Saudi Telecom to buy United Group Towers for 1.2 billion euros

Saudi Telecom agreed to buy a portfolio of tower assets from United Group for 1.22 billion euros (S$1.78 billion) as the carrier expands in Europe. 

The state-backed firm’s Tawal infrastructure arm will pay cash for a portfolio of more than 4,800 towers in Bulgaria, Croatia and Slovenia, according to a statement on Thursday (Apr 20). Bloomberg News reported earlier that it was nearing an agreement to buy the assets from United Group, which is backed by buyout firm BC Partners. 

Tawal, which is making its first foray into Europe through the acquisition, already owns more than 16,000 towers. Middle Eastern telecom operators flush with cash have recently started stepping up their overseas investments, with Emirates Telecommunications Group emerging as the biggest shareholder in Vodafone Group with a roughly US$4 billion stake. 

“We are delighted to have successfully crystallised the value of our tower assets in a deal that enables us to reduce leverage and navigate global macroeconomic pressures,” United Group chief executive officer Victoriya Boklag said in the statement.

Acquisitions of digital infrastructure assets have been heating up in Europe. Vodafone and Deutsche Telekom both agreed to sell multibillion-dollar stakes in their tower businesses to investment firms last year, while Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. reached a deal this month to acquire data centre operator Data4. 

Goldman Sachs advised United Group on the transaction, which is expected to close in the second half of 2023.  BLOOMBERG

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