News
January 3, 2012
SKC Communication Completes Acquisitions
SKC Communication Products, LLC announced that it has purchased Mpact Systems, Inc., a Rock Hill, SC-based video conferencing and presentation technology integrator.
The purchase of Mpact further increases SKC’s nationwide reach as a unified communications technology integrator. Headquartered in the Kansas City metropolitan area, SKC employs more than 230 technology professionals across the country.
As part of SKC’s continuing expansion, the acquisition of Mpact will enhance its business growth in the Southeast region.
“Mpact’s approach to client service and support is very much in line with SKC’s. Their clients are a natural fit for SKC’s solution offerings and we look forward to the growth opportunities this will bring SKC, our new colleagues and our new clients,” said Tray Vedock, SKC president and CEO.
The transaction was effective January 1, 2012. As part of this acquisition, Mpact’s employees all became employees of SKC Communications, and the Rock Hill office is now SKC’s Southeast regional headquarters.
In addition, SKC has also reached an agreement with Ahern Communications of Boston, MA to transition all of Ahern’s clients to SKC. Ahern Communications is closing its business operations.
SKC was founded in 1986 as Plantronics, Inc.’s first headset distributor. Today, it is Plantronics’ largest dealer and a full-service integrator of Unified Communications solutions incorporating voice, video and audio/visual technologies.
“After 25 years, I have decided to close my company and look ahead to new endeavors,” said Ahern founder Dana Ahern. “I am confident SKC is positioned to take these new clients to the next level.”
Tray Vedock stated: “As Unified Communications continues to evolve, the voice communications space is rapidly merging with video, presentation and data networks. SKC’s extensive experience in this space will allow us to continue to enhance our new clients’ communication networks.”
SKC’s support of its headset accounts includes a team of specialists available to assist with product selection, setup and troubleshooting. It hosts regular webinars showcasing the latest headset solutions, alerts clients to important news through its TechnoTalk e-mail series and hosts its annual SKC Technology Summit which brings clients and industry experts together to explore the latest voice, video and AV technology solutions.
“We look forward to offering continued service to our new clients, and looking for ways we can further improve their headset purchases and user experiences,” said SKC vice president of sales, Todd Vincent.
SKC designs, builds and maintains Unified Communications solutions incorporating headsets, voice, videoconferencing, telepresence and audio/visual integration. SKC’s technology solutions enable its clients to better collaborate, communicate and connect with their key stakeholders - any time and any place. SKC focuses on ensuring you have the right communications technology to achieve your business goals now and in the future. Visit SKC's website at www.skccom.com and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter (@SKCComm), and LinkedIn.
October 27, 2011
McCarthy Capital Exits Investment in CoSentry
McCarthy Capital and WaittCorp Investments recently announced that CoSentry.net LLC, has been acquired by private equity firm TA Associates. CoSentry is a data center, cloud computing, and managed service provider. CoSentry’s technology solutions include secure data centers, disaster-recovery services, and managed IT services from its facilities in Kansas City, Sioux Falls and Omaha.
CoSentry was founded in 2000 through a partnership with management and Waitt. In 2006, Waitt recruited Mike Steffan to lead it. Shortly thereafter, Joe Urzendowski joined the management team as Chief Administrative Officer. McCarthy Capital subsequently made an investment in CoSentry in 2008.
Since 2008, CoSentry expanded its three existing data centers, built a new $25 million Tier IV data center in the Omaha market, added a number of managed services, and more than quadrupled its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA).
"McCarthy Capital has enjoyed its partnership with CoSentry," said Patrick Duffy, Partner at McCarthy Capital and CoSentry Board Member. “It has been a great and meaningful experience for us to support and enhance management's vision to grow the business from a local operation into a nationally recognized company. We wish the management team and company continued success."
This is McCarthy Capital’s second successful realization from an investment in the data center and managed services industry. In 2010, McCarthy exited an investment in Peak 10, Inc., a Charlotte-based operator of data center facilities in 10 markets.
“It’s been a pleasure working with such a terrific group of people. I’m proud of what this partnership has been able to accomplish over the past 12 years and grateful for the contributions of many along the way,” said John Schuele, President of Waitt and CoSentry Board Member. “This is a tremendous achievement for a local company as numerous jobs were created here and many of the employees were owners.”
