NTI Connect Acquires VERTICOM

NTI Connect LLC (NTI), a Chicago based broadband network engineering and deployment company, announced today the acquisition of Vertical Communications Inc. (VERTICOM). Based in Dallas with substantial operations across the South-Central United States, VERTICOM offers specialized in-house turnkey solutions to the nation's leading wireless, small cell and fiber providers.

"The addition of VERTICOM allows us to scale our operations in a new area of the country with enhanced capabilities in the wireless and fiber segments," said Jim Estes, CEO of NTI. "VERTICOM's current base of operations in Dallas, Houston, Oklahoma City and Little Rock have allowed it to support the recent technology sector growth in the South. In addition, the strength of their people and brand have allowed VERTICOM to execute direct contracts with many of the nation's top public and private digital infrastructure companies."

VERTICOM is led by Jeff Lewis, its founder, President and CEO.

"This is a great opportunity to enhance our people platform, elevate our strong brand and scale our technology to better serve our customers in support of NTI's vision to be an industry-leading nationwide digital infrastructure services company," Lewis said. "Jim, NTI and the entire ORIX team are a group of innovative, passionate leaders focused on maintaining a customer-first mindset, best in class company culture, and superior service delivery model. We are excited for the next stage of VERTICOM's evolution which will take us from a Regional superpower, to nationwide deployment teams and ultimately international operations through NTI's European subsidiary."

NTI was acquired by ORIX Capital Partners in November 2018 and is on a significant growth trajectory.

"We are building a technology services company with unique capabilities to support the next generation of digital infrastructure opportunities and sector growth," said Chris Suan, President and Senior Managing Director of ORIX Capital Partners. "The acquisition of VERTICOM strengthens NTI's position as a provider of wireless and fiber solutions on the cusp of the 5G revolution."

NTI Connect LLC

A leader in mission-critical network deployment solutions, NTI provides premium services to the most sophisticated networking and data infrastructure companies throughout the United States and in Europe through three operating companies: National Technologies, CCSI Networks and Fairhaven Integration Services. The company's comprehensive solutions platform includes fiber optics installation, splicing and testing, data center infrastructure deployment and wireless network engineering and installation.

Vertical Communications Inc. (VERTICOM)

Founded in 2001, VERTICOM partners with wireless carriers, cable firms, fiber companies, tower and building owners, equipment manufacturers, municipalities and outsourcing firms to design, acquire, develop and maintain the broadband networks of the future. They are solution architects with the turnkey, in-house capabilities to build and maintain what it engineers.

ORIX Capital Partners

ORIX Capital Partners is a subsidiary of ORIX Corporation USA. It sponsors direct equity investments to support growth and performance among established middle-market companies throughout North America, spanning a variety of industries. For more information, visit www.orixcapitalpartners.com.