TMT M&A AWARDS 2021 SHORTLISTS
Digital Infrastructure Deal of the Year - Europe
Deals must have closed between Sep 1, 2020 and Aug 31, 2021. See full criteria here.
AtlasEdge (Europe various)
The pan-European datacentre joint venture between DigitalBridge and Liberty Global to create AtlasEdge Data Centres at an undisclosed valuation.
Financial advisers: Greenhill and Jefferies (Liberty Global)
Legal advisers: Linklaters (DigitalBridge), Allen & Overy (Liberty Global)
Polkomtel Infrastruktura (Poland)
The acquisition of Polkomtel Infrastruktura by Cellnex Telecom from Cyfrowy Polsat for E1.6bn.
Financial advisers: JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley (Cellnex), Trigon Investment Banking, BNP Paribas, Santander Bank Polska, ING Bank (Cyfrowy Polsat)
Legal advisers: Greenberg Traurig (Cyfrowy Polsat), Clifford Chance (Cellnex)
Telxius Towers (Europe and Americas various)
The acquisition of Telxius' tower division by American Tower Corporation from Telefonica, valued at E7.7bn.
Financial advisers: BofA, CDX Advisors, EA Markets (American Tower)
Legal advisers: Allen & Overy (American Tower), Garrigues (Telefonica)
Unsere Grune Glasfaser (UGG) (Germany)
The fibre-optic joint venture between Telefonica and Allianz to create Unsere Grune Glasfaser (UGG), with each partner investing E0.5bn and E1bn, respectively, and backed by a E1.65bn debt package.
Financial adviser: Lazard (Telefonica), Nomura (Allianz)
Legal advisers: Taylor Wessing (Telefonica), Pinsent Masons (Telefonica), CMS (Telefonica), L&W (Allianz)
Vantage Towers (Europe various)
The IPO of European towerco Vantage Towers on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, valued at E12.1bn and raising E2.3bn, including cornerstone investment by DigitalBridge (E500m) and RJJ Capital (E450m).
Financial advisers: Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, UBS (Joint Global Coordinators); Barclays, Berenberg, BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank, Jefferies, Goldman Sachs (Joint Bookrunners, Underwriters).
Legal advisers: Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (Banks), and Linklaters (Vodafone)
Corporate adviser: Analysys Mason.
Digital Infrastructure Deal of the Year - Americas
Deals must have closed between Sep 1, 2020 and Aug 31, 2021. See full criteria here.
Astound Broadband (USA)
Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners' acquisition of Astound Broadband from TPG Capital and Patriot Media Management for US$8.1bn.
Financial advisers: BofA and Lazard (Stonepeak); JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley (Astound)
Legal advisers: Simpson Thacher & Bartlett (Stonepeak); Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton and Seyfarth Shaw (Astound)
Boingo (USA)
DigitalBridge’s take-private acquisition of Boingo Wireless, Inc. from stockholders for approximately US$854m.
Financial advisers: TAP Advisors (Boingo); Credit Suisse, Truist (DigitalBridge)
Legal advisers: Gunderson Dettmer (Boingo); Simpson Thacher, Morgan Lewis (DigitalBridge)
EdgeConneX (USA)
EQT Infrastructure’s acquisition of EdgeConneX from Providence Equity Partners for an undisclosed amount.
Financial advisers: Evercore (EdgeConneX); Goldman Sachs (EQT)
Legal advisers: Simpson Thacher & Bartlett (EdgeConneX); Kirkland & Ellis, Morgan Lewis (EQT)
InSite Wireless Group (USA)
American Tower Corporation’s acquisition of InSite Wireless Group from Cox Enterprises, Macquarie Infrastructure Partners, and Catalyst Investors for approximately US$3.5bn.
Financial advisers: Evercore (InSite)
Legal advisers: Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton (American Tower); Lowenstein Sandler (InSite)
QTS Realty Trust (USA)
Blackstone Funds’ take-private acquisition of QTS Realty Trust for approximately US$10bn.
