Montagu Private Equity takes majority stake in DQS

Montagu has entered into an agreement to acquire a majority stake in DQS from a consortium of shareholders, including German professional organizations, industry associations, and US-based UL Solutions. Following the transaction, DIN, a historical shareholder since DQS' founding in 1985, will retain a significant stake and partner with Montagu to drive the company's future growth. This investment aligns with Montagu's strategy of backing market-leading businesses that provide critical services in regulated sectors. DQS operates in the global certification and business assurance market, a sector characterized by resilience, fragmentation, and sustained growth prospects. This growth is driven by increasingly stringent regulations, rising compliance requirements, growing ESG considerations, and the expanding need for cybersecurity and artificial intelligence solutions. The transaction also highlights the increasing interest of financial investors in certification and quality assurance activities, whose strategic importance is growing as companies must demonstrate regulatory compliance, secure their value chains, and build trust with customers, partners, and regulatory authorities. The completion of the transaction remains subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions.

The acquisition of DQS is part of the growth strategy of Montagu Private Equity, which already has several external growth operations under its belt, notably Multifonds in 2025.