Mid-Year M&A Outlook 2025: What the Numbers Reveal and What Dealmakers Should Do Next
- sebandersen
- Jun 12
- 2 min read
The first half of 2025 has defied the headlines. Beneath market volatility, deal activity is quietly, and strategically, accelerating.
Across life sciences, infrastructure, logistics, industrials, and energy, dealmakers are finding renewed momentum in a turbulent macroeconomic climate. While global headlines remain fixated on interest rate speculation, geopolitical friction, and supply chain reconfiguration, the data tells a more nuanced story: selective strength, sector-specific growth, and a renewed appetite for precision deals.
Our H1 2025 M&A Trends Report distills the signals from the noise, tracking activity across five high-impact sectors. Drawing on public data, industry analysis, and on-the-ground deal experience, the report offers clarity for corporate acquirers, private equity teams, and M&A advisors navigating today’s market.
Key Findings
Life Sciences: Biotech deals are rebounding as large-cap pharma races to replenish pipelines ahead of 2028 patent cliffs. Meanwhile, mid-cap players are divesting consumer and legacy manufacturing units to refocus their portfolios.
Infrastructure: Deal value grew 12% YoY, driven by record private AUM and surging digital infrastructure investments. Co-investment models are proliferating, blending public stimulus with private execution.
Transport & Logistics: Cross-border volumes are down, but strategic acquisitions in last-mile, cold chain, and fleet tech continue. U.S. deal value rose 30% in H1 despite YoY volume declines, signaling selectivity over scale.
Chemicals & Industrials: Portfolio reshaping is accelerating. Carve-outs and integrations dominate as firms focus on operational leverage, emissions strategy, and downstream adjacencies.
Energy & Renewables: The clean energy transition is no longer aspirational. It’s a commercial imperative. Infra funds and strategics are converging on energy storage, transmission, and decarbonization enablers.
How to Use This Report
Whether you’re a corporate development leader, private equity investor, or integration manager, this report is built for real-world application:
Sense-check strategy with updated sector outlooks and competitive movements.
Benchmark deal structuring trends for carve-outs, milestone-based biotech transactions, and infra partnerships.
Spot red flags early from FTC pushback to ESG permitting hurdles and execution partner risk.
Sharpen stakeholder alignment by tying decisions to real market data, not outdated sentiment.
This is not just a trends report. It’s a practical tool for deal execution in the second half of 2025.
Download the Full Report
The full report includes:
✅ Sector deep dives with H1 data and commentary
✅ Deal examples and metrics
✅ Risks to watch and themes shaping Q3-Q4
Disclaimer:The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. ClarityNorth Partners makes no representations or warranties of any kind regarding the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of the information. Readers should consult with their advisors before making any business decisions based on this content.
© ClarityNorth Partners 2025. All rights reserved
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