Q9 Networks Sold To Bell & Investors Group For $1.1 Billion

BY: 

Dave Forde
June 4, 2012

Cash is king, and in the information age data is just as important.  Today, an investor group that includes Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (Teachers), Providence Equity Partners (Providence) and Madison Dearborn Partners LLC (Madison Dearborn), and BCE Inc. (Bell) announced they have acquired 100% of Canadian data centre operator Q9 Networks Inc. for C$1.1 billion.
Under the agreement, Teachers, Providence and Madison Dearborn will contribute 70%, or C$420 million, of the equity funding and Bell will provide the remaining 30%, or C$180 million. New debt financing by Q9, already committed, will also fund a portion of the acquisition. The transaction is expected to close before the end of 2012, subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions.

“Q9 looks forward to working with these leading private-equity firms and Canada’s largest communications company, all of which have a strong track record of growing leading-edge companies like Q9,” said Osama Arafat, CEO of Q9 Networks. “They recognize the value of Q9 and its team, an exceptional Canadian company dedicated to providing organizations with highly secure and reliable data centre infrastructure services.”

Over the years, Q9 has built up data centers in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario,

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Dave Forde


Dave “The Connector” Forde has been involved in the marketing, public relations and technology industry across Canada for over 20 years in various sales and marketing roles, he launched The Connected One network of business sites which connects buyers to the right sellers. Profectio and PR In Canada covers news about the marketing and public relations industry each day helping professionals advance their career and businesses. He also serves as an advisor to a number of businesses across the country. Find Dave on LinkedIn and Twitter.


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