Innovation spurs huge M&A transaction volumes and valuations

With above $1bn valuations also rising fast; 14 during the first half of 2018, compared with just five in 2H2017 and three during 1H2017, records for the sector are already breaking. 

The top three acquirers over the past 30 months were: Wisetech Global, the Australian logistics software company (14 deals, including: Pierbridge Inc and SaaS Transportation); Vista Equity Partners (13 deals, including Allocate Software Plc and Gather Technologies) and Thoma Bravo (12 deals, including MeridianLink Inc and ABC Financial).

Miro Parizek, founder and principal partner, Hampleton Partners, stated: “The rapid rise of software innovation, coupled with cloud-based applications, is delivering new companies, business models and jobs as well as record-breaking volumes and valuations in the first half of 2018. We’re anticipating that corporate tax cuts in the US will free up vast amounts of excess cash, leading to further investment in cutting-edge technologies, driving further M&A.”

Microsoft's $7.5bn acquisition of GitHub, a software development platform that has become popular with more than 28 million developers, topped the sector’s deals in the first half of 2018. With over 85 million code repositories, it is used by companies such as Apple, Amazon and Google. As developers continue to influence key business functions across several industries, Microsoft is hoping the deal will boost enterprise developers’ use of GitHub.

Private equity’s continued buying spree

Private equity investors continued their strong run, announcing 81 deals, with total disclosed values exceeding $5.8bn in 1H2018. This is an increase of 72% by transaction volume and a 119% rise in deal values compared to the same period last year.

With buyout fund activity maintaining the momentum from the end of last year, private equity multiples are also continuing to increase. Notable transactions such as the $1.1bn acquisition of CommerceHub by GTCR and Sycamore Partners at 10x sales and 32x EBITDA suggests that private equity investors are increasingly willing to pay higher multiples.

Download the full Hampleton Enterprise Software M&A Report for free, here.

Download the full Hampleton IT Services M&A Report for free, here.