Goldman Sachs Alternatives’ infrastructure business has signed an agreement to acquire Melita Limited from its current owner, EQT Infrastructure IV fund.

Goldman Sachs Alternatives is a division within Goldman Sachs Asset Management that focuses on alternative investments, which are financial assets outside traditional categories like stocks, bonds, and cash.

Harald Roesch, CEO of Melita, reflected on the company, saying "thanks to the support from EQT, the past five years have been transformational, enabling us to make substantial progress across all aspects of our business and becoming the first operator in the European Union to deploy both a nationwide Gigabit broadband network and a nationwide 5G network.”

He added that the company has achieved its milestones sustainably, highlighting that Melita is carbon neutral, has invested in solar farms to generate renewable energy, and has replaced nearly half of its fleet with electric vehicles.

He attributed this achievement to the efforts of the entire team and the loyalty of their customers.

Mr Roesch also expressed enthusiasm about continuing Melita's sustainable journey, with the support and expertise of Goldman Sachs Alternatives, through further investments in infrastructure, enhanced services in Malta, and increased innovation.

Robert Clark, Managing Director in Infrastructure at Goldman Sachs Alternatives, said that they are excited to partner with Mr Roesch and the Melita team in the next stage of their journey.

Mr Clark also stated that Melita had excelled in establishing itself as a market leader, boasting a high-quality network, a large customer base, and a top-tier executive team.

He expressed confidence in collaborating with this team to drive continued growth and success.

Mr Clark highlighted Melita as an excellent example of the opportunities within the digital infrastructure sector and conveyed excitement about making this investment to support the company's ongoing growth on behalf of their clients.

Ulrich Koellensperger, Partner in the EQT Value-Add Infrastructure Advisory team, said: “Building on EQT’s long track record of investing in digital infrastructure, we supported Melita through strategic investments including in its 5G coverage and an upgrade of its fiber-powered network.

He expressed pride in the rapid development of Melita's internet of things (IoT) business, noting its significant growth within just a few years of its inception and its establishment of a "promising new business line with a pan-European reach."

Mr Koellensperger conveyed confidence in the company's strong position for further growth and extended gratitude to Mr Roesch and the entire team for their dedication, wishing them continued success in the future.

The transaction is subject to conditions including regulatory approvals.