Deal Trends
Traditionally different infrastructure assets, such as datacentres, fibre, and towers were owned and operated by separate companies. Due to changing customer demand and convergence many companies in the TMT sector are now looking to build broad-based portfolios of digital assets. The acquisition of Zayo Networks by Digital Colony and EQT, and American Tower’s purchase of Colo ATL highlight this trend.
Tillman Global Holdings’ plans for expansion, both within the communications infrastructure value chain as well as geographically into Europe, were revealed at last week’s TMT M&A Forum USA 2020.
By Andrew Ross, Reporter
The latest wave of 5G spectrum investment and rollout of the corresponding technology are among some of main factors driving a change in attitudes among Europe’s key MNOs towards tower ownership. Operators are uneasy about upgrading their networks in a market where poor revenue growth puts investments at risk of becoming unsustainable.
Against the current backdrop of collapsed telco market caps, capex intensive investments, the EU Courts reversal on UK consolidation, and the European Commission’s (EC’s) appointment of Thierry Breton, there’s renewed optimism for consolidation in the EU’s telecoms sector.
Investment in European fibre assets by infrastructure funds will continue to gather pace, courtesy of a general push towards full-fibre penetration, according to industry experts and investors speaking on TMT Finance’s TMT Connect session last week, including key deal leaders from EY-Parthenon, Macquarie Capital and EQT Partners.
Evolution is synonymous with the communications infrastructure vertical; however, the pool of potential investors has been evolving equally as fast. Today, a growing variety of infrastructure funds, asset managers and other institutional investors are driving consolidation and convergence in the space.
Despite a high barrier to entry and rising valuations, competition for wireless infrastructure assets is increasing year on year. And while a variety of deep-pocketed infrastructure funds, investment vehicles and sovereign wealth funds now dominate the sector, the importance of credibility in the market oft prevails, setting bidders apart from the eventual acquirers.
While Houlihan Lokey is better known for advising clients through M&A processes, it's certainly no stranger to making acquisitions of its own.
Investing in sustainability as a key strategy for higher returns. By Chris Street, EVP Market Development, Princeton Digital Group.