Financial advisers: Jefferies and Morgan Stanley (QTS); Citigroup, Barclays, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan (Blackstone)
Legal advisers: Hogan Lovells and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison (QTS); Simpson Thacher & Bartlett (Blackstone)
Digital Infrastructure Deal of the Year - Asia
Deals must have closed between Sep 1, 2020 and Aug 31, 2021. See full criteria here.
Converge ICT Solutions (Philippines)
The IPO on the Philippine Stock Exchange of Warburg Pincus-backed fixed-broadband and fibre operator, Converge ICT Solutions, raising c. US$600m and giving the company a market value of c. US$2.6bn.
Financial advisers: Morgan Stanley, UBS (Joint Global Coordinators and Joint Bookrunners); BPI Capital (Sole Local Coordinator, Joint Local Underwriter and Joint Bookrunner); BDO Capital (Joint Local Underwriter and Joint Bookrunner); BofA Securities, Credit Suisse (International Joint Bookrunners); Asia United Bank, First Metro, Maybank ATR KE, PNB Capital, RCBC Capital, China Bank Capital and SB Capital (Local Selling Agents).
Legal advisers: Latham & Watkins; Picazo Buyco Tan Fider & Santos; Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz Law Officers; Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP; Milbank LLP
Equinix/GIC Joint Venture Agreement (Japan)
The joint venture agreement between Equinix and GIC to develop and operate xScale datacentres in Japan, initially valued at US$1bn.
Financial advisers: Citi (Equinix)
Legal advisers: Baker McKenzie (Equinix), Kirkland & Ellis (GIC)
PT Indosat Tbk tower assets (Indonesia)
The acquisition of 4,247 tower assets from PT Indosat Tbk by DigitalBridge-backed EdgePoint Infrastructure for US$750m.
Financial advisers: JP Morgan (Indosat)
Legal advisers: Linklaters (DigitalBridge), Herbert Smith Freehills' associate firm Hiswara Bunjamin & Tandjung (Indosat)
Telstra InfraCo Towers (Australia)
The acquisition of a 49% stake in Telstra InfraCo Towers by a Morrison & Co-managed consortium comprising of Future Fund, Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation and Sunsuper, from Telstra for A$2.8bn (US$2.1bn), valuing the company at A$5.9bn (US$4.42bn).
Financial advisers: Macquarie Capital (Telstra)
Legal advisers: King & Wood Mallesons (Telstra), Allens (Morrison & Co and consortium)
Vocus Group (Australia)
The acquisition of Australian fibre operator Vocus Group by Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA) and Aware Super, valuing the company at a total enterprise value of A$4.6bn (US$3.32bn).
Financial advisers: Credit Suisse (Vocus), Morgan Stanley (MIRA), ICA Partners (Aware Super)
Legal advisers: Allens (Vocus), Gilbert and Tobin (MIRA), Hogan Lovells (Aware Super)
Telecom M&A Deal of the Year - Europe
Deals must have closed between Sep 1, 2020 and Aug 31, 2021. See full criteria here.
Euskaltel (Spain)
The tender offer to acquire Spanish cable operator Euskaltel by MasMovil Ibercom, a portfolio company of KKR, Providence and Cinven, from Zegona and other shareholders, at an EV of E3.5bn.
Financial advisers: Citi (Euskaltel), BNP Paribas, Liberum, Temple Bar Advisory (MasMovil)
Legal advisers: Uría Menéndez (Euskaltel), Clifford Chance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Evergreen Legal (MasMovil)
O2 UK/ Virgin Media (UK)
The joint venture merger of UK telecom companies, Virgin Media (Liberty Global) and O2 UK (Telefonica), valued at £38bn
Financial advisers: Citi (Telefonica), LionTree Advisors and JP Morgan (Liberty Global)
Legal advisers: Clifford Chance (Telefonica), Allen & Overy (Liberty Global)
OneWeb (UK)
The acquisition of OneWeb by a consortium comprising the UK Government (HMG) and Bharti Global for US$1bn.
