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SunBridge Partners Exits Concur Japan

Wednesday, August 26th, 2020

SunBridge Partners, the pioneer in helping global software leaders to launch and scale their Japan operations, sells its stake in Concur Japan Joint Venture

SAP (NYSE:SAP) BEACHWOOD, OH, USA, August 25, 2020 /EINPresswire.com/ — SunBridge Partners, a venture capital firm targeting investments in global leaders in enterprise software in the US and Japan, is proud to announce the conclusion of its most successful partnership to date: Concur (Japan) Ltd. (“Concur (Japan)”), the Japan joint venture between Concur Technologies, Inc. (“Concur”) and SunBridge Corporation (later, SunBridge Partners “SunBridge”), prior to SAP’s acquisition of Concur in 2014.

SunBridge initially engaged with Concur in 2010 to help establish its Japan operations, structured with SunBridge’s Japan-entry joint venture (“JV”) model. Other SunBridge Japan-entry JVs include Marketo Japan, Kyriba Japan, and Demandware Japan. SunBridge was also pleased to have Marc Benioff as a strategic partner and co-investor in Concur (Japan) since inception.

“We were grateful to work with Mimura-san, one of the most capable leaders in our entire portfolio, as he and his team grew Concur (Japan) to become the dominant player in its segment in Japan.”— Ken Ehrhart

SunBridge helped launch the Concur business in Japan, assisted in hiring and supporting Concur (Japan) CEO Masamune Mimura, identified and onboarded initial customers, and partnered with both the local team and headquarters to help maximize the growth and success of the Concur (Japan) joint venture.
“SAP Concur is the undisputed leading global brand in travel, expense and invoice management,” said SunBridge General Partner Ken Ehrhart, who led SunBridge’s relationship with Concur and sat on the Board of Concur (Japan). “We were grateful to work with Mimura-san, one of the most capable and talented leaders in our entire portfolio, as he and his team grew Concur (Japan) from the ground up to become what’s now the dominant player in its segment in Japan.”

About SunBridge Partners
SunBridge Partners is a venture capital firm focused on helping global leaders in enterprise software and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) enter and become growth success stories in the Japanese market. SunBridge successfully co-founded Concur (Japan), Marketo Japan, Demandware Japan, and Kyriba Japan, creating over $1.3B in Japan JV valuation in partnership with JV parent companies worth over $195B in total. SunBridge, with offices in Japan and the U.S., has invested over $100m in more than 65 portfolio companies. More information is available at www.sunbridgepartners.com.

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SunBridge Partners Exits Kyriba Japan

Thursday, May 2nd, 2019


May 02, 2019 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

BEACHWOOD, Ohio–(BUSINESS WIRE)–SunBridge Partners (“SBP”), a venture capital firm targeting investments in global leaders in enterprise software in the US and Japan, is pleased to announce the sale of its holdings in Kyriba Japan Co., Ltd. (“Kyriba Japan”), the Japan Joint Venture between Kyriba Corporation (“Kyriba”) and SunBridge, as part of Bridgepoint’s recent investment in Kyriba.

“SBP’s support, proactive assistance and valuable insights were key to the success of our engagement together.”Tweet this

SunBridge Partners teamed with Kyriba in 2012 to help establish its Japan operations via SBP’s proven Japan-entry Joint Venture (“JV”) model. Previous SunBridge Japan entry JVs also include Concur Japan, Marketo Japan and Demandware Japan. SBP was also fortunate to have Marc Benioff, Steve Singh, Mizuho Capital, and Mitsubishi UFJ Capital as strategic partners and co-investors in the JV.

SunBridge worked side-by-side with Kyriba to launch operations in Japan, identify potential customers, and assist the company through several generations of growth in Kyriba Japan, including the hiring of President Shintaro Komatsu, and partnered with the team to help maximize the growth and success of the Japan business.

“SunBridge Partners has been an invaluable partner in Japan; accessing their broad network of contacts and customers, an extensive understanding of the Japan market, and the ability to know what local customers demand from their software suppliers have all been critical to our success in Japan to date,” said Jean-Luc Robert, Kyriba CEO. “SBP’s support, proactive assistance and valuable insights were key to the success of our engagement together.”

