Research, analysis, and perspectives on M&A, private equity, Opportunity Zones, AI value creation, and digital transformation for middle-market businesses.
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78% of middle-market firms cite scalability as the primary AI integration challenge. Learn how successful operators are compressing rollout timelines from 18 months to 8 weeks.
71% of PE sponsors cite AI due diligence as a deal accelerator. Post-recession HVAC/plumbing M&A deal volume is up 34% YoY — here's how operators are winning.
The best AI acquisition targets aren't tech companies—they're HVAC, plumbing, and cleaning businesses.
Search funds deploying AI are compressing 18 months of value creation into 90 days.
70% of SMBs have zero AI infrastructure. That's arbitrage. How operators deploy AI for value.
Valuations at 9.8× EV/EBITDA as Q1 deal velocity surged 10.3% YoY.
Capital accumulation outpaced deployment by $1.2T, creating asymmetric pricing in lower-mid-market.
AI deployment into trades businesses creates immediate measurable value with tax advantages.
AI cuts M&A due diligence from 6 weeks to hours. A new era for deal speed and quality.
Acquirers compressing 18 months of operational improvement into 90 days with AI.
Claude and GPT-4o redefining M&A. LOI drafting, modeling, timeline compression.
70.5% expect 2026 strength. Deal velocity constrained by seller readiness, not buyer appetite.
OZ permanence with 30% basis step-up for rural deployments reshapes after-tax returns.
Technology assets commanding premium valuations as $5–8 trillion in AI infrastructure concentrates deal activity.
QOZ investors face mandatory gain recognition. Extended window creates planning opportunities.
PE operators migrating to self-optimizing systems for real-time portfolio optimization.
Three rate cuts restored confidence. Structural catalysts: PE dry powder, private credit dominance, seller backlog.
95% of PE-backed AI initiatives meeting or exceeding business cases. AI is infrastructure now.
M&A volume up 10% in 2025 with PE up 8%, fueled by easing inflation.
PE firms deploying AI orchestration converting predictive pricing into EBITDA expansion.
OZ 2.0 offers new pathways to capital gains deferral while driving economic development.
Q2 2025 deal value up 10.7% YoY with $100M–$250M transactions at 10.0× TEV/EBITDA.
65% of PE firms embedding AI across diligence and value creation. Technology as infrastructure.