Marlin Equity closes Tellabs acquisition

Dec. 9, 2013

Marlin Equity Partners has completed its previously announced acquisition of Tellabs, Inc. (see “Tellabs next Marlin Equity Partners buy”). The question now is how Marlin will align (or merge) its new acquisition with its existing Coriant operations.

Tellabs, which focuses on packet optical equipment as well as systems for mobile backhaul and optical LAN applications, is Marlin’s third buy in the fiber-optic network hardware space. The others include the Optical Networks business of Nokia Siemens Networks, which Marlin renamed Coriant (see “Coriant unleashed as Marlin Equity Partners closes acquisition”) and Sycamore Networks Solutions Inc., which became Coriant America, Inc. (see “Marlin brings Sycamore Network Solutions under Coriant”). Marlin also owns Openwave Mobility and Openwave Messaging.

Marlin says that Tellabs will continue to be headquartered in Naperville, IL. Tellabs also operates research and development centers, and sales and service offices around the world. It has a range of strategic business partners as well; these relationships remain in place.

“Customer-first values represent one of the core principles of all our operating companies,” said Bob Leggett, an operating partner at Marlin. “The addition of Tellabs to the Marlin telecom portfolio provides the immediate opportunity to bring enhanced value by leveraging the complementary products and solutions of our other portfolio companies, in particular Coriant, an industry leader in coherent optical transmission technologies for long-haul networks. Through cross-selling agreements and targeted collaboration in multiple areas of the business, we will ensure that we retain the focus required to ensure optimal customer success and satisfaction.”

“The ever-increasing demand for data is driving fundamental network transformation and impacting multiple segments and applications, including mobile backhaul, metro/regional optical transport, and enterprise LANs,” said Pat DiPietro, an operating partner at Marlin. “Tellabs has successfully demonstrated technology innovation and market leadership in each of these areas, as well as in emerging technologies such as software-defined networking. The proven experience and expertise of the Tellabs team, combined with Marlin’s commitment to the market opportunity and a growing portfolio of complementary solutions, will offer Tellabs’ service provider, enterprise, and government customers an enhanced value proposition today and into the future as their networks and services evolve.”

Dan Kelly, Tellabs president and CEO, added, “With Marlin as our strategic investor, we have gained a partner who not only shares our vision for advancing smart networks, but also one with deep domain experience and the financial resources to help us bring new innovations to market and expand the service and support capabilities for our long-standing customers.”

For more information on high-speed transmission systems and suppliers, visit the Lightwave Buyer’s Guide.