M&A WATCH: WESTERN EUROPE – AUGUST 2021 COVERAGE
Our monthly M&A Watch spotlights deals in the Information Technology industry throughout Western Europe.
August saw 40 deals getting closed in Western Europe, compared to 34 during the same time in 2020. Strategic acquirers, often with private equity backing, were more acquisitive this month – with 22 of the deals being done by strategic acquirers and 18 by private equity groups. Overall activity in the region remains robust and is pointing towards a potential record year for deal volume, if activity remains strong.
SNP Schneider-Neureither & Partner SE (“SNP”), a leading provider of software solutions for digital transformation processes and automated data migrations, announced its acquisition of Datavard AG. Datavard is a software and consulting company with around 170 employees that specializes in transformations and data management in SAP landscapes. In 2020, the firm generated total revenues of around EUR 17.6 million and EBIT of EUR 1 million. The acquisition of Datavard plays an important role in the implementation of SNP’s platform strategy, which allows companies to generate maximum value from their data transformation using just one software solution. #Germany #SAP
EPAM Systems, Inc. (NYSE: EPAM), a leading global provider of digital platform engineering and development services, announced its acquisition of CORE SE, a professional service provider specializing in IT strategy and technology-driven transformations. “The acquisition of CORE SE is part of EPAM’s strategy to respond to the growing business needs of our Western European-based clients to execute on their Technology Transformation agenda across various industries,” said Balazs Fejes, President for EU and APAC Markets at EPAM. #DACH #ITConsulting
Axcel Management, a private equity firm headquartered in Denmark, acquired ProData Consult from its financial sponsor Polaris Private Equity. ProData Consult is a Scandinavian market leader with a nearshoring-as-a-service function in Poland for IT consulting and managed IT services. Since Polaris’ investment in ProData Consult in 2018, the company has generated average annual growth of 26% and increased the number of active consultants on assignments for clients by 20% to roughly 3,000. #Denmark #ITConsulting
Qualitest, a provider of quality assurance and software testing services, acquired Telexiom via its financial sponsor Bridgepoint Advisers. Telexiom is a provider of quality engineering, IT security, software development, and project management solutions based in Germany. This marks Qualitest’s fourth acquisition in this year alone and adds five new offices and 224 employees to its roster. #Germany #QualityAssurance
Accenture (NYS: ACN),a global IT-services firm, announced its acquisition of Trivadis. Trivadis is a provider of IT services intended to improve the data proficiency of companies. The company’s services use a suite of proprietary accelerators and assets to help companies advance their data platform lifecycles, automate operational tasks in databases, develop data warehouse solutions, and accelerate cloud migrations. The acquisition will strengthen Accenture’s ability to help clients blend data from different sources together in real-time, build agile reporting and leverage analytics and AI to create broadly accessible customer, market, and operational insights that deliver meaningful business outcomes. #Switzerland #DataManagement&Analytics
Valantic, a German IT services provider, acquired proTask via its financial sponsor Deutsche Private Equity. proTask is a provider of SAP consulting and training services based in Austria and specializes in a wide range of SAP services including 24/7 hosting of the servers, licenses, consulting, implementation, training, SAP development, and interface programming. Following the merger with specialist consultant for financial processes, verovis GmbH in June 2021, and with wdp GmbH, the specialist for C-level digital management consulting and digital M&A and transaction services in August 2021, proTask, is now Valantic’s third expansion this year. #Germany #Austria #SAP
Ernst & Young (EY), a global professional services provider, announced its acquisition of Seaton Partners. Seaton Partners is a provider of consultancy services specializing in Microsoft Dynamics 365 business applications including finance, supply chain management, and HR. The company implements, integrates, optimizes, and manages cloud-based ERP, Microsoft 365 for talent, power BI, and power applications. The transaction supports EY’s Microsoft growth ambition to expand the capacity, capabilities, and market presence across Microsoft Dynamics 365 ERP. #UnitedKingdom #Microsoft #ERP
3i Group, a private equity firm based in the UK, announced its acquisition of MAIT. MAIT is a leading provider of innovative and pioneering digital solutions in the DACH region. MAIT Group, headquartered in Rottweil, Germany, provides innovative and pioneering digital solutions in product lifecycle management, enterprise resource planning, and IT services. IT generated approx. €120m in sales through over 5,300 SME customers that are served by 550 employees across 21 locations in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. #DACH #ERP #ProductLifecycleManagement
About 7 Mile Advisors
7MA provides specialized Investment Banking & Advisory Services to the professional service firms in the Consumer Products & Retail industries. We help our clients determine the right strategic partners for their businesses, transition ownership, raise capital, grow through acquisitions, and evaluate new markets. We advise our clients on M&A and private capital transactions, and provide unique market insights. Our team brings experience and energy to all of our engagements, with a focus on helping our clients navigate a changing marketplace.
To learn more about how 7 Mile Advisors can help you evaluate and execute on strategic M&A or private capital alternatives for your business, please visit our website www.7mileadvisors.com.