Carner Nordic Software and ICT Services report: M&A activity, trends, and tendencies in the sector H1/2024

We have just released our Nordic Software and ICT Services report, which examines M&A activity, trends, and tendencies in the sector for the first half of 2024. The report provides in-depth analyses of market dynamics, transaction volumes, and valuation developments, offering valuable insights for entrepreneurs, investors, and other stakeholders navigating the complex M&A landscape.

The software sector showed resilience with 119 transactions in H1 2024, a slight increase from the same period in 2023. However, global economic uncertainty has led investors to prioritize profitability and stable revenue over hyper-growth. Private equity firms played a significant role, contributing to over half of the transactions, signaling continued consolidation and anticipated growth in the sector.

Technologies like AI, machine learning, and automation are rapidly gaining traction, enhancing efficiency across industries. The Nordic region, known for its innovative software companies, is expected to see heightened interest from foreign buyers, who accounted for 57% of all announced transactions during the period.

In contrast, the ICT services sector saw a 25% decline in M&A activity compared to H1 2023, driven by reduced demand, cautious projections from major IT services companies, and decreasing valuations of publicly listed companies.

The full report can be downloaded below.