Vodafone to divest stake in Vantage Towers to GIP and KKR

Vodafone formed a joint venture with a consortium of long-term infrastructure investors led by Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) and KKR to hold and manage Vodafone’s 81.7% stake in Vantage Towers AG.

Vodafone will contribute its shares in Vantage Towers into the JV by way of a capital increase against new JV shares. The Consortium will obtain a shareholding in the JV of up to 50% by acquiring JV shares from Vodafone for cash.

The deal has a valuation of €32.0 per share, a premium of 19% to Vantage Towers’ 3 month volume-weighted average share price and a multiple of 26x adjusted EBITDAaL for the 12 month period ended 31 March 2022.

Nick Read, Vodafone Group Chief Executive said: “This is a landmark moment for both Vodafone and Vantage Towers. This transaction successfully delivers on Vodafone’s stated aims of retaining co-control over a strategically important asset, deconsolidating Vantage Towers from our balance sheet to ensure we can optimise its capital structure and generate substantial upfront cash proceeds for the Group to support our priority of deleveraging. We are excited to partner with GIP and KKR, both world-class investors who bring significant expertise in digital infrastructure and share our long-term vision for Vantage Towers as we collectively take the business to the next stage of its growth.”

In parallel with this announcement, the JV has announced today that it will make a voluntary takeover offer (“VTO”) for the outstanding Vantage Towers shares held by minority shareholders pursuant to Section 10 of the German Securities Acquisition and Takeover Act. 

https://www.vodafone.com/news/corporate-and-financial/vodafone-enters-co-control-partnership-gip-and-kkr-vantage-towers

Vodafone advances plan to spin-off tower business

Wednesday, February 24, 2021  Towers, Vodafone  

Vodafone took another step toward spinning off its tower business as an independent business by completing its nomination of directors to a Supervisory Board.The Supervisory Board of Vantage Towers will comprise nine members, led by independent Chairman Dr. Rüdiger Grube. The Supervisory Board will bring deep expertise in the towers sector and across the telecommunications industry, strong operational and M&A experience, together with high standards...

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América Móvil spins off its towers business

by James E. Carroll

América Móvil completed the spin-off of its telecommunications towers and other associated infrastructure in certain Latin America countries into a new, independent company called Sitios Latinoamérica, S.A.B. de C.V. 

Sitios Latam is a Mexican company, independent from AMX’s management and capital structure. Its business focuses on the construction, operation and marketing of towers and other structures for the installation of telecommunications equipment. 

Sitios Latam's towers are located in the following countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Puerto Rico and Uruguay. 

In addition, as of today, Sitios Latam has started the construction of towers in Peru. Sitios Latam has an inventory of 29,090, on an aggregate basis, 39% of which are in Brazil. Sitios Latam will continue to evaluate growth opportunities in the region.

https://www.americamovil.com/English/overview/default.aspx

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DT to sell 51% stake in towers business to Digital Bridge and Brookfield

Deutsche Telekom will sell 51 percent of GD Towers comprising its tower assets in Germany and Austria, to Digital Bridge and Brookfield at 17.5 billion euros enterprise value on a cash and debt free basis. 

With around 800 employees, GD Towers operates more than 40,000 sites in Germany and Austria and has a successful track record in delivering new sites for its anchor tenant Telekom Deutschland and securing revenues with third party customers. The Company generated 1.1 billion euros of pro forma revenues in 2021. Pro forma adjusted EBITDA AL 2021 amounted to 640 million euros.

Both Digital Bridge and Brookfield have substantial exposure to the European towers sector. In joining forces with Deutsche Telekom, the partners will provide both expertise and long-dated capital to further refine and evolve the GD Towers strategic plans and ambitions for enhanced value creation in both the core towers business and in fast-growing adjacent segments as well as through M&A. The transaction structure enables GD Towers to pursue these value-accretive investments with a capital structure appropriate for an infrastructure business, which otherwise would be subject to the constraints of the Deutsche Telekom balance sheet.

“Deutsche Telekom once again delivers on its strategic agenda. We crystalize the value of our tower assets, thereby creating value for our shareholders,” said Tim Höttges, CEO of Deutsche Telekom. “At the same time the deal allows us to continue improving Deutsche Telekom’s undisputed network leadership in Germany and benefit from further value upside of the towers business through our retained 49 percent stake.”

