M&A Deal Summary

Granahan McCourt Capital, Spectrum Equity, ABRY Partners and HarbourVest Partners Acquire Astound

On August 26, 2010, private equity firms Granahan McCourt Capital, Spectrum Equity, ABRY Partners and HarbourVest Partners acquired communications company Astound for 1.2B USD

Acquisition Highlights
  • This is Granahan McCourt Capital’s 2nd, Spectrum Equity’s 7th, ABRY Partners’ 9th and HarbourVest Partners’ 8th transaction in the Communications sector.
  • This is Granahan McCourt Capital’s , Spectrum Equity’s 2nd, ABRY Partners’ 3rd and HarbourVest Partners’ 39th largest (disclosed) transaction.
  • This is Granahan McCourt Capital’s 3rd, Spectrum Equity’s 28th, ABRY Partners’ 53rd and HarbourVest Partners’ 53rd transaction in the United States.
  • This is Granahan McCourt Capital’s 1st, Spectrum Equity’s 1st, ABRY Partners’ 5th and HarbourVest Partners’ 3rd transaction in New Jersey.
Investment Fate
  • Astound was sold to a consortium of financial buyers in 2016 for 1.6B USD.
  • Astound was sold to a consortium of financial buyers in 2020 for 8.1B USD.

M&A Deal Summary

Date 2010-08-26
Target Astound
Sector Communications
Buyer(s) Granahan McCourt Capital
Spectrum Equity
ABRY Partners
HarbourVest Partners
Deal Type Going Private
Deal Value 1.2B USD

Target

Astound

Princeton, New Jersey, United States
website
Astound is a provider of broadband services delivering all-digital and high definition video, high-speed internet, and premium voice services to residential and small-medium business customers. Astound was founded in 1993 and is based in Princeton, New Jersey.

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Buyer(S) 4

Buyer

Granahan McCourt Capital

Huntingdon, New York, United States

Investor

website


Category Private Equity Firm
Size Small
Type Sector Focused
DESCRIPTION

Granahan McCourt Capital is a specialist investment firm focused on investments in the telecommunications and media industries. Granahan McCourt looks for small and medium-sized companies with strong market positions and 'where there is a forseeable event which allows for value creation'. The Firm's investment horizon is two to four years. Granahan McCourt Capital is based in Princeton, New Jersey.


DEAL STATS #
Overall 4 of 4
Sector (Communications) 2 of 2
Type (Going Private) 1 of 1
State (New Jersey) 1 of 1
Country (United States) 3 of 3
Year (2010) 1 of 1
Size (of disclosed) 1 of 1
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2009-10-07 Skyware Global

Smithfield, North Carolina, United States

Skyware Global is a provider in the design, manufacture, and distribution of systems for the global satellite industry. Skyware Global provides direct-to-home, enterprise VSAT and satellite broadband equipment for residential, commercial and government use. Skyware Global was founded in 2008 and is based in Smithfield, North Carolina.

Buy -
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2015-06-02 Skyware Global

Smithfield, North Carolina, United States

Skyware Global is a provider in the design, manufacture, and distribution of systems for the global satellite industry. Skyware Global provides direct-to-home, enterprise VSAT and satellite broadband equipment for residential, commercial and government use. Skyware Global was founded in 2008 and is based in Smithfield, North Carolina.

Sell -
Buyer

Spectrum Equity

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor

website


Category Private Equity Firm
Founded 1994
PE ASSETS 4.7B USD
Size Large
Type Sector Focused
DESCRIPTION

Spectrum Equity Management L.P. is a private equity investor focused on service businesses. Spectrum specifically targets established businesses in the media, communications, IT, information, and business services industries. The Firm looks to commit $25 to $100 million of equity capital per transaction and focuses on opportunities throughout North America and Western Europe. Prospective transaction situations include leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, acquisition financings, and secondary purchases. Spectrum Equity Investors was formed in 1994 and has offices in Boston, Massachusetts and Menlo Park, California.


DEAL STATS #
Overall 32 of 94
Sector (Communications) 7 of 7
Type (Going Private) 2 of 5
State (New Jersey) 1 of 2
Country (United States) 28 of 81
Year (2010) 2 of 2
Size (of disclosed) 2 of 9
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2010-08-26 Sidera Networks

New York, New York, United States

Sidera Networks, Inc. is a provider of tailored, high capacity communications services that ensure optimal business performance to carrier and enterprise customers. Sidera Networks offers a comprehensive suite of facilities-based services including: Ethernet, SONET, wavelength, internet access, colocation and more. With a fiber optic network leveraging unique rights-of-way that spans from Maine to Virginia, out to Chicago and up to Toronto, Sidera is committed to delivering cost-effective, custom solutions coupled with superior industry expertise, service and support.

