Quick Heal divests minority stake to Sequoia to raise Rs 60-cr

Company controls 30 per cent share in Rs 350 Crore Indian anto-virus market

PTI | August 18, 2010



Computer security products firm, Quick Heal, has raised Rs 60-crore from Sequoia Capital by divesting a minority stake to fuel its entry into newer geographies, ramp-up research and fund future acquisitions.

Quick Heal, which controls a 30 per cent market share in the Rs 350-crore Indian anti-virus programmes market, had recorded a turnover of Rs 100-crore in FY 10 and has been growing at over 100 per cent for the last three-years.

"We found the company to be uniquely placed being among the few software product companies. Plus, the large domestic market also holds a big opportunity," Sequoia's Managing Director Sumir Chadha told reporters here today.

He said Indianisation of products and low price point are the advantages, which work for Quick Heal.

This is the first venture capital infusion in Pune-based Quick Heal, which was incorporated in 1995 and has outpaced international majors in the anti-virus market like McAfee and Symantec in India.

Both Chadha and Quick Heal's Managing Director Kailash Katkar refused to divulge the finer contours of the deal like the exact stake sold or the firm's valuation.

Quick Heal, which currently has a dominant position in the Indian home-users market, plans to enter the enterprise segment and newer markets, Katkar said, outlining priorities for usage of the funds.

The company already has a presence in Singapore, Malaysia, the Middle-East, Australia and New Zealand through channel partners and in North America through the online mode.

"After the fund infusion, we will move in to newer markets beyond these," Katkar said.

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