CD&R LLP

Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R) is a distinguished private equity firm with a long-standing reputation for its operational excellence and value creation. Established in 1978 and headquartered in New York, CD&R focuses on acquiring controlling stakes in mature, well-established businesses across various sectors, including industrials, healthcare, consumer, and services. The firm's core strategy revolves around partnering with management teams to implement significant operational improvements, drive strategic growth, and enhance profitability over a typical investment horizon of several years. This hands-on approach, often involving a deep bench of operating partners, sets CD&R apart in the private equity landscape.

CD&R's investment philosophy is rooted in identifying companies with strong fundamentals that can benefit from strategic guidance and operational transformation. They are known for their disciplined investment process and a track record of generating substantial returns for their limited partners. The firm's ability to raise significant capital underscores its market standing; for instance, CD&R Fund XII closed in 2022 with approximately $26 billion in commitments, demonstrating its capacity for large-scale transactions. This substantial capital base allows CD&R to pursue complex buyouts and invest in companies requiring significant capital for growth or restructuring.

While CD&R does not engage in venture capital or early-stage funding, its "first cheques" represent the equity component of large leveraged buyouts. These initial equity investments typically range from several hundred million dollars to several billion dollars, reflecting the scale of the businesses they acquire. For example, a typical equity check might fall between $500 million and $4 billion, depending on the enterprise value and leverage structure of the target company. Since its inception, CD&R has invested in over 100 businesses, consistently applying its operational expertise to build stronger, more valuable enterprises. The firm's enduring success is a testament to its consistent strategy of combining financial acumen with deep operational engagement.