A slowdown in Industrial Automation M&A activity in the third quarter appears to be a blip on the radar. Strong fundamental trends, still near-record dry powder by financial buyers, and continued acquisitive demand by strategics looks set to accelerate activity into 2026. 

Highlights from the report:

• The IA deal count reached or exceeded 20 closed deals for the eighth straight quarter and has now done so in ten of the last 11 quarters.
• IA deal count slipped to 20 deals in Q3 from 30 in Q2 2025 and 29 in Q3 2024.
• The total number of PE & VC investments in industrial automation in 2025 reached
  111 through the first three quarters, up from 97 in the same period in 2024.
• Public companies are increasingly discussing re-shoring on their earnings calls, highlighting heightened interest and investment in diversifying their manufacturing footprints.
• Broader industrials M&A in North America inched higher in Q3 2025 vs. the first two quarters of the year, but still remains at somewhat depressed levels year-over-year.

To download the Industrial Automation Q2 2025 Market Update report, please visit our website: Industrial Automation Q3 2025 Report.