mynth
11/2021

MCAFEE acquired by ADVENT INTERNATIONAL, PERMIRA & CROSSPOINT CAPITAL PARTNERS

UNITED STATES Software EV 3b - 100b USD

Context

A consortium composed of Advent, Permira, Crosspoint, CPP Investment, GIC and ADIA is acquiring McAfee Corp. to transition the cybersecurity provider from a public to a privately held structure, enabling focused investment in product development and operational initiatives. The agreement includes a go‑shop period during which McAfee's board may solicit alternative proposals, while the buyer has secured equity and debt financing commitments to fund the transaction. The acquisition follows a definitive merger agreement that outlines the rights of both parties and the conditions for closing. The strategic rationale for the purchase centers on removing public market constraints, allowing McAfee to pursue longer‑term technology roadmaps and capitalize on emerging security market opportunities without quarterly earnings pressure. The investor consortium anticipates leveraging the company’s subscription revenue base to service the financing structure and to fund research and development aimed at expanding cloud and threat‑intelligence capabilities. Alignment of ownership interests is expected to enhance governance efficiency and accelerate decision‑making across product, sales, and partnership functions. Post‑closing, the combined entity is projected to streamline capital allocation, refinance existing obligations, and reinvest cash flow into expanding global delivery centers and enhancing the threat‑intelligence platform. The private ownership model is intended to provide greater flexibility in pricing, contract structuring, and strategic acquisitions, thereby strengthening McAfee’s competitive position in the cybersecurity market and delivering incremental value to enterprise customers worldwide.

MCAFEE, which reported an EBITDA margin of LOGIN in 2021, is valued in this transaction at an EV/EBITDA multiple of LOGIN, representing a LOGIN to the average currently observed in the TMT (Tech, Media, Telecom) sector (14.8x).

Note that this data is based on contribution from our growing community, composed of M&A and Private Equity professionals, and has been verified by our team to ensure its accuracy.

-> Deep-dive in TMT (Tech, Media, Telecom) market trends

Target

McAfee Corp. develops and markets cybersecurity solutions that protect devices, networks, and data from malicious activity. Its portfolio includes endpoint protection platforms, cloud security suites, network intrusion detection systems, and threat intelligence services. The company sells subscription licenses and professional services to enterprise customers, government agencies, and small‑to‑medium businesses across multiple industries. Revenue is generated primarily through recurring software subscriptions, with additional fees for consulting, incident response, and managed security offerings. Founded in the late 1980s, McAfee originated as a security research firm before expanding into commercial software and establishing a global sales organization. The firm maintains research and development centers in North America, Europe, and Asia, supporting continuous updates to its threat database and product features. Its distribution network combines direct sales teams, channel partners, and cloud marketplaces to reach customers in more than 150 countries.

Ent. Value

LOGIN

Equity Value

LOGIN

Multiples

EV / Revenue

LOGIN

EV / EBITDA

LOGIN

EV / EBIT

LOGIN

Historical Financials (USD)

Year
Rev
EBITDA
EBIT
2021
LOGIN
LOGIN
LOGIN
2020
LOGIN
LOGIN
LOGIN

Similar deals in TMT (Tech, Media, Telecom)

List of similar M&A transactions (Date, Acquirer, Target, Country, Sector, Deal Context)
DateAcquirerTargetCountrySectorDeal Context
01/2022PSG EQUITYSELLSYFRANCESoftware

US-based growth equity firm Providence Strategic Growth (PSG) has entered into an agreement to acquire a stake in Sellsy, a French provider of all-in-one Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Financial Management System (FMS) software for SMEs. As part of this transaction, Sellsy is raising €55 million from the fund, which is also buying out historical minority shareholders, including investors from the previous funding round in late 2017. Following this equity restructuring, the management team (led by co-founders Alain Mevellec and Frédéric Coulais, alongside Co-CEO Victor Douek) will retain its majority ownership and continue to spearhead the company's development

12/2021STEMALSOENERGYUNITED STATESSoftware

Stem, Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of the share capital of AlsoEnergy Holdings, Inc. The transaction is structured as a combination of cash and common stock, effectively integrating two software-focused leaders in the renewable energy sector. The acquisition combines Stem’s strength in AI-driven energy storage optimization with AlsoEnergy’s leadership in solar monitoring and control. This "one-stop-shop" strategy allows the combined entity to offer a unified software solution across the entire renewable energy project lifecycle

