Francisco Partners, a private equity firm, agreed to acquire a majority stake in Native Instruments, a manufacturer of software and hardware for computer-based audio production, from EMH Partners, a private equity firm, for $1.2bn. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2021, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory review. “As an innovator in digital music creation, with a supreme brand recognition and outstanding software technology, Native Instruments is a perfect platform and partner for Francisco Partners. We look forward to working together with the management team and the existing shareholder group, utilising our broad operational and strategic experience and M&A capabilities to help the company accelerate its growth trajectory,” Matt Spetzler, Francisco Partners Co-Head Europe and Partner.