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Cinven acquires Grant Thornton UK for £1.5bn

Apr 21, 2025•8 months ago

Acquiring Company

Cinven

Acquired Company

Grant Thornton France Spain and Belgium

Chicagoventure capital & private equityConsulting

Description

Cinven has completed its acquisition of Grant Thornton UK, a significant move in the British accounting sector valued at up to £1.5bn. This deal marks the largest private equity transaction in the accounting field to date. The transaction emphasizes a shift in ownership models as firms explore external capital for growth.

Company Information

Company

Cinven

About

Cinven Limited is a prominent global private equity firm established in 1977 and headquartered in London, with additional offices in Europe, the United States, and Asia. The firm manages around €44 billion in assets, focusing on acquiring and developing companies primarily in Europe and the US, as well as in emerging markets. Cinven specializes in significant equity investments, typically starting at €100 million, across six main sectors: Business Services, Technology, Media and Telecommunications, Financial Services, Industrials, Healthcare, and Consumer. The firm emphasizes active ownership and operational value creation, supported by an in-house Portfolio team that collaborates closely with portfolio companies to drive growth. Cinven is known for its long-term partnerships with investors and management teams, often investing in founder-led businesses and corporate carve-outs. Notable investments include stakes in idealista, Alter Domus, Vitamin Well, Environmental Science Professional, and TK Elevator.

M&A Insights

Based on deal data
Integration timeline
70% of M&A integrations take 12-24 months to complete
Tech stack consolidation
83% of merged companies consolidate technology vendors within first year
Post-acquisition investment
Companies increase IT spending by 23% on average after acquisitions
Success factor
M&A deals with strong technology integration plans are 2.5x more likely to succeed