Clearlake Capital Purchases IT Firm Dun & Bradstreet For $8bn

On March 24th 2025, American private equity firm Clearlake Capital Group announced its $7.7bn buyout of Dun & Bradstreet Holdings, Inc. (D&B), a leading global provider of business decisioning data and analytics. This acquisition underscores Clearlake's strategic intent to enhance its portfolio with data-centric enterprises poised for growth.​

Dun & Bradstreet, with a storied history dating back to 1841, has undergone significant transformations over the past six years. Under CEO A. Jabbour's leadership, the company achieved a 40% increase in revenue and a 60% rise in EBITDA, while reducing leverage from 9x to 3.6x. These improvements have solidified Dun & Bradstreet's position as a leader in data breadth, depth, and quality.

The agreed-upon purchase price offers Dun & Bradstreet shareholders $9.15 in cash per share, representing a modest premium over the prior closing price. This valuation reflects the company's recent stock performance, which has seen a decline of approximately 30% this year and about 60% since its 2020 public offering. ​

Clearlake plans to finance the acquisition through a combination of equity and $5.75bn in debt financing, with major financial institutions such as Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, and JP Morgan advising on the deal.  The agreement includes a 30-day "go-shop" period, allowing Dun & Bradstreet to solicit and evaluate alternative proposals, though the complexity of the deal may deter other potential bidders. 

Upon completion of the transaction, anticipated in Q3 of 2025, Dun & Bradstreet will transition to a privately held company. This move aligns with Clearlake's strategy to invest in data-driven enterprises with substantial growth potential, particularly as organisations increasingly rely on data-centric decision-making in a fast-paced business environment. ​

While the acquisition presents opportunities for operational enhancements and strategic realignments, it also poses challenges. The reliance on substantial debt financing, coupled with the need to maintain and grow Dun & Bradstreet's market position, will require careful management to realise the anticipated returns. Nonetheless, this acquisition signifies a notable development in the data analytics sector, reflecting broader trends of consolidation and investment in data-centric enterprises.

Written by: Alexander Philp

Sources: Yahoo Finance, Press Releases, Mergerlinks