- Tofane Global announces the acquisition of iBasis, a Royal KPN N.V. subsidiary.
- This acquisition represents the first milestone into the strategy of Tofane Global, a Paris-based group, launched to develop international carrier services via acquisitions and digital transformation.
Paris, 7 March 2018 – Tofane Global announces the acquisition of iBasis, a Royal KPN N.V. subsidiary. This operation represents the first milestone into the strategy of Tofane Global, a new player in the market, which has the ambition to become one of the leaders of the international carrier services via acquisitions and digital transformation.
iBasis, founded in 1996 at Boston, MA, is one of the pioneers in wholesale of Voice Over IP and a leading player of the International Voice business and Mobile Data carrier services. Its customers are the main fixed and mobile operators and the new « Over The Top » (OTT) players. Its 2017 revenues are €705m, with 280 employees in 16 countries.
The transaction is subject to works’ council advice and regulatory approvals. After closing of the transaction, Tofane Global and iBasis will remain a longterm strategic partner to KPN N.V. for delivering international voice termination and mobile data services.
The demand for International Communication services (VoIP, Mobile data; IoT and 5G) has grown aggressively during the last five years, both in value and in volume, thanks to the worldwide mobile penetration expansion, the explosive demand for video over Internet and the growing adoption of applications into the enterprise area. Tofane Global believes in the development of independent international carrier specialists with a broader and more global digital offer. The economies of scale will deliver the needed cost-effectiveness and the seamless quality. It will also allow larger R&D investments.
“iBasis, one of the leaders in the carrier industry, is the ideal first acquisition to serve our strategy of consolidating the international carrier services market as an independent player. The partnership with KPN brings us strong and long-lasting dynamics to our consolidation project”, explains Alexandre Pébereau, CEO of Tofane Global.
Tofane Global is a Paris-based company, provider of telecom and digital services for carriers. Tofane Global’s strategy is to combine multiple players in the International Carrier services market, either by acquisitions or through strategic partnerships. It feeds large yet flexible virtual platforms operated by small teams of experts and achieves strong economies of scale with best-in-class technology.
Tofane Global was founded by Alexandre Pébereau, a recognized leader among international carriers – former CEO of Orange Carriers and MD of Maroc Telecom, as well as founder of the ITW Council – and is backed by solid financial institutions among which Ciclad and Trocadero Capital Partners.
Banque Lazard, Arthur D. Little for strategy and market, Deloitte-TAJ for finance and tax, and Houthoff for legal & regulatory, served as advisors to Tofane Global.
About TOFANE GLOBAL
Tofane Global is a Paris-based company, provider of telecom and digital services for carriers. It was founded in 2017 by Alexandre Pébereau, a recognized leader among international carriers – former CEO of Orange Carriers and MD of Maroc Telecom, as well as founder of the ITW Council. Tofane Global’s strategy is to combine multiple players in the International Wholesale market, either by acquisitions or through strategic partnerships, to create a flexible virtual platform able to achieve economies of scale and offer best in class technology. Tofane Global has begun his activity in 2018 with the intended acquisition of iBasis, a subsidiary of Royal KPN N.V. For more information, please visit www.tofaneglobal.com
About IBASIS
iBasis is one of the world leader in the wholesale international voice market and on mobile data . Since its creation in 1996, iBasis was a pioneer in real time
communication. In 2009, the company became a fully owned subsidiary of Royal KPN N.V, the national incumbent of the Netherland. iBasis 2017 revenues are €705m, with 280 employees in 16 countries. For more information, please visit www.ibasis.com
About CICLAD
Ciclad is an independent Private Equity investment firm launched in 1988, specialized in backing management teams to go through business transformation projects. Since its inception, Ciclad invested in more than 150 transactions in France and abroad in all industry sectors. Ciclad invests in every type of business succession transaction or in specific growth projects (transfer of family-owned businesses, takeover of group subsidiaries by their managers or fund raising for growth). Since 1988, Ciclad has been benefitting from the renewed support of renowned French and international institutional investors. Ciclad’s team is composed of seasoned professionals highly involved in the support of the management team. Ciclad’s experience include a number of transactions in the telecommunications industry. For more information, please visit www.ciclad.com
About TROCADERO CAPITAL PARTNERS
Trocadero Capital Partners (‘TCP’) is an independent management company owned by its management and approved by the A.M.F under number GP-13000033. Its investment team has a long track record as a key player in the bond or minority capital investment segment for French and European companies with an enterprise value between €10M and €100M. TCP is distinguished by its entrepreneurial culture, strong responsiveness linked to a short decision-making process and involvement in the value creation of the companies its supports For more information, please visit www.trocaderocp.com
