We take a look back at the most important investment rounds in the European telecoms sector in 2017. In addition, we analyse the €7.5m capital increase by operator Ahí+, underwritten by private debt fund Trea Direct Lending.
About Ahí+
There+Spotting Brands Technologies, the trade name of Spotting Brands Technologies, is an operator of operators. The company brings together the knowledge and experience of local operators and integrates them into a single network driven by a team of experts with extensive experience in the telecommunications sector.
The mission of Ahí+ is to become a dynamic tool for these local operators, of which there are an estimated 3,800 throughout Spain in an increasingly competitive and concentrated market. This operator of operators currently has more than 30,000 customers, having integrated 5 telecommunications operators in recent years: Spotting Brand Technologies, Lajanda Telecomunicaciones, Segura Wireless, Bladeo and Schedia.
Ahí+ has set a target of reaching 1.2 million homes by 2020. The company is focused on offering high-speed internet to towns with less than 20,000 inhabitants, where more than 13 million people currently live. It also has 60 points of sale in Andalusia, Castilla-La Mancha and Castilla y León, autonomous communities in which it is continuing its rollout, with its sights set on continuing to expand its market.
Trea Direct Lending subscribes to Ahí+ capital increase
The private debt fund Trea Direct Lendingthrough its debt financing vehicle for Spanish SMEs TDL-I, has subscribed the €7.5m capital increase of Ahí+, an internet services operator, in order to drive the expansion of its business.
With the funds raised in this capital increase, Ahí+ aims to become the closest telecommunications operator in towns with less than 20,000 inhabitants.
Trea Asset Management is an independent traditional and alternative asset management firm, specialising in the development of tailor-made solutions for its institutional partners. The firm currently has close to €5,000M in assets under management. Its Trea Direct Lending investment fund is focused on financing Spanish SMEs. TDL provides flexible financing solutions by investing primarily in senior and senior convertible loans. TDL's objective is to position itself as a benchmark financier of Spanish SMEs in a period of profound changes in the sector.
With this investment, private equity fund TLD-I has completed the fourth transaction of its fund, which closed in March with €70M and has already committed more than 50% of its capital.