Service assurance and network management company Empirix will be acquired by private equity investment firm Thoma Bravo LLC.
The transaction is expected to be finalized by early November. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Empirix serves mobile operators, service provides and enterprises with network optimization services in the form of end-to-end testing, monitoring and analytics. It has been growing rapidly, driven by a customer base that includes global Tier 1 mobile operators and service providers, as well as banks, insurance companies and healthcare companies. Empirix reported 22% year-over-year revenue growth in 2012 alone.
“Empirix has experienced significant growth in the past several years as companies strive to better manage and transform complex communications systems and the business objectives they support,” said John D’Anna, the company’s chief executive officer. “The resources of Thoma Bravo will strengthen our position to meet our customers’ glaring need for next-gen technology, while we rapidly complete our plan to bridge applications and network monitoring for both the enterprise and service provider markets.”
Thoma Bravo, which manages equity funds valued at more than $4 billion, has been investing in service assurance and network management companies. Some of its recent investments include Network Instruments, InfoVista, Mentum, and Solera Networks. The company just acquired Internet and mobile cloud monitoring and testing company Keynote Systems Inc. in August.
“Empirix is a clear leader in the field of service assurance and network management,” said Robert Sayle, principal at Thoma Bravo. “We are very excited about this partnership.”
Thoma Bravo partner Seth Boro added that the company “offers a unique ability to analyze customer behaviors by application in real time. Its products, strategy and leadership have positioned it for success, and we look forward to accelerating that success through organic growth and strategic acquisition opportunities.”
