{"id":4067,"date":"2018-07-23T20:16:00","date_gmt":"2018-07-23T20:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/projects\/horsesforsources\/atos-syntel_072318\/"},"modified":"2021-12-20T10:01:17","modified_gmt":"2021-12-20T10:01:17","slug":"atos-syntel_072318","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.horsesforsources.com\/atos-syntel_072318\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Syntel worth $3.4bn? And does this bring Atos to the adult\u2019s table?"},"content":{"rendered":"
Syntel brings to Atos a larger platform into the North American market, stronger IT automation capabilities to augment its data management and analytics heritage and, above all, access to quality long-term engagements. And not to mention a mighty Indian offshore IT depth that fills a lot of delivery holes for the firm.\u00a0 And don’t forget, this firm tends to know what it’s doing when it comes to acquisitions and making them work:<\/p>\n
However, even with all this combined, $3.4bn seems like a hefty price to pay, albeit a price that will likely set both industry valuations, and other acquirable mid-tier service provider hearts\u2019 racing. Not only that, competitors with banking pedigree, such as Capgemini, Cognizant, DXC and IBM will not welcome a stronger Atos\u00a0being welcomed to the dance at a time when competition is already reaching a cut-throat breaking point.<\/p>\n We haven\u2019t seen any meaty M&A in IT Services for over two years… So why now<\/em>?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n We\u2019ve been predicting an increase in merger and acquisition activity across the business process and IT outsourcing space for some time, but these IT services monster marriages are like London buses \u2013 you wait ages for yours to arrive, and suddenly several appear right behind it.<\/p>\n To this end, the only real action of late has come in the call center realm with the feasting of Teleperformance on Intelenet and Concentrix on Convergys.\u00a0 Not since the dinosaur mating noises<\/a> of HPE and CSC in 2016, or Capgemini\u2019s nuptials with IGATE in 2015<\/a>, have we had anything much to chew on in IT services bar lots of digital agencies being round up for slaughter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s be realistic, there really aren\u2019t too many \u201cheritage\u201d mid-sized offshore-centric IT services providers left in existence which can get you an immediate seat at the adults\u2019 services table, which explains Syntel\u2019s fantastically lucrative exit, and the disappointment of several other suitors which had been eying picking the firm up on the cheap for several years.\u00a0 Moreover, providers like Atos are feeling the pressure like never before to force their way forward in terms of growth and breadth of offerings and believe the pressure point has been reached and it\u2019s time to act.<\/p>\n A drought in traditional client wins for some firms is literally pushing them to acquire as a way to drive market share. \u00a0\u00a0The IT services industry is no stranger to firms buying out rivals to gain short-term respite from the market in the face of poor market performance \u2013 buying time to regroup\/transformation, an injection of new clients and scale.<\/p>\n Atos\u2019 recent announcement of its intentions to acquire Syntel has already set tongues wagging in the industry, but before we get caught up in the inescapable hype, let’s dig into the facts!<\/p>\n At $3.4bn this could be the start of the M&A silly season<\/em> where \u201cEveryone\u2019s up for Sale\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s hard not to get lost in the number of zeroes in this deal and, frankly, the price tag has left us all scratching our heads a little. At a recent press conference, an investment analyst asked whether Syntel was happy with the deal\u2026why wouldn\u2019t they be? And it\u2019s this sort of seller’s market that\u2019s getting a lot of the mid-tier firm\u2019s excited about a potential takeover from a major firm in the space.\u00a0 \u201cEveryone\u2019s up for sale\u201d proclaimed the CEO of the of the leading service providers recently in a private conversation.<\/p>\n With some of the world\u2019s biggest IT services firms looking to shore up revenues, capabilities, and access to clients, a lot of firm\u2019s are adjusting pricing expectations, setting the bar far higher than they would have a few years.<\/p>\n And the market is undeniably tough right now, and many firms are struggling to find their way. Recently, brighter horizons have been on the cards for some firms as the HFS Digital tipping point theory<\/a> started to yield results, with enterprises investing in technology to drive their transformation ambitions. But the same theory argued that many firms would struggle to pivot their business models and offerings to meet the changing demands of the market. In this winner takes all market, it stands to reason that firms will shore up their capabilities through acquisition, at the same time that smaller firms that struggle to gain market traction become more attracted to the idea of a buyout.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
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