The So What from BCG M&A Is Heating Up. Is Your Dealmaking Still on Ice?
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Sep 10, 2025 Daniel Friedman, BCG’s global leader of transactions and integrations, shares his insights on the revitalizing M&A landscape. He emphasizes the importance of taking bold actions now to seize rare opportunities that could emerge in a recovering market. Friedman dives into the advantages of pursuing deals during downturns, citing higher potential returns. He discusses how AI is changing due diligence and the proactive strategies needed for success. Finally, he highlights regional and sector trends, particularly the resurgence in Asia Pacific, as companies navigate uncertainty.
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Accept And Manage Uncertainty
- Adjust expectations to live with persistent uncertainty instead of waiting for perfect clarity.
- Assess what level of risk you can accept and prepare to manage it proactively.
Structural Drivers Of Reactivation
- Pent-up demand, digitization and AI are structural drivers likely to accelerate M&A reactivation.
- Private equity also needs to transact to return capital, creating immediate deal pressure.
Regional Sentiment Shift
- Asia-Pacific saw the sharpest recent uptick in M&A sentiment after being hit hardest.
- Europe and North America remained low but stable, with activity rising across sectors.