Current Investments in Communications
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Atlantis Bidding Corp., Arlington, VA, owns fixed wireless broadband licenses in the 39 GHz range that were acquired in an FCC auction in May 2000. The licenses cover an area of 140 million people. We also hold LMDS licenses (28 Ghz) in a sister entity formed in 1998. Northwood co-led the company's initial round of financing in 2000. |
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Community Broadcasters, LLC, Watertown, NY, operates two radio station clusters in Watertown and Ogdensburg, NY. Community’s operating strategy provides programming in a personalized, customized manner. In 2009, the company launched an additional station in Watertown. Northwood led the acquisition financing for this management-led buyout in 2006 and led follow-on financings in 2008 and 2009. www.theborder.fm www.94rockwott.com |
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Gogo, Inc., Itasca, IL, is the world's leading provider of airborne communications. As the winner of an exclusive FCC frequency license in 2006, Gogo® has built a revolutionary broadband network for commercial and business aviation. In 2008, Gogo's inflight portal revolutionized the commercial airline passenger flight experience by delivering a robust Internet experience above 10,000 feet. Gogo®, now available on over 1,200 American, Delta, United, US Airways and Virgin America aircraft, provides users enhanced data, video, audio and television services while inflight. Northwood invested in an equity financing in 2001 and has made numerous follow-on investments. |
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JVC Media, LLC, Ronkonkoma, NY, is Long Island’s only independently owned and locally operated radio broadcaster. JVC broadcasts Party 105, the tri-state area’s exclusive classic dance station and LaFiesta, a Spanish tropical station. In 2011, JVC acquired two additional in-market FM stations, MyCountry 96.1, the only country music station in the metro New York area, and Classic Rock WRCN, the only rock station located in Suffolk County. Northwood led this buyout along with management in 2009 and provided acquisition financing in 2011. www.jvcbroadcasting.com |
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ORBCOMM, Inc., Fort Lee, NJ, provides two-way monitoring, tracking, and messaging services through the world's first commercial low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite-based data communication system. ORBCOMM applications include tracking mobile assets, such as rail cars and trailers; monitoring fixed assets, such as electric utility meters and oil storage tanks; and messaging services for consumers and commercial and government entities. In 2011, ORBCOMM reached over 625,000 billable subscribers. Northwood first invested in a post-bankruptcy financing in 2001 and made several follow-on investments. ORBCOMM completed its initial public offering in November 2006, raising $101 million (NASDAQ: ORBC) and completed a secondary offering in 2007. Additionally, Northwood has an investment in Satcom International Group, PLC, an international licensee of ORBCOMM. www.orbcomm.com |
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Pacific DataVision, Inc., Clifton, NJ, develops Instant Voice Internet Messaging platforms and wide area dictation applications that enable wireless communications providers to offer enhanced push-to-talk services to their mobile customers. Pacific DataVision's leading application, NextMail™, is currently being offered by Sprint. The company is led by the same management team that led two previous Northwood portfolio companies. Northwood led an early stage financing in 2004 and several follow-on financings thereafter. www.pacificdatavision.com |
Realized Investments in Communications
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DataCom Wireless, LLC, Arlington, VA, acquired licenses in the lower 700 MHz band in an FCC auction in June 2003 to become the third largest U.S. holder of 700 MHz spectrum. In 2005, DataCom was sold for cash and stock to Aloha Partners, L.P. Through spectrum bought in FCC auctions and acquisitions, Aloha expanded its nationwide footprint of 700 MHz licenses to cover almost 200 million people and most of the United States. Northwood co-founded DataCom in 2003, and made follow-on investments in Aloha in 2005. In 2008, Aloha was acquired by AT&T for $2.5 billion in cash. |
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BizTel Communications Inc., Fort Lee, NJ, is a leading network provider of last mile wireless communications using 38 GHz spectrum granted by the FCC. Northwood led an early stage financing in 1993 and later provided additional capital. BizTel was acquired for stock and cash by Teleport Communications Group, Inc. in 1997, which was subsequently acquired by AT&T in 1998. www.att.com |
