In telecom infrastructure, ECI Partners’ CSL Group, the critical connectivity provider, has acquired SIMPL Wireless, a US provider of IoT eSIM connectivity, PE Hub reported, with terms undisclosed. The deal extends a UK sponsor owned connectivity platform into US machine to machine networks, the same carve out logic as the Vista and HID transaction covered on October 16.
In Nigerian power, the metering rate rose to 63.1 percent in August from 62.4 percent in July, according to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission factsheet reported by Premium Times. Metered customers reached 8,045,565, while 4.7 million customers remain unmetered and new installations slowed to 141,746 in August from 159,980 in July. Eko and Ikeja distribution companies lead at 89.6 percent and 87.7 percent metered, while Jos, Yola, Kaduna and Kano remain below 43 percent, the gap any metering investment programme must close. Separately, Nigeria’s federal government launched NUCAP tower sites in Abia state under a programme targeting 3,700 masts to connect 20 million people, ThisDay reported.
In African capital markets, United Nigeria Airlines plans a 20 billion naira commercial paper issuance, Premium Times reported, a short term funding route for a carrier in a market where long term aviation finance is scarce. In Ghana, a court granted a preservation order in the dispute between Strategic Mobilisation Limited and the Ghana Revenue Authority over a 500 million dollar investment arrangement, MyJoyOnline reported, freezing the position while the underlying revenue assurance contracts are contested.
In US construction, HNTB won work on two Maryland bridges and AECOM named a new global transportation chief, Construction Dive reported in its weekly punch list. In fund manager leadership, Hamilton Lane named Hartley Rogers co-chief executive as Erik Hirsch becomes executive co-chairman, and Bow River Capital named private equity chief Greg Hiatrides chief executive as founder Blair Richardson steps back after 23 years, both reported by PE Hub and AltAssets in the window.