Current Investments in Communications
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AirCell, Inc., Louisville, CO, designs, manufactures, markets, and supports a full line of airborne telecommunication systems for the business, general aviation, government, and air transport markets. As the winner of the exclusive broadband license in the FCC’s 2006 frequency auction, AirCell is developing a new, air-to-ground broadband system for North America that will debut in early 2008. Northwood invested in an equity financing in 2001 and has made numerous follow-on investments. |
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Atlantis Bidding Corp., Arlington, VA, is positioned to become a leading broadband fixed wireless provider with the use of 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. Northwood co-led the company's initial round of financing in 2000. |
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Bluewater Wireless, L.P., Providence, RI, was formed to participate in the FCC’s auction for spectrum in the 700 MHz band. Northwood backed the same management team that successfully guided Aloha Partners to an outstanding outcome. The spectrum available in the 700 MHz auction planned for January 2008 is widely believed to be the most attractive ever available. Northwood invested in Bluewater Wireless in 2007. |
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Community Broadcasters, LLC, Watertown, NY, acquires and operates radio station clusters in small and middle-sized northeastern U.S. markets. Community’s first market is located in upstate New York, and its operating strategy provides programming in a personalized, customized manner to each distinct market it serves, separating it from the large, public broadcast entities. Northwood led the acquisition financing for this management-led consolidation in 2006. www.theborder.fm, www.magic103.com |
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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 85% of the U.S. population in the top 50 markets. Northwood co-founded DataCom in 2003, and made follow-on investments in Aloha in 2005. In 2007, Aloha reached an agreement to be acquired by AT&T for $2.5 billion in a transaction expected to close in early 2008. www.alohapartners.net |
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MariTEL, Inc., Alpharetta, GA, owns licenses to VHF spectrum covering 45 states and all the waterways and coastlines in the U.S. MariTEL is currently evaluating technologies for providing marine and land-mobile data services using its VHF frequencies. Northwood co-led an investment in 1999 and has made several follow-on investments. |
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Oneida Broadband, LLC, New York, NY, was formed to acquire telecommunications licenses and leases in the 2.5 GHz band. Oneida plans on using the spectrum and WiMax technology to provide high-speed broadband access bundled with VOIP. Northwood co-led this venture financing in 2005 and provided follow-on financing in 2006. Oneita agreed in 2007 to sell the majority of its licenses to Sprint Nextel. www.oneidacom.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. Northwood first invested in a post-bankruptcy financing in 2001 and has 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 Nextel. The company is led by the same management team that previously led two prior Northwood portfolio companies. Northwood led an early stage financing in 2004, and a follow-on financing in 2006. www.pacificdatavision.com |
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THC LMDS, Inc., Arlington, VA, is positioned to become a wireless broadband communications provider with the use of LMDS (28 GHz) licenses which were acquired in an FCC auction in 1998. Northwood co-led the company's initial round of financing in 1998. The majority of the company's assets were sold in 2000 to TeleCorp PCS, Inc. |
Realized Investments in Communications
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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 20 TV stations and 2 networks 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, has developed an advanced standards-based broadband wireless technology that will 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 has 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 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 financing's 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 for cash in 2003. In 2005, Sprint Corporation acquired Nextel Communications to become Sprint Nextel. www.sprint.com |
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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., Redmond, WA, 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 |