Clayton, Dubilier and Rice

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Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, LLC
FormerlyClayton & Dubilier (1978-1992)
TypePrivate
IndustryPrivate equity
Founded1978 (1978)
Founders
HeadquartersNew York City, New York, U.S.
Key people
Products
Websitewww.cdr.com

Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, LLC (CD&R) is an American private equity company. CD&R is the 24th oldest private equity firm in the world. It has $30 billion invested in approximately 90 businesses.

CD&R had ownership stakes in, B&M Retail, Envision Healthcare, Hertz Global Holdings, Hussman International, WESCO International, US Foods, Sally Beauty, Diversey Holdings, VWR International, Brake Bros, Kinko's, Uniroyal, White Cap, and Lexmark.

In June 2024, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice was ranked 11th in Private Equity International's PEI 300 ranking of the largest private equity firms in the world.[1] In August 2024, the firm was named one of the best private equity firms of 2024 by GrowthCap.[2]

History

Clayton & Dubilier was founded as a turnaround management investment firm by Martin H. Dubilier, Eugene Clayton and Bill Welsh in 1976.[3] Joseph L. Rice III joined in 1978, and the firm became known as Clayton, Dubilier & Rice in 1992.[3] Clayton and Welsh retired from the firm in 1985 and Dubilier died in 1991.[4]

In May 1985, CD&R acquired Uniroyal for $750 million.[5]

In 1987, CD&R acquired Borg-Warner's Industrial Products Division, spinning the division off into a standalone company, BW/IP International.[3] Between 1987 and 1992 the firm added nine new partners, five of which had previous experience as CEOs.[3]

In 1988, the firm acquired Uniroyal Goodrich Tire Company and a 50% stake of B.F. Goodrich for $225 million;[6][7] the Tire Company was sold to Michelin for $1.5 billion in 1989.[8]

In 1990, CD&R formed Lexmark from IBM's printer and keyboard manufacturing business.[3] The deal was named one of the 30 Most Influential Private Equity Deals by Private Equity International in 2004.[9]

In 1995, CD&R acquired the foodservice division of Kraft Foods Inc..[10][11]

In December 1997, CD&R sold a minority stake in its electrical equipment distribution business for about $300 million, four years after buying it from CBS for $340 million.[12]

In 1998, Don Gogel was appointed CEO.

Also in 1998, CD&R established an office in London.[13][14]

In 2001, Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric, joined CD&R as a senior advisor.[15]

In 2003, CD&R purchased the global provider of water treatment products and services, Culligan, from Veolia for $610 million, which included $200 million in equity from a CD&R-managed fund and the remainder from senior debt and securities.[16] Centerbridge Partners acquired Culligan in 2012.[17]

In 2005, CD&R partnered with Merrill Lynch, The Carlyle Group and Barclays to acquire Hertz Global Holdings from Ford Motor Company for $15 billion.[18]

In February 2011, CD&R acquired Emergency Medical Services, the largest provider of ambulance services in the U.S., for $3.2 billion.[19]

In August 2011, CD&R acquired 60% of Hussmann from Ingersoll-Rand for $370 million.[20]

In 2012, Joe Rice stepped down as chairman, succeeded by Don Gogel.[21][4]

In March 2013, CD&R partnered with the family owners of B&M retail, acquiring a 60 percent stake.[22]

In October 2013, CD&R acquired a 60% stake in John Deere Landscapes (now SiteOne Landscape Supply) for $465 million; Deere & Co.retained a 40% stake.[23][24]

In 2015, CD&R sold Hussmann to Panasonic for $1.5 billion.[25][26]

Clayton Dubilier & Rice Fund X LP completed fundraising in 2017 with $10 billion of investor commitments.[27]

CD&R acquired a 60% stake of Capco from FIS for $477 million in May 2017; Capco was acquired in 2021 by Wipro for $1.45 billion.[28]

In August 2017, the firm acquired the Waterworks division of HD Supply for $2.5 billion, and changed its name to Core & Main.[29]

In January 2018, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice acquired Ply Gem Holdings and Atrium Windows & Doors.[30]

In October 2018, the firm acquired a stake in SmileDirectClub after investing $380 million.[31]

In February 2018, CD&R acquired a 60% stake in American Greetings.[32]

In January 2019, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice invested alongside the founder of WSH Investments Ltd., Alistair Storey, to take a major stake in the business.[33]

In July 2019, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice was included on Inc.'s list of the "50 Best Private Equity Firms for Entrepreneurs".[34]