Financial advisers: Guggenheim Securities (OneWeb), FTI Consulting (OneWeb restructuring adviser), Lazard (HMG), Standard Chartered Bank (Bharti)
Legal advisers: Milbank(OneWeb) Weil, Gotshal & Manges (HMG), Morgan Lewis, Herbert Smith Freehills and Cravath, Swaine & Moore (Bharti)
Play Communications (Poland)
The public tender offer and acquisition of Polish telecom operator Play Communications (P4) by Iliad Group, for a total consideration of PLN9.9bn (c.E2.2bn).
Financial advisers: Lazard (Play), JPMorgan, Societe Generale and Santander (Iliad)
Legal advisers: White & Case (Play), Bredin Prat (Iliad)
Sunrise Communications Group (Switzerland)
The public tender offer and acquisition of Swiss telecom operator Sunrise Communications Group by Liberty Global at an EV of CHF6.8bn (US$7.4bn)
Financial advisers: Deutsche Bank, UBS (Sunrise), Citi (Freenet), Credit Suisse, JPMorgan and LionTree Advisors (Liberty Global)
Legal advisers: Lenz & Staehelin, Hengeler Mueller, Bär & Karrer (Sunrise), Homburger, Shearman & Sterling, Ropes & Gray (Liberty Global)
Technology Deal of the Year - Europe
Deals must have closed between Sep 1, 2020 and Aug 31, 2021. See full criteria here.
Cazoo (UK)
The SPAC listing of UK online car retailer Cazoo with AJAX I, on the New York Stock Exchange, valuing the company at US$7bn and raising US$1bn.
Financial advisers: Credit Suisse International, Goldman Sachs International, Numis (Cazoo Holdings), JP Morgan Securities LLC, PJT Partners (AJAX I).
Capital markets adviser: Citi (AJAX I).
Legal advisers: Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (Cazoo Holdings), Kirkland & Ellis LLP (Cazoo Holdings).
eBay Classifieds Group (Netherlands)
The acquisition of eBay Classifieds Group by Adevinta from eBay Inc at a valuation of US$9.2bn
Financial advisers: Citigroup (Adevinta), Barclays, Arctic Securities (Schibsted), Goldman Sachs, LionTree (eBay)
Legal advisers: Skadden and BAHR, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, Wiersholm, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan
Nutmeg (UK)
The acquisition of Nutmeg by JP Morgan Chase at a valuation of c. US$972m.
Financial advisers: JP Morgan Securities (JP Morgan Chase), Arma Partners (Nutmeg)
Legal advisers: Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Taylor Wessing
Tink (Sweden)
The acquisition of Swedish open banking platform Tink by Visa at a valuation of US$2.2bn.
Legal advisers: White & Case, Garrigues
Unit4 (Netherlands)
The majority acquisition of Unit4 by TA Associates from Advent International at a valuation of US$2bn.
Financial advisers: Arma Partners, Evercore (Unit4)
Legal advisers: De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek, Kirkland and Ellis, Alvarez & Marsal
TMT IPO of the Year – Europe
Deals must have closed between Sep 1, 2020 and Aug 31, 2021. See full criteria here.
Allegro (Poland)
The IPO of Polish ecommerce platform Allegro on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, valuing the company at US$11.24bn and raising US$2.3bn.
Financial advisers: Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Morgan Stanley (Global Coordinators), Barclays Bank Plc, Bank of America Corp., Citigroup Inc. and Dom Maklerski Banku Handlowego SA (Bookrunners), Santander Bank Polska SA and BM PKO BP (Bookrunners and Co-Offering Agent), Bank Polska Kasa Opieki SA, Credit Agricole SA, Erste Group Bank AG, Pekao Investment Banking SA and Raiffeisen Centrobank AG (Co-Lead Managers).
