The private company data space is vast, fragmented, and often overwhelming. Deal sourcing teams are faced with endless streams of announcements, filings, atSnd rumors, making it difficult to pinpoint the transactions that actually matter.
That’s why inside Dakota Marketplace, we’ve zeroed in on this space. We’ve created a centralized resource where deal sourcers can easily find and track the exact deals they’re looking for.
In this article, we’ve curated 10 top transactions from last week that stood out in the marketplace and signal key trends shaping the deal landscape. By the end of this, you’ll have a better understanding of these deals.
- Transaction Date: 1/26/2026
- Type: Acquisition/Merger
- Sector: Materials
- Transaction Value: $4.01B
- Participants: Zijin Gold
Allied Gold has agreed to be acquired by Zijin Gold International in a friendly all-cash transaction valuing the company at approximately C$5.5 billion, with shareholders to receive C$44 per share, a ~27% premium to its 30-day VWAP. The deal, unanimously approved by Allied Gold’s board, is expected to close in late April 2026, after which Allied Gold will be delisted and become a private company within Zijin’s global gold portfolio.
- Transaction Date: 1/29/2026
- Type: Acquisition/Merger
- Sector: Information Technology
- Transaction Value: $3.35B
- Participants: Palo Alto Networks
Palo Alto Networks has closed its acquisition of Chronosphere for approximately $3.35 billion in cash and replacement equity awards, bringing a next-generation observability platform into its portfolio to unify observability and security for large-scale cloud and AI workloads. The deal strengthens Palo Alto Networks’ AI-era data strategy by combining Chronosphere’s cost-efficient, hyperscale observability with PANW’s AgentiX capabilities to enable real-time, autonomous detection and remediation across security and performance environments.
- Transaction Date: 1/29/2026
- Type: Credit
- Sector: Information Technology
- Transaction Value: $3.B
- Participants: 23 Institutional Investors
Serverfarm, backed by Manulife Investment Management, secured a $3.0 billion credit facility from a 23-lender syndicate to fund the development of AI-ready hyperscale data center campuses across North America, including a 500MW+ flagship project in Houston. The financing accelerates Serverfarm’s ability to deliver large-scale, high-density infrastructure for cloud and AI customers, supporting rapid expansion in key U.S. and Canadian markets.
- Transaction Date: 1/26/2026
- Type: Acquisition/Merger
- Sector: Industrials
- Transaction Value: $2.4B
- Participants: Leidos Inks
Kohlberg has agreed to sell ENTRUST Solutions Group to Leidos for approximately $2.4 billion, marking a successful exit following Kohlberg’s 2019 acquisition and minority recapitalization in 2023. The transaction positions ENTRUST to continue scaling its engineering and consulting services for North America’s critical power and utility infrastructure under Leidos’ ownership, with closing expected in the second quarter of 2026.
- Transaction Date: 1/30/2026
- Type: Buyout/Private Equity
- Sector: Information Technology
- Transaction Value: $2.2B
- Participants: Francisco Partners
Francisco Partners has completed its all-cash acquisition of Jamf for $13.05 per share, valuing the company at approximately $2.2 billion and taking the Apple device management and security leader private. The transaction provides Jamf with greater financial flexibility to accelerate innovation and growth, while enabling Francisco Partners to back a category-leading platform with a strong position across enterprise, education, and government Apple environments.
- Transaction Date: 1/29/2026
- Type: Buyout/Private Equity
- Sector: Industrials
- Transaction Value: $2.025B
- Participants: VSE Corporation
VSE Corporation has agreed to acquire Precision Aviation Group from GenNx360 Capital Partners for approximately $2.0 billion in cash and equity, creating a scaled, pure-play aviation aftermarket platform with expanded global MRO, distribution, and proprietary repair capabilities. The transformational transaction is expected to increase VSE’s aviation revenue by roughly 50% on a pro forma basis and drive consolidated adjusted EBITDA margins above 20% over time, with closing anticipated in the second quarter of 2026.
- Transaction Date: 1/28/2026
- Type: Acquisition/Merger
- Sector: Financials
- Transaction Value: $2B
- Participants: Prosperity Bancshares
Prosperity Bancshares has agreed to acquire Stellar Bancorp in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at approximately $2.0 billion, expanding Prosperity’s footprint in key Texas markets, particularly Houston. The merger will create one of the largest Texas-headquartered banking franchises by deposits, with enhanced scale, leadership continuity from Stellar’s management team, and expected closing in the second quarter of 2026.
- Transaction Date: 1/26/2026
- Type: Acquisition/Merger
- Sector: Information Technology
- Transaction Value: $1.8B
- Participants: IonQ
IonQ has agreed to acquire SkyWater Technology in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at approximately $1.8 billion, creating the only vertically integrated, full-stack quantum platform company with embedded access to a trusted U.S.-based semiconductor foundry. The acquisition accelerates IonQ’s roadmap to fault-tolerant quantum computing, strengthens its position as a key partner to the U.S. government and defense ecosystem, and is expected to close in the second or third quarter of 2026, subject to customary approvals.
- Transaction Date: 1/27/2026
- Type: Acquisition/Merger
- Sector: Consumer Discretionary
- Transaction Value: $1.8B
- Participants: Anta Sports
ANTA Sports has agreed to acquire a 29.06% stake in PUMA SE from Groupe Artémis for €1.5 billion in cash, becoming PUMA’s largest shareholder and marking a major step in ANTA’s global expansion strategy. The minority investment, fully funded with internal cash and expected to close by the end of 2026, positions ANTA to partner with PUMA at arm’s length while preserving the brand’s independence and supporting its long-term growth.
- Transaction Date: 1/26/2026
- Type: Acquisition/Merger
- Sector: N/A
- Transaction Value: $1.2M
- Participants: CVC
CVC has agreed to acquire Marathon Asset Management in a cash-and-equity transaction with base consideration of up to $1.2 billion, significantly expanding CVC’s U.S. credit platform and creating a scaled, global multi-asset credit manager. The deal materially broadens CVC’s capabilities across private and public credit, increases CVC Credit’s fee-paying AUM to approximately €61 billion, and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026.
At Dakota, we understand how important it is to stay current on deal activity as it happens. That’s why our editorial team is constantly monitoring the news for real-time updates on platform investments, add-ons, divestitures, and more. Each day, we deliver these highlights directly to your inbox through our transactions newsletter.
Inside Dakota Marketplace, the transactions tab gives you access to structured, filterable data complete with dates, deal structure, sectors, and financials, so you can build a feed tailored to your specific interests.
Whether you're evaluating a new investment opportunity or tracking trends in a target sector or segment, Dakota Marketplace helps you cut through the noise and focus on what matters most.
For more information on these transactions and a deeper dive into their industries and sub-industries, book a demo of Dakota Marketplace.
