Spectrum Equity

Spectrum Equity

Type	Private
Industry	Private Equity, Growth Equity
Founded	1994
Headquarters	Boston, Massachusetts, U.S San Francisco, California, U.S
Products	Growth capital, Recapitalizations
Total assets	$5.7 billion
Website	www.spectrumequity.com

Spectrum Equity is an American growth equity firm, investing in businesses focused on the information economy. The firm’s partners have worked together for an average of 15 years,^[1] leading a team operating out of offices in Boston, MA and San Francisco, CA. The firm’s sectors of focus include: Software & Information Services; Internet & Digital Media; and Communications, Media & Entertainment. Spectrum Equity seeks out companies which have defensible and sustainable business models with strong recurring revenue, significant operating leverage, strong cash flow margins, and franchise customer loyalty.^[2] Typical equity investments range from $25 – $100 million,^[1] and the firm is comfortable as either a minority or majority owner in companies. Spectrum Equity has invested in companies that are category leaders across North America, Western Europe, and Australia.

In addition to providing equity capital for growth and liquidity, Spectrum Equity plays a prominent role in helping its portfolio companies in the implementation of their business plans. As members of the board of directors for each of their portfolio companies, the Spectrum Equity team helps with strategic decisions, capital market transactions, recruitment of talent, the identification of acquisitions, and product initiatives.

History

Founded in 1993 by Brion Applegate and William Collatos, Spectrum Equity raised its first fund in May 1994. Applegate had been a general partner of funds managed by Burr, Egan, Deleage, & Co.^[3] Collatos began his private equity career at TA Associates where he was a general partner before leaving to become a founding general partner of its spin-off, Media Communications Partners.^[4] Spectrum Equity has raised seven private equity funds since its founding, totaling $5.7^[1] billion of capital.

Investments

Since its founding Spectrum Equity has invested in over 120 companies, including:

Software & Information Services:^[5]

• Arrowhead General Insurance Agency (acquired by Brown & Brown)^[6]
• Business Monitor International^[7]
• Finalsite^[8]
• Geneva Technology Limited (acquired by Convergys)^[9]
• HealthMEDX^[10]
• H.O. Systems (acquired by VeriSign)^[11]
• Illuminet Holdings (acquired by VeriSign)^[12]
• Interbank FX (acquired by TradeStation/Monex Group)^[13]
• iPay Technologies (acquired by Jack Henry & Associates)^[14]
• ITA Software (acquired by Google)^[15]
• Mortgagebot (acquired by Davis + Henderson)^[16]
• NetScreen Technologies (acquired by Juniper Networks)^[17]
• Net Health Systems^[18]
• Passport Health Communications^[19]
• Pictometry International/EagleView^[20][21]
• QTC (acquired by Lockheed Martin)^[22]
• RiskMetrics Group (acquired by MSCI)^[23]
• Seisint (acquired by LexisNexis)^[24]
• Trintech^[25]
• World-Check (acquired by Thomson Reuters)^[26]
• ExactBid (soon to be acquired) ^[27]

Internet & Digital Media:^[5]

• Ancestry.com^[28]
• Animoto^[29]
• Demand Media (NYSE: DMD)^[30]
• iSelect Ltd.^[31]
• Jagex Games Studio^[32]
• Lynda.com^[33]
• NetQuote (acquired by Bankrate)^[34]
• SeamlessWeb^[35]
• SurveyMonkey^[36]
• WeddingWire^[37]

Communication, Media & Entertainment:^[5]

• AMC Entertainment (acquired by Dalian Wanda Group)^[38]
• American Tower Corporation (NYSE: AMT)
• Apex Site Management (acquired by Spectrasite Communications)^[39]
• Apprise Media (acquired by United Business Media)
• Bug Music (acquired by BMG Rights Management)^[40]
• CBD Media (acquired by Local Insight Media)^[41]
• Cellular One (acquired by AT&T Wireless)
• Chartered Business Services (acquired by Intersections)^[42]
• Choice Cable^[43]
• Classic Media (acquired by Entertainment Rights)^[44][45]
• Consolidated Communications (NASDAQ: CNSL)
• Eutelsat (acquired by Abertis Telecom)^[46]
• Golden Sky Holdings (acquired by Pegasus Communications)
• Internet Network Services (acquired by Cable & Wireless Worldwide)
• ITXC (acquired by Teleglobe)
• Jazztel (CATS: JAZ)
• NEP Broadcasting (acquired by American Securities)^[47]
• Patriot Media (acquired by Comcast)^[48]
• RCN Cable^[49]
• Sidera Networks (acquired by Lightower Fiber Networks)^[50]

References

External links

• Official site

Private equity and venture capital investment firms
Investment strategy	Venture Growth Mezzanine Secondaries Leveraged buyout
History	History of private equity and venture capital Early history of private equity Private equity in the 1980s Private equity in the 1990s Private equity in the 2000s
Investors	Angel investor Corporate venture capital Commercial bank Crowdfunding Institutional investor Insurance company Investment bank Endowment Family office Fund of funds High-net-worth individual Merchant bank Pension fund Sovereign wealth fund
Private equity firms Venture capital firms Portfolio companies

Private equity and venture capital investment firms
Investment strategy	Venture Growth Mezzanine Secondaries Leveraged buyout
History	History of private equity and venture capital Early history of private equity Private equity in the 1980s Private equity in the 1990s Private equity in the 2000s
Investors	Angel investor Corporate venture capital Commercial bank Crowdfunding Institutional investor Insurance company Investment bank Endowment Family office Fund of funds High-net-worth individual Merchant bank Pension fund Sovereign wealth fund
Private equity firms Venture capital firms Portfolio companies