Merger News and Updates
ANPI and Zone Telecom Complete Transaction
Companies to Operate as Wholesale and Retail Business Units of Newly Formed ANZ Communications LLC
Springfield, IL — April 25, 2011 — ANPI, LLC (“ANPI”) and Zone Telecom, LLC (“ZONE”) today announced the formal closing and completion of their previously announced merger transaction. Shareholders of each company have contributed 100 percent of their ownership and assets in exchange for 50 percent stakes in newly formed ANZ Communications LLC.
Dave Lewis, formerly the president and chief executive officer of ANPI, will serve as the chief executive officer of ANZ Communications and Dan Boynton, formerly president and chief executive officer of ZONE, will serve as president.
ANZ Communications combines the network assets and wholesale customer base of ANPI with ZONE’s multi-carrier traditional voice, next generation VoIP, and DIA data services for enterprise and wholesale customers. The merger also consolidates extensive switching facilities and a multi-ring SONET-based network spanning cities such as Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, Las Vegas and Los Angeles, with a recently completed state-of-the-art network operations center located in Frisco, Texas.
Dave Lewis, CEO of ANZ Communications, explained “A fundamental goal of ANZ Communications is to become a powerful and capable business partner. From the initial discussions to the conclusion of the final details developed during planning, our focus has been to ensure customers receive an even greater level of attention and service than they’ve historically enjoyed.”
ANZ Communications was formed to:
- Provide cost-efficient network and infrastructure.
- Offer a full suite of voice, data and IP products nationwide.
- Boost capabilities as a facilities-based provider.
- Create a strong IT and engineering team for network and systems development.
- Establish cross-trained personnel ready to guide and support customers and partners through complex applications and solutions.
- Enable additional investment in network, systems, new product development and personnel to expand and accelerate growth.
- Capitalize on combined scale and financial strength to emerge as an industry leader.
“ANPI and ZONE’s competencies complement each other, and ANZ Communications will maximize those respective strengths through this merger,” says Lewis. He continued, “The companies’ individual strengths became increasingly powerful when combined – unlocking potential that did not exist prior to merging.”
Dan Boynton, president of ANZ Communications said of the new organization, “The combination of personnel, vision, engineering, network and infrastructure positions ANZ Communications to be a leader in both wholesale and enterprise sectors.” Boynton continued, “The benefits to our customers and shareholders are clear. Combined we now have greater scale and a more diverse product offering, based on connecting network, infrastructure and systems that increase operational efficiencies.”
In addition to the corporate headquarters in Springfield, IL, and network operations center in Frisco, TX, the new company has regional operations, sales and support offices in Los Angeles, CA, Cherry Hill, NJ, and Mount Pleasant, UT.
About ANZ Communications LLC
ANZ Communications LLC is the newly-formed holding company mutually created and owned by ANPI Holding, Inc. and Zone USA, Inc. to better serve the evolving needs of independent local exchange carrier (ILEC), competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC) and interexchange carrier (IXC) markets, as well as wireless carriers, corporate enterprise and residential customers. The organization combines the network assets and wholesale customer base of ANPI with ZONE’s multi-carrier traditional voice, next generation VoIP, and DIA data services for enterprise and wholesale customers. The merger also consolidates extensive switching facilities and a multi-ring SONET-based network spanning cities such as Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, Las Vegas and Los Angeles, with a recently completed state-of-the-art network operations center located in Frisco, Texas.
About ANPI, LLC
ANPI, LLC (formerly Associated Network Partners, Inc.) (ANPI) provides wholesale voice and data solutions to ILECs, CLECs and Wireless carriers. Voice services include switched and dedicated 1+ long distance, toll free 800 calling, directory assistance, point-to-point/private line circuits, SS7 signaling network and database services. ANPI also offers ISPs value added services including a robust community portal, computer protection, online data backup, spam and virus filter, technical support and password manager. For more information, visit: www.anpisolutions.com.
About Zone Telecom, LLC
Zone Telecom, LLC (formerly Zone Telecom Inc.) (ZONE) is a leading provider of high quality voice, data and voice over IP products to corporate enterprises, residential customers, ILECs and wholesale customers nationwide. The company employs a multi-carrier/switch and network facilities approach along with skilled professionals who develop unique telecom solutions and provide superior customer service and support. For more information, visit: www.zonetelecom.com.
