M&A Trends & Intelligence

November 18, 2025

Management Buy-In: A Hidden Engine for Europe’s SME Succession

Europe stands at a demographic and economic crossroads. As the post-war generation retires in growing numbers, the continent is facing an unprecedented succession crisis among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). These firms, many of them family-owned, form the backbone of Europe’s economy. Yet, a significant share risks closure or stagnation due to a lack of successors. Enter the Management Buy-In (MBI): a powerful but often overlooked strategy that allows external managers to acquire and run these businesses, offering continuity, innovation, and renewed growth. MBIs are not just financial transactions, they are mechanisms of economic renewal.

Read the article

October 9, 2025

Confidentiality in M&A: Why It Matters and How to Protect It

In M&A, what isn’t said in public can matter just as much as what makes the headlines. Behind every transaction is a delicate dance of information, including who has it, when it’s shared, and how securely it’s handled. Confidentiality isn’t just about compliance; it’s about preserving leverage, maintaining trust, and ultimately protecting deal value.DealDone, a hybrid advisor and technology partner, knows this better than most. As both an M&A advisor and a provider of secure virtual data rooms, they sit at the intersection of strategy and technology. Their mission: to help clients navigate the deal process while safeguarding its most fragile asset—confidentiality. And with good reason: Forbes reports that nearly 40% of M&A deals suffer confidentiality breaches, underlining the importance of combining strict confidentiality controls with the right technology.

Read the article

September 18, 2025

European Mid-Market M&A Adapts to ‘New Normal’ in H1-2025

The European mid-market M&A landscape demonstrated resilience in the first half of 2025, with deal activity largely stable and signs of adjustment to a “new normal.” While 46% of advisors reported no significant change compared to H2-2024, one-third (33%) observed an increase. Growth was strongest in the Nordics and Southern Europe, while France and the UK & Ireland recorded declines.

Read the article

September 18, 2025

European Monitor September 2025

Thank you for taking the time to read this sixth edition of the European M&A Monitor. This report consolidates research conducted by Dealsuite, the leading European platform for M&A transactions. It provides statistics and trends for the European M&A mid-market (enterprises with a revenue between €1 million and €200 million) over the first half of 2025. For this research, 828 leading mid-market M&A advisory firms across Europe shared firsthand insights exclusively with Dealsuite, based on the transactions they completed in H1-2025. Their contributions, combined with proprietary Dealsuite data and reports, form the foundation of this study. Since many of these deals are not publicly disclosed, Dealsuite’s network provides unparalleled visibility into the otherwise opaque European mid-market. The aim of this study is to create periodic insights that enhance the transparency of the European market and serve as a benchmark for M&A professionals. While we have been publishing local/regional reports for several years, this is the sixth time we publish this pan-European report, with a focus on inter- regional differences as well as similarities. We are convinced that sharing information within our network leads to an improved quality and volume of deals.

Read the article

September 15, 2025

"We Don’t Want to Miss Anything”: Reducate Fuels Growth Through Targeted Acquisitions

How can you grow quickly in new markets? With a buy & build strategy, you gain immediate access to experts with knowledge of the local market. E-learning specialist Reducate is successfully applying this strategy and has acquired seven companies in just three years.

Read the article

September 11, 2025

Southern European M&A Monitor September 2025

Thank you for your interest in the first edition of the M&A Monitor for Southern Europe by Dealsuite. This report consolidates research performed by Dealsuite, the leading tool for M&A transactions. It contains statistics and trends for the Southern European M&A mid-market (enterprises with a revenue between €1 million and €200 million) across Spain, Italy, Greece, and Portugal over the first half of 2025.The aim of this study is to create periodic insights that improve the Southern European market’s transparency and to serve as a benchmark for M&A professionals. We are convinced that sharing information within our network leads to an improved quality and volume of deals.

Read the article

September 11, 2025

Southern Europe Mid-Market M&A: Stable Valuations, Strong Buyer Appetite

The Southern European mid-market M&A landscape, which is made up of Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Italy, in the first half of 2025 showed resilience, with steady deal activity, a strong focus on smaller transactions, as well as the increasing use of artificial intelligence in dealmaking. Findings from the latest Southern Europe M&A Monitor, based on input from leading advisory firms across Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Italy, highlight that the market has adapted to a “new normal’’, with advisors expressing optimism for the months ahead. Nearly half of all transactions were sub-€5 million (26% under €2.5m; 20% €2.5–€5m), underscoring continued momentum in smaller deals.

