CBIZ is being acquired for $5 billion in cash, and shareholders will receive $55.00 per share under the definitive agreement Grant Thornton Advisors entered into on July 29, 2026. The deal immediately resets the value of CBIZ in public markets and sets up a larger combined platform for clients, employees and investors.
The $55.00 offer values CBIZ at a premium of about 54% to its 30-day volume-weighted average share price, a spread that gives holders a clear exit price rather than a pending bid range. For investors, the practical question now is whether the transaction closes on the terms laid out and how the mix of cash and equity support will shape the combined company.
Jim Peko Sets the Scale
More than $5 billion in annual domestic revenue is expected after the combination, with the platform spanning more than 20 countries and territories and employing more than 34,500 professionals. Grant Thornton Advisors said the transaction would make Grant Thornton in the U.S. the fifth-largest provider of professional services, tax and advisory services, putting the firm into a larger competitive bracket after closing.
Jim Peko, chief executive officer of Grant Thornton Advisors LLC and leader of the Grant Thornton Advisors multinational platform, said: "By combining our multinational platform with CBIZ's strong market presence, we're broadening our ability to support businesses through every stage of growth — from early development to global scale. Together, we'll bring the quality, scope and capabilities clients need to navigate an increasingly complex and rapidly evolving business environment."
Jerry Grisko on CBIZ Growth
Nearly $7.5 billion in revenue is the expected size of the combined business, and Grant Thornton Advisors also said it recently announced a $1 billion investment in AI and advanced technologies. That adds a second layer to the deal: scale in advisory services on one side, and a technology push on the other, which should matter most to clients comparing breadth of service against specialist coverage.
Jerry Grisko, president and chief executive officer of CBIZ, said: "This is a historic combination with a complementary cultural and strategic fit. CBIZ has grown rapidly over many years to become a leading professional services provider. Joining Grant Thornton Advisors accelerates"
CBIZ Benefits and Insurance Services is set to become an independent company backed by New Mountain Capital, even as the rest of CBIZ is being acquired by Grant Thornton Advisors. That split leaves two separate outcomes inside one announcement: one business moves into a larger advisory platform, while the insurance and benefits segment is carved out for growth with New Mountain Capital support.
Grant Thornton’s $5 billion CBIZ deal gives CBIZ shareholders cash now, but the closing timetable has not been laid out. Until the transaction finishes, the key variable for holders is whether the agreed price and structure survive the path from announcement to completion.
