Transaction Summary

Gartner refers to the Public Sector as the “vertical of all verticals” as it is the largest single vertical in the U.S. and accounts for 13% of worldwide IT spend. The Correction & Probation market, one of the largest in the Public Sector, faces many challenges such as the overcrowding of prisons, rapidly expanding operating costs, emerging compliance regulations, and alarming rates of recidivism (the rate at which prisoners return to prison after release).

Syscon has served the Offender Management Software (OMS) market for decades, trusted by a blue-chip global customer base who rely on the company’s mission critical software to manage approximately 400,000 offenders. The strategic acquisition of Syscon expands Harris’ ability to serve correctional institutions across North America, the United Kingdom and Australia.

Client Description
  • Syscon Justice Systems is a leading provider of mission critical Offender Management Software (OMS) solutions for the corrections industry.
  • Having served the OMS market for the past 35 years, Syscon’s offering powers some of the largest and most complex prisons around the world.
  • The Company’s OMS is trusted by a blue chip, global customer base to manage approximately 400,000 offenders.
  • Syscon was backed by leading private equity firm Sverica.
  • Syscon has headquarters in Richmond, British Columbia and offices in the United Kingdom and Australia.
Buyer Description
  • Since 1976, Harris has focused on providing feature-rich and robust turnkey solutions to Public Sector, Schools, Utility, and Health Care agencies.
  • The Company’s Public Sector business unit offers a wide variety of solutions to local and state governments.
  • Headquarters: Ottawa, Ontario
Highlights
  • The strategic acquisition of Syscon expands Harris‘ ability to serve correctional institutions across North America, the United Kingdom and Australia.
  • It also provides Harris with a comprehensive OMS solution and a team of global specialists.

 

"We were very pleased with our decision to select SEG as an advisor. As a private equity firm, we routinely work with investment banks and feel we have a lens to identify quality firms. SEG’s expertise in software was the reason we engaged them, and they demonstrated the value of that knowledge throughout our process. All of the individuals we interacted with at SEG were great to work with, and we would welcome the opportunity to work with them again."
Frank Young, Managing Director, Sverica Capital Management

SEG Client, Syscon Justice Systems, Acquired By Harris Computer Corporation

Oct. 26, 2017 -- Software Equity Group announces its client, Syscon Justice Systems Ltd. (“Syscon”), a business providing Offender Management Systems (OMS) to correctional clients around the world, has been acquired by N. Harris Computer Corporation ("Harris"), owned by Constellation Software Inc. (“Constellation”) (TSX:CSU). Syscon, backed by private equity firm Sverica, British Columbia, provides feature-rich, customizable solutions to top-end agencies globally, encompassing more than 400,000 offenders. SEG served as exclusive advisor to Syscon.

Jean (John) Soucy, President Harris Public Sector Group, commented, “The acquisition of Syscon expands our capability to serve correctional institutions across North America, the United Kingdom and Australia. We are excited to have the opportunity to bring forth such comprehensive OMS applications, thanks to Syscon’s global team of specialists.”

The transaction marks SEG’s 10th transaction in the Public Sector and the 2nd transaction within the Offender Management Software space in the last two years. In 2016, SEG served as exclusive advisor to Capita Technologies, a leading provider of probation and parole software.

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.