Sep 4, 2026 – 6.06pmBain Capital is readying a binding offer for Blackstone’s Nucleus Network, the country’s biggest provider of early-stage clinical trials up for sale via bankers at Goldman Sachs and slated to fetch a $1 billion-plus pricetag.Lazard Australia managing director Patrick O’Day, who has steered multiple transactions in the busy clinical trials and contract research sector, is advising Bain’s Sydney-based dealmakers on their tilt, people briefed on the matter said on condition of anonymity.Sarah Thompson has co-edited Street Talk since 2009, specialising in private equity, investment banking, M&A and equity capital markets stories. Prior to that, she spent 10 years in London as a markets and M&A reporter at Bloomberg and Dow Jones.Kanika Sood is a journalist based in Sydney who writes for the Street Talk column.Angira Bharadwaj is a co-editor of Street Talk. She covers IPOs, capital raises, mergers and acquisitions and other breaking news in Australia’s capital markets. Previously, she covered financial services, state, and federal politics. Send tips to @angirab.60 on encrypted messaging platform Signal.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber?