GE Capital’s Telecom, Media and Technology (TMT) financing business announced today it served as administrative agent on $69 million of senior secured credit facilities to support the acquisition of AGDATA by Vista Equity Partners. GE Capital Markets served as sole lead arranger and bookrunner on these facilities.
“GE Capital provided us with a flexible financing structure and strong capital commitment on this transaction. We look forward to our continued financing relationship,” said Kevin Sofield, head of capital markets at Vista Equity Partners.
Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., AGDATA provides data analytics and business intelligence solutions to seed manufacturers, distributors, retailers and farmers in the agriculture industry.
“We’re excited to support Vista and the AGDATA team as they continue to develop data solutions for the agriculture industry,” said Matthew Fleming, managing director with GE Capital’s TMT business.
Founded in 1985, AGDATA operates throughout the U.S. and Canada, enabling agriculture and animal health industry participants to collect and analyze complex sales data; develop and manage sophisticated marketing strategies; and execute sales and marketing programs. Through its SaaS-based industry-standard platforms, AGDATA is connecting the manufacturer and distribution channels through grower-verified standardized data. For more information, please visit www.agdata.net.
Vista Equity Partners, a U.S.-based private equity firm with offices in San Francisco, Chicago and Austin, currently invests over $13 billion in cumulative capital commitments in dynamic, successful technology-based organizations led by world-class management teams with long-term perspective. Vista is a value-added investor, contributing professional expertise and multi-level support towards companies realizing their full potential. Vista’s investment approach is anchored by a sizable long-term capital base, experience in structuring technology-oriented transactions, and proven management techniques that yield flexibility and opportunity in private equity investing.
Providing more than $5.5 billion in financing in 2013 across 59 transactions, GE Capital’s Telecom, Media and Technology (TMT) business is a leader in the middle market, providing financing solutions to enable corporate growth, acquisitions and balance sheet refinancings to companies in the following industries: cable, towers, data centers, wireless, metro fiber, radio, TV, digital media, education services and software. It also finances technology companies that enable these industries.