Let’s take a more detailed look at the business and its decision, as well as examining some of the responses from third parties, in order to ask - what does this mean for those looking to buy tech businesses?
Some background on Atlassian
Atlassian is an Australian company that is most well-known for developing content management systems, software for project managers and products for software developers. It has over 135,000 customers around the world and has made 20 acquisitions in recent years with a total value of over AUS$1 billion.
The business was launched back in 2002 by a pair of fellow University of South Wales alumni, who used credit cards to bootstrap the business through its first few years. It now has offices all over the world and employs some 3,000 people. It listed on NASDAQ in 2015, following a run of successful acquisitions, beginning in 2010 with the purchase of Bitbucket.
It has now decided to make its proprietary term sheet public. A term sheet is a set of clauses issued when an investment is to be made. The clauses are intended to protect the interests of the investing businesses, but also the interests of what is created as a result of the investment.
Some of the terms within the document are binding and some are non-binding. The term sheet is issued before an acquisition deal is signed between Atlassian and a potential target.
Why has it made its term sheet public?
Not only has Atlassian published its term sheet for the world to see, it has also published a blog explaining in detail why it has decided to do so. It claims the M&A process is “outdated, inefficient, and unnecessarily combative, with too much time and energy spent negotiating deal terms and not enough on what matters most: building great products together and delivering more customer value.”
Atlassian’s senior managers claim their approach to M&A is more seller-friendly than the typical term sheet issued within the tech industry. They assert that deal terms are too often skewed in favour of the buyer and include over-cautious elements that cost sellers money in the name of protecting buyers against future liabilities that are rarely actually an issue post-deal. These terms are often referred to as standard practice, by big buyers, further un-levelling the playing field for buyers and sellers and resulting in drawn-out negotiations and breakdowns in good will taking up precious time, energy and money.
What’s different about Atlassian’s term sheet?
Atlassian claims that its term sheet is “more favourable to selling companies than any we’ve seen among strategic acquirers in technology.” It adds that it also aims to provide more by way of explanatory material in order to make the whole thing more transparent for sellers.
Regarding Escrow, Atlassian terms are: either provide a five per cent escrow for 15 months or pay for a buy-side rep and warranty insurance policy and provide a one per cent escrow for 15 months, with insurance covering the remaining four per cent. The 15-month period is shorter than the market median, which means sellers aren’t tied into the threat of a claim for too long.
The term sheet is also different by not naming IP and privacy as ‘special reps’, which stand outside the general escrow cap. Instead, they sit inside the cap, which Atlassian claims is another favourable aspect of its term sheet from the seller’s perspective.
What do legal experts and other advisory firms make of the term sheet?
Corporate lawyers specialising in the tech industry have been keen to pass comment on Atlassian’s decision to make its term sheet public. For many, this is a seismic moment in M&A law, the repercussions of which are yet to be seen. The tone seems to be one of mixed feelings, as many welcome the notion of increased transparency, but some cautioning the motives and details behind and within the term sheet and its publication.
New Zealand-based legal firm, Simmons Stuart, which advises tech businesses, said Atlassian’s decision to publish may be about positioning Atlassian “as a seller-friendly buyer in the hyper-competitive tech M&A marketplace.”
Simmonds Stuart’s team went on to list the aspects of the term sheet it felt were worthy of praise, such as favourable escrow terms and a more ‘practical approach to general warranties’. However, it was keen to point out that not all elements of the term sheet were favourable to sellers, with some terms being actively unfavourable.
US corporate lawyers Orrick echoed these feelings with their response to the news. They also claimed that the term sheet might not give enough assurances for buyers in many scenarios. They stated: “we question whether the Atlassian term sheet will provide the necessary comfort to the corporate buyer, particularly given facts and circumstances of individual companies and specific deals.”
What can prospective buyers take away from Atlassian’s decision?
When it comes to doing tech deals, it pays to be cautious. As a buyer, you need to be confident that your deal terms protect you in a range of circumstances, such as:
Offering marquee hire from small to large this business services mainly the events industry, its own smaller marquee competitors and occasional work directly with individuals. They can support parties and weddings through to corporate dinners, festiv...
LEASEHOLD
This contemporary, stylish 4 star hotel has 24 comfortable and individually-designed ensuite bedrooms, a modern bar and a recently refurbished restaurant with a great vantage point and some of the best seaside views in North Wales.
This is an attractive and strategically well-located hotel in the heart of Porthmadog and a stone’s throw from the junction of the A497.
Please choose your settings for this site below. For more information please read our Cookie Policy
These cookies are necessary for our website to function properly and provide you with access to all features.
These are analytics cookies that help us to improve the way our website works.
These are used to improve the functional performance of the website and make it easier for you to use.