William Blair acted as the financial advisor to Marlin Equity Partners (Marlin) in connection with its acquisition of Clarus Commerce (Clarus). Norwest Venture Partners (Norwest), a prior investor in Clarus, will hold a minority stake in the company. The transaction closed on July 1, 2019.
Transaction Highlights
- Deep relationships and domain expertise: Marlin Equity Partners was attracted to William Blair’s extensive knowledge and industry experience within marketing technology, as well as strong relationships with the potential acquisition target.
- Process and execution excellence: William Blair provided unparalleled process expertise and unmatched insight into competitive dynamics to ensure a successful transaction for Marlin Equity Partners.
- Instrumental guidance and counsel: William Blair’s transaction team worked closely with Marlin Equity Partners to provide integral industry guidance and advisory on key terms and transaction tactics.
About the Companies
Marlin Equity Partners is a global investment firm with over $6.7 billion of capital under management. Marlin invests in businesses across multiple industries where its capital base, industry relationships, and extensive network of operational resources significantly strengthen a company’s outlook and enhance value. Since its inception, Marlin, through its group of funds and related companies, has successfully completed over 140 acquisitions. The firm is based in Los Angeles, California with an additional office in London.
Clarus Commerce is the only company solely focused on building, managing, and optimizing customizable premium loyalty programs for retailers. The company provides the full suite of services needed for a successful loyalty program, which includes the technology platform, client services, strategy, creative, marketing, analytics, IT, and operations. Clarus Commerce was founded in 2001 and is based in Rocky Hill, Connecticut.
Norwest Venture Partners is a leading growth equity and venture investment firm managing more than $7.5 billion in capital. Since its inception, Norwest has invested in more than 600 companies. The firm invests in early to late stage companies across a wide range of sectors with a focus on consumer, enterprise, and healthcare. Norwest has offices in Palo Alto and San Francisco, with subsidiaries in India and Israel.
Learn more about our technology investment banking expertise