Connect with us

Technology

The Market Pulse Survey Q1 2026 Reports the Latest Trends in Business Sales up to $50M

Published

on

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, June 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The IBBA® and M&A Source® announce the Market Pulse Survey Q1 2026 results, reporting high-value insights on businesses being sold — up to $50M. The data points to a market that is aware of AI but not yet repricing around it. Nearly seven in ten advisors (67%) report no material impact on valuation. Additional key findings indicate strong buyer interest in Q1 — with 83% of deals over $5 million attracting at least 3 offers, and 18% attracting an impressive 10+ bids. This quarterly national survey is conducted with the intent of providing a valuable resource to business owners and their advisors.

AI: In The Conversation, Not Yet In The Multiple
The data points to a market that is aware of AI but not yet repricing around it.

Nearly seven in ten advisors (67%) report no material impact on valuation.Only a modest share seeing upside (12%) and very few seeing downside (3%).Another 15% say it’s simply too early to tell.

This suggests that AI has not yet translated into consistent valuation premiums or discounts in the Lower Middle Market. In sectors where automation could disrupt core functions, buyers may begin to differentiate between companies that can leverage AI and those whose models are less exposed. That distinction is not yet showing up clearly in valuations, but it may be an emerging lens.

Transaction Mix By Deal Sector
The industry mix offers a window into how that thinking may be playing out. Personal services continue to show up across all deal sizes, alongside steady demand for construction, manufacturing, and distribution businesses in the Lower Middle Market. These are sectors where demand is tangible, operations are understood, and performance is easier to project. In that context, the consistency of personal services may reflect a broader buyer preference for businesses with durable, human-centered demand.

Quarterly Activity
Q1 2026 M&A market indicators point to continued steadiness, with pockets of renewed momentum: Seller confidence showed an uptick, approaching prior peaks in the Lower Middle Market, though still trailing peak levels in Main Street. Valuation multiples remained broadly consistent with prior periods, with slight increases in the $500K–$1M and $1M– $2M ranges, while larger deals ($2M–$50M) held steady.

Final transaction values as a percentage of asking price/benchmark maintained their previous levels.Average number of offers per deal held steadyCash at close and seller financing levels continued in a consistent pattern

Overall, 43% of advisors reported stronger transaction activity over the past 12 months, compared to 21% reporting weaker conditions, reinforcing a view of a market that remains active despite some mixed signals.

“The quarterly IBBA and M&A Source Market Survey is created to gain an understanding of the current market conditions for businesses being sold in Main Street (values $0-$2M) and the Lower Middle Market (values $2M-$50M). Our goal is to provide expert insights for business intermediaries and business owners so they can achieve the best outcomes in ownership transfers.” – Emily Bowler, Executive Director, International Business Brokers Association®

The Q1 2026 survey was conducted April 1-16, 2026 and was completed by 300 business brokers and M&A advisors. Respondents completed 203 transactions this quarter. This is the 56 edition of this report.

Follow the Market Pulse Survey every quarter for the latest trends and actionable insights.

About the International Business Brokers Association® Formed in 1984 with more than 3,000 members, the International Business Brokers Association® (IBBA) is the largest international not for profit association for business brokers. The association provides business brokers with education, free benefits, conferences, professional designations, support programs and networking opportunities, and awards the Certified Business Intermediary (CBI)® designation to qualifying business brokers. To learn more, contact the IBBA directly at admin@ibba.org.

About M&A Source® M&A Source® is the leading not for profit association for individuals and firms engaged in lower middle market business transactions. The association provides education, benefits, conferences, support programs and networking opportunities, and awards the Mergers & Acquisitions Master Intermediary® (M&AMI®) designation to qualified advisors. For additional information, contact M&A Source directly at 216-243-0030.

[Social Media Handles]
Facebook –https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558428497579
Twitter –https://twitter.com/_SellYourWay
Instagram –https://www.instagram.com/_sellyourway/
LinkedIn –https://www.linkedin.com/company/103495058/admin/feed/posts/
Pinterest –https://pin.it/47ytLpWzo

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-market-pulse-survey-q1-2026-reports-the-latest-trends-in-business-sales-up-to-50m-302813653.html

SOURCE IBBA

Continue Reading

Technology

HR Path Strengthens its Australian Presence with Strategic Acquisition of Payroll Experts Australia

Published

on

By

PARIS, Oct. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — HR Path, a global leader in HR consulting and HRIS solutions, today announces its strategic acquisition of Payroll Experts Australia, a Brisbane-based company specialising in payroll compliance, remediation, workforce management and HR systems consulting.

