Zayo Group Completes Acquisition of Education Networks of America
Together, Zayo and ENA will provide greater connectivity and services to schools, libraries and other public sector customers across the U.S.
BOULDER, Colo.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Zayo Group Holdings, Inc. (Zayo) today announced it has completed the acquisition of Education Networks of America (ENA), a leader in providing managed network connectivity, communications and cybersecurity services to K-12 school districts participating in the federally-funded E-Rate program, as well as other public sector customers.
Zayo, known for connecting many of the world’s leading technology and financial services firms, has been serving K-12 customers for six years, and is currently powering school districts across several states, including Texas, Washington, Colorado, Oregon, Georgia, California and Arizona. Together, ENA and Zayo will provide education, library, community healthcare and public sector customers with high-quality managed services and exceptional customer care. The acquisition is being funded by Zayo’s recent sustainability-linked first lien term loan (“ESG term loan”), announced last month.
“We are proud of Zayo’s history serving the public sector and see tremendous opportunity with the addition of ENA, which is known for being a trusted provider of managed network and cybersecurity solutions,” said Andrés Irlando, president of Zayo. “ENA’s mission, particularly serving K-12 and healthcare customers, will enable us to have a positive impact on communities while furthering our commitment to leading in Environmental, Social and Governance initiatives. Together, we look forward to driving digital transformation across the public sector while delivering an exceptional customer experience.”
“Joining forces with Zayo is the result of our mutual respect and shared commitment to propelling value, growth and innovation for customers,” said Michael McKerley, president of ENA. “Combining ENA’s innovative technology solutions and services with Zayo’s leading fiber network enhances our collective ability to provide best-in-class customer service to schools, libraries and other public sector entities — enabling them to continue providing vital resources to their respective communities.”
ENA was previously owned by ZMC, a leading investor in and operator of media, communications and entertainment businesses. The acquisition marks another significant milestone in a momentous first half of the year for Zayo, which has included the acquisition of QOS Networks, the addition of Lisa Hook to the board of directors and Zayo’s largest organic network expansion to date.
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP served as M&A legal counsel and Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP as regulatory legal counsel for Zayo in connection with the transaction. Evercore served as financial advisor for ENA, and Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as its legal advisor.
For more information about Zayo, please visit https://www.zayo.com
About Zayo Group Holdings, Inc.
Zayo Group Holdings, Inc. is the leading global communications infrastructure platform, delivering a range of solutions, including fiber & transport, packet and managed edge services. Zayo owns and operates a Tier 1 IP backbone spanning 134,000 miles across North America and Europe. By providing this mission-critical bandwidth to its category-leading customers across the wireless, hyperscale, media, tech and finance industries, Zayo is fueling the innovations that are transforming society. For more information, visit https://zayo.com.
About Education Networks of America (ENA)
ENA delivers transformative connectivity, communication, cloud, cybersecurity, and technology services. Our 99% customer satisfaction rating and world class net promoter score (NPS) demonstrate our commitment to delivering exceptional customer care to education, library, and healthcare communities. For more information, please visit www.ena.com, call 866-615-1101, or e-mail info@ena.com.
About ZMC
ZMC is a leading private equity firm composed of experienced investors and executives who invest in and manage a diverse group of media and communications enterprises. Founded in 2001, ZMC’s investment philosophy centers on operational value creation driven by targeted investment themes, deep sector expertise, and strong partnerships with industry and operating executives. ZMC approaches its investments in collaboration with management teams and has a successful track record of actively adding value to portfolio companies.
Contacts
Patrick Murphy
BLASTmedia for Zayo Group
zayogroup@blastmedia.com