AI megadeals to drive M&A market in 2026: report

Figurines are seen under the words "AI Artificial Intelligence" in this illustration created Feb. 19, 2024. Reuters-Yonhap

Artificial intelligence (AI)-driven megadeals will dominate the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market this year as companies race to secure technologies critical to the emerging AI value chain, according to a report released Monday by Samil PwC.

The value of global M&A deals surged 36 percent in 2025 to $3.52 trillion. Mega-transactions worth more than $5 billion were a major driver of the surge, climbing 76 percent year-on-year to 111 transactions, Korea’s largest accounting firm by revenue said in its report, titled “M&A Industry Trends: 2026 Outlook.”

The growing influence of AI is reshaping deal-making: Roughly one-third of the 100 largest global M&A transactions announced last year cited AI as a key factor in strategic decision-making.

In Korea, deal activity did not match the global rebound but still showed growth. The total value of domestic M&A transactions rose 25 percent year-on-year to 110.9 trillion won ($74 billion), buoyed by several large deals.

Yoon Hoon-soo, CEO of Samil PwC, speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at the company headquarters in Seoul, Sept. 24, 2025. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

Samil PwC identified the AI investment supercycle and K-shaped recovery as the defining themes for this year’s M&A market.

AI has already become a central factor in many large transactions, particularly in the technology and manufacturing sectors. As companies race to secure AI capabilities, deals focused on AI and data infrastructure are expected to expand further.

Because firms are increasingly moving to secure technology, data and platforms in advance to strengthen competitiveness, factors such as AI readiness and levels of automation are becoming key criteria when evaluating acquisition targets, according to Min Joon-seon, deals leader at Samil PwC.

“Industrial structures are rapidly reorganizing around the AI supply chain,” Min said. “The emergence of a new value chain — spanning data centers, power, semiconductors and software — presents both a challenge and an opportunity for companies to rethink their business models and secure future growth engines.”

At the same time, smaller transactions worth less than $1 billion, particularly those lacking clear strategic direction, are expected to remain subdued, reinforcing a polarized deal market.

The report also contains analysis of global and domestic M&A trends and outlooks across six industries: consumer goods; energy, utilities and materials; financial services; health care; industrials and automotives; and IT, telecommunications and media.