Abraaj buys out Dubai Holding’s 35% stake in Tunisie Telecom

Dubai’s Abraaj Group, a buyout firm that manages about US$10 billion in assets, has purchased a stake in Tunisie Telecom from the telecoms investment unit of Dubai Holding.

“Upon completion, this will represent the largest ever private equity investment in Tunisia, demonstrating Abraaj’s faith in the company and in the Tunisian economy,” Abraaj said yesterday. Abraaj, one of the largest private equity firms in the Middle East, has entered into a definitive agreement with Emirates International Telecommunications (EIT) to purchase a “significant minority” stake in the Tunisian state-controlled telecoms operator through its funds, it said.

The company did not reveal the size of the stake or the financial value of the deal.

Tunisian minister of communications and digital economy, Anwar Maarouf, told the parliament in November that Abraaj had taken Dubai Holding’s 35 per cent stake in Tunisie Telecom, which was bought for US$2.25 billion in 2006, according to reports.

The latest transaction will close once government and regulatory approvals are obtained, Abraaj said without specifying a timeline. Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Meziou Knani & Khlif acted as legal advisors on the deal, while Arab Banking Corporation was the sole underwriter and arranger.

Abraaj has been an active private equity investor in the North African region since 2006. The company has 10 investments in Tunisia alone, including the North Africa Hospital, a healthcare platform focused on enhancing accessibility of quality health care; Lilas, a producer of disposable household and personal care products; and L’Accumulateur Assad, a battery manufacturer.

Tunisie Telecom is the incumbent integrated telecom services operator in Tunisia and serves more than 5 million customers.

The company operates a national structure of fixed networks and fibre, which enables connectivity to Europe, Africa and Asia, as well as providing 3G and 4G mobile coverage in the country.

The company has expanded in the region through several acquisitions and holds assets in Malta, Cyprus and Mauritania.