Vivax
Vivax, Inc., formerly Horizon Telecom International, was founded in 1995 to acquire franchises to provide cable television services in tier II and tier III markets in Brazil. Through a process prescribed by Brazil's telecommunications regulatory body (ANATEL), Vivax successfully bid on and won concessions to build and operate cable systems in 37 cities representing approximately 1.6 million homes and businesses. The Company's service territories are primarily located in the Brazilian states of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The Company also serves the City of Manaus in the interior State of Amazonas. Vivax commenced the buildout of its state-of-the-art hybrid fiber-coaxial plant in November 1999, and the Company began offering pay-TV video services in selected markets in February 2000. Additionally, the Company began rollout of its broadband Internet product in select markets in March 2001. In January 2004, Vivax funded the acquisition of Canbras Communications Corp., a subsidiary of Bell Canada International. The Company now serves in excess of 300,000 unique customers.
Vivax is led by Chris Torto, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Torto co-founded Horizon and managed the Company’s entry into the Brazilian auction process. Formerly, Mr. Torto served as the Chief Executive Officer of Voyager.net, a publicly traded telecommunications company that was sold to CoreComm Ltd.
Brazil is the world’s sixth largest television market with over 39 million television households. Given the country’s size and low pay-television penetration, Brazil represents a large cable and broadband opportunity.
Quick Facts
- Date of Initial Investment: 3/9/2001
- Status: IPO February 2006
- Type of investment: Fund I
- Headquarters: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- URL: www.net.com.br
