0001997350False00019973502026-09-232026-09-23
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM 8-K
___________________________________
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 23, 2026
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ACCELERANT HOLDINGS
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
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Cayman Islands (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) | 001-42765 (Commission File Number) | 98-1753044 (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
Accelerant Holdings c/o Accelerant Re (Cayman) Ltd. Unit 106, Windward 3, Regatta Office Park, West Bay Road, Grand Cayman, KY1-1108 |
1 (345) 743-4611 |
(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices) |
N/A |
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report) |
___________________________________
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
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☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
☒ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: |
Title of Each Class | | Trading Symbol | | Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered |
Class A common shares, $0.0000011951862 par value per share | | ARX | | New York Stock Exchange |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☒
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☒
Item 8.01. Other Events.
On September 23, 2026, Accelerant Holdings (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing the expiration of the 40-day “go-shop” period established pursuant to the terms of the previously announced Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), dated as of August 13, 2026, among the Company, Cherry Tree BidCo, a Cayman Islands exempted company (“Parent”), and Cherry Tree Merger Sub, a Cayman Islands exempted company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”). Pursuant to, and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in, the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving company and becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (the “Merger”). Parent and Merger Sub are affiliates of Thoma Bravo Discover Fund V, L.P. (“Sponsor”), an investment fund managed by Thoma Bravo.
A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
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Exhibit Number | | Description |
99.1 | | Earnings release issued by the Company on September 23, 2026 |
104 | | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
Additional Information and Where to Find It
This Current Report on Form 8-K is being made in respect of the Merger Agreement and the proposed Merger involving the Company, Parent and Merger Sub. The Company intends to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a proxy statement (the “Proxy Statement”) in connection with a special meeting of the Company’s shareholders for purposes of approving the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and other relevant documents in connection therewith. The Company and certain participants in the merger intend to file a transaction statement on Schedule 13E-3 (the “Schedule 13E-3”) relating to the proposed Merger, if required. The Company may also file other relevant documents with the SEC regarding the Merger Agreement and the proposed Merger. This Current Report on Form 8-K is not a substitute for the Proxy Statement or any other document that the Company may file with the SEC. The definitive Proxy Statement (when available) will be sent or given to the shareholders of the Company and will contain important information about the Merger Agreement and the proposed Merger and related matters. INVESTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY ARE URGED TO READ THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT, THE SCHEDULE 13E-3 (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT MAY BE FILED WITH THE SEC BY THE COMPANY, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THESE DOCUMENTS, CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY AND THE MERGER AGREEMENT AND THE PROPOSED MERGER. You may obtain copies of all documents filed by the Company with the SEC regarding this transaction, free of charge, at the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov or from the Company’s website at www.accelerant.ai.
Participants in the Solicitation
The Company and certain of its directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the Merger. Information regarding the Company’s directors and executive officers, including a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is contained in the “Proposal One Election of Directors,” “Directors,” “Director Compensation,” “Executive Officers,” “Executive Compensation” and “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” sections of the Company’s proxy statement for its 2026 annual general meeting of shareholders, which was filed with the SEC on March 30, 2026, and will be contained in the Proxy Statement to be filed by the Company. Any changes in the holdings of the Company’s securities by its directors and executive officers from the amounts set forth in the proxy statement for its 2026 annual general meeting of shareholders have been reflected in Forms 3, 4 and 5, filed with the SEC. The Company’s shareholders may obtain additional information regarding the direct and indirect interests of the participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the Merger, including the interests of the Company’s directors and executive officers in the Merger, which may be different from those of the Company’s shareholders generally, by reading the Proxy Statement and any other relevant documents that are filed or will be filed with the SEC relating to the Merger. You may obtain copies of all documents filed by the Company with the SEC regarding this transaction, free of charge, at the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov or from the Company’s website at www.accelerant.ai.
