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Tech M&A Advisory Firm AXOM Hires Morgan Stanley’s Buzz Black for Software Dealmaking

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AXOM Partners, a boutique advisory firm specializing in technology, has hired experienced investment banker Buzz Black from Morgan Stanley to strengthen its coverage of the enterprise software industry. Black, known for his work on significant software deals, will join AXOM in May following a period of gardening leave and will be based in San Francisco.

During his time at Morgan Stanley, Black advised on several high-profile software transactions, including Blackstone and Vista Equity Partners’ $8.4 billion acquisition of Smartsheet and KKR’s $4.8 billion deal for Instructure. He also played a role in cybersecurity transactions, such as the $560 million sale of Demisto to Palo Alto Networks and the 2017 sale of eSentire to Warburg Pincus.

In an interview, Black discussed the growing trend among large strategic buyers who often prefer acquiring companies with strong teams and cutting-edge technology, enabling faster market entry. His addition to AXOM is expected to enhance its ability to cover large enterprise software deals, complementing the firm’s existing focus on early-stage, venture-backed startups.

AXOM, founded in 2023 by Brandon Hightower, Alan Bressers, and Ross Weiner (former Qatalyst Partners bankers), has quickly established itself in the AI sector, advising on several high-profile deals such as Rockset’s sale to OpenAI, Nvidia’s acquisition of OctoAI, and MongoDB’s acquisition of Voyage AI. According to Hightower, Black’s experience will add valuable coverage and insight into both the buyer and strategic target sides of AI-focused transactions.

Fraud Prevention Software Firm Riskified Explores Sale

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Riskified, a New York-based company specializing in fraud prevention software for e-commerce, is exploring strategic options, including a potential sale, after attracting interest from multiple parties, according to sources familiar with the matter. The company, originally founded in Israel, is working with investment bank Qatalyst Partners to evaluate takeover approaches, with discussions remaining in the early stages.

Potential buyers for Riskified include digital payment processing firms, online shopping platforms, cybersecurity companies, and private equity firms. However, the sources cautioned that a deal is not assured. Following the news, Riskified’s stock price rebounded, surging nearly 9% on Wednesday.

Riskified, which went public nearly four years ago through an initial public offering, is currently valued at around $860 million. The company has faced significant challenges, with its stock plummeting more than 80% from its peak in September 2021 to its close on Tuesday. Despite its success in providing fraud prevention software for retailers, Riskified has not been profitable since its shares began trading.

For the quarter ending December 31, the company reported a widened net loss of $4.1 million, compared to a loss of $3.3 million in the previous year. This financial setback was partially attributed to the loss of several large customers in some of its key sectors.

Founded in 2013, Riskified provides fraud prevention services to e-commerce businesses, helping retailers protect digital transactions from fraudsters. Notable clients include luxury fashion brand Prada, online travel platform Booking.com, and jewelry brand Swarovski.