SES-related M&A in the IT industry reached 15 transactions in January-September 2026, exceeding the previous year. Talent shortages, expansion of customer bases and the impact of generative AI have been cited as contributing factors.
The number of SES-related M&A transactions in the IT and software industries reached 15 in January-September 2026, already exceeding the 10 transactions recorded in full-year 2025. This is the highest level in the past 10 years. The number was generally 0 to 3 transactions annually from 2017 to 2023, but has risen markedly since 2024. The backdrop is a shortage of engineers, and acquisitions aimed not only at securing engineers but also at acquiring customer bases and projects are increasing. There is also a view that the spread of generative AI is beginning to affect staffing, technology and M&A valuations.
In recent examples, バルテス・ホールディングス made オプティム, which operates an SES business, a subsidiary, with the aim of strengthening its development talent base in the enterprise sector. ココナラ made フレームキャリア a subsidiary to strengthen its structure combining permanent engineers and freelancers, while ハイブリッドテクノロジーズ made MCP35, which owns グルーヴ・システム, a subsidiary and indicated a policy of increasing its ability to secure a stable supply of engineers. These transactions were aimed at securing talent.
Meanwhile, examples aimed at expanding customer bases include Amazia’s acquisition of リーデックス as a subsidiary and Sobal’s acquisition of 理創 as a subsidiary. The objectives are to broaden the scope of services by using リーデックス’s customer base to complement technical capabilities, and to expand the ability to address technical fields by leveraging 理創’s technical expertise.
The market backdrop to the talent shortage includes a survey by Teikoku Databank, which found that 61.9% of information services companies faced a shortage of permanent employees. DX Trends 2026 also found that shortages in both the quantity and quality of personnel driving digital transformation remained at high levels, and stated that the chronic shortage of talent is expected to continue. The spread of generative AI may also change these structures, and the trend toward buyers acquiring personnel and technologies capable of using AI may expand going forward.