Data Connection Funded

SAN FRANCISCO and LONDON -- Data Connection Limited (DCL) today announced that leading private equity firm Francisco Partners has led a significant investment round into the company, including its MetaSwitch division. One of the world's largest technology-focused private equity funds with approximately $5 billion in capital under management, Francisco Partners has teamed up with its strategic partner, Sequoia Capital, one of Silicon Valley's most prominent venture capital firms, to provide the financial resources and expertise to help take Data Connection and MetaSwitch to the next level of growth.

"Having recently passed $100 million in annual revenue, it became clear to us that our current growth trajectory would be significantly enhanced by tapping into the experience and resources that major players such as Francisco Partners and Sequoia Capital can bring," said Ian Ferguson, Chairman and Founder of Data Connection and MetaSwitch.

The entire existing management team, led by Ian Ferguson, stays in place. In particular, Phil McConnell continues to lead Data Connection's network protocols business, while Graeme MacArthur and John Lazar continue to lead the MetaSwitch division.

"What attracted us to Data Connection and MetaSwitch was their exceptional track record of profitability, combined with the exciting market opportunities for their world-class technology," said Ben Ball, a co-founder of Francisco Partners based in San Francisco.

Data Connection Ltd. (DCL)