Global M&A Dealmakers See Activity Accelerating in H2 2026: Sentiment Report

Key Terms

dry powder financial

Dry powder is the cash or liquid assets that investors or funds keep on hand and are ready to deploy into new investments or to cover obligations. Think of it like a firefighter’s reserve of water: it lets investors act quickly when bargains appear or when markets turn sour, so it influences a fund’s ability to buy assets, support portfolio companies, or weather losses.

virtual data room technical

A virtual data room is a secure online repository where companies store and share confidential documents during transactions like mergers, fundraising or audits. It matters to investors because it lets potential buyers or backers review sensitive information quickly while the owner controls who sees what and when—think of it as a locked filing cabinet with security cameras, access logs and timed permissions that speed due diligence and reduce the risk of leaks.

machine learning technical

Machine learning is a set of computer programs that learn patterns from large amounts of data and improve their predictions or decisions over time, like a recipe that gets better each time it’s adjusted based on taste tests. For investors it matters because these systems can speed up analysis, spot trends or risks humans might miss, automate routine work, and potentially create competitive advantages or cost savings that affect a company’s performance.

llms technical

Large language models are advanced computer programs that read and generate human-like text by learning patterns from huge amounts of written material; think of them as digital employees that can draft reports, answer questions, summarize documents, or generate code. They matter to investors because they can change a company’s costs, speed of product development, customer service, and competitive edge — and they also create new risks and regulatory questions that can affect profits and valuation.

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SS&C survey of 400 global M&A professionals signals dealmakers see opportunities to reallocate dry powder

WINDSOR, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: SSNC) today announced the publication of the SS&C Intralinks H2 2026 Global M&A Dealmakers Sentiment Report. In association with Reuters Events, SS&C Intralinks surveyed more than 400 global M&A dealmakers from corporate development, private equity and advisory roles to understand market challenges and opportunities.

"Dealmakers are demonstrating renewed confidence in H2 2026, with more than half expecting increased M&A activity as volatility and market conditions normalize," said Ken Bisconti, Head of SS&C Intralinks. “Moreover, we are seeing fundamental shifts in how capital is deployed. Organizations are increasingly pursuing transactions that deliver technological capabilities, operational synergies and geographic expansion simultaneously, focusing on a holistic approach to value creation. To win such transformative deals, more firms are embracing technology and AI to improve deal execution and stand out.”

Key findings from the report include:

• 60% expect increased M&A and financing activity over the next six months, while 29% expect to see slowdowns.
• Dealmakers are also more optimistic about deal volume: 43% expect to work on four or more deals in the second half of the year, with another 22% expecting to participate in one to three deals.
• While middle-market deals continue to proliferate, the market is seeing the resurgence of mega-deals: 29% expect to work on transformative transactions of more than $10 billion in H2 2026, while another 43% expect to pursue those opportunities among debt capital financing deals.
• Respondents cite legal and regulatory issues, geopolitical instability and the availability of financing as their top obstacles to completing a deal in the next 12 months. 53% believe getting financing is harder in 2026 than in 2025.

To get ahead, dealmakers are focused on optimizing their deal execution capabilities with technology:

• 30% say they are focusing on building internal AI and data capabilities. 81% already use integrated AI in their deal processes across all deal stages.
• 35% cite using technology to improve information governance and availability as a key factor in improving deal execution. Another 34% say using AI and machine learning to automate tasks and processes will help improve efficiency and accelerate execution speed.
• Among those using AI in their processes, 54% are finding the most value from products designed for the finance industry, such as Intralinks’ Link digital assistant designed for dealmakers. A further 25% see the most value from bespoke offerings tailored to the company’s needs and trained on its data. Only 21% use general LLMs with little to no customization.

Click here to read the full report.

SS&C Intralinks is a pioneer of the virtual data room, delivering AI-enabled services across the entire deal lifecycle, including deal marketing, deal prep, due diligence, insights and post-merger integration. Intralinks technology enables and secures the flow of information by facilitating M&A, capital raising and investor reporting. SS&C Intralinks has executed more than USD 37 trillion worth of financial transactions on its platform.

About SS&C Technologies

SS&C is a leading provider of mission-critical, AI-powered software and services empowering financial services and healthcare organizations to work smarter, faster, and securely. Founded in 1986, SS&C is headquartered in Windsor, Connecticut, and has offices worldwide. More than 23,000 financial services and healthcare organizations, from the world's largest companies to small and mid-market firms, rely on SS&C for expertise, scale and technology.

Additional information about SS&C (Nasdaq: SSNC) is available at www.ssctech.com.

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View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260624939979/en/

For more information
Brian Schell | Chief
Financial Officer, SS&C
Technologies
Tel: +1-816-642-0915| E-mail:
InvestorRelations@sscinc.com

Justine Stone | Investor
Relations, SS&C Technologies
Tel: +1-212-367-4705 | E-mail:
InvestorRelations@sscinc.com

Media Contacts
For SS&C
Breanna King
Prosek Partners
E-mail: pro-ssc@prosek.com

Source: SS&C