“The partnership being formed today is about building the next generation digital infrastructure champion of Europe,” said Marc Ganzi, CEO of DigitalBridge. “The combination of Deutsche Telekom’s leading mobile network and market position, alongside one of the largest real asset managers in the world in Brookfield, combined with the digital infrastructure domain expertise of DigitalBridge, creates a team of unmatched capabilities to support GD Towers as it grows to meet the evolving network demands of enterprises and consumers across Europe.”

“We’re delighted to be partnering with Deutsche Telekom and DigitalBridge to expand our presence in the European telecom infrastructure sector,” said Sam Pollock, Managing Partner at Brookfield and CEO Infrastructure. “This represents a great opportunity to invest in a highly attractive tower portfolio, with highly contracted cash flows and strong upside potential. Brookfield is already a leading global infrastructure investor, with approximately 200,000 telecom tower and rooftop sites under management globally. We hope to bring that experience and expertise to this new partnership, for the benefit of our customers in Germany, Austria and beyond.”

https://www.telekom.com/en/media/media-information/archive/deutsche-telekom-enters-partnership-for-gd-towers-1011598

DT and Tele2 to sell T-Mobile Netherlands for EUR 5.1 billion

Tuesday, September 07, 2021  Deutsche Telekom, Netherlands  

Deutsche Telekom and Tele2 AB will sell T-Mobile Netherlands to private equity funds advised by Apax Partners and Warburg Pincus for 5.1 billion euros. The deal follows DT's 0.7 billion euros divesture of its Dutch mobile tower business earlier this year.T-Mobile NL is the leading mobile operator in the Netherlands with a market share of 42% in 2020 based on number of mobile SIMs. T-Mobile NL successfully entered the fixed market with the acquisition...

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DigitalBridge to acquire Switch for $11 billion for its data centers

Wednesday, May 11, 2022  Data Centers, Digital Bridge  

DigitalBridge Group agreed to acquire Switch, a leading colocation data center operator, for $34.25 per share in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $11 billion, including the assumption of debt.Switch, which was founded in 2000, operates SuperNAP data center campuses in Las Vegas, Reno, and Grand Rapids, Michigan. The company touts its high-resiliecy and high-security designs for mission critical workloads in its "Class 5" data centers....

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Phoenix Tower to acquire 3,800 towers from WOM Chile

Phoenix Tower International has agreed to acquire up to 3,800 telecommunications sites in Chile from WOM SpA. The deal includes approximately 2,334 tower sites at the initial closing and 1,466 additional sites by 2024 for a total consideration of approximately $930 million, a portion of which will be paid upon transfer of the additional sites.

After accounting for this transaction, PTI will become the largest communications tower owner in Chile, expanding its global presence to over 22,000 towers in 19 countries.

“PTI is excited to enter the wireless infrastructure market in Chile. We have strong relationships with all four Mobile Network Operators in the country, each of which will be deploying 5G networks in the near term. We are proud of our partnership with WOM and the continued expansion of the relationship that this transaction represents,” said Dagan Kasavana, CEO of PTI.

“This transaction further solidifies PTI’s global footprint and is a fantastic next step for our customers, employees and investors at Blackstone,” said Tim Culver, Executive Chairman of PTI.

“This deal enables WOM to strengthen our focus to provide affordable, easy–to-access, world-class connectivity to all Chileans and will allow us to fulfill our promise to deliver the best service at fair prices. It also enables us to strengthen our investment in Chile, particularly expanding 5G coverage from Arica to Punta Arenas over the next several months, as well as expanding coverage into rural areas of the country by delivering upgraded connectivity and contributing to a reduction of the digital gap,” said WOM CEO, Sebastian Precht.

https://www.phoenixintnl.com/news/phoenix-tower-international-to-acquire-up-to-3800-towers-from-wom-in-chile

Altice to sell its towers in the Dominican Republic 

Monday, July 30, 2018  Altice, Network Sharing, Tower  

Altice Europe will sell off its communications tower business in the Dominican Republic to Phoenix Tower International, a portfolio company of Blackstone, for US$170 million. The deal covers 1,049 sites currently operated by Altice Dominicana. In addition, Altice Dominicana will enter into a 20-year master agreement to lease back the facilities. Altice forms tower infrastructure companies in France and Portugal Thursday, June 21, 2018  Altice   Altice...