“Kyriba is the global leader in cloud treasury and finance solutions, and is poised for incredible growth in the next phase of their journey with Bridgepoint,” said SBP Partner Ken Ehrhart, who led SBP’s relationship with Kyriba Japan. “It has been an honor to have the chance to work with pioneers like Jean-Luc and Komatsu-san and help to contribute in extending their market leadership.”

About Kyriba
Kyriba empowers financial leaders and their teams with award-winning solutions for cash and risk management, payments and working capital optimization. Kyriba delivers a highly secure, 100 percent SaaS enterprise platform, superior bank connectivity and a seamlessly integrated solution set for tackling today’s most complex financial challenges. Thousands of companies, including many of the world’s largest organizations, rely on Kyriba to streamline key processes, protect against loss from fraud and financial risk, and accelerate growth opportunities through improved decision support. Kyriba is headquartered in San Diego, with offices in New York, Paris, London, Tokyo, Dubai and other major locations. For more information, visit www.kyriba.com.

About SunBridge Partners
SunBridge Partners is a venture capital firm focused on helping global leaders in enterprise software and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) to enter and become growth success stories in the Japanese market. SunBridge successfully co-founded Concur Japan, Marketo Japan, Demandware Japan and Kyriba Japan, and invested over $100m in more than 65 portfolio companies, creating over $1.1B in Japan JV valuation and partnered with JV parent companies worth over $144B in total. SunBridge offices are located in Tokyo, Silicon Valley, Ohio and North Carolina. More information is available at www.sunbridgepartners.com.

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Kyriba announces Bridgepoint buyout and $160M growth capital at $1.2B valuation

Thursday, April 4th, 2019

SAN DIEGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Kyriba, the global leader in cloud treasury and finance solutions, today announced that it is in advanced talks with Bridgepoint, an international private equity group focused on investing in market-leading businesses, to receive a $160M investment round to accelerate innovation and growth of its enterprise platform. The deal, once closed, would give Bridgepoint a majority stake in the business, and value Kyriba at $1.2 billion. Daher Capital, Iris Capital and Kyriba Chairman and CEO Jean-Luc Robert will remain as investors in the company.

“Bridgepoint will help us fulfill our mission of enabling CFOs and treasury executives to be more agile and efficient in managing their global cash and liquidity”

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“Bridgepoint will help us fulfill our mission of enabling CFOs and treasury executives to be more agile and efficient in managing their global cash and liquidity,” Robert said. “In today’s complex and highly volatile business environment, finance leaders need real-time visibility and pinpoint control over their cash operations to maximize growth and opportunity.”

Kyriba’s cloud platform seamlessly connects siloed financial systems – banks, ERPs, and other systems – to enable global organizations to improve key capabilities for cash and risk management, payments and working capital optimization. Through its open ecosystem, Kyriba enables strategic partners to access its platform and create value-added services that no other vendor can offer.

Kyriba’s unique value proposition resulted in a record growth year in 2018, including surpassing $110M in revenue and netting 229 new clients. In January, Kyriba announced its plans to acquire FiREapps, a leader in enterprise currency management, which will create the industry’s most robust, end-to-end solution for managing FX risk.

“We are very pleased to be engaged with Kyriba in this next stage of growth. Kyriba is a fast-growing company with an impressive track record of double-digit expansion and is the global market leader in cloud-based treasury management software solutions,” said Andrew Sweet, a New York-based partner at Bridgepoint. “With a market-leading offering and leadership position in the French and US markets, Kyriba is now well positioned to expand globally and we anticipate that further investment in R&D in particular will support its development in providing clients with comprehensive, end-to-end liquidity management solutions.”

With the new capital, Kyriba will enhance product development, customer support and expand its ecosystem. It will specifically invest $60M into product innovation over the next two years.

Bridgepoint is an international private equity firm, with 12 offices across the US, Europe and Asia, and more than $20 billion of assets under management. Bridgepoint has extensive experience of partnering with management to support the growth of similar software businesses, including Efront (the leading alternative investment management software) and Calypso (a leading provider of capital markets software for financial institutions).

