Private equity firm Silver Lake is merging two major French software companies, Cegid and Silae, in a transaction valued at approximately $11.6 billion. The deal aims to consolidate operations in accounting, payroll, HR, and digital finance under a single corporate group.
Silver Lake, which holds a majority stake in both firms, will maintain control of the combined entity. The merger is expected to finalize in the first half of 2027, pending regulatory approval. The new group is projected to generate annual revenue of roughly $1.9 billion.
The companies plan to establish a 1,400-person developer organization with a primary focus on AI investment. This strategy is designed to integrate diverse software tools and spread development costs across a broader customer base, targeting a market of about 17 million small and medium-sized businesses.
Cegid and Silae have established operations in France, Spain, and Portugal, with Cegid also present in Germany. Silver Lake intends to leverage this merger to expand their pan-European footprint, aiming to create a larger entity capable of competing in the evolving enterprise software sector.