In September 2019, CD&R acquired a stake in Socotec in a deal valuing Socotec at $1.98 billion.[21]

In August 2020, CD&R acquired Epicor from KKR for $4.7 billion.[35]

In January 2021, CD&R acquired Wolseley UK, the largest supplier of plumbing and building materials in the UK, for £308 million.[36]

In October 2021, CD&R purchased Morrisons, a British supermarket chain,[37] which subsequently had financial difficulties.[38] During its bid to acquire Morrisons, CD&R faced accusations of asset stripping, that it left former acquisition Culligans 'saddled with over $850 million of debt'.[39] UK politicians warned against leaving Morrisons prey to asset strippers.[40]

In April 2022, CD&R acquired a 60% interest in Kindred Healthcare, the hospice and personal care divisions of Humana, for US$2.8 billion.[41]

In May 2022, CD&R acquired Covetrus for $4 billion.[42]

In July 2022, CD&R purchased the remaining common stock of Cornerstone Building Brands, completing its acquisition.[43]

Also in July 2022, CD&R acquired the facilities services business OCS Group.[44] This was then followed by the merger of OCS and the UK, Ireland and Asia operations of facilities management company Atalian.[45]

In August 2023, funds affiliated by CD&R acquired Focus Financial Partners for $7 billion.[46][47]

In April 2024, CD&R agreed to acquire Presidio.[48]

In November 2023, CD&R acquired Veritiv for $2.6 billion.[49]

In November 2024, funds managed by CD&R in partnership with TowerBrook Capital Partners acquired R1 RCM for $8.9 billion.[50][51]

In February 2025, CD&R agreed to acquire a 50% stake in Opella, from Sanofi.[52]

In November 2025, CD&R agreed to acquire the packaging company Sealed Air for a total enterprise value of $10.3 billion.[53]