Read the article

September 4, 2025

Resilient Nordic M&A Market: Stable Valuations, Rising AI Adoption

The Nordic mid-market M&A landscape in the first half of 2025 showed resilience, with steady deal activity, a strong focus on smaller transactions, and the increasing use of artificial intelligence in dealmaking. Findings from the latest Nordic M&A Monitor, a biannual study by Dealsuite based on insights from advisory firms across Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland, highlight that despite global uncertainties, the Nordic market has adapted to a “new normal,” with advisors expressing cautious optimism for the months ahead.

Read the article

September 4, 2025

Nordic Monitor September 2025

Thank you for taking the time to read this second edition of the Nordic M&A Monitor. This report consolidates research performed by Dealsuite, the leading Nordic and international platform for M&A transactions. It contains statistics and trends for the Nordic M&A mid-market (enterprises with a revenue between € 1 million and € 200 million) over the first half of 2025. Dealsuite contacted 294 M&A advisory firms operating within the Nordic M&A mid-market. The aim of this study is to create periodic insights that improve the Nordic market’s transparency and to serve as a benchmark for M&A professionals. We are convinced that sharing information within our network leads to an improved quality and volume of deals.

Read the article

August 28, 2025

Rise in Earn-Outs and Vendor Loans in UK&I Highlights Shift Toward M&A Risk Sharing

August 2025 – London – Risk sharing between buyers and sellers is becoming a defining feature of the UK&I mid-market M&A landscape. Findings from the latest UK&I M&A Monitor, a biannual study by Dealsuite, Europe’s leading platform for mid-market M&A transactions, show a notable rise in the use of earn-outs and vendor loans in the first half of 2025. Alongside stable transaction volumes, the data reflects a market that is adapting its deal structures to balance risk more evenly between both sides.

Read the article

August 28, 2025

Shift in CEE M&A Deal Structures Reflects Ongoing Risk Adaptation

The mid-market M&A landscape in Central and Eastern Europe is steadily evolving to accommodate prolonged economic uncertainty. According to the latest CEE M&A Monitor by Dealsuite, the region’s leading dealmaking platform, deal terms such as earn-outs and warranties & indemnities are on the rise, reflecting a broader shift toward risk sharing between buyers and sellers.

Read the article

August 28, 2025

CEE M&A Monitor August 2025

Thank you for your interest in the second M&A Monitor for Central and Eastern Europe by Dealsuite. This report consolidates research performed by Dealsuite, the leading tool for M&A transactions. It contains statistics and trends for the CEE M&A mid-market (enterprises with a revenue between € 1 million and € 50 million) over the first half of 2025.The aim of this study is to create periodic insights that improve the CEE market’s transparency and to serve as a benchmark for M&A professionals. We are convinced that sharing information within our network leads to an improved quality and volume of deals.

Read the article

August 28, 2025

UK&I M&A Monitor August 2025

Introduction Thank you for taking the time to read this H1-2025 version of the UK&I M&A Monitor. This report consolidates research performed by Dealsuite, the leading UK&I and international platform for M&A transactions. It contains statistics and trends for the UK&I M&A mid-market (enterprises with a revenue between £1 million and £200 million) over the first half of 2025. Dealsuite contacted 433 M&A advisory firms operating within the UK&I M&A mid-market. The aim of this study is to create periodic insights that improve the UK&I market’s transparency and to serve as a benchmark for M&A professionals. We are convinced that sharing information within our network leads to an improved quality and volume of deals.

Read the article

July 17, 2025

Human value central to TSD Group’s buy & build strategy

Buy & build strategies have now become a powerful growth formula for companies in specialized markets. A striking example is TSD Group, a strategic investor in the world of safety and risk management. The organization applies a buy & build strategy to expand into sectors such as food, pharma, construction, and the energy transition. Through targeted acquisitions, TSD Group is strengthening its position as a leading player. What sets this approach apart is the central role of human value in every acquisition.

Read the article

July 10, 2025

M&A mid-market trends report 2025

Market trends: The M&A landscape is evolving rapidly. Most listed and large companies are now active in mid-market M&A and are professionalising their capabilities. Mid-market companies are becoming more active, with many new entrants recognising the attractiveness of this segment due to: 1) its large number of companies, 2) the financial and operational optimisation opportunities, and 3) the ability to participate on both the buy-side and sell-side. Demand for investment opportunities is high, and sellers can expect multiple serious buyers. Factors such as industry convergence, the demand for ESG and DEI, and economic volatility are diversifying M&A objectives and deal structures. Additionally, the rise of search funds is notable, with more entrepreneurs becoming first-time CEOs by acquiring established businesses through the ETA model, offering a quicker and less risky path to business ownership.

Read the article