“I would like to thank the investors who have supported Kyriba throughout its growth and enabled us to get to this important milestone, including Upfront Ventures, Bpifrance, Sumeru Equity Partners and HSBC,” Robert said. “This transaction has provided a strong exit for them while establishing a strong future for Kyriba.”

Kyriba will continue to be led by Jean-Luc Robert and will operate with its current management structure and strategy.

About Kyriba Corp.

Kyriba empowers financial leaders and their teams with award-winning solutions for cash and risk management, payments and working capital optimization. Kyriba delivers a highly secure, 100 percent SaaS enterprise platform, superior bank connectivity and a seamlessly integrated solution set for tackling today’s most complex financial challenges. Thousands of companies, including many of the world’s largest organizations, rely on Kyriba to streamline key processes, protect against loss from fraud and financial risk, and accelerate growth opportunities through improved decision support. Kyriba is headquartered in San Diego, with offices in New York, Paris, London, Tokyo, Dubai and other major locations. For more information, visit www.kyriba.com.

About Bridgepoint

Bridgepoint is an international private equity firm. With over $20 billion of assets under management and over $30 billion of capital raised to date, it typically focuses on acquiring well managed companies in attractive sectors helping companies and management teams by investing in expansion, operational transformation or via consolidating acquisitions. Bridgepoint has offices in Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Istanbul, London, Luxemburg, Madrid, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Shanghai, Stockholm and Warsaw. www.bridgepoint.eu

Contacts

Kyriba Media Contact:
Daniel Shaffer, dshaffer@kyriba.com, +1 858 263-2218

Bridgepoint Media Contact:
James Murray, james.murray@bridgepoint.eu, +44 20 7034 3555

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SunBridge Partners Exits Marketo® Japan

Thursday, January 10th, 2019

BEACHWOOD, Ohio–(BUSINESS WIRE)–SunBridge Partners (“SBP”), a venture capital firm targeting investments in global leaders in enterprise software in the US and Japan, is pleased to announce the sale of its holdings in Marketo KK (“Marketo Japan”), the Japan Joint Venture between Marketo®, an Adobe company (“Marketo”) and SunBridge, to Adobe (“Adobe”) as part of Adobe’s acquisition of Marketo for $4.75B.

“SBP’s commitment to excellence, fairness, and transparency were critical factors in our successful partnership.”

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SunBridge Partners teamed with Marketo in 2013 to help establish its Japan operations via SBP’s proven Japan-entry Joint Venture (“JV”) model. Previous SunBridge Japan entry JVs also include Concur Japan, Kyriba Japan and Demandware Japan. SBP was also pleased to have Dentsu Digital Inc., the specialist digital marketing company arm of the leading Japanese advertising agency, as a strategic partner and co-investor in the JV.

SunBridge worked closely with Marketo to identify the highest caliber of leadership for Marketo Japan, including President Yasutaka Fukuda, and partnered with the team to help maximize the growth and success of the Japan business.

“We have been fortunate to have SunBridge Partners as a key strategic ally and investor in Japan; their local networks, insights on what makes Japan unique, and understanding on how to best serve customers have been invaluable,” said Mark Miller, Marketo CFO. “SBP’s commitment to excellence, fairness, and transparency were critical factors in our successful partnership.”

“From the very beginning, Marketo has been the pioneer in creating the marketing automation software industry and will continue to provide the most comprehensive solution for end-to-end customer engagement in the next leg of their journey with Adobe,” said SBP Partner Ken Ehrhart, who led SBP’s relationship with Marketo Japan as Board Observer. “It has been an honor to have the chance to work with industry leaders like Steve, Mark and Fukuda-san and help play our part in extending their global market leadership.”

About Marketo

Marketo, an Adobe company, offers the leading Engagement Platform that empowers marketers to create lasting relationships and grow revenue. Consistently recognized as the industry’s innovation pioneer, Marketo is the trusted platform for thousands of CMOs due to its scalability, reliability, and openness. Marketo is headquartered in San Mateo, CA, with offices around the world, and serves as a strategic partner to large enterprises and fast-growing organizations across a wide variety of industries. To learn more about the Marketo Engagement Platform, part of Adobe Marketing Cloud, LaunchPoint® partner ecosystem, and the vast community that is the Marketing Nation®, visit www.marketo.com.