10/2021PERMIRAMOTUSUNITED STATESSoftware

Permira has entered into a strategic investment agreement with Motus, a provider of reimbursement software for mobile workforces, while existing shareholder Thoma Bravo will reinvest and retain a significant ownership position. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2021. The investment aligns with Permira’s objective to apply its software and telematics expertise to expand Motus’ product suite and accelerate market penetration as enterprises increase flexible‑work arrangements

08/2021CLEARLAKE CAPITAL / VECTOR CAPITALCORNERSTONE ONDEMANDUNITED STATESSoftware

Private equity firm Clearlake Capital Group has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the California-based talent management software provider Cornerstone OnDemand. Unanimously approved by the target's Board of Directors, the transaction will result in the company becoming privately held, officially delisting its shares from public markets. As part of this take-private buyout, technology-focused sponsor Vector Capital will also execute a strategic minority equity investment at closing. The sell-side process was managed by financial advisors Qatalyst Partners and Centerview Partners, while the acquirer was supported by a broad banking syndicate that included Morgan Stanley, Rothschild & Co

07/2021SPECTRISCONCURRENT REAL-TIMEUNITED STATESSoftware

Spectris plc has finalized the acquisition of Concurrent Real-Time from the private equity firm Battery Ventures, a maneuver designed to fundamentally strengthen the group’s Hottinger Brüel & Kjær (HBK) platform. The strategic rationale for this transaction centers on a "simulation-convergence" play, merging the target's technical operational depth in hard-real-time computing with the group’s established leadership in physical sensing and simulation software. This fusion effectively creates a specialized Virtual Test Division, providing the organization with the hardware-in-the-loop (HiL) capabilities required to virtually test products throughout the entire development cycle

06/2021LINK MOBILITYMESSAGE BROADCASTUNITED STATESSoftware

LINK Mobility acquired Message Broadcast to establish a significant foothold in the United States, positioning itself to capture growth in a fragmented and fast-paced market. The acquisition is designed to integrate a proprietary, high-margin communication platform into the Group's global ecosystem, significantly contributing to organic growth and overall profitability. By onboarding a management team with extensive industry experience, the Group aims to leverage existing relationships with blue-chip enterprise clients in sectors such as utilities and healthcare, where mission-critical communication is a non-negotiable requirement

06/2021INVESTINDUSTRIALTARGA TELEMATICSITALYSoftware

The investment by Investindustrial in Targa Telematics is a strategic move to support the growth and internationalization of the Italian smart mobility leader. The deal will enable Targa Telematics to strengthen its leadership position in Italy and become a leading company in the smart mobility, fleet management, and insurtech sectors at the European and global level. The transaction will also allow Targa Telematics to further consolidate its existing partnerships with long-standing customers and create new client opportunities

06/2021FRAGBITE GROUPPLAYDIGIOUSFRANCESoftware

Fragbite Group entered into a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of Playdigious to spearhead its expansion into the indie publishing sector. The transaction was structured with an upfront payment and several earn-out tranches totaling €3.5 million payable through 2023 to align future performance. This strategic move allowed Fragbite to internalize "cutting-edge" porting expertise and establish a new revenue stream within the premium mobile gaming segment, while the founders remained at the helm to lead the group’s new publishing division

06/2021UNISYSUNIFY SQUAREUNITED STATESSoftware

Unisys has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Unify Square for a total consideration of $152.5 million, structured on a cash-free, debt-free basis and funded entirely through cash on hand. This transaction represents a highly strategic platform investment designed to directly integrate Unify Square’s specialized Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) offerings into the acquirer’s broader digital workplace services portfolio. The strategic rationale underpinning this acquisition is deeply rooted in the rapid evolution of hybrid workforce dynamics and the increasing enterprise necessity for seamless, secure collaboration

05/2021ABENEXEDLFRANCESoftware

Abenex acquired a majority stake in EDL from its founders. This primary LBO aimed to professionalize the group's governance, provide it with the financial resources necessary to implement a buy-and-build strategy, and finally to transform the company from its position as a leader in France into a major European platform.

REFERENCES

Valuation range: EV 3b - 100b USD

Revenue range: 1b - 3b USD

EBITDA range: 450M - 900M USD

Note: This page provides detailed data on a private equity M&A transaction. Detailed and exact financial metrics for the acquisition of MCAFEE by ADVENT INTERNATIONAL / PERMIRA / CROSSPOINT CAPITAL PARTNERS are reserved for mynth community members. Register for free to unlock full data.

Authors: verified mynth contributor (mynth data is contributed by M&A / PE professionals and systematically cross-verified with private deal documents and official press releases).

Press release: view release

Target: mcafee

Acquirer: permira / crosspoint capital partners / advent international