Growth in the software sector: Equistone acquires majority stake in leading cybersecurity provider eperi

Funds advised by Equistone Partners Europe (“Equistone”) have acquired a majority stake in eperi, a leading provider of cybersecurity software for cloud applications. The security specialist from Pfungstadt, Hessen, has been sold by venture capital investors Evolution Equity Partners and btov. Elmar Eperiesi-Beck, Founder and CEO of eperi, will continue to lead the company as CEO and retains a significant stake in the business. The new partnership will concentrate on the company’s further scaling and internationalisation, as well as a targeted buy-and-build strategy. Both parties agreed not to disclose the financial terms of the transaction.

Headquartered in the Rhine-Main area, eperi has grown since its foundation in 2014 into a leading provider of cybersecurity solutions for data protection and security in on-premise, hybrid and multi-cloud environments. The company has significant experience in the field of data encryption for cloud applications and boasts an international customer base focused on large companies from the finance, health and industrial sectors. eperi’s solutions enable customers to use all kinds of IT infrastructure and software applications securely and within legal and regulatory requirements, allowing them to benefit from the advantages of the cloud without having to worry about data security, compliance and liability.

The partnership with Equistone will add further impetus to the company’s success. Led by founder and CEO Elmar Eperiesi-Beck, eperi will focus on developing its partner management and organisational growth, with continued internationalisation and a targeted buy-and-build strategy intended to accelerate the company’s growth trajectory.

“We were looking for a partner who not only offers financial capacity but can also assist us in our future growth with a consistent and reliable track record of helping to build companies. Equistone fitted the bill perfectly,” notes eperi founder and CEO Elmar Eperiesi-Beck. “Particularly when it comes to our increasing internationalisation and implementing our buy-and-build strategy, we will depend on Equistone’s experience and support and work together to add further momentum to our company’s successful trajectory.”

“The eperi acquisition adds another forward-looking, fast-growing company to our portfolio and represents an important milestone for Equistone. Within a very short timeframe, eperi has grown to become a leading international company with an outstanding customer and partner network – not least thanks to its founder’s many years of cloud security experience,” explains Dr Marc Arens, Senior Partner and Country Head DACH/NL at Equistone.

“Numerous international patents illustrate the innovative and modern approach behind eperi’s technology – this is exactly what we intend to use to sustainably accelerate the company’s growth with the founder and management team. eperi is committed to preventing critical data from being accessed by third parties at all times, while also offering all customers the use and benefits of a scalable hybrid or multi-cloud infrastructure and all types of software applications,” adds Sebastian Wintgens, Director at Equistone Partners Europe.

“We are delighted to be partnering with eperi’s management team as the company continues on its strong growth path and establishes itself as an international cybersecurity champion,” says Christoph Wüstemeyer, Investment Manager at Equistone Partners Europe.

Dr Marc Arens, Sebastian Wintgens and Christoph Wüstemeyer led the transaction on behalf of Equistone. Equistone was advised during this transaction by BCG (Commercial), Code & Co. (Technology), Bird & Bird (IP & Regulation), PWC (Financial & Tax) and Pöllath (Legal & Contractual Documentation).