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12/2015

PA CONSULTING acquired by THE CARLYLE GROUP

UNITED KINGDOM Professional Services / Consulting & Audit / Strategy & Management EV 1b - 4b GBP

Context

The Carlyle Group has finalized an agreement to acquire a 51% majority shareholding in PA Consulting to fuel a new phase of international expansion and accelerated development. This strategic partnership is designed to provide the consultancy with the global reach, business connections, and M&A expertise needed to drive a significant rate of growth across the Americas, Europe, and the Middle East. A critical feature of the transaction is the retention of the organization’s independent brand, culture, and values, alongside continued share ownership by its employees. The strategic rationale focuses on transitioning the entity toward a highly acquisitive growth model, targeting the integration of specialized consultant teams and niche firms. By leveraging the acquirer’s extensive financial resources and international infrastructure, the organization intends to scale its innovation-led service offering, particularly its world-class technical and design capabilities. This integration allows the group to capitalize on the evolving consulting sector while maintaining the entrepreneurial DNA that has defined the firm’s heritage. The deal positions the group as a leading global platform for end-to-end innovation and strategic delivery in both public and private sectors.

PA CONSULTING, which reported an EBITDA margin of in 2014, is valued in this transaction at an EV/EBITDA multiple of , representing a level the average currently observed in the Business Services sector (11.4x).

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Target

PA Consulting is a specialized management and technology consultancy focused on delivering end-to-end innovation and digital transformation solutions. The organization operates a differentiated business model that integrates strategy, design, and engineering to assist clients in navigating complex technological shifts. Its value proposition is built on "ingenuity," utilizing a global community of experts to drive product development and operational efficiency across sectors such as energy, health, and defense. Strategically, the firm prioritizes independence and employee ownership, fostering a culture of long-term partnership rather than short-term transactional advisory. The entity focuses on expanding its geographic footprint, particularly in North America, while maintaining deep technical roots in the UK and Scandinavia. By combining deep industrial expertise with advanced design capabilities, the firm positions itself as a primary technical partner for governments and private enterprises seeking to reinvent their core operations through technology.

Ent. Value

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Historical Financials (GBP)

Year
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2014
2013

Other operations with PA CONSULTING

List of similar M&A transactions (Date, Acquirer, Target, Country, Sub-sector)
DateAcquirerTargetCountrySector
12/2020JACOBS ENGINEERING GROUPPA CONSULTINGUNITED KINGDOMStrategy & Management

REFERENCES

Valuation range: EV 1b - 4b GBP

Revenue range: 450M - 900M GBP

EBITDA range: 50M - 100M GBP

Note: This page provides detailed data on a private equity M&A transaction. Detailed and exact financial metrics for the acquisition of PA CONSULTING by THE CARLYLE GROUP are reserved for mynth community members. Register for free to unlock full data.

Authors: This transaction was contributed by a verified mynth contributor and cross-checked against available transaction documents and official company communications.

Press release: view release

Acquirer: the carlyle group