“CoSentry management is very grateful for the partnership approach of McCarthy and Waitt,” said Mike Steffan, CEO of CoSentry. “They provided equity capital when we needed it and more importantly they added tremendous value through their expertise, resources and relationships.”
The current management team will continue to operate CoSentry and has retained a material ownership interest in the company.
Signal Hill Capital Group LLC initiated this transaction and provided financial advisory services to CoSentry. Koley Jessen P.C., LLO served as legal counsel to CoSentry.
January 11, 2011
Invests in SKC Communications
McCarthy Capital Corporation invested in SKC Communication Products LLC, a leading communications technology solution provider doing business as SKC Communications. SKC is headquartered in Shawnee, KS (a suburb of Kansas City, KS), with regional offices in Dallas, TX and Omaha, NE.
SKC Communications designs communication technology solutions that lower costs, increase productivity and help their clients reach the people important to their business. SKC works with the preeminent manufacturers in the industry to deliver custom solutions in Unified Communications, videoconferencing, audio/visual integration, voice over IP solutions and headsets. Founded in 1986, SKC serves corporations, government and educational institutions nationwide. For more information about SKC, please visit www.skccom.com.
“We are very excited about the opportunity to partner with McCarthy Capital,” said Tray Vedock, President and CEO of SKC Communications. “McCarthy Capital has a solid understanding of our industry and has a proven track record of helping companies grow. They share our philosophy of building long-term relationships with business partners.”
The investment in SKC Communications is consistent with McCarthy Capital’s investment strategy – partnering with proven management teams of market leading companies in high-growth industries.
SKC Communications and McCarthy Capital plan to expand the business through organic growth, additional service offerings and selective acquisitions. “We are thrilled to partner with the exceptional employee owners at SKC Communications whose technology solutions improve communication capabilities for enterprises” said Patrick Duffy, a partner at McCarthy Capital. “As SKC increases its scale with additional resources, we believe the company will be positioned to serve additional needs of its growing customer base.”
September 1, 2010
McCarthy Capital Sells its Interest in Peak 10
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Peak 10 Inc., a managed services company with world-class data centers, and Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe (“Welsh Carson”), a leading private equity firm, have entered into a transaction in which Welsh Carson and Peak 10’s executive management will acquire a majority shareholder interest in Peak 10. Selling shareholders include majority owner Seaport Capital, a New York-based private equity firm and MCCARTHY CAPITAL, an Omaha, Neb.-based private equity fund.
Peak 10’s existing management team, led by Co-Founder, President and CEO David Jones will continue to operate the business. David Jones indicated, “Our partnership with Welsh Carson enables Peak 10 to continue increasing the scale of our business to meet the high demand for data center infrastructure and related managed services. Our strategic focus remains intact but our resources now position us to more rapidly extend our geographic footprint, strengthen our team and further accelerate our managed services and cloud offerings.”
Since the company’s inception in 2000, Peak 10 has managed a path of steady and consistent growth achieved through expansion in the greenfield markets of Jacksonville, Fla.; Charlotte, N.C.; Tampa, Fla. and Raleigh, N.C., and through acquisitions of established data center companies in Louisville, Ky.; Nashville, Tenn.; Richmond, Va. and, most recently, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. In 2007 and early 2008, Peak 10 opened greenfield data centers in Atlanta, Ga. and Cincinnati, Ohio respectively. Over the last two years Peak 10 has completed construction of additional facilities in five of its markets to meet customer growth and demand.
About McCarthy Capital Corporation
Based in Omaha, NE, McCarthy Capital is a private equity firm focused exclusively on middle market companies. McCarthy Capital manages $500 million in private equity assets and capital commitments. For more information about McCarthy Capital, please visit www.mccarthycapital.com.
About Peak 10 Inc.
Peak 10 is a managed services company with world-class data centers. It delivers scalable, economical and reliable solutions for hosting and managing complex information technology infrastructure. The company’s expert team embraces the industry's evolving technologies by adopting and tailoring solutions such as virtualization and cloud-based services as part of its robust managed services offering. Its strong customer focus, financial stability, geographic diversity and technical strength attracts market-leading companies such as LendingTree, Global Knowledge, Pergo, Healthways and Churchill Downs. Peak 10 is SAS70 Type II compliant and helps companies meet the requirements of various regulatory compliance acts such as Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX), HIPAA, PCI and Gramm-Leach-Bliley (GLBA). For more information on data center solutions from Peak 10, visit www.peak10.com.
