SpeedCast, a portfolio company of TA Associates, has acquired Pactel International, a satellite communications service provider.
Pactel provides satellite communications services throughout Australia and the Pacific. The company offers Internet, private networking and voice services to oil & gas operators, telecom companies, governments and multinational mining companies. Founded in 1999, Pactel is headquartered in Sydney, with additional offices in Perth, Australia and Jakarta, Indonesia (www.pactelint.com).
TA Associates acquired SpeedCast in September 2012. The buyout of Pactel by SpeedCast follows the December 2012 add-acquisition of Australian Satellite Communications and the January 2013 add-acquisition of Elektrikom Satellite Service.
SpeedCast is a network and satellite communications service provider offering managed networks services in over 35 countries throughout Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, Europe and Africa; and a global maritime network serving customers worldwide. SpeedCast’s customers include telecom carriers, Internet service providers, governments and non-governmental organizations, and other enterprises requiring communication services in locations where wire-based communication is not possible or practical, or where mobility is required. Through its SeaCast product, the company serves the broadband needs of the maritime and offshore oil and gas industries. The company has 13 international sales & support offices and 25 teleport operations and is based in Hong Kong with offices in Beijing, Singapore, Dubai and Kuala Lumpur (www.speedcast.com).
“As a well-established, long-time provider of reliable satellite solutions, Pactel is an ideal fit with our consolidation strategy and growth plans of strengthening SpeedCast’s presence in the Asia-Pacific region,” said Edward Sippel, Managing Principal – Asia Pacific, TA Associates Asia Pacific Ltd. “Through the Pactel acquisition and our earlier investments, we have created a business of scale that can even more effectively serve the needs of satellite communications customers. We anticipate there will be additional consolidation opportunities to grow SpeedCast’s leadership position in this fragmented industry in Asia-Pacific.”
TA Associates makes buyouts and minority recapitalizations of profitable growth companies in the technology, financial services, business services, healthcare and consumer industries. Since founding in 1968, TA has invested in over 425 companies globally and has raised more than $18 billion in capital. The firm was founded in 1968 and has offices in Boston, Menlo Park, London, Mumbai and Hong Kong (www.ta.com).
© 2013 PEPD • Private Equity’s Leading News Magazine • 6-3-13