Media Contact:
Eamon P.M. Egan
Senior Vice President
ANZ Communications LLC
eegan@zonetelecom.com
(856) 414-6904
ANPI and Zone Telecom Agree to Merge
Transaction Brings Together Two Industry Leaders with a Unique Combination of Assets, Expertise and Capabilities Offering Significant Benefits to Wholesale and Enterprise Customers
Springfield, IL — October 13, 2010 — Associated Network Partners, Inc. and Zone Telecom, Inc. have signed a definitive agreement to merge. Under terms of the agreement, both companies will contribute 100 percent of their shares and assets to a new holding company. ANPI and Zone will each own 50 percent of the new entity, and will continue providing service under both current business names, while leveraging synergies and respective strengths to further advance the business objectives of customers.
Pending shareholder, federal and state regulatory approvals, the transaction will bring together two businesses which had combined annual sales of approximately $180 million in 2009, and is expected to produce levels of financial performance sufficient to underwrite ongoing network expansion, infrastructure investments, new product development and distribution. The merged organization will utilize an extensive network with OC-3 to OC-192 connectivity, and a recently completed state-of-the-art network operations center staffed 24/7, to serve 1,300 enterprise customers and nearly 800 wholesale customers in the independent local exchange carrier (ILEC), competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC) and interexchange carrier (IXC) markets.
“Obviously we’re very excited about what this merger means for our companies,” says Dave Lewis, President and CEO of ANPI who will assume the role of CEO of the new company. “The telecommunications marketplace is undergoing fundamental change, and that change is ushering in both tremendous opportunities as well as numerous challenges. We firmly believe that the merger stages the new company to assume a leadership position in the markets we serve, allowing us to aggressively realize the opportunities present while effectively managing the challenges the unfolding environment will inevitably present.”
“The more I talked to Dave Lewis, the more I realized this merger was too compelling not to do,” said Dan Boynton, CEO and President of Zone Telecom who will continue as President of the new company. “The combination of personnel, entrepreneurial vision, engineering talent, network and infrastructure positions the new company to be a leader in both the wholesale and enterprise sectors.”
Benefits of the Transaction:
- Increased Capabilities: The merger creates a company with greater scale, scope and diversification, assembling a deeper set of capabilities from which to extend products and services into complementary markets and geographies.
- Synergies: The marriage of network, infrastructure and systems increases operational efficiencies and eliminates duplicative systems and functions, rendering a materially more efficient operation in-step with the unfolding demands of today’s telecom marketplace.
- Customer Benefits: The merger creates an organization with extensive network, deeper capabilities, and greater disciplinary depth. The new company will have the scale and capital base to provide a more diverse product suite and product integration capabilities.
- Strong Platform for Continued Growth: The new company expects to generate enough EBITDA and free cash flow to invest in new technologies and product development, expand sales and marketing efforts as well as pursue additional accretive acquisitions.
The new company will have a board comprised of six directors with three delegates from each shareholding body. Dave Lewis, President and CEO of ANPI, will become CEO of the new company. Dan Boynton, President and CEO of Zone Telecom will become President.
Both are expecting a seamless transition. “Customers will continue to deal with their current ANPI and Zone contacts,” says Lewis. “The new company will be a more powerful and capable vendor and business partner, and we’re dedicated to ensuring that customers receive an even greater level of attention and service than they’ve historically enjoyed.”
In addition to the corporate headquarters in Springfield, Ill., and network operations center in Dallas, the new company will have regional operations, sales and support offices in Los Angeles, Cherry Hill, N.J., and Mount Pleasant, Utah. The merger is subject to approval by ANPI and Zone Telecom shareholders, as well as federal and state regulatory approvals.
About ANPI
Associated Network Partners, Inc. is a leading provider of voice and ISP-related telecommunications services nationwide. In 1996, several independent telephone companies formed the organization to diversify their businesses and combine their resources to more efficiently negotiate long distance rates and provide more competitive long distance prices to their respective communities. Today ANPI is one of the largest and most successful companies of its kind, offering a wide range of communications products and services to independent LECs, cooperatives, CLECs and wireless carriers across the United States. For more information, visit: www.anpisolutions.com.
About Zone
Zone Telecom, Inc. is a leading provider of high quality voice, data and voice over IP products to enterprise businesses, ILECs and wholesale customers nationwide. The company employs a multi-carrier, network-neutral approach and skilled professionals who develop unique telecom solutions and provide superior customer service and support. For more information, visit: www.zonetelecom.com.
Media Contact:
Eamon Egan
Chief Financial Officer
Zone Telecom, Inc.
eegan@zonetelecom.com
(856)414-6904
