Houlihan Lokey Advises Astorg (2)

Houlihan Lokey is pleased to announce that it has advised Astorg on its acquisition of Corsearch from Audax Private Equity. The transaction closed on April 19, 2021.

Corsearch Brand Risk and Performance™ solutions are revolutionising how companies commercialise and protect their growth. Trusted by thousands of customers worldwide, Corsearch delivers data, analytics, and services that support brands to market their assets and reduce commercial risks. From IP clearance to brand protection and antipiracy, Corsearch provides a comprehensive programme that enables businesses to secure brand value and thrive commercially. Corsearch has more than 800 employees across Europe, North America, and Asia. The company services over 5,000 clients around the globe, including many of the world’s Fortune 100 companies.

Astorg is a global private equity firm with over €10 billion of assets under management. The company works with entrepreneurs and management teams to acquire market-leading global companies headquartered in Europe or the US, providing them with the strategic guidance, governance, and capital they need to achieve their growth goals. Innovation within the intellectual property services industry is a key theme for Astorg and follows many years of research in the space.

Houlihan Lokey served as the exclusive financial advisor to Astorg. This transaction builds on the firm’s market-leading position in the IP sector. Other Houlihan Lokey transactions in the sector include acting for Morningside on its sale to Questel; TrademarkNow on its sale to Corsearch; MultiLing on its sale to Questel; Incopro on its equity raise from Highland Europe; Warburg Pincus on the sale of ipan to Castik Capital; PatentSight on its sale to Reed Tech; and Chipworks on its sale to TechInsights.