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Blackstone-led lenders take over Medallia from Thoma Bravo

A US$6.4bn 2021 buyout ends in a creditor takeover as the software company's private credit lenders swap debt for ownership.

M&A News deals deskTechnology / Customer experience software · United States, Americas17 Jun 2026

Medallia agreed on 17 June to a recapitalisation that transfers ownership of the customer experience software company from Thoma Bravo to a lender group led by Blackstone, Apollo and FS KKR Capital Corp.

Medallia website: medallia.com

Why Lender group led by Blackstone, Apollo and FS KKR Capital Corp is buying Medallia, Inc.

Medallia said the deal would strengthen its balance sheet and accelerate investment in AI-led experience management, including generative AI, automation and enterprise integrations. Blackstone described Medallia as a profitable business serving many of the world's largest companies.

“Closing this transaction is a defining moment for Medallia,”Mark Bishof, CEO, Medallia

Deal terms and financing

The lenders are contributing US$150m of new capital, and the transaction significantly reduces Medallia's outstanding debt; neither the debt cut nor a valuation was disclosed. Thoma Bravo, which bought Medallia for about US$6.4bn in 2021, chose not to inject further equity, opening the way for the creditor-led restructuring.

Regulatory approvals and timing

The company initially expected closing before the end of 2026; it announced completion on 3 August 2026.

Market context

Medallia's software collects and analyses customer and employee feedback for large enterprises. The deal is an example of private credit lenders taking control of a sponsor-owned software company rather than forcing a sale.

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