Bryan, Garnier & Co acts as Sole Financial Advisor to Sword Group SE on the divestiture of its wholesale finance software division, Sword APAK, to Sopra Banking Software Ltd
Context
Sword APAK, a subsidiary of Sword Group, is a leading global provider of software solutions across the wholesale finance value chain.
With more than 250 employees, Sword APAK serves banks and captives (lending subsidiaries). The company operates globally, with offices in the UK, the US, France and Australia.
Sword APAK front-to-back suite is primarily deployed as full application service provider (ASP).
The sale to Sopra Banking Software will support Sword APAK’s global growth and generate synergies with Cassiopae, which operates in the same industry.
Transaction highlights
Bryan, Garnier & Co acted as the Sole Financial Advisor to Sword Group on the transaction.
Bryan, Garnier & Co advised and ran a competitive dual track process with the intention of finding the right financial or strategic partner for Sword APAK, able to support further global expansion of the company in the context of a strong growth momentum.
This transaction continues to demonstrate Bryan, Garnier & Co’s expertise in software solution transactions. Over the last 18 months, Bryan, Garnier & Co’s Technology practice has advised on 21 deals among which there have been 10 software transactions including the sale of Prima Solutions to The Carlyle Group, the acquisition of Maincare Solutions by Montagu Private Equity or the sale of Dimelo to RingCentral.
About Sword APAK
Sword APAK has been developing and implementing global software solutions for over 35 years. Its market leading, web-based Wholesale Floorplanning System (WFS) offers functionality to major financial institutions worldwide, and has been designed to reduce the cost of running a floorplanning operation by automating vehicle funding processes. The firm has around 250 employees across 5 different locations: Bristol, Newbury (UK), Paris, Alpharetta (USA) and Melbourne, serving over 100 clients worldwide. Prior to the transaction, Sword APAK was part of Sword Group, an international consulting, services and software company driving global leaders in their digital & technology transformation.
About Sopra Banking Software
Founded 40 years ago, Sopra Banking Software is a banking software vendor and a major digital player. Its solutions support nearly 800 banks in 70 countries with the objective to accompany banks in their development and their international strategy via a long-term partnership approach. To deliver these services, the company is reinforced by the expertise of more than 3,500 employees. Within Sopra Banking Software, Cassiopae is a finance and asset management software provider with more than 25 years of experience in the industry. Sopra Banking Software is part of Sopra Steria Group, a European IT services company listed on Euronext Paris.
About Bryan, Garnier & Co
Bryan, Garnier & Co is a European, full service growth-focused independent investment banking partnership founded in 1996. The firm provides equity research, sales and trading, private and public capital raising as well as M&A services to growth companies and their investors. It focuses on key growth sectors of the economy including Technology, Healthcare, Consumer and Business Services. Bryan, Garnier & Co is a fully registered broker dealer authorized and regulated by the FCA in Europe and the FINRA in the U.S. Bryan, Garnier & Co is headquartered in London, with additional offices in Paris, Munich, Zurich and New York. The firm is a member of the London Stock Exchange and Euronext.
Deal team
Olivier Garnier
Founder & Managing Partner
T: +44 (0) 207 332 2520
Thibaut De Smedt
Partner
T: +33 1 56 68 75 75
Pierre Lafitte
Director
T: +33 1 56 68 75 08
Wilem Bensaid
Senior Analyst
T: + 33 1 56 68 75 81
Alexandre Brestin
Analyst
T: + 33 1 56 68 75 09
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