Legal advisers: Clifford Chance, Allen & Overy, Greenberg Traurig Grzesiak
Corporate financial adviser: Lazard (Allegro)
Cazoo Holdings (UK)
The SPAC listing of UK online car retailer Cazoo with AJAX I, on the New York Stock Exchange, valuing the company at US$7bn and raising US$1bn.
Financial advisers: Credit Suisse International, Goldman Sachs International, Numis (Cazoo Holdings), JP Morgan Securities LLC, PJT Partners (AJAX I).
Capital markets adviser: Citi (AJAX I).
Legal advisers: Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (Cazoo Holdings), Kirkland & Ellis LLP (Cazoo Holdings).
InPost (Poland)
The IPO of the Polish ecommerce enablement firm InPost on the Euronext Amsterdam, valued at up to US$9.28bn and raising US$3.25bn.
Financial advisers: CGME, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs Bank Europe and JP Morgan (Joint Global Coordinators), ABN AMRO Bank, Barclays Bank Ireland, BNP Paribas, Jefferies International, Jefferies ING, Pekao (Joint Bookrunners).
Legal advisers: Weil, Gotshal & Manges and Stibbe, CMS (InPost), Clifford Chance (Underwriters).
Ozon Holdings (Russia)
The IPO of Russian ecommerce platform Ozon on the NASDAQ, valued at US$6.2bn and raising US$1.14bn.
Financial advisers: Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (Joint Lead Book-running Managers), Citigroup Global Markets Inc., UBS Securities LLC, Sberbank CIB (UK) Limited and VTB Capital plc (Joint Bookrunners), Renaissance Securities Cyprus Limited (Co-Lead Manager).
Corporate financial adviser: VTB Capital (Ozon Holdings)
Legal adviser: Debevoise & Plimpton (Ozon Holdings) Latham & Watkins (Underwriters).
Vantage Towers (Europe various)
The IPO of European towerco Vantage Towers on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, valued at E12.1bn and raising E2.3bn, including cornerstone investment by DigitalBridge (E500m) and RJJ Capital (E450m).
Financial advisers: Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, UBS (Joint Global Coordinators); Barclays, Berenberg, BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank, Jefferies, Goldman Sachs (Joint Bookrunners, Underwriters).
Legal advisers: Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (Banks), and Linklaters (Vodafone)
Corporate adviser: Analysys Mason.
Digital Infrastructure Investment Firm of the Year - Europe
See full criteria here.
Antin Infrastructure Partners
For the acquisition of UK-based datacentre provider Pulsant and the sale of a 25% stake in Dutch and French fibre optic cables and datacentres operator Eurofiber to PGGM, the Dutch pension fund manager.
APG Asset Management N.V.
For fibre deals including investing in the new Dutch joint venture called Glaspoort together with telco KPN for a total equity value of E880m (US$953m), and PLN1.37bn (E303m) for 50% in Polish joint venture Swiatlowod Inwestycje with Orange Poland.
DigitalBridge
For investments across the datacentre and tower spaces including the 100 edge datacentres-strong European joint venture, AtlasEdge Data Centres; DigitalBridge's hyperscale company Vantage Data Centers investing US$2bn to acquire Etix Everywhere and greenfield developments in four additional European markets; and acquiring E500m worth of shares in Vodafone's Vantage Towers.
IPI Partners
For deals in the datacentre space including the acquisition of Nordic data centre developer DigiPlex and Italian data centre services company SuperNAP expanding its European hyperscale-focused datacentre portfolio.
KKR
For multiple deals including a E700m+ investment together with Deutsche Telekom-backed investment management platform DTCP in a Dutch fibre joint venture called Open Dutch Fibre; the acquisition of 37.5% of FiberCop from Telecom Italia for an equivalent value of E1.8bn; and the joint E5bn private equity buyout with Cinven and Providence of Spanish alternative operator Grupo MasMovil.
Digital Infrastructure Investment Firm of the Year - Americas
See full criteria here.
