Rye, N.Y. – July 24, 2014:  SFW Capital Partners (“SFW”), a specialized private equity firm that invests with management in mid-sized companies that provide analytical tools and related services, today announced that it has completed the sale of AGDATA, the leading provider of strategic data and analytical solutions to the world’s largest agricultural and animal health manufacturers, to Vista Equity Partners.  

 SFW invested in AGDATA, which is based in Charlotte, N.C., in 2010, and supported CEO Richard Bettison and the AGDATA management team in a wide range of strategic growth initiatives.  These initiatives included the expansion of AGDATA’s globally leading customer base, investments in the company’s systems and business infrastructure, and the successful creation of AGDATA’s SaaS-based AgCelerate Industry Standard Platforms business unit.  These initiatives enhanced AGDATA’s service offering for its customers and drove meaningful growth in AGDATA’s revenues during the period of SFW’s investment.

 “This sale represents the culmination of our successful partnership with SFW. We appreciated the strong support and resources SFW provided, helping us accelerate our strategic growth plans, improve our business infrastructure, and enhance AGDATA’s position as the leading provider of information and analytics to the agriculture and animal health sector,” said Richard Bettison, CEO of AGDATA. “We look forward to working with our new partners at Vista Equity to build upon our achievements over the last four years.”

 “AGDATA represents a very strong fit with our specialized, supportive investment strategy.  We are grateful to Richard and the AGDATA management team for their leadership in the growth and development of AGDATA over the last four years.  The company performed very well during our investment period and continues to be at the forefront of the application of strategic information solutions and analytics in the agricultural and animal health sectors,” said Roger Freeman, Partner at SFW, “We were pleased to work closely with Richard and the AGDATA management team to support the development of this remarkable company.”

Lazard Middle Market served as financial advisor and Kirkland & Ellis served as legal advisor to AGDATA and SFW.

About AGDATA

Founded in 1985, AGDATA operates throughout the United States and Canada, enabling agriculture and animal health industry participants to collect and analyze complex sales data, develop and manage sophisticated marketing strategies and execute mission-critical sales and marketing programs. Through its SaaS-based industry-standard platforms, AGDATA is connecting the manufacturer and distribution channels through grower verified, standardized data. AGDATA is headquartered in Charlotte, N.C.  For more information, please visit www.agdata.net.

About SFW Capital Partners

SFW Capital Partners is the Leading Investor in Analytical Tools and Related Services Companies, including providers of instrumentation, software, information and business services.  SFW is a specialized private equity firm that exclusively invests where its 20+ years of knowledge of the relevant business models, technology, competitive dynamics and service requirements gives it a unique ability to support management teams in growing their companies and building value.  For more information, please visit www.sfwcap.com.