Aqua Comms Announces Acquisition by Triple Point’s Digital 9 Infrastructure PLC

The externally managed trust is focused on digital infrastructure assets that deliver a “reliable, functioning internet”.

DUBLIN–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#AEC1—Aqua Comms DAC (“Aqua Comms”), the owner and operator of America Europe Connect-1 (AEC-1), America Europe Connect-2 (AEC-2) and CeltixConnect-1 (CC-1) today announced that it has been acquired by digital investment trust Digital 9 Infrastructure PLC (“D9”).

The previous shareholder investment is now replaced by the newly established digital investment trust under investment manager ‘Triple Point Investment Management LLP’. Notwithstanding this change of shareholder, Aqua Comms will continue to operate as a privately owned company, though wholly owned by this publicly traded fund.

Aqua Comms’ CEO, Nigel Bayliff, commented: “The acquisition by Digital 9 will facilitate Aqua Comms in delivering on its vision of efficient infrastructure ownership and deployment to the widest possible market through its Carrier-Neutral approach. It will allow us to accelerate our expansion into new systems and new products in both the Atlantic and new geographies. With the majority of the Board unchanged, and with our management and operating teams remaining the same, we will continue to pursue our growth ambitions with the secure backing of a specialist investor.”

Thor Johnsen, Head of Digital Infrastructure at Triple Point Investment Management, said: “We have collectively experienced the digital transformation in our society over the last few decades (and particularly in the last 12 months), and we believe we are at the dawn of a broader transformation. D9 is focused on global investment into the critical infrastructure driving this unstoppable force of change, and D9 is therefore delighted to complete its acquisition of Aqua Comms as the initial cornerstone investment for this new fund.”

About Aqua Comms DAC

Aqua Comms DAC is an Ireland-based Independent Carriers’ Carrier specializing in building and operating submarine cable systems and supplying fibre pairs, spectrum and capacity networking solutions to the global content, cloud and carrier markets. It is the owner/operator of America Europe Connect-1 (AEC-1), America Europe Connect-2 (AEC-2), and CeltixConnect-1 (CC-1). The company continues to build on its vision of efficient submarine infrastructure ownership with membership of the HAVFRUE consortium and development of CeltixConnect-2 and North Sea Connect, bridging the North Atlantic between North America and Northern Europe. To learn more about Aqua Comms and its portfolio of subsea cable systems visit www.aquacomms.com.

About Digital 9 Infrastructure

Digital 9 Infrastructure PLC is a newly established, externally managed investment trust which will invest in a range of digital infrastructure assets which deliver a reliable, functioning internet.

“Digital infrastructure” refers to the critical infrastructure required for the internet to operate and, essentially, refers to everything from fibre networks that connect continents, businesses and homes (the very “backbone” of the internet), to the data centres that organisations use to house their critical networks of computer and storage resources, and to the towers and small cells that carry data traffic wirelessly to the end user.

The Company is focused on the provision of Digital Infrastructure integrated with green and cleaner power in line with UN Sustainable Development Goal 9: “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”.

The Company’s portfolio will comprise future proofed, non-legacy, scalable platforms and technologies including (but not limited to) subsea fibre, data centres, terrestrial fibre, tower infrastructure and small cell networks (including 5G).

The Investment Manager is Triple Point Investment Management LLP (“Triple Point”) which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, with extensive experience in asset and project finance, portfolio management and structured investments. The Investment Manager’s digital infrastructure team has a proven track record of US$1.9 billion of infrastructure investments and, in addition, will benefit from a panel of digital infrastructure industry experts, with deep knowledge, relationships and involvement in a combined US$250 billion of digital infrastructure transactions.

The Company’s Ordinary Shares were admitted to trading on the Specialist Fund Segment of the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange on 31 March 2021.

For more information, please visit http://www.d9infrastructure.com.

About Triple Point

Triple Point is the place where people, purpose, and profit meet. Since 2004, we’ve been targeting this Triple Point in areas like infrastructure, energy efficiency and social housing, unlocking investment opportunities that make a difference. We manage over £1.8bn of private, institutional and public capital across four distinct investment strategies: Social Housing, Energy and Digital Infrastructure, Leasing and Lending, and Venture. Each of these strategies helps to solve a problem society faces, and each one creates opportunities for investors. Our investments transform public services, get businesses off the ground, and even kickstart whole markets.

Contacts

Ilissa Miller

iMiller Public Relations for Aqua Comms DAC

Tel: +1 866 307 2510

pr@imillerpr.com