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Mahi Networks Secures $70 Million in
New Private Equity Funding
Funding Enables Mahi to Scale Manufacturing,
Support Deployments in Growing Customer Base
PETALUMA, CA
June 14, 2004
Mahi Networks, an industry-leading supplier of multi-service metro
packet switching, TDM grooming, and re-configurable photonic transport
systems, announced today that it has closed $70 million in new funding.
This funding enables Mahi to expand manufacturing and to support operations
for continuing deployments of its products, and brings the total capital
raised by the company to more than $255 million. In a separate release
today, Mahi announced that it acquired Photuris, Inc. to complement
its flagship Mi7 multiservice core aggregation system by adding the
Vx7 multi-service transport system to its product portfolio, marking
a strategic transition from a single-product vendor to a provider
of a complementary portfolio of products that increases operational
efficiencies and lowers costs throughout the metro transport and switching
infrastructure. On a pro-forma, consolidated basis, the total investment
to date in the Mahi product portfolio and corporate infrastructure
is more than $375 million, creating a formidable competitor for both
emerging and incumbent suppliers, and providing a significant business
advantage to Mahiês growing global customer base.
–This round of financing is a significant validation of our commercial
progress. It is an enabler for sustained market leadership as a true
•next generationê networking equipment supplier at a time when very
few such rounds have closed in the telecommunications sector. The
consolidated Mahi Networks is now empowered with two field-proven
and complementary bestin-class G/A products, a highly respected world
class team with critical mass in all functional areas purpose-built
to serve the most demanding carriers, and $70 million that funds our
operating plan to profitability with a substantial, planned financial
cushion,” said Chris Rust, president and CEO of Mahi Networks.
Rust continued, –Both Mahi and the former Photuris have been shipping
systems into production networks at leading carriers since August
2003 with excellent field results. Our investor consortium has sent
a clear message to the service provider community that Mahi Networks
is ready and able to help them achieve greater business success through
sustained technology innovation and operational excellence. We sincerely
appreciate this vote of confidence from our existing and new investors,
and the vocal support many carriers provided during the funding process
via purchase orders and positive references to help make this important
milestone happen.”
"Closing a $70 Million financing round in today's market is remarkable.
Clearly Mahi was able to demonstrate field proven ability to optimize
the metro core and get service providers to go to bat for them," said
Michael Kennedy, Network Strategy Partners. "Mahi has quietly emerged
as a technology leader in next generation integrated multi-service
metro packet switching, TDM grooming and high capacity metro core
aggregation. The addition of the Photuris automated optical transport
system for high capacity, large node count metro and regional DWDM
rings with single wavelength engineering and 100% wavelength re-use
rounds out Mahi's overall value proposition. Mahi is becoming an established
supplier that will be a tough competitor in both the telco and MSO
arenas. A key benefit that Mahi is bringing to the industry is a new
level of network automation in both inside plant engineering and inter-office
transport. The Op-Ex savings from Mahi Networks will be an important
factor in justifying the transition to this next generation solution.
The timing of this financial infusion couldn't be better as carriers
are ready now to modernize their metro cores."
A syndicate of eight leading private equity firms contributed to Mahi’s
financing. Participants in the round included Jerusalem Venture Partners,
Meritech Capital Partners, Oak Investment Partners, Rho Ventures,
St. Paul Venture Capital, Van Wagoner Capital Management, and Wasserstein
Ventures.
Bandel Carano, General Partner, Oak Investment Partners added, “The
Mahi investors are delighted with the progress Mahi has made to date.
Mahi is proving that an innovative team with deep carrier infrastructure
expertise, a commitment to excellence, and a compelling value proposition
based on sound business fundamentals can conduct commerce with network
service providers large and small. The addition of Meritech Capital
Partners as a significant new investor confirms the strength of the
Mahi value proposition, team, technology, and customer testimonials.
The smooth integration of the Vx7 DWDM product, the Photuris team,
and most importantly that company’s customer base and trials,
is an indication that this is a group of entrepreneurs that is serious
about building a franchise and knows how to execute to win.”
“Mahi Networks has always been dedicated to the task of helping
carriers build better networks,” said Bill Cadogan, General
Partner, St. Paul Venture Capital. “They are moving into a phase
of aggressive revenue growth, have a solid base of products to sell
and qualified customers to sell them to, and are now properly capitalized
for the substantial commercial opportunity that they have created.
A substantial window of opportunity has been created for Mahi by the
deep cuts at the legacy equipment vendors over the past three years
in both staffing levels and R&D investment. The investor syndicate
has chosen Mahi as the emerging transport and switching equipment
vendor that will succeed in this strategic multi-service metro market
segment. Any question of “Corporate Viability” has officially
been taken off of the table.”
About Mahi Networks
Mahi Networks, Inc. develops and markets multi-service metro transport
and switching platforms that enhance the business models of service
providers worldwide. Mahi's Mi7 and Vx7 products, integrated intelligent
control plane, advanced network management platforms, and easy to
use network planning tools provide industry-leading packet and TDM
integration with fully automated optical services. Mahi couples its
innovative technology with flexible applications that enable service
providers to efficiently manage the transition to a simpler, lower
cost, and converged infrastructure, thereby enabling accelerated service
fulfillment and significantly greater value creation for the stockholders
of service providers. For more information please visit www.mahinetworks.com.
Mahi Networks, Mi7, Vx7 and the Mahi Networks logo are either registered
trademarks or trademarks of Mahi Networks, Inc. in the United States
and\or other countries. The names of actual companies and products
mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
Contacts:
Kevin Gallagher
Gallagher Group Communications
(925) 964-0905 direct
(510) 599-0416 mobile
kevin@gg-comm.com
Francie Aguilera
Mahi Networks
(707) 283-1024
faguilera@mahinetworks.com
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