KKR’s first direct investment in Brazil to fuel growth of leading
data center solutions provider
SÃO PAULO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Global investment firm KKR and Aceco TI, a leader in data center design,
implementation and maintenance solutions in Brazil and Latin America,
today announced that KKR is acquiring Aceco TI (Aceco or “the Company”)
from General Atlantic and other shareholders. KKR is making its
investment in partnership with Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jorge
Nitzan who will hold a significant minority stake in the company and
continue to run the business as CEO.
Founded in 1972, Aceco provides customized data center solutions and
high quality services to its customers. Aceco´s clients include a large
variety of private sector and public sector clients who trust Aceco to
support them for mission-critical projects. The Company has built more
then 750 data centers in Brazil and Latin America and more than 400
integrated command and control centers throughout its history and today
has 90 data centers under construction. With a dedicated team working 24
hours a day / 7 days a week, Aceco currently maintains approximately 220
data centers. One of its many current projects includes the installation
of data centers and command and control centers for the 12 cities
hosting the 2014 FIFA World Cup BrazilTM.
Aceco TI Chief Executive Officer Jorge Nitzan said, “Our clients depend
on secure, reliable data centers and we have a demonstrated track record
of being able to provide high performance and customized ‘end to end’
solutions. With the increased number of internet users, digital
information and the use of cloud computing, the demand for data centers
has and will continue to increase. Together with KKR as a long-term
partner, we will continue to meet this demand for more customers
throughout Latin America.”
“We have been incredibly impressed with Jorge Nitzan, the quality of the
services Aceco TI provides and the many dedicated employees who are
responsible for the company’s impeccable record of customer service and
satisfaction. Aceco is already a regional leader and we look forward to
working with the team to support the company’s continued growth,” Jorge
Fergie, Managing Director and KKR’s Head of Brazil, said.
Mr. Nitzan added, “Together with General Atlantic, we have achieved the
growth objectives we set out to undertake, and we proved that growth
capital is a model that works well for Aceco, but our growth story is
far from complete. We believe our offerings to customers are second to
none, and our new partnership with KKR will help fuel further growth
across Latin America and beyond. We have evolved as technology has
evolved and this is an important next step in the long journey of
Aceco’s evolution.”
Commenting on the transaction, Alex Navab, co-Head of KKR’s Private
Equity business in the Americas said, “This is an important milestone
that underscores our long-term commitment to partnering with companies
in Brazil and throughout the Latin American region. We are delighted to
be acquiring a world-class enterprise such as Aceco in partnership with
Jorge Nitzan and the management team as well as making our first direct
investment in Brazil.”
For nearly four decades, KKR’s private equity franchise has focused on
investing in quality companies and partnering with management teams to
help them grow. Since 1976, KKR has completed more than 230 private
equity investments in portfolio companies with a total transaction value
in excess of $485 billion as of December 31, 2013. When making private
equity investments, KKR seeks out strong business franchises, with
attractive growth prospects, and leading market positions, making Aceco
TI a perfect addition to the firm’s diverse portfolio of companies. Of
KKR’s global private equity portfolio companies, fourteen have employees
and run operations in Brazil, including First Data, Nielsen, and Go
Daddy.
KKR is making the investment though its eleventh North American private
equity investment fund. Additional financial details were not disclosed.
The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and other
closing conditions.
About Aceco TI
Aceco TI has a history of almost 40 years dedicated to the engineering
of secure data centers with high levels of availability, having built
more than 750 data centers in Brazil and Latin America, many of them
with certified and accredited safe rooms. Headquartered in São Paulo,
with branches in Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro, the interior of São Paulo,
Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Peru and representatives
in other countries of Latin America, Aceco TI is present in design,
construction and maintenance of Tier II, III and IV data centers and in
certified and accredited tight-protected safe rooms.
About KKR
Founded in 1976 and led by Henry
Kravis and George
Roberts, KKR is a leading global investment firm with $94.3
billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2013. With offices
around the world, KKR manages assets through a variety of investment
funds and accounts covering multiple asset classes. KKR seeks to create
value by bringing operational expertise to its portfolio companies and
through active oversight and monitoring of its investments. KKR
complements its investment expertise and strengthens interactions with
fund investors through its client relationships and capital markets
platform. KKR & Co. L.P. is publicly traded on the New York Stock
Exchange (NYSE: KKR) and “KKR”, as used in this release, includes its
subsidiaries, their managed investment funds and accounts, and/or their
affiliated investment vehicles, as appropriate. For additional
information, please visit KKR’s website at www.kkr.com.
KKR
Kristi Huller, +1-212-230-9722
Director of Communications,
Americas
Kristi.Huller@kkr.com
or
For
KKR:
FSB Comunicaçoes, 55 11 3165-9596
Alcides Ferreira,
55 11 97206-8668
alcides.ferreira@fsb.com.br
or
Leandro
Mode, 55 11 97444-1922
leandro.mode@fsb.com.br
or
For
Aceco:
TI, G&A Comunicação Corporativa
Paulo Henrique
Alves, 11 3037.3235
paulohenrique@gaspar.com.br
or
Isabela
Caveden, 11 3037.3215
isabela@gaspar.com.br
or
Heloisa
Picos, 11 3037.3226
hpicos@gaspar.com.br
Source: KKR