M&A Deal Flow: Mega-Deals and Antitrust Reviews — 2026-09-12
Copart has agreed to acquire ACV Auctions in a $1.9 billion cash deal, while Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) moves to acquire MarketAxess for $5.7 billion. In private equity, Silver Lake is combining French software assets to create a €10 billion-plus European group, and Blackstone has exited its stake in Bumble after doubling its investment.
M&A Deal Flow: Mega-Deals and Antitrust Reviews — 2026-09-12
Top developments
Copart Acquires ACV Auctions for $1.9 Billion
On September 10, 2026, Copart Inc. announced a definitive agreement to acquire ACV Auctions for $10.50 per share in cash, valuing the deal at approximately $1.9 billion. The transaction is expected to be accretive to Copart’s earnings per share starting in fiscal 2028. This move consolidates the digital vehicle auction market, with Copart targeting the integration of ACV’s dealer-to-dealer platform.
ICE to Acquire MarketAxess in $5.7 Billion Cash Deal
Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) has agreed to acquire MarketAxess Holdings for $167.00 per share in cash, representing a total equity value of approximately $5.7 billion. The offer includes a 33% premium to MarketAxess’s closing price as of July 29, 2026. This acquisition strengthens ICE’s position in electronic trading infrastructure by integrating MarketAxess’s bond trading platform.
Silver Lake Builds €10 Billion European Software Group
Silver Lake is combining its French software holdings, Cegid and Silae, to create a new European business-management software group valued at more than €10 billion. This consolidation aims to create a major competitor in the European software sector, leveraging scale and integrated offerings. The deal highlights the ongoing trend of private equity sponsors building industry leaders through roll-ups.
Blackstone Exits Bumble After Doubling Investment
Blackstone has exited its investment in dating app Bumble, selling out early to double its money despite the company’s stock being down 96% from its all-time highs. This exit underscores the strategic flexibility of private equity sponsors in volatile consumer tech markets, focusing on capital preservation and realized returns rather than long-term public equity holds.
Local view
In Japan, Life Corporation announced on September 8, 2026, that it will launch a tender offer (TOB) to acquire Alvis, a food supermarket chain primarily operating in the Hokuriku region. The estimated acquisition value is approximately 26 billion yen, aiming to expand Life Corporation's store network. This deal reflects continued consolidation in the Japanese retail sector as regional players seek scale.
Context & numbers
Global M&A activity remains robust, with Q1 2026 volumes reaching $861.1 billion, marking the strongest start since 2021. Full-year global deal value is projected to hit $4 trillion, an increase of about 13% year-on-year, driven by large transformational deals rather than volume. In the U.S., merger and acquisition deal value reached $1.11 trillion in the first half of 2026.
On the radar
- Enbridge Share Offering: Enbridge Inc. announced a CDN$2.6 billion bought-deal offering of common shares on September 9, 2026, potentially signaling further capital allocation strategies or M&A financing.
- Cybersecurity Sector Consolidation: 33 cybersecurity M&A deals were announced in August 2026, including significant moves by Brinqa, Cribl, Echo, Fortinet, Kiteworks, Palo Alto Networks, and Visa, indicating sustained appetite for security tech assets.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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