92% / 8%
Most buyers acquire opportunistically.
Only 8% acquire frequently enough to indicate a systematic M&A approach.
Industry Report
M&A as a System
What the world’s most active acquirers reveal about systematic M&A.
Based on ~500,000 companies, more than 1.6 million acquisitions and perspectives from six M&A experts.
Selected findings
A market shaped by surprisingly few buyers.
Three findings from more than 1.6 million recorded acquisitions.
10% → 56%
A small group drives most M&A activity.
The most active 10% of acquirers account for 56% of all recorded acquisitions.
19% → 36%
Financial investors punch above their weight.
They represent 19% of buyers, but account for 36% of recorded acquisitions.
Why it matters
See the competition before the next deal.
A practical perspective on buyer behaviour for Corporate M&A, Corporate Development, M&A Advisory, Private Equity and Audit / Valuation teams.
Who acquires systematically?
Distinguish recurring acquisition activity from occasional deals.
How concentrated is your competitive landscape?
Put individual deals in context and understand the role of experienced acquirers.
What can your team put into practice?
Explore defined acquisition criteria, clear responsibilities and continuously maintained target pipelines.
Inside the report
From market patterns to practical implications.
- 01Foreword
- 02Executive Summary
- 03Market Environment & Context
- 04The Drivers of the M&A Market
- 05The Capital Market Gap
- 06The Hotspots of the M&A Market
- 07Real-World Perspectives
- 08Outlook for Next Year
- 09What the Results Imply
- 10Methodology
Methodology
Global dataset · Data as of August 2026
- companies
- ~500,000
- acquisitions
- 1.6M+
- industry experts
- 6
Systematic analysis of recorded acquisitions, complemented by expert perspectives; definitions and limitations are set out in the report.
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Explore the complete findings, methodology and implications for your M&A strategy.
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