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BC Partners and GIC-backed Acuris acquired Blackpeak, an investigative research firm with a focus on capital markets, mergers and acquisitions and private equity. Blackpeak was co-founded by Jack Clode and Chris Leahy in 2011.

Press Release

Acuris, the BC Partners and GIC-backed provider of global data, intelligence, research and analysis has acquired Blackpeak, the investigative research firm.

Co-founded by Jack Clode and Chris Leahy in 2011, Blackpeak has grown to become a premier provider of complex due diligence, research and investigation services, particularly in relation to capital markets, M&A and private equity. The team’s experience, strong brand and deep customer relationships have allowed Blackpeak to gain a market leadership position and expand internationally, all while generating consistent profitability.

Headquartered in Hong Kong, Blackpeak now operates from key financial and economic centers, including Singapore, Tokyo, Shanghai, Beijing, New York and Washington DC.

Upon completion of the acquisition, Blackpeak will join Acuris’ Compliance division.

“We are delighted to welcome Jack, Chris and the Blackpeak team to the growing Acuris family. With its expert capabilities as a premium Enhanced Due Diligence services provider and impressive customer portfolio of global blue-chip customers, Blackpeak will enhance our Compliance division’s proposition considerably,” said Hamilton Matthews, CEO of Acuris. “We look forward to working together to support Blackpeak’s growth ambitions and meet the evolving demands of our customers.”

“With a high-grade proposition that complements Acuris Risk Intelligence’s (ARI) due diligence offering, Blackpeak is a perfect fit with the Acuris Compliance division,” added Joel Lange, Managing Director of Acuris Compliance. “Besides broadening our knowledge and customer base across Asian markets, this acquisition brings further in-depth research and analysis capabilities to a growing division. It also complements the Acuris Capital Profile platform.”

Jack Clode, co-founder and Joint Managing Director of Blackpeak, commented: “We are delighted and excited to be joining Acuris. Having successfully established Blackpeak as a market leader in complex due diligence, research and investigations, we have now secured the long term commitment of a strategic partner to assist us in taking our brand global.”

“Acuris is the perfect partner for Blackpeak in every respect,” added Chris Leahy, co-founder and Joint Managing Director. “In addition to the complementary nature of the existing ARI business, Acuris boasts some of the world’s leading proprietary media and research brands. Blackpeak will be able to leverage these data and knowledge bases to provide our customers with the best research, diligence and investigative solutions available anywhere in the market.”

About Blackpeak
Blackpeak is an international investigative research firm. Founded in Asia, the firm now operates from strategic locations in key financial and economic centers, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, New York and Washington DC. We handle highly complex research assignments, including integrity due diligence, internal and external investigations, asset searches, business intelligence for institutional and hedge fund investors, stakeholder mapping, political risk research and more. Over 400 clients rely on Blackpeak’s services, including the world’s leading investment banks, corporations, law firms and asset managers. In 2019, Blackpeak was acquired by Acuris, the BC Partners and GIC-backed provider of global data, intelligence, research and analysis.

For more information: blackpeakgroup.com

About Acuris
Acuris powers business growth for financial and professional services firms worldwide. Through subscription-based digital services and a wide range of industry-leading events, we provide unique, high-value content that enables our customers to make the decisions based on high quality research and analysis. Acuris’ sector specialists and expert analysts interpret data and intelligence to deliver fresh insights that create business opportunities for our customers. We’re trusted by many of the world’s principal advisory firms, investment banks, law firms, hedge funds, private equity firms and corporates, who rely on our brands to help them understand specialist markets.

Founded in 2000, Acuris is a fast-growing family of information brands united by common characteristics: sector expertise, analytical skill, proprietary data and solutions that are packaged for maximum value. We have over 1,000 staff, including 500 specialist journalists and analysts, in 67 locations globally. The company is majority owned by leading private equity firm BC Partners and Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC owns a c.30% minority stake.

For more information: acuris.com