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Bouygues and Phoenix to operate 4,000 mobile towers in France

Tuesday, March 24, 2020  France, Tower  

Blackstone-backed Phoenix Tower International and Bouygues Telecom will form a joint venture to develop approximately 4,000 newly constructed wireless towers over 12 years across France outside the Very Dense Area. The companies said some of the sites will be deployed as part of Bouygues Telecom’s “New Deal Mobile” regulatory obligations of targeted mobile radio coverage improvements, accelerated mobile radio rollouts alongside transportation routes....

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Telia sells 49% stake in its Swedish tower business to Brookfield and Alecta

 

Telia sold 49 percent of its tower business in Sweden to Brookfield and Alecta at a price corresponding to an enterprise value (EV) for 100 percent of SEK 11,224 million (US$1,140 billion) on a cash and debt free basis. The valuation of the Swedish tower business equals 28.2x normalized EBITDA 2021.

Allison Kirkby, Telia Company President and CEO, says: “We are delivering on our strategy to both develop and crystalize the value of our digital infrastructure, and I am delighted that we have Brookfield and Alecta as our Tower partners in Norway, Finland and now in Sweden. Having created the Nordic region's leading Tower company with an EV of EUR 2.6 billion, we aim to be an even stronger foundation to the continued digitalization of the Nordics."

With the completion of the transaction of the minority stake in the Swedish tower business, and the previous completion of the sale of 49 percent of Telia’s Norwegian and Finnish tower business to Brookfield and Alecta, as announced on December 29, 2021, the tower assets are placed in Telia Towers AB which is 51 percent owned by Telia with the remaining 49 percent owned by Brookfield and Alecta.

 https://www.teliacompany.com/en/news/press-releases/2022/6/telia-company-completes-the-sale-of-a-minority-stake-in-its-swedish-tower-business-to-brookfield-and-alecta/

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Singtel and Australian fund to acquire 2,000 towers across Australia

AustralianSuper, which is the largest Australian superannuation and pension fund, and Singtel-owned Australia Tower Network (ATN) have agreed to acquire Axicom, one of Australia’s leading providers of telecommunications tower infrastructure, for A$3.58 billion.

Axicom owns and operates approximately 2,000 telecommunication sites located in metro and outer-metro locations across all eight states and territories and major cities in Australia.

In November 2021, AustralianSuper acquired a 70% stake in ATN from Singtel. 

Following the Axicom acquisition, Singtel’s shareholding in the combined ATN/Axicom business will be 18%, with AustralianSuper at 82%.

“Axicom is complementary to our existing digital infrastructure portfolio and this acquisition will result in the creation of a provider with a truly national footprint that will connect the vast majority of Australian families and businesses,” said Nik Kemp, AustralianSuper Head of Infrastructure.

"This acquisition is a unique opportunity to scale up ATN’s operations and expand its customer base. It also reinforces Singtel’s commitment as a long-term investor in the Australian telecoms space where our goal has always been to provide more options and build better communications for Australian consumers and businesses. In combining ATN and Axicom, AustralianSuper and Singtel will be working closely to realise the significant operational synergies created," stated Lim Cheng Cheng, Chief Corporate Officer Singtel's Group.

https://www.singtel.com/about-us/media-centre/news-releases/australiansuper--singtel-and-australia-tower-network-to-acquire-

Telstra sells a 49% stake in its towers business

Wednesday, June 30, 2021  Australia, Telstra, Towers  

Telstra will sell a 49% share in its Telstra InfraCo Towers business, which consists of approximately 8,200 towers across Australia, to a consortium comprised of the Future Fund, Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation and Sunsuper.The transaction values Telstra InfraCo Towers at $5.9 billion, representing an FY21 pro forma EV/EBITDAaL multiple of 28x. Telstra expects net cash proceeds after transaction costs of $2.8 billion at completion and the...

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DigitalBridge to acquire Telenet's towers in Belgium

DigitalBridge agreed to acquire the mobile telecommunications tower business of Telenet Group for €745 million in cash (US$820 million).

The deal will provide DigitalBridge with ownership of 100% of Telenet’s passive infrastructure and tower assets, including TowerCo’s nationwide footprint of 3,322 sites in Belgium, including 2,158 owned sites and 1,164 third-party sites.

The business boasts a total tenancy ratio of 1.2x, and a tenancy ratio of 1.6x in towers. The transaction creates the foundation for DigitalBridge to benefit from Telenet’s increased participation in 5G deployment to meet growing coverage needs as underscored by robust market and macroeconomic trends in the telecom.