Blackstone
For deals including the landmark take-private of datacentre solutions provider QTS for US$78 per share in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately US$10bn, an investment in Hotwire Communications, a provider of fibre-to-the-home in the US, as well as the sale of Brazilian tower company Phoenix Tower do Brasil.
DigitalBridge
For deals including the acquisition of a majority stake in US wireless communications infrastructure company Vertical Bridge, the c. US$850m take private of Boingo Wireless, the DAS and wifi provider, and the take-private of digital infrastructure company Landmark Dividend (LD), and the subsequent deal for DigitalBridge-backed LD’s deal for Landmark Infrastructure Partners.
Grain Management
For deals including the entry into Latin America via the acquisition of Brazil’s Conexao Group, the acquisition of Network Wireless Solutions (NWS), a solutions and logistics provider to carriers and telecommunications contractors, the acquisition of Young’s Communications (Y-COM), a US construction services provider serving telecommunications and infrastructure clients, and the sale of a controlling interest in WANRack, a fibre-based communication network provider. The firm also closed its flagship and spectrum funds with US$3.75bn in total commitments.
KKR
For deals including the investment in fibre company MetroNet, the acquisition of a majority stake in Telefonica Chile’s existing fibre optic network valued at around US$1bn, and a majority stake in Telefonica Colombia’s fibre network for around US$500m.
Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners
For deals including the US$8.1bn acquisition of cable operator Astound Broadband, and the acquisition of Lumen Technologies’ Latin American business for US$2.7bn.
Digital Infrastructure Investment Firm of the Year - Asia
See full criteria here.
DigitalBridge
For deals including the formation of telecom towers platform EdgePoint Infrastructure, led by Suresh Sidhu formerly of edotco, and subsequent acquisitions of PT Centratama Telekomunikasi Indonesia, Asiaspace in Malaysia and a tranche of 4,247 towers from Indosat Ooredoo for US$750m; the formation of datacentre business Agile Data Centers, acquisition of PCCW’s datacentres for US$750m, and subsequent transferal of both to Vantage Data Centers; plus the joint acquisition with Columbia Capital of Australian fibre operator Superloop’s Hong Kong operation and assets from its Singapore unit for A$140m (US$101.1m).
GIC
For deals including the formation of a US$1bn datacentre joint venture with Equinix on xScale datacentres in Japan; continuing the partnership for additional joint ventures partnerships to built out xScale datacentre portfolio to greater than US$6.9bn across 32 facilities globally; and closing a US$3.4bn joint acquisition with Brookfield Infrastructure Partners of a 100% stake in an Indian telecom tower company from a unit of Reliance Industries Limited.
Macquarie Group
For deals including MIRA and Aware Super’s joint acquisition of Australian fibre operator Vocus Group valued at A$4.6bn (US$3.32bn); the merger of Vocus’ New Zealand unit Orcon with 2degrees to create a A$2.5bn (US$1.72bn) company; the investment in Chinese datacentre operator Guangzhou Bohao Internet Service Co., Ltd.
Partners Group
For deals including forming a telecom tower platform Unity Digital Infrastructure in the Philippines with Aboitiz InfraCapital of the Aboitiz Group; and the acquisition of Indian fibre-optic broadband operator Atria Convergence Technologies (ACT) in transaction that values ACT at an enterprise value of nearly US$1.2bn.
Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners
For deals including the formation of a US$1bn independent datacentre platform Digital Edge and subsequent acquisition of datacentre assets in South Korea, Japan and Indonesia; plus the formation of a leadership team in the region including Yasuhiro Ono from Japan Post Bank, Tharma Kunaratnam of Macquarie, and David Goldstein, formerly of TPG Capital and AP Towers.
Technology Investment Firm of the Year – Europe
See full criteria here.
EQT
For deals in the software space including the acquisitions of German-based Thinkproject for c. US$700m, Sweden-based Storytel and Epidemic Sound, the sales of Norway-based StormGeo for US$422m and German-based Utimaco for US$500m, as well as the IPO of SUSE on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange at a valuation of US$5.8bn.
