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

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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.

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SOURCE IBBA

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CHiQ at IFA 2026: From Global Expansion to Deeper Local Engagement

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BERLIN, Sept. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — At IFA Berlin on September 4, CHiQ unveiled its new AI-powered home appliance range, covering TVs, refrigerators, air conditioners, and washer-dryer combos. Rather than emphasizing technical specifications in isolation, the brand demonstrated how AI integrates into real-life household routines, marking a shift from technological innovation to everyday experiences and reflecting parent company Changhong’s continued focus on localization across global markets.

To address diverse household needs, CHiQ is embedding AI into a growing number of everyday scenarios. Its RGB MiniLED AI TV lineup integrates an integrated AI Sports Platform, transforming the TV from a traditional display into an interactive hub for home fitness and shared activities. The air conditioner features AI Human Presence Radar, which detects users’ locations and habits to adjust airflow dynamically. Meanwhile, the AI-powered refrigerator and laundry care system employ intelligent sensing and monitoring to help users take a more proactive approach to managing food freshness and garment cleanliness.

On IFA’s opening day, Grundig, CHiQ’s strategic partner and a premium European home appliance brand, presented a new product lineup across TVs, refrigerators, washer-dryers, and air conditioners. This showcase represents a further extension of Grundig’s brand development and product strategy and points to a new direction for Grundig in European and global markets.

In recent years, CHiQ’s focus has centered on simplifying everyday household chores through smart innovation. The brand has introduced a virtual giant panda as an AI interactive assistant, adding warmth and personality to its smart TVs and other AI-enabled appliances while naturally incorporating distinctive elements of Chinese culture into the user experience.

Skiing has also become another bridge connecting CHiQ with European lifestyles. Over the same period, the brand has strengthened its European presence as an official data partner of the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup. These efforts have deepened CHiQ’s connections with consumers in Europe and around the world. At the same time, the brand incorporates the speed of skiing and the pristine character of winter sports into its products, bringing technology closer to users’ lifestyles.

Behind these initiatives lies a broader shift: CHiQ is advancing its localization efforts. From product experiences and brand messaging to sports, culture and other aspects of local life, the company is establishing more diverse touchpoints as it expands its presence in Europe. Moving beyond simply entering overseas markets toward becoming part of them, CHiQ is bringing its global expansion into closer alignment with the local markets it serves.

About CHiQ

CHiQ, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of consumer electronics and household appliances, is redefining industry standards with innovative products, intelligent technologies, and a growing commitment to corporate social responsibility. Its influence continues to grow across global markets, especially in Europe.

SOURCE CHiQ

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New Poll: Parents Overwhelmingly Support the Agreement Between the States & Meta To Keep Young People Safe Online

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More Than Four-in-Five Parents Want Other Platforms Such As TikTok, YouTube and Snapchat to Adopt Safeguards

WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Coalition to Empower our Future (CEF) today released new research finding overwhelming support among parents nationwide for the recent agreement between states across the country and Meta to strengthen protections for young people online and give parents additional tools to support their children. The findings show that parents not only support the agreement, but also want other social media platforms to follow Meta’s lead and implement similar protections so young people have consistent safeguards across platforms.

“Parents want practical tools that help them keep their kids safe online, and they want those tools no matter what platform their kids are on,” said Glen Weiner, executive director of the Coalition to Empower our Future. “This agreement is an important step forward that will help protect young people using Instagram and Facebook, but kids don’t spend all their time on one platform. To continue making progress, other social media platforms need to join these efforts and adopt the same policies. There’s no single solution to the challenges young people are facing, but giving parents more tools and helping young people build healthier habits with technology are important pieces of a broader, comprehensive approach.”

According to the survey, more than four-in-five parents across the country support the agreement between the states and Meta, including 82 percent of Democratic parents and 84 percent of Republican parents. Other key findings include:

Parents believe the new safety measures will have a positive impact on youth mental health, including expanded parental controls (82 percent), daily screen-time limits (80 percent), and muting notifications during school hours (77 percent) and overnight (76 percent).Overwhelming majorities of parents on both sides of the aisle want other platforms to adopt the same policies. More than four-in-five say other platforms should implement the same online safety measures, including 85 percent of Democratic parents and 86 percent of Republican parents.

Support is similarly strong when parents are asked about individual platforms, including:TikTok (85 percent);YouTube (84 percent); andSnapchat (82 percent).Parents want policymakers to take action. Four-in-five parents (80 percent) would support their state legislature putting these online safety measures into law, and more than two-thirds of parents (67 percent) would be more likely to vote for an elected official who advances these measures.

The new findings build on previous research from CEF showing that parents and voters want a comprehensive approach to youth mental health that gives families practical tools and teaches young people how to navigate technology safely and responsibly.

The full research findings can be found HERE.

The research, conducted between August 28 and August 31, 2026, in partnership with Mercury Analytics, included an online survey of 1,000 parents nationwide.

About the Coalition to Empower our Future

Coalition to Empower our Future is an organization bringing together a range of voices to fully inform solutions that empower youth, parents, communities, and society. The Coalition to Empower our Future supports solutions that are inclusive of the full spectrum of factors impacting youth mental health. Former Montana Governor Steve Bullock, former U.S. Representative Carlos Curbelo, and Dr. Caroline Carney, a board-certified psychiatrist and internist, serve on the board of directors of the Coalition to Empower our Future.

To learn more, visit empowerourfuturecoalition.com or follow Coalition to Empower our Future on Facebook, X and YouTube.

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SOURCE Coalition to Empower our Future

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Bybit On-Chain Earn Raises BTC Staking Yield by 50% to 1.2% APR

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DUBAI, UAE, Sept. 4, 2026 /CNW/ — Bybit, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, is pleased to announce Bybit On-Chain Earn has partnered with Function (FBTC) to upgrade its BTC staking Vault product, raising the guaranteed annualized return from 0.8% to as much as 1.2%, a 50% increase of the evergreen offering.  With Bybit, BTC holders no longer need to sit on their idle asset as they navigate a range-bound BTC.

In early September 2026, BTC has been consolidating around the $80,000 level after rebounding from roughly $62,600 in August and briefly climbing above $81,000 in late August. The cryptocurrency continues to hold above its key moving averages, encouraging many long-term holders to maintain their position.

Bybit On-Chain Earn‘s new BTC staking solution comes with a guaranteed minimum return, distinguishing it from variable-rate products where yield fluctuates with market conditions. Eligible users may subscribe to a fixed 45-day term