Global deal activity declined in the first five months of 2026, with the combined number of mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions and venture capital deals falling by around 7% year-on-year, according to data from GlobalData.
EasyJet has rejected three separate takeover approaches from Castlelake LP, prompting the US investment firm to take its latest proposal – valuing the UK low-cost carrier at around £4.74bn ($6.3bn) – directly to shareholders, according to a report by Bloomberg.
US accounting firm Eide Bailly has agreed to sell a majority stake to private equity firm Reverence Capital Partners in a deal valuing the business at around $1.8bn, as investor interest in the accounting and professional services sector continues to grow, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.
Venture capital investment in defence technology has accelerated sharply in 2026, with global funding reaching $12.3bn so far this year as conflicts in Ukraine and the Gulf drive renewed demand for next-generation military systems, according top a report by the Financial Times.
Private equity firm Pollen Street Capital has agreed to acquire the Universal Banking (UB) division of financial software provider Finastra, marking another step in the ongoing reshaping of the lender-facing banking technology market, according to a report by Reuters.
New York-based private equity investor MSP Sports Capital has acquired a majority stake in New Zealand’s SailGP team, the Black Foils, further extending its sports portfolio and marking another step in the continued commercialisation of the sailing league, according to a report by Reuters.
Bahrain-based alternative asset manager Investcorp has agreed to acquire a majority stake in UK-based facilities management company Smart Managed Solutions, in a deal valued at more than $200m, according to people familiar with the transaction.
Two of Abu Dhabi’s largest sovereign investors have pledged £1.5bn ($1.9bn) in financing support for EQT AB’s proposed acquisition of UK-listed testing and assurance group Intertek Group, underscoring continued Gulf appetite for large-scale private equity transactions, according to a report by Bloomberg.
Swedish private markets firm EQT AB has acquired Berlin-based space services company Exolaunch, marking its first investment in the space sector and underscoring continued private equity appetite for orbital infrastructure and launch-enabling technologies, according to a report by Reuters.
Buyout firm Lone Star Funds has moved into pole position to acquire ContiTech, the industrial components division of Continental AG, according to a report by Bloomberg citing unnamed people familiar with the matter, as the German group advances its multi-year restructuring plan.
12 November, 2026 – 5:00 pm
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