Hg
For deals in the software space including the sale of UK-based Achilles to Bridgepoint, France-based Trace One to Symphony Technology Group, as well as the investment into Denmark-based Trackunit and the acquisition of France-based Septeo Group for US$1.16bn.
Montagu Private Equity
For UK-based deals including the recapitalisation of Wireless Logic to acquire minority owner CVC’s stake, and the acquisition of ITRS Group from TA Associates for US$700m and Capita SIMS for c. US$550m.
TA Associates
For deals in the software space including the sale of UK-based ITRS Group to Montagu Private Equity at a valuation of US$700m. The acquisitions of Netherlands-based Unit4 for a valuation of US$2bn, Germany-based Thinkproject for c. US$700m, and France-based DL Software, as well as the merger of Norway-based Compusoft and 2020 to create a combined company.
Thoma Bravo
For deals including the acquisition of France- and US-based Calypso Technology for US$3.75bn and the sale of US-based Pathwire to Sinch at a valuation of c. US$1.9bn.
TMT Due Diligence Adviser of the Year
See full criteria here.
Altman Solon
Analysys Mason
EY-Parthenon
TMT Growth Story of the Year
See full criteria here.
CityFibre (UK)
Destiny (Belgium)
Eurofiber (Netherlands)
MasMovil (Spain)
OVH (France)
TMT Leader of the Year
See full criteria here.
Greg Mesch, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, CityFibre
Marc Ganzi, President & Chief Executive Officer, DigitalBridge
Suresh Sidhu, CEO, EdgePoint Infrastructure
Vivek Badrinath, Chief Executive Officer, Vantage Towers
Xavier Niel, Founder, Iliad
TMT M&A Financial Adviser of the Year – Europe (Volume)
See full criteria here.
(In alphabetical order)
Alantra
Arma Partners
GCA Altium
Goldman Sachs
Morgan Stanley
TMT M&A Financial Adviser of the Year – Europe (Value)
See full criteria here.
(In alphabetical order)
Barclays
Evercore
JP Morgan
Goldman Sachs
Morgan Stanley
TMT M&A Legal Adviser of the Year – Europe (Volume)
See full criteria here.
(In alphabetical order)
Allen & Overy
Clifford Chance
DLA Piper
Kirkland & Ellis
Latham & Watkins
TMT M&A Legal Adviser of the Year – Europe (Value)
See full criteria here.
(In alphabetical order)
Allen & Overy
Clifford Chance
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
Herbert Smith Freehills
Weil Gotshal and Manges
TMT M&A Financial Adviser of the Year – Americas (Volume)
See full criteria here.
(In alphabetical order)
Bank Street
Goldman Sachs
JP Morgan
Morgan Stanley
RBC Capital Markets
TMT M&A Financial Adviser of the Year – Americas (Value)
See full criteria here.
(In alphabetical order)
Bank of America Securities
Evercore
Goldman Sachs
JPMorgan
Morgan Stanley
TMT M&A Legal Adviser of the Year – Americas (Volume)
See full criteria here.
(In alphabetical order)
Kirkland & Ellis
Latham & Watkins
Morgan Lewis & Bockius
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
TMT M&A Legal Adviser of the Year – Americas (Value)
See full criteria here.
(In alphabetical order)
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
Hogan Lovells
Kirkland & Ellis
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
TMT M&A Financial Adviser of the Year – Asia (Volume)
See full criteria here.
(In alphabetical order)
Bank of America
Credit Suisse
Goldman Sachs
JP Morgan
UBS
TMT M&A Financial Adviser of the Year – Asia (Value)
See full criteria here.
(In alphabetical order)
Deutsche Bank
Mitsubishi UFJ
Mizuho
Morgan Stanley
Nomura Securities
TMT M&A Legal Adviser of the Year – Asia
See full criteria here.
(In alphabetical order)
Clifford Chance
DLA Piper
Herbert Smith Freehills
Latham & Watkins
Shardul Amarch and Mangaldas & Co
