Highlights:

  • Francisco Partners get candid about the Combination of TradingScreen and Imagine Software to create a leading trading and investment management software platform
  • The joint company will be called TS Imagine
  • The combination of the two entities will build one of the most dynamic SaaS cloud-based software platforms for capital markets
  • A transaction for TradingScreen has been closed, whereas a transaction for Imagine is projected to close in May

Francisco Partners, a leading name in the global investment genre with expertise in partnering with tech businesses, made an interesting announcement on May 3, 2021.

The company revealed the combination of TradingScreen (a trading execution and order management software vendor) and Imagine Software (a real-time risk and compliance platform).

The joint company, TS Imagine, will be a dynamic and comprehensive trading and portfolio management software platform and will work as the bridge to connect investment management businesses with a network of banks, exchanges, and brokers.

The powerful combination between the two entities builds one of the most vital SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) cloud-based software platforms in the capital markets and investment management. It also brings integrated and end-to-end front office solutions, state-of-the-art technology, global coverage, complementary product capabilities, and expertise to better serve financial institutions and investment firms worldwide.

On the management front, industry veteran Rob Flatley will take over as the CEO of the new joint business.

The CEO’s take

Rob Flatley expressed, “I am excited to join TS Imagine and continue delivering innovative and customer-focused products and services.”

He added, “The industry continues to face new challenges and opportunities, including the need for effective trade lifecycle management combined with real-time risk analytics. Our talented employees and unique, integrated software platform will deliver on this mission-critical need for our customers and partners.”

The TS Imagine setup

The combined enterprise, TS Imagine, will operate with approximately 400 employees in 10 offices worldwide. The firm will serve approximately 500 global buy-side and sell-side organizations across North and South America, Asia Pacific, and EMEA regions, including traditional asset managers, hedge funds, mutual funds, pension funds, and financial institutions.

Justin Chen, Principal at Francisco Partners, mentioned, “TS Imagine brings together the global expertise of industry-leading products.”

He added, “The company is uniquely positioned to address complex and time-consuming workflows in the front, middle and back offices, unifying order management, trade execution, portfolio analytics, real-time risk compliance, accounting, and operations. Our investment will support the company’s continued product innovation, customer focus, and strong growth.”

Peter Christodoulo, Partner at Francisco Partners, said, “We have known Rob Flatley for nearly a decade and are thrilled to finally be partnering with him.”

He added, “Rob is a tremendous operator with a successful track record of value creation for shareholders, management, employees, customers, and partners. We have also been extremely impressed with the TradingScreen and Imagine teams and look forward to backing them as they take the combined company forward.”

Francisco Partners has been an active player on the investments front and a promising investor in fintech and investment management technology.

Few of its notable investments in the sector are eFront, NextCapital, Dynamo Software, and Betterment.

Latest update on the merger

A transaction for TradingScreen has been closed, whereas a transaction for Imagine is projected to close in May. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, a Stifel company, worked as the financial advisor and Kirkland & Ellis LLP worked as the legal advisor to Francisco Partners.