Oaklins leaders explore trends and transactions in the Microsoft ecosystem
At an event hosted by Oaklins, company leaders Bart Delusinne and Frederik van der Schoot shared their insights on the latest trends and transactions shaping the Microsoft ecosystem. Below is a round-up of the event’s key takeaways.
A household name for decades, Microsoft has built a powerful and far-reaching ecosystem with several core components.
Bart Delusinne, Managing Director at Oaklins in Belgium, opened the session with an overview of Microsoft’s ERP suite, MS Dynamics. “MS Dynamics offers a comprehensive set of ERP solutions for large enterprises, SMEs and everything in between,” he explained.
“The success of Microsoft’s ERP proposition lies in its modularity and broad range of functionalities. Most importantly, the solutions are fully interlinked, enabling end-to-end operational and business management.”
He highlighted Power BI as a prime example, noting how it has evolved into a market-leading platform for management information, business intelligence and dashboarding.
Next, Frederik van der Schoot, Managing Partner of Oaklins in the Netherlands, discussed the rising volume of transactions within the Microsoft ecosystem. “The Microsoft ecosystem is a highly attractive market to operate in, with consistently strong growth driven by ongoing investment in IT services and digital transformation,” he said.
In this broader market for ERP and technology solutions, Microsoft is “a clear winner,” Van der Schoot added.
Reflecting on M&A activity, he noted that dealmaking is accelerating due to trends such as consolidation in a fragmented sector and the need for consultancies and system integrators to scale up in response to rising investment requirements in artificial intelligence.
Van der Schoot also pointed to a “natural exit window” emerging in the landscape: many Microsoft-focused companies were acquired by private equity investors between 2019 and 2021, and as they reach the typical 5-7-year investor holding period, financial sponsors are keen on achieving their exit.
Deals by Oaklins
Oaklins is one of the leading M&A advisory firms supporting founders and private equity investors in completing deals within the Microsoft ecosystem. Its track record includes advising global Microsoft specialist HSO on its sale to Bain Capital at a valuation exceeding €1 billion. HSO is a major player in the Dynamics 365 space, generating around $500 million in revenue.
In Germany, Oaklins led the sale of an SME-focused Microsoft cloud services provider generating $30 million in revenue to a new private-equity-backed platform. In the Netherlands, the firm advised OGD – the country’s largest Microsoft-focused managed service provider – on its sale to Building Beyond Technology, backed by Ice Lake Capital.
Oaklins also supported Talan in its acquisition of Thinkmax and guided ESC and QS Solutions through their successful sales to investor Capital A.
With offices in over 40 countries, Oaklins is one of the largest M&A advisory firms in the world.
