Francisco Partners to acquire Weave for $650m; Bain, River Associates and Kainos lead PE’s return to household products

Healthcare software company Weave Communications Inc. has announced plans to go private after being acquired by private equity firm Francisco Partners for $650 million in an all-cash deal. Shareholders will receive $7.40 per share, representing a 34% premium above Weave's closing stock price on August 17. The acquisition will enable Weave to focus on enhancing its AI capabilities, improving its payment and revenue cycle management, and advancing its mission to improve healthcare experiences for independent medical, dental, optometry, and veterinary practices.

Weave, founded in 2008, was the creator of a patient communication platform that allows these practices to send communications, schedule appointments, and process payments. The deal comes amid concerns about the impact of AI on software companies, with investors fearing that the rise of "SaaS apocalypse" may make such firms obsolete.

Despite steady revenue growth and a 17% increase in fiscal 2025, Weave's stock has underperformed this year, down 4% and 8% over the past year. Francisco Partners, which has invested in over 500 technology firms and recently acquired medical software company AdvancedMD, sees Weave as well-positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for AI in healthcare.

The deal, subject to shareholder approval and regulatory clearance, is expected to close before year-end.