Tailwind Capital Invests in Optimal Solutions
$100 Million Financing to Drive Optimal’s Middle-Market Expansion
NEW YORK – May 1, 2008 – Tailwind Capital Partners, an independent private equity firm focused on middle-market companies, today announced that it has made an equity investment in Optimal Solutions Integration, Inc., a leading SAP ® consulting and staffing firm and Premier SAP Consulting Partner, and will be the lead investor for providing and arranging up to $100 million in financing to fund Optimal’s growth.
Optimal will use the funds to accelerate the company’s aggressive growth strategy of selling SAP solutions and services to middle-market companies.
“Optimal is a trusted Premier SAP Consulting Partner that is extremely well positioned to capitalize on the growing demand among middle-market companies for SAP solutions that drive innovation and growth,” said Frank Sica, managing partner of Tailwind Capital Partners. “Optimal’s impressive year-over-year growth since its inception in 1995 and their proven track record delivering SAP-based solutions to companies with complex global operations attests to the talent and commitment of Optimal’s consulting and executive management team. We are confident in this team’s ability to take Optimal to the next level.”
Optimal’s continued expansion into the middle-market space mirrors the commitment that SAP has made to provide software solutions targeted at the unique needs of middle-market customers who require full-featured offerings and full-service capability at lower and more predictable price points than larger organizations.
SAP defines middle-market customers as organizations with less than $1.5 billion in revenue and estimates that there are about 1.2 million midmarket companies worldwide, representing a potential market of $30 billion.
“Optimal’s experience with Fortune 500 companies uniquely qualifies us to help middle-market companies make fiscally responsible, strategically sound investments in SAP solutions,” said Gurvendra Suri, chief executive officer for Optimal Solutions Integration, Inc. “With support from Tailwind, we have the resources to dramatically scale our presence as a leading SAP solutions provider in the middle-market. Excellent service focused on helping our customers realize the full value of their SAP solutions will remain Optimal’s mission. We will achieve our growth goals by helping our middle-market customers achieve theirs.”
“Optimal is a firm that has time and again proven their ability to deliver for our customers,” said Ross Wainwright, senior vice president and general manager, field services - North America, SAP America, Inc. “We enthusiastically welcome Tailwind’s investment in Optimal. This investment will only bolster their capabilities, and we look forward to working with the combined Optimal and Tailwind team to further penetrate the middle-market.”
About Optimal Solutions Integration, Inc.
Optimal Solutions Integration is trusted by many of the leading organizations in the world to bring only the best SAP consulting talent to bear on their most complex SAP challenges. With over 13 years of experience, Optimal has the proven SAP expertise, talent and resources to help transform any SAP challenge into a sustainable, competitive edge. Through a rigorous, proven delivery model, Optimal offers clients the most flexibility in balancing schedule, cost, and performance by featuring onsite and offshore delivery options. For more information about Optimal Solutions Integration, visit www.optimalsol.com.
About Tailwind Capital Partners
Tailwind Capital Partners is an independent private equity firm focused on investments in healthcare, media/communications and business services companies. Founded in 2003, Tailwind focuses solely on investments in the middle market, and leverages an exceptional combination of private equity and operating experience to create value for each of its portfolio companies through internal growth, acquisitions, and operational and strategic improvements. Tailwind currently has $2.0 billion under management. For more information about Tailwind Capital Partners, visit www.tailwindcapital.com
###
SAP and other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP AG (NYSE: SAP) in Germany and in several other countries all over the world.
All other product and service names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective companies.
This press release may contain forward-looking statements relating to future events or future financial performance that involve risks and uncertainties. Such statements can be identified by terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential," or "continue," or the negative of such terms or comparable terms. These statements are only predictions and actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these statements based upon a number of factors including those identified in the company’s filings with the SEC.
