NetFortris is a provider of Unified Communications as a service (“UCaaS”) and managed IT network solutions to small and medium-sized businesses and enterprises (“SMBs” and “SMEs”). The Company’s offerings include hosted Voice-over Internet Protocol (“VoIP”) telecommunications services through its proprietary Software-as-a-Service UCaaS platform, managed access, MPLS and SD-WAN services, and other value-added services including managed firewalls and security solutions. NetFortris serves over 6,000 customers, including major corporations as well as SMEs and SMBs operating in a variety of sectors including retail, financial services, technology, and healthcare. NetFortris delivers its security, communications and other IT services through a national network, with both an internal sales team and a host of channel partners. The Company’s private network provides access to all U.S. markets through regional points-of-presence in 8 key markets, such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, Chicago, and New York. The Company has approximately 250 employees located primarily in Seattle, WA, Plano, TX, Los Angeles, CA, and the Philippines.
Lighthouse (“Lighthouse” or the “Company”) is a provider of technology-enabled eDiscovery solutions to corporate enterprise clients. Lighthouse’s primary services include hosting, maintenance and support, electronic data processing and consulting. In delivering its eDiscovery solutions, the Company partners with third-party software providers such as Nuix, Relativity and iPro. In addition to third-party software, Lighthouse has developed proprietary middleware, customized workflows and applications through its “SmartSeries” offering. This mix of proprietary and third-party technology allows Lighthouse to deliver the benefits of an end-to-end solution with the superior performance of point solutions and effectively save clients time and money. The Company’s target customers are Fortune 2000 corporations (98% of customers) and select law firms (2%). Select blue-chip enterprise customers include Microsoft, Google, Dell, Cisco, Johnson & Johnson, Bayer, General Electric, Comcast, T-Mobile, Goldman Sachs and others. Founded in 1995, Lighthouse is headquartered in Seattle, WA.
Surgent Professional Education (“Surgent” or the Company) is a leading provider of professional education services within the accounting, auditing and taxation industries. Founded in 1985, Surgent serves a market that includes more than 675,000 Certified Public Accountants that are generally required to complete 40 hours of accredited continuing professional education (“CPE”) each year. Surgent serves more than 105,000 professionals in 50 states through its web based learning and on-site educational offerings. In delivering its instructional content, Surgent has historically leveraged the reach and membership bases of CPA state societies to provide continuing education required to fulfill CPA related CPE requirements specific to each state. In August 2014, Surgent acquired SurgentKolar CPA Review (“SCPAR”). SCPAR is a natural expansion of Surgent’s existing catalog of continuing professional education products. Since the acquisition, Surgent has continued to invest in the Company through a series of small transactions with two companies, Exam Matrix and Abitus, to procure certain assets for its growing SCPAR business, as well as other CPE and exam prep assets related to its existing CPE platform business.
Performance Assessment Network, Inc. (PAN) is the leading global provider of online talent assessments and testing technology solutions that aid both corporate and government organizations in hiring and growing top talent. Founded in 2000, PAN offers a single point of access to the most diverse collection of online talent assessments available including hundreds of professionally developed employment tests from the most respected publishers in the industry. With a technology platform that sets the standard for online testing innovation and security, PAN has delivered millions of assessments, leveraging its vast testing center network of over 600 locations and its diverse collection of online talent assessments from more than 50 leading publishers. PAN is headquartered in Carmel, Indiana.
Rainbow Early Education Holdings (“REEH”) is a leading provider of early education services in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. Rainbow was formed in April 2010 through the merger of Rainbow Child Development, Little Pro’s Academy Holdings and Mayberry Learning Center. Rainbow operates 106 early education schools as well as before/after school programs in 12 states across the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. Rainbow’s enrollment and offerings are geared towards the premium market and receives over 90% of its revenue from private pay tuition. Rainbow primarily serves its local community customers near its schools, but has focused on expanding its corporate early education services to commercial partners including Chrysler, Ford, Whirlpool, Zimmer, GM, IBM, Bank of America, Fidelity, local area hospitals and others.
Spire Capital invested in Velocity Technology Solutions in February 2010. Under Spire Capital’s management, Velocity was a leading provider of application hosting services. Velocity allowed clients to fully outsource the management and hosting of their enterprise resource planning (ERP) and related software and software-as-a-service (SaaS) applications. The Company provided platform application hosting services for many enterprise organizations utilizing Lawson, JD Edwards, Kronos and other applications within their organization. The Company guaranteed the availability, connectivity, security and compliance of an ERP software application and also delivers certified implementation and consulting services. Spire Capital exited the investment in Velocity in August 2012 to Silverlake Sumeru.
Spire Capital invested in Tarpon Towers in February 2010. Tarpon operated wireless communication towers throughout the United States. Under Spire Capital’s management, Tarpon grew its tower portfolio through a multi-part strategy consisting of both tower acquisitions and new tower development. Spire Capital exited the investment in Tarpon in October 2014 to American Towers.
Spire Capital invested in Carpathia Hosting in July 2008. Under Spire Capital’s management, Carpathia was a leading provider in the rapidly growing sector of managed technology hosting services. Carpathia delivered secure, reliable and compliant IT infrastructure and managed some of the world’s most advanced applications for enterprise and government clients. Clients included technology providers, Software-as-a-Service providers, e-commerce providers, data analytics companies and many others. Carpathia’s suite of services is designed for organizations seeking scalable, secure, robust and enterprise-grade hosting solutions that can be quickly provisioned or tailored to meet unique requirements. Spire Capital exited the investment in Carpathia in June 2015 to QTS.
Spire Capital invested in Just Marketing International in June 2008. Under Spire Capital’s management, JMI was the global leader in motorsports marketing acting as an independent, full-service agency representing corporations, leagues, teams and athletes in all forms of motorsports worldwide. JMI has managed over $300 million in annual motorsports investments. JMI’s client list comprised of leading corporations, some of which has included LG, DIRECTV, Crown Royal, Farmers Insurance, UBS, Johnnie Walker, Verizon, SUBWAY® Restaurants, and UPS, among others. Just Marketing International’s clients have participated in major motorsports series, including NASCAR, Formula One World Championship, IndyCar Series, Grand-Am, NHRA, World Rally Championship, and the American Le Mans Series. Spire Capital exited the investment in Just Marketing International in November 2013 to Chime Communications.
Spire Capital invested in Certiport in November 2007. Under Spire Capital’s management, Certiport developed, marketed and distributed education and certification software testing programs in a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) environment for end-users of Microsoft, Adobe, Intuit, Autodesk, CompTIA, HP and Digital Literacy programs in the academic, corporate and workforce segments worldwide. Certiport developed proprietary electronic certifications and operated a worldwide marketing and distribution network, consisting of more than 12,000 testing centers with secure online access to Certiport’s applications. Spire Capital exited the investment in Certiport in May 2012 to Pearson Vue.