TIM, Aridian Finalize Investment in INWIT

TIM and Ardian, a private investment house operating in the infrastructure sector, have finalised the agreement communicated last 24 June for a partial sharing of the investment in Infrastrutture Wireless Italiane S.p.A. (INWIT).

The transaction consists of the purchase by a consortium of institutional investors led by Ardian of a 49% stake in Daphne 3, a newly-established holding company controlled by TIM, to which TIM has transferred a 30.2% stake in the share capital of INWIT.

The holding company takes over from TIM - for the stake in INWIT transferred - in the shareholder agreement existing between TIM and Vodafone Europe B.V., by virtue of which they jointly control INWIT.

Relations between TIM (which retains control over the holding company) and the consortium led by Ardian are regulated by a specific shareholders' agreement, the contents of which were disclosed to the market last 29 June.

The transaction does not entail any mandatory takeover bid, as confirmed by Consob, and has been approved in accordance with Golden Power regulations; the value of the transaction for TIM is 1.35 billion euros in respect of an INWIT share value of €9.47 (ex-dividend).

Of the remaining direct stake held by TIM in INWIT, equating to 3% of its capital, today 1.2% was sold for 109 million euros, to a vehicle managed and assisted by Canson Capital Partners (Guernsey) Limited, which also has an option to purchase the remaining 1.8% for a price of 161 million euros.

The Board of Directors of Daphne 3 has the following members: Marco Patuano (Chairman), Carlo Nardello (Chief Executive Officer), Davide Carlino, Sabrina Di Bartolomeo, Laurent Fayollas, Agostino Nuzzolo and Frédéric Jean Daniel Payet.

The investment in Daphne 3 represents the first step of a long-term partnership between TIM and Ardian, aimed at strengthening the leadership of INWIT on the Italian telecommunications market, leveraging the growth of data traffic and the new opportunities arising from the implementation of 5G.

Mathias Burghardt, Member of Ardian’s Executive Committee and Head of Ardian Infrastructure, said: “This investment of great strategic value further demonstrates our commitment to Italy, a core market for us in which we have been investing for more than a decade. Alongside major industrial partners, we have contributed to long-term sustainable growth plans and value creation for all stakeholders. We are very pleased to start building a strong partnership with TIM. Together with TIM and Vodafone, we will support the management team in the ambitious growth plan for this essential technological infrastructure".

Since 2005 Ardian Infrastructure has made more than 45 investments for a total of 16 billion dollars, managed or advised, with a team of 40 professionals specialized in infrastructure investments worldwide. In Italy, always considered a key market, as a long-term strategic partner, since 2007 Ardian has invested approximately 3 billion euros in infrastructure activities, including the investment in INWIT.