The landscape for mergers and acquisitions in the channel has dramatically changed from 2022. Buyers and sellers are sorting through the issues of rising interest rates, business valuations and whether an economic slowdown will impact the partner community. As a result, conversations around M&A have changed. Still, interest remains high as owners seek to exit their businesses or join forces with a larger firm to unlock value or accelerate growth of services.

Channel Futures recently interviewed Tim Mueller, president of martinwolf, a global M&A firm focusing on middle market IT-enabled businesses, to understand M&A trends better. Mueller also discussed the partnership inked with Informa Tech Channels to launch ITX M&A Marketplace @Channel Futures. Informa Tech Channels is the parent of Channel Futures, the Channel Partners Conference & Expo and The MSP Summit.

Mueller also serves as president of ITX, a marketplace connecting global buyers and investors with founders of IT-enabled businesses including channel partners, MSPs and other IT providers. Prior to joining martinwolf, Mueller served as CEO and vice chairman of Phylogy, a Silicon Valley startup providing broadband technology to carriers. He co-founded Vantage One Communications and has been honored by USA Today and Nasdaq, and was named an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

The ITX M&A Marketplace @ Channel Futures brings together buyers and sellers of IT-enabled businesses. It aims to help channel partners across the entire channel industry connect via merger, acquisition and strategic investment to accelerate their business model transformation at a critical time in the channel. The M&A Marketplace will connect partners on a digital platform but also provide live engagement at the Channel Partners Conference & Expo/The MSP Summit, May 1-4, 2023; the Channel Partners Europe Summit, 13-14 June; and the Channel Futures Leadership Summit and MSP 501 Gala Awards, Oct. 30-Nov. 2.