M&A Activity Down in Financial Technology Sector
M&A activity in the financial technology sector was down for the first half of 2014 as compared with the last six months of 2013, according to new research from Berkery Noyes. The investment bank examined information and technology companies in capital markets, payments, banking, insurance, and other related financial services.
Aggregate transaction volume underwent an 11% decrease in the first half of 2014, while total deal value fell 27%, from $15.15 billion to $11.07 billion, compared to the final six months of 2013. The overall industry’s decrease in volume over the past six months was attributable in large part to the capital markets segment, which saw the number of deals fall 30%, according to Berkery Noyes. This came in the aftermath of a 19% increase between the first half and the second half of 2013, which was the segment’s highest point over the past two and a half years.
Meanwhile, the number of transactions in the banking segment was constant on a half-to-half year basis, the firm said. Deals in the segment completed by notable acquirers in the first half of 2014 included First American Financial Corporation’s acquisition of Interthinx for $155 million and Moody’s Analytics’ acquisition of WebEquity Solutions.
Deal activity in the payments segment saw only a 5% decline in the first half of 2014, Berkery Noyes reported. This followed a 64% increase between the first half and the second half of 2013. In terms of transaction value, six of the industry’s top-ten largest deals year-to-date were payments-related. The largest deal in the mobile payments subsector in the first half of 2014 was Intuit’s acquisition of Check for $360 million.
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Bryan Yurcan is associate editor for Bank Systems and Technology. He has worked in various editorial capacities for newspapers and magazines for the past 8 years. After beginning his career as a municipal and courts reporter for daily newspapers in upstate New York, Bryan has ... View Full Bio
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