No Offer
No person has commenced soliciting proxies in connection with the Merger Agreement and the proposed Merger referenced in this Current Report on Form 8-K, and this Current Report on Form 8-K is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell securities.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This Current Report on Form 8-K contains forward-looking statements. Statements contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as “may,” “might,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” “likely” or “continue,” the negative of these terms and other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions based on the Company’s expectations and projections about future events as of the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that may prove incorrect, any of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Important factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements include but are not limited to: (i) the risk that the Merger may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, which may adversely affect our business and the price of our Class A common shares; (ii) the timing to consummate the Merger, or the occurrence of any event, change, or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement, including circumstances requiring a party to pay the other party a termination fee pursuant to the Merger Agreement; (iii) the failure to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the Merger, and the other transactions contemplated thereby; (iv) the risk that a governmental or regulatory approval that may be required for the Merger is not obtained or is obtained subject to conditions that are not anticipated; (v) the effect of the pendency of the Merger on our business relationships, operating results and business generally; (vi) certain restrictions during the pendency of the Merger that may impact our ability to pursue certain business opportunities or strategic transactions; (vii) risks that the Merger disrupts current plans and operations; (viii) risks related to diverting management’s attention from our ongoing business operations; (ix) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against the parties to the Merger Agreement or their respective directors, managers or officers, including the effects of any outcomes related thereto; (x) our ability to retain, hire and integrate skilled personnel, and maintain relationships with key business partners and customers, and others with whom we do business, in light of the proposed Merger; (xi) unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the Merger; (xii) risks that the benefits of the Merger are not realized when and as expected; and (xiii) those risks described under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 filed with the SEC on March 18, 2026. New risks emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can management assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement the Company makes. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Except as otherwise required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Signature
Pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange Act, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Dated: September 23, 2026
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ACCELERANT HOLDINGS |
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By: | /s/ Clifford R. Jenks |
| Clifford R. Jenks |
| General Counsel |
Accelerant Announces Expiration of “Go-Shop” Period
ATLANTA—(BUSINESS WIRE)— Accelerant Holdings (NYSE: ARX) (“Accelerant”), the data-driven risk exchange platform transforming the specialty insurance marketplace through the Accelerant Risk Exchange, today announced the expiration of the 40-day “go-shop” period under the terms of the previously announced definitive merger agreement entered into by Accelerant on August 13, 2026, pursuant to which affiliates of Thoma Bravo will acquire Accelerant in an all-cash transaction with an enterprise value of more than $4 billion. The “go-shop” period expired at one minute prior to 12:00 a.m. Eastern time on September 22, 2026.
Pursuant to the definitive merger agreement, Accelerant, with the assistance of its financial advisors and other representatives, was permitted to solicit and engage in negotiations with respect to alternative acquisition proposals from certain potentially interested third parties. During the “go-shop” period, Accelerant did not receive any alternative acquisition proposals from any third party.
The transaction is still expected to close in the first half of 2027, subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by Accelerant shareholders and receipt of required regulatory approvals. Upon completion, Accelerant will become a private company, and its common shares will no longer be listed nor traded on the New York Stock Exchange.
About Accelerant
The Accelerant Risk Exchange is a data-fueled platform transforming the specialty insurance market for managing general agents and risk capital. Through advanced analytics, real-time profitability feedback, and AI-powered underwriting tools, it gives managing general agents the confidence to scale with discipline — driving attractive results for risk capital through a diversified portfolio of low-volatility SME risks. For more information, visit investor.accelerant.ai or inquire via email at investors@accelerant.ai.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
This communication is being made in respect of the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) among Accelerant Holdings, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), Cherry Tree BidCo, a Cayman Islands exempted company, and Cherry Tree Merger Sub, a Cayman Islands exempted company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent and the proposed transaction involving the Company, Parent and Merger Sub (the “Merger”). The Company intends to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a proxy statement (the “Proxy Statement”) in connection with a special meeting of the Company’s shareholders for purposes of approving the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and other relevant documents in connection therewith. The Company and certain participants in the Merger intend to file a transaction statement on Schedule 13E-3 (the “Schedule 13E-3”) relating to the proposed Merger, if required. The Company may also file other relevant documents with the SEC regarding the Merger
Agreement and the proposed Merger. This communication is not a substitute for the Proxy Statement or any other document that the Company may file with the SEC. The definitive Proxy Statement (when available) will be sent or given to the shareholders of the Company and will contain important information about the Merger Agreement and the proposed Merger and related matters. INVESTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY ARE URGED TO READ THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT, THE SCHEDULE 13E-3 (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT MAY BE FILED WITH THE SEC BY THE COMPANY, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THESE DOCUMENTS, CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY AND THE MERGER AGREEMENT AND THE PROPOSED MERGER. You may obtain copies of all documents filed by the Company with the SEC regarding this transaction, free of charge, at the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov or from the Company’s website at www.accelerant.ai.