About SunBridge Partners

SunBridge Partners is a venture capital firm focused on helping global leaders in enterprise software and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) to enter and become growth success stories in the Japanese market. SunBridge successfully co-founded Concur Japan, Marketo Japan, Demandware Japan and Kyriba Japan, and invested over $100m in more than 65 portfolio companies, resulting in nine successful IPOs and several major acquisition exits generating over $23 Billion in current market capitalization. SunBridge offices are located in Tokyo, Silicon Valley, Ohio and North Carolina. More information is available at www.sunbridgepartners.com.

Contacts

Paul Grim, General Partner
SunBridge Partners
704-443-8369
paul@sbpvc.com

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Adobe to Acquire Marketo for $4.75B

Friday, September 21st, 2018

https://news.adobe.com/press-release/corporate/adobe-acquire-marketo

Adobe to Acquire Marketo

Thursday, September 20, 2018 4:05 pm EDT

Combination of Adobe Experience Cloud and Marketo Engagement Platform Widens Adobe’s Lead in Customer Experience Across B2C and B2B

SAN JOSE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Adobe (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Marketo, the market-leading cloud platform for B2B marketing engagement, for $4.75 billion, subject to customary purchase price adjustments. With nearly 5,000 customers, Marketo brings together planning, engagement and measurement capabilities into an integrated B2B marketing platform. Adding Marketo’s engagement platform to Adobe Experience Cloud will enable Adobe to offer an unrivaled set of solutions for delivering transformative customer experiences across industries and companies of all sizes.

Today, consumers have a very high bar for what constitutes a great customer experience and Adobe Experience Cloud has enabled B2C companies to successfully drive business impact by harnessing massive volumes of customer data and content in order to deliver real-time, cross-channel experiences that are personalized and consistent. When businesses buy from other businesses, they now have the same high expectations as consumers.

Marketo’s platform is feature-rich and cloud-native with significant opportunities for integration across Adobe Experience Cloud. Enterprises of all sizes across industries rely on Marketo’s marketing applications to drive engagement and customer loyalty. Marketo’s ecosystem includes over 500 partners and an engaged marketing community with over 65,000 members.

This acquisition brings together the richness of Adobe Experience Cloud analytics, content, personalization, advertising and commerce capabilities with Marketo’s lead management and account-based marketing technology to provide B2B companies with the ability to create, manage and execute marketing engagement at scale.

“The imperative for marketers across all industries is a laser focus on providing relevant, personalized and engaging experiences,” said Brad Rencher, executive vice president and general manager, Digital Experience, Adobe. “The acquisition of Marketo widens Adobe’s lead in customer experience across B2C and B2B and puts Adobe Experience Cloud at the heart of all marketing.”

“Adobe and Marketo both share an unwavering belief in the power of content and data to drive business results,” said Steve Lucas, CEO, Marketo. “Marketo delivers the leading B2B marketing engagement platform for the modern marketer, and there is no better home for Marketo to continue to rapidly innovate than Adobe.”

The transaction, which is expected to close during the fourth quarter of Adobe’s 2018 fiscal year, is subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions. Until the transaction closes, each company will continue to operate independently.

Upon close, Marketo CEO Steve Lucas will join Adobe’s senior leadership team and continue to lead the Marketo team as part of Adobe’s Digital Experience business, reporting to executive vice president and general manager Brad Rencher.

Conference Call Scheduled for 2 p.m. PT Today

Adobe executives will comment on the acquisition of Marketo today during a live conference call, which is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. PT. Analysts, investors, press and other interested parties can participate in the call by dialing (877) 376-9431 and using passcode 2867298. International callers should dial (402) 875-4755. The call will last approximately 30 minutes and an audio archive of the call will be made available later in the day. Questions related to accessing the conference call can be directed to Adobe Investor Relations by calling 408-536-4416 or sending an email to ir@adobe.com.

