• EQT Infrastructure to acquire Delta Comfort, the leading telecom infrastructure company and supplier of energy in the Dutch province of Zeeland
   
• EQT Infrastructure to support Delta Comfort in further strengthening its position as the preferred telecommunication infrastructure access provider for the Zeeland community
   
• New Board of Directors will be composed of a highly relevant set of industry leaders from the telecom and energy sectors to support management of Delta Comfort

The EQT Infrastructure investment strategy (“EQT Infrastructure”) has signed definitive transaction documentation to acquire Delta Comfort B.V. (”Delta Comfort” or “the Company”) from Delta N.V., the municipality and province owned integrated utility company of the Dutch province of Zeeland. The purchase price amounts to EUR 488 million.

Delta Comfort is the leading telecom infrastructure owner and operator, provider of multimedia services (broadband, TV, telephony) and supplier of energy, serving over 140,000 households and businesses mainly in the Dutch province of Zeeland. Delta Comfort’s hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) network of over 6,000km passes 192,000 homes, which corresponds to ~90% of the total number of homes in Zeeland. Delta Comfort employs approximately 370 people and generated sales of EUR 214 million in 2015.

Going forward, the strategy is to further develop the Company’s unique multi-utility approach, invest in its network to provide the most advanced solutions to residential and business clients and therefore strengthen its position as the preferred telecommunication infrastructure access provider in Zeeland. The growth of the Company will be supported by an industrial board of directors who will have significant telecom and energy expertise.

Harko Buringh, CEO of Delta Comfort, said: “We are excited to join EQT Infrastructure, one of the world’s most respected infrastructure funds, with a strong heritage in the telecom sector. They have a growth focused strategy, a responsible and hands-on ownership approach and will provide us with access to an extensive network of industry specialists.”

Matthias Fackler, Partner at EQT Partners and Investment Advisor to EQT Infrastructure, said: “We are impressed with Delta Comfort’s superior network infrastructure, unique multi-utility product offering and leading position in Zeeland. We are very enthusiastic about the future of Delta Comfort and the opportunities the EQT industrial investment approach will bring to the Company’s next development phase.”

The transaction is subject to customary conditions, such as completion of a works council consultation procedure, approval of the shareholders of Delta N.V. and the Autoriteit Consument & Markt (ACM). It is expected to close in the first quarter of 2017.

ING acted as sole financial advisor and Clifford Chance as legal advisor to EQT Infrastructure.

Contacts:
Matthias Fackler, Partner at EQT Partners, Investment Advisor to EQT Infrastructure, +49 89 2554 99520
Kerstin Danasten, EQT Press Officer, +46 8 506 55 334

About EQT
EQT is a leading alternative investments firm with approximately EUR 31 billion in raised capital across 21 funds. EQT Funds have portfolio companies in Europe, Asia and the US with total sales of more than EUR 15 billion and approximately 100,000 employees. EQT works with portfolio companies to achieve sustainable growth, operational excellence and market leadership. EQT Funds current investments in the Netherlands include TransIP, Bureau van Dijk and 3D Hubs

More info: www.eqtpartners.com

About Delta Comfort
Delta Comfort offers multimedia and energy solutions to residential and business clients in the province of Zeeland. Delta Comfort owns and operates a hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) network of 3,400km of fiber and 3,000km of coaxial cables, which passes 192,000 households in the region. Delta Comfort employs approximately 370 people and generated sales of EUR 214 million in 2015. It is headquartered in Middelburg, the capital of Zeeland, Netherlands.

More info: www.delta.nl/en/about-delta