mynth
04/2020

SABA SOFTWARE acquired by CORNERSTONE ONDEMAND

UNITED STATES Software / ERP, HR & Finance EV 1b - 4b USD

Context

California-based cloud human capital management provider Cornerstone OnDemand has successfully completed the acquisition of its competitor Saba Software. Prior to the transaction, the target was held as a portfolio company by private equity sponsor Vector Capital. The acquisition, which secured approval from the boards of directors of both companies and was executed through a mix of cash and stock, unites two prominent players in the HR software sector. For the buyer, led by CEO and co-founder Adam Miller, this strategic consolidation follows closely on the heels of its recent buyout of French startup Clustree. The newly combined entity effectively doubles its client portfolio, serving a total of 7,000 corporate organizations and 75 million users globally.

In the past, the company underwent an LBO led by Vector Capital in 2015, and continued an active consolidation strategy by notably acquiring Lumesse Ex Stepstone Solutions (2018).

SABA SOFTWARE, which reported an EBITDA margin of LOGIN in 2020, is valued in this transaction at an EV/EBITDA multiple of LOGIN, a level to compare with the average currently observed in the TMT (Tech, Media, Telecom) sector (14.3x).

Note that this data is based on contribution from our growing community, composed of M&A and Private Equity professionals, and has been verified by our team to ensure its accuracy.

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Target

Founded in 1997 and headquartered in the United States, Saba Software is a prominent technology provider specializing in the development of human resource management software. The company designs highly integrated and innovative platforms tailored to address a comprehensive suite of functional needs, primarily focusing on training, performance management, and succession planning. Through its highly customizable and flexible solutions, Saba Software empowers its clients to effectively navigate a constantly evolving business environment while significantly improving workforce efficiency and overall organizational productivity. Backed by its longstanding industry expertise and a dedicated team of professionals, the company has established a solid reputation as a trusted, market-leading HR software partner. Its solutions actively support a diverse, blue-chip client base that comprises large private enterprises and major public institutions, most notably including the US Army, IBM, and financial services firm Fiserv.

Ent. Value

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Historical Financials (USD)

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2020
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Other operations with SABA SOFTWARE

List of similar M&A transactions (Date, Acquirer, Target, Country, Sector, Deal Context)
DateAcquirerTargetCountrySectorDeal Context
10/2018SABA SOFTWARELUMESSE EX STEPSTONE SOLUTIONSGERMANYSoftware

Private equity firm Hg (formerly HgCapital) has reached a definitive agreement to divest the HR software company Lumesse to trade buyer Saba Software, which is currently backed by private equity sponsor Vector Capital

03/2015VECTOR CAPITALSABA SOFTWAREUNITED STATESSoftware

US-based private equity firm Vector Capital, which manages over $2.5 billion in assets, has successfully closed the take-private acquisition of California-headquartered Saba Software. Formally approved by the target's shareholders, this delisting transaction perfectly aligns with the sponsor’s core investment thesis of executing complex transformational buyouts and revitalizing mature, established technology assets

REFERENCES

Valuation range: EV 1b - 4b USD

Note: This page provides detailed data on a private equity M&A transaction. Detailed and exact financial metrics for the acquisition of SABA SOFTWARE by CORNERSTONE ONDEMAND are reserved for mynth community members. Register for free to unlock full data.

Authors: verified mynth contributor (mynth data is contributed by M&A / PE professionals and systematically cross-verified with private deal documents and official press releases).

Press release: view release

Acquirer: cornerstone ondemand