Market Consolidation

BALDWIN PARK – October 29, 2026 -- Wheelhouse, the Trivest Partners-backed garage door services platform, has acquired All Star Garage Door, a family-owned residential and commercial operator in California and Utah. The deal is Wheelhouse's second acquisition of 2026.

All Star brings 30-plus employees and a 2024 Utah expansion

Founded in 2008, All Star Garage Door installs, services and repairs garage doors and employs more than 30 people. It serves Southern California, the Central Valley and the Central Coast.

The company entered Utah in 2024, adding the St. George and Park City communities to its footprint.

Wheelhouse CEO cites cultural fit with owner Ryan Salinas' team

Wheelhouse CEO Ron Avidan said All Star's "craftsmanship and customer care" align with the platform's values. Owner Ryan Salinas described the transaction as the start of a new chapter that creates opportunities for continued growth.

DENVER – October 29, 2026 -- Western Microsurgical, LLC (WMS), a portfolio company of HealthEdge Investment Partners, has acquired Q Surgical and Proficient Surgical, extending its surgical microscope sales and service coverage to 18 states in the western and northeastern United States. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Two regional operators add Northern California, Nevada and Northeast coverage

Q Surgical, founded in 2009, serves hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) in Northern California and Nevada. Proficient Surgical, founded in 1996, serves the Northeast. Both bring expertise in surgical microscopy and complementary operating room products, plus existing relationships with surgical teams and manufacturers.

DUBAI – October 29, 2026 -- Everest Group has placed Employer of Record (EoR) provider Rivermate in the Major Contender category of its 2026 EoR Solutions PEAK Matrix Assessment, which evaluated 29 providers worldwide.

The assessment scores providers on market impact as well as vision and capability, and sorts them into three groups: Leaders, Major Contenders and Aspirants. Rivermate, which hires and pays talent in more than 180 countries, is included in Everest Group's EoR research for the first time.

Three regional EoR businesses merged under one brand in April 2026

Eos Global Expansion, Serviap Global and the EoR operations of Hightekers combined under the Rivermate name in April 2026. The merger pools more than 15 years of regional expertise across Europe, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.

Worcester, Mass. – October 22, 2026 -- CET Energy Solutions has launched as the parent of Commonwealth Electrical Technologies, Horton Electric and NuWave Energy, combining more than 300 employees across six locations in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and West Coast. The private equity-backed platform delivers projects nationwide.

Three acquired and founding businesses form the platform

Commonwealth Electrical Technologies, founded in Massachusetts in 2008, is the original business and keeps its name. Horton Electric, a Connecticut-based electrical contractor acquired in September 2026, also keeps its brand. NuWave Energy, acquired in 2025, operates in Massachusetts, California and Colorado and will move to the CET Energy Solutions name.

Stockholm – October 15, 2026 -- EQT AB has signed an agreement to acquire U.S. real estate manager Stockbridge for a base consideration of USD 375 million in cash, adding about USD 16.5 billion in fee-generating assets under management and USD 27 billion in gross asset value to EQT Real Estate.

Earnouts may become payable across 2027 to 2030, subject to performance targets. The base price is on a cash- and debt-free basis and will be funded from EQT's balance sheet.

EQT acquires 100% of the management company and fund general partners

EQT will take 100% of the Stockbridge management company and the general partner entities that control interests in the Stockbridge funds. It will also be entitled to invest in 35% of the carried interest in all future Stockbridge funds, in line with existing EQT policies.

Los Angeles – October 06, 2026 -- American Hartford Gold (AHG), the nation's largest retailer of physical gold and silver, has acquired the assets of Rosland Capital, extending its reach to a broader base of U.S. clients seeking precious metals and Gold IRA services.

AHG expands scale after delivering more than $4 billion in precious metals

American Hartford Gold has delivered over $4 billion in gold and silver to tens of thousands of clients nationwide. The Rosland Capital acquisition adds to that footprint, with AHG citing expanded fulfillment capacity, new office locations, and specialist training to absorb the additional client base.

"Acquiring Rosland Capital's assets is a major step forward in our expansion and a clear expression of our confidence in the future of this industry," said Sanford Mann, CEO of American Hartford Gold. The company said it intends to keep setting the standard for client service in the sector.

Helsinki – October 05, 2026 -- UPM-Kymmene Corporation and Sappi have received a Letter of Facts from the European Commission restating serious concerns about their proposed graphic paper Joint Venture, the companies disclosed as inside information on October 5, 2026.

Commission maintains objections despite ongoing talks

UPM and Sappi are analyzing the Letter of Facts and preparing a formal response. UPM said it disagrees with the Commission's preliminary assessment and will continue engaging with the review process, while planning to submit remedy proposals that fall short of divestments, citing the transaction's underlying rationale.

New York – October 02, 2026 -- Corporate dealmaking accelerated this week as Peoples Bancorp Inc. and Capital Bancorp, Inc. agreed to merge into a $14 billion-asset bank, and AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon launched a joint venture aimed at eliminating mobile dead zones, underscoring consolidation pressure across financial services and telecommunications infrastructure.

Peoples Bancorp and Capital Bancorp combine into a $14 billion-asset institution

The merger agreement between Peoples Bancorp Inc. and Capital Bancorp, Inc. will create a combined entity with approximately $14 billion in total assets, $10 billion in total loans and $11 billion in total deposits. The new bank will operate more than 150 banking locations across eight states and Washington, D.C., alongside nationwide specialty financial services platforms.

Iselin, N.J. – September 28, 2026 -- World Insurance Associates LLC, a Top 50 U.S. insurance brokerage, has acquired the business of American Insurance Agency of Hingham, Massachusetts, in a deal closed June 1, 2026. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

World expands its footprint in the greater Boston market

American Insurance, founded in 1991, has built specialized expertise across construction, manufacturing, hospitality, restaurants, real estate, auto services, energy, entertainment and amusement, special events, and skating and sports facilities. The agency's addition strengthens World's presence in the greater Boston area, according to Rich Eknoian, Executive Chairman and Founder of World.

Plano, Texas – September 23, 2026 -- Ten US streaming service profiles were phased out in the second quarter of 2026 as providers rebrand, consolidate content, or shift to alternative distribution models, according to Parks Associates' Streaming Video Tracker.

Paramount Skydance folds BET+ into flagship Paramount+ platform

Paramount Skydance ended BET+ as a standalone service, migrating its content library into Paramount+ under a dedicated BET Hub. The move reflects a broader industry pattern of consolidating niche streaming brands into larger flagship platforms rather than maintaining separate apps.