"Tech Giant Cisco Partners with M&A Firm Tidal for $28B Splunk Acquisition, Signaling a Resurgence in Tech Investments"
Cisco Systems has enlisted the services of Tidal Partners, a new mergers and acquisitions advisory firm, for its $28 billion acquisition of cybersecurity firm Splunk. Tidal Partners, founded by former Centerview Partners dealmakers David Handler and David Neequaye, served as the sole financial adviser to Cisco, while Qatalyst Partners and Morgan Stanley advised Splunk. The win for Tidal Partners comes as more technology bankers launch their own firms amid a slowdown in dealmaking in the sector.