Business · Week of Oct 26, 2026
All-cash takeovers lead the week: the week in business releases
All-cash takeovers of Surgery Partners and High Liner Foods headlined a week of deals, a SPAC merger, a private placement and a CEO succession.
Acquisitions dominated the week's releases. HealthSpan Partners, an affiliate of Bon Secours Mercy Health, agreed to buy Surgery Partners in an all-cash deal valued at an enterprise value of approximately $5.7 billion, and Umios agreed to acquire High Liner Foods for C$27.00 per share in cash. Both companies issued releases on the High Liner Foods transaction. In a separate deal, Corxel US and Amanat Acquisition Corp signed a definitive business combination agreement that would take the obesity-focused drug developer public on the Nasdaq Capital Market.
Capital and partnership news filled out the week. Peraso said it agreed to a strategic investment of approximately $10 million from Nant Capital, and Swiss Steel Group and Canada Nickel Company announced an intention to form a long-term low-CO2 steel partnership. On the results and leadership side, HBT Financial reported third-quarter net income of $31.4 million, and Herc Holdings named Aaron Birnbaum to succeed Larry Silber as chief executive officer.
HBT Financial, Inc.
HBT FINANCIAL, INC. ANNOUNCES
HBT Financial reported third-quarter 2026 net income of $31.4 million, or $0.86 diluted earnings per share, compared with $27.8 million in the second quarter of 2026 and $19.8 million in the third quarter of 2025. The company said its tax-equivalent net interest margin rose 2 basis points to 4.40% as maturing fixed-rate loans repriced higher and securities cash flows were reinvested at higher rates.
High Liner Foods Incorporated
High Liner Foods Enters into Agreement to Be Acquired by Umios for C$27.00 per Share in Cash
High Liner Foods said it has agreed to be acquired by Umios for C$27.00 per share in cash, in an offer it describes as fully financed. The company says the deal will pair Umios' global sourcing with High Liner Foods' processing and brands to form a North American growth platform.
Amanat Acquisition Corp.
Corxel US and Amanat Acquisition Corp Announce Definitive Business Combination Agreement to Create Publicly Listed Obesity-Focused Biopharmaceutical Company
Corxel US, a clinical-stage developer of oral obesity and cardiometabolic therapies, and special purpose acquisition company Amanat Acquisition Corp signed a definitive business combination agreement, with the combined company to list on the Nasdaq Capital Market under a new name and ticker. The companies say the transaction includes approximately $75 million held in Amanat's trust account plus commitments for a concurrent PIPE, and that a U.S.-based chief executive is expected to be hired by closing.
Surgery Partners, Inc.
HealthSpan Partners to Acquire Surgery Partners, Establishing a Leading Outpatient Surgical Care Platform
HealthSpan Partners, an affiliate of Bon Secours Mercy Health, agreed to acquire Surgery Partners in an all-cash deal valued at an enterprise value of approximately $5.7 billion, with shareholders other than Bain Capital affiliates receiving $23.50 per share. Bain Capital affiliates will roll over their shares into the acquiring entity, and the companies say the combination will form one of the country's largest outpatient surgical care platforms.
Peraso Inc.
Peraso Announces $10 Million Strategic Investment from Nant Capital to Accelerate Development and Commercialization of Advanced Drone Communications
Peraso said it agreed to a private placement of approximately $10 million from Nant Capital, expected to close on or about October 28, 2026, subject to closing conditions. The company says the funds will accelerate development and commercialization of its 60 GHz mmWave technology for drone communications, which it believes offers low probability of detection and jamming.
Umios Corporation
Umios to Acquire High Liner Foods, Creating a Vertically Integrated Global Protein Leader
Umios said it will acquire High Liner Foods, with High Liner shareholders receiving CAD27.00 per share in cash. Umios says the deal connects its access to approximately 26% of Alaska pollock resources in the Bering Sea with High Liner Foods' North American value-added products, processing and distribution.
Canada Nickel Company Inc.
Swiss Steel Group and Canada Nickel Company Announce Intention to Establish an Exclusive Long-term Low-CO2 Steel Partnership
Swiss Steel Group and Canada Nickel Company announced their intention to establish an exclusive long-term strategic partnership for the supply of low-carbon steel inputs. The announcement links a European steelmaker with a Canadian nickel developer around low-CO2 steel production.
Herc Holdings Inc
Herc Holdings Inc. Announces CEO Succession Plan
Herc Holdings said president Aaron Birnbaum will succeed Larry Silber as chief executive officer effective Jan. 1, 2027, and will join the board at that time. Silber, CEO since 2015, will become executive chairman; the company says Birnbaum has over 35 years of experience with Herc Rentals and its predecessor businesses.
This roundup is written with AI assistance from the press releases listed above, using only what they state. The releases are the companies' own announcements, not The Digest Lab reporting.