IMAP closes 141 M&A transactions worth more than $10 billion in H1 2026
IMAP advisors closed 141 M&A transactions globally in H1 2026, with a total value exceeding USD 10 billion, marking one of the strongest first-half performances in the partnership's history despite a more selective and demanding M&A environment.
Explore the mid-market M&A trends shaping H1 2026, including deal activity, sector dynamics, and regional insights—straight from IMAP partners on the ground in 16 markets worldwide.
H1 2026 Mid-Market M&A Trends: Execution Over Sourcing
Capital was available, strategic intent was there, and pipelines remained healthy—but converting that into closed M&A transactions required more discipline than in prior years. Buyers grew more selective, deal processes more structured, and successful outcomes increasingly dependent on execution rather than momentum.
Cross-Border M&A Activity in H1 2026
More than a third of IMAP transactions in H1 2026 were cross-border M&A deals, underscoring the value of local market expertise combined with global reach at a time when the best buyer is decreasingly the closest one.
Mid-Market M&A Outlook for H2 2026
Large strategic transactions supported headline M&A deal value in H1, while broader mid-market deal volumes stayed more selective. Geopolitical uncertainty and a still-elusive wave of private equity exits added further complexity to the M&A outlook, even as pipelines and buyer appetite remained intact heading into the second half of the year.
Global M&A Perspectives by Region: Partner Insights
The IMAP H1 2026 Deal Summary goes beyond the numbers, featuring first-hand M&A market perspectives and forecasts from partners across 16 markets worldwide. Across regions, a consistent theme emerges: 2026 is a year in which finding deals is no longer the challenge in mid-market M&A—executing them well is.
DOWNLOAD THE FULL REPORT INCLUDING IMAP PARTNER M&A PERSPECTIVES & FORECASTS BELOW:
Jurgis V. Oniunas
IMAP Chairman
At the start of the year, the outlook for Q1 was highly optimistic, with expectations of slowing inflation, lower interest rates, and improving growth projections. Unfortunately, we live in interesting times. Early in the year, speculation around the disruptive impact of AI on traditional SaaS business models triggered a significant revaluation in parts of the Software sector. More recently, escalation in the Middle East conflict has introduced fresh volatility – pushing oil prices higher, adding upward pressure on inflation, and creating supply-chain uncertainties. While it is too early to tell how these new shocks will eventually affect the global M&A market, we can be sure that our dealmakers around the world are on the ground every day – negotiating, re-evaluating, adjusting positions, and adapting to whatever the environment throws at them to deliver the best outcomes for their clients. They’ve done it for over 50 years, and that’s exactly what they’ll continue to do, no matter the conditions.
