Full-Time
Global investment banking and advisory services
$145k - $175k/yr
Chicago, IL, USA + 1 more
More locations: New York, NY, USA
In Person
Bachelor's
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Stout is a global advisory firm offering corporate finance, valuation, disputes, and investigations services to public and private companies across industries. Its offerings include investment banking, transaction advisory, valuation advisory, disputes, compliance, investigations, and specialty services, delivered through expert analysis and negotiation support. The firm stands out with 30+ years of industry experience, deep sector knowledge, thought leadership, and a highly responsive service mindset. Its goal is to help clients maximize value and solve complex financial and strategic challenges across dealmaking, disputes, and regulatory matters.
Company Size
1,001-5,000
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
Chicago, Illinois
Founded
1991
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Wellness Program
Flexible Work Hours
Stout has appointed Ashleigh Barker as managing director and head of beauty, personal care and wellness within its consumer investment banking team. The hire reflects Stout's continued expansion in consumer sectors where strategic acquirers and private equity investors are pursuing differentiated brands and platforms. Barker brings 15 years of corporate M&A and investment banking experience advising businesses, private equity sponsors and corporate clients across beauty, personal care and wellness categories. She previously led beauty and personal care efforts at Lincoln International and held positions at Michel Dyens & Co, Estée Lauder and Deutsche Bank. The appointment follows Stout's recent expansion in food and beverage, forming part of a broader strategy to build sector-focused expertise across consumer markets. The firm aims to combine dedicated sector coverage with established advisory capabilities.
Stout launches Drivr for Portfolio Valuation and monitoring. Stout recently announced the launch of Drivr, a purpose-built portfolio valuation and monitoring platform that leverages technology to combine Stout's independent valuation expertise with the monitoring and risk analytics that asset managers employ to manage hard-to-value investments. Drivr helps alternative asset managers replace fragmented, manual valuation workflows with one integrated platform covering source documentation, portfolio monitoring, scenario analysis, reporting, audit support, and independent valuation opinions. Built by Stout's valuation practitioners with input from CFOs, valuation teams, chief risk officers, and auditors, Drivr combines AI-powered data extraction, real-time analytics, traceable source-document support, and flexible reporting to improve transparency, reduce handoffs, and shorten valuation timelines. With Drivr, asset managers can: * Centralize portfolio valuation and monitoring workflows * Extract and organize data from source documents using AI-powered capabilities * Run real-time scenario and sensitivity analyses across positions, sectors, funds, and portfolios * Monitor custom KPIs at frequencies ranging from daily to annually * Provide auditors with transparent, source-linked support * Access data through dashboards, APIs, CSV downloads, or Snowflake integration * Incorporate independent valuation opinions from Stout directly into the workflow "Asset managers do not need another single function, disconnected application. They need a better operating model for valuation and portfolio monitoring," said Chris Franzek, Managing Director and Co-Leader of Stout's Portfolio Valuation Practice. "Drivr brings the data, analytics, audit trail, and independent valuation support together in one platform so teams can move faster - think hours or days, not weeks - and scale while increasing rigor and transparency." Drivr is now available for asset management firms seeking a more efficient, transparent, and audit-ready approach to portfolio valuation and monitoring.
Stout has launched Drivr, a portfolio valuation and monitoring platform for alternative asset managers. The platform integrates AI-powered data extraction, real-time analytics, audit-ready workflows, and independent valuation opinions into one system. Drivr replaces fragmented manual processes by centralising valuation workflows. It enables asset managers to extract data from source documents, run scenario analyses across portfolios, monitor custom KPIs, and provide auditors with transparent, source-linked support. The platform was developed by Stout's valuation practitioners alongside CFOs, valuation teams, risk officers, and auditors. According to Chris Franzek, managing director at Stout, Drivr reduces valuation timelines from weeks to hours or days whilst maintaining rigour and transparency. Drivr is now available to asset management firms seeking more efficient portfolio valuation processes.
Stout strengthens healthcare expertise with Allegiant Experts acquisition. June 11, 2026 Stout, a global advisory firm, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Allegiant Experts, a firm that works with patients, providers, health plans, software companies, and attorneys to navigate the complexities of healthcare coding, billing, and regulations and help ensure accurate payment for healthcare services. Stout welcomes the Allegiant Experts team of professionals to the firm's Healthcare practice within the Disputes, Claims, & Investigations group. The acquisition will provide Allegiant Experts' clients with access to Stout's extensive network of professionals and additional legal, medical billing, compliance, and audit support. "This acquisition strengthens Stout's position as a leader in the healthcare disputes and consulting space," said Jeff Buchakjian, Forensics & Compliance Practice Leader within the Disputes, Claims, & Investigations group at Stout. "We are thrilled to combine forces and look forward to delivering even greater value to our clients through this partnership." "We are honored to join Stout and embark on this exciting new chapter," said Jessica Schmor, President of Allegiant Experts. "Our team bridges the disciplines of coding, billing, medicine, and law to ensure our client's success. Stout's existing healthcare capabilities in audits, compliance, and investigations coupled with our experts' experience will help us achieve successful outcomes for our clients."
Two William Blair clients named middle-market Deals of the Year by Mergers & Acquisitions. Congratulations to William Blair clients Commodity & Ingredient Hedging LLC (CIH), a portfolio company of Falfurrias Capital Partners, and Stout, a portfolio company of Audax Private Equity, for being recognized on Mergers & Acquisitions' list of 2026 Mid-Market Deals of the Year. CIH, a provider of technology-enabled risk management services to agricultural producers, was sold to Tokio Marine Holdings in a cross-border transaction that brought together a leader in margin and risk management with one of the world's largest insurance market players. Stout, a global advisory firm specializing in corporate finance, valuation, accounting and transaction advisory, strategy, and financial disputes, claims, and investigations, received a strategic investment from Integrum Holdings, an investment firm focused on partnering with technology-enabled services companies. Four other William Blair clients received honorable mentions: * Berkshire Partners in connection with its acquisition of United Flow Technologies * Stax, a portfolio company of Blue Point Capital Partners, in connection with its sale to Grant Thornton, a portfolio company of New Mountain Capital * FMG, a portfolio company of Aurora Capital Partners, in connection with its acquisition by private equity firm GTCR * Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, a portfolio company of Thompson Street Capital Partners, in connection with its sale to Rhône Group Stay up-to-date with the latest William Blair news and insights