The EQT VIII fund (EQT VIII) is to acquire SUSE, a global provider of open source infrastructure software for large enterprises, from the global infrastructure software business Micro Focus International plc (Micro Focus) in a USD2.535 billion deal.
The transaction is subject to Micro Focus shareholder and customary regulatory approvals.
Founded in 1992, SUSE is the world’s 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 commercialising open source for enterprise customers.
Jefferies acted as lead financial advisor and Arma Partners acted as financial advisor to EQT VIII. Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP and Latham & Watkins LLP acted as legal advisors to EQT VIII.