Financial services

Also, the firm has upped Taylor A. Peck to senior vice president and Joseph P. Brogan and Luke D. Morrison to vice president.

Inflexion is launching an insurance broking platform with a cornerstone investment in the Ascend Broking Group.

Ouellet will lead Instar’s Quebec strategy, supporting its efforts to expand its footprint and deepen network across the province.

Ascend, based in Chelmsford, Essex, specializes in commercial lines, healthcare and value-add risk management services.

The firm appointed Simon Knowles as global head of tech.

The discrepancy between high- and low-performing assets will grow as more portfolio companies come to market, says the head of Europe.

CapitalSpring is on the hunt for franchising businesses after raising about $505 million in commitments for its seventh flagship investment fund, and we speak with CapitalSpring’s Richard Fitzgerald to learn what types of companies the fund is looking for; GTCR has closed its previously announced sale of Worldpay; insights from DC Advisory on how mid-market dealmaking is expected to rebound in 2026.

Also, STG has acquired thinkfolio, a London-based investment management platform, from S&P.

Europe’s banking sector is experiencing the return of large-scale consolidation, according to Datasite’s latest Deal Drivers: EMEA 2026 Outlook report.

Onne Tjerkstra and Xavier Lemonnier have been appointed partners within the investment team, while Jakob Treffers, Jérôme Richard and David Varet have been appointed partners within the operations team.