Forward-Looking Statements Disclosure

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities law. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements relate to future events and future performance and reflect Adobe’s expectations regarding the ability to extend its leadership in the experience business through the addition of Marketo’s platform and other anticipated benefits of the transaction. Forward looking statements involve risks, including general risks associated with Adobe’s and Marketo’s business, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those referred to in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to: Adobe’s ability to embed Marketo technology into Adobe Experience Cloud; the effectiveness of Marketo technology; potential benefits of the transaction to Adobe and Marketo customers, the ability of Adobe and Marketo to close the announced transaction; the possibility that the closing of the transaction may be delayed; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to Adobe and are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. For a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, individuals should refer to Adobe’s SEC filings. Adobe does not assume any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements or other statements included in this press release.

About Marketo

Marketo, Inc., offers the leading Engagement Platform that empowers marketers to create lasting relationships and grow revenue. Consistently recognized as the industry’s innovation pioneer, Marketo is the trusted platform for thousands of CMOs thanks to its scalability, reliability, and openness. Marketo is headquartered in San Mateo, CA, with offices around the world, and serves as a strategic partner to large enterprises and fast-growing organizations across a wide variety of industries. To learn more about the Marketo Engagement Platform, LaunchPoint® partner ecosystem and the vast community that is the Marketing Nation®, visit www.marketo.com.

About Adobe

Adobe is changing the world through digital experiences. For more information, visit www.adobe.com.

© 2018 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All rights reserved. Adobe and the Adobe logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Contact:

Press:
Adobe
Dan Berthiaume, 408-536-2584
dberthia@adobe.com
or
Investor Relations:
Adobe
Mike Saviage, 408-536-4416
ir@adobe.com

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Vista Equity Partners Completes Acquisition of Marketo

Tuesday, August 16th, 2016

SAN MATEO, Calif., Aug. 16, 2016 — Marketo, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKTO), the leading provider of engagement marketing software and solutions, today announced that it has been acquired by Vista Equity Partners (“Vista”), a leading private equity firm focused on investments in software, data, and technology-enabled businesses. The transaction, originally announced on May 31, 2016, was completed on August 16, 2016. Marketo’s shareholders approved the agreement on July 28, 2016.

The acquisition – which combines Marketo’s product and industry leadership with Vista’s unique investment and operating model for high-growth SaaS companies – begins the next phase of growth for Marketo, in which the company will continue to focus on setting the agenda for innovation and thought leadership for the entire digital marketing industry.

“Ten years ago, we embarked on a journey to create a new kind of enterprise software company that would transform the way companies market to and engage with their customers,” said Phil Fernandez, chairman and CEO of Marketo. “Our partnership with Vista will allow us to double down on that vision and focus on accelerating our execution toward product innovation and customer success for companies in fast-growth and enterprise business and consumer segments.”

“We see significant value in Marketo’s ability to enable organizations to increase digital intimacy and lifetime value with their customers and consumers leveraging the Marketo Marketing Platform,” said Brian Sheth, co-founder and president of Vista. “We are aligned with Marketo’s vision to lead the market in digital marketing transformation, and we’re thrilled to work with the management team to help Marketo reach its full potential.”

Marketo’s common stock will continue trading on August 16, 2016, and thereafter cease to be traded on NASDAQ.

Golub Capital acted as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent for the senior credit facility issued to support the acquisition. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati served as legal advisor to Marketo. Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal advisor to Vista.

About Marketo
Marketo provides the leading engagement marketing software and solutions designed to help marketers develop long-term relationships with their customers – from acquisition to advocacy. Marketo is built for marketers, by marketers and is setting the innovation agenda for marketing technology. Marketo puts Marketing First. Headquartered in San Mateo, CA, with offices around the world, Marketo serves as a strategic partner to large enterprise and fast-growing small companies across a wide variety of industries. To learn more about Marketo’s Engagement Marketing Platform, LaunchPoint® partner ecosystem, and the vast community that is the Marketo Marketing Nation®, visit www.marketo.com.

About Vista Equity Partners
Vista, a U.S.-based private equity firm with offices in Austin, Chicago and San Francisco, with over $26 billion in cumulative capital commitments, currently invests in software, data and technology-based organizations led by world-class management teams with long-term perspective. Vista is a value-added investor, contributing professional expertise and multi-level support towards companies realizing their full potential. Vista’s investment approach is anchored by a sizable long-term capital base, experience in structuring technology-oriented transactions, and proven management techniques that yield flexibility and opportunity in private equity investing. For more information, please visit www.vistaequitypartners.com.

