MeridianLink, Inc. (NYSE: MLNK), a leading provider of modern software platforms for financial institutions and consumer reporting agencies, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by funds advised by affiliates of Centerbridge Partners, L.P. (“Centerbridge”), a global investment firm with deep experience investing in financial services and technology, in an all-cash transaction that values MeridianLink at an enterprise value of approximately $2.0 billion. Upon closing of the transaction, MeridianLink will become a private company.
Under the terms of the agreement, MeridianLink shareholders will receive $20.00 per share in cash for each share of common stock they own. The purchase price represents a premium of approximately 26% over the closing price of MeridianLink shares as of August 8, 2025, the last full trading day prior to the transaction announcement.
“We are excited for the next chapter of innovation and growth with our partners at Centerbridge. Today’s announcement is a strong endorsement of our leading digital lending platform that serves nearly 2,000 community financial institutions and reporting agencies,” Larry Katz, President and CEO-designate of MeridianLink, said. “Together with Centerbridge, we will unlock the potential of this company by accelerating product innovation, harnessing the power of AI and data, and enhancing the delivery of exceptional customer experiences. I am proud of this talented team and look forward to further building our trusted, mission-critical, scalable platform that empowers customers and the communities they serve.”
“This is an exciting next step for MeridianLink,” said Nicolaas Vlok, chief executive officer of MeridianLink. “Our dedicated team has built our market-leading platform and partner ecosystem, and I am confident in the path forward for the Company, bolstered by Larry’s leadership and Centerbridge’s partnership.”
Ed McDermott, Board chair of MeridianLink said, “Over the last several years, our Board has carefully evaluated alternatives to maximize shareholder value. The Board thoroughly reviewed Centerbridge’s proposal with the assistance of independent financial and legal advisors and determined this transaction would create certain, compelling and immediate value for our shareholders at an attractive premium and position MeridianLink to increase its competitive edge in a rapidly changing technology landscape.”
“As the pace of change across the finance and tech sectors continues to accelerate, MeridianLink is uniquely positioned to help financial institutions enhance their digital lending and credit reporting capabilities to expand and deepen client relationships, unlock the potential of data and AI, and drive their growth,” said Jared Hendricks, Senior Managing Director, Centerbridge, and Ben Jaffe, Managing Director, Centerbridge. “At Centerbridge, we have a proven track record of partnering with exceptional companies at the intersection of finance and technology to create value for customers and opportunities for employees. We believe in the importance of fostering a vibrant, modern banking system using market-leading technology. To that end, we are thrilled to work with Larry Katz and the Company’s talented team to enhance MeridianLink’s platform capabilities and grow their wallet share with new and existing customers.”
Transaction Details
The MeridianLink Board of Directors unanimously approved the transaction, which is expected to close in the second half of 2025, subject to approval by MeridianLink shareholders and the satisfaction of regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.
The holders of approximately 55% of MeridianLink’s shares of common stock have agreed to vote all of the shares of MeridianLink common stock owned by them in favor of the transaction.
Upon completion of the transaction, MeridianLink’s common stock will no longer be listed on any public market. MeridianLink will remain headquartered in Irvine, California.
Advisors
Centerview Partners LLC is serving as lead financial advisor and Goodwin Procter LLP is serving as legal advisor to MeridianLink. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC also served as a financial advisor to MeridianLink. Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher is serving as strategic communications advisor to MeridianLink.
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC is serving as financial advisor to Centerbridge, and Kirkland & Ellis is serving as its legal counsel. Kekst CNC is serving as strategic communications advisor to Centerbridge.
Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results
In a separate press release, MeridianLink announced today its second quarter 2025 results, which will be available at https://ir.meridianlink.com. In light of the announced transaction, the financial results conference call scheduled for August 11, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (5:00 p.m. Eastern Time) will no longer take place.
About MeridianLink
MeridianLink® (NYSE: MLNK) empowers financial institutions and consumer reporting agencies to drive efficient growth. MeridianLink’s cloud-based digital lending, account opening, background screening, and data verification software solutions leverage shared intelligence from a unified data platform, MeridianLink® One, to enable customers of all sizes to identify growth opportunities, effectively scale up, and support compliance efforts, all while powering an enhanced experience for staff and consumers alike.
For more than 25 years, MeridianLink has prioritized the democratization of lending for consumers, businesses, and communities. Learn more at www.meridianlink.com.
About Centerbridge
Centerbridge Partners, L.P. is a private investment management firm employing a flexible approach across investment disciplines – Private Equity, Private Credit and Real Estate – in an effort to develop the most attractive opportunities for our investors. The Firm was founded in 2005 and, as of June 30, 2025, has approximately $43 billion in assets under management with offices in New York and London. Centerbridge is dedicated to partnering with world-class management teams across targeted industry sectors and geographies. For more information, please visit www.centerbridge.com and LinkedIn.
