Francisco Partners

Founded in August 1999 in Menlo Park, California, Francisco Partners was established during the emergence of dedicated technology buyout firms. The founding team, led by Dipanjan Deb and Sanford Robertson, brought together expertise from major firms like TPG Capital and Robertson Stephens. The firm has grown to become one of the largest and most active technology-focused private equity investors globally, consistently ranking high on the HEC Paris-Dow Jones performance rankings.

The firm focuses on a broad range of technology sectors, including software, hardware, healthcare IT, and fintech. Notable historical activity includes the acquisition of major divisions from conglomerates like IBM, GE, and Dell, as well as high-profile take-private transactions. Recent major deals include the $6.5 billion acquisition of New Relic, the purchase of The Weather Company from IBM, and the $4.3 billion acquisition of LogMeIn.

Francisco Partners operates with a flexible investment mandate, participating in divisional buyouts, recapitalizations, and growth equity investments. The firm maintains a significant presence in San Francisco, London, and New York, managing over $45 billion in assets as of 2024. In addition to its main buyout funds, it operates specialized vehicles like the Agility funds for smaller deals and dedicated credit platforms.