Grant Thornton US Set to Acquire Stax, Fortifying Its Position in M&A Consulting
In a strategic move aimed at enhancing its capabilities in mergers and acquisitions, Grant Thornton Advisors LLC, a subsidiary of Grant Thornton US, has announced its intention to acquire Stax, a highly regarded M&A consulting firm based in Boston. The acquisition, expected to finalize later this year, marks a significant milestone in Grant Thornton's ongoing expansion and signals its commitment to delivering superior advisory services to clients.
Founded in 1994, Stax has carved out a niche in the competitive landscape of commercial due diligence, value creation, and exit planning services, primarily catering to private equity firms and institutional investors. With a robust workforce of approximately 300 professionals distributed across the United States, the United Kingdom, and Sri Lanka, Stax has established a reputation for excellence in dealing with a variety of investment challenges. The firm collaborates with a diverse array of clients, including many of the leading players in large-cap and mid-market private equity, alternative investment strategies, and investment banking.
The acquisition of Stax is set to substantially bolster Grant Thornton Advisors’ existing commercial diligence offerings. Currently, Grant Thornton maintains over 600 relationships with private equity firms, with its clientele comprising 60% of the top ten global PE firms by total equity. With the integration of Stax, the combined entity will be positioned to serve nearly 70% of the firms listed in the Private Equity International 300, which is a testament to the expanded footprint and influence the acquisition will confer.
Jim Peko, CEO of Grant Thornton Advisors, expressed his optimism about the acquisition, stating, “With this bold move, we’re taking our platform to new heights — combining Stax’s top-tier talent with our own industry-leading professionals, while broadening our offerings and further elevating our tech capabilities.” This sentiment underscores the intention behind the acquisition: to leverage the complementary strengths of both firms to better meet the evolving needs of clients.
This acquisition aligns seamlessly with Grant Thornton US’ broader strategy of private equity-backed growth throughout 2025 and beyond. Earlier this year, New Mountain Capital—a prominent New York-based private equity firm—acquired a majority stake in Grant Thornton US. This injection of capital and strategic guidance has facilitated the expansion of Grant Thornton’s services to various international markets, including member firms in Ireland, the United Arab Emirates, Luxembourg, the Cayman Islands, Netherlands, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, along with the Channel Islands.
In addition to the acquisition of Stax, Grant Thornton US recently unveiled its acquisition of Auxis, a Fort Lauderdale, FL-based business process outsourcing firm with a substantial workforce largely located in Latin America. This acquisition further emphasizes Grant Thornton’s commitment to diversifying its service portfolio and enhancing its capability to deliver comprehensive solutions to clients across different sectors.
With a dedicated workforce of around 13,000 employees across the Americas and Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), Grant Thornton operates under an alternative practice structure that distinctly separates its audit and advisory functions. This separation allows the firm to focus on delivering high-quality advisory services, underscoring its commitment to excellence and integrity.
Jayson Traxler, CEO of Stax, shared his enthusiasm for the merger, stating, “We are proud to have built a 30-year reputation for excellent client service, unique tech-enabled solutions, and impressive growth. As part of Grant Thornton Advisors, those characteristics will endure — but with far greater scale, speed, and amplification of our impact.” Traxler’s comments highlight not just the mutual benefits of the acquisition but also the potential for transformative growth that comes from combining resources and expertise.
To facilitate this significant transaction, Clearsight Advisors and Harris Williams served as financial advisors to Grant Thornton, while William Blair acted as a financial advisor to Stax, with Stout providing sell-side financial diligence and tax advisory services.
In conclusion, the acquisition of Stax by Grant Thornton Advisors is not merely a strategic alignment but rather a bold step towards solidifying the advisory firm’s prominence in the mergers and acquisitions space. As the financial landscape continues to evolve, this combination promises to deliver enhanced value to clients, driving innovation and efficiency in an increasingly competitive environment.
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