Transaction · Vertical SaaS Payments · 2021

Lightspeed / Vend 2021

Lightspeed Commerce acquired Vend for $350M on March 17, 2021.

Target
Vend
Acquirer
Lightspeed Commerce
Deal value
$350M
Deal type
Mixed
Announced
March 17, 2021
Sub-sector
Vertical SaaS Payments

Transaction overview

  • Lightspeed Commerce announced the acquisition of Vend on March 17, 2021 for approximately USD 350 million.
  • Consideration was structured as a mix of cash and Lightspeed shares.
  • The transaction closed on April 15, 2021.
  • Vend is a cloud-based point-of-sale software company founded in Auckland, New Zealand, serving retail merchants.
  • Vend reported more than 25,000 retail customers across over 140 countries at the time of the deal.
  • Lightspeed is a Montreal-based commerce platform serving restaurants, retailers, and golf operators.
  • Lightspeed acquired Vend to expand its retail POS footprint in Asia-Pacific, Europe, and other international markets.

Why it matters

  • The deal gave Lightspeed a stronger retail POS presence in Asia-Pacific, a region where it had limited direct distribution.
  • Vend's multi-currency, multi-location architecture extended Lightspeed's reach to smaller independent retailers outside North America.

Strategic rationale

Lightspeed adds Auckland-based retail POS platform with 20,000 customer locations to scale internationally and accelerate omnichannel rollout.

Deal terms & multiples

Deal value
$350M
Target revenue
Not disclosed
Target EBITDA
Not disclosed
EV / Revenue
Not disclosed
EV / EBITDA
Not disclosed
Announcement
March 17, 2021
Close date
April 15, 2021
Acquirer
Lightspeed Commerce (Strategic)
Target HQ
New Zealand
Deal type
Mixed
Consideration structure
Mixed: approximately USD 200 million in cash and USD 150 million in Lightspeed shares
Regulatory status
Closed April 15, 2021; no material regulatory conditions publicly reported
Acquirer ticker
NYSE: LSPD

About Vend

Vend is a cloud-based retail point-of-sale and inventory management software company headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand. Founded in 2010, the company built its platform around browser-based POS software that works on iPad, Mac, and PC hardware. Vend served more than 25,000 retail customers across more than 140 countries at the time of the acquisition. Its customer base skewed toward independent and specialty retailers, including apparel, sporting goods, and home goods merchants.

Founded
2010
HQ
New Zealand
Prior funding
Approximately USD 60 million raised across multiple rounds, including a Series C in 2015
Key metric
25,000+ retail customers across 140+ countries

About Lightspeed Commerce NYSE: LSPD

Lightspeed Commerce is a Montreal-based cloud commerce platform serving retailers, restaurants, and golf operators. The company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange in 2019 and subsequently on the New York Stock Exchange in 2020 under the ticker LSPD. Lightspeed's platform covers point-of-sale, payments, inventory, and analytics. The Vend acquisition was one of several deals Lightspeed completed in a rapid expansion phase between 2020 and 2022.

Founded
2005
Ticker
NYSE: LSPD

Frequently asked questions

How much did Lightspeed pay for Vend?

Lightspeed paid approximately USD 350 million in a mix of cash and Lightspeed shares.

When did the Lightspeed acquisition of Vend close?

The deal closed on April 15, 2021, about four weeks after the March 17 announcement.

What does Vend do?

Vend provides cloud-based point-of-sale and inventory management software to independent and specialty retailers. At acquisition, it served more than 25,000 customers in over 140 countries.

Why did Lightspeed acquire Vend?

Lightspeed sought to expand its retail POS customer base in Asia-Pacific and other international markets where Vend had established distribution.

Where is Vend headquartered?

Vend is headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand.

Is Lightspeed publicly traded?

Yes. Lightspeed trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker LSPD and is also listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Sources