mynth
04/2026

MONTAGU PRIVATE EQUITY takes majority stake in DQS

GERMANY Industrial Services / TIC (Testing, Inspection, Certification) REV 100M - 200M EUR

Context

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.

DQS, which reported an EBITDA margin of LOGIN in 2023, 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

DQS is a global leader in certification, audit, and business assurance services. Founded in 1985 in Germany by several standardization organizations and German industry associations, the company has evolved into one of the world's premier independent certification bodies. DQS supports businesses in validating their compliance with international standards, regulatory requirements, and industry-specific benchmarks. Its service portfolio encompasses the certification of quality, environmental, information security, occupational health and safety, and numerous industry-specific management systems. The company also operates in high-growth areas such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence governance, ESG compliance, medical devices, future mobility, and supply chain management. With a presence in over 80 countries, DQS relies on a global network of approximately 3,000 highly qualified auditors and experts. The company conducts over 130,000 audit days annually and serves more than 20,000 clients across a broad range of industries, including many international blue-chip companies and prominent German listed groups.

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Historical Financials (EUR)

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REFERENCES

Revenue range: 100M - 200M EUR

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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).

Press release: view release

Target: dqs

Acquirer: montagu private equity