The biggest news from the past quarter sees more activity picking up in CEE with the Saudi towerco TAWAL announcing its acquisition of 4,800 sites from United Group in Bulgaria, Slovenia and Croatia for EUR1.22bn. Pending regulatory approvals, TAWAL will manage the assets under the TAWAL Europe towerco, which the new European player is rumoured to headquarter in Bulgaria where the majority of the assets are located.
United Group’s opco towers in Greece were sold to Vantage Towers. United Group Bulgaria’s owner Slovenia Broadband Group has sought permission from Bulgaria’s competition authority to buy 167 towers and fibre in Bulgaria from fixed broadband and satellite paid-TV operator Bulsatcom.