BY Fraser Tennant
Private investors Thoma Bravo LLC and Canada’s Teachers' Private Capital (TPC) have announced the acquisition of Riverbed Technologies for $3.6bn.
The definitive agreement between leading private equity investment firm Thoma Bravo, network performance specialist Riverbed, and the pension administrator Teachers' Private Capital is expected to close in the first half of 2015.
The deal represents the largest undertaken in Thoma Bravo’s 30-year history.
"Riverbed’s strong product portfolio provides unmatched optimisation, visibility and control across the hybrid enterprise, which has positioned the Company extremely well in a rapidly-changing landscape,” said Orlando Bravo, a managing partner at Thoma Bravo.
“We look forward to working with the talented team at Riverbed to strengthen their leadership position and the value they deliver to customers. All of us at Thoma Bravo are excited to help Riverbed reach its full potential."
According to Riverbed’s management team, the change in ownership will not have an overly noticeable impact on the company’s product range nor its relationship with its customers.
An enthused Jerry Kennelly, chairman and chief executive of Riverbed, who will remain with the company in the same capacity post-transaction, said “Having undertaken a thorough strategic review, during which we assessed a wide variety of options to maximise value, the Board unanimously concluded that partnering with Thoma Bravo was the best choice for Riverbed, as this transaction will provide our stockholders with significant and immediate cash value."
"We are extremely pleased with this transaction, which we believe will be a winning proposition for all of our stakeholders."
The transaction, which is subject to approval by Riverbed stockholders, regulatory approvals, including antitrust review in the US, Germany and Taiwan, and review and clearance by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US, will, upon completion, see Riverbed stockholders receive $21 per share in cash.
Commenting on the deal, a forward-looking Karl Campbell, Riverbed’s recently appointed vice president for the UK and South Africa, said “I think it’s a very good thing for Riverbed, it gives us an opportunity to reset our strategy for the next ten years."