KPMG’s 2025 M&A Deal Market Study shows a striking picture: nine out of ten dealmakers are already in motion, and three-quarters expect to close another deal before mid-2025.
https://kpmg.com/kpmg-us/content/dam/kpmg/pdf/2025/2025-ma-deal-market-study.pdf
On the surface, the market looks strong — but there’s an undercurrent of M&A fatigue disguised as momentum.
- Valuations remain high while financing grows harder.
- 77% claim to use GenAI, yet most limit it to deal sourcing instead of transforming value creation.
- Due diligence and integration — the areas that decide real success — remain the biggest pain points.
It feels as though we are entering an era of deal velocity without strategic clarity. The market is active, but not necessarily awake.
For me, this is precisely where the opportunity lies. With a long background in cross-border M&A and investment, I believe 2025 rewards not the fastest acquirer, but the most conscious one — those who can see beyond numbers to the real synergy of purpose and people.
First published on 27 October 2025 on LinkedIn, on Tim Y. Chen’s profile. Read the original
