PEP’s low-ball price for 75% Spark of datacentres

PEP’s low-ball price for 75% Spark of datacentres
Spark chair Justine Smyth will present Spark's annual results next week. (Image: Supplied)
Pattrick Smellie
Spark has sold an unexpected 75% stake in its datacentre business to an Australian private equity fund for up to $616 million in a deal valuing that segment business at the low end of some analysts’ expectations.The choice of Sydney-based Private Equity Partners (PEP) had been accurately leaked to Australian news media, forcing Spark to acknowledge the imminent deal, which had been expected to be for a sale of a 51% controlling stake.PEP will pay $486m up-front for its investment in the datacentre business, with another $98m contingent on...

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