Dun & Bradstreet Agrees to $7.7 Billion Acquisition by Clearlake Capital
Deal News | Mar 24, 2025 | Clearlake Capital
Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Dun & Bradstreet Holdings, a leading provider of business decisioning data and analytics, in a transaction valued at $7.7 billion, including outstanding debt, with an equity valuation of $4.1 billion. The agreement, unanimously approved by Dun & Bradstreet's Board, includes a provision for shareholders to receive $9.15 in cash per share. Dun & Bradstreet’s CEO, Anthony Jabbour, emphasized the company's financial and strategic transformation over recent years and expressed optimism about the partnership with Clearlake. The acquisition, set to close in the third quarter of 2025, is subject to shareholder approval and regulatory clearances. Post-transaction, Dun & Bradstreet will become privately held and shares will be delisted from public markets. BofA Securities and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP advise Dun & Bradstreet, while multiple financial institutions and Sidley Austin LLP advise Clearlake.
Sectors
- Business Analytics
- Private Equity
- Corporate Finance
Geography
- United States – Dun & Bradstreet is based in Jacksonville, Florida, and Clearlake Capital is headquartered in Santa Monica, California, both of which are in the United States.
Industry
- Business Analytics – Dun & Bradstreet is characterized within this industry due to its provision of data analytics solutions for business decision making.
- Private Equity – Clearlake Capital operates within this industry as it is acquiring Dun & Bradstreet as part of its investment strategy.
- Corporate Finance – The involvement of multiple financial advisors and legal counsels highlights the corporate finance nature of the acquisition.
Financials
- $7.7 billion – Total transaction value, including outstanding debt.
- $4.1 billion – Equity value of the transaction.
- $9.15 – Cash per share for Dun & Bradstreet shareholders.
Participants
| Name | Role | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dun & Bradstreet Holdings, Inc. | Target Company | Company | A leading global provider of business decisioning data and analytics. |
| Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. | Bidding Company | Company | A private equity firm acquiring Dun & Bradstreet. |
| BofA Securities | Financial Advisor to Dun & Bradstreet | Company | Advises Dun & Bradstreet on the sale process. |
| Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP | Legal Advisor to Dun & Bradstreet | Company | Provides legal counsel to Dun & Bradstreet. |
| Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Rothschild & Co, Barclays, Citi, Deutsche Bank, Santander, Wells Fargo | Financial Advisors to Clearlake | Company | Participate in advising Clearlake Capital in financial transactions. |
| Ares Credit Funds, HSBC | Credit Fund Participants | Company | Participate in financing for the transaction. |
| Sidley Austin LLP | Legal Advisor to Clearlake | Company | Provides legal counsel to Clearlake Capital. |