Equity‑comp consultants consolidate
HGGC‑backed Equity Methods agreed to acquire Equity Plan Solutions, a consultancy focused on valuation, financial reporting and HR advisory for equity compensation. The deal was reported as part of a consolidation trend in the equity‑compensation services market. (pehub.com)
Companies that help businesses run employee stock plans are getting bigger through acquisition, and Equity Methods’ deal for Equity Plan Solutions is the latest example. (pehub.com) Equity Methods said on April 14 that it signed a definitive agreement to acquire the assets of Equity Plan Solutions, or EPS, a 22-person firm that handles equity plan administration for public, venture-backed, and sponsor-backed companies across the United States. Founder Elizabeth Dodge is set to join Equity Methods as director of equity management services, and EPS operations head Albert Orozco is also joining as a director. (businesswire.com) Equity compensation is the system companies use to pay employees with stock options, restricted stock, or share purchase plans instead of only cash. Running those plans means tracking grants, employee exercises, tax withholding, accounting expense, and disclosures, which is why companies often hire outside specialists. (equiniti.com) Before this deal, Equity Methods was strongest in valuation, financial reporting, and human resources advisory tied to stock-based pay, while EPS focused on day-to-day plan administration. The combined firm is pitching a fuller service stack that runs from plan design and management to reporting and compliance. (businesswire.com) The timing follows a private equity deal that gave Equity Methods new backing for expansion. HGGC acquired majority ownership of Equity Methods from Montage Partners on April 28, 2025, and Equity Methods said that partnership would support new offerings, technology investment, and strategic growth. (equitymethods.com) Montage said Equity Methods had already expanded sharply before the sale to HGGC, with revenue growing more than 10 times and headcount more than five times during their 13-year partnership. Montage also said the company broadened its service lines and launched multiple proprietary software products in that period. (prnewswire.com) That backdrop helps explain why smaller specialists are attractive targets. Public companies and pre-initial public offering companies increasingly want one provider that can keep stock plans running, produce quarterly accounting numbers, and help human resources and finance teams stay aligned. (businesswire.com) Equity Methods says it already serves more than 20 percent of the Standard & Poor’s 500 and numerous Fortune 100 companies, giving it a large base to which it can sell added administration services. EPS, founded in 2016, brings a narrower but established practice in stock plan administration and management services. (equitymethods.com, businesswire.com) Neither Equity Methods nor HGGC disclosed financial terms. The deal leaves the same basic message as the lede: in a niche corner of corporate finance and human resources, scale is becoming part of the product. (pehub.com, businesswire.com)