Buy -
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2010-09-16 Canon Communications

Los Angeles, California, United States

Canon Communications LLC provides IT infrastructure and professional services in Germany and internationally. The company operates in two segments, e-commerce/trade and IT solutions. The e-commerce/trade segment comprises activities based on online, catalogue, telephone, and direct sales of its products. The IT solutions segment offers IT infrastructure and application support services, including IT strategy advice, project planning and implementation, system integration, maintenance, and training services, as well as various services, such as running IT departments.

Sell $287M
Buyer

ABRY Partners

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor

website


Category Private Equity Firm
Founded 1989
PE ASSETS 12.8B USD
Size Mega
Type Sector Focused
DESCRIPTION

ABRY Partners is a media and communications focused private equity investment firm. Specific areas of interest include television, publishing, convention/trade shows, for-profit training, couponing, monitoring services, telephone companies, communications towers, music libraries, database providers, wireless communications, and in-store advertisers. ABRY can provide both equity and mezzanine capital, typically committing $20 to $200 million of equity or $15 to $50 million of mezzanine capital per transaction. Prospective transaction situations include buyouts, expansion financings, platform acquisitions, consolidations, and recapitalizations. ABRY Partners was formed in 1989 and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.


DEAL STATS #
Overall 60 of 169
Sector (Communications) 9 of 16
Type (Going Private) 3 of 4
State (New Jersey) 5 of 11
Country (United States) 53 of 144
Year (2010) 7 of 10
Size (of disclosed) 3 of 13
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2010-08-26 Sidera Networks

New York, New York, United States

Sidera Networks, Inc. is a provider of tailored, high capacity communications services that ensure optimal business performance to carrier and enterprise customers. Sidera Networks offers a comprehensive suite of facilities-based services including: Ethernet, SONET, wavelength, internet access, colocation and more. With a fiber optic network leveraging unique rights-of-way that spans from Maine to Virginia, out to Chicago and up to Toronto, Sidera is committed to delivering cost-effective, custom solutions coupled with superior industry expertise, service and support.

Buy -
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2010-10-25 Aegis

Nashville, Tennessee, United States

Aegis is a specialty toxicology laboratory that provides industry leading services to clients in the healthcare, sports, forensics, law enforcement and food production industries. The Company offers a broad range of outsourced testing services, but focuses in the pain management compliance sector. With nearly two dozen employees with PhDs, MDs, or similar advanced degrees, Aegis differentiates itself through superior science to drive more accurate test results than competitors. Aegis is based in Nashville, Tennessee.

Buy -
Buyer

HarbourVest Partners

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor

website


Category Private Equity Firm
Founded 1978
PE ASSETS 86.0B USD
Size Mega
Type Sector Agnostic
DESCRIPTION

HarbourVest Partners, LLC is an investment firm that makes investments in new private equity partnerships, acquires secondary interests, and makes direct investments in operating companies. HarbourVest's largest investment area is investments in private equity funds, comprising of approximately 2/3 of HarbourVest's assets. HarbourVest's direct investment group looks for investments in growth oriented businesses at a variety of stages. The Group generally targets co-investments of $5 to $100 million, growth capital financings of $5 to $40 million, or mezzanine commitments of $5 to $20 million. Sectors of interest include software, hardware, data communications, telecommunications, and financial services. HarbourVest was formed in 1997 to assume the business of Hancock Venture Partners which was formed in 1982. HarbourVest Partners is based in Boston, Massachusetts, with additional offices in London, Tokyo, and Hong Kong.


DEAL STATS #
Overall 87 of 223
Sector (Communications) 8 of 13
Type (Going Private) 15 of 27
State (New Jersey) 3 of 4
Country (United States) 53 of 133
Year (2010) 9 of 12
Size (of disclosed) 39 of 68
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2010-08-26 Sidera Networks

New York, New York, United States

Sidera Networks, Inc. is a provider of tailored, high capacity communications services that ensure optimal business performance to carrier and enterprise customers. Sidera Networks offers a comprehensive suite of facilities-based services including: Ethernet, SONET, wavelength, internet access, colocation and more. With a fiber optic network leveraging unique rights-of-way that spans from Maine to Virginia, out to Chicago and up to Toronto, Sidera is committed to delivering cost-effective, custom solutions coupled with superior industry expertise, service and support.

Buy -
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2010-11-22 AvidXchange

Charlotte, North Carolina, United States

AvidXchange is a SaaS-based provider of accounts payable management solutions for mid-sized companies in the real estate, banking, and healthcare industries. The company's product suite integrates with a customer's existing accounting systems to centralize and streamline accounts payable workflow. AvidXchange was formed in 2000 and is based in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Buy -