Buyout (LBO, MBO, MBI) • Communications

ABRY Partners and Oak Hill Capital Acquire WideOpenWest

On November 1, 1999, private equity firms ABRY Partners and Oak Hill Capital acquired communications company WideOpenWest

Acquisition Context
  • This is ABRY Partners’ 1st and Oak Hill Capital’s 1st transaction in the Communications sector.
  • This is ABRY Partners’ 9th and Oak Hill Capital’s 5th transaction in the United States.
  • This is ABRY Partners’ 1st and Oak Hill Capital’s 1st transaction in Colorado.
Investment Fate
  • WideOpenWest was sold to a consortium of financial buyers in 2005.
  • WideOpenWest was sold to a consortium of financial buyers in 2015.
  • WideOpenWest went public in 2017.
  • WideOpenWest was sold to a financial buyer in 2019.

Explore All 547 Buyout (LBO, MBO, MBI) Communications Deals - Search the Database Free


M&A Deal Summary

Date November 1, 1999
Target WideOpenWest
Sector Communications
Buyer(s) ABRY Partners
Oak Hill Capital
Deal Type Buyout (LBO, MBO, MBI)

Target Company

WideOpenWest

Englewood, Colorado, United States
WideOpenWest is a provider of high-speed Internet, cable TV, and phone serving communities in the U.S. WOW's operating philosophy is to deliver an employee and customer experience that lives up to its name. WideOpenWest was founded in 2001 and is based in Englewood, Colorado.
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Buyers Overview 2

Buyer

ABRY Partners

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor


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 Context for Buyer #
Overall 9 of 175
Sector: Communications 1 of 16
Type: Buyout (LBO, MBO, MBI) 7 of 43
State: Colorado 1 of 7
Country: United States 9 of 145
Year: 1999 2 of 2
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
1999-10-01 Commerce Connect Media

Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, United States

Commerce Connect Media is a diversified business-to-business media company and leading independent publisher of controlled circulation trade and business magazines.

Buy -
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2000-05-01 FMW

Valencia, California, United States

FMW, Inc. operates as an in-store media company for businesses, services, and professionals. It provides coupon advertising, double-sided frame advertising, market information center, movie news, billboard-type advertising, bench works, and Website advertising.

Buy -
Buyer

Oak Hill Capital

Stamford, Connecticut, United States

Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor


Category Private Equity Firm
Founded 1986
PE ASSETS 9.5B USD
Size Mega
Type Sector Agnostic
DESCRIPTION

Oak Hill Capital Partners was originally formed as the private equity investment vehicle for Robert Bass and in 1999, opened up to outside investors and raised its first private equity fund. Oak Hill looks to invest in middle-market companies and focuses its efforts within six industry groups. The six groups include basic industries; business and financial services; consumer, retail, and distribution; healthcare; media and telecom; and technology. Oak Hill targets businesses with defensible business models, strong market positions, and 'best-in-class' management. Oak Hill Capital was formed in 1986 and has offices in Stamford, Connecticut; Menlo Park, California; and New York City.


Deal Context for Buyer #
Overall 6 of 80
Sector: Communications 1 of 16
Type: Buyout (LBO, MBO, MBI) 5 of 20
State: Colorado 1 of 3
Country: United States 5 of 73
Year: 1999 5 of 6
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
1999-09-15 Caribbean Restaurants

San Juan, Puerto Rico

Caribbean Restaurants operates 171 Burger King restaurants in Puerto Rico and has been in continuous operation for 43 years. CRI is the market leader and most successful quick-service restaurant franchise on the island. Caribbean Restaurants was founded in 1963 and is based in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Buy -
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
1999-12-16 Edelman Financial Engines

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Edelman Financial Engines is a financial planning and investment management firm. Edelman Financial Engines was founded in 1986 and is based in Boston, Massachusetts.

Buy $85M