The mystery suitors in an ongoing bidding war for Santa Ana’s MSC.Software Corp. were revealed last week as San Francisco-based private equity firms Vector Capital Corp. and Golden Gate Capital, according to New York-based trade publication the Deal.com.
The two firms this month have made three counter offers for MSC with the latest coming in last week at $367 million.
Vector and Golden Gate have been trading bids with Palo Alto-based private equity firm Symphony Technology Group LLC, which first offered $338 million for MSC in July and twice raised its offer this month.
Symphony has until today to up its latest $361 million offer or walk away, according to MSC.
MSC said last week it is delaying a shareholder meeting set for Wednesday to vote on the original offer from Symphony.
The company hasn’t named the firms behind the counter offers and has said it will do so if it enters into an acquisition agreement with the group.
Golden Gate focuses on investments in technology and retail with some $9 billion under management.
Vector Capital has some $2 billion under management and invests in technology companies that have at least $30 million in revenue. Last year, Vector acquired Irvine-based printer maker Printronix Inc. in a $108 million buyout.
MSC makes simulation software used to test designs of prototypes for military, aerospace and industrial uses.
-Sarah Tolkoff
