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Tuesday, 12 November 2024
Read full issueM&A WATCH
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (Adia) will invest USD 1 bn in US-based data analytics firm Qlik, acquiring the stake from a fund owned by private equity owner Thoma Bravo, Financial Times reports, citing people it says are familiar with the matter. The exact size of Adia’s acquired stake is yet to be disclosed, with an official company announcement expected this week. Qlik’s valuation is estimated at USD 10 bn.
Breakdown: Along with Adia, Thoma Bravo intends to offer up its stake to several pensions and sovereign wealth funds, and two of its own funds, for a total amount almost three times its initial USD 3 bn investment to acquire Qlik in 2016. The company secured investor approval for the fund-to-fund transaction, with Guggenheim Partners serving as its advisor.
Adia has been on a spree of takeovers in recent years, capitalizing on a slowdown in activity among private equity firms amid higher interest rates and a liquidity crunch. The Abu Dhabi-based fund joined a consortium including asset managers BlackStone and Vista two months ago to acquire software provider Smartsheet for USD 8.4 bn. It also partnered up with private equity firm Advent International in June to invest between USD 2.5-3 bn in wealth management firm Fisher Investments.
Qlik’s is on track to achieve USD 1.5 bn in sales in 2024, with bookings for its software subscriptions increasing by 30% compared to 2023. The company manages the performance data of several large firms, including Domino’s Pizza and Airbus.
IN OTHER M&A NEWS-
US investment firms KKR and Baupost Group acquired a 33-hotel portfolio in the UK from Adia for GBP 900 mn (AED 4.3 bn), CoStar reports, citing Green Street News. All hotels in the portfolio operate under Marriott International brands, including Marriott and Delta by Marriott.
Background: Adia acquired a total of 43 hotels from the Royal Bank of Scotland back in 2013. The Scottish lender seized the properties in 2017 from prior owners who paid GBP 1.2 bn.
KKR has been vying for the portfolio: KKR arranged a GBP 600 mn debt package earlier in May to help finance the acquisition, after engaging in advanced talks with Adia for the purchase, CoStar previously reported. In October, the European Commission approved the joint venture between KKR and Baupost, formed earlier that month for the transaction.