George L. Cole joins VS&A Communications Partners as a Principal of Fund III. As a member of Fund III's Advisory Committee and a long-time banker to many of the Fund’s portfolio companies, Mr. Cole has a strong inside view of VS&A Communications Partners. He brings a great deal of media industry and capital markets experience, which will be invaluable to the Fund's activities.

Previously, Mr. Cole served as Co-Head and Managing Director of First Union Securities’ media & entertainment investment banking group, specializing in publishing, business information services and professional sports franchises, while maintaining strong relationships with numerous media-focused private equity groups.

Under Mr. Cole’s co-leadership, First Union’s media & entertainment investment banking group has become the number one agent for media sector senior credit facilities since January 1999. The group has arranged more than $20 billion in capital for media and entertainment companies and has managed more than $6.0 billion in media sector high yield offerings since 1996. In addition, the group has managed more than $4.0 billion in media sector equity offerings since January 1999.

Mr. Cole first joined First Union Securities Inc. in 1987, where he worked in Leveraged Finance in the firm’s New York and Charlotte offices.

While at to First Union, Mr. Cole served on the advisory board of Great Hill Partners, a leading Boston-based investment firm that provides equity financing and strategic guidance to e-business services, telecommunications and Internet infrastructure services companies. He has also participated in numerous publishing and sports industry conferences as a speaker and panelist. He earned a BBA from the University of Texas in 1980 and an MBA from the University of Houston in 1984.

Interested parties should contact Mr. Cole at the firm's address or via e-mail: