Oct 21 M&A blog: IT, cyber and digital transformation dominating M&A activity

2. PwC acquires WebSecure in cyber push

WebSecure Technologies specialises in implementing digital identity and privileged access management (PAM) solutions. PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Australia has strengthened its cyber security capabilities after striking a deal to acquire Sydney-based information security and risk management provider WebSecure Technologies Australia. WebSecure Technologies specialises in implementing digital identity and privileged access management (PAM) solutions, providing an end-to-end offering, including licensing, implementation, maintenance and support, as well as ongoing operational managed services. The firm counts the likes of CyberArk, SailPoint, Digital Guardian and Netskope among its vendor partners. From completion of the acquisition, WebSecure will become part of PwC Australia in late 2021 and its brand will integrate fully to PwC.

3. PwC acquires strategy software boutique Mindmatter

Matthew Tutty, the founder and CEO of Melbourne-based strategy consulting and software company MindMatter, has announced its acquisition by professional services firm PwC. Fresh off the back of its acquisition of Sydney-based IT security and digital identity specialist WebSecure, it appears professional services firm PwC has secured a second purchase – that of Melbourne-headquartered strategy and software firm MindMatter. While no official announcement has been made, MindMatter’s founder and CEO Matthew Tutty posted about the sale on Linkedin, with congratulations from a number of PwC partners.

4. Deloitte acquires asset management advisory firm Bluefield

Deloitte has purchased Bluefield, a specialised asset management advisory firm to the mining sector and other heavy industries. Continuing the string of recent acquisitions among the local arms of the Big Four, Deloitte Australia has announced its purchase of Brisbane-headquartered Bluefield, which specialises in optimising the full life-cycle of assets. Deloitte states that the transaction – which was made for an undisclosed sum – will see it become a “true one-stop-shop for comprehensive, top to bottom asset management services”.

5. PwC expands NewLaw offering through CXINLAW pick-up

The legal services division of PwC Australia has snapped up CXINLAW, expanding its transformative NewLaw offering from in-house legal teams to law firms. CXINLAW (which stands for client experience in law), was first established in 2014 by founding director Carl White, who now joins PwC as a director. The company specialises in helping law firms, chambers and corporates with transforming their customer experience, leveraging insights from industries such as retail and hospitality.

6. Cyber security outfit CyberCX merges with Kiwi subsidiary Insomnia Security

Melbourne-based cyber security services provider CyberCX has announced leadership changes to its New Zealand organisation as it merges with Auckland-based subsidiary Insomnia Security. CyberCX, whichbought Insomnia Security last year, said the merger marked the launch of a single CyberCX brand in the market, led by former head of Insomnia Security Brett Moore, who has now been appointed CEO. Tim Sewell, who was director of information security with CCL until February, has now been appointed as chief operating officer.

7. Deloitte acquires Oracle cloud consultancy Magia Solutions

Professional services firm Deloitte has made its second cloud-focused purchase in a fortnight, picking up Perth-based technology consultancy Magia Solutions for an undisclosed sum. Deloitte’s M&A team has struck again, with the firm acquiring Perth-based Oracle cloud specialist Magia Solutions – the ink barely having dried on its purchase of cloud managed services companySliced Tech. According to Deloitte, the deal will see it boast one of the deepest Oracle cloud skill-sets in the country, with Magia’s Australia-wide team of 75 due to cross to Deloitte Consulting in mid-December, including its C-suite as partners.

8. Pitcher Partners more than doubles in Newcastle with DFK Crosbie

Pitcher Partners has welcomed DFK Crosbie to its network, more than doubling its presence in Newcastle. The bolt-on will see a team of around 90 professionals, including 9 partners, merger into Pitcher Partners, lifting its team in the Newcastle region to upwards of 140 team members (led by 12 partners) working from offices located in Newcastle and Maitland.

9. Quadrant PE signs Seertech Solutions for growth fund

Quadrant Private Equity is set to acquire a controlling stake in Australian enterprise learning software company Seertech Solutions for its new growth fund. Less than one month after wrapping up a$530 million raising for Quadrant Growth Fund 2, the private equity manager has signed a deal to buy a majority interest in Seertech and invest alongside the company’s founder and management team. Seertech Solutions has more than 50 staff across its offices in Australia, the US and Europe.

10. Perpetual Acquires Laminar Capital

The Laminar team is pleased to announce that we are now part of Perpetual Limited, an ASX-listed (ASX:PPT), diversified financial services company, which has been serving clients since 1886. Across four businesses: Perpetual Asset Management Australia, Perpetual Asset Management International, Perpetual Corporate Trust and Perpetual Private, aim to protect and grow its clients’ wealth, knowing that by doing so we can make a difference in their lives. Following the acquisition by Perpetual, Laminar will maintain its brand and leadership team. We will now be part of a larger business and team but with the same focus on you, our customers.

11. NCS makes majority investment in Eighty20 Solutions to accelerate Australian growth

NCS will make a majority investment in Eighty20 Solutions (Eighty20), an Australian cloud transformation specialist, to continue scaling its market presence in Australia. One of the fastest growing IT companies in Australia, Eighty20 will further boost NCS’ NEXT capabilities to support Australian clients in their digital transformation journey, offering end-to-end suite of solutions across cloud, business applications, workplace modernisation and managed services

12. One Identity acquires OneLogin in bid to offer consolidated IAM suite

In a move to offer its customers a consolidated suite of security applications, One Identity has acquired OneLogin, an IAM (identity and access management) provider. One Identity has acquired OneLogin, anIAM (identity and access management) provider, in a bid to offer its customers an end-to-end suite of security applications that offer identity correlation, secured access to critical assets, and real-time visibility into suspicious login activity. One Identity, which is owned by Quest Software, has up to now providedPAM (privileged access management), IGA (identity governance and administration), and ADMS (active directory management and security) applications.

13. IPD acquires High Technology Control

IPD Group has acquired Sydney-based High Technology Control (HTC), effective immediately. HTC’s products and services complement IPD Group’s growing portfolio and will provide all IPD Group and HTC customers with a stronger national footprint and supplier confidence. This strategic alliance provides HTC with the support and infrastructure available at IPD Group, without changing the small business relationships or delivery of expertise that HTC customers have enjoyed over the last 35 years.

14. Four Sydney IT players set for mega-merger

Four Sydney-headquartered IT consultancies have merged to form end-to-end cyber security shop Sekuro. The four firms — Privasec, Solista, CXO Security and Naviro — claim to have 90 members of staff across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth with a combined revenue of $68 million. Robert McAdam will take on the role of CEO of the new entity, having previously led CXO for the past four years.

15. Schlesinger buys Australian Digital Qual Platform

Founded by market researchers Bianca Plunkett-La Serra (pictured, left) and Peter Treloar (pictured, right) in 2017, Melbourne-based Telmy recruits research and user experience respondents through a qualitative self-serve platform. The software can be used to manage qualitative projects and reduces the time and cost involved with recruiting participants, according to Schlesinger. The financial terms of the acquisition have not been disclosed. Plunkett-La Serra and Treloar will remain with Telmy to lead the team and the continued development of the company’s software.

16. Onlineone strengthens NetSuite base, acquires customers from Akuna Solutions

Onlineone has acquired the NetSuite customer accounts of Akuna Solutions, building on 20 years of market expertise and specialised capabilities across Australia. The move is designed to expand NetSuite reach across the mid-market through business and technical consulting services, scaling alongside increased customer demand for cloud-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions.

17. RIMES to acquire Matrix IDM, creating an advanced investment data management solution

RIMES, the global strategic data partner for asset managers, asset owners and service providers, announces its intention to acquireMatrix IDM, an Australia-based investment data management platform, for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition will bring together superior managed data services and powerful analytics technology to help asset owners, institutional investors, asset managers and service providers solve complex data problems. Matrix Co-CEO Stuart Plane will join the RIMES Executive Committee, and together with co-founder Neil Lotter and RIMES Head of Managed Data Services (MDS) Shaun Mirams, will lead the combined MDS and Matrix IDM business segment.