VISI Acquired by TDS Communications

Minnesota data center services VISI Incorporated has been acquired by Telephone and Data Systems, Inc., the parent company to TDS Telecommunications Corp. of Madison, Wisc., the companies said today. VISI, headquartered in the Twin Cities, provides managed hosting, colocation and cloud computing services. TDS paid $17.8 million for VISI, according to local media.

"VISI brings a successful and talented team with a proven track record for providing high quality data center and managed hosting services," said Dave Wittwer, President and CEO for TDS Telecommunications Corp. "VISI’s broad capabilities and extensive service set, combined with its valuable facilities, including an expanding SAS 70 Type II certified data center in St. Paul and a state-of-the-art data center under construction in Eden Prairie, Minn., position us well for growth in a dynamic marketplace."

The Eden Prairie building at 10230 70th Street West quadrupled the size of VISI’s previous headquarters and data center. VISI also recently expanded its SAS 70 Type II data center located at 180 East 5th Street in St. Paul.

"TDS shares a strong focus with us on service quality, is well regarded in the communications space and believes, at its core, that exceptional customer care and tailored services represent the best value to all their customers," said Mike Sowada, CEO of VISI. "With the financial strength of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc., a Fortune 500 company, VISI and TDS are poised to grow our combined businesses and invest in evolving services that customers are demanding in the Twin Cities and across the broader regional and national footprint of TDS."

VISI recently celebrated its 15th anniversary as a company. Back in 2008, we featured a video of VISI installing a Caterpillar 2.25MW diesel generator in its basement. The process involved closing the streets, lifting out a chunk of the roadway to expose the basement, and using a 175-ton crane to lift the equipment into the opening.