Telenet also agreed to a lease-back arrangement with DigitalBridge, with an initial period of 15 years and two renewals of 10 years each. The agreement also includes a build-to-suit commitment to deploy a minimum of 475 additional new sites.

Marc Ganzi, President and CEO of DigitalBridge, said, “Telenet’s tower business is a high-quality digital infrastructure asset with stable, predictable cashflows, high cash conversion, and long-term contracts. This transaction is the latest example of DigitalBridge’s commitment to working with leading telecom and technology companies globally to help them unlock embedded value in their networks via creative solutions built on long-standing relationships and a proven track record of successfully operating assets. We see significant headroom for growth in the Belgian telecom market through the enhancement of mobile penetration and data usage, and we look forward to meeting and exceeding Telenet’s increased coverage needs.”

http://www.digitalbridge.com

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DigitalBridge forms ÍslandsTurnar - mobile towers for Iceland

DigitalBridge Group announced the formation of an independent mobile tower company in Iceland through the merger of the telecom tower portfolios of Sýn and Nova, two leading Icelandic mobile network operators.

The new company, called ÍslandsTurnar, is backed by funds affiliated with DigitalBridge Investment Management. Both Sýn and Nova will be long-term customers of ÍslandsTurnar.

ÍslandsTurnar is the first independent tower company of scale in Iceland with national coverage to support the MNOs as they execute their 5G deployment plans. Sýn and Nova are slated to be long-term dual-anchor tenants on all of the Company’s towers and the transaction includes a material BTS 

DigitalBridge said the deal expands its presence in the Nordics, as the firm acquired Finland-based Digita Oy, an independent tower operator with a national portfolio of sites, in 2018.

“The creation of ÍslandsTurnar is a unique opportunity to establish a leading independent tower company in Iceland and support both Sýn and Nova in their operation of high-quality mobile networks as well as accelerating their 5G network deployment,” said Marc Ganzi, President and CEO of DigitalBridge. “We are excited to play a role in Iceland’s stable, attractive and digitally advanced telecom market, bringing DigitalBridge’s deep experience of successfully owning and operating tower portfolios on a global basis.”

“This is an exciting opportunity to set up the first independent tower company in my home market of Iceland. We are proud that two anchor tenants of the caliber and technical experience of Sýn and Nova have entrusted us with their mission-critical network infrastructure. I am looking forward to working with DigitalBridge to deliver high-quality telecommunication infrastructure services in Iceland,” said Joakim Reynisson. Mr. Reynisson, an industry veteran with more than 30 years of telecom experience, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of ÍslandsTurnar effective immediately. Prior to this role, Mr. Reynisson was Chief Technology Officer of Nova for over a decade.

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Zain Jordan to sell and leaseback 2,607 towers

Zain Group in Jordan entered into a 15-year agreement with TASC Towers to sell and leaseback the passive physical infrastructure of its 2,607 tower portfolio in Jordan. The deal is valued at US$88 million. The transaction includes an additional 223 sites transferring to TASC Towers on a managed basis. Zain Group holds a 25% minority stake in TASC Towers.

The deal also includes TASC Towers managing Zain Jordan’s supporting facilities such as power generators, fuel tanks and protection kiosks as well as a build-to-suit agreement allowing for a minimum of 525 network sites to be built over the next five years.

Zain Jordan will retain its active infrastructure, including wireless communication antennas, intelligent software, and intellectual property with respect to managing its telecom network.

TASC Towers, headquartered in Dubai, is an international tower operator focused on sale and leaseback, build-to-suit and growth capital investments in the MENEASA market (Middle East, North & East Africa and South Asia).

Bader Al-Kharafi, Zain Vice-Chairman of Group CEO said: “This transaction is consistent with Zain’s ‘4Sight’ strategy to create significant value for shareholders through the unlocking of capital and optimization of infrastructure assets which will flourish under the management of an independent team. As a strategic shareholder, we are committed on supporting TASC Towers’ regional expansion in making it a leading operator of telecom infrastructure.”

Al Kharafi added, “The deal gives Zain Jordan greater flexibility to invest in network upgrades and cutting-edge ICT technologies to meet the ever-increasing demand for reliable broadband access and data consumption. It will also enhance operational efficiencies and enable a laser focus on the operator’s core business and customers to offer them the best mobile and data experience in the Kingdom of Jordan.”

