Everything M&A

Mergers and acquisitions are shifting gears and gaining momentum, and it’s crucial to stay ahead of the curve! In this edition, we delve into the latest trends shaping the Swiss M&A landscape as we look toward 2025. From the cautious optimism of dealmakers navigating high interest rates to the growing influence of private equity in the healthcare sector, we’re bringing you insights that matter. Let's jump in!

Swiss M&A Industry Trends: 2025 Outlook

Our latest Swiss M&A Industry Trends Outlook shows that momentum is picking up in mergers and acquisitions. Here are some of the key takeaways:

M&A Momentum with Caution: As M&A activity is on the rise, dealmakers must remain vigilant, focusing on value creation amidst higher interest rates and improved capital availability to ensure robust returns.

Engagement in Distressed Situations: Early interaction with lenders is crucial in distressed scenarios, enhancing the likelihood of successful restructuring and allowing more strategic deal positioning.

Navigating Complex Challenges: Successful dealmakers will integrate geopolitical factors and conduct comprehensive evaluations of transactions related to strategic US technology and critical infrastructure, ensuring informed assessments amidst ongoing market uncertainties.

Explore the report for a more detailed assessment of the market, including specific industry trends.

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A must-read for players in healthcare

Swiss M&A Trends in Health Industries: 2025 Outlook

PwC’s latest insights into M&A in the health industries suggest that dealmakers should prepare to seize opportunities in 2025. There is a positive outlook for 2025 in both the global and Swiss health industry M&A sectors, bolstered by a more upbeat mood observed at the JPM Health Care Conference.

Here are the key findings for Switzerland:

Decline in Deal Volumes: M&A activity in the Swiss health sector saw a decline in 2024, mirroring a global trend, with deal numbers dropping from 140 in 2023 to 118 (–16%), while total disclosed deal value plummeted from approximately $14.5 billion to $7.3 billion; however, this reduction follows a record year and aligns with the long-term average of 100 deals annually from 2018 to 2023.

Increased Private Equity Involvement: The share of deals with private equity or venture capital involvement reached record levels in 2024, with 62% of pharma and life sciences transactions and 48% of health services deals involving financial sponsors, indicating a strong appetite for investment and signaling optimism for local biotech clusters.

Positive Outlook Amid Challenges: Despite the challenges posed by patent expirations and portfolio decay, the mood at industry events like the 2025 JPM Health Care Conference was notably positive, reflecting the motivation of dealmakers to innovate and pursue strategic acquisitions that could be bolstered by favorable macroeconomic conditions and lower interest rates. The website is a mere ten-minute read that’s rich in insight.

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Fresh insights for the financial industry

Swiss M&A trends in financial services: 2025 outlook

Our latest report yields detailed insights for the financial services sector. The headline message: the return of megadeals is fuelling optimism for an M&A rebound in 2025.

Transformational Opportunities: The report highlights that financial services firms are increasingly seeking transformative M&A opportunities to adapt to evolving market landscapes and consumer demands, leveraging technology and innovation to enhance their offerings.

Regulatory and Sustainability Considerations: Dealmakers must navigate complex regulatory environments and growing expectations for sustainability, as these factors play a crucial role in shaping M&A strategies and determining the long-term success of transactions.

Focus on Resilience and Integration: Successful M&A in the financial services sector will depend on firms’ ability to integrate new acquisitions effectively, fostering resilience against market volatility and ensuring alignment with strategic goals and operational capabilities.

The report includes high-level insights for Switzerland:

Stagnant M&A Activity: The number of M&A transactions in the Swiss financial services sector remained low in 2024, mirroring levels from 2023, with activity primarily driven by smaller and mid-sized deals in the wealth and asset management segments.

Buyers’ Market Dynamics: Discussions with clients indicate that the market currently favours buyers, as both strategic and financial sponsors are actively seeking opportunities across various sectors; however, the availability of attractive targets is limited, leading to a mismatch between seller expectations and buyer bids.

With potential targets often adopting a "wait and see" strategy, interested buyers are encouraged to take a proactive approach in their M&A pursuits, as waiting for auction processes may limit their chances of securing favorable deals.

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Swiss M&A trends in technology, media and telecom: 2025 outlook

PwC’s latest report shows that AI-driven disruption and innovation, easing barriers to dealmaking, record levels of available capital and an increase in private equity exits will fuel M&A activity in the TMT sector in 2025.

Increased Investment in Digital Transformation: The report highlights that organizations are prioritising digital transformation, leading to greater M&A activity as companies seek to acquire capabilities and technologies that enhance their digital offerings and overall market competitiveness.

Focus on Sustainability and Innovation: There's a noticeable trend towards targeting companies that prioritize sustainability and innovative technologies, as both consumers and investors are increasingly valuing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in their decision-making processes.

Regulatory and Market Challenges: The outlook indicates that firms in the TMT sector will face ongoing regulatory scrutiny and evolving market conditions, necessitating strategic agility and adaptability in their M&A approaches to navigate potential challenges effectively.

This ten-minute read will leave you better informed on the latest developments in M&A.

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