Ardian acquires majority stake in telecoms operator, Aire Networks
Press release
Ardian acquires majority stake in telecoms operator, Aire Networks
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21 June 2022
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Buyout
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Spain
6 minutes de lecture
Ardian, a world leading private investment house, has today announced its acquisition of a majority stake in Aire Networks, the Alicante-based telecommunications services company, through its latest buyout fund. Ardian has purchased the stake from Magnum Capital, and will support Aire Network’s growth plans in the coming years.
Aire Networks, based in Elche, Alicante, was founded in 2002 by Raul Aledo, Miguel Tecles and Emilio Gras, who are currently the CEO, CTO and CIO of the company respectively, and maintain their stake in the company. The Ardian Buyout team will work together with the Aire Networks management team to continue driving its ambitious growth plan.
The company provides telecommunications services for operators and companies, offering connectivity, digitalisation and digital transformation services based on cloud and neutral fibre. The company is a market-leader in Spain and Portugal, and is developing an international expansion plan.
With Ardian's support, the telecommunications company will continue to drive its growth, with the aim of becoming the European market-leader. Aire Networks has made several acquisitions of other operators since 2019, including Unelink and Prored, its rival LCRcom, and the Portuguese company, AR Telecom. It aims to further expand its portfolio of products and services, as well as strengthening its geographical presence.
This investment has been made by the Ardian Buyout team, led by Gonzalo Fernandez-Albiñana in Spain. The company will be managed independently from Adamo, another Ardian portfolio company owned by the Infrastructure team, led by Juan Angoitia in Spain.
"Aire Networks is a company with a unique business model that makes it a key player in the digitalization of companies and the development of communications. We are very pleased to have the opportunity to support Raul, Miguel, Emilio and the entire Aire team in this new phase of growth.” Philippe Poletti, Member of the Executive Committee and Head of the Ardian Buyout team
The closing of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including obtaining regulatory approvals.
ABOUT ARDIAN
Ardian is a world leading private investment house, managing or advising $130bn of assets on behalf of more than 1,300 clients globally. Our broad expertise, spanning Private Equity, Real Assets and Credit, enables us to offer a wide range of investment opportunities and respond flexibly to our clients’ differing needs. Through Ardian Customized Solutions we create bespoke portfolios that allow institutional clients to specify the precise mix of assets they require and to gain access to funds managed by leading third-party sponsors. Private Wealth Solutions offers dedicated services and access solutions for private banks, family offices and private institutional investors worldwide. Ardian is majority-owned by its employees and places great emphasis on developing its people and fostering a collaborative culture based on collective intelligence. Our 900+ employees, spread across 15 offices in Europe, the Americas and Asia, are strongly committed to the principles of Responsible Investment and are determined to make finance a force for good in society. Our goal is to deliver excellent investment performance combined with high ethical standards and social responsibility.
At Ardian we invest all of ourselves in building companies that last.