Private equity firm Investcorp Technology Partners has announced it plans to acquire cybersecurity software provider Avira at a $180 million valuation. The acquisition represents the first institutional investment in Avira since it was founded in 1986.
"We have been protecting our users for more than 30 years," stated Tjark Auerbach, founder of Avira. "With Investcorp, I have an investment partner who shares my values and will underpin the strategy of the management team to continue protecting people for many years to come.”
Headquartered in Germany, Avira is a multinational cybersecurity software solutions firm serving the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) and consumer end markets, with more than 500 million endpoints protected globally. The company specializes in anti-malware, threat intelligence, and IoT solutions. Its software provides next-generation security for users’ online identity, finances, and private data, protecting against viruses, malware, ransomware, and other threats. Notably, Avira is a pioneer of the freemium software business model offering high quality, market-leading security products, free-of-charge.
“We are proud to be partnering with a firm that offers such a breadth of experience working with growing technology and software companies,” said Travis Witteveen, CEO of Avira. “The investment confirms our business strategy and enables Avira to further accelerate our profitable growth in the consumer and OEM market segments."
Over the years Investcorp has established a market-leading position of investing in mid-market technology companies with a specific focus on IT Security, data and analytics, as well as the fintech sector. Previous investments include Utimaco, Sophos, Optiv, SecureLink, CoreSec, Nebulas, iT-CUBE, CSID, OpSec, and Impero.
Ultimately, Investcorp plans to make further acquisitions in order to increase Avira’s presence both globally and in terms of its product offerings. Currently, Avira serves Asia, Europe and has a burgeoning presence in the US. Notably, Investcorp’s business extends deep into the Middle East.
“We are delighted to announce another high-quality addition to our Technology Partners portfolio. Avira represents an attractive opportunity to invest in a cybersecurity business,” said Gilbert Kamieniecky, Managing Director and Head of Investcorp’s Technology Private Equity Business. “With our long history of working with cybersecurity, IoT and data-driven businesses, Investcorp is looking forward to supporting Avira’s targeted growth trajectory and expansion plans.”
