A total of $9.2Bn was invested in WorkTech and HR Tech during Q1 2022 across 205 deals. The average investment size contracted to $48.4M vs. $60.9M in the previous quarter, indicating a reversion to the mean after an abundance of later-stage financings in 2021.
In terms of M&A, 48 WorkTech acquisitions were announced this quarter – a sizeable decrease compared to Q4 '21. In part, this reflects the macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty that caused some transactions to be delayed. Nonetheless, M&A sentiment remains positive heading into Q2. Notable transactions included the announced acquisition of Anaplan by Thoma Bravo, and the acquisition of EdCast by Cornerstone.
In the public markets, trading multiples for high-valued Workplace Productivity businesses contracted in Q1, in line with much of the broader technology sector. Pure WorkTech companies as well as their Productivity and Diversified WorkTech peers contracted by 32%, 27% and 13% respectively. Valuation for HR Services businesses showed greater resilience, expanding slightly.
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