UC4 Acquired by European Private Equity Firm

Private equity firm EQT VI has agreed to acquire IT automation specialist UC4 from The Carlyle Group, the companies said today. EQT is the leading private equity group in Northern Europe with nearly EUR 18 billion in raised capital.

“We consider UC4 a highly attractive growth company and are impressed by its customer base and strong automation offering," said Per Franzén, Partner at EQT Partners in Germany and Investment Advisor to EQT VI. "The new Supervisory Board, consisting of a mix of highly relevant and experienced EQT Industrial Advisors, looks forward to support UC4's management team in driving further expansion into the rapidly growing Cloud Automation market.”

Carlyle Europe Technology Partners I, L.P. acquired UC4 in March 2006 and helped UC4 grow and develop a leading player in the IT Process Automation market.

“UC4 is an excellent example of Carlyle value creation," said Michael Wand, Managing Director at The Carlyle Group. "Partnering with the founding management in 2006, we had the joint vision to create the largest independent IT automation software vendor through strong commitment to R&D, product innovation, marketing and sales focus, and three add-on acquisitions, including the merger with Appworx in the US. UC4 has delivered outstanding growth and returns, and we are proud to have supported Jason and his team in growing the company into the world’s largest independent IT Process Automation vendor.”

“We are delighted to have partnered with Carlyle, and are very excited to join with EQT VI in accelerating our growth, developing our company and supporting our customers,” said Jason Liu, CEO of UC4.

Following more than 21 percent software license revenue growth in the past fiscal year to $76 million [EUR 62 million] in overall revenues, UC4 achieved another strong quarter ending July 2012. The company exceeded its first quarter plan by more than 12 percent and achieved more than 24 percent year-over-year license growth.