Carlos Slim’s America Movil Jumps After Mexico Breakup Plan

Billionaire Carlos Slim is bowing to imminent antitrust legislation by planning a breakup of America Movil SAB’s phone operations in Mexico rather than risk profit-crushing restrictions if his company did nothing to curb its dominance. The shares soared.

America Movil, the Americas’ largest operator with 272 million wireless subscribers, decided to divest some assets to an independent company, reducing its market share in Mexican landlines and mobile phones to below 50 percent to appease regulators, America Movil said yesterday in a filing. Slim’s carrier will also separate its wireless towers from the rest of the business and will renounce its rights to acquire control of satellite-TV provider Dish Mexico. Slim and his family hold 57 percent of America Movil.