This transaction follows similar pioneering deals with respect to 1,620 towers in Zain Kuwait and a recent announcement in Zain Saudi Arabia to sell its 8,100 tower infrastructure. 

http://www.tasctowers.com

https://zain.com/en/press-release/zainjordan_tasc

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DOCOMO solidifies capital structure with JTOWER

DOCOMO plans to acquire part of JTOWER shares held by NTT Corporation and become a shareholder with 2.5% voting rights in the future.

DOCOMO started using the JTOWER's Infra-Sharing solution for its 4G network in 2016 and has expanded the use of the solution nationwide. 

From October 2020, DOCOMO started using 5G IBS at the time JTOWER installed 5G IBS in the Tokyo Metropolitan Government as the first 5G Infra-Sharing in Japan, and also began using Smart Poles(2) in the Nishi-Shinjuku area of Tokyo. Both companies have continued to promote the use of Infra-Sharing through these activities.

In addition to considering ways to develop new indoor and outdoor networks and the efficient use of existing towers, the companies will develop an efficient 5G network which will lead to the reduction of capital investments and other costs, power consumption, and installation spaces. Going forward, the companies will aim to realize the early expansion of 5G coverage by promoting Infra-Sharing.

JTOWER has previously announced capital and business alliances with KDDI and Rakuten Mobile.

JTOWER investor presentation - November 2021

https://ssl4.eir-parts.net/doc/4485/ir_material_for_fiscal_ym2/108514/00.pdf

NTT West to sell 71 mobile towers to JTower

Thursday, July 08, 2021  Japan, NTT, Towers  

NTT West agreed to sell 71 of its owned telecommunications towers to JTOWER. NTT West will then lease back the same facilities.

Under the deal, NTT Group will provide JTOWER and telecommunications companies attracted by JTOWER with optical fiber service required for 5G and NTT's telephone office building spaces required for the installation of telecommunications equipment. In addition, NTT Group will advise to support operations such as construction and maintenance, to contribute to the early development of 5G, and on the optimization of capital expenditures.

https://group.ntt/en/newsrelease/2021/07/08/210708a.html

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Orange launches TOTEM, its European TowerCo

Orange officially launched TOTEM, its wholly-owned European TowerCo which will be operationally independent from the rest of the Orange Group.  

TOTEM will offer mobile infrastructure sharing offers to operators. It will also sell sell coverage solutions to improve connectivity in dense and enclosed environments: stadiums, underground stations, trains, offices, etc.

Orange has transferred all of its key European passive mobile infrastructure assets (sites, land, leases and leases to third parties) to TOTEM.

As of 1 November 2021, TOTEM’s passive mobile infrastructure portfolio includes over 26,000 sites in France and Spain, the two largest countries where Orange is present. TOTEM France will manage 18,500 macro-sites with a mix of 58% tower sites, 30% flat roofs and 12% in other locations. TOTEM Spain will manage 7,900 macro-sites, distributed equally between tower sites and flat roofs.

At launch, TOTEM has around one hundred employees in France based in seven cities (Lille, Nantes, Toulouse, Marseille, Paris, Lyon, Donges), around fifty employees in Spain based in eight cities, and approximately twenty people working for TOTEM Group.

Stéphane Richard, Chairman and CEO of Orange, said: “TOTEM’s operational launch is an important milestone in our European infrastructure strategy. The creation of this entity will allow us to derive value from our passive mobile infrastructure, for which we have exceptional operational expertise. By opening up these assets to other operators, we will optimize its use. We are determined to support TOTEM on both a strategic and financial level, to make it an undisputed leader on the European market and to keep control of this strategic asset as part of a long-term industrial vision. By retaining control of our infrastructure, we have made a crucial decision for our future growth.”

Nicolas Roy, CEO of TOTEM Group, said: “Launched first in France and Spain, TOTEM has become a new player for regional development in Europe. TOTEM will create value for all stakeholders - operators, landlords and real estate players, regional authorities, companies -, thanks to its connectivity solutions and equipment sharing. TOTEM’s teams will rely on the excellence of its mobile infrastructure and a thorough understanding of its customers’ needs to develop connectivity services everywhere, in both rural and urban locations.”

https://www.totemtowers.com

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NTT West to sell 71 mobile towers to JTower

NTT West agreed to sell 71 of its owned telecommunications towers to JTOWER. NTT West will then lease back the same facilities.

