Private Equity 8 Hours

Last updated: September 25, 2026, 2:08 PM ET

Private Equity

Private equity dealmaking remained brisk across multiple sectors on Thursday, with notable transactions in specialty distribution, power equipment, insurance, and occupational health. Chicago-based GCG, a specialty wire and cable firm on pace to exceed $1.1bn in 2026 revenue, has been sold by Audax to Rexel. In a separate distribution-focused deal, Clearlake-backed Prime Source Brands has added JACLO, a decorative plumbing manufacturer founded in 1901, marking its 12th acquisition since 2020.

In Europe, Oaktree has agreed to a €810m sale of Italian power equipment firm COL Group to Eaton. COL, founded near Turin in 1920, employs more than 400 people across four product lines. The deal highlights sustained investor appetite for Italian industrial assets. Meanwhile, Inflexion has agreed to invest in Paris-based Manucurist, a plant-based, vegan nail care brand founded in 2016. The investment signals continued PE interest in premium consumer brands with sustainability credentials.

In financial services, Bay Pine-backed Relation Insurance has acquired the assets of Pennsylvania agency LaPlaca, a Chalfont-based firm founded in 1988 that provides business insurance and employee benefits. The acquisition underscores consolidation trends in the fragmented US insurance brokerage space. Separately, Madison Dearborn has agreed to take Marygold private. Marygold, the holding company of Walnut Creek, California-based commodity ETF issuer, will be acquired in a take-private transaction, reflecting ongoing PE appetite for listed asset managers.

Talent Moves and Thematic Investing

High Post Capital has hired David Walsh, a former US Navy intelligence officer and previously managing partner of a defense-focused firm, to lead its new aerospace and defense vertical. The appointment comes amid rising global defense spending and signals PE’s deepening interest in national security adjacent sectors. Meanwhile, Tatiana Shalalvand has joined Cherry Ventures as a partner, with a mandate to back founders from the Legora and Lovable mafia. The move illustrates the continued influence of serial entrepreneur networks in European venture.

Occupational Health Consolidation

PE interest in occupational health services is accelerating. Phoenix, Quad-C, and Thoma Bravo are among the firms targeting the sector, which has grown as companies prioritize workplace injury prevention. The activity has been driven by pharmaceutical growth, exemplified by May River’s sale of Dickson to Blackstone and Copeland. A separate roundup notes that New Spring and Phoenix Equity are among six firms executing deals in occupational healthcare.

Sifted Cohort and Sector Pulse

The latest MSISV EMEA cohort has been announced, featuring startups from space-based healthcare to sustainable materials. The program highlights continued venture interest in deep tech and climate-aligned innovation. Separately, Tech Crunch Disrupt 2026 will offer a $75 Expo+ Pass for those affected by layoffs, as the conference seeks to attract talent from a sector facing headwinds. The offer comes as last-minute savings of up to $200 are available for the main event.

Macro Context

The deal flow comes against a backdrop of accelerating tech layoffs. From January through August, U.S. tech layoffs reached at least 94,046, up 16.8% year-over-year, as big companies shift spending toward AI. The trend is driving both workforce disruption and opportunistic hiring by PE-backed firms.