Advised EQT on its acquisition of SUSE, a leading global provider of open source infrastructure software for large enterprises, from Micro Focus (LSE: MCRO)

Arma Partners is pleased to announce that it has acted as financial advisor to EQT on its proposed acquisition of SUSE, a leading global provider of open source infrastructure software for large enterprises, from Micro Focus (LSE:MCRO) for an enterprise value of $2.535 billion. The transaction is subject to Micro Focus shareholder and customary regulatory approvals.

Founded in 1992, SUSE is the world’ first provider of an enterprise-grade open source Linux operating system. SUSE is today a market leader in enterprise-grade, open source software-defined infrastructure and application delivery solutions for on premise and cloud-based workloads, including solutions for container and application delivery technology.

EQT will support SUSE’s next period of growth and innovation as an independent company both organically and through add-on acquisitions to further build SUSE’s public cloud business and to expand its next-generation product offerings in order to strengthen SUSE as a leading provider commercializing open source for enterprise customers.

This transaction represents a major milestone for Arma, as SUSE was Arma’s first client at our firm’ inception 15 years ago, when we advised its then investors led by Apax Partners on the $210 million sale to Novell, a landmark transaction which put our young firm, then employing four people, on the map. This is also the third £1 billion+ software transaction announced by Arma in as many months, (following the sales of Iris to ICG for £1.3 billion and Access to Hg for £1 billion) reinforcing our position as Europe’s leading software advisory firm, now employing c. 90 people delivering unrivalled sector expertise and transaction execution capabilities.