Tikehau IM and Ares announced have arranged a major unitranche financing to support Apax Partners in the acquisition of Marlink, Airbus Group’s Commercial Satellite Communication business.
Marlink's maritime and land commercial satcom business is present in 14 countries across Europe, Asia, Middle-East and Americas, and has a distribution network of approximately 400 re-sellers worldwide. The company serves all maritime sectors globally and thousands of users operating in challenging environments in the mining, energy and humanitarian sectors that need highly reliable satcom mobile and fixed connectivity services.
The government satcom business is not part of this transaction and remains part of Airbus Defence & Space' core activities.
The objective is to offer an expanding range of Broadband Satcom Solutions to clients worldwide, providing tailored products and services that will help them digitize their own operations on land and at sea.
Erick Ceuppens, CEO of Marlink, says: "Tikehau IM’s Private Debt team has been flexible and available. They very supportive and enAbled us to complete this unique transaction."
Bertrand Pivin, Partner at Apax, says: "The financing package has been one of the key drivers of success in the dynamic of the transaction. Tikehau IM has been a reliable and supportive partner all along the negotiation process."
Cécile Mayer-Lévi, Private Debt Tikehau IM, says: "I am thankful to the management team of Marlink and Apax for their trust. This transaction has enabled Tikehau IM to demonstrate the merits of our tailor made unitranche solution for a unique transaction."
