Form DEFA14A Accelerant Holdings

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

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): August 13, 2026

Accelerant Holdings

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

1 (345) 743-4611

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

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. ☒

On August 13, 2026, Accelerant Holdings (the “Company,” “we,” or “our”) issued a press release relating to our earnings for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026 (the “Earnings Release”). We have attached a copy of the Earnings Release as Exhibit 99.1.

The information contained in Item 2.02 of this Report (as well as in Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto) is furnished and shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, and such information shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any of the Company’s filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act.

On August 13, 2026, the Company and Thoma Bravo issued a joint press release announcing the execution of an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), by and 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 joint press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2 and is incorporated herein by reference. The information required to be reported on Form 8-K with respect to the Merger Agreement will be filed in a separate Current Report on Form 8-K.

(d) Exhibits

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.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date: August 13, 2026

Exhibit 99.1

Accelerant Announces Second Quarter 2026 Results

Accelerant Cancels Earnings Conference Call Following Announcement of Agreement with

Thoma Bravo to Become a Private Company

Second Quarter 2026 Results

ATLANTA—(BUSINESS WIRE)— Accelerant Holdings (NYSE: ARX), the data-driven risk exchange platform transforming the specialty insurance marketplace through the Accelerant Risk Exchange, today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026.

“Accelerant has been building the preeminent specialty insurance marketplace since our founding in 2018, said Jeff Radke, Chairman and CEO. “I am proud of what the Accelerant teams has accomplished, and I believe partnering with Thoma Bravo with their expertise, and vast financial and strategic resources will further position our unique, data fueled platform to be the rails on which specialty insurance runs.”

Jeff Radke continued, “We had a great second quarter financially, operationally, and strategically. Financially, we delivered strong growth in exchange written premium, third-party premium, and adjusted EBITDA. Operationally, we continued to execute at a fast pace. We grew with third-party insurers and connected them directly to our Risk Capital Partners, and introduced our front door data AI agent, ARC, which recognizes, classifies, and structures data the moment it arrives to Accelerant. Strategically, we facilitated the formation of a new third-party insurance company and announced enhanced partnership agreements with three existing Accelerant Risk Exchange Insurers. We also rolled out new value-added services for Members including AI office hours and the Accelerant Talent Portal.”

“Our second quarter financial results highlight the attractive growth and durability of our business,” said Linda S. Huber, Accelerant’s Chief Financial Officer. “Exchange Written Premium grew 23% year-over-year and trailing twelve months premiums are now $4.6 billion. Our fee-based operating revenue and adjusted EBITDA, which we define as consolidated results less the underwriting segment, increased 56% and 91%, respectively, compared to the 2025 second quarter. We look forward to working with Thoma Bravo to grow the business alongside our employees, Members, and Risk Capital Partners.”

1

Second Quarter 2026 Key Results

Transaction with Thoma Bravo

In a separate press release issued today, we announced a definitive agreement to be acquired by Thoma Bravo. A copy of the press release can be found on the investor relations page of Accelerant’s website at https://investor.accelerant.ai.

Given the agreement with Thoma Bravo, the Company will not be hosting a conference call to discuss its results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026, which was originally scheduled for 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, August 13, 2026. In addition, Accelerant will not provide guidance for the third quarter of 2026 or the full year of 2026 as a result of the pending transaction.

About Accelerant

Accelerant is a data-driven risk exchange connecting underwriters of specialty insurance risk with risk capital providers. Accelerant was founded in 2018 by a group of longtime insurance industry executives and technology experts who shared a vision of rebuilding the way risk is exchanged – so that it works better, for everyone. The Accelerant Risk Exchange does business across 22 different countries and approximately 700 specialty insurance products.

Accelerant generates revenue by charging fees on the Exchange Written Premium shared with Risk Capital Partners that rely on Accelerant to source, manage, and monitor portfolios of specialty risk. There was $4.59 billion in Exchange Written Premium during the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2026. Accelerant harnesses advanced data analytics and AI to optimize risk management, align incentives across the insurance value chain, and provide transparent and efficient solutions for MGAs and Risk Capital partners globally.

2

Forward-Looking Statements

All statements in this release and in the corresponding earnings call that are not historical are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Accelerant Holdings (“we” or “our”) generally identifies forward-looking statements by use of forward-looking terminology such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “projection,” “seek,” “should,” “will” or “would,” or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology. In particular, statements about the markets in which we operate, including growth of our various markets, and our expectations, beliefs, plans, strategies, objectives, prospects, assumptions, or future events or performance contained in this release and in the corresponding earnings call are forward-looking statements.

We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections. While we believe these expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections are reasonable, such forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. These and other important factors, including those discussed in Accelerant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 under the headings “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” as may be supplemented in Accelerant’s subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and in other periodic and current reports filed by Accelerant with the SEC, may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, or could affect our share price.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In assessing the performance of our business, non-GAAP financial measures are used that are derived from our consolidated financial information but are not presented in our consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. We consider these non-GAAP financial measures to be useful metrics for management and investors to evaluate our financial performance by excluding certain items that are related to our non-core business operations and therefore are not considered to be directly attributable to our underlying operating performance.

These non-GAAP financial measures, as described below, should not be considered substitutes for the reported results prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and should not be considered in isolation or as alternatives to U.S. GAAP net income or net (loss) as indicators of our financial performance. Although we use these non-GAAP financial measures to assess the performance of our business, such use is limited because it does not include certain material costs necessary to operate our business. Our presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures should not be construed as indications that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items. These non-GAAP financial measures, as determined and presented by us, may not be comparable to related or similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

The following non-GAAP financial measures are used in this document or in other disclosures we make from time to time:

3

Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income, and Adjusted Earnings per Diluted Share

We define “Adjusted EBITDA” as U.S. GAAP net income (loss) less the impact of depreciation and amortization, interest expenses, income tax expenses and the following items:

We define “Adjusted Net Income” as U.S. GAAP net income (loss) excluding the impact of the following items:

We define “Adjusted Earnings per Diluted Share” as adjusted net income for a period divided by the corresponding weighted average diluted shares on a U.S. GAAP basis. (GAAP diluted shares are used for simplicity and that any difference from recalculating such diluted shares using adjusted income is expected to be immaterial.)

Operating Revenues

We define “Operating Revenues” as U.S. GAAP revenues excluding the impact of net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments.

Adjusted EBITDA Margin

We define “Adjusted EBITDA Margin” as Adjusted EBITDA divided by Operating Revenues. Adjusted EBITDA Margin is an internal performance measure used in the management of our operations.

The reconciliation of the above non-GAAP measures to each of their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures is set forth in the reconciliation table accompanying this document.

4

Accelerant Holdings

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(in millions, except per share amounts)

(unaudited)

5

Accelerant Holdings

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in millions, except share data)

(unaudited)

6

Accelerant Holdings

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in millions)

(unaudited)

7

Accelerant Holdings

Financial Information by Segment

(in millions)

(unaudited)

8

Accelerant Holdings

Financial Information by Segment (continued)

(in millions)

(unaudited)

9

Accelerant Holdings

Financial Information by Segment (continued)

(in millions)

(unaudited)

10

Accelerant Holdings

Financial Information by Segment (continued)

(in millions)

(unaudited)

11

Accelerant Holdings

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Results

(in millions)

(unaudited)