GE Antares, a unit of GE Capital, is serving as administrative agent on a $330 million senior secured credit facility to support HGGC’s majority ownership position in Survey Sampling International, LLC (“SSI”). GE Capital Markets served as sole bookrunner and joint lead arranger on this facility.
Founded in 1977 and headquartered in Shelton, CT, SSI delivers market research insights by managing more than 31 million surveys annually. SSI’s more than 3,000 customers range from market research and consulting firms to Fortune 500 businesses and universities.
“GE's deep understanding of SSI’s differentiated business model resulted in an extremely successful execution of the deal,” said Hudson Smith, principal at HGGC.
"HGGC has an excellent track record in technology enabled businesses and we're pleased to lead the financing in support of HGGC’s investment in SSI," said Mary Gaede, managing director of GE Antares. "Since becoming part of our portfolio in 2011, we’ve watched the company continue to innovate, expand and succeed. We look forward to continuing to support management and HGGC as they execute on their growth goals."
SSI is the premier global provider of data solutions and technology for consumer and business-to business survey research, reaching respondents in 86 countries via Internet, telephone, mobile/wireless and mixed-access offerings. SSI staff operates from 25 offices in 18 countries, offering CATI, questionnaire design consultation, programming and hosting, online custom reporting and data processing. SSI’s 3,300 employees serve more than 3,000 clients worldwide.
Based in Palo Alto, California, HGGC is a leading private equity firm focusing on leveraged buyout, recapitalizations and growth equity transactions in the middle market. HGGC seeks to partner with strong management teams, founders and sponsors to build companies capable of generating sustainable growth. With years of collective deal and operational experience, HGGC brings best practices from private equity and global corporations to help middle market businesses in a wide range of industries outperform the market. More information is available at www.hggc.com.
GE Antares is a unit of GE Capital. With offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Toronto, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco, GE Antares is a leading middle-market lender, offering a one-stop source for GE’s lending and other services offered to middle market private equity sponsors. GE Antares was recognized by Private Debt Investor and Private Equity International as 2013 Lender of the Year, North America and Mid-Cap Lender of the Year, North America, respectively.