American Discovery Capital Acquires Clear Capital Advisors

Clearlake Capital Acquires Discovery Education from Francisco Partners

March 9, 2022

Education

An affiliate of Clearlake Capital Group agreed to acquire a majority stake in Discovery Education from Francisco Partners, with Francisco Partners retaining a minority equity interest. The deal will leave Discovery Education’s CEO Scott Kinney and management team in place and is intended to accelerate platform growth, deepen distribution, and support strategic add-on M&A to expand the company’s digital K–12 curriculum offerings.

American Discovery Capital Makes Strategic Growth Investment in SmartBug Media

February 20, 2020

Marketing & Advertising

American Discovery Capital (ADC) made a strategic growth investment in SmartBug Media, a leading inbound digital marketing agency and HubSpot partner. The investment will support SmartBug’s capability and team expansion, new growth channels, and continued delivery of its recurring, retainer-based services.

GTCR Invests in Clear Capital

July 9, 2025

Data & Analytics

Chicago-based private equity firm GTCR has made a majority investment in Clear Capital, a Reno, Nevada–headquartered real estate analytics, valuation technology and data solutions provider; Clear Capital's co-founder and CEO Duane Andrews retains a substantial equity stake. GTCR will partner with management to expand Clear Capital's valuation and data offerings, invest in technology and accelerate M&A activity, including integration of its CubiCasa digital floor-plan product. Financial and legal advisors to the deal included Wells Fargo, Houlihan Lokey and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett for GTCR, and American Discovery Capital and O'Melveny & Myers for Clear Capital.

Regions Financial Acquires Clearsight Advisors

December 31, 2021

Financial Services

Regions Financial Corporation has completed the acquisition of Clearsight Advisors, an M&A and capital-raising advisory firm. The deal brings Clearsight into Regions Bank’s Capital Markets division to expand Regions’ M&A advisory and technology-sector capabilities; Clearsight will retain its McLean, Virginia headquarters and existing offices in New York and Dallas.

Merit Financial Advisors Acquires ClearBridge Wealth Management

December 6, 2023

Wealth Management

Merit Financial Advisors has acquired ClearBridge Wealth Management, an Atlanta-based wealth advisory firm led by founder Preston Byers, adding approximately $300 million of client assets. The deal expands Merit's presence in the Atlanta market and brings Preston Byers and his operations and client support team into Merit as partners and advisors.

Align Capital Partners Recapitalizes Cleartelligence

January 5, 2023

Data & Analytics

Align Capital Partners (ACP) completed a recapitalization of Cleartelligence, a Newton, Massachusetts–based data engineering and analytics consulting firm. The deal keeps the company’s founders and existing management as significant investors while providing capital and resources to accelerate growth, expand services and pursue strategic add‑on acquisitions.