Participants in the Solicitation
The Company and certain of its directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the Merger. Information regarding the Company’s directors and executive officers, including a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is contained in the “Proposal One Election of Directors,” “Directors,” “Director Compensation,” “Executive Officers,” “Executive Compensation” and “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” sections of the Company’s proxy statement for its 2026 annual general meeting of shareholders, which was filed with the SEC on March 30, 2026, and will be contained in the Proxy Statement to be filed by the Company. Any changes in the holdings of the Company's securities by its directors and executive officers from the amounts set forth in the proxy statement for its 2026 annual general meeting of shareholders have been reflected in Forms 3, 4 and 5, filed with the SEC. The Company’s shareholders may obtain additional information regarding the direct and indirect interests of the participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the Merger, including the interests of the Company’s directors and executive officers in the Merger, which may be different from those of the Company’s shareholders generally, by reading the Proxy Statement and any other relevant documents that are filed or will be filed with the SEC relating to the Merger. You may obtain copies of all documents filed by the Company with the SEC regarding this transaction, free of charge, at the SEC's website, www.sec.gov or from the Company’s website at www.accelerant.ai.
No Offer
No person has commenced soliciting proxies in connection with the Merger Agreement and the proposed Merger referenced in this press release, and this press release is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell securities.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as “may,” “might,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” “likely” or “continue,” the negative of these terms and other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions based on the Company’s expectations and projections about future events as of the date of this press release and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that may prove incorrect, any of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Important factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements include but are not limited to: (i) the risk that the Merger may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, which may adversely affect the Company’s business and the price of the Company’s Class A common shares; (ii) the timing to consummate the Merger, or the occurrence of any event, change, or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement, including circumstances requiring a party to pay the other party a termination fee pursuant to the Merger Agreement; (iii) the failure to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the Merger, and the other transactions contemplated thereby; (iv) the risk that a governmental or regulatory approval that may be required for the Merger is not obtained or is obtained subject to conditions that are not anticipated; (v) the effect of the pendency of the Merger on the Company’s business relationships, operating results and business generally; (vi) certain restrictions during the pendency of the Merger that may impact the Company’s ability to pursue certain business opportunities or strategic transactions; (vii) risks that the Merger disrupts current plans and operations; (viii) risks related to diverting management’s attention from the Company’s ongoing business operations; (ix) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against the parties to the Merger Agreement or their respective directors, managers or officers, including the effects of any outcomes related thereto; (x) the Company’s ability to retain, hire and integrate skilled personnel, and maintain relationships with key business partners and customers, and others with whom we do business, in light of the proposed Merger; (xi) unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the Merger; (xii) risks that the benefits of the Merger are not realized when and as expected; and (xiii) those risks described under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 filed with the SEC on March 18, 2026. New risks emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company’s management to predict all risks, nor can management assess the impact of all factors on the Company’s business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement the Company makes. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Except as otherwise required by law, the Company undertakes no
obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
For Accelerant
Media Contact
Laurel Pierce
laurel.pierce@teamhighwire.com
Investor Relations
Ray Iardella
Ray.iardella@accelins.com
For Thoma Bravo
Abby Farr
Vice President, Communications & Marketing
+1 646-957-2067
afarr@thomabravo.com
OR
FGS Global
Akash Lodh
+1 202-758-4263
ThomaBravo-US@fgsglobal.com
