French software firms Cegid and Silae announced an intention to merge into a European AI-era business-technology platform, with Silver Lake remaining majority owner of the combined group. A Business Wire statement said the deal is expected to value the combined group at more than 10 billion euros in enterprise value, about $11.6 billion at wire FX. Christian Pedersen, joining from IFS, becomes CEO of Cegid and will lead the combined company. Close is targeted for the first half of 2027, subject to works-council consultation and regulatory approvals.
Business Wire said the group would serve about 2 million end-customers and more than 15,000 accountancy firms while producing more than 13 million payslips a month across Europe, with a developer team about 1,400 strong. CNBC, citing the Financial Times, said expected annual revenue is about 1.6 billion euros; that figure is FT-via-CNBC only, not in the Business Wire primary. Christian Lucas of Silver Lake is set to chair.
Sources: Business Wire (via Morningstar reprint), Sep. 2026; CNBC; Reuters transactional, Sep. 9, 2026.
