Platinum Equity Announces the Acquisition of Williams Communications Solutions
Business Editors
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 3, 2001--
Integration of Williams Communications Solutions and Milgo Solutions
Creates New Voice And Data Convergence Operations
Platinum Equity, a leader in acquiring and growing technology companies, announces today that is has completed the acquisition of Williams Communications Solutions (WCS).
Platinum is fulfilling its acquisition strategy to integrate WCS and Milgo Solutions, another Platinum Equity company and provider of mission-critical networking solutions. The integration creates an operation with clear market leadership in the deployment of converged voice and data solutions.
With headquarters in Houston, Texas, the combined companies will operate under the new name of Nextira. The Milgo office in Sunrise, Florida, will remain a critical component as a key solutions support center, as well as maintaining significant sales, marketing, and administrative functions.
With over $1.5 billion in combined year 2000 revenues and over 6,500 employees, the operation will deliver services and solutions to enterprises, equipment manufacturers, carriers and network service providers, and government agencies directly within North America and, via partnerships, throughout the world.
"This is a powerful combination of experience and capability," said Tom T. Gores, chairman and CEO, Platinum Equity.
"With its management team, partners, customers and employees, Nextira will lead the industry into the next generation of communications networking."
Drawing on the operational experiences of WCS and Milgo, Nextira will continue the legacy of delivering world-class solutions and life cycle services from planning and design, through the implementation, support, and management of voice, data, and converged communications networks.
It will also be a nation-wide service organization that carries an extensive portfolio of certifications and product expertise, and will provide best-in-class technologies from leading partners, such as Nortel Networks and Cisco Systems. Nextira will offer consultation and solutions development ranging from contact center applications to network infrastructure outsourcing.
"Nextira is built upon a solid foundation of quality and excellence, which supports our relentless pursuit of customer satisfaction. However, our own satisfaction is realized when our efforts contribute to our customers attaining their business objectives," said Bob Wentworth, president and CEO of Milgo Solutions, and the new president and CEO of Nextira.
Platinum Equity
Platinum Equity (www.peh.com) is one of the largest and fastest growing, private equity firms in the United States. Platinum is a multi-billion dollar organization specializing in the acquisition and operation of global, mission-critical technology companies. Based in Los Angeles, Platinum is a unique company recognized as a hybrid financial and strategic buyer with deep financial resources and broad operational expertise.
Due to their highly skilled executive management team, Platinum is able to stimulate and help drive the value of their portfolio companies. Since the company's founding in 1995, Platinum has acquired more than 25 technology-driven companies and several billion dollars of revenue from leading Fortune 500 Corporations including WorldCom, AT&T, Viacom, Dow Jones & Company and IBM.
Platinum has an established infrastructure in North America, Europe, Asia and South America and a workforce of more than 10,000 employees serving tens of thousands of customers throughout the world. All Platinum companies operate as stand-alone entities and are lead by their own management teams.
