CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Antares Capital announced today it is serving as administrative agent and sole lead arranger on a senior secured credit facility to support the acquisition of SmartBear Software (SmartBear) by Francisco Partners.
Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Somerville, MA, SmartBear is a global leader in software quality tools for teams. With over 22,000 customers, SmartBear is integral in helping software developers and testers create the highest quality software applications.
“Antares’ software knowledge and flexibility were key during this transaction,” said, Brian Decker, principal at Francisco Partners. “We appreciate working with a team that understands our investment philosophy, and has a history of supporting growth companies within the technology sector.”
“SmartBear has experienced impressive growth and leadership, especially within the rapidly expanding API lifecycle management space,” said Matthew Fleming, managing director for Antares. “We’re pleased to support SmartBear management and Francisco Partners as they continue to drive growth for the business.”
About Francisco Partners
Francisco Partners is a leading global private equity firm, which specializes in investments in technology businesses. Since its launch over 17 years ago, Francisco Partners has raised over $10 billion in capital and invested in nearly 200 technology companies, making it one of the most active and longstanding investors in the technology industry. The firm invests in opportunities where its deep knowledge and operational expertise can help companies realize their full potential.
About SmartBear Software
Supporting more than six million software professionals and over 22,000 companies in 194 countries, SmartBear is the leader in software quality tools for teams. The company’s products help deliver the highest quality and best performing software possible while helping teams ship code at nearly impossible velocities. With products for API testing, UI testing, code review and performance monitoring across mobile, web and desktop applications, SmartBear equips every development, testing and operations team member with the tools to ensure quality at every stage of the software cycle. For more information, visit: http://smartbear.com, or for the SmartBear community, go to: LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook.
About Antares Capital
Antares Capital is a credit manager and leading provider of financing solutions for middle-market, private equity-backed transactions. Offices are located in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Norwalk and Toronto. Antares issued more than $18 billion in financing during 2016, and was named 2015 Dealmakers of the Year and 2014 Lender of the Year by Mergers & Acquisitions. Visit us at www.antares.com or follow Antares Capital on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/antarescapital. Antares Capital is a subsidiary of Antares Holdings LP.