Led by partner Dr. Carla Luh, global law firm Hogan Lovells has advised iCON Infrastructure’s fibre and telecoms network provider Strategic Fiber Networks GmbH (SFN) on an initial EUR 95 million debt financing which can be increased to support additional growth plans. The loan facilities have been provided by a syndicate of three banks.
Headquartered in Schwäbisch Gmünd, the SFN group is primarily active in the German federal states of Baden Württemberg and Lower Saxony and intends to use the funding to upgrade and expand the group’s fibre networks (FTTC to FTTH transition).
Hogan Lovells advised SFN on all aspects of the financing, including the due diligence and the financing documentation. The firm, with Infra M&A Partner Dr. Alexander Stefan Rieger in the lead, previously advised iCON Infrastructure in 2021 in relation to the acquisition of the SFN group and continues to regularly advise iCON Infrastructure.
Hogan Lovells’ German corporate and finance practice has a market-leading track record in fibre deals, having advised on more than a dozen investments, build-outs and financings in the German fibre sector since the beginning of 2020.
Carla Luh, Head of Finance Germany, commented on the conclusion of the financing:
“We are delighted to have successfully advised our client on this financing – a significant milestone for further fibre network roll-out in Germany, in particular in semi-urban and rural regions.”
The financial advisor was Macquarie Capital and the lenders were advised by White & Case LLP.
Hogan Lovells Team for Strategic Fiber Networks GmbH
Dr. Carla Luh (Partner), Marco Weibrecht (Senior Associate), Amy Wienke (née Bruland) (Associate), Tobias Ulbrich (Associate) (all Infrastructure, Energy, Resources and Projects / Finance, Hamburg and Frankfurt);
Dr. Alexander Stefan Rieger (Partner), Pascal Wagenführ (Associate) (both Infrastructure, Energy, Resources and Projects / Corporate, Frankfurt);
Dr. Julian Fischer (Partner), Lennart Lautenschlager (Counsel) (both Capital Markets, Frankfurt).
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