2015 Outlook Sees Heightened Deal Activity on Emerging Technologies like Internet of Things and the Second Machine Age
With 2014 noted for a series of record-setting and transformative deals, momentum is expected to carry over into 2015 as dealmakers continue to invest in cloud, mobile and security, and seek out emerging technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT), according to PwC's US Technology Deals Insights 2014 Year in Review and 2015 Outlook report, released today.
"2014 closed with technology deal activity not seen since the dot com era, thanks to a record number of billion dollar transactions and a resurgence of mid-market deals," said Rob Fisher, PwC's U.S. technology deals leader. "As we consider the almost $350 billion in cash and securities on hand at the top 25 technology companies, record levels of private equity funds waiting to be deployed and projected full pipelines from every angle of the market, 2015 promises to be another active and exciting year for technology M&A."
According to Deal Insights, cumulative technology deal value for 2014 closed at $161.4 billion, a 62 percent increase over 2013, which had a total deal value of $99.8 billion. Average deal value grew to $583 million, compared to $489 million in 2013. Some of this growth can be attributed a record number of billion-dollar transactions, 36 of which closed in 2014. Total deal volume increased 36 percent, with 277 deals taking place by the end of 2014, compared to 204 in 2013. The fourth quarter of 2014 had both the highest number of deals for the year at 76, and nearly half of the announced deal value for the year at $74.9 billion.
Technology IPOs continued to remain a key market driver and reached their highest levels since the dot com era. Even excluding the single largest IPO, valued at nearly $22 billion, IPO value increased 40 percent and volume increased 18 percent over 2013. In total, there were 60 technology IPOs, an increase over the 51 posted in 2013, making 2014 the most active year since 2000.
In cross-border deal activity, PwC finds that U.S. companies are the most popular targets as global economic positions improve. Domestic transactions comprised 70 percent of deal volume and 73 percent of deal value in 2014, compared with 62 percent of deal volume and 86 percent of deal value in 2013. In contrast, outbound activity in 2014 declined 7 percent to 42 acquisitions at an average deal size of $378 million.
With data analytics becoming a prerequisite, cloud adoption growing and security advancements becoming a more pervasive area of focus, PwC anticipates software deals to continue to lead technology M&A. Software accounted for approximately one-third of M&A deal volume in 2014 and 26 percent of deal value.
2014 was a record year for the Internet sector with $49.7 billion in deal value, an astounding 415 percent increase compared to $9.7 billion in 2013. The number of deals rose by 153 percent, from 30 deals in 2013 to 76 deals in 2014, a similar level to that of the 71 deals in 2011. Even excluding the outlying $22 billion deal, closed deal value for the Internet sector still reached a high of $27.7 billion.
Dealmakers demonstrated a renewed interest in hardware during 2014, generating 19 percent of total technology deal volume and 22 percent of deal value in 2014. Mobile devices, Internet of Things (IoT), and consumer electronics took center stage as some of the largest transactions in hardware, while enterprise equipment and components dominated the middle market.
Semiconductors were the only sector to show a decline in deal volume during 2014, with volume receding 15 percent to 28 deals. However, deal value actually increased 62 percent to $17.4 billion, compared to $10.7 billion in 2013.
IT Services closed 2014 with 37 deals for a cumulative deal value of $15.7 billion. While the number of deals grew by a modest 9 percent compared to 34 deals in 2013, the value of deals virtually doubled relative to $7.9 billion worth of deals in 2013.
Private equity deal volume increased to 38 percent of all technology deals, up from only 30 percent the previous year. Volume increased 63 percent for the year, compared to an increase of 36 percent for the broader technology sector. PwC finds that software and Internet transactions remain at the forefront of private equity deals, comprising of 63 percent of volume and 66 percent of value on 2014.
PwC's report finds that technology divestiture activity increased by 11 percent in 2014, as companies continued to reevaluate their portfolios and shift their focus to core growth strategies. This increase is contrary to the historic inverse trend where divestures typically increase in years when the deal market has declined. There were a total of 356 divestitures in 2014, representing 21 percent of all technology M&A activity in 2014.
Cumulative divestiture deal value for transactions with disclosed values totaled $50.7 billion in 2014, compared with $17.9 billion in 2013, a 183 percent increase due to an increased number of billion-dollar transactions. The top 10 divestitures of 2014 represented 58 percent of this value, a decrease from 81 percent in 2013, due to a three-fold increase in billion-dollar transactions.
According to the report, undisclosed value transactions continue to play a significant role, with software leading the way. Technology companies engaged in 1,289 undisclosed deals in 2014, a 10 percent increase from 1,168 in 2013.
"New and exciting technologies such as virtual reality, robots and drones that have captured the imagination of investors are making their way into both consumer and enterprise markets," added Fisher. "As new and established players invest in these innovations, large technology firms are expected to continue to rely on M&A to ensure that their portfolio is competitive."
The report outlines the following drivers for 2015 technology deals:
Hello, Second Machine Age: robots, drones, machine learning. Accelerating advances in both software and hardware are ushering in a new world where machines will automate a greater realm of tasks. With robots and drones becoming cheaper and more advanced, machine learning increasingly more capable of tackling complex problems, and virtual reality extending beyond gaming – expect large companies to make acquisitions in these areas in 2015 to extend their capabilities.
The Internet of Things (IoT). IoT is taking center stage with the widespread availability of sensors and wearables, increased connectivity, new manufacturing methods (including 3D printing) and improved data mining capabilities. Thanks to the proliferation of wearables and "smart" household appliances, 2015 are expected to continue to focus on IoT innovations, as large technology companies bolster their proficiencies.
Cloud goes mainstream. As the demand for greater mobile access, integration and collaboration capabilities grow, cloud computing, which is still in a relatively early phase of deployment, will likely outpace traditional IT spending for the next several years.
Consumer-oriented, technology-enabled models proliferate. Many consumers are ready to abandon traditional models in healthcare, banking and other professional services, following similar moves already visible across retail, entertainment and transportation. With millennials leading the way, traditional industries are seeking to disruptive alternatives with a more consumer-oriented and technology-enabled model. Large technology companies will likely use acquisitions to join, and in some cases drive, this revolution.
Security concerns rise in priority. Following the high-profile hacking incidents that took place in 2014, the demand and urgency for security solutions which can be integrated into the overall enterprise software package, will be elevated. Additionally, encryption services will grow and larger software companies will likely either partner with security solutions firms or acquire them.
