Episerver Explained

Episerver
Type:Private
Foundation:Sweden (1994)
Location City:Nashua, NH USA and Stockholm, Sweden
Key People:
  • Adam Berger, Executive Chairman
  • Alex Atzberger, Chief Executive Officer
  • Shafqat Islam, President
Industry:Software
Parent:Insight Partners
Products:Episerver Digital Experience Cloud

Episerver is a software company offering web content management (WCM) (or CMS), digital commerce, and digital marketing, through the Episerver Digital Experience Platform Cloud Service. In January 2021, Episerver announced that they were rebranding as Optimizely, a company they acquired in October, 2020.[1]

History

Episerver was founded in 1994 in Stockholm, Sweden, by Mikael Runhem. Then known as Elektropost Stockholm AB, the company focused on internet-based electronic mail. Elektropost Stockholm AB expanded to provide technology for building websites and introduced the first version of the EPiServer CMS platform in 1997.[2]

In 2002, the first version of EPiServer CMS that was based on Microsoft’s .NET Framework, EPiServer CMS 4.0, was launched. In 2006, Mikael Runhem changed the company’s name to EPiServer AB. In 2007, the second .NET-based version of EPiServer CMS was launched, version 5.

In 2010, the company was owned by a group of investors, including Amadeus Capital, Martin Bjäringer, Monterro Holdings, Northzone Ventures, Mikael Runhem and family and employees. In November 2010, this group sold the company to IK Investment Partners.[3]

IK Partners, through the IK 2007 Fund, acquired a majority stake in December 2010.[4] The platform was later sold to Accel-KKR, a technology-focused private equity investment firm.[5] [6] Accel-KKR had also recently purchased Ektron, a Nashua, New Hampshire-based CMS company.[7]

In January 2015, Episerver and Ektron merged.[8] [9] Two former executives from KANA Software, CEO Mark Duffell and CMO James Norwood, were appointed President and CEO and Executive Vice President Strategy and CMO of Episerver, respectively. Martin Henricson, CEO of the former Episerver business assumed the role of Executive Chairman for the merged entity.[10]

The company combined its software into the Episerver Digital Experience Cloud,[11] and in June 2015, Episerver launched the first major release of its platform following the Ektron merger.[12]

In November 2015, the company rebranded itself, changing EPiServer to Episerver, and including the shortened name “Epi”.[13]

In August 2016, Episerver acquired Peerius, a London UK-based commerce personalization company. The brand now is fully integrated as EpiPersonalization into the Episerver Platform. Former Peerius CEO Roger Brown left the company.[14]

In September 2018, Episerver was sold to Insight Venture Partners for $1.16 billion.[15]

In December 2019, Alexander Atzberger, former President of Customer Experience at SAP, joined Episerver as the company's new CEO.[16]

In October 2020, Episerver acquired Optimizely, a digital experimentation company.[17] [18]

In January 2021, Episerver announced that they were rebranding as "Optimizely".[19]

Mergers and acquisitions

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ha . Anthony . Following acquisition, Episerver rebrands as Optimizely . Techcrunch . February 6, 2021 . January 27, 2021.
  2. Web site: Guseva. Irina. Web CMS Vendor EPiServer Acquired by a Surprising Buyer. CMSWire. Simpler Media Group, Inc.. Nov 10, 2010.
  3. Web site: FinSMEs. 2010-11-16. IK Investment Partners to Acquire EPiServer Group. 2021-03-16. FinSMEs. en-US.
  4. Web site: EPiServer (Optimizely) I Private Equity Investment I Mid Cap . 2024-08-15 . IK Partners . en-GB.
  5. Web site: Backaitis. Virginia. Not a Rumor: Accel-KKR Invests in Episerver. CMSWIre. Simpler Media Group, Inc.. Dec 8, 2014.
  6. Web site: Stern-Peltz. Mikkel. IK sells EPiServer to Accel-KKR. Unquote. 9 December 2014 . Mergermarket Limited. Dec 9, 2014.
  7. Web site: Ektron President Fesses Up To Selling The Company To Accel-KKR. 5 December 2014.
  8. Web site: Episerver and Ektron merge. KMWorld. Information Today Inc.. Jan 27, 2015.
  9. Web site: Seebacher. Noreen. Told You So: Ektron is Merging with Episerver. CMSWire. Simpler Media Group, Inc.. Jan 27, 2015.
  10. Web site: Seebacher . Noreen . Told You So: Ektron is Merging with EPiServer . CMSWire . February 6, 2021.
  11. Web site: Episerver and Ektron merge and target the mid-market for digital experience. Ovum. Informa PLC. Feb 6, 2015.
  12. Web site: Nicastro. Dom. Episerver Taps Ektron Roots in New Release. CMSWire. Simpler Media Group, Inc.. Jun 4, 2015.
  13. Web site: Backaitis. Virginia. Episerver Tries to Rebuild its Brand. CMSWire. Simpler Media Group, Inc.. Nov 16, 2015.
  14. Web site: Tamturk. Venus. Episerver Buys Peerius to Boost Autonomous Personalization. CMS Connected. CMS-Connected. August 31, 2016.
  15. Web site: Insight Venture Partners Invests in Episerver . ACCEL KKR . 7 February 2023 . 6 September 2018 . Episerver, the company transforming digital experiences, today announced it has reached a definitive agreement to be acquired by Insight Venture Partners, a New York based global private equity firm focused on high-growth investments in the technology sector, in a transaction valuing Episerver at USD $1.16 billion..
  16. Web site: Demery . Paul . Former SAP ecommerce head joins Episerver as CEO . Digital Commerce 360 . February 6, 2021 . January 4, 2019.
  17. Web site: Ha . Anthony . Optimizely acquired by content management company Episerver . Techcrunch . February 6, 2021 . September 3, 2020.
  18. Web site: Slides . Oil . Episerver to Acquire Optimizely for Digital Experiences . Cheddar . February 6, 2021 . September 8, 2020.
  19. Web site: Ha . Anthony . Following acquisition, Episerver rebrands as Optimizely . Techcrunch . February 6, 2021 . January 27, 2021.
  20. Web site: Episerver Acquires Business of e-Commerce Solution Provider Mediachase. Yahoo! Finance. Yahoo!. Mar 12, 2012. References.
  21. Web site: Berthiaume. Dan. Episerver Scales for Big Data, Better Content Targeting With 200OK AB Acquisition. CMSWire. Simpler Media Group, Inc.. May 10, 2012. References.
  22. Web site: Castro. Marc. Euroling Acquired by Episerver. Venture Capital Post. 7 May 2013 . May 7, 2013. References.
  23. Web site: Ektron + EPiServer Merger – Implications for Customers -Digital Clarity Group. 2021-03-16. www.digitalclaritygroup.com.
  24. Web site: Beltran. Luisa. 2016-10-05. PE-backed Episerver buys Optivo and Peerius. 2020-09-07. PE Hub. en-US.
  25. Web site: Kemper . Frank . Deutsche Post verkauft Optivo an Episerver . Internet World . February 6, 2021 . October 4, 2016.
  26. Episerver. Episerver Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire 1:1 Personalization Company Idio. 2020-09-07. www.prnewswire.com. en.
  27. Web site: Ha. Anthony. Optimizely acquired by content management company Episerver. TechCrunch. August 3, 2020. References.
  28. Web site: Roof. Katie. Baker. Liana. Goldman-Backed Startup Optimizely to Be Bought by Episerver. Bloomberg. August 3, 2020. References.

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