Under the deal, NTT Group will provide JTOWER and telecommunications companies attracted by JTOWER with optical fiber service required for 5G and NTT's telephone office building spaces required for the installation of telecommunications equipment. In addition, NTT Group will advise to support operations such as construction and maintenance, to contribute to the early development of 5G, and on the optimization of capital expenditures.

https://group.ntt/en/newsrelease/2021/07/08/210708a.html

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Telstra sells a 49% stake in its towers business

Telstra will sell a 49% share in its Telstra InfraCo Towers business, which consists of approximately 8,200 towers across Australia, to a consortium comprised of the Future Fund, Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation and Sunsuper.

The transaction values Telstra InfraCo Towers at $5.9 billion, representing an FY21 pro forma EV/EBITDAaL multiple of 28x. Telstra expects net cash proceeds after transaction costs of $2.8 billion at completion and the Towers entity will have no debt. Completion is expected in the first quarter of FY22.

Telstra intends to return approximately 50 percent of net proceeds to shareholders in FY22.

Telstra CEO, Andrew Penn said today’s announcement was a significant T22 milestone and an acceleration of Telstra’s strategy to unlock value in these assets. Our T22 strategy is delivering on multiple fronts and I am proud of what we have achieved. Today’s announcement is a further endorsement of the strategy, as the establishment of our infrastructure assets as a separate business was designed to enable us to better realise the value of these assets, take advantage of potential monetisation opportunities and create additional value for shareholders and that is exactly what today’s announcement achieves,” said Mr Penn.

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Helios Towers to acquire mobile towers from Airtel Africa

Helios Towers plc reached an agreement with Airtel Africa to acquire its passive infrastructure operating companies in Madagascar and Malawi and enter into exclusive memorandum of understanding arrangements for the potential acquisition of its passive infrastructure assets in Chad and Gabon. The total price for the passive infrastructure companies in Madagascar and Malawi is $108 million. 

This represents 2,227 existing mobile tower sites across Madagascar, Malawi, Chad and Gabon. The deals are expected to make Helios Towers the largest independent telecommunications infrastructure company in each of Malawi, Chad and Gabon with strong market share in Madagascar.

Helios Towers said all four nations - Madagascar, Malawi, Chad and Gabon - represent compelling markets for telecoms with a combination of a young, growing and increasingly urbanised populations plus high GDP growth.

https://www.heliostowers.com/

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Vodafone advances plan to spin-off tower business

Vodafone took another step toward spinning off its tower business as an independent business by completing its nomination of directors to a Supervisory Board.

The Supervisory Board of Vantage Towers will comprise nine members, led by independent Chairman Dr. Rüdiger Grube. The Supervisory Board will bring deep expertise in the towers sector and across the telecommunications industry, strong operational and M&A experience, together with high standards of financial and technical expertise.

In addition to Dr. Rüdiger Grube, who brings over 30 years’ experience including as a senior executive at Daimler, CEO of Deutsche Bahn and Chairman and non-executive director of Airbus, the nominated independent members of the Supervisory Board of Vantage Towers are:

Katja van Doren, who currently serves as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Human Resources Officer at RWE Generation SE. Prior to her current role, Ms. van Doren held a number of senior finance positions at RWE and Innogy. Ms. van Doren is also expected to take the role of the Chair of the Vantage Towers Remuneration and Nomination Committee following her election

Charles C. Green III,a co-founder and previously the Executive Chairman of Helios Towers, a leading independent tower company in Africa, operating over 7,000 sites across 5 markets. Mr Green was previously CFO at communications infrastructure business, Crown Castle International, including at the time of its IPO. He is currently a non-executive director and advisor on the Board of edotco Group, a leading infrastructure company in South Asia with a regional portfolio of over 31,500 towers. 

Terry Rhodes, a co-founder and previously the CEO of Eaton Towers, a high growth pan-African tower company which operated approximately 5,700 sites at the time of its acquisition by American Tower Corporation in early 2020. Eaton Towers was built through a combination of M&A transactions and greenfield investments. Earlier in his career, Mr Rhodes was a co-founder of Celtel, the African mobile telecommunications company, where he served as Deputy CEO. 

https://www.vodafone.com/news/press-release/vantage-towers-announces-remaining-supervisory-board-nominations

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Pacific Gas and Electric sells tower rights for $973 million

Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), the leading electric utility in northern California, agreed to its license agreements with wireless providers that attach their equipment to certain electric transmission towers and other utility structures to SBA Communications for $973 million. 

