DUFF & PHELPS acquired by STONE POINT CAPITAL
Context
Duff & Phelps has been acquired by a global investor consortium led by Stone Point Capital and Further Global. The transaction was announced in January 2020 and follows a series of equity transactions that have reshaped the firm’s ownership since its 2018 investment by Permira. The consortium includes the existing Permira funds, which retain a significant minority stake, and senior members of Duff & Phelps’ management team, who continue to hold equity. The deal involves the purchase of all outstanding equity, resulting in full ownership by the consortium. Closing is expected in the second quarter of 2020 pending customary conditions. Stone Point Capital and Further Global view the acquisition as a means to reinforce Duff & Phelps’ position in the advisory market while providing capital for further international expansion. The investors intend to leverage the firm’s established client relationships, particularly its penetration of S&P 500 and Fortune 1000 companies, to cross-sell additional risk-management and compliance services. The consortium’s experience in financial-services investments will support the integration of recent acquisitions such as Kroll and Prime Clerk, enabling a more cohesive product suite. The investors will also pursue alignment of the firm’s governance framework with best-in-class private-equity standards, introducing board oversight mechanisms and performance metrics. The ownership structure also aligns management incentives with long-term value creation. Post-closing, Duff & Phelps is expected to accelerate its growth trajectory through organic scaling of its valuation and cyber-risk practices and through targeted add-on acquisitions in complementary niches. The new capital base will fund technology upgrades, expand the firm’s presence in emerging markets and enhance its data-analytics capabilities. Enhanced capital allocation is expected to support the development of proprietary valuation models and the rollout of a unified digital platform for client engagements. The combined expertise of the investors and existing leadership is projected to improve operational efficiency, broaden service coverage and deepen market share across corporate finance, investigations and regulatory advisory segments.
In the past, the company had already been the subject of several LBOs, notably led by The Carlyle Group / Stone Point Capital / Pictet & Cie in 2013 and Permira in 2017. These multiple LBO cycles illustrate the strong appeal for this type of asset.
DUFF & PHELPS, which reported an EBITDA margin of LOGIN in 2020, is valued in this transaction at an EV/EBITDA multiple of LOGIN, a level to compare with the average currently observed in the Business Services sector (11.1x).
Note that this data is based on contribution from our growing community, composed of M&A and Private Equity professionals, and has been verified by our team to ensure its accuracy.
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Target
Duff & Phelps was founded in the early 1990s and has evolved into a global advisory firm that delivers valuation, corporate finance, dispute resolution, compliance, regulatory consulting, real estate, restructuring and related governance services. The firm employs approximately 2,000 client service professionals who operate from offices across the Americas, Europe and Asia. Its client base spans more than half of the companies listed in the S&P 500 as well as a majority of top‑tier private‑equity firms, major law firms and hedge funds. The business model is fee‑based, with project‑specific engagements that combine technical expertise, independent judgment and industry‑specific knowledge. Service delivery relies on a combination of on‑site teams and centralized analytical platforms that produce fair‑value assessments, transaction support and forensic investigations. Over the years the firm has built long‑standing relationships that enable cross‑selling of complementary services across corporate, financial and regulatory domains. Geographic expansion has been supported by organic growth and selective acquisitions that extend its footprint in Europe and Asia. The firm maintains a diversified revenue stream derived from advisory, litigation support, compliance consulting and transaction advisory work.
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Historical Financials (USD)
Other operations with DUFF & PHELPS
| Date | Acquirer | Target | Country | Sector | Deal Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12/2017 | PERMIRA | DUFF & PHELPS | UNITED STATES | Professional Services | Duff & Phelps has been acquired by a vehicle of the Permira funds. The transaction was announced in December 2017 and is subject to customary closing conditions, with completion expected in the first quarter of 2018 |
| 01/2013 | THE CARLYLE GROUP / STONE POINT CAPITAL / PICTET & CIE | DUFF & PHELPS | UNITED STATES | Professional Services | Duff & Phelps Corporation is being acquired by a consortium comprising controlled affiliates of The Carlyle Group, Stone Point Capital, Pictet & Cie and Edmond de Rothschild Group. The merger agreement was signed in early 2013, includes a go‑shop period for alternative proposals, and requires approval from shareholders and regulators before closing in the first half of the year |
REFERENCES
Valuation range: EV 3b - 100b USD
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Authors: verified mynth contributor (mynth data is contributed by M&A / PE professionals and systematically cross-verified with private deal documents and official press releases).
Target: duff & phelps
Acquirer: stone point capital