Thoma Bravo eyes network software and cyber-security company Infoblox

Infoblox Inc., a Silicon Valley-based network software and cyber-security company, has received a takeover offer from private equity firm Thoma Bravo, Bloomberg yesterday reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

Thoma Bravo, a technology-focused private equity firm, approached Infoblox's management last week with a proposal to buy the company, which has a market cap of around $886 million, the report said.

Infoblox is considering hiring advisers to study strategic options including an auction process, the report added.

The takeover approach comes a month after activist investor Starboard Value disclosed a stake of about 7 per cent in Infoblox.

California-based Infoblox provides software and hardware for managing Internet addresses and identifying devices connected to networks - specifically solutions for Domain Name System (DNS), Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), and IP address management (DDI).

Infoblox revolutionized network services in 1999 when it delivered the first hardened DNS appliance, and has led the market ever since, and have the largest installed base of DNS, DHCP, and DDI appliances.

In 2010, Infoblox acquired Netcordia to complement the core network services products with leading technologies for network task automation and automated change and configuration management.

With over 7,900 customers world-wide, Infoblox is helps companies control and automate networks for their strategic initiatives such as cloud, virtualization, SDN and the transition from IPv4 to IPv6.

Prior to going public in 2012, Infoblox received $80 million in five rounds of funding from investors like Sequoia Capital.