Learning and Education Technology Update Q1 2019

May 23, 2019 - Solganick & Co. has published its latest Learning and Education Technology (EdTech) M&A Update for Q1 2019.  The following summarizes the report:

• 106 Learning & Education Technology transactions were announced in Q1 2019; approximately 53% were minority PE deals.

• $5.8 billion in Q1 2019 in announced transaction value is driven by PE majority deals.
• Companies focused on the Corporate market comprised of approximately 45% of transactions announced in Q1 2019.
• The industry saw a healthy mix of activity across all domains in Q1 2019, with Career & Recruiting comprising 25%, Learning and Training 17%, Administrative 17%, Tutoring, Training & Certification 14% of total transactions.
• Q1 2019 deals announced include the $1.75 billion Turnitin.com acquisition by Advance Publications and Reverence Capital Partners acquisition of Blackbaud’s Transact division for $700M.

The full report can be accessed and downloaded here: Solganick Learning and EdTech M&A Update Q1 2019

For more information or to inquire about an M&A transaction please visit our website at: Solganick & Co.

Digital Media M&A Update, Q1 2016

Solganick & Co. Issues Its Latest Digital Media M&A Update for Q1 2016

April 2016 – Solganick & Co. has issued its latest Digital Media industry M&A Update for Q1 2016.  Below are the key highlights of the report:

• Overall M&A activity across the digital media industry remains robust YTD 2016. Several notable billion dollar deals were announced in Q1 2016, encompassing entertainment, media, and advertising industries, etc.
• In Q1 2016, the largest transaction in the Digital Media sector recorded for a total deal value of $3.5 bn was Dalian Wanda’s acquisition of Legendary Entertainment. It’s the largest cross border culture acquisition in history. Other prominent billion dollar acquisitions include Comscore’s acquisition of Rentrak, which reached a post money valuation of $1.2B.
• Within AdTech and Digital Marketing, the M&A environment remained favorable. In Q1, AdTech totaled 131 deals, capital invested amount to close to 3 billion in this sector alone. and in Digital Marketing, a total of 169 deals were recorded for a total deal value of 2.4 Billion, for a median deal size of $25.27 mm.

Digital Media M&A Drivers 2016

As the culmination of most of the trends of the past 5 years, there are several big trends that are happening this year in digital media.

Global Mobile: The rapid adoption of mobile devices and changes in communication and messaging is altering the shape of traditional business models. These new forms of communication and messaging are bringing new types of multichannel and multimedia content. For example, in the print market business model is changing because of the growing adoption of mobile devices, they are moving into creating new print requirement and opportunities such as mobile print solution and loud printing services. (source: Gartner) Mobile is everywhere and has bypassed desktop/laptops all together. Companies are starting to project brand DNA in mobile applications, and user experience has never been more critical.

Content Distribution: While content is still vitally important, content distribution becomes more critical than ever. Getting content onto the mobile devices of your audiences has become the next big frontier. Brands are experimenting new distribution platfoms like Snapchat, while other distribution platforms like Netflix is getting into content business. Such trends will continue grow in 2016, as music, video, movies, TV, photos, long-form articles, advertising will rise and fall with effective and efficient distribution.

Big Data Big Intelligence: Big data can be a big mess without an intelligence plan. Data needs to be turned into actionable business insights in order to truly aid decision-making. In addition to providing insights, such intelligence can drive content and distribution.

Virtual Reality: VR is becoming this year’s digital media headline story. We know Facebook acquired Oculus for $2 billion in 2014, but Oculus is not alone. Virtually all major consumer electronics giants will flood the market with millions of permium VR headset at price points that will drive adoption akin to the early days of game consoles. For major studios and the creative community in general, VR presents a tantalizing new mega-commercial opportunity to thrill consumers with new forms of story-telling, such as Jaunt, a bay-area company that closed a massive $65 million round of financing in 2015 from the likes of media giants Disney and ProSeiben, made the biggest splash on the creator side.

Over-the-Top Content and Multi-Platform Networks: Last year, NBC invested $200 million into Vox media and another $200 million in Buzzfeed, it went all-in with OTT. It also announced a stand-alone subscription service, Seeso in Jan, 2016. Another trend to look for is media companies move beyond YouTube into the land of Facebook and Snapchat. There’s gold in those mobile-first vertical hills populated by a particularly rabid and underserved digital-native customer base.

