Globalive is a Canadian telecommunications and investment company founded in 1998. It is based in Toronto, Ontario. Globalive is best known for its telecommunication businesses like Freedom Mobile (formerly known as Wind Mobile), Yak Communications, and OneConnect.
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Telecommunications |
| Founded | 1998 |
| Founder | Anthony Lacavera |
| Headquarters | , Canada |
Area served | Canada and United States |
Key people | Anthony Lacavera (founder and chairman) Brice Scheschuk (chief executive officer) |
| Subsidiaries | Globalive Capital Globalive Ventures Globalive Media |
| Website | globalive |
The company, Globalive Inc., was founded in 1998, investing in businesses, primarily in technology, media, and telecommunications companies based in Canada and the United States. It holds investments in over 125 private companies including Stackadapt, Zoocasa, and Xanado.[1]
History
edit1998–2007
editGlobalive Communications
Anthony Lacavera started Canopco in 1998, a communication company in the hospitality industry.[2] In January 2000, Lacavera also launched InterClear, a billing and collection service. In January 2002, Lacavera launched his third product, Assemble Conferencing. All three businesses were consolidated in January 2003 as Globalive Communications.
Enunciate Conferencing
Globalive co-founded Enunciate Conferencing in 2000, a fast-growing event conferencing service provider, which was divested to Premiere Global Services.[3]
OneConnect
Globalive founded OneConnect in 2003, which became one of Canada's largest independent business telecommunications providers, selling to small and medium-sized businesses in the hospitality, retail, franchise, security, real estate and medical industries.[4]
Yak Communications
In 2006, Globalive acquired Yak Communications Inc. in an all-cash offer of US$67.7 million, and has since grown the company to a leadership position in residential communications services, adding Digital Home Phone and internet service to its established long-distance calling services.[5]
Pragmatic
Globalive co-founded Pragmatic Solutions in 2007, a conferencing and collaborations company specializing in audio, web, and video conferencing. Pragmatic has grown into one of North America's conferencing providers, with $7.5 million in annual revenue.[6]
2008–present
editWIND Mobile
Globalive founded WIND Mobile in 2008. WIND Mobile made a bid of $442m (CAD) to secure the wireless spectrum required for the launch of the WIND Mobile network in Canada, with the backing of Egypt's Orascom Telecom.[7] Globalive subsequently made its first purchase in Industry Canadian radio spectrum auction, setting the stage for a new national cell phone network in Canada.[8]
WIND Mobile successfully launched wireless phone services in December 2009 in Toronto and Calgary.[9] It launched service in Edmonton and Ottawa soon after, followed by Vancouver in June 2010[10]
In September 2014, Globalive agreed to acquire Vimplecom's majority stake in WIND Mobile for $300 million (CAD).[11][12][13]
Wind Mobile was sold to Shaw Communications in March 2016 for C$1.6 billion and was rebranded to Freedom Mobile.[14] However, in March 2022 Globalive has intended to reacquire Freedom/Wind from Shaw in a pending merger with Rogers Communications for C$3.75 billion to satisfy regulatory concerns.[15][16] Later it was announced that after an unresponsive behavior from Rogers, Globalive has directly gone to Shaw making the same offer to acquire the wireless carrier.[17]
Globalive/Globalive Capital Inc.
In January 2013, Globalive launched Globalive Capital Inc., a venture capital company focused on accelerating early stage technology and telecommunications companies. Globalive group has founded, financed, operated, and divested a number of companies on the internet, communications, and technology sectors.[18]
In 2015, Lacavera stepped down as chief executive officer of Globalive Capital Inc., staying on as the company's Chairman. Brice Scheschuk, previously chief financial officer, was appointed the new CEO of Globalive Capital Inc.[19]
In September 2016, Globalive sold Yak Communications to Distributel, who added the brand to a growing telecommunications portfolio which includes Acanac and Thinktel.[20][21]
Globalive Capital Inc. has invested in over 125 companies. The company has raised over US$1.5 Billion in capital for Globalive businesses and some of its investments include Stackadapt, Zoocasa, and Founding Investor in Xanado.[22]
Globalive Media
editGlobalive Media was co-founded by Lacavera and consumer technology journalist Michael Bancroft in October 2017 under Globalive. It curates and produces multimedia content focused on business and technology trends.