Founded in 2009, Payroll Experts Australia has delivered more than 530 projects for over 260 organisations across Australia and New Zealand. Independent of any software vendor, the company supports employers across the full payroll, workforce management and HR systems lifecycle, with expertise spanning payroll compliance and audit, remediation, award and agreement interpretation, payroll processing, advisory and end-to-end systems implementation.

The acquisition strengthens HR Path’s ability to provide end-to-end HR transformation services across the ANZ market. Payroll Experts Australia’s specialist capabilities complement HR Path’s existing HRIS technology and SAP SuccessFactors expertise, enabling the combined organisation to support clients with a broader range of locally grounded services, from strategic advisory and systems implementation to payroll compliance and operational support. 

Payroll Experts Australia will continue to operate under the brand “Payroll Experts Australia, an HR Path Company”. Its leadership team and employees will remain in their current roles, ensuring continuity of service for clients while giving the business access to HR Path’s international capabilities and resources. 

The transaction builds on HR Path’s expansion in the region. HR Path has been active in Australia since 2019, following the acquisition of DDG. It opened an Australian office in 2024 and acquired RKM Consulting in 2025, strengthening its HRIS technology and SAP SuccessFactors capabilities across Australia and New Zealand.  

“The acquisition of Payroll Experts Australia, a company renowned for its expertise in payroll compliance, is a strategic move that supports our ambition to be the global reference in HR transformation,” said François Boulet, Co-founding Partner at HR Path. “Their deep knowledge and strong client relationships in Australia complement our global capabilities, enabling us to deliver even more value to our clients. This partnership is about synergy, innovation, and shared commitment to excellence.”

“We are very happy about this new chapter!” said Steve Keenaghan, Chief Executive Officer at Payroll Experts Australia. “This step opens up exciting opportunities for our team and our clients and ensures our continued growth and success. We will maintain our commitment to delivering exceptional, independent payroll expertise while exploring new possibilities within HR Path.”

Contact:

Fabienne LATOUR  Fabienne.latour@hr-path.com

 

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/hr-path-strengthens-its-australian-presence-with-strategic-acquisition-of-payroll-experts-australia-302915164.html

Continue Reading

Technology

Sungrow Powers Up for All Energy Australia 2026 With New Residential Innovation and Full Ecosystem Showcase

Published

on

By

MELBOURNE, Australia, Oct. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Sungrow, the global leader in PV inverter and energy storage solutions, is set to make a strong return to All Energy Australia 2026, the region’s largest and most influential renewable energy exhibition. It will introduce its next-generation all-in-one residential flagship PowerHarbour, alongside a comprehensive showcase of technologies for residential, C&I, and utility-scale applications.

As Australia accelerates toward a cleaner, more resilient energy future, Sungrow’s presence at All Energy will once again serve as a central meeting point for industry leaders, installers, innovators, and policymakers. The booth will offer visitors a rich blend of product demonstrations, technical insights, interactive experiences, and opportunities to connect with Sungrow’s local engineering and sales teams.

A New Addition to Residential Energy Storage

At the upcoming All-Energy 2026, Sungrow will officially unveil PowerHarbour in Australia for the first time. It is a residential all in one solution designed to simplify energy independence for homeowners. It combines sleek design, intelligent integration, advanced safety features and a modular design that can deliver up to 120kWh of capacity. The enhanced AFCI 3.0 protection makes it one of the most flexible and homeowner‑friendly systems on the market. The result is a clean, integrated solution that empowers households to take control of their energy with confidence and ease.

C&I Solutions for Diverse Applications

The exhibition will also showcase Sungrow’s C&I portfolio, including PowerKeeper, deployed across diverse Australian environments, and the ST255CS liquid-cooled BESS cabinet, designed for applications such as microgrid stability and FCAS. Together, these solutions demonstrate Sungrow’s capabilities in delivering flexible, reliable energy storage for a wide range of commercial and industrial needs.

