Every ERP SaaS sale is examined through a rigorous lens: product depth, upgrade paths, and ecosystem stickiness. Because diligence is so exacting, the banker you choose must be evaluated not on reputation alone but on three tangible criteria: their reach across the buyer universe, the strategies they use to highlight value, and how well they align the process with founder objectives.
In this article, we examine those criteria alongside recent 2025 ERP SaaS deals. These transactions not only illustrate how buyers are approaching the market but also offer founders practical signals for gauging the right moment to launch a sale.
Banker Selection Criteria for ERP SaaS
Questions to Ask an Investment Banker Before Hiring for ERP Software Sale
Founders should dig deeper than “Do you know SaaS?” and instead ask:
- How do you normalize professional services revenue? In ERP SaaS, services can be value enablers, not just margin drags.
- How do you present deferred revenue and cohort analysis? Buyers want proof of module upsell and cloud migration retention.
- How do you quantify version fragmentation risk? A clean upgrade path often translates into better multiples.
Experience Required in ERP SaaS M&A Investment Banker
ERP SaaS exits are uniquely complex. Your banker should have:
- Direct experience positioning migration risks when shifting from on-prem to cloud ERP.
- Relationships across partner ecosystems (resellers, ISVs, SIs) and insight into their portability post-transaction.
- Fluency in AI/data-readiness positioning, now a central diligence theme in 2025.
Objective’s Edge: Unlike generalist advisors, Objective’s Technology Practice is deeply entrenched in ERP SaaS M&A. We’ve closed multiple ERP transactions and maintained direct relationships with both strategic acquirers and private equity buyers. This industry expertise allows us to anticipate buyer motivations and build processes that maximize valuation.
Industry & Deal Expertise
Investment Banks Specializing in ERP SaaS M&A
ERP M&A demands bankers who understand:
- Vertical ERP plays (manufacturing, distribution, construction, retail).
- Adjacencies like MES, supply chain, quality, BI, and expense management.
- Global buyer strategies, since ERP consolidation is accelerating in North America, Europe, and Asia.
Top SaaS Investment Bankers with ERP Software Transaction Experience
Ask your prospective banker:
- “Can you walk me through the ERP SaaS transactions you’ve closed?”
- “What strategies do you use to maximize valuation in ERP SaaS transactions?”
- “How many ERP SaaS private equity platforms and strategic acquirers are in your active coverage list?”
Case Studies of ERP SaaS Company Sales
Notable 2025 transactions illustrate buyer priorities:
- Vista Equity Partners acquires Acumatica (May 2025): Major ERP platform buyout underscores PE appetite for vertical ERP SaaS.
- Aptean acquisitions: TRASER Software (dealer management), Logility (supply chain planning), and Germanedge (digital factory/MES) show the “suite + adjacency” roll-up strategy.
- IFS acquires TheLoops (June 2025): Example of strategics integrating AI agents into ERP-adjacent workflows.
- Mythics acquires Smart ERP Solutions (Apr 2025): Oracle SI consolidation shows buyer appetite for ERP ecosystem capabilities.
Process & Outcomes
How Investment Bankers Add Value in ERP SaaS Company Sale
The right banker doesn’t just “run a process.” They:
- Map buyers across PE platforms and strategics filling ERP suite gaps.
- Prepare diligence with clean SaaS metrics and normalized ERP services revenue.
- Drive competitive tension to secure higher valuations and better terms.
Objective’s Differentiator: At Objective, we apply sophisticated sales strategies that go far beyond standard process mechanics. These include:
- Post-acquisition economics modeling.
- Data-driven growth story projections.
- Customer cohort analytics.
We combine senior-level commitment often missing at larger institutions with the depth of expertise smaller firms can’t match. By embedding senior insight into every stage, from positioning to buyer negotiations, we help acquirers see the full potential of your ERP SaaS business. This translates directly into greater buyer interest and premium sale valuations.
Typical Fees Investment Bankers Charge for SaaS ERP Exits
Expect fees in the 3-5% range for deals under $100M, with negotiated tiers for larger transactions. Retainers are common but negotiable.
Steps to Hire an Investment Banker for SaaS Business
- Define objectives (full exit, recapitalization, or growth partner).
- Shortlist bankers with ERP SaaS case studies.
- Ask sector-specific diligence questions.
- Speak with founder references.
- Evaluate fit. It’s a high-trust, high-pressure partnership.
Founder Concerns
How to Avoid Mistakes When Choosing Banker for ERP SaaS Exit
- Don’t hire purely on brand prestige, get to know the banker and their ERP expertise.
