Ultrafast Broadband UK ISP Glide Set for £200m Sale to Alinda

Business and residential ISP Glide Group (formerly CableCom), which has an ambition to cover 200,000 premises by the end of 2020 (mostly via fibre optic broadband solutions), is reportedly gearing up to announce their sale to American infrastructure investment firm Alinda Capital Partners (ACP) for around £200m.

At present Glide claims to have its own national UK “full fibre” broadband network, which they said last year could reach over 100,000 premises, although this is mostly focused upon connecting students (c.700 student halls) and built-to-rent accommodation, as well as shared HMO living and business parks (c.600 business parks) etc.

According to Sky News, the Connecticut-based APC has agreed to buy Glide for around £200m and the agreement is expected to be formally announced this week. Meanwhile Ares, the specialist lender firm, is reported to have agreed to help finance the takeover by APC. We should point out that Glide also has operations in Ireland, Italy and Spain.