Bending Spoons Acquires Enterprise Platform Airtable for $2.25 Billion in First Deal Post-IPO

2026-08-04 companies

Milan, Tuesday, 4 August 2026.
Following its July Nasdaq IPO, Milan-based Bending Spoons agreed to acquire enterprise platform Airtable in an all-cash transaction valuing it at an equity value of approximately $2.25 billion.

Definitive Agreement and Valuation Details

Milan-based technology firm Bending Spoons S.p.A. (NASDAQ: BSP) announced on August 3, 2026, a definitive agreement to acquire Airtable in an all-cash transaction [1][3]. The deal assigns an enterprise value of $1.285 billion to the low-code database platform, with an implied equity value of approximately $2.25 billion when including Airtable’s net cash balance [1][2]. Airtable reported annual recurring revenue (ARR) growth of over 20% year-over-year, reaching approximately $480 million as of June 2026 [1][4]. This valuation implies an enterprise value-to-ARR multiple of approximately 2.677 based on the reported figures [1][7]. The transaction represents a significant consolidation in the global SaaS sector, leveraging Bending Spoons’ liquidity following its own public listing [3][4].

Strategic Timing Post-IPO

This acquisition marks Bending Spoons’ first deal since listing on the Nasdaq on July 1, 2026 [3][5]. Prior to this agreement, the company had already expanded its portfolio with the acquisitions of AOL in January 2026 and Eventbrite in March 2026 [3][5]. The rapid execution of this deal, merely one month after going public, signals an aggressive strategy to deploy capital raised from the IPO into established workspace tools [2][4]. Luca Ferrari, CEO and co-founder of Bending Spoons, stated that the union would provide a further impulse to innovation, citing Airtable’s recurring revenue growth as proof of value [1][3]. Both companies’ boards of directors unanimously approved the agreement, with both entities expected to operate independently until the transaction closes [3][7].

Market Reach and Operational Scale

Airtable’s platform is currently utilized by more than 500,000 organizations worldwide, including 80% of the Fortune 100 companies [1][4]. The platform allows users to organize data, manage projects, and create personalized workflows without requiring coding expertise [2][5]. Howie Liu, co-founder and CEO of Airtable, noted that the partnership provides the resources and long-term commitment necessary to build an AI-native platform for the future [1][3]. The substantial cash reserves held by Airtable, noted at $965 million in market commentary, were a specific point of discussion regarding the equity valuation structure [7]. This customer base provides Bending Spoons with immediate access to high-value enterprise clients across various sectors [4][7].

Closing Timeline and Advisory Teams

The transaction is expected to close later in 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions [1][3]. On the legal front, Willkie Farr & Gallagher assisted Bending Spoons, while Latham & Watkins acted as legal counsel for Airtable [2][5]. Financial advisory services for Bending Spoons were provided by Goldman Sachs Bank Europe SE, Succursale Italia, and J.P. Morgan, with EY Advisory handling due diligence [3][5]. Airtable was advised financially by Axom Partners LLC [3][5]. Investors and analysts are monitoring the deal for signs of further consolidation trends among cash-rich, post-IPO technology companies [4][7].

Sources

Enterprise Software Tech Mergers