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Salesforce Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire Demandware

Wednesday, June 1st, 2016
Jun 01, 2016

With Demandware, Salesforce, the #1 CRM, will extend its Customer Success Platform with new Salesforce Commerce Cloud
Demandware is the global cloud leader in the multi-billion dollar digital commerce market
Leading global brands including Design Within Reach, Lands’ End, L’Oreal and Marks & Spencer rely on Demandware to power their commerce and connect 1:1 with consumers across the web, mobile, social and in-store experiences

SAN FRANCISCO and BURLINGTON, Mass., June 1, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Salesforce (NYSE: CRM), the Customer Success Platform and the world’s #1 CRM company, and Demandware (NYSE: DWRE), the industry-leading provider of enterprise cloud commerce solutions, today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Salesforce will acquire Demandware in a transaction worth approximately $2.8 billion (net of cash acquired). Under the terms of the agreement, Salesforce will commence a tender offer for all outstanding shares of Demandware for $75.00 per share, in cash. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of Salesforce’s fiscal year 2017, ending July 31, 2016.

Comments on the News:

  • “Demandware is an amazing company—the global cloud leader in the multi-billion dollar digital commerce market,” said Marc Benioff, chairman and CEO, Salesforce. “With Demandware, Salesforce will be well positioned to deliver the future of commerce as part of our Customer Success Platform and create yet another billion dollar cloud.”
  • “Demandware and Salesforce share the same passionate focus on customer success,” said Tom Ebling, CEO, Demandware. “Becoming part of Salesforce will accelerate our vision to empower the world’s leading brands with the most innovative digital commerce solutions that enable them to connect 1:1 with customers across any channel.”

According to Gartner, worldwide spending on digital commerce platforms is expected to grow at over 14 percent annually, reaching $8.544 billion by 2020 (Gartner, Inc. Forecast: Enterprise Software Markets, Worldwide, 2013-2020, 1Q16 Update, March 17, 2016).

Salesforce’s acquisition of Demandware, a recognized leader in the space, will extend the company’s CRM leadership and position it to capture this multi-billion dollar digital commerce market with what will be the new Salesforce Commerce Cloud.

The Salesforce Commerce Cloud will be an integral part of Salesforce’s Customer Success Platform, creating opportunities for companies to connect with their customers in entirely new ways. Salesforce customers will have access to the industry’s leading enterprise cloud commerce platform, and Demandware’s customers will be able to leverage Salesforce’s leading sales, service, marketing, communities, analytics, IoT and platform solutions to deliver a more comprehensive, personalized consumer experience.

Demandware—the Industry Leading Enterprise Cloud Commerce Platform
Demandware enables leading global brands including Design Within Reach, Lands’ End, L’Oreal and Marks & Spencer to deliver personalized, 1:1 experiences for consumers and power their commerce across the web, mobile, social and in the store.

Details Regarding the Proposed Demandware Acquisition
Under the terms of the transaction, Salesforce will commence a tender offer to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Demandware for $75.00 per share in cash.

The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of Salesforce’s fiscal year 2017, ending July 31, 2016, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including the acceptance of a majority of Demandware shares in the tender offer and expiration of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act. Following the successful completion of the tender offer, Demandware shares not tendered in the tender offer will be converted in a second step merger into the right to receive the same $75.00 per share in cash paid in the tender offer.

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Demandware Expands Global Operations into Japan with SunBridge

Saturday, November 8th, 2014

Demandware Expands Global Operations into Japan

Establishes Joint Venture with SunBridge Corporation

BURLINGTON, Mass. & TOKYO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Oct. 30, 2014– Demandware®, Inc. (NYSE: DWRE), the industry-leading provider of enterprise cloud commerce solutions, today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement with SunBridge Corporation to establish a joint venture, Demandware KK, in Japan. The new joint venture will enable Demandware to reach a growing number of retail brands across Japan and Asia that are looking to deliver seamless shopping experiences across geographies and channels, including store, web, mobile and social. Demandware, Inc. is the majority shareholder in Demandware KK.

