InSite Wireless Group, LLC announced that Macquarie Infrastructure Partners III—as part of an initial investment of approximately $280 million—has acquired a 42.5% equity interest in the company from Catalyst Investors II, L.P. and other minority investors. MIP III has also committed to additional future investments to promote InSite’s continued growth. InSite owns, operates, and manages wireless telecommunications tower site facilities and distributed antenna systems (DAS) across the United States, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada, and Australia. InSite will continue to be led by its existing management team headed by co-founders David E. Weisman, President and CEO, and Lance C. Cawley, CFO. Cox Enterprises—and several of its subsidiaries—and Catalyst Investors IV, L.P. will continue to be investors in InSite.
Mr. Weisman describes the new partnership as groundbreaking. “The MIP III investment in InSite represents a significant growth opportunity for us. We’re delighted to partner with an experienced investor that has such a keen understanding of the wireless telecommunications infrastructure space. Having MIP III join our current institutional investors—Catalyst Investors and Cox—is a giant step forward toward an exciting future for InSite.”
“We are very pleased to become a major investor in InSite,” said Karl Kuchel, Chief Executive Officer of Macquarie Infrastructure Partners Inc. “The company has an experienced management team that has delivered strong growth over many years. We look forward to partnering with this team, Cox, and Catalyst to support InSite’s future growth.”
“We believe that wireless infrastructure represents an attractive area for long-term investment,” said Pat Esser, President of Cox Communications. “We are excited to welcome MIP III as an investor and believe that InSite has emerged from this transaction as a truly unique provider in the industry, well-positioned for long-term strategic growth.”
“It has been a privilege to be a part of InSite’s tremendous growth and success over the last six years. David and his team delivered an exceptional return on our initial investment. We are thrilled to continue as an investor and as a partner with Macquarie Infrastructure Partners and Cox,” said Todd Clapp, Partner with Catalyst Investors.
The purchase agreement was signed by the parties on July 1, 2016. The transaction was subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions, and was closed effective July 29, 2016. Evercore served as financial advisor to InSite and Lowenstein Sandler LLP and Sullivan and Worcester LLP provided legal counsel. Guggenheim Securities served as financial advisor to MIP III and White & Case LLP provided legal counsel.
About InSite Wireless Group, LLC
InSite Wireless Group, LLC develops, owns, operates and manages communications wireless infrastructure facilities primarily for the wireless and broadcast industries. InSite’s tower division is one of the largest privately owned U.S. tower companies and develops, manages, owns, and operates approximately 1,500 telecommunications towers and sites for wireless carriers across the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada, and Australia. InSite’s distributed antenna system (DAS) and small cell division specializes in the design, installation, operation, and maintenance of shared wireless infrastructure solutions that enhance the quality and capacity of wireless voice and data services in public facilities and complex environments. InSite has developed and currently operates more than 20 projects across the United States in convention centers, casinos, airports, sports stadiums, and transit systems like the Boston MBTA Subway and the Los Angeles County Metro. InSite also owns a controlling interest in Telecom Lease Advisors (TLA), one of the leading land-under-cell-tower acquisition companies in the United States. More information on InSite’s business can be found at http://www.insitewireless.com.
About MIP III
MIP III is a diversified, closed end fund that focuses on investments in infrastructure and related assets in the US and Canada, and is managed by an entity within the Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets division (“MIRA”) of the Macquarie Group.
MIRA is the world’s leading infrastructure asset manager with growing portfolios in real estate, agriculture and energy. MIRA manages more than $100 billion of assets under management invested in more than 120 portfolio businesses, ~300 properties, ~ 3.6 million hectares of farmland. Macquarie Group is a leading financial services provider across a diverse range of sectors around the world. Founded in 1969, Macquarie Group is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange and has operations in 28 countries and has a total of $370 billion in assets under management.
About Catalyst Investors
Catalyst Investors is a growth private equity firm founded in 2000. Catalyst employs a rigorous top-down research focus that seeks to identify investment opportunities in companies and industries that will exhibit strong revenue and margin growth. The firm works in true partnership with talented management teams to build long-term value and is committed to investor transparency. Past and present Catalyst portfolio companies include Ascentis, Catalyst Repository Systems, Clinicient, Conductor, Datavail, Denali Spectrum, InSite Wireless Group, Latisys, MessageLabs, MediaMath, MINDBODY, PresenceLearning and WeddingWire.