July 7, 2010
Invests in Life Care Services
McCarthy Capital Corporation led a $50 million investment in a privately-held company, Life Care Companies LLC. Headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, the company does business as Life Care Services (LCS) and is a national leader in providing services to senior living communities.
LCS has nearly 40 years of experience in developing, managing and owning senior living communities throughout the United States. A fully integrated manager, marketer, developer, and owner of senior living communities, LCS today serves more than 27,000 residents in 29 states and the District of Columbia and is recognized as the nation’s sixth-largest manager of senior housing. The company operates six business lines focusing on operations management, home health care, development, community ownership, insurance and national procurement (group purchasing).
“We selected McCarthy Capital as our partner because of their experience, cultural compatibility, and partnership approach with their investments,” said Ed Kenny, President and CEO of LCS. “In addition to providing us with growth capital to execute on current opportunities, we are excited about the expertise McCarthy Capital will bring to our employeeowned company.”
The investment in LCS is consistent with McCarthy Capital’s investment strategy – partnering with proven management teams at market leading companies in growth industries. “We are excited to partner with the exceptional management team at LCS in this well-positioned business,” said Patrick Duffy, a partner at McCarthy Capital. “We believe LCS’s people and diverse service offerings provide a solid foundation from which the company can capture a larger share of this fast-growing market.”
September 9, 2010
Invests in Advantor Systems
McCarthy Capital Corporation led a growth equity investment in privately-held Advantor Systems, LLC (“Advantor” or the “Company”). Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, Advantor is a leading designer and integrator of physical security systems with extensive experience securing high-profile government and commercial organizations (www.advantor.com).
The Company’s primary business is providing integrated security solutions to help identify and manage threats to critical infrastructures. With over 1,000 systems already deployed, the Company aids in the design, distribution, integration, installation, training and servicing of security systems that combine physical security for facilities with information security to protect people, confidential information and other critical assets. “We selected McCarthy Capital as our partner because of their experience, cultural compatibility, and partnership approach with their investments,” said Todd Flemming, President and CEO of Advantor. “In addition to providing us with growth capital to execute on current opportunities, we are excited about the expertise McCarthy Capital will bring to our employeeowned company.”
The investment in Advantor is consistent with McCarthy Capital’s investment strategy – partnering with proven management teams at market leading companies in growth industries. “We are excited to partner with the exceptional management team at Advantor in this growing, well-positioned business,” said Bob Emmert, a partner at McCarthy Capital. “We believe Advantor’s people and diverse service offerings provide a solid foundation from which the company can capture a larger share of this growing market.”
Matrix Capital Markets Group, Inc. based in Richmond, VA, served as financial advisor to the Company on the transaction.
July 15, 2009
Invested in Peak 10, Inc.
McCarthy Capital Corporation purchased Frontier Capital’s interest in Peak 10, Inc. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Peak 10 is a leading independent data center operator and managed services provider.
Peak 10 provides technology solutions to market-leading companies nationwide through its secure, private network and enterprise-class data centers with world-class engineering and support. As a managed services leader, the company offers virtualization, full-service hosting, and cloud-based services in a cost-efficient and reliable platform for its customers. Peak 10 owns and operates data centers in nine key markets that include Cincinnati, Ohio; Atlanta, Ga.; Raleigh and Charlotte, N.C.; Tampa and Jacksonville, Fla.; Nashville, Tenn.; Louisville, Ky.; and Richmond, Va.
“McCarthy has a proven track record of engaging and supporting their portfolio companies’ management teams. We look forward to a continuation of the strong board relationship that has contributed to our strategic success,” said David Jones, President and CEO of Peak 10.
The investment in Peak 10 is consistent with McCarthy Capital’s investment strategy – partnering with top management teams at market leading companies in high-growth, business service industries. McCarthy Capital and Peak 10's majority shareholder, Seaport Capital, are experienced investors in the information technology and communications industry.
"We are pleased to partner with the management of Peak 10 and Seaport Capital in this growing and well-positioned business," said Patrick Duffy, a partner at McCarthy Capital. “We believe Peak 10’s people and breadth of service offerings provide substantial opportunities for growth.”