Utility-Scale Innovation on Display

For utility developers and EPCs, Sungrow will present a full-size PowerTitan 3.0, giving visitors a rare opportunity to see the battery container up close. Together, PowerTitan 3.0 and 1+X modular inverter demonstrate advanced energy storage, grid-forming capabilities, and flexible deployment for complex project environment. Backed by dedicated local project management, comprehensive technical support, and a growing project pipeline across Australia and New Zealand.

Visit Sungrow at Booth KK123

Sungrow invites all attendees to visit Booth KK123 at All Energy Australia 2026 to experience its latest residential, commercial, and utility‑scale innovations firsthand. Attendees can expect a vibrant and engaging atmosphere throughout the day featuring lucky draws with exciting prizes, free premium coffee, photobooth and insightful presentations. The booth promises a full day of discovery, connection, and inspiration. Sungrow looks forward to welcoming partners, customers, and renewable energy enthusiasts as we continue powering Australia’s clean energy future together.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/sungrow-powers-up-for-all-energy-australia-2026-with-new-residential-innovation-and-full-ecosystem-showcase-302915169.html

SOURCE Sungrow

Continue Reading

Technology

AglaiaSense and Leopard Imaging to Demonstrate Privacy-First AI Traffic Sensing at Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona

Published

on

By

FREMONT, Calif. and BARCELONA, Spain, Oct. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — AglaiaSense and Leopard Imaging will exhibit together at Smart City Expo World Congress, November 3–5, 2026, at Fira Barcelona Gran Vía.

The two companies proposed AI-VIVA (Vision Intelligence for València and Arterials) and is selected as a finalist in the fifth urban challenge of Barcelona Innova Lab Mobility (BILM), on the application of artificial intelligence to traffic-light regulation. AI-VIVA combines AglaiaSense’s edge-AI traffic solutions with Leopard Imaging’s patented privacy architecture. At the show, the team will give a live demonstration of AglaiaSense’s signature MS500 and GS500 cameras, with the AglaiaSense AI Box, powered by NVIDIA, which adds local processing to coordinate groups of neighboring intersections.

The cameras analyze images inside the device, using the Sony IMX500 and IMX501 intelligent vision sensors. They count and classify vehicles, buses, cyclists and pedestrians in real time. Raw video is discarded on the device within 400–800 milliseconds, and only anonymous metadata is transmitted. Cities can feed that data into signal-control software to adapt traffic lights to real demand.

MS500: about 2 W average power, 1080p, powered from a standard NEMA or ZHAGA street-light socket.

GS500: about 6.5 W average, dual 4K cameras, with Ethernet, LTE Cat 4 and GPS; powered by PoE, 12–24 V DC or a NEMA adapter.

Both cameras: IP66-rated, −20 °C to +65 °C, mounted on existing poles, so no trenching or new masts are needed.

Bandwidth: more than 95% lower than CCTV-based monitoring.

“Cities want safer, smoother streets without turning every crossing into a surveillance point,” said Leon Luo, CEO of AglaiaSense. “Being named a finalist in Barcelona tells us the approach resonates.”

“Privacy has to be built into the camera, not added later,” said Bill Pu, CEO of Leopard Imaging.

AglaiaSense’s solutions are deployed across North America and Asia, and the company won first place in the Pedestrian Safety Challenge Hackathon, run by the Edge AI Foundation (formerly the tinyML Foundation) and the City of San José. In field tests, the systems achieved detection and counting accuracy above 95%. The City of Lakewood, Colorado, compared the GS500 with traditional IP cameras and LiDAR on real roads and found it more accurate, more energy-efficient, and less costly to deploy. At a high-risk crossing where pedestrians often crossed outside the crosswalk, the system alerted approaching drivers in real time.

Visit us at Pavilion 3, Level 0, Street D, Stand 71. To book a meeting, email sales@aglaiasense.com.

About AglaiaSense

AglaiaSense, is an edge-AI company specializing in privacy-first, vision-based sensing for smart cities. Its GS500 and MS500 cameras run AI on the image sensor to count and classify road users in real time and send only anonymous metadata.

About Leopard Imaging

Leopard Imaging is a global leader in high-definition embedded cameras and AI-based imaging solutions in industries including automotive, aerospace, drones, IoT, and robotics.

Media contact:

Cathy Zhao

+1 (408) 263-0988

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/aglaiasense-and-leopard-imaging-to-demonstrate-privacy-first-ai-traffic-sensing-at-smart-city-expo-world-congress-in-barcelona-302914775.html

Continue Reading

Trending