QUEST SOFTWARE acquired by CLEARLAKE CAPITAL
Context
Clearlake Capital Group has successfully completed the leveraged buyout of Quest Software, acquiring the asset from the preceding financial sponsor, Francisco Partners. The transaction was structured as an LBO and financed through the broadly syndicated loan market with first and second lien debt tranches. Leverage metrics were highly aggressive, reaching approximately 7.0x through total debt, a capital structure facilitated by robust demand for leveraged loans from CLOs and institutional accounts. This acquisition represents a highly strategic platform investment for Clearlake Capital, designed to execute an accelerated buy-and-build strategy within the fragmented infrastructure software sector. The core thesis revolves around operationalizing Quest’s recent pivot toward growth-oriented acquisitions and expanding its cybersecurity capabilities. Clearlake intends to leverage its proprietary O.P.S.® value creation framework to integrate dilutive add-ons and drive margin improvement. Furthermore, the sponsor aims to capitalize on secular trends demanding application migration, cloud deployment, and advanced data protection.
QUEST SOFTWARE, which reported an EBITDA margin of in 2022, is valued in this transaction at an EV/EBITDA multiple of , representing a to the average currently observed in the TMT (Tech, Media, Telecom) sector (13.7x).
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Target
Quest Software is a prominent United States-based technology company specializing in cybersecurity, data intelligence, and IT operations management software solutions. Founded in 1987, the firm has established itself as a critical software solution provider for security-sensitive customers and an innovator in addressing rapidly evolving risks. The company's diverse product portfolio addresses database and systems management, Active Directory and Office 365 administration, and overarching cybersecurity resilience. From a market positioning standpoint, Quest Software operates as a distinguished leader in the identity-centric cybersecurity and IT operations markets. The company demonstrates significant market penetration and robust recurring revenue streams, serving over 100,000 customers globally, including 97 of the Fortune 100, alongside an ecosystem of 15,000 partners. Quest's business model relies on delivering mission-critical software that enables organizations to proactively mitigate security threats, maintain tight operational controls, and ensure operational up-time while optimizing overall IT expenditures.
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REFERENCES
Valuation range: EV 3b - 100b USD
Revenue range: 750M - 1.3b USD
EBITDA range: 250M - 500M USD
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Authors: This transaction was contributed by a verified mynth contributor and cross-checked against available transaction documents and official company communications.
Press release: view release
Target: quest software
Acquirer: clearlake capital