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CTC Media, Inc., Moscow, Russia, (formerly StoryFirst Communications) owns and operates approximately 38 TV stations and 3 networks in Russia and has become the fourth most watched broadcaster in Russia. In 1997, CTC launched a digital satellite-based network that broadcasts its signal to over 200 stations across Russia. Northwood invested in several equity rounds of financing, commencing in 1993. CTC completed its initial public offering in June 2006, raising $380 million (NASDAQ: CTCM). Northwood liquidated its position through private and open market sales between 2004 and 2006. www.ctcmedia.ru |
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IPWireless, Inc., San Bruno, CA, developed an advanced standards-based broadband wireless technology to drastically improve the way people around the world connect and communicate at home, at the office, or on the road. With a full range of commercial network solutions and devices, IPWireless allows operators to offer a spectrum of fixed, portable, or completely mobile wireless services with unmatched economics and broadband performance. Northwood invested in an early stage equity financing in 1999, and made several follow-on investments. In 2007 IPWireless was acquired by NextWave Wireless, Inc. for cash and stock. www.nextwave.com |
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MCT Corp., Alexandria, VA, is a leading, fast-growing provider of mobile telecommunications services in Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan. Northwood invested in MCT in 2000 and made numerous follow-on investments. MCT sold its Russian properties in 2006 to Tele2 AB and sold its remaining systems to TeliaSonera AB in 2007 for $300 million of cash. www.teliasonera.com |
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Nextel Communications, Inc., McLean, VA, (formerly Fleet Call) is a leading U.S. wireless communications provider. Northwood invested in Nextel's first round of funding in 1987 and participated in follow-on financings in support of the company's industry roll-up. We also participated in the initial and subsequent rounds of financing for two similar companies, Dispatch Communications, Inc. and PowerFone, Inc. in 1989 and 1992, respectively. Both Dispatch and PowerFone were subsequently merged into Nextel. Northwood sold its holdings through public offerings and open market sales from 1992 to 1997. Nextel subsequently acquired NeoWorld, another entity we funded, for cash in 2003. In 2005, Sprint Corporation acquired Nextel Communications to become Sprint Nextel. www.sprint.com |
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Oneida Broadband, LLC, New York, NY, was formed to acquire telecommunications licenses and leases in the 2.5 GHz band used to provision Wi-MAX services. Northwood co-led this venture financing in 2005 and provided follow-on financing in 2006. Oneida sold the majority of its licenses to Sprint in 2008 for cash and the remaining cash was distributed in 2010. |
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Republic Broadcasting Corp., Cincinnati, OH, was formed in 1983 by two former executives of Taft Broadcasting to purchase radio stations. Northwood participated in the buyout of the initial stations and invested in a subsequent round to finance the purchase of additional stations. In 1986, Republic was sold to Jacor Communications for cash and stock. Our position was then liquidated in 1987. Jacor subsequently merged with Clear Channel Communications in 1999. www.clearchannel.com |
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TeleCorp PCS, Inc., Reston, VA, provides SunCom-branded digital wireless communication services in selected markets in fourteen states and the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, encompassing 16 of the top 100 U.S. markets, with PCS licenses covering 37 million people. Northwood co-led the startup financing and participated in all subsequent financing's. TeleCorp went public in 1999 and was acquired by AT&T Wireless Services, Inc. for stock in 2002. Northwood sold a majority of its position through open market sales in 2003 and sold the remainder of its position in 2004 upon AT&T Wireless Services, Inc.'s merger with Cingular Wireless, now known as AT&T. www.att.com |
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TeleCorp WCS, Inc., Arlington, VA, is positioned to become a wireless broadband communications provider with the use of WCS (2.3 GHz) licenses which were acquired in an FCC auction in 1997. The company was sold to NextWave Wireless, Inc. for cash in 2005 www.nextwave.com |