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Proofpoint's acquisition by Thoma Bravo in 2021 marked a significant shift in the company's strategy, with a focus on expanding its software and security offerings.
Thoma Bravo's investment strategy emphasizes the importance of growth through acquisition, with a focus on companies that have a strong foundation in software and security.
By leveraging Thoma Bravo's expertise in the software industry, Proofpoint has been able to accelerate its growth and expand its offerings to better serve its customers.
The partnership has allowed Proofpoint to tap into Thoma Bravo's extensive network of resources and expertise, enabling the company to make strategic acquisitions and investments that drive growth and innovation.
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Proofpoint Acquisition
Proofpoint was acquired by Thoma Bravo in 2019 for $2.3 billion.
This deal marked a significant milestone for the company, allowing it to expand its capabilities and reach new markets.
The acquisition provided Proofpoint with the resources and expertise needed to enhance its security and compliance solutions.
This has enabled the company to better protect its customers from increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.
Thoma Bravo's investment in Proofpoint has been instrumental in driving the company's growth and innovation.
As a result, Proofpoint has been able to stay ahead of the curve in the rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape.
The acquisition has also enabled Proofpoint to expand its product portfolio and improve its offerings.
This has helped the company to better meet the needs of its customers and stay competitive in the market.
Thoma Bravo's acquisition of Proofpoint has been a successful one, with the company continuing to grow and thrive under its ownership.
The partnership has been a key factor in Proofpoint's success and has helped to cement its position as a leader in the cybersecurity industry.
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Proofpoint and Thoma Bravo
Proofpoint is selling itself to private equity firm Thoma Bravo in a deal worth $12.3 billion. This deal is a significant one, especially considering Proofpoint's impressive growth in recent years.
Proofpoint's annual revenues jumped by almost a fifth to $1 billion in 2020, and first quarter 2021 sales went up 15% to $290 million. This shows that the company is operating in a growing security services market, which is why Thoma Bravo wanted to invest.
Thoma Bravo already has a portfolio of security vendors, including Barracuda, Sophos, McAfee, LogRhythm, SolarWinds, Centrify, and Imprivata. This experience in the security industry will likely help Proofpoint grow and scale at an even faster pace.
Proofpoint and Thoma Bravo Partnership
Proofpoint is being sold to private equity firm Thoma Bravo in a deal worth $12.3bn.
Thoma Bravo already has stakes in several security vendors, including Barracuda, Sophos, and McAfee.
The partnership will allow Proofpoint to be even more agile and flexible, which will help the company continue to innovate and stay ahead of threat actors.
Thoma Bravo has a track record of investing in and supporting technology organizations, and their partnership with Proofpoint will help accelerate the company's growth.
Proofpoint's annual revenues jumped by almost a fifth to $1bn in 2020, and first quarter 2021 sales went up 15% to $290m.
The deal is expected to close in the third quarter of 2021, which will give Proofpoint the freedom to continue investing in innovation and growth.
Seth Boro, a managing partner at Thoma Bravo, is excited about the partnership and the opportunities it presents for Proofpoint to drive continued business growth.
Gary Steele, Proofpoint's CEO, believes that as a private company, Proofpoint will be able to stay ahead of threat actors and continue to build on its leadership position.
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vs. the Competition
Proofpoint's acquisition by Thoma Bravo has set it apart from the competition.
Proofpoint's email security solutions are more comprehensive than many of its competitors, offering advanced threat protection and incident response capabilities.
Thoma Bravo's private equity expertise has helped Proofpoint expand its offerings to include cloud security, data loss prevention, and compliance solutions.
Thoma Bravo's investment has enabled Proofpoint to increase its research and development efforts, leading to the creation of new products and features that address emerging security threats.
Thoma Bravo's focus on growth and innovation has helped Proofpoint expand its customer base and increase its market share.
Thoma Bravo's private equity model has allowed Proofpoint to operate with more flexibility and agility than publicly traded companies, enabling it to respond quickly to changing market conditions.
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Proofpoint Investment
Thoma Bravo's acquisition of Proofpoint in August 2021 was a significant move, valued at $12.3 billion.
This acquisition made Proofpoint a part of Thoma Bravo's growing portfolio of security investments.
By August 2021, Thoma Bravo had already made several notable security investments, including the acquisition of Barracuda Networks and Imperva.
The acquisition of Proofpoint marked a major milestone in Thoma Bravo's expansion in the security sector.
Software Investments
Thoma Bravo has been actively investing in the enterprise software sector since 2002.
The company began its software investments with the acquisition of Prophet 21, a provider of software for durable goods distributors.
Thoma Bravo's software investments have been prolific, with over 300 deals completed since 2003.
The company's portfolio now includes over 40 software companies.
In 2021, Thoma Bravo took enterprise software company Medallia private for $6.4 billion.
Thoma Bravo also acquired Stamps.com, an e-commerce shipping service provider, for approximately $6.6 billion in cash in September 2021.
The company's most recent acquisitions include health-records software company NextGen Healthcare for a total enterprise value of $1.8 billion.
Thoma Bravo acquired health-records software company NextGen Healthcare in November 2023.
The company has a track record of making significant investments in the software sector, with a total enterprise value of over $8 billion for its acquisition of Coupa Software.
Thoma Bravo outbid Vista Equity Partners to announce its acquisition of Coupa Software for $6.15 billion in cash in December 2022.
Security Investments
Thoma Bravo has made significant investments in the security industry, with a total of over $30 billion spent on acquisitions and investments in the past few years.
In 2018, it took cloud-first security provider Barracuda Networks private for $1.6 billion.
Thoma Bravo has a track record of acquiring and then selling companies, with Barracuda being sold to KKR for about $4 billion in 2022.
It acquired Imperva for $2.1 billion in January 2019 and then sold it to Thales Group for $3.6 billion in July 2023.
Thoma Bravo completed its $3.9 billion acquisition of Sophos in March 2020.
The company also made a series of security-related investments in 2022, including the acquisition of identity security company SailPoint for $6.9 billion.
In August 2021, Thoma Bravo completed its $12.3 billion acquisition of Proofpoint, which was a significant investment in the security industry.
Thoma Bravo acquired Magnet Forensics for CA$1.8 billion (US$1.34bn) in 2023 and merged it with Grayshift, a digital forensics firm in its existing portfolio.
The company's acquisition of Darktrace, a UK-based cybersecurity company, was agreed upon in April 2024 for a private transaction valued at $5.3 billion.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Proofpoint delisted?
Proofpoint was delisted due to a deceleration in revenue growth, which raised investor concerns. The company was subsequently acquired by Thoma Bravo in a $12.3 billion deal in 2021.
Why did Thoma Bravo acquire Darktrace?
Thoma Bravo acquired Darktrace to combine its expertise in cybersecurity with Darktrace's cutting-edge AI technology. This strategic partnership aims to deliver best-in-class, proactive cybersecurity solutions to businesses and organizations worldwide.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thoma_Bravo
- https://www.proofpoint.com/us/newsroom/press-releases/proofpoint-enters-definitive-agreement-be-acquired-thoma-bravo-123-billion
- https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/08/31/2289228/0/en/Thoma-Bravo-Completes-Acquisition-of-Proofpoint.html
- https://www.crn.com/news/security/proofpoint-to-be-acquired-by-thoma-bravo-for-12-3b
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/proofpoint-acquired-thoma-bravo-123bn-antony-savvas
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