HCL Tech and SEP buying US-based data management co Actian

INDIA: HCL Technologies (HCL) and Sumeru Equity Partners (SEP), a technology and growth-focused private equity firm, have signed a definitive agreement to acquire Actian Corporation. The all-cash deal is valued at US$330 million. HCL will own 80 percent while SEP will own approximately 20 percent stake.

Palo Alto-based Actian is known for hybrid data management, cloud integration, and analytics solutions–powers insight-driven enterprises around the globe to help them solve the toughest data challenges. It owns Actian Vector, the world’s fastest columnar database; Actian DataConnect, a hybrid cloud data integration platform; and Actian X, hybrid database for next generation operational analytics.

This acquisition will add cutting-edge intellectual property to HCL’s capabilities to enable global enterprises’ digital transformation journey.

C Vijayakumar, President and CEO, HCL Technologies, said, “Recent customer wins by Actian validate the potential of its offerings to help customers extract maximum business value out of data. Actian will play a critical role in enhancing HCL’s Mode 3 offerings in data management products and platforms. Actian’s products when combined with HCL’s Mode 2 solution offerings like Cloud Native, Digital and Analytics, and DRYICE, will be a powerful proposition to harness the power of hybrid data.”

Actian will continue to operate as a separate entity within the HCL Technologies ecosystem, led by current CEO and President, Rohit De Souza.

“The most successful business leaders today recognize data as their most valuable asset and strive to leverage it at the speed of their business, no matter where it resides,” De Souza said. “The combined force of HCL’s next-generation products, platforms, and services; SEP’s experience in scaling enterprise software businesses; and Actian’s tradition of innovation in data management, data analytics, and integration technologies will enable customers to tap into the disruptive potential of their data and deliver tangible business results.”

HCL Technologies as the majority stakeholder of this strategic acquisition will have majority representation on the Actian board of directors, and SEP managing directors George Kadifa and Sanjeet Mitra will also join the board at closing.