Technological advancements have seen the African technology, media and communications sector expand faster than anywhere else, and these developments impact all sectors of the African economy.
The dynamic sector’s constant technological innovation creates significant opportunities, but changing regulatory landscapes pose challenges and navigating the industry requires specialists across multiple jurisdictions.
In such a rapidly expanding market, with technology leapfrogging at an extraordinary rate, clients need cutting edge, up to the minute advice. ALN has that expertise and works alongside local and multinational companies and investors, including start-ups, SMEs, large corporate and private equity funds, on all aspects of the sector, including novel issues arising in the midst of rapid technological and regulatory changes.
Representative transactions include advising:
As the lead Africa legal adviser coordinating transactional, regulatory (telecom and mobile money) and competition advice over 14 jurisdictions in Africa in connection with a USD 1.25 billion investment in a newly formed holding company, Airtel Africa, by six leading global investors, including Warburg Pincus, Softbank, Temasek and Singtel.
in connection with the merger of the second and third largest mobile telephony operators in Kenya
A video entertainment company in Africa, in connection with the Mauritian company effectively merging into MultiChoice Africa Luxembourg, a Luxembourg entity and the surviving entity subsequently merged into MultiChoice Africa Holdings, a Dutch company.
A technology company in the global payments business, in connection with provision of a push payment service in Ethiopia.
In connection with their settlement of disputes relating to their 60% stake in the Guinean national telecommunications company, Société des Télécommunications de Guinée (SOTELGUI) SA, and the negotiation of a successful exit from Guinea in accordance with Telekom Malaysia’s international investment strategy.
As part of a consortium led by Deloitte Consulting, in connection with the proposed partial privatisation of Ethio-Telecom, a state-owned enterprise engaged in providing telecommunication services in Ethiopia, through the acquisition by private investors of a significant minority equity stake in the Company’s share capital.
A private equity and venture capital firm, in connection with their proposed acquisition of a 45% stake in Azam Television, a digital satellite service provider and part of Bakhresa Group, a leading Industrial House in Tanzania, with operations in Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Malawi, Mozambique and South Africa.
One of Africa’s leading classifieds and media groups, in connection with its acquisition of the Tanzania subsidiaries of One Africa Media, including EverythingDar.com and BrighterMonday.
A multinational computer technology corporation, in connection with the provision of geo-hosting assessment survey, and hosting data centers in Ethiopia.
in building a blockchain based platform to tokenize assets across Africa.
In connection with the acquisition, together with Safaricom, of the M-PESA pan-African money payments system.
A UK based company, in connection with telecommunication laws and regulations in Sudan.
A listed leading global communications group, as lead counsel in connection with its acquisition of a 49 percent stake in two Algerian-based agencies, including GANFOOD, a creative and consultancy agency and HVS, a media agency.
in connection with the merger of the second and third largest mobile telephony operators in Kenya.
An East African leading home entertainment operator, in connection with the proposed sale of its business
A subsidiary of Industrial Promotion Services Kenya, in connection with their acquisition of the shareholding of an existing shareholder in the Seacom Group, a company that owns an extensive ICT data infrastructure across the African continent and provides communications and cloud solutions to businesses, network carriers and service providers.