M&A Deal Summary

Marlin Equity Partners and Francisco Partners Acquire nShift

On August 23, 2021, private equity firms Marlin Equity Partners and Francisco Partners acquired internet software and services company nShift

Acquisition Highlights
  • This is Marlin Equity Partners’ 28th and Francisco Partners’ 19th transaction in the Internet Software and Services sector.
  • This is Marlin Equity Partners’ 2nd and Francisco Partners’ 2nd transaction in Norway.

M&A Deal Summary
Date 2021-08-23
Target nShift
Sector Internet Software and Services
Buyer(s) Marlin Equity Partners
Francisco Partners
Deal Type Consolidation

Target

nShift

Oslo, Norway
nShift is a global provider of cloud delivery management solutions enabling the frictionless shipment and return of almost one billion shipments across 190 countries. nShift’s software is used globally by e-commerce, retail, manufacturing, and 3PL shippers. nShift was established in 2021 and is based in Oslo, Norway.

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Buyer(S) 2

Buyer

Marlin Equity Partners

Hermosa Beach, California, United States

Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor

Category Private Equity Firm
Founded 2005
PE ASSETS 8.5B USD
Size Mega
Type Sector Agnostic
DESCRIPTION
Marlin Equity's headquarters in Hermosa Beach, California.
Marlin Equity's headquarters in Hermosa Beach, California.

Marlin Equity Partners is a private investment firm focused on acquiring distressed businesses with sales of $10 million to $2 billion. Marlin has a special interest in non-core or underperforming divisions of larger corporations, as well as companies facing some sort of financial, operational or market-related transition. Marlin is a generalist investor and will consider opportunities in technology (software, IT, payment systems, hardware, communications, internet), healthcare, consumer (apparel, retail, consumer products, food/beverage), services (business, financial, consumer, education), manufacturing (automotive, industrial, metals, plastics), aerospace, defense, and media. Marlin prefers businesses with scalable business models, strong installed customer bases, defensible market positions, and barriers to entry. Marlin Equity Partners was formed in 2005 and is based in Hermosa Beach, California with an additional office in London.

DEAL STATS #
Overall 97 of 116
Sector (Internet Software and Services) 28 of 40
Type (Consolidation) 4 of 4
Country (Norway) 2 of 2
Year (2021) 7 of 11
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2021-08-23 Unifaun

Stockholm, Sweden

Unifaun is a provider of Transport Administration (“TA”) services in the Nordics, providing a SaaS platform connecting freight carriers and shippers of all sizes. Unifaun is based in Stockholm, Sweden.

Sell -
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2021-09-01 Rydoo

Mechelen, Belgium

Rydoo is a global SaaS solution for managing expense reports and business travel. The company’s software platform offers end-users and finance departments the ability to efficiently manage travel and expenses in one single tool while delivering significant ease of use and transparency to customers. Rydoo was founded in 2011 and is based in Mechelen, Belgium.

Buy -
Buyer

Francisco Partners

San Francisco, California, United States

Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor

Category Private Equity Firm
Founded 1999
PE ASSETS 45.0B USD
Size Mega
Type Sector Focused
DESCRIPTION
Francisco Partners' headquarters in San Francisco, California.
Francisco Partners' headquarters in San Francisco, California.

Francisco Partners is a private equity firm focused exclusively on investments in technology and technology-enabled services. Specific areas of interest include semiconductors, capital equipment, electronics components, systems and manufacturing, IT services and business process outsourcing, communications, security and enterprise applications, and infrastructure software. Prospective investment situations include divisional buyouts, growth equity financings, acquisitions of private companies, sponsored mergers and acquisitions, and take-privates. Francisco Partners looks for opportunities where it can commit a minimum of $100 million per investment. Francisco Partners was formed in 1999 and is based in San Francisco, California.

DEAL STATS #
Overall 124 of 149
Sector (Internet Software and Services) 19 of 28
Type (Consolidation) 3 of 3
Country (Norway) 2 of 2
Year (2021) 9 of 14
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2021-07-20 LiveU

Hackensack, New Jersey, United States

LiveU is the pioneer of a bonded cellular technology-based live video transmission platform, offered to major live broadcast news networks and sports content owners globally. LiveU's technology enables customers to apply innovation and automation to the entire production workflow. LiveU was founded in 2006 and is based in Hackensack, New Jersey.

Sell -
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2021-09-01 Follett School Solutions

McHenry, Illinois, United States

Follett School Solutions is a provider of educational materials and technology solutions to K-12 libraries, classrooms, learning centers, and school districts in the United States, and a major supplier to educational institutions worldwide. FSS distributes books, reference materials, digital resources, ebooks, and audiovisual materials, as well as pre-owned textbooks. Follett School Solutions was founded in 1985 and is based in McHenry, Illinois.

Buy -
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