Current dealmaking signals show growing momentum and confidence despite recent volatility. More companies are preparing assets for sale compared with 2024, and sellers are increasingly active as valuation gaps begin to narrow. Over half of dealmakers report confidence heading into 2026, with asset availability and improving valuations cited as major drivers. M&A’s role in overall business strategy has become the top factor influencing deals, reinforcing its strategic importance. AI is also playing a much larger role: three in four companies have assessed AI’s impact on acquisition targets, and AI use in M&A processes and integration planning has more than doubled. Adoption is spreading across the full M&A value chain and is expected to be sustained or increase through 2026.

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