TA
Associates, a global growth private equity firm, announced it has made a
significant investment in Aicent, a provider of data network, messaging and
roaming solutions to telecom network operators worldwide.
With over 180
telecom operator customers in more than 120 countries, Aicent provides
a platform for cross-border and cross-network data delivery solutions to mobile
network operators serving more than three billion mobile users worldwide.
Aicent’s
services enable mobile phone users to easily download data and send and receive
SMS (Short Message Service) or MMS (Multimedia Message Services) messages
across different mobile networks globally.
“The new
partnership with TA Associates will help strengthen Aicent’s market position
and allow us to continue to bring innovative solutions to our customers,” said Lynn Liu, founder, president and CEO of Aicent. “TA has a proven
track record when it comes to backing fast-growing profitable telecom
businesses and importantly, as an investor, it has a truly global
outlook,” added Liu.
TA Associates has more
than four decades of investing experience, focusing on profitable growth
companies. TA’s prior investments in the communications sector include AboveNet
Communications, Aurora Networks, FreeWave Technologies, Idea Cellular, MetroPCS
Communications, Micromax Informatics Limited, SBA Communications, TARGUSinfo,
TEOCO and WIND Telecom S.p.A.
“We are
delighted to partner with a company that has achieved such strong growth since
its inception,” said Jason P. Werlin, a senior vice president at TA
Associates. “Aicent launched one of the world’s first GRX networks in
2001, and has established itself as a global hub for mobile operators,” Werlin
added.
Recently, TA
Associates exited its
five-year-old pre-IPO investment in telecom firm Idea Cellular through share
sales in open market, a top company executive said. According to VCCircle
estimates, TA Associates has made around 2x returns on its investment of around
Rs 450 crore.
We exited
the investment over a period of past 5-6 months,” Naveen Wadhera, director and
country head of TA Associates Advisory Pvt Ltd told VCCircle. However, he did
not comment on the exact returns made by the global PE firm.
By
Telecomlead.com Team
