Clearlake
Clearlake's private-equity platform combines control and non-control investments with buyouts, carve-outs, recapitalizations, reorganizations and an O.P.S.® operational improvement framework.
Clearlake publicly describes a global private-equity platform focused on technology, industrials and consumer sectors.
It targets dynamic mid-cap and large-cap businesses, considers control and non-control investments, and lists buyouts, turnarounds, carve-outs, recapitalizations and reorganizations among its transaction types.[1][2][5][7]
What does Clearlake invest in?
Clearlake Capital Group is a global private investment firm founded in 2006 and headquartered in Santa Monica, California. Its platforms span private equity, liquid credit, private credit and related strategies.
For private equity, Clearlake describes a patient, long-term capital approach and uses its O.P.S.® framework, covering Operations, People and Strategy.[1][2]
Clearlake’s private-equity approach includes control and non-control investments in dynamic mid-cap and large-cap businesses. It identifies buyouts, turnarounds, carve-outs, recapitalizations and reorganizations as investment situations and describes partnership with experienced management teams.
The platform also states that it provides patient, long-term capital and applies the O.P.S.® operational improvement framework across Operations, People and Strategy.[2]
Owners evaluating a financial buyer can compare the offer with independent valuation analysis, understand how acquirers approach transactions through Auxo’s buy-side M&A process guide, and consider whether a full or partial sale best fits their objectives.
What should a business owner evaluate before considering a transaction with Clearlake?
Owners evaluating a transaction can compare their circumstances with Clearlake’s stated control and non-control mandate, its listed transaction types and its focus on dynamic mid-cap and large-cap businesses. They can also ask how the O.P.S.® framework covering Operations, People and Strategy would apply to the particular company.
The SEC filing cited for this profile identifies Clearlake Capital RIC Management, LLC as investment adviser to the Clearlake Private Markets Fund, registered with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act and wholly owned by Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. The filing establishes that relationship for the named adviser and fund structure; it does not establish that every Clearlake affiliate has the same registration status.
Specific diligence should address the applicable Clearlake entity and fund, the proposed control structure, governance arrangements, security type and the operating resources available for the transaction.[2][8]
Which Clearlake entity and fund would make the investment, and what security type is contemplated
Would the proposed transaction be structured as a control or non-control investment, and what governance arrangements would apply
Which valuation, revenue, EBITDA and enterprise-value parameters apply to the specific fund and transaction
What companies does Clearlake target?
Clearlake publicly states that its private-equity platform targets dynamic mid-cap and large-cap businesses.
The cited private-equity page does not state a universal revenue, EBITDA or enterprise-value threshold for Clearlake’s private-equity investments.[2]
Clearlake identifies technology, industrials and consumer as its core private-equity sectors.[1]
Clearlake states that it is headquartered in Santa Monica and maintains a global footprint with offices or affiliates across the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.[1]
Public transaction materials show both platform-level and portfolio-company activity. Clearlake announced a definitive agreement to acquire Pathway Capital Management on November 12, 2025, describing the transaction as an expansion into private credit, secondaries, co-investments and bespoke private-market strategies.
Separately, PrimeSource Brands, backed by Clearlake, announced its acquisition of Starborn Industries on August 3, 2026. The announcement described Starborn as PrimeSource’s eleventh acquisition since partnering with Clearlake in December 2020.[5][7]
Clearlake’s official portfolio identifies Alteryx and Aptean as current global technology/software investments, each with an investment year of 2024.[3][4]
Clearlake announced completion of its acquisition of Dun & Bradstreet on August 26, 2025.
Clearlake announced a definitive agreement to acquire Pathway Capital Management on November 12, 2025; the announcement described the transaction as an expansion into private credit, secondaries, co-investments and bespoke private-market strategies.
PrimeSource Brands, backed by Clearlake, announced its acquisition of Starborn Industries on August 3, 2026. The Starborn announcement states that financial terms were not disclosed.[5][6][7]
What is not clear from Clearlake's public investment criteria?
The cited private-equity page does not state a universal revenue, EBITDA or enterprise-value threshold for Clearlake’s private-equity investments.
The cited Starborn transaction announcement states that financial terms were not disclosed. The cited Pathway acquisition announcement states that transaction terms had not been disclosed as of November 12, 2025.[2][5][7]
Questions to ask when evaluating Clearlake as a buyer or investment partner
Which Clearlake entity and fund would make the investment, and what security type is contemplated?
Would the proposed transaction be structured as a control or non-control investment, and what governance arrangements would apply?
Which valuation, revenue, EBITDA and enterprise-value parameters apply to the specific fund and transaction?
How would O.P.S.® resources be applied to the company across Operations, People and Strategy?
What ownership, governance and management-partnership expectations would apply to the proposed transaction?
Sources & research notes
- Official website / firm overview
- Services / capabilities
- Transaction / portfolio evidence
- Transaction / portfolio evidence
- Transaction / portfolio evidence
- Transaction / portfolio evidence
- Transaction / portfolio evidence
- SEC filing / regulatory record
How this profile was researched
Auxo profiles are prepared from publicly available primary and authoritative sources and reviewed for entity identity, factual support and disclosure consistency. When a fact cannot be supported by the reviewed public record, the profile identifies it as something to confirm directly rather than inferring it.
Independent research profile
This profile was prepared by Auxo Capital Advisors from publicly available information believed to be reliable and is provided solely for informational and educational purposes. It is not an endorsement, recommendation, ranking, solicitation, or representation regarding the profiled firm, its services, qualifications, transaction experience, regulatory status, financial condition, or suitability for any particular person, company, transaction, or investment.
Information obtained from third-party and public sources may be incomplete, inaccurate, outdated, or subject to change, and Auxo Capital Advisors makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, as to its accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. Readers should conduct their own independent diligence and consult appropriate professional advisers before engaging any advisor, intermediary, investor, lender, acquirer, or other transaction counterparty.
Broker-dealer and securities disclosure
Auxo Capital Advisors is an affiliate of Weild & Co., Member FINRA | SIPC. Securities-related activities and securities transactions are conducted through Weild & Co.
Nothing contained on this page constitutes an offer to sell, an offer to purchase, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any security, investment product, or financial instrument. Nothing on this page constitutes investment advice, a recommendation regarding any security, or a recommendation to enter into any transaction with the profiled firm or any other party.
Any securities transaction, capital-raising engagement, investment-banking engagement, or other securities-related activity involving Auxo Capital Advisors or Weild & Co. is subject to applicable regulatory requirements, internal review and approval, suitability and other applicable diligence requirements, and the terms of a separate written engagement or transaction agreement, as applicable.
Inclusion of a third-party firm in this directory does not imply affiliation with, sponsorship by, endorsement by, or any other relationship with Auxo Capital Advisors or Weild & Co. unless expressly stated otherwise.