SunBridge is a Japan/US venture capital and professional services firm responsible for the Japan joint ventures of Salesforce.com, Concur, Kyriba, Silkroad Technologies and Marketo, and whose founders also launched Oracle Japan.

eMarketer estimates that B2C ecommerce in Japan will grow 40 percent from $70.8 billion in 2013 to $100.8 billion in 2018*, presenting a significant opportunity for Demandware KK. With Demandware Commerce, retailers can deliver highly personalized shopping experiences while reducing reliance on IT and decreasing time-to-market. Demandware’s open cloud platform provides unique benefits including seamless innovation, an integrated ecosystem of best-of-breed partners, and community insight to optimize customer experiences. Demandware clients benefit from a steady stream of new features through seamless upgrades, and a world-class operating environment that has achieved 99.99% historic platform availability.

Allen Miner, founder and CEO of SunBridge, stated, “Japanese organizations are embracing the cloud for mission-critical applications to improve operational efficiencies and increase business agility. Demandware is the leader in enterprise cloud commerce solutions and we look forward to working with them as the company expands into Japan.”

“Demandware Commerce continues to drive superior growth for the largest, most demanding enterprise-scale retailers around the world,” said Tom Ebling, CEO of Demandware. “Digital commerce is growing rapidly in Japan and retail brands are increasingly looking for solutions that enhance omni-channel consumer engagement. Extending our operations into Japan to capitalize on this tremendous opportunity has been a key component of our global expansion strategy. We are thrilled to have the support of SunBridge as our partner as we engage with Japanese retailers.”

*eMarketer: Worldwide B2C eCommerce Q3 2014 Complete Forecast. August 2014. Alison McCarthy. Contributors include Marcus Johnson, Oscar Orozco, Monica Peart, Shelleen Shum, Martin Utreras, Haixia Wang

About SunBridge

SunBridge Corporation is an international venture capital and professional services firm. SunBridge offers globalization support for both Japanese and US technology companies; is a premier value added reseller of leading international enterprise software products; and offers a range of custom development and consulting services. SunBridge’s principals share a rich heritage of having founded Oracle Japan and held senior executive positions with IBM Japan and other leading enterprise software companies. SunBridge has successfully co-founded Salesforce.com Japan, Concur Japan (Nasdaq: CNQR), Kyriba Japan and Silkroad Technologies Japan. SunBridge has invested over $100m in more than 65 portfolio companies, resulting in eight successful IPOs and several major acquisition exits generating over $38 Billion in current market capitalization. SunBridge offices are located in Tokyo, Osaka, Silicon Valley, Charlotte and Cleveland. More information is available at www.sunbridge.com andwww.sunbridgepartners.com.

About Demandware

Demandware, the category defining leader of enterprise cloud commerce solutions, empowers the world’s leading retailers to continuously innovate in our complex, consumer-driven world. Demandware’s open cloud platform provides unique benefits including seamless innovation, the LINK ecosystem of integrated best-of-breed partners, and community insight to optimize customer experiences. These advantages enable Demandwarecustomers to lead their markets and grow faster. For more information, visit www.demandware.com, call +1-888-553-9216 or emailinfo@demandware.com.

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Marketo Expands Cloud Software Into Japan With SunBridge/Dentsu Venture

Wednesday, March 26th, 2014
By Dina Bass March 24, 2014

Marketo Inc. (MKTO:US), a maker of Internet-based marketing software, will make its first push into the Japanese market through a venture with Dentsu Inc. (4324), Asia’s biggest advertising company, and SunBridge Corp.

Marketo will also start selling its software, which helps create, track and target online ad campaigns, in a Japanese-language version, Chief Executive Officer Phil Fernandez said. The efforts mark the company’s first major international expansion since its initial public offering in May 2013.

The San Mateo, California-based company is trying to capitalize on rising demand for cloud versions of software for handling business tasks like finance, accounting, human resources and customer management. To make the most of their marketing spending, companies are seeking the ability to track all their digital ad campaigns and how well they are doing. Marketo’s software also automatically shows ads tailored to consumers’ interests and past behavior.

