Emerging Markets Communications (EMC) to Acquire MTN

Emerging Markets Communications (EMC) has signed a definitive merger agreement to acquire MTN Communications (MTN), a leading provider of communications and content for remote locations around the world.

The combined entities bring together the most talented and experienced professionals in the remote communications industry, servicing land and maritime-based customers, with a transformative suite of network products and services for businesses and people, connecting in hard to reach places or on the move.

The acquisition will benefit the organizations’ combined 1,600 vessels and more than 8,000 land-based customer sites in the most hard to reach places on all continents and in every ocean. Customers will represent multiple verticals, including maritime, energy, cruise lines and ferries, yachts, non-governmental organizations, telecommunications providers, global enterprises and governments.

The combined entity will be one of the largest independent providers of satellite connectivity services for both land-based sites and maritime vessels, worldwide. The company will also be the largest provider of connectivity services, in some of the most strategic verticals within the satellite industry, backed by ABRY Partners, a private equity firm specializing in funding some of the most successful communications companies in North America, with more than $42 billion of completed transactions.

“Our vision is to create the next generation mobility platform offering the most reliable, secure and cost-effective connectivity solutions for people and businesses on-the-move -- and in far reaching places -- on land and at sea - and the acquisition of MTN makes this vision a reality,” said Abel Avellan, founder and CEO of EMC.

“We are bringing together two global communications leaders to meet customers’ unprecedented requirements for land-like connectivity, content and voice services in the world’s furthest reaching corners,” said Mark Walter, president and chief operating officer, MTN. “Our combined talent, networks and product set will deliver capabilities and scalability no other provider can offer.” “

Since our customers ask for greater speeds and exponentially higher throughput every year, combining into one entity enhances our ability to bring invaluable solutions, with the highest levels of service, for business and mission-critical operations globally,” said Errol Olivier, executive vice chairman, MTN. “We are excited about the enhanced scale and global resources we will bring in our mission to exceed customer demands.”

EMC and MTN have proven track records of delivering a broad range of transformative communications solutions. They bring faster, more efficient Internet, content and cellular services - including voice, text and 3G Internet access - for business, personal and critical missions. The acquisition will leverage patented and patent-pending solutions, including optimization, cloud computing and hybrid networks. This complementary acquisition will expand global footprints, service centers and teleports, and invaluable products.

“By integrating EMC and MTN, we will put together all of the key building blocks to create the most complete, globally-scalable mobility platform, along with unique services, truly different from any provider in the market,” said Avellan.

EMC’s Global Infrastructure and Value-Added Services

EMC’s global infrastructure features 52 field support centers, three wholly-owned teleports, and global satellite capacity available in C-Band, Ku-Band and Ka-Band, enabling fast installations and response times for customers worldwide. The company’s value-added services leverage patented technology and have transformed the industry with products such as SpeedNet®, a cloud-based browser providing a faster Internet experience over satellite.

MTN solutions transform customers’ ability to lead their markets, deliver quality services to their own customers, maximize onboard revenue and operate more efficiently. MTN provides end-user solutions such as Internet connectivity, voice services, live global TV and mobile apps.

Enterprise solutions include crew welfare tools, Web portals and video conferencing. MTN also delivers a technical toolkit to customers for management of their own networks and optimization of their bandwidth. Agnostic when it comes to product, satellite frequency and architecture, MTN integrates the most ideal, robust solutions to meet skyrocketing demands.

The agreement is subject to regulatory review and other customary conditions, and is expected to close by second quarter of 2015.