William Blair acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Donuts, a portfolio company of Adams Street Partners, Austin Ventures, Emergence Capital Partners, Generation Partners, and TL Ventures, in connection with its sale to ABRY Partners. The transaction closed in September 2018.
Transaction Highlights
- Deep relationships and industry expertise: Donuts was attracted to William Blair’s extensive experience advising leading internet and digital media companies and strong relationships with the most likely strategic and financial buyers.
- Trusted guidance: William Blair’s deal team was integrally involved in each step of the process, from advising on strategic positioning, buyer targeting, and negotiations while navigating complex shareholder dynamics.
- Execution excellence leads to premium valuation: William Blair’s team led an efficient, high-touch process that maximized strong interest and competition from both strategic and financial buyers, ultimately providing an exceptional outcome for Donuts’ shareholders.
About the Companies
Donuts is the global leader in new top-level domains (TLDs) and domain name solutions. Donut has built the industry’s broadest and deepest portfolio of over 240 new TLDs (e.g. .live, .news), is launching new domain products and services, and is setting records for platinum domain sales. The company was incorporated in 2010, commercially launched in 2014, and is based in Kirkland, Washington.
ABRY Partners is a global private equity firm focused on investing in the media, communications, healthcare, business, and information service sectors. The firm has completed over $62 billion of leveraged transactions and other private equity and mezzanine investments.