Transactions
November 2026
KippsDeSanto advises SSP Innovations on its sale to SAM
MCLEAN, VA — KippsDeSanto served as exclusive financial advisor to SSP Innovations, a portfolio company of funds managed by Warren Equity Partners, on its sale to SAM, a portfolio company of New Mountain Capital.
Headquartered in Englewood, CO, SSP Innovations operates as a geographic information systems (GIS) technology-enabled services and software platform serving utilities and telecommunication operators. As an Esri Platinum Partner, the company brings objective experience in utility modernization, having completed more than 100 major transformation projects, including Esri Utility Network migrations and complex operational technology integrations across GIS, EAM, WMS, and ADMS platforms.
3-GIS, a subsidiary of SSP Innovations, provides cloud-native, AI-enabled enterprise network management software that connects network planning, design, asset inventory and operations through a trusted source of network data for fiber, electric and gas networks. Through proprietary expansion kits, operators can extend the platform with AI-enabled tooling to build functionality tailored to their specific requirements.
The acquisition expands SAM's land and aerial surveying, LiDAR, inspection and utility engineering capabilities, broadening its ability to serve customers across the infrastructure lifecycle from planning and design through construction, operations and modernization.
"SSP Innovations and 3-GIS bring deep industry expertise, proven technology capabilities, and strong customer relationships that align well with SAM's growth strategy," said Chris Solomon, President and CEO of SAM. "Together, these capabilities strengthen our ability to serve critical infrastructure markets, deliver greater value to our clients, and create new opportunities for continued growth and innovation."
“SSP Innovations and 3-GIS have built strong foundations through industry expertise, innovation, and long-standing customer relationships,” said Patrick Vardeman, CEO of SSP Innovations and 3-GIS, “In joining SAM, we see a tremendous opportunity to build on our momentum, continue advancing our solutions, and create even greater value for the organizations that rely on us to manage the critical networks of today and tomorrow.”
Key software and tech-enabled services M&A trends highlighted by this transaction
- Integrated software demand: Utilities and telecommunications providers seek comprehensive software and services to modernize legacy systems and migrate to next-generation GIS platforms.
- Purpose-built proprietary solutions: Significant M&A interest continues for utility, telco and critical infrastructure focused technology and software providers with proprietary solutions built to address specific industry and customer pain points.
- Accelerating infrastructure investment: Digital transformation, grid modernization, AI, data center revolution, fiber network densification and the surging power and connectivity requirements of hyperscalers and digital infrastructure continue to drive significant capital deployment across utility and telecommunications markets.
- Technology-led business models: Critical infrastructure services companies continue acquiring tech-enabled services and software companies to enhance their digital solutions and overall market positioning.
- Robust sponsor consolidation: Private equity activity drives the creation of integrated market leaders capable of delivering unified field intelligence, digital data solutions, tech-enabled services and proprietary software to enterprise customers.
About KippsDeSanto
KippsDeSanto is an investment bank focused on delivering strategic M&A advisory, private capital raising and strategic financial advisory services. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, the firm serves growth oriented companies operating across aerospace, defense, government and technology. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Capital One, N.A., KippsDeSanto combines deep sector expertise, transactional ingenuity and broad industry and strategic relationships to guide growth companies through transformational liquidity events. Having completed more than 275 transactions since 2008, KippsDeSanto helps market leaders realize strategic value across aerospace, defense, government and technology.
For more information, visit kippsdesanto.com.
MCLEAN, VA — KippsDeSanto served as exclusive financial advisor to SSP Innovations, a portfolio company of funds managed by Warren Equity Partners, on its sale to SAM, a portfolio company of New Mountain Capital.
Headquartered in Englewood, CO, SSP Innovations operates as a geographic information systems (GIS) technology-enabled services and software platform serving utilities and telecommunication operators. As an Esri Platinum Partner, the company brings objective experience in utility modernization, having completed more than 100 major transformation projects, including Esri Utility Network migrations and complex operational technology integrations across GIS, EAM, WMS, and ADMS platforms.
3-GIS, a subsidiary of SSP Innovations, provides cloud-native, AI-enabled enterprise network management software that connects network planning, design, asset inventory and operations through a trusted source of network data for fiber, electric and gas networks. Through proprietary expansion kits, operators can extend the platform with AI-enabled tooling to build functionality tailored to their specific requirements.
The acquisition expands SAM's land and aerial surveying, LiDAR, inspection and utility engineering capabilities, broadening its ability to serve customers across the infrastructure lifecycle from planning and design through construction, operations and modernization.
"SSP Innovations and 3-GIS bring deep industry expertise, proven technology capabilities, and strong customer relationships that align well with SAM's growth strategy," said Chris Solomon, President and CEO of SAM. "Together, these capabilities strengthen our ability to serve critical infrastructure markets, deliver greater value to our clients, and create new opportunities for continued growth and innovation."
“SSP Innovations and 3-GIS have built strong foundations through industry expertise, innovation, and long-standing customer relationships,” said Patrick Vardeman, CEO of SSP Innovations and 3-GIS, “In joining SAM, we see a tremendous opportunity to build on our momentum, continue advancing our solutions, and create even greater value for the organizations that rely on us to manage the critical networks of today and tomorrow.”
Key software and tech-enabled services M&A trends highlighted by this transaction
- Integrated software demand: Utilities and telecommunications providers seek comprehensive software and services to modernize legacy systems and migrate to next-generation GIS platforms.
- Purpose-built proprietary solutions: Significant M&A interest continues for utility, telco and critical infrastructure focused technology and software providers with proprietary solutions built to address specific industry and customer pain points.
- Accelerating infrastructure investment: Digital transformation, grid modernization, AI, data center revolution, fiber network densification and the surging power and connectivity requirements of hyperscalers and digital infrastructure continue to drive significant capital deployment across utility and telecommunications markets.
- Technology-led business models: Critical infrastructure services companies continue acquiring tech-enabled services and software companies to enhance their digital solutions and overall market positioning.
- Robust sponsor consolidation: Private equity activity drives the creation of integrated market leaders capable of delivering unified field intelligence, digital data solutions, tech-enabled services and proprietary software to enterprise customers.
About KippsDeSanto
KippsDeSanto is an investment bank focused on delivering strategic M&A advisory, private capital raising and strategic financial advisory services. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, the firm serves growth oriented companies operating across aerospace, defense, government and technology. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Capital One, N.A., KippsDeSanto combines deep sector expertise, transactional ingenuity and broad industry and strategic relationships to guide growth companies through transformational liquidity events. Having completed more than 275 transactions since 2008, KippsDeSanto helps market leaders realize strategic value across aerospace, defense, government and technology.
For more information, visit kippsdesanto.com.
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