The highlights a resurgent buy-side market, with global deal values reaching $4.7 trillion in late 2025, driven by an urgent need for business reinvention through AI and geographic expansion. Key Buy-Side Trends for 2026
: While sentiment is at a six-year high, dealmakers remain cautious about trade/tariff policies and "regulatory volatility" as major obstacles to closing deals. Market Summary buy side m&a
: Identified by advisors as a top-performing sector for 2026 due to low reliance on volatile supply chains. Buyer Priorities & Risks The highlights a resurgent buy-side market, with global
: 66% of acquirers now prioritize recurring revenue as the top characteristic when evaluating targets, followed closely by strong margin profiles and defensible cashflow. Buyer Priorities & Risks : 66% of acquirers
: AI has moved from a "buzzword" to mandatory due diligence; buyers now use AI-driven synergy forecasting to achieve up to 90% accuracy in value modeling.
: Buyers are moving away from acquiring simply for size; instead, 73% of incremental deal value is now focused on acquiring new capabilities, particularly AI integration and digital infrastructure.