The sale of these licenses applies to over 700 towers. PG&E is not selling any transmission towers as part of this transaction.

PG&E is also entering into a strategic relationship with SBA, through SBA's wholly owned subsidiary, to sublicense and market equipment at additional attachment locations on up to 28,000 transmission towers across PG&E's extensive network. Through this arrangement, PG&E will receive a portion of future revenues from these sublicensed equipment attachment locations.

"This transaction adds a significant portfolio of high quality, exclusive locations to our outstanding existing US macro tower portfolio and SBA expects these assets to generate approximately $39.5 million in Tower Cash Flow in their first full year in our portfolio," said Jeff Stoops, President and Chief Executive Officer of SBA Communications. "As 5G network deployments are now a reality, we are excited to use our vast experience and industry leading position in order to facilitate the future additional use of these assets by wireless service providers for the collective benefit of the wireless industry, PG&E and SBA. We are also particularly pleased about the opportunity to work closely with PG&E over the coming years to maximize wireless deployments across their extensive network of transmission towers."

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Cellnex to acquire 24,600 European towers from CK Hutchinson

Cellnex Telecom will acquire c.24,600 telecommunications towers and sites across Europe from CK Hutchison for EUR 10 billion. The transactions include the roll-out of up to 5,250 sites over the next eight years with an investment of c. EUR 1.4 billion including further initiatives.

Cellnex Telecom is already Europe’s leading operator of wireless telecommunications and broadcasting infrastructures with a portfolio of 61,000 sites including forecast roll-outs up to 2027. Cellnex operates in Spain, Italy, Netherlands, France, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Portugal.

The acquisitions are structured as six separate transactions – one for each country. Cellnex to pay cash at closing  of the acquisitions of Sweden, Austria, Italy, Ireland and Denmark, and with cash and new Cellnex shares at closing of the UK transaction.

Cellnex Chairman Franco Bernabè highlighted “the transformational nature of the agreements, which strengthens Cellnex’s position as one of the main Europe-wide telecommunications infrastructures operator, with a portfolio of c. 103,000 sites once the transactions and rollouts are complete. We will now be present in three new significant markets –  Sweden, Austria and Denmark – and will further build upon our role as a key operator in three of our core markets, namely Italy, the UK and Ireland.”

https://www.cellnextelecom.com/

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Brookfield acquires 130,000 towers from Reliance Jio for $3.7 billion

by James E. Carroll

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners will acquire a 100% stake in a telecom tower company in India from Reliance Industrial Investments and Holdings Limited for US$3.7 billion, of which Brookfield Infrastructure will invest approximately $375 million, with the balance being funded by its institutional partners.

The deal includes approximately 130,000 communication towers that forms the infrastructure backbone of Reliance Jio’s mobile network.

Brookfield says the majority of the towers are connected by fiber backhaul, which provides a unique platform to capitalize on the rollout of 5G and future technologies. Jio is an anchor tenant of the tower portfolio under a 30-year Master Services Agreement, providing a secure source of revenues for the tower company.

“This is a unique opportunity to invest in a large-scale, high-quality telecom business and participate in India’s high-growth data industry,” said Sam Pollock, Chief Executive Officer of Brookfield Infrastructure. “This is an attractive business that offers downside protection with meaningful upside by co-locating equipment from other Mobile Network Operators on the towers, which to-date, have only carried Jio equipment. Further growth is anticipated through a tower build-out program, which is expected to bring the portfolio to approximately 175,000 towers.”

https://bip.brookfield.com/press-releases/2019/12-16-2019-112919449

AT&T sells 31 data centers to Brookfield Infrastructure for $1.1 billion

Wednesday, January 02, 2019  AT&T, Data Centers  

AT&T completed the sale of its data center colocation operations and assets to Brookfield Infrastructure and its institutional partners for $1.1 billion. This includes 18 Internet Data Centers (IDC) in the United States and 13 outside the United States. The colocation data center operations serve a diversified customer base of more than 1,000 companies. Brookfield has established a wholly owned company, Evoque Data Center Solutions ("Evoque"),.

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