Member Profile – Zayo

Boulder, Colo.
www.zayo.com

Q: Please tell us about your company history. When was it founded? How has the company evolved since its founding? Have your services changed? Are there key milestones in your company’s history and growth that you can highlight?
Founded in 2007, Zayo has grown through both organic investment and 45 acquisitions to become the leading independent provider of communications infrastructure. With deep, dense metro and long haul networks across the U.S., Canada and Western Europe, Zayo serves many of the largest and most innovative companies in the world.

Before going public in 2014, Zayo’s original private equity investors funded the company with just over $1 billion of equity. In March 2020, affiliates of Digital Colony Partners and the EQT Infrastructure IV fund acquired Zayo in a private transaction closing at $14.3 billion, representing the largest syndicated private equity investment, the fifth largest Media & Communications LBO and the second largest LBO overall since 2008.

In September 2020, Zayo Founder Dan Caruso stepped down from his role as CEO. He was replaced by Steve Smith, former managing director of the Private Equity firm GI Partners and CEO of Equinix.

In December 2020, Zayo sold its data center assets to DataBank. The transaction included the sale of 44 data centers. Zayo has remained a key anchor customer to provide network connectivity solutions for its customers.

Beyond company value, Zayo has also established itself as a top employer along Colorado’s front range and as an active participant in the communities in which it operates.

Q: Explain your geographic reach. Where do you provide services?
Zayo provides services across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa and South America.

Q: What types of products and/or services do you offer your customers?
Zayo’s product portfolio includes fiber, internet, wavelengths, Cloudlink, SD-WAN, Ethernet, Global Reach, managed cyber security and voice solutions.

Q: What is your target customer base?

  • Carriers and cable TV companies
  • FAANG
  • Financial Services
  • Tech, SaaS and cloud providers
  • Healthcare, public and education
  • Media and entertainment
  • Commerce, hospitality, transportation, logistics and manufacturing
  • Insurance, legal, accounting and other professional services