Deal Talk EP8: Private M&A in 2026: What the data tells us

In this episode of Defining Matters, partners Kam Jamshidi and Matt FitzGerald unpack the key findings from HSF Kramer’s exclusive Private M&A Dealmakers Report 2026, analysing approx. 60 private M&A transactions completed over the past year. Key topics include: • The return of billion-dollar deals • Why bilateral deals are dominating sale processes • MAC clauses and transaction certainty • Regulatory trends across FIRB and ACCC approvals • The rise of lockboxes and alternative pricing structures • New liquidity pathways for private capital • Predictions for the year ahead A practical discussion on the trends, tactics and market dynamics shaping Australia's private M&A landscape.