Topic: How To Invest

Q: Pat, I’m interested in your opinion on Topicus.com, trading on the TSX Venture Exchange. Thank you.

Article Excerpt

A: Topicus.com Inc., $141.91, symbol TOI on the Toronto Venture Exchange (Shares outstanding: 83.1 million; Market cap: $11.8 billion; www.topicus.com), offers vertical market software (VMS) to businesses, mostly in Europe. Vertical markets centre on specific industries, or niches. Examples include education, finance, healthcare, and manufacturing. In May 2020, Constellation Software (symbol CSU on Toronto) acquired Topicus, which was founded in 1998. Constellation is the second-largest technology company on the TSX as measured by market capitalization. Constellation spun off Topicus to its shareholders in January 2021 while keeping a 60.7% interest in the business. While Constellation is a global company, Topicus acquires, manages and builds VMS businesses mostly in Europe. Typically, these businesses provide mission critical software solutions that meet the needs of customers in particular vertical markets. Mission critical software is vital to the core functions of organizations. Topicus focuses on acquiring businesses with growth potential, successfully integrating them, and then adding value. The company’s revenue consists of software licensing fees, maintenance and other recurring fees,…