State of Buy-Side M&A 2026 Report

How Buy-Side Teams Executed Deals in 2025 and What Comes Next

The State of Buy-Side M&A 2026 report delivers a data-driven view into how buy-side deal teams approached M&A in 2025 and what they expect in the year ahead.

Built from firsthand input from corporate development leaders, private equity professionals, and deal execution teams, this practitioner-led benchmark reflects real operating conditions inside modern M&A organizations—not market speculation.

Inside the report, you’ll learn:

• How deal activity and deal size evolved in 2025
• Where buy-side sentiment stands heading into 2026
• What’s slowing teams down—and what’s helping them move faster
• How technology and AI are beginning to influence execution

With 59% of respondents describing buyer sentiment as optimistic, the data points to a more active—but more disciplined—M&A environment in 2026.

Whether you’re benchmarking your approach or planning for the year ahead, this report provides practical insight into how buy-side M&A is changing.

Download the DealRoom State of Buy-Side M&A 2026 report to explore the data and insights.

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