You can download the complete report here: Digital Media M&A Update (Q1 2016)

Solganick & Co. is a leading investment bank and M&A advisory firm focused exclusively on the technology and digital media industry sectors. For more information go to: www.solganickco.com

Software M&A Update, Q1 2016

Solganick & Co. issues its Software M&A Update for Q1 2016

April 2016 - Solganick & Co. issues its latest software industry M&A update for Q1 2016. The following summarizes the key highlights of the report:

• Despite a broader global M&A slump, activity within Technology remained robust for the first quarter. According to Dealogic, as of March 2016, global Technology M&A stood at $71.4bn with 1,535 deals, the highest YTD level since 2000 and up 53% on 2015 YTD ($46.6bn). It is the second most targeted sector entering 2016, accounting for 12% of global M&A volume and 26% of activity.
• In particular, deal activity within the U.S. software segment increased. 406 deals with a total invested capital of $26.09 bn was recorded for the U.S. Software industry in Q1 2016. This represents a growth of 48.9% in value compared to Q1 2015 (473 deals with total invested capital of $17.52 bn).
• M&A activity within the software segment was led by a few mega transactions this quarter. They include: Microsoft’s acquisition of Xamarin, Resmed’s acquisition of Brightree, Cisco’s acquisition of Jasper Technologies, and Insight Venture Partner’s buyout of Diligent Corporation (see M&A and Buyout Spotlight sections for more details).
• The median Implied Enterprise Value/Revenue and Implied Enterprise Value/EBITDA for the U.S. Software Industry stood at 3.4x and 11.3x respectively.
• Even as the global M&A landscape experiences a gradual cool down and deals re-balance towards a more sustainable level, we expect deal activity within Technology, particularly Software, to remain robust. In the Software segment, we have identified two key technological trends that are expected to drive consolidation and/or acquisitions: the emergence of the Internet of Things (IoT) and Cognitive Technologies or Artificial Intelligence (AI).

You can read more and download the complete report here: http://www.solganickco.com/solganick-co-issues-software-ma-update-for-q1-2016/

Solganick & Co. is a leading boutique investment banking and M&A advisory firm focused exclusively on the software, IT services and digital media industry sectors. For more information, go to: www.solganickco.com

Internet and Digital Media M&A Update (January 2015)

Merger & acquisition deal values in digital media, information & technology rose 48% in 2014 compared with 2013. The aggregate total value of announced M&A deals rose to $224 billion in 2014 from $151 billion in 2013. There were approximately 2,240 acquisitions announced in digital media, information & technology last year -- up from 2,020 in 2013 -- and activity should continue to pick up in 2015.

Agency & marketing, information and digital content were the top three most active sectors last year, remaining steady from 2013 and 2012. Software, mobile, and digital content provided higher exit valuations in 2014. Announced deals in software represented $48 billion or 21.7% of the total -- up from $27 billion and 17.7% in 2013 -- followed by mobile, digital content and information, evenly distributed and each accounting for between 17.8% and 15.0% of the total.

Facebook's WhatsApp acquisition for $19.7 billion substantially increased the value of mobile M&A’s. While WhatsApp represents the largest deal, there were 48 M&A transactions above $1 billion in deal value last year, accounting for 61.9% of total reported deal value, compared with 34 transactions in 2013, accounting for 59.2% of total deal value. There were 28 deals in search and digital media sectors that included search, search engine optimization or paid-search marketing, and 178 deals categorized as digital agencies.

Google, Yahoo, Publicis, and WPP Groupe were the most active acquirers in 2014.

Overall, 2014 was an active year in the advertising technology sector, with 100 M&A transactions representing $7.5 billion in value, more than 3x the value of deals in 2013. Publicis Groupe's acquisition of digital agency Sapient for $3.7 billion was announced in November 2014. With advertisers wanting to use fewer vendors, we expect to see an increase of M&A activity around larger companies looking to gobble up smaller ones with specific services, as they attempt to become full-service providers.

The largest ad tech deal in 2014 was Alliance Data's $2.4 billion acquisition of Conversant, formerly known as ValueClick, an affiliate marketing firm that enables companies to personalize ads and target users based on previous Internet searches. Conversant's technology will become an extension of Alliance Data's loyalty marketing services capabilities.

Yahoo’s $640 million acquisition of video ad provider BrightRoll (Nov 2014) was another move into video advertising.

M&A will not slow in 2015. We see all of the economic elements for a strong M&A marketplace for 2015: an improving economy, strong balance sheets, low interest rates, current IPO filings and a rising stock market.

For the complete report go here: Internet and Digital Media M&A Update (January 2015)

M&A Update - IT Services, Cloud and Managed Services (August 2014)

Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) deal volume increased by 39% year-over-year (YOY) and 15% successively to 872 deals and at corporate volume reported 806 deals, reporting its fourth consecutive increase, up 17% successively and year-over-year rise of 41%. Cloud and smart mobility have been responsible for about 42% of technology deals, with the global technology M&A rising by 57% to (USD) $52.4 billion this year, according to a new report by Ernst & Young. The report noted that the disclosed value of M&A deals rose by 70% to $119 billion during the second half of 2014, while the value dropped 21% in 2Q14 compared to Q1.

During the quarter, private equity (PE) volume dropped by 6% consecutively following five consecutive quarterly increases, while rose 16% YOY and its aggregate value reached $5.9 billion, declined 55% sequentially and 58% YOY.

In addition, the average value of PE deals reached $266 million, reporting 41% drop sequentially and 58% YOY, marking the lowest level in three years. However, the overall average deal value declined 24% consecutively and 7% YOY to $231 million, the report added.

