The deal represents the latest private equity buyout in the software sector, which saw tremendous growth throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Credit: Getty Images Business planning SaaS (software-as-a-service) software maker Anaplan is being acquired by private equity firm Thoma Bravo for $10.7 billion. Founded in the UK and now based in San Francisco, Anaplan offers cloud-based finance and planning software and counts almost 2,000 customers worldwide, including Coca-Cola, Shell, Thomas Cook and VMware. The company went public in 2018, two years after rival SaaS firm Workday considered an acquisition attempt. Under the terms of the deal, Anaplan shareholders will receive $66 a share in cash, while the company’s current chief executive Frank Calderoni will continue to lead the company. “Anaplan is a clear leader in connected planning, solving critical business priorities for the world’s largest enterprises as they implement strategic and complex digital transformations,” said Holden Spaht, managing partner at Thoma Bravo said in a press release. “We have followed Anaplan for years and have seen the incredible value they bring customers through their best-in-class planning platform. We look forward to leveraging Thoma Bravo’s extensive operational and investment expertise in enterprise software to support Anaplan in its future growth.” The deal represents the latest in a string of high-profile leveraged buyouts of software companies in the last 18 months. The software sector experienced rapid growth during the COVID-19 pandemic, attracting interest from private equity firms looking to capitalize on this growing trend. In November 2021, Advent International and Permira announced the $14 billion buyout of cybersecurity company McAfee, while Elliott Management and Vista Equity embarked on a $16.5 billion takeover of Citrix in January of this year. Thoma Bravo itself acquired cybersecurity firm Proofpoint for around $12 billion last year. Related content feature State of IT jobs: Mixed signals, changes ahead Layoffs and salary plateaus in the wake of exuberant pandemic-era IT hiring has the IT talent market in flux. And while employers pay premiums for hard-to-find AI skills, IT pros seek the same for filling in-office openings. By Sarah K. White May 17, 2024 10 mins Salaries Hiring IT Jobs feature Project manager salary: 5 key tips to earn more Project managers need to know what their worth is — and make others know it, as well. Here’s a look at project manager compensation, skills that increase a project manager’s pay scale, and how to negotiate a more competitive project By Josh Fruhlinger May 17, 2024 14 mins Salaries Project Management Careers feature Cyber resilience: A business imperative CIOs must get right With ransomware at an all-time high, companies need to understand that being cyber resilient means going beyond compliance to considering all aspects of a business, from operational continuity to software supply chain security. By Andrada Fiscutean May 16, 2024 9 mins Regulation Incident Response Data and Information Security feature Shine a Spotlight on Your Team’s IT Excellence with CIO Awards Canada By Allice Shandler May 16, 2024 4 mins Events IT Leadership PODCASTS VIDEOS RESOURCES EVENTS SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe