CLIENT DESCRIPTION
  • OmniUpdate is the leading web content management system (CMS) provider for higher education.
  • The Company’s platform enables colleges and universities to improve engagement with prospects, students, and alumni by keeping their digital presences fresh, accurate, up-to-date, and in compliance with government accessibility regulations.
  • Headquarters: Camarillo, CA
BUYER/INVESTOR DESCRIPTION
  • Destiny Solutions is the leading student lifecycle management solution provider for continuing education and other non-traditional higher education students. The Company is based in Toronto, Canada. SEG advised Destiny Solutions on its investment from The Riverside Company in 2018 (view transaction).
  • The Riverside Company, a global private equity firm focused on making control and non-control investments in growing businesses, facilitated the merger. The Company is based in New York City, NY & Cleveland, OH.
HIGHLIGHTS
  • The combined company represents the most innovative and comprehensive suite of digital marketing solutions in the higher education market, offering higher education’s first cloud-based, end-to-end student digital engagement platform, including best-in-class website management and marketing tools, student lifecycle management, curriculum management, course catalog, payment processing, real-time reporting, and business intelligence.
  • Backed by The Riverside Company, the combined entity brings together over 450 college and university customers and more than 100,000 higher education processionals using the solutions daily, plus an extensive network of partner relationships.
  • The combination will help higher education institutions serve students better and market more effectively across the spectrum, from non-traditional continuing education students to traditional matriculating students. The Riverside Company will expand the product offering and cross-sell complementary functionality between the two companies’ customer bases to provide them an even stronger value proposition.

 

"After an extensive vetting process that included discussions with more than 15 investment banks, we chose SEG based on their deep knowledge of SaaS business metrics and a stellar reputation. SEG lived up to their reputation and drove a process that resulted in an unexpected and fantastic result. Their team made it easy to keep focused on running the company while they found more buyers than we could have on our own. Most importantly, SEG acted as true partners in helping us realize the value of our business that we worked so hard to build. In every way, SEG exceeded expectations and found us the perfect buyer."
Lance Merker, CEO, OmniUpdate

SEG Client, OmniUpdate, Merged with Destiny Solutions

October 30, 2019— Software Equity Group (SEG) announces its client, OmniUpdate, the leading web content management system (CMS) provider for higher education, has merged with Destiny Solutions, the leading student lifecycle management solution provider for continuing education and other non-traditional higher education students. SEG served as exclusive advisor to OmniUpdate.

The merged entity brings together more than 450 college and university customers and more than 100,000 higher education professionals using OmniUpdate and Destiny Solutions products daily, plus an extensive network of partner relationships.

Together, OmniUpdate and Destiny will provide the most innovative and comprehensive suite of digital marketing solutions in the higher education market, offering the market’s first cloud-based, end-to-end student digital engagement software platform. Solutions include best-in-class website management and marketing tools, student lifecycle management, curriculum management, course catalog, payment processing, real-time reporting, and business intelligence - all backed by full-service customer support.

The company will be led by Lance Merker from OmniUpdate as CEO and Peter DeVries from Destiny as President and COO. The combined company will be headquartered in Camarillo and will bring together more than 150 employees with deep experience focusing solely on higher education clients.

“Combining OmniUpdate and Destiny is the natural evolution for helping higher education institutions serve students better and market more effectively across the spectrum, from non-traditional continuing education students to traditional matriculating students,” said Riverside Managing Partner Loren Schlachet. “During our investment, we look to expand the product offering and cross-sell complementary functionality between the two companies’ customer bases to provide them an even stronger value proposition.”

Riverside originally invested in Destiny in 2018, building on its extensive experience in both its Education and Training and Software and IT specializations.

“We look forward to working with a strong team to increase market share as well as geographic reach,” said Riverside Partner Joe Manning. “One of the ways we plan to do this is by pursuing add-ons to expand the product suite and capabilities.”

Working with Schlachet and Manning on the deal for Riverside were Partner Dan Haynes, Principal Stephen Rice, Analyst Nancy Graham, Operating Partner Steve Pogorzelski and Finance Director Doug Guess. Managing Partner Jeremy Holland sourced the deal for Riverside.

Riverside was advised by Jones Day, Deloitte and West Monroe Partners and OmniUpdate was advised by Software Equity Group. Saratoga Investment Corp. provided financing for the transaction.

About Software Equity Group

Software Equity Group (SEG) provides unparalleled M&A advisory services for emerging and established software companies. For more than twenty years, SEG has worked alongside its software industry clients to drive extraordinary outcomes for the client’s shareholders, employees and customers. Over this time period, SEG has managed hundreds of sell-side M&A transactions, representing billions of dollars of aggregate transaction value. SEG’s unwavering commitment to the software industry equates to unmatched expertise across software industry product categories, delivery models, technology and end market verticals; and unrivaled access to key decision makers among strategic and private equity buyers.