- Avoid bankers who can’t articulate ERP-specific diligence risks.
- Be cautious of overpromised valuations not backed by buyer data.
Red Flags in Hiring an M&A Advisor for ERP SaaS Software
- Limited buyer relationships in ERP-focused private equity platforms.
- Overreliance on generic SaaS comps.
- Unable to speak to recent ERP SaaS deals or articulate how current market trends impact your company’s positioning.
Objective’s Approach: We provide straightforward, senior-level advice that tailors each ERP SaaS sale process to your unique objectives. Beyond valuation, we solve for:
- Optimal timing.
- After-tax proceeds.
- Confidentiality.
- Post-transaction involvement.
This clear, purposeful approach ensures founders achieve not just a premium sale price but also alignment with long-term personal and business goals.
Buyer Access & Network
Which Bankers Know Private Equity Buyers for ERP SaaS Companies
Bankers with real-time dialogue with ERP portfolio companies can target PE funds with active add-on mandates.
Investment Banker Relationships With Strategic ERP Acquirers
Strategics like Aptean, IFS, Forterro, Epicor, and Oracle actively pursue acquisitions. Bankers with direct relationships create access founders can’t secure independently.
How Bankers Connect SaaS Founders to Top PE Funds
Bankers create competitive tension across both PE and strategic buyers. This leverage leads to stronger terms, higher certainty, and premium outcomes.
Conclusion
Choosing the right banker for an ERP SaaS exit isn’t just about fees or a recognizable brand. It’s about selecting an advisor with:
- Deep ERP SaaS industry expertise.
- Sophisticated, data-driven sales strategies.
- Straightforward senior-level advice tailored to your objectives.
At Objective, we deliver all three. By combining ERP market fluency, strategic positioning tools, and senior-led execution, we help founders achieve superior valuations, smoother diligence, and lasting success beyond the transaction.
Considering a sale? Contact our Technology M&A team for a confidential discussion.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Do I need an investment banker for ERP SaaS company sale?
Yes. Hiring an investment banker for an ERP SaaS company sale is highly recommended. Experienced ERP SaaS M&A advisors bring direct access to strategic acquirers and private equity buyers, prepare your business for rigorous diligence, and position your company to achieve premium valuations. Founders who try to run an ERP SaaS exit without a banker often leave money on the table and face greater execution risk.
2. What is the success rate of bankers in ERP software M&A deals?
Senior bankers with ERP SaaS M&A expertise achieve materially higher success rates than generalist advisors or founder-turned business brokers. ERP SaaS sales involve complex diligence, migration risk, partner ecosystem stability, and upgrade paths, that specialists know how to position effectively with buyers. As a result, founders who work with experienced ERP software investment bankers achieve higher close rates, stronger buyer engagement from both strategic acquirers and private equity firms, and better valuation multiples.
3. What fees should I expect from investment bankers in SaaS exits?
For most SaaS and ERP SaaS company sales, investment banker fees typically range from 3–5% of transaction value for deals under $100M, with percentage tiers decreasing for larger transactions. Retainers are often required to begin the engagement, but the bulk of compensation is success-based and paid only when the deal closes. While fees are meaningful, experienced ERP SaaS M&A advisors often deliver premium valuations and better deal certainty that more than offset their cost.
About The Author
Thomas Lin specializes in sell-side M&A advisory for founder-led, growth-stage SaaS and Technology businesses. With expertise in the LegalTech, GRC, Field Service Management, and PropTech sectors, Mr. Lin is skilled in guiding complex transactions for technology-driven companies. Before joining Objective, Mr. Lin spent nearly nine years at Vista Point Advisors, rising to Principal and closing 12+ transactions worth over $1.1 billion, including the $100M+ sale of FormSwift to Dropbox and the majority recapitalization of TravelNet Solutions by Blue Star Innovation Partners. Mr. Lin earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business and is a FINRA-registered securities representative.
Disclosure
This news release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer, invitation or recommendation to buy, sell, subscribe for or issue any securities. While the information provided herein is believed to be accurate and reliable, Objective Capital Partners and BA Securities, LLC make no representations or warranties, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of such information. All information contained herein is preliminary, limited and subject to completion, correction or amendment. It should not be construed as investment, legal, or tax advice and may not be reproduced or distributed to any person. Securities and investment banking services are offered through BA Securities, LLC Member FINRA, SIPC. Principals of Objective Capital are Registered Representatives of BA Securities. Objective Capital Partners and BA Securities are separate and unaffiliated entities.
