Best of LinkedIn: M&A Insights CW 23/ 24

M&A momentum is returning, but the market is no longer rewarding activity for its own sake. This period’s strongest signals point to capability-driven acquisitions, AI-enabled transformation, and sharper execution discipline. Strategic fit, operational readiness, and post-close value creation are becoming the real markers of deal quality.

Date

June 16, 2026

M&A Insights

Thomas Allgeyer

Methodology: Every two weeks we collect most relevant posts on LinkedIn for selected topics and create an overall summary only based on these posts. If you´re interested in the single posts behind, you can find them here: https://linktr.ee/thomasallgeyer. Have a great read!

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If you prefer listening, check out our podcast summarizing the most relevant insights from M&A Insights CW 23/ 24:

Market Momentum

M&A confidence improved, with stronger expectations for H2 2026 and renewed CEO appetite for strategic transactions
Buyers remained selective, focusing on earnings quality, customer concentration, management depth, and resilient sectors
Private equity showed targeted aggressiveness in the US mid-market, outbidding strategic buyers in attractive situations

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AI-Led Dealmaking

AI became a core acquisition rationale, accelerating capability building, diligence, sourcing, integration, and value creation
Agentic AI was positioned as a future layer for deal strategy, workflows, and post-close execution
New M&A tools focused on reducing manual work, consolidating deal data, and improving buy-side and sell-side collaboration

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Healthcare Momentum

Medtronic continued disciplined tuck-in acquisitions, targeting assets that fit existing commercial channels
The CathWorks deal showed a staged “invest, partner, acquire” model to reduce transaction risk
Biopharma activity recovered, supported by patent cliff pressure, AI investment, and manufacturing priorities

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Financial Services Shift

Fintech activity remained active across funding rounds, SPAC transactions, strategic acquisitions, and growth investments
Temenos acquiring additiv signalled convergence between AI orchestration, wealth platforms, and enterprise data
Wealth management and banking M&A rewarded clear positioning, scale ambition, and strategic consolidation logic

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Consumer & Infrastructure Themes

Coca-Cola’s acquisition strategy focused on owning consumer drinking occasions across hydration, coffee, energy, dairy, and plant-based beverages
Infrastructure funds attracted capital as AI data centres, EVs, manufacturing, and power demand reshaped investment priorities
Digital infrastructure, grid capacity, and power markets became stronger acquisition and fundraising themes

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Media, PR & Creator Economy

UK communications M&A showed a widening gap between high-quality independents and weaker agencies
Private equity focused on consumer PR platforms with potential for social, data, and AI-enabled bolt-ons
Creator economy buyers prioritised durable talent networks, proven commercial models, and specialist capability

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China & Cross-Border

China’s M&A market rebounded, supported by capital markets reform, cross-border interest, and stronger activity in TMT, life sciences, biotech, and gaming
Hong Kong strengthened its role as an exit venue for China-focused investors
Inbound transactions remained complex due to foreign exchange, security review, and sector restrictions

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Execution Discipline

Valuation discipline, revenue quality, and buyer fit were highlighted as more important than headline multiples
Portfolio cleanup and carve-outs were framed as growth enablers, freeing capital and management focus for strategic acquisitions
Integration remained the decisive value lever, with culture, IT, systems, people, and the first 100 days shaping transaction outcomes

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