EDGE 2025: Shaping the future of M&A deals in A/NZ – trends and strategic moves

If you are investigating the right time for buying or selling your business, EDGE 2025 has you covered.

Businesses with the right services, scale, and customers are in solid demand despite a fairly risk-averse M&A market. 

This is according to Latimer Partners principal Mark Nesbitt. For example, if a business is serving federal government with a large team in Canberra, the scale of interest continues to rise. 

“There’s solid demand for businesses with high quality services and customers,” Nesbitt said. 

While global trends are having an impact on merger and acquisition activity, the market was still fairly risk-averse. 

“We’re not seeing companies throwing cash around like we did three or four years ago. There is still an aversion to risk. But that said, I think what we are seeing there’s still reasonably solid demand for certain types of businesses in the sector,” he said. 

Private equity (PE) firms were also retaining interest in the sector, such as Riverside (which backs VITG) and Evergreen. PE operators are also keen on pure-play providers such SAP or ServiceNow specialist operators, Nesbitt observed.

“We’ll see a similar scenario play out in AI. It’s not there yet, but it will play out in the next few years where you’ll get practices that are focused around transformation and AI consulting and integration and they’ll be valuable businesses when they come to market,” he said. 

Nesbitt, along with principal Hugh Richards, will be sharing these insights and M&A trends at EDGE 2025 late in July, along with what makes a lucrative deal and the challenges that can potentially be faced during the integration process. 

Additionally M&A consultant Ryan Spillane will lead a panel of industry experts on when, how and why to sell your business, or how to upscale with new acquisitions. 

EDGE 2025 will focus on actionable insights and key takeaways for tech partners. 

The good news is that last places are still available for partners seeking answers in today’s challenging economy. 

Content will be underpinned by EDGE Research, housing in-depth end-user and partner analysis across Australia and New Zealand, uniquely delivered in partnership with Mark Iles and Tech Research Asia.

Norton Rose Fulbright global leader of digital transformation Nick Abrahams will be leading the discussion as a keynote speaker on how to partner smarter in the AI economy. 

Abrahams will show how to turn AI projects into a source of recurring revenue, what boardrooms are thinking about AI, and how to build client trust are some of the takeaways partners can expect. 

Former Facebook Australia leader and AI business pioneer Stephen Scheeler will also take the main stage at EDGE 2025, exploring the significant impact of AI and the new generation of tech buyers.

Marketing extraordinaire Transcends CEO Ashleigh Vogstad will discuss how marketing is a strategic and integrated growth engine powered by data, AI and deep collaboration within an ecosystem of partnerships. 

Spearheaded by EDGE Ambassador and founder Susan Searle, ARN and Reseller News have involved an outstanding Brains Trust to advise on the best directions for the EDGE 2025 partner experience.

This highly credentialed line-up includes: TRA’s Mark Iles, Channel Guru’s Brad Clarke; The TSP Advisory’s James Davis, Channel Dynamics’ Moheb Moses, 360 Consulting’s Ryan Spillane, Transcends’ Ashleigh Vogstad, Partner Elevate’s Desmond Russell and Fabric Brand Partners’ Patrina Kerr.

Seize the opportunity to be inspired, elevate your business, and stay ahead of the curve. Register now to secure your spot at EDGE 2025: The Channel FutureScape.