Financial Technology, Data, and Analytics

Dear Clients and Friends,

“I have watched this week’s unfolding events, angry and appalled. The words ‘Equal Justice Under Law’ are carved in the pediment of the United States Supreme Court. This is precisely what protesters are rightly demanding. It is a wholesome and unifying demand — one that all of us should be able to get behind. We must reject and hold accountable those in office who would make a mockery of our Constitution.” James Mattis: General USMC (Ret) former Secretary of Defense.

Before last week, the amelioration of the COVID-19 pandemic combined with a re-opening of businesses and resurgent stock markets allowed many of us in the Fintech, Data and Analytics world to begin to breathe sighs of relief. The pandemic isn’t over. The number of deaths worldwide is unimaginably high — and still growing. Many people are still locked in. But the rate of new infections in most of the west is down; m&a values are up; we have several transactions moving forward and, as you will see in our REPORT, a few other buyers and sellers have found ways to transact as well.
 
Before last week, focus on our business challenges allowed us to be blind to the impacts of resurgent racism and xenophobia. Many of us ascribed horrific acts — such as the killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Christian Cooper, Breonna Taylor, Eric Garner, Trayvon Martin, Emmett Till; the Charleston church shootings; the Charlottesville attacks; and the attack on Latinos in El Paso — to isolated incidents that derived from mental illness or rogue operators.
 
One week ago, a police officer killed George Floyd during an arrest. It was too much for many people who have long faced systemic discrimination including broken promises of “…liberty and justice for all…” Now, all around us, communities are showing their solidarity for the need for change — and, like General Mattis, we are “shocked and appalled” by those who don’t support the cry. It’s time for us to act — and there are things we can do. 
 
Among other things, we can devote our time, our voices, and our treasure to electing leaders who embrace our values and ideals including those in the US Constitution; who put country ahead of partisanship, and will forge compromise to find solutions. We need to elect leaders who demonstrate traits that General Mattis and other Marines value such as courage, intelligence, integrity, judgment, justice, knowledge and unselfishness. That’s what we will do. For if they prevail, so will we. And we must prevail.
 
Our report on m&a values in the 11 segments of the FinTech, Data and Analytics world that we follow and sometimes need is HERE.

Stay Safe; Stay Sane

KM