Winter Park, Florida – (The Hosting News) – March 17, 2008 – Multi-platform IP services and content distribution provider, Highwinds, has raised $55 million in equity financing, led by General Catalyst Partners and Alta Communications, to fund the infrastructure build-out of Highwinds’ RollingThunder network.

Including a content delivery network offering, the Highwinds RollingThunder network capital was unveiled in conjunction with an announcement of a partnership between Highwinds, Digital Rapids Corporation and Knack Networks to create advanced IPTV solutions for the vast market of professional media companies worldwide.

Steve Miller, President and Chief Executive Officer, Highwinds noted, ”Having attracted top-tier investors, we can accelerate our ability to meet the rapidly growing demand for innovation in the market for IP services and delivery of rich media content. We are well-capitalized to bring an unparalleled infrastructure solution to market for service providers, corporations, content owners and other organizations implementing IP services, content delivery and other strategies to increase revenue and profitability, improve customer relations, enhance competitive position, expand market share and achieve other key business goals.”

Neil Sequeira, a Partner at General Catalyst Partners remarked, ”Highwinds has already proven its mettle — with a years-long track record of success marked by solid revenue growth and profitability. We are excited to provide the capital infusion that will enable them to advance to the next level with their content delivery solutions and other RollingThunder network-based services.”

Andrew Mulderry, General Partner at Alta Communications commented, ”In my years of focusing on all sectors of media, it’s clear that Highwinds has fielded an outstanding executive management team — one with the knowledge, experience and vision to be a market leader. We have invested in a portfolio of best-in-class new media companies, and Highwinds fits superbly into that ecosystem as a supplier and partner to our other investments.”

Highwinds Network Group, Inc. has provided development of content replication and delivery software and services since 2002, which has led to a number of technology innovations in network management, distributed file system technology and advanced content routing methods. The Highwinds CDN leverages best-in-class hardware and software to quickly and successfully move content at a global level. The company’s high-performance RollingThunder network and user-friendly StrikeTracker content management and reporting dashboard enable clients to deploy and manage content, file downloads and streaming media. Highwinds is headquartered in Winter Park, Fla., and maintains data centers in thirteen North American and European cities.

General Catalyst Partners is a venture capital firm that invests in exceptional entrepreneurs who are building the technology-based companies that will lead innovation and transform industries. Founded in 2000, General Catalyst Partners leverages its principals’ extensive operational, business development and technological expertise to provide portfolio companies with a catalyst for success through business-building and partnership development assistance. General Catalyst is headquartered in Cambridge, Mass.

Alta Communications is a Boston-based private equity firm specializing in equity investments in media and communications companies. Through a series of Alta limited partnerships, as well as at Alta’s predecessor firm, Burr, Egan, Deleage and Co., the investment professionals at Alta have been one of the most successful investment teams in the media and communications industries over the last 25 years. Alta has a very successful track record and has been extremely active since its founding, having invested in over 100 media and telecommunications companies. The firm manages private equity funds representing $1.5 billion in committed capital and its investors include some of the world’s most prominent university endowments and pension funds.

For more information on Alta Communications, please visit: http://www.altacomm.com.

To learn more about Highwinds Network Group, Inc., please visit: http://www.highwinds.com.

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