Mergermarket is pleased to present Dealmakers: Australia mid-market M&A outlook 2025, published in association with Pitcher Partners.

Australian M&A deal values rose a surprising 30% in 2024 from the year before, while mid-market deals dipped to some of the lowest levels in the last 10 years. As such, dealmakers are prioritising opportunistic activity with more immediate benefits in the face of an uninspiring mid-market landscape. However, they remain cautiously optimistic about market opportunities in 2025.

Meanwhile, succession planning is taking centre stage as a deal driver in the mid-market — but are sellers ready for this wave of interest?

Key highlights include:

• Improving outlook: Despite headwinds, 55% of respondents say M&A conditions in Australia will get better in 2025.
• Searching for deals: 97% say they are actively looking for M&A opportunities in Australia and will continue to source deals over the next year.
• Key deal driver: 85% say succession planning will be a key driver of M&A in the mid-market in 2025.