In November 2018, Globalive Media produced and premiered its first television series, Beyond Innovation, a weekly program, which uncovers technologies changing the way people live and do business, airs on Bloomberg Television across its global markets.[23]
In March 2020, Globalive Media launched the second season of the series Beyond Innovation with all new episodes of its weekly, half-hour series premiering on Bloomberg Television.[24]
Awards
edit- Globalive has been included in the top ranking on PROFIT magazine's list of Canada's 100 fastest growing companies.[25][26]
- It has been named one of Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies several times.[27]
- It has been named one of Canada's 30 Best Workplaces several times.[28]
- Its Founder Anthony Lacavera was named CEO of the Year in Canada in 2010 by The Globe and Mail. [27]
References
edit- ^ About Globalive. Globalive. Retrieved August 8, 2015
- ^ Avery, Simon (12 December 2009). "The New Players". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- ^ Premiere Global Continues Investment Strategy with Acquisition of Enunciate Conferencing and Repurchase of 5% of Its Shares Outstanding Year-to-Date. Business Wire. September 8, 2006
- ^ About us Archived 2015-07-22 at the Wayback Machine. OneConnect. Retrieved July 21, 2015
- ^ Yak Communications agrees to 67.7M US friendly takeover. CBC News. September 21, 2006
- ^ "About Pragmatic". www.thinkpragmatic.com. Archived from the original on March 18, 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
- ^ Flash: Decision Reached in Rare Public Hearing Proceeding into the Ownership and Control of a Canadian Telecommunications Carrier. Davies, October 30, 2009
- ^ Government of Canada Varies CRTC Decision on Globalive Archived 2015-11-07 at the Wayback Machine. Government of Canada, December 11, 2009
- ^ WIND launches with cheaper phone rates. The Star, December 16, 2009
- ^ Globalive's WIND Mobile keeps it simple. the Globe and Mail, August 23, 2012
- ^ Vimpelcom to sell WIND Mobile stake for about $275-million to Globalive, sources say. Financial Post, September 15, 2014.
- ^ Feds approve Wind Mobile buyout deal, with conditions. CTV News, November 4, 2014
- ^ "Vimpelcom to sell WIND Mobile stake to Canadian minority owner" (Press release). Reuters. 15 September 2014.
- ^ "Shaw enters wireless market with closing of Wind Mobile deal". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
- ^ "Freedom Mobile's Original Founder Bids $3.75 Billion to Buy it Back from Rogers | iPhone in Canada Blog". 16 March 2022.
- ^ "Globalive offers $3.75 billion in cash for Freedom Mobile, says media report". Financial Post. 16 March 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
- ^ "Globalive goes directly to Shaw with its $3.75 billion bid for Freedom Mobile". Toronto Star. 3 June 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
- ^ "Wind Mobile CEO resigns to lead new venture capital firm". www.itbusiness.ca. January 18, 2013.
- ^ "Brice Scheschuk | Globalive Capital by Entrepreneurs in Small Rooms Drinking Coffee". Anchor. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- ^ "Distributel Acquires Yak Communications". www.newswire.ca.
- ^ Corp, Globalive Communications. "Globalive Capital announces the sale of Yak Communications, OneConnect Services Inc. and Canopco". www.newswire.ca. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
- ^ About Globalive Capital. Globalive, Retrieved July 21, 2015
- ^ "Globalive Media Takes Viewers "Beyond Innovation" With Insider's Look At Technology's Top Changemakers Around The World". PR Newswire. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
- ^ "Globalive Media Launches Second Season of "Beyond Innovation" to Discover Technology's Top Entrepreneurs Transforming Our World". Bloomberg Television. 10 March 2020. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
- ^ "LAST CALL for Canada's Fastest-Growing Companies to enter the PROFIT 100". www.newswire.ca. 17 March 2010. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
- ^ "We are Hosting WIND Mobile Founder, Anthony Lacavera ($1.6B Exit)". Startup Grind. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
- ^ a b "DIVERSITY MAGAZINE'S VISIONARY STARS". diversityexpo.org. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
- ^ "Preliminary Communications". SEC. Retrieved 6 July 2022.