H.I.G. Capital (“H.I.G.”), a leading global alternative investment firm with $74 billion of capital under management, is pleased to announce that one of its affiliates has signed a definitive agreement to sell its portfolio company Desktop S.A. (“Desktop” or the “Company”), a leading internet service provider in the state of São Paulo, to Claro Telecom Participações S.A. (“Claro”), a subsidiary of América Móvil (BMV: AMX; NYSE: AMX), a leading telecommunications carrier in Latin America. The closing of the transaction is subject to customary conditions precedent and approvals from the Brazilian regulatory authorities. The transaction is valued at R$4.0 billion (c. $750mm, inclusive of debt), implying a price per share of R$20.82, based on Desktop’s net debt as of September 30.
Since H.I.G.’s acquisition, Desktop has successfully executed on a robust growth strategy, combining accelerated organic expansion with 10 strategic acquisitions, to build one of the leading fiber platforms in Brazil. During this period, the Company has grown from approximately 150,000 subscribers to over 1.2 million subscribers, now serving more than 200 cities in the state of São Paulo, supported by a fiber network spanning over 58,000 km.
H.I.G. also played a key role in supporting Desktop’s successful initial public offering in February 2021 on the Brazilian Stock Exchange (B3) under the ticker B3: DESK3, marking the first publicly listed ISP in Brazil.
Fernando Marques Oliveira, Managing Director and Head of H.I.G. Latin America, commented: “Desktop’s trajectory is a strong example of H.I.G.’s hands-on approach to accelerating growth. Working closely with an outstanding senior management team, we supported the Company’s expansion to become a leading fiber platform in Brazil, while also positioning the business as a highly strategic asset for industry players. This transaction underscores our ability to identify and execute on compelling value creation opportunities and we are gratified to have generated a very attractive result for our investors.”
