Qatalyst

Sep 18, 2023

Former Qatalyst bankers launch new tech M&A advisory firm AXOM Partners Sep. 07 September 18, 2023 at 06:00 am EDT Share Sept 18 (Reuters) - Three former Qatalyst Partnersbankers have formed a new investment banking boutique calledAXOM Partners, which will focus on advising technology companieson mergers and acquisitions (M&A). Brandon Hightower, Alan Bressers, and Ross Weiner said theywill focus on working with small and mid-sized technologycompanies in sectors such as generative artificial andconversational intelligence. "We want to advise companies, investors, and builders of thenext wave of disruptive technology, and we want to help themearly on their journey," Hightower said in an interview. Qatalyst, the investment bank the trio left behind, alsospecializes in technology deals and has the No. 5 spotyear-to-date in data vendor Dealogic's U.S. dealmaking leaguetable, with a 15.4% market share. Most of Qatalysts's deals areworth more $1 billion, and Hightower, Bressers and Weiner willfocus on deals that are smaller. Based in San Francisco, AXOM will seek to advise on deals insectors, including enterprise software, consumer technology,e-commerce and financial technology. The firm plans to hire upto 15 full-time employees during its first two years and up to50 full-time employees during its first five years of operation. During a nearly 10-year long career at Qatalyst, Hightoweradvised on several high-profile transactions, includingAfterPay's $29 billion sale to Square, Intuit'sacquisition of CreditKarma for $8.1 billion, and HomeAway's saleto Expedia Group Inc for $3.9 billion. Bressers spent 12 years at Qatalyst, where he advised on NXPSemiconductor's proposed sale to Qualcomm Incfor $46.8 billion, Linear Technology's sale to Analog Devicesfor $14.8 billion, Inphi Corp's proposed sale to MarvellTechnology Inc for $10 billion, and Microsemi's sale toMicrochip Technology Inc for $10.2 billion. All AXOM employees will be rewarded on merit based on anincentive system, and will be allowed to participate in profitdistributions, Hightower said. (Reporting by Milana Vinn in New York; Editing by Aurroa Ellis) Share