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We invest in enterprise software, data and technology companies through private equity, permanent capital, credit and public equity investment strategies. COVID-19 Response: How Vista Companies Are Taking Action.
Since the Austin-based firm's inception in 2000, Vista's private equity funds have returned 22% net of fees annually to limited partners, according to PitchBook data.

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Vista Equity Partners Standard Operating Procedures

Among the top performing buyout funds in the nation, Vista Equity Partners has more than $6 billion in committed equity capital focused on software and technology-enabled firms. Headed by Chairman and CEO Robert F. Smith, Vista Equity Partners seeks out stellar management teams that are looking to take their businesses to a higher level. The experts at the firm thoroughly understand the business model of software companies, and they have created a set of specific improvements on standard operating procedures that they call the “Vista SOPs,” which help software companies grow and build value. The firm takes a long-term approach, which maximizes operational capabilities and creates value for shareholders.
Robert F. Smith founded Vista in 2000. The firm currently manages and holds investments in more than 15 software firms, and as of 2011 was, in aggregate, the 10th largest software firm in the world. The firm's current investments include companies such as Accruent, Aptean, MicroEdge, and Misys. The company only makes a small number of investments per year and thus places quality over quantity. Its investment process looks to firms that can be acquired and can benefit from the Vista SOPs and become companies with predictable, high cash flows.
Adding value is a guiding principle of Vista Equity Partners. The company seeks to invest in businesses that can become the best in their sector and, to this end, works closely with managers to align interests and apply demonstrated operational best practices. When working with its investments, the company provides expertise that includes strategic analysis, budgeting and financial planning, industry research, competitive analysis, and the development of new partnerships and alliances.

An alternative question is why is Vista Equity Partners one of the best performing private equity firms? One of the biggest reasons is that Vista is secretly not a private equity firm, they are actually a large diversified software company.

Company summary

Year of establishment: 2000
Industry: Financial services

Contact

United States of America

Phone: (415) 765-6500

Sometime prior to Nov. 25, the day Vista Equity Partners formally announced the completed acquisition of Omnitracs, the new owners made one thing very clear to John Graham, the organization’s new CEO.

Vista is a large company with numerous vertically oriented software and data-enabled businesses. Vista executives told Graham they did not know the “what” and “why” for trucking technology; they expected Omnitracs to know this information from its own expertise in the trucking domain.

Vista would, however, now be telling Omnitracs how to do it, said Norm Ellis, vice president of transportation and logistics sales, services and marketing for Omnitracs. Ellis shared his thoughts on the Vista acquisition during a phone call with CCJ on Dec. 5.

Vista has a set of standard operating procedures for every aspect of software development from gathering requirements to writing the code, testing and deploying new applications to the industries it serves.

“They are the experts at that and that is exactly what we need,” Ellis said. “We now have a partner that has processes on how to do the development, to find the requirements, and achieve a return on investment that customers are thrilled about. This is Vista’s intellectual property.”

Ellis knew of Vista’s standard operating procedures (VSOPs) before the acquisition, but neither he nor anyone else at Omnitracs were allowed to see anything in writing until the deal closed. Now the books are open, Ellis said Omnitracs will be able to develop technology more efficiently and faster than ever before.

“Our customers will be the greatest beneficiary a year to 18 months from now,” he said.

Vista Equity Partners Lawsuit

On the same day Vista announced it had cleared the last hurdle for purchasing Omnitracs, it broke the news that Roadnet Technologies, a provider of routing, scheduling, optimization and mobile resource management software, will be joining Omnitracs as part of a single organization.

Omnitracs considered buying Roadnet during the time Qualcomm had ownership but decided to back away as Qualcomm was pursuing buyers. Vista knew Omnitracs was interested in Roadnet, however, and decided to pursue the deal on its own.

Vista Equity Partners Standard Operating Procedures Definition

“Customers expect us to grow and add onto our portfolio,” Ellis said. “We now have a perfect owner in Vista. They came at the right place and the right time.”

Vista Equity Partners Standard Operating Procedures Manual

Discussions between Omnitracs and Roadnet are now underway, he added, and the combined entities are pursuing opportunities to better serve fleets in need of integrated telematics and route planning systems, especially those moving into dedicated operations to replace their customers’ private fleets.

Vista Equity Partners Ceo

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