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Israel Set for Record Tech M&A in 2024 on Cyber, AI Deals

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High-rise buildings surrounding beaches in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023. Israel and Saudi Arabia will deepen economic and business ties even if they don’t formally recognize each other, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Photographer: Corinna Kern/Bloomberg (Corinna Kern/Bloomberg)

(Bloomberg) -- Israeli technology startups are on track for a record year of mergers and acquisitions, according to Vintage Investment Partners, as wars in Gaza and Lebanon didn’t dent investor appetite. 

The country had $9.1 billion in tech M&A through the first three quarters of the year and is on track for $10 billion, according to figures published by the investment firm in a presentation on Thursday. The previous record was $8.6 billion, set in 2021. 

Asaf Horesh, a managing partner at the firm, said the data demonstrate continued global interest in Israeli tech despite the financial difficulties from the ongoing conflicts. He said roughly 30% of the M&A activity over the last year was in cybersecurity.

Israel’s tech deals this year include Salesforce Inc.’s $1.9 billion acquisition of Own, a data management provider, and Nvidia Corp.’s $700 million purchase of Run:ai, an AI startup. 

The record sum doesn’t include the $23 billion offer Israeli cybersecurity company Wiz rejected from Alphabet Inc.’s Google in July.   

©2024 Bloomberg L.P.