Dive Brief:
- Saba Software, which provides SaaS talent management solutions, is set to buy Ottawa-based Halogen Software for $293 million in the first major tech merger for 2017, reports Workforce. The acquisition is scheduled to be completed during the second quarter.
- Workforce says the deal could be the next phase in small companies like Saba building bigger HR technology suites by purchasing firms like Halogen.
- Saba specializes in learning and development, while Halogen’s focus is performance management, says Workforce. The merger reportedly will boost Saba as a leading SaaS talent management provider. The combined companies are expected to serve 4,000 customers worldwide.
Dive Insight:
Saba’s acquisition of Halogen is like many technology mergers in which the buyer selects companies that complement their core business. In Saba’s case, Halogen expertise in performance management balance’s Saba’s learning platform to advance HR technology. In fact, Forrester Research named Saba among the top three cloud-based HR performance management and learning software providers.
Acquisitions in the space last year were largely dominated by recruiting firms, including the acquisition of LinkedIn by Microsoft and the various acquisitions made by Randstad Holdings, like Monster. Such moves are likely to continue in the new year, particularly in the learning field, which is seeing strong innovation.
