What’s Ahead for Mergers and Acquisitions in 2025?

Trends, Regulatory Shifts, Sector Outlooks, and Data Tools for Smarter Deals

Global M&A volume reached $3.17 trillion in 2024—a 9.8% year-over-year increase—marking a cautious rebound from 2023’s subdued deal environment (Refinitiv). Despite the gains, megadeals remained scarce as heightened regulatory scrutiny and financing headwinds slowed execution.

Now, early 2025 presents a different landscape: a new U.S. administration under President-elect Donald Trump, Republican control of Congress, and early signals of deregulation across financial markets. Dealmaking optimism is building—but the path forward demands precision.

Regulatory Outlook: The Deregulation Era Begins (Cautiously)

Changing Winds at FTC and DOJ

With leadership transitions expected at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Department of Justice Antitrust Division, many expect a rollback of the aggressive enforcement that characterized 2022–2024 (WSJ).

Dealmakers are hopeful this will ease constraints on horizontal mergers, especially in financial services and telecom. However, scrutiny will persist in:

• Semiconductors and AI infrastructure
• Defense-adjacent and critical infrastructure assets
• Cross-border deals subject to CFIUS and the new outbound investment rules (Reverse CFIUS)

The trend favors domestic, mid-market consolidation—particularly sponsor-to-sponsor and strategic tuck-ins.

Sector Highlights: Where M&A Is Heating Up in 2025

1. Energy, Renewables & Infrastructure

• Major upstream consolidation continues (e.g., ConocoPhillips–Marathon, Diamondback–Endeavor)
• Infrastructure funds target grid, battery storage, and carbon capture
• Private capital sees long-term upside in regulated asset classes

2. Technology and Fiber Infrastructure

• M&A in AI infrastructure, cybersecurity, and SaaS roll-ups remains high velocity
• Telecoms continue to buy regional fiber and edge compute providers to densify networks

3. Healthcare & Life Sciences

• Patent cliffs spur big pharma buyouts of CDMOs and biotech platforms (Bain Healthcare Private Equity Report)
• Digital health convergence (e.g. wearables + diagnostics) fuels M&A interest

Private Equity: Flexible Capital, Complex Exits

Private equity enters 2025 with over $2.3 trillion in dry powder (Bain & Company). But exits remain nonlinear. Expect:

• Continuation funds to replace stalled IPOs
• Club deals for $1B+ transactions
• NAV-based lending and PIK toggles from private credit firms (Apollo, Blue Owl, Ares)

CFOs and IR teams must prepare for blended exits, multi-year hold extensions, and secondary recap structures.

Activist Pressure and Legal Risk in M&A

Shareholder Activism Returns

Campaigns rose 6% in 2024, per Lazard’s Shareholder Activism Report. Common themes:

• Spin-offs and asset unbundling
• Pushback on undervalued take-privates
• Demands for dividends over M&A

Delaware Legal Shifts

• 2024 rulings raised process standards in transactions involving controlling shareholders
• Heightened litigation risks for dual-track processes

IR teams must engage legal early and document fairness rigorously.

How Altss Helps IR and Corp Dev Navigate M&A in 2025

As legacy platforms like PitchBook and Crunchbase fall behind on real-time LP and deal behavior, Altss steps in as the modern solution for:

• Tracking 6,000+ verified family offices, PE funds, and acquirers
• Monitoring real-time mandates, deployment timing, and co-investor behavior
• Surfacing OSINT-based signals from news, filings, and hiring patterns
• Delivering enriched profiles with AUM, fund history, emails, and decision-makers

Altss replaces static PDFs and bounces with verified, intent-based data. It's built for fund managers and corp dev leads who demand signal, not spam.

Strategic Recommendations for M&A Professionals in 2025

• Use LP mandate data to match buyers to assets
• Blend sponsor equity with private credit to optimize capital stacks
• Price every deal for dual outcomes: strategic or financial exit
• Treat LPs like partners: monthly updates, exit horizon visibility, and milestone KPIs

Final Take: M&A in 2025 Demands Intelligence and Timing

The M&A engine is restarting—but precision is everything. To outperform, you need:

• Real-time mandate tracking
• Verified buyer data
• Flexible capital structure planning

Altss is the intelligence layer for dealmakers. Built by capital allocators, powered by AI and OSINT, and trusted by firms raising capital, executing exits, and running diligence smarter.

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