Telecommunications Acquisitions in 2016

BroadSoft, Inc. has acquired VoIP Logic, a wholesale provider of BroadWorks-based cloud communications services. The acquisition adds VoIP Logic's cloud PBX and BroadCloud-compatible capabilities to BroadSoft's BroadCloud UCaaS portfolio to better serve service providers seeking cloud-based unified communications.

Sonus Networks (Nasdaq: SONS) acquired Taqua, LLC in an all-cash transaction that closed on September 26, 2016. The acquisition adds Taqua's virtualized mobile core (VMC), IMS service core and Class 5 softswitch products to Sonus' portfolio to accelerate its mobile strategy and expand fixed-line offerings for service provider customers.

CenturyLink acquired certain strategic assets of the company formerly known as Active Broadband Networks to accelerate its network virtualization efforts. The assets — focused on SDN and NFV-based broadband edge solutions — will help CenturyLink automate its network and deliver software-defined networking and virtualized network functions to customers.

Volaris Group (an operating group of Constellation Software) acquired the Operations Support Systems (OSS) business line of Boston-based Active/Advanced Broadband Networks (ABN). The acquired OSS business will become a business unit of Incognito Software Systems, expanding Incognito/Volaris's communications vertical offerings and usage-based billing capabilities for broadband operators.

An affiliate of Moorgate Capital Partners partnered with ITC Service Group management to acquire substantially all assets of ITC Service Group, Inc. from its founding shareholders. ITC, a Citrus Heights, California–based provider of planning, design, installation and maintenance services for fiber-to-the-home and broadband networks (approximately 700 employees), will be supported to accelerate growth; debt financing was provided by Credit Suisse Park View BDC, QS Capital Strategies (Quilvest) and California Bank & Trust.

An affiliate of Lone Star Funds has acquired A Wireless (formerly Z Wireless), a Greenville, North Carolina–based wireless retailer with more than 600 stores across 31 states, from Atlantic Street Capital. Atlantic Street Capital said the sale represented a successful exit for its investment; William Blair served as exclusive financial advisor and Morrison Cohen served as legal advisor to A Wireless.

ADVA Optical Networking SE acquired Morrisville, North Carolina-based Overture Networks for an initial $35 million (with up to $5 million in conditional earn-out) to strengthen its NFV and Ethernet access capabilities. The deal combines ADVA's optical and access hardware with Overture's Ensemble NFV software and orchestration tools, expands ADVA's footprint in North America and adds roughly 178 employees.