Houlihan Lokey Advises Startek

Transaction: Startek - Capital Square Partners

Houlihan Lokey is pleased to announce that Startek, Inc., a global provider of customer experience (CX) business process outsourcing (BPO) solutions, has been acquired by funds managed by its controlling stockholder, Capital Square Partners (CSP), resulting in the delisting of shares of Startek common stock from the New York Stock Exchange. Affiliates of CSP acquired all shares of Startek common stock not owned by CSP or affiliates thereto for cash consideration of $4.30 per share, representing a premium of approximately 32% to Startek’s closing share price the day prior to the announcement of the transaction and a premium of approximately 50% to Startek’s closing share price the day prior to publication of CSP’s proposal to acquire the company. The transaction implies an enterprise value of approximately $217 million and an equity value of approximately $174 million.

Startek is a global provider of digital- and AI-enabled CX management solutions, digital transformation, and technology services to leading brands. Startek positively impacts clients’ business outcomes by providing memorable, personalized customer experiences across touchpoints, channels, and geographies. Startek has more than 38,000 CX experts in 12 countries servicing clients ranging from Fortune 500 multinational corporations to fast-growing startups spanning an array of industries, including cable, media and telecom, travel and hospitality, retail, e-commerce, and financial services.

Founded in 2014 in Singapore, CSP is a private equity firm investing in cross-border technology and business services across India and Southeast Asia. As a sector-focused fund manager with $1.5 billion under management, CSP is one of the largest dedicated technology and technology-enabled business services private equity fund managers in Asia. Over the past decade, CSP has created, invested in, and exited a number of leading companies in the technology services sector, including Minacs, Indecomm, GAVS Technologies, and Accion Labs.

Houlihan Lokey served as the exclusive financial advisor to the special committee of the board of directors of Startek.

This transaction demonstrates the continued success of Houlihan Lokey’s market-leading Board and Special Committee Advisory franchise, particularly in complex public company situations and conflict-prone transactions. It also underscores the firm’s strength and momentum in advising global BPO services firms.

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