EXA extends its reach through acquisition of Aqua Comms.
EXA Infrastructure has recently made a significant move to broaden its influence by finalizing contracts to take over Aqua Comms, a renowned expert in subsea infrastructure spanning the Atlantic and Europe. Based in London, EXA Infrastructure, a part of the I Squared Capital portfolio, boasts an extensive 150,000km digital infrastructure network extending across 37 countries, encompassing 20 subsea cable landing stations.
The purchase of Aqua Comms is set to enrich EXA’s capabilities in the transatlantic region. Aqua Comms, headquartered in Ireland, is known for its specialization in managing submarine cable systems, offering fiber pairs, spectrum, and wholesale network capacity to content providers, cloud entities, and carriers globally. Noteworthily, it plays a major role in supporting pivotal cables such as America Europe Connect-1 (AEC-1) and CeltixConnect-1 (CC-1).
Jim Fagan, the CEO of EXA Infrastructure, comments on this strategic acquisition, stating, “The acquisition of Aqua Comms is a testament to EXA Infrastructure’s dedication to creating a contemporary and diverse Transatlantic platform to effectively cater to the growing demands in AI, Cloud, and Content both now and in the future.” This move aims to provide customers with expanded routes, enhanced capacity, and greater diversity on an enlarged platform.
This acquisition is a noteworthy reflection of the evolving landscape within the submarine cable industry as it addresses the ongoing need for resilient and varied connectivity solutions. Financial advisory services for EXA in this transaction are provided by Akur Capital and RBC Capital Markets, with legal support coming from the firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison. On the other hand, Goldman Sachs is assisting D9, the seller, and legal counsel is provided by Shoosmiths.
The transaction is anticipated to conclude within a year, pending standard closing conditions. Such acquisitions underscore a vital strategic approach for companies striving to meet the growing demand in sectors such as AI, cloud services, and content delivery.
