Great Plains Communications, a family owned service provider for more than 100 years, has been acquired by Grain Management LLC, a private equity firm focused on the communications sector. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Great Plains had been family owned since launching as a local telephone company 1910. The Nebraska-based company changed with the times by strategically investing in its network and facilities to become a leading regional provider of fiber-based services.
Great Plains now offers regional services like digital phone, high-definition cable television, and broadband Internet through DSL, cable modem, satellite, or fiber to more than 90 communities across the state. It also provides such businesses services as voice and data products, installation, and network support with scalable Ethernet solutions.
The Garrigan and Jensen families, who are third- and fourth-generation descendants of founder E.C. Hunt, said they were looking for a buyer who would maintain their family’s dedication to customer service. “Great Plains Communications’ capable employees, led by CEO Todd Foje and the management team, will continue to carry on the mission of the family and Grain Management,” they said in a statement.
Growth Plans
Foje called the buyout a positive step, saying it will allow the provider to expand its network and enhance its offerings. After the acquisition is completed, Great Plains will operate more than 9,500 route miles of high-quality network architecture. The company says the additional resources from Grain Management will allow it to grow its presence throughout the Midwest.
Great Plains has M&A experience. The company in 2016 or so acquired Pinpoint Network Solutions and the Pinpoint Broadband business units of its regional fiber company, Pinpoint Holdings. That deal added 1,200 fiber miles to the company’s fiber-optic network.
