Gores Small Capitalization Partners and Platinum Equity Invest in Data Blue

LOS ANGELES–Gores Small Capitalization Partners and Platinum Equity announced that they have invested in Data Blue. Founded in 2011, Data Blue delivers customized storage, backup and server virtualization and consolidation solutions to enterprise customers in North America. Financial terms of the investment were not disclosed.

 “We are excited to partner with Gores and Platinum Equity as we enter the next chapter in our history. Our employees, customers and partners will all benefit from the significant capital and experience that this new partnership brings to Data Blue. This investment allows us to double down on customer service while expanding our product offering,” said Stephen Ayoub, CEO of Data Blue.

Jon Gimbel, Managing Director at The Gores Group, said, “We are committed to building a world class IT solutions provider with Data Blue forming the cornerstone of this investment thesis. Stephen and his team have created an incredible business that we believe is clearly differentiated in the market.”

“Data Blue has incredibly talented employees and valued customer and vendor relationships,” added Platinum Equity Principal Matthew Louie, a member of Partner Jacob Kotzubei’s team. “We look forward to supporting them to continue to grow, both organically and through acquisitions.”

Hyde Park Capital acted as exclusive financial advisor to Data Blue on the transaction.

About The Gores Group

The Gores Group, founded in 1987 by Alec Gores, is a global investment firm focused on acquiring controlling interests in mature and growing businesses which can benefit from the firm’s operating experience and flexible capital base. The firm combines the operational expertise and detailed due diligence capabilities of a strategic buyer with the seasoned M&A team of a traditional financial buyer. Over its almost 30 year history, The Gores Group has become a leading investor having demonstrated a reliable track record of creating value in its portfolio companies alongside management. Headquartered in Los Angeles, The Gores Group maintains offices in Boulder, CO, and London. For more information, please visit www.gores.com.

About Platinum Equity

Founded in 1995 by Tom Gores, Platinum Equity (www.platinumequity.com) is a global investment firm with more than $6 billion of assets under management and a portfolio of more than 25 operating companies that serve customers around the world. Platinum Equity specializes in mergers, acquisitions and operations – a trademarked strategy it calls M&A&O® – acquiring and operating companies in a broad range of business markets, including manufacturing, distribution, transportation and logistics, equipment rental, metals services, media and entertainment, technology, telecommunications and other industries. Over the past 20 years Platinum Equity has completed more than 175 acquisitions.

About Data Blue

Data Blue is headquartered in Atlanta, GA and delivers customized storage, backup and server virtualization and consolidation solutions to enterprise customers, with specific emphasis on Fortune 1000 companies. By utilizing its vast cross-platform integration expertise and unparalleled product knowledge, Data Blue delivers solutions that are tailored to meet the unique needs of its clients’ IT environment. More information about Data Blue is available at www.data-blue.com.

The Gores Group

Jennifer Kwon Chou
(310) 209-3010
jchou@gores.com
or

Platinum Equity

Dan Whelan
(310) 282-9202
dwhelan@platinumequity.com
or

Data Blue

Stephen Ayoub
(404) 919-6990
sayoub@data-blue.com