“It’s like ‘Moneyball’ for marketing,” Fernandez said in an interview, referring to the Michael Lewis book that chronicles how the Oakland Athletics baseball team used statistical analysis to select players on the cheap, enabling it to trump better-funded rivals like the New York Yankees. “You can do a better job when you are analyzing the right set of metrics.”

SunBridge, a venture capital firm that helps U.S. companies move into Japan, was started by Allen Miner, the founder of Oracle Corp. Japan.

Following Demand

Marketo’s stock has more than doubled (MKTO:US) since its May IPO at $13 a share. It fell 4.9 percent to $34.38 at yesterday’s close in New York. The company’s venture with Dentsu and SunBridge, called Marketo KK, and the new version of its software are being unveiled today at a press conference in Tokyo.

Marketo regards the Japanese market as underserved. Digital-ad spending is forecast to top $11 billion there this year, according to EMarketer Inc. Using its own technology, Marketo can spot demand for its products by geography, and there was a lot of interest from Japan, Fernandez said. The software maker already has customers among Japan’s multinational corporations, such as Sony Corp. (6758) and Toyota Motor Corp. Google Inc., another customer, wants to use the software in Japan to get local support, he said.

Marketo plans to have about 40 people working in Japan by the end of the year. The company also wants to expand to other countries and areas where demand is showing up, such as Brazil, Hong Kong and southeast China, Fernandez said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Dina Bass in Seattle at dbass2@bloomberg.net

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Kyriba Japan Appoints Jun-ichiro Kuwano as Managing Director

Friday, September 6th, 2013

SaaS treasury leader brings on former Oracle, RightNow executive to spearhead sales operations.

Kyriba, treasury management, accounting software

TOKYO (PRWEB) September 05, 2013

Kyriba, the leader in cloud-based treasury management solutions, has appointed former Oracle and RightNow Technologies executive, Jun-ichiro Kuwano, as managing director of its Japanese operations. In this role, he will oversee the continued growth of Kyriba Japan and build upon the company’s existing portfolio of high-profile clients.

Jun-ichiro Kuwano has a long track record of enterprise software sales leadership as well as building and establishing high-growth divisions within global organizations. He started his career at Digital Equipment Corporation and has held several management and sales leadership roles at high-profile software vendors. Immediately prior to joining Kyriba, Kuwano was senior director at Oracle Japan, as a result of Oracle’s acquisition of SaaS software leader RightNow Technologies, where he was country manager.

Kyriba Japan is a joint venture between Kyriba, as the majority shareholder, and SunBridge Corporation, the company responsible for launching the salesforce.com Japan and Concur Japan joint ventures, with Marc Benioff and Steve Singh acting as minority direct investors. Since Kyriba Japan began operations in June 2012, it has acquired high-profile clients in areas ranging from fashion and retail to consumer electronics.

“Jun-ichiro Kuwano has a strong track record managing top-performing sales teams and driving phenomenal growth at every step of his career,” said Jean-Luc Robert, chairman and CEO of Kyriba. “Kyriba has already established itself as the leading pure SaaS treasury and risk management provider in Europe and North America, and under Jun-ichiro’s leadership, we are in an excellent position to replicate this success in Japan.”

“Kyriba has already built a formidable reputation in the Japanese market as a leader in next-generation treasury solutions,” said Jun-ichiro Kuwano, managing director of Kyriba Japan. “Cloud-based platforms now dominate many areas of the enterprise applications market and Kyriba’s SaaS-based solution is building excellent momentum in the Japanese market. As forward-thinking treasury teams continue to focus on more strategic analysis and decision support, I look forward to continuing our growth in the market.”

About Kyriba

Kyriba is the global leader in next generation treasury solutions in the cloud. We enable CFOs and finance teams to increase compliance, reduce risk, and provide the insight necessary for strategic financial decision-making. Kyriba’s award-winning cash, treasury, payment, risk management and supply chain finance solutions are highly secure and scalable. With a client loyalty rate of more than 98 percent, Kyriba supports Global 2000 enterprises and fast-growth mid-market companies, including Amway, Electronic Arts (EA), Interpublic Group, PulteGroup, Inc. and Qualcomm. For more information on how to become a strategic partner to your organization, contact treasury(at)kyriba(dot)com or visit http://www.kyriba.com.

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