Overall, global technology M&A is on path for a record year in 2014. Technology companies are cash rich, and interest rates are low. Buyers are in full force looking to acquire companies that are strategic to their business and growth initiatives. In addition, the IPO market has open its gates again in 2014 which feeds further M&A transactions.

There were several M&A transactions announced within the IT services, cloud and managed services sectors in July and August 2014. We expect it to continue into the rest of 2014 and into 2015.  Cloud services firms are in high demand for private equity firms because they like their recurring revenue and longer term contracts. We have been in recent contact with a number of private equity firms that continue to express a strong interest in acquiring cloud services firms.

We are seeing average valuation ranges from 0.8x to 1.0x TTM revenues and 6.0x – 9.0x TTM EBITDA for most IT services firms including project based systems integrators and IT consulting firms. The more profitable, the larger the revenues and higher amounts of recurring revenue have commanded higher transaction premiums. Cloud, managed and hosting services providers are currently commanding a an average valuation ranging from 1.9x – 2.3x of TTM revenues and 7.2x – 9.4x TTM EBITDA multiples YTD 2014.

M&A Valuation Multiples - August 2014

	IT Services	Cloud, Managed and Hosting Services	VAR
Enterprise Value/Revenue (ttm)	0.8x – 1.0x	1.9x – 2.3x	0.2x – 0.4x
Enterprise Value/EBITDA (ttm)	6.0x – 9.0x	7.2x – 9.4x	6.0x - 7.7x

For the full report, please go here: http://generationequityadvisors.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/GEA-IT-Services-Cloud-and-Managed-Services-MnA-Update-Aug-2014.pdf        

First Half 2014 Shows Further Upswing in Technology M&A Transactions

We noted a further uptick in announced mergers and acquisitions for technology companies in Q2 2014.  Technology mergers and acquisitions worldwide more than doubled in the first half of 2014, with deals worth $383.4 billion in that span, up 122% from the year-earlier figure, according to Mergermarket.

The majority of technology deals happened in the U.S., trailed by the Asia Pacific.

More than half of the M&A activity this year was during Q2 2014. The value of M&A's in Q2 tripled to $200.9 billion from $67 billion in Q2 2013.

Yahoo! (NASDAQ:YHOO), Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) and Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) have been especially active in M&A this year as they all expand into new businesses and technologies. The telecommunications sector also showed a heavy uptick as it further consolidated.


For more information regarding Technology M&A, please contact us: mergers@generationequityadvisors.com


Generation Equity Advisors is a Los Angeles based technology and digital media M&A advisor and investment banking firm. Its professionals have completed over $20 billion in M&A transactions and are experienced investment bankers. For more information about Generation Equity Advisors, please go to: www.generationequityadvisors.com

Technology Mergers on Upswing in Q1 2014

2014 is off to a strong start for technology M&A announcements. We noted a number of new transactions announced in January and early February 2014. According to several M&A research reports and surveys, including KPMG's 2014 M&A Survey, we expect a solid year for technology M&A announcements.  These efforts will reflect a better global economy and market conditions than were available in previous years. In addition, the top reasons as to why we will see more M&A transactions in 2014 include:

• Large amounts of cash sitting on corporate balance sheets and in PE funds
• Opportunities in emerging markets
• Availability of credit and favorable terms
• Improved customer (and executive) confidence
• Improving equity markets
• Improved employment numbers
• Recovery of certain industry sectors, including financial services

A well executed integration plan, reasonable deal price/value, effective due diligence and positive economic conditions are all important factors in M&A success.

We see an uptick in dealflow for the first half of Q1 2014 within software, IT services, cloud services, digital media and financial technology and expect it to increase further.

Due to this expected uptick for M&A in 2014, Generation Equity Advisors plans to continue its growth and efforts to lead and advise on technology M&A transactions by adding additional talent and expertise to its experienced staff.  In addition, it plans to form strategic partnerships with companies that can enhance its M&A reach to the global markets.

For further information, please contact its M&A team at mergers@generationequityadvisors.com

Tarang Shah will be a speaker at the Mobile Host Show - The Mobile Summit for Hospitality and Retail

Tarang Shah, Managing Director at Generation Equity Advisors, will be speaking at the 2013 Mobile Host Show - The Mobile Summit for Hospitality and Retail held in Las Vegas, NV on May 23, 2013 at The Mirage Hotel and Casino.



He will be covering the subject "The Future of Mobile Payments for Hospitality and Retail." Mobile payments, also known as mobile money or mobile wallet, are expected to be one of the greatest growth areas in the near future. We will sort through all the options that compose mobile payments and what you can expect from future technologies that will drive sales.


The presentation will be posted on the www.generationequityadvisors.com website shortly after the event.


About Tarang Shah

Tarang Shah is a Managing Director at Generation Equity Advisors, a Los Angeles-based independent investment bank and mergers & acquisitions advisory firm focused exclusively on technology companies, where he covers the mobile technology sector.  He is a former Softbank venture capital professional as well as a former program manager for Ericsson,  Qualcomm and NEC. Mr. Shah holds two degrees in Engineering and two MBA degrees. You can contact Tarang Shah at tshah@generationequityadvisors.com for more information.