Q3 2025 – QUARTERLY M&A MARKET RECAP
- U.S. Industrial Manufacturing M&A activity fell sharply in Q3-25, with only 77 transactions, down 34.2% from 117 transactions in the same quarter last year. Both financial and strategic buyer participation declined. While recent Fed rate cuts have boosted investor confidence and eased borrowing costs, rates remain historically high compared to pre-2022 levels. Nevertheless, the ongoing rate reductions are expected to unlock new M&A opportunities, with deal activity likely to pick up toward the end of 2025 and into the first quarter of 2026.
- Similar to trends in the U.S., global M&A activity has remained subdued. As of Sep-25, the trailing twelve-month transaction count stood at 1,039, below levels seen from 2020 to 2024. This slowdown reflects persistent volume volatility, significant capital investment requirements, supply chain disruptions, and ongoing tariff uncertainty. In response, strategic buyers, specifically, have adopted a more disciplined approach, prioritizing deals that strengthen core businesses or deliver differentiated capabilities.
Read Industrial Manufacturing M&A Pulse Q3 2025 Full Report
