Marketo (MKTO) acquired by Vista Equity Partners for $35.25 in per share

• Marketo (MKTO) acquired by private equity firm Vista Equity Partners for $1.79 billion. (June 2016)

    

SAN MATEO, Calif., May 31, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Marketo, Inc. (NASDAQ: MKTO), the leading provider of engagement marketing software and solutions, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Vista Equity Partners ("Vista"), a leading private equity firm focused on investments in software, data and technology-enabled businesses.

The terms of this all-cash deal provide substantial value to Marketo shareholders. Vista will acquire all outstanding shares of Marketo common stock for a total value of approximately $1.79 billion. Marketo shareholders will receive $35.25 in cash per share, representing a 64% premium to the unaffected closing price as of May 9, 2016.

"After careful consideration and deliberation, our Board of Directors unanimously concluded that the sale of Marketo to Vista Equity Partners was in the best interest of Marketo and its shareholders," said Phil Fernandez, chairman and CEO of Marketo. "The acquisition will allow Marketo to continue to focus on customer success and to remain the independent category leader, continuing to set the agenda for product innovation and thought leadership for the entire digital marketing industry. It will also enable us to successfully deliver on the bold vision we recently set forth – to give tomorrow's marketers and the C-suite an ultra-high-scale enterprise platform for customer engagement."

"Marketo is the clear leader in the marketing automation space and has consistently delivered innovative mission critical products to its more than 4,600 customers," said Brian Sheth, co-founder and president of Vista. "Given our proven track record and focus on investing in high-growth SaaS platforms, we are thrilled to partner with Phil and the broader Marketo team to help the company accelerate innovation, growth, and excellence."

Marketo headquarters will remain in San Mateo. Closing of the deal is subject to customary closing conditions, including the approval of Marketo shareholders and antitrust approval in the United States. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2016.

Morgan Stanley is serving as financial advisor to Marketo, and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati is serving as legal advisor to Marketo. Vista's legal advisor is Kirkland & Ellis LLP.

About Marketo
Marketo provides the leading engagement marketing software and solutions designed to help marketers develop long-term relationships with their customers - from acquisition to advocacy. Marketo is built for marketers, by marketers and is setting the innovation agenda for marketing technology. Marketo puts Marketing First. Headquartered in San Mateo, CA, with offices around the world, Marketo serves as a strategic partner to large enterprise and fast-growing small companies across a wide variety of industries. To learn more about Marketo's Engagement Marketing Platform, LaunchPoint® partner ecosystem, and the vast community that is the Marketo Marketing Nation®, visit www.marketo.com.

About Vista Equity Partners
Vista, a U.S.-based private equity firm with offices in Austin, Chicago and San Francisco, with over $24 billion in cumulative capital commitments, currently invests in software, data and technology-based organizations led by world-class management teams with long-term perspective. Vista is a value-added investor, contributing professional expertise and multi-level support towards companies realizing their full potential. Vista's investment approach is anchored by a sizable long-term capital base, experience in structuring technology-oriented transactions, and proven management techniques that yield flexibility and opportunity in private equity investing. For more information, please visit www.vistaequitypartners.com.