Blue Coat Systems taken over by Bain Capital

Blue Coat Systems has announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by funds advised by Bain Capital, one of the world’s foremost private investment firms. The company is being acquired from Thoma Bravo, LLC in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $2.4 billion.

Over the past three years, Blue Coat has experienced a significant increase in its market share across the globe, where 80 per cent of the Fortune 500 are its customers. In India, Blue Coat has realized a year-on-year growth rate of 45 per cent and has a customer portfolio of more than 400 companies.

Globally, the company has also made several successful strategic acquisitions extending their solutions to the advanced threat defence, security analytics and encrypted traffic management spaces. Blue Coat offers an integrated portfolio of products that lead the industry in effectiveness in stopping today’s threats.

“The world’s most-trusted brands use Blue Coat, and the acquisition by Bain Capital sets us on the trajectory to further grow our portfolio, better serve our customers and help us prepare to return to the public markets. Bain Capital has a long history of accelerating growth, and I look forward to partnering with them in our journey to be one of the top performing security companies in the world,” said Gregory S. Clark, Chief Executive Officer, Blue Coat Systems.

“We are excited by the opportunity to work with Blue Coat's management team to grow the business organically and through acquisitions, and to ultimately return the company to the public markets. We are very impressed with the profitable growth the company has demonstrated and believe strongly in the future growth of the cybersecurity market and Blue Coat’s position in this important sector,” said David Humphrey, Managing Director, Bain Capital.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including requisite regulatory approvals, and the transaction is expected to close during the first half of 2015.