BDA advises Acuity Knowledge Partners on acquisition of Cians Analytics

BDA Partners is pleased to announce that its client, Acuity Knowledge Partners (“Acuity”), portfolio company of Equistone Partners (“Equistone”), has acquired Cians Analytics Pvt Ltd (“Cians”). Acuity is a leading provider of high-value research, analytics, and business intelligence services, catering to investment banks, private equity funds, and other financial institutions.

The acquisition represents the first bolt-on made by Acuity since its buyout by Equistone, a leading European mid-market private equity investor, in 2019. Following the acquisition, all Cians employees will join the Acuity workforce, taking its global headcount to over 5,500 employees.

Cians operates in the same space as Acuity, and the acquisition will help consolidate its leading position in the financial services outsourcing market. The transaction will further expand Acuity’s client base of top-tier financial firms, including but not limited to investment banks, private equity funds and hedge funds, and also help expand its service offering.

BDA was the exclusive financial advisor to Acuity and its shareholders. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Manoj Balwani, Managing Director and Head of Technology, India, said: “Cians is a specialised player for Investment Research and Analytics Services in the BFSI vertical. It is a synergistic asset for Acuity, to help multiply growth, consolidate delivery footprint in India, and strengthen its presence in the US market. This transaction highlights the trust global sponsors place in BDA to help their portfolio companies accelerate growth.”

Jonathan Aiken, Managing Director and Head of London, added: “This transaction represents a continuing trend of sponsor portfolio company internationalisation that BDA, by virtue of our pan-Asian footprint, is well placed to support. The outsourced services corridor between Europe and India will continue to accelerate.”