Emergency Communications Network (ECN), a portfolio company of The Riverside Company, has acquired CityWatch, a provider of emergency and informational notification services, from Avtex.“This is an exciting acquisition,” said Riverside Partner Chris Jones. “It reinforces ECN’s market leadership in the government notification space, helps the company diversify into the corporate and non-profit sectors, and introduces some innovative product features from CityWatch.”
CityWatch, a division of Avtex, provides emergency and informational notification services via voice, text, and email to corporate, non-profit and government entities. The company is based in Bloomington, MN (www.citywatch.com).
Avtex, a Pohlad Family Company, is a provider of communication services that enable businesses to interact with their customers, employees, partners and prospects through communication and collaboration technologies. The company is based in Bloomington, MN (www.avtex.com ).
“We see strong potential for strengthening and expanding our customer relationships,” said ECN President David DiGiacomo. “CityWatch complements ECN very nicely, and brings a lot to the table in terms of management talent and innovation.”
Emergency Communications Network provides critical, time-sensitive communications to individuals on behalf of over 1,000 government and education clients across all 50 states. The company’s software-as-a-service products – CodeRED, CodeRED Weather Warning and CodeED – allow state and county governments, municipalities, first responders, public utilities, and school districts to deliver millions of messages annually to communicate warnings, information about natural disasters or other information to save lives, find missing children and keep citizens out of harm’s way. The company is based in Ormond Beach, FL (www.ecnetwork.com).
Riverside Operating Partner George Benson will play an active role in the carve-out and integration of CityWatch into ECN.
Working with Mr. Jones and Mr. Benson on this transaction were Vice President Martha Sciaraffo, Vice President Rob Langley, Associate Max Moehlmann and Operating Executive Tom Snyder. Regional Director, Origination Jeremy Holland sourced the deal for Riverside, and continues to pursue add-on opportunities for ECN. The transaction marks the 14th acquisition for Riverside this year.
The Riverside Company is a private equity firm focused on the smaller end of the middle market (“SEMM”). Riverside specializes in investing in SEMM companies (those valued up to $200 million) and partners with management teams to build companies through acquisitions and value-added growth. Since 1988, the firm has invested in 290 transactions with a total enterprise value of more than $6 billion. The firm is headquartered New York with additional offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and London (www.riversidecompany.com).
Kirkland & Ellis advised Riverside on the deal, and Maranon Capital provided financing.
