GTS sold to Deutsche Telekom

GTS has been sold to Deutsche Telekom for 546 million euros. GTS is an infrastructure-based telecommunications service provider in South East and Eastern Europe. It is currently owned by a consortium of international private equity firms including Bessemer Venture Partners, Columbia Capital, HarbourVest Partners, Innova Capital, MC Partners and Oak Investment Partners.

PRESS RELEASE

Edwards wildman advises the shareholders of GTS on its sale to Deutsche Telekom for a total consideration of €546 million

Edwards Wildman has advised GTS on the completion of its sale to Deutsche Telekom for a total consideration of €546 million. GTS is one of the top infrastructure-based telecommunications service providers in South East and Eastern Europe. It is currently owned by a consortium of international private equity firms, which includes Bessemer Venture Partners, Columbia Capital, HarbourVest Partners, Innova Capital, MC Partners and Oak Investment Partners.

GTS serves nearly 38,000 customers from its 26,000km fibre optic network and 14 state-of-the-art data centres in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. While the activities of GTS Central Europe in Slovakia will remain with the Sellers, GTS’ existing and prospective customers will benefit from the backing by Deutsche Telekom through expanded European and Global network reach, access to fixed-mobile convergent service offerings. The sale also allows Deutsche Telekom to enhance its capabilities to offer pan-European telecommunication services as well as integrated products in countries where they currently maintain no adequate fixed access network infrastructure.

Edwards Wildman’s corporate and private equity team was led by Shawn Atkinson, with assistance from Michael McCormack, Jill Hanson and Costa Smith. The office’s EU Competition team also played a significant role led by partner Becket McGrath with assistance from Trupti Reddy. Boston based partners Steve Meredith and Scott Pinarchick led the US team. Stibbe advised the firm on Dutch and Luxembourg matters.

Steve Meredith and Scott Pinarchick originally advised lead investors Columbia Capital and MC Partners on the original acquisition in 2008 whilst Shawn Atkinson advised Bessemer Venture Partners.

Note to the Editor:
Edwards Wildman is a full-service, international law firm with over 600 lawyers in 16 offices in the US, Europe and Asia. The firm have market-leading capabilities in private equity and venture capital, cross-border M&A, complex litigation, insurance and reinsurance, technology and IP, and public finance.