 destinations). It has strong relationships with distributors and retailers throughout the U.S. and more than 200 operators worldwide to market its wide range of prepaid phone cards, also distinguished by its architecture, scalable infrastructure and highly efficient network.

Visit: http://gustavodelagarza.com.mx

SOURCE Grupo Marcatel