Clearlake Capital Closes Fund VIII with $14.8 Billion in Commitments

Clearlake Capital Group has successfully closed its eighth flagship private equity fund, Clearlake Capital Partners VIII, securing $14.8 billion in total capital commitments alongside related vehicles. The fund aims to leverage secular trends such as artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and software modernization to drive growth across its portfolio. This significant capital raise underscores the firm's ability to attract global investor interest despite a competitive fundraising environment for private markets.

Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. announced the final close of Clearlake Capital Partners VIII (Fund VIII) at $14.8 billion, a figure that includes co-investment vehicles and separately managed accounts. The fundraise drew support from a diverse group of nearly 300 investors spanning 35 countries, reflecting strong global appetite for the firm’s integrated investment platform and sector-focused strategy. Led by Co-Founders and Managing Partners José E. Feliciano and Behdad Eghbali, the firm intends to use the capital to invest in industries undergoing significant technological shifts, particularly those driven by AI and operational efficiency requirements.

The firm has already begun deploying capital from Fund VIII into several key assets, including Dun & Bradstreet, Qualus, and ModMed. These investments align with Clearlake’s conviction in AI-driven transformation, supported by the firm's internal Clearlake AI Labs and external partners to implement high-impact initiatives in product development and customer engagement. This operational focus is rooted in Clearlake’s proprietary O.P.S. (Operations, People, Strategy) framework, which seeks to provide patient, long-term capital while driving value through hands-on management and technology-enabled value creation.

This latest fund close follows a period of robust activity for the Santa Monica-based manager, which has achieved approximately $22 billion in realizations over the past five years. Notable exits and liquidity events cited by the firm include Concert Golf Partners, Brightly, Janus International Group, and Team Technologies. With over $185 billion in assets under management and a global footprint of 14 offices, Clearlake’s successful $14.8 billion raise positions it as a major player in the current private equity landscape, utilizing Evercore Private Funds Group as its primary fundraising advisor and Kirkland & Ellis LLP as legal counsel.