Hampleton Partners IT & Business Services M&A Market Report (1H 2026) – IT & Business Services M&A Enters a New Phase of Disciplined Growth – AI automation and cybersecurity urgency are reshaping the next consolidation cycle
IT & Business Services M&A Enters a New Phase of Disciplined Growth – AI automation and cybersecurity urgency are reshaping the next consolidation cycle
Hampleton Partners’ latest IT & Business Services M&A Market Report (1H 2026) shows a market that is not just “back”, it is more selective, more operational, and more execution-driven. After the hype cycles of earlier this decade, buyers are seeking deals with a clearer lens: predictable delivery, defensible margins, and integration certainty.
AI is no longer the hype factor, it is the delivery engine. Generative and agentic AI capabilities are becoming standard across service platforms, and acquirers are increasingly paying for measurable outcomes, not narratives. The winners are those who can demonstrate hard KPI impact, including automation of delivery, utilisation uplift, cycle-time reduction, and repeatable EBITDA conversion.
Security is the other accelerant. As AI-driven threats intensify, cybersecurity, identity, and observability have moved from IT priorities to board-level imperatives. This is driving consolidation among security specialists and pushing buyers to evaluate targets not only on strategic fit, but also on data architecture, compliance readiness, and post-merger integration risk.
Who is winning the next wave, and why?
Download the full Hampleton Partners IT & Business Services M&A Market Report (1H 2026) to explore recent transactions, valuation dynamics, and the latest themes across Tech Services and Support, IT Outsourced Services, and Integration Services, including the largest disclosed deals, most active acquirers, and our outlook for 2026.