Weekly Roundup of Private Equity Sector Developments
In a significant development within the private equity landscape, Clearlake Capital Group has agreed to acquire Dun & Bradstreet Holdings, Inc. in a deal valued at approximately $7.7 billion, including debt. The acquisition, which was announced in March 2025 and overwhelmingly approved by Dun & Bradstreet shareholders by June 12, 2025, is expected to close in the third quarter of 2025.
Dun & Bradstreet, founded in 1841, is a global leader in business decisioning data and analytics, offering financial, risk, and analytics services to a diverse client base. The acquisition gives Clearlake access to one of the world's most established corporate data providers.
The deal price is $9.15 per share in cash, a figure that reflects the high demand for the acquisition. The transaction has an equity value of $4.1 billion. Notably, the fund attracted nearly 100% re-up participation from existing limited partners, underscoring growing private equity interest in data-driven businesses.
Clearlake plans to leverage Dun & Bradstreet's extensive data assets to enhance AI-powered solutions for clients. However, the company reported mixed second-quarter 2025 financial results, with revenues slightly up to $585.2 million, operating income down to $12.8 million, and an accumulated net loss attributable to Dun & Bradstreet of $33.7 million in the quarter.
Meanwhile, in personnel news, Jean-Pierre Saad, who previously spent over 15 years at KKR, where he most recently led the firm's EMEA tech private equity strategy, has been named as a Managing Partner at CVC to head its private equity investments in the European technology sector. However, the exact timeline for his joining CVC is set for June 2025.
In another development, Oakley Capital has announced the final close of its latest private equity vehicle, Oakley Capital Fund VI. The fund secured €2.2bn in new institutional commitments from Europe, North America, Asia, and for the first time, Australia and Latin America. The fund reached its €4.5bn hard cap, making it 58% larger than its predecessor. However, no specific details about the fund's demand or fundraising timeline were disclosed.
The private equity activity remains robust, especially in high-quality deals like the Dun & Bradstreet acquisition. However, valuation pressures and extended hold periods characterize the current private equity environment. Legislative changes such as the UK Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 are also notable, as they will impact data handling and compliance for data-reliant firms like Dun & Bradstreet going forward.
[1] Clearlake Capital to Acquire Dun & Bradstreet for $7.7 Billion
[2] Clearlake Capital to Buy Dun & Bradstreet for $7.7 Billion
[3] Dun & Bradstreet Q2 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
[4] Private Equity in 2025: Valuation Pressures and Extended Hold Periods
[5] UK Data (Use and Access) Act 2025: Impact on Data-Reliant Firms
[1] The Clearlake Capital Group has agreed to a transaction of $7.7 billion, acquiring Dun & Bradstreet Holdings, Inc.
[2] The private equity fund, Clearlake Capital, has reached a deal to buy Dun & Bradstreet Holdings, Inc. for approximately $7.7 billion.
[3] During the Dun & Bradstreet Q2 2025 earnings call, the company revealed its financial performance following the agreed acquisition by Clearlake Capital.
[4] In the current private equity landscape, valuation pressures and extended hold periods are prominent features, as illustrated by the Clearlake Capital deal with Dun & Bradstreet.
[5] As the UK Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 comes into effect, its implications for data-reliant firms like Dun & Bradstreet are significant, mandating further attention to data handling and compliance.
[6] In the house of private equity, Clearlake Capital's fundraising success for the Dun & Bradstreet acquisition underscores growing investor interest in data-driven businesses, with nearly 100% re-up participation from existing limited partners.
