Aster

Country: Poland

Region: Mazowieckie

Investors: Mid Europa Partners

When Mid Europa assumed full control of Aster in 2006, the company was already a leading Polish cable TV operator with a value of €420m. Since then, Aster has grown strongly, despite the poor wider economic conditions, to become the first pay TV operator in Poland to introduce digital TV, high-definition, video-on-demand, mobile telephony and mobile data.

Mid Europa played a key role supporting accelerated investment in new technologies and providing links to international telecoms operator Orange. At the time of Mid Europa's exit, Aster enjoyed the highest levels of subscription and the highest ARPU (average revenue per user) of any Central European pay TV platform. Employee numbers had also risen by 30%. Mid Europa sold Aster in 2010 to UPC Poland, realising around double its investment.

Matthew Strassberg

CEO - Mid Europa Partners

Under our ownership, Aster has invested over 80 million euro in its network and has increased the number of revenue generating units by 85%.

80%

increase in profitability

average revenue per user in CEE pay TV

What did the business need?

Innovation
Investment required to launch new products and services
Market expertise: Mid Europa is the leading investor in cable TV in Central Europe and was well placed to add value to strategic and operating performance

How did private equity backing create lasting value?

Investment in new technology
Targeting markets such as the wealthy Warsaw metropolitan area
Differentiation of product such as new open-architecture set-top boxes
Negotiation of an agreement with Orange to enable Aster to provide mobile telephony and data
Sourcing and executing add-on acquisitions