Centerbridge to Take MeridianLink Private in $2B All-Cash Deal
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By The Venture Focal | Summary based on original reporting by Reuters (11 August 2025)
Private equity firm Centerbridge Partners has announced a definitive agreement to acquire MeridianLink, a US-based fintech platform that provides digital lending and data verification software to financial institutions. The deal, valued at $2 billion, will take the company private just four years after its 2021 IPO.
Deal Structure & Valuation
Centerbridge will pay $20 per share in cash, representing a 26% premium over MeridianLink’s last closing price prior to the announcement. Approximately 55% of MeridianLink’s outstanding shares—including votes from major institutional holders—have already pledged support for the transaction. Pending regulatory approval, the deal is expected to close in the second half of 2025.
This move follows a broader trend of software firms being taken private as public market volatility continues to hinder valuations, especially in the post-IPO landscape.
Company Performance & Rationale
MeridianLink has demonstrated stable growth, reporting Q2 2025 revenue of $84.6 million (an 8% year-over-year increase) and narrowing its net loss to $3 million, down from $7.6 million in the same period last year. Despite persistent losses, the company has a customer base of nearly 2,000 clients across banks, credit unions, and consumer reporting agencies.
The acquisition offers Centerbridge an opportunity to scale the platform away from the scrutiny of public markets and inject new capital to invest in product innovation, AI-powered underwriting tools, and vertical integration in the digital lending space.
Strategic Fit
MeridianLink’s API-driven architecture and cross-product data capabilities make it an attractive target in the financial services infrastructure sector. The company is well-positioned to benefit from the ongoing shift toward embedded finance and the growing demand for seamless digital onboarding, especially among community banks and credit unions.
“As the pace of change across the finance and tech sectors continues to accelerate, MeridianLink is uniquely positioned…” said Centerbridge executives.
Our Take
This deal signals continued appetite from private equity for scalable, mid-cap fintechs with recurring revenue, sticky client bases, and infrastructure-level technology. Centerbridge isn’t just buying a company—it’s betting on the future of compliant, data-rich lending as traditional financial institutions look to modernise. If executed correctly, this could serve as a blueprint for more PE-led consolidation in fintech infrastructure.
Original Source:
Reuters, 11 August 2025
Original article: https://www.reuters.com/legal/transactional/software-firm-meridianlink-go-private-2-billion-deal-with-centerbridge-2025-08-11/
