Century City-based private equity firm Atar Capital started 2026 off with strong deal activity in the U.S. and Europe.

The firm’s affiliate print and imaging market research provider Keypoint Intelligence announced on Jan. 7 the acquisition of DataMaster Online. The add-on company, founded and based in France, supports customers in IT and printing environments with test machines and evaluation services.

The acquisition fits in Atar’s plan for Keypoint’s European expansion said Cyrus Nikou, Atar’s founder and chief executive. The affiliate, acquired by Atar in 2019, is in “growth mode,” he said. DataMaster will add to Keypoint’s presence in the Netherlands, established over the past five years with the purchase of sales-focused ProPrintPerformance.

“Our third acquisition affirms our clear strategy: expand geographically, broaden our capabilities, and deliver high-value intelligence and testing services to the global imaging and technology markets,” said Keypoint Chief Executive Anthony Sci in a statement.

Keypoint’s “deep bench of customers” and technological arsenal, which includes robotics, cybersecurity software and 3D printing, has been attractive to outside players, Nikou said.

“We do see a lot of opportunities as far as add-ons, but we’re very selective as to which ones we want to tuck in,” Nikou said, noting brand reputation and capabilities are primary drivers of Keypoint and Atar’s decision-making for acquisitions. “We’re laser-focused on customer-driven solutions like AI, robotics and sales enablement tools, just to name a few, and DataMaster checked that box.”

‘Successful exit’

A week after the DataMaster deal went public, Atar announced the “successful exit” of its first-ever acquisition, pipeline inspection company Frontier Integrity Solutions, through a management buyout.

Since joining Atar in 2016, FIS underwent several operational changes that facilitated its growth. These included the implementation of tracking and compliance systems and the expansion of its workforce, which now stands at nearly 800 inspectors and specialists.

“They are at, obviously, the forefront of a lot of the changes in energy, whether it’s oil or natural gas,” Nikou said. “They have significant relationships with the largest oil and gas companies in the country to continue their growth … We thought it was the right time to allow the management team to continue their trajectory.”

In a statement, FIS Chief Executive Keyth Pengal expressed gratitude for Atar’s “years of strategic guidance, operational expertise and unwavering support” that allowed the company to modernize and expand.

“As we enter this next phase, we’re committed to maintaining the integrity of North America’s critical pipeline infrastructure,” Pengal said.