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UPDATE 1-3i Infrastructure joins bidders for Antin's FPS Towers - sources

Mon, 24th Oct 2016 15:33

* Antin hoping to raise 1 bln euros from the deal - sources

* American Tower, Spain's Cellnex among 10 bidders - sources

* Antin expects final offers in December - sources

* JP Morgan advises Antin on the sale - sources (Adds deadline for final offers, background)

By Sophie Sassard and Gwénaëlle Barzic

LONDON/PARIS, Oct 24 (Reuters) - 3i Infrastructure said on Monday it had bid for French telecoms masts business FPSTowers, which owner Antin hopes could raise up to 1 billioneuros, as it seeks to build its UK-focused WirelessInfrastructure Group into a European platform.

Antin Infrastructure Partners is working with financialadviser JP Morgan on the sale, which could fetch up to 1 billioneuros ($1.1 billion), several sources told Reuters, adding thatAmerican Tower Corp and Spain's Cellnex arealso among around 10 bidders.

Telecoms towers have become increasingly attractive toinvestors as they are typically valued at very high multiples,up to 19 times earnings before interest, tax, depreciation andamortisation (EBITDA), while producing steady revenues.

Debt-burdened telecoms operators have been selling theirtowers in order to invest in their networks and channel moredata, more quickly to their customers.

Sector players including American Tower, Crown Castle and Canadian pension and infrastructure funds arecompeting hard to expand in the field.

American Tower acquired Verizon's mobile towers in the U.S.for about USD 5 billion last year while Crown Castle boughtrights to about 9,700 AT&T Inc (T.N) wireless communicationtowers for $4.85 billion in 2013.

Antin has received around ten offers, most of them fromAmerican firms, plus a few Europeans but no French bidders, oneof the sources said.

French sector leader TDF, which was acquired by a consortiumled by Brookfield Infrastructure and Canada's PSP Investmentsfor 3.5 billion euros in 2014, did not take part, they added.

Antin is hoping to get final bids in December and close adeal shortly afterwards, said the sources.

Antin Infrastructure was not immediately available forcomment, while American Tower Corp, Cellnex, JP Morgan and TDFdeclined to comment. (Editing by Dasha Afanasieva and Alexander Smith)

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