The private equity firm Marlin Equity Partners has security a majority stake in the Florida-based cybersecurity firm AppRiver for an undisclosed sum.
Marlin Equity Partners manages $6.7 billion of capital and invests in businesses across a wide range of industries. Through its industry relationships and access to operational resources, the private equity firm strengthens companies, enhances their value, and helps them grow and realize their full potential. To date, the Los Angeles-based private equity firm has acquired more than 100 companies.
The acquisition of AppRiver should prove profitable. The Gulf Breeze, Florida-based cybersecurity firm has been going from strength to strength and has developed a wide range of cybersecurity and business continuity solutions. Since its formation in 2002, the company has grown considerably and is a major player in the cybersecurity market and one of the world’s leading providers of Office 365 and Secure Hosted Exchange mailboxes. The company has been included in Inc. 5000’s list of the fastest growing companies in the United States for 11 years running and now serves more than 53,000 clients.
While ownership of the firm has been transferred, AppRiver co-founders Michael Murdoch and Joel Smith will remain at the firm and will hold minority stakes in the company. “This is an incredible milestone for our company,” said Murdoch.
Marlin Equity Partners has a solid history of investing in technology firms and helping them achieve their full potential. The private equity firm has extensive experience in the field of cybersecurity and shares the philosophy and culture of AppRiver. Murdoch and Smith believe Marlin is the perfect partner and will help AppRiver compete more effectively on a global scale.
“AppRiver is ideally positioned to lead and innovate in today’s security-conscious environment as businesses of all sizes continue to transition to a cloud-based deployment model,” said Peter Chung, a principal at Marlin. “We look forward to helping AppRiver accelerate its growth by pursuing both organic and inorganic expansion opportunities, while continuing to deliver exceptional service to existing customers and partners.”