Blucora announced Tuesday that it agreed to sell TaxAct, its tax software business, to an affiliate of private equity firm Cinven for $720 million in cash, subject to adjustment.
The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2022, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals, Blucora said.
Following completion of the transaction, Blucora said, it will rebrand as Avantax and focus on its success in providing tax-focused wealth management via its independent broker-dealer Avantax Wealth Management, and its employee-based RIA, Avantax Planning Partners.
During Blucora's earnings call for the third quarter (ended Sept. 30), Chris Walters, the firm's CEO and president, told analysts: "While the decision to sell TaxAct may come as a bit of a surprise for some of you, the [Blucora] board has been consistent in its position to remain open to opportunities to create or unlock value for shareholders."
Blucora "commenced the process to explore such a transaction, and Cinven's offer validates the … work our TaxAct team has done to grow the business by enhancing our products and customer care approach as well as the significant strides made acquiring customers via increasing the sophistication of our marketing efforts and scaling partnerships."
The company has "invested in product and customer care enhancements," he said in the news release announcing the transaction. "This, coupled with strong marketing and partnership execution, has enabled the business to deliver strong financial performance and return to growing market share," he said.