References

  1. "PEI 300 - The Largest Private Equity Firms in the World". Private Equity International. June 1, 2023.
  2. "GrowthCap Announces The Top Private Equity Firms of 2024" (Press release). PRWeb. August 21, 2024.
  3. Kester, W. Carl (May 1995). "Rehabilitating the Leveraged Buyout". Harvard Business Review.
  4. Roumeliotis, Greg (April 26, 2012). "CD&R founder, private equity pioneer Rice steps down". Reuters.
  5. Crudele, John (May 7, 1985). "CLAYTON & DUBILIER TO BUY UNIROYAL". The New York Times.
  6. "Uniroyal Goodrich Tire Co reports earnings for Qtr to Sept 30". The New York Times. October 14, 1988.
  7. "Company News; Goodrich Outlook". The New York Times. Reuters. June 24, 1988.
  8. "INSIDE". The New York Times. September 23, 1989.
  9. "The 30 most influential private equity deals". Private Equity International. June 2, 2004.
  10. Collins, Glenn (December 20, 1994). "Tobacco Giant Plans Sale of Unit". The New York Times.
  11. "CLAYTON DUBILIER COMPLETES PURCHASE OF KRAFT UNIT". The New York Times. February 14, 1995.
  12. "COMPANY NEWS; CLAYTON, DUBILIER SELLING STAKE IN UNIT". The New York Times. Bloomberg News. December 27, 1997.
  13. Povaly, Stefan (March 21, 2007). Private Equity Exits: Divestment Process Management for Leveraged Buyouts. Springer Science+Business Media. ISBN 9783540709541 – via Google Books.
  14. "U.S. Firm's German Deal". The New York Times. June 17, 1998.
  15. Kauflin, Jeff (November 22, 2016). "Jack Welch's Third Act: An Online MBA Program That's Thriving". Forbes.
  16. "Clayton, Dubilier & Rice completes buy of Culligan from Veolia". Water World. October 1, 2004.
  17. "Centerbridge to buy Culligan in debt deal-sources". Reuters. June 5, 2012.
  18. Merrell, Caroline (July 29, 2006). "Softly, softly, CDR lands the deal". The Times.
  19. de la Merced, Michael J. (February 13, 2011). "Clayton Dubilier to Buy Emergency Medical Services". The New York Times.
  20. Warner, Melodie (August 8, 2011). "Ingersoll-Rand sells 60% Hussmann for $370 mln". MarketWatch.
  21. Louch, William (September 25, 2019). "CD&R Agrees to Buy Socotec Stake at $2 Billion Valuation". The Wall Street Journal.
  22. Butler, Sarah (December 21, 2012). "B&M Bargains sets sights on European expansion". The Guardian.
  23. "CD&R Buys John Deere Landscapes in $465 Million Carve". Bloomberg News. October 28, 2013.
  24. "Clayton, Dubilier & Rice to Acquire John Deere Landscapes" (Press release). PR Newswire. October 28, 2013.
  25. Alpeyev, Pavel (December 21, 2015). "Panasonic to Pay $1.5 Billion for U.S. Fridge Maker Hussmann". Bloomberg News.
  26. Kuehner-Herbert, Katie (December 21, 2015). "Panasonic Buys Refrigeration Firm Hussmann". CFO.
  27. Dorbian, Iris (April 19, 2017). "CD&R closes 10th fund at $10 bln". PE Hub.
  28. "CD&R to Sell Capco in $1.45 Billion Transaction" (Press release). PR Newswire. March 5, 2021.
  29. "HD Supply Waterworks Changes Name To Core & Main". Water Online. August 30, 2017.
  30. "Ply Gem Holdings Enters Into A Definitive Agreement To Be Acquired By Clayton, Dubilier & Rice". Reuters. January 31, 2018.
  31. "Orthodontics Startup SmileDirectClub Gets $3.2 Billion Valuation". Bloomberg News. October 10, 2018.
  32. "Clayton, Dubilier & Rice to Acquire Majority Interest in American Greetings" (Press release). PR Newswire. February 13, 2018.
  33. "P.S. Buyout Firm Takes Major Stake in U.K. Restaurant Operator Despite Brexit Uncertainty". The Wall Street Journal. January 7, 2019.
  34. Winfrey, Graham (July 2019). "The 50 Best Private Equity Firms for Entrepreneurs". Inc.
  35. Kilgore, Tomi (August 31, 2020). "KKR to sell Epicor Software in $4.7 billion deal, 4 years after buying the company". MarketWatch.
  36. "New owners for Wolseley UK". The Construction Index. January 4, 2021.
  37. "Morrisons sale: US firm CD&R wins £7bn auction for supermarket". The Guardian. October 2, 2021.
  38. Butler, Sarah (February 27, 2023). "Is private equity tearing the soul out of Morrisons supermarket?". The Guardian.
  39. "CULLIGAN SOFT WATER COMPANY v CLAYTON DUBILIER & RICE, LLC" (PDF). March 18, 2019.
  40. Faithfull, Mark (October 4, 2021). "Politicians Warn Against Asset Sell-Off As CD&R Set To Buy Morrisons". Forbes.
  41. Roy, Mrinalika (April 21, 2022). Dwivedi, Vinay (ed.). "Humana to sell majority stake in hospice business to CD&R for $2.8 billion". Reuters.
  42. "COVETRUS TO BE ACQUIRED BY CLAYTON, DUBILIER & RICE AND TPG AT AN ENTERPRISE VALUATION OF APPROXIMATELY $4 BILLION" (Press release). Covetrus. May 25, 2022.
  43. "Clayton, Dubilier & Rice Completes Acquisition of Cornerstone Building Brands" (Press release). Business Wire. July 25, 2022.
  44. Birchall, Samantha (July 28, 2022). "CD&R to merge Atalian and OCS". Real Deals.
  45. "Atalian UK, Ireland and Asia operations to merge with OCS Group to create new, leading international FM provider" (Press release). OCS. December 31, 2023.
  46. Yasmin, Mehnaz; Nishant, Niket (February 27, 2023). Kalluvila, Sriraj (ed.). "CD&R to take Focus Financial private in over $7 bln deal". Reuters.
  47. "Clayton, Dubilier & Rice Completes Acquisition of Focus Financial Partners" (Press release). Stone Point Capital. August 31, 2023.
  48. "CD&R to Acquire Presidio from BC Partners" (Press release). PR Newswire. April 2, 2024.
  49. "CD&R Completes Acquisition of Veritiv Corporation" (Press release). PR Newswire. November 30, 2023.
  50. "R1 RCM to be Acquired by TowerBrook and CD&R for $8.9 Billion" (Press release). TowerBrook Capital Partners. August 1, 2024.
  51. "TowerBrook and CD&R Complete Acquisition of R1 RCM" (Press release). R1 RCM. November 19, 2024.
  52. "Press Release: Sanofi and CD&R sign Opella share purchase agreement" (Press release). Sanofi. February 19, 2025.
  53. Jain, Aishwarya (November 17, 2025). "Bubble Wrap maker Sealed Air to go private in $10.3 billion CD&R deal". Reuters.