WIG builds and operates communications towers in rural and suburban areas, together with neutral host networks to enable mobile coverage in buildings (including football stadia and shopping centres) and on city streets.
Brookfield Infrastructure is a leading global infrastructure company that owns and operates high-quality, long-life assets in the utilities, transport, energy and data infrastructure sectors across North and South America, Asia Pacific and Europe. Brookfield Infrastructure is affiliated with Brookfield Asset Management, a leading global alternative asset manager with over $500 billion of assets under management.
The Ashurst team was led by partners Michael Burns, Aaron Shute and Nick Elverston, assisted by associates Jake Hadfield and Becky Eaton. 3i Infrastructure plc was advised by Allen & Overy and WIG was advised by Dickson Minto.
Michael Burns, Brookfield co-global relationship partner, stated:
"It has been great to work with the Brookfield team on this investment. The market-leading sector knowledge of our digital team, combined with our efficient M&A execution skills, played a key role in us being able to get across the WIG business quickly and facilitated a swift closing of the deal."
Nick Elverston, global co-head of Ashurst's digital economy practice, commented:
"Data may be the oil of the digital economy, but digital infrastructure is the distribution pipe, without which there would be no services. We are seeing a lot of activity around digital infrastructure, which will only grow in importance with the roll-out of 5G and we're really pleased to have been able to help Brookfield acquire this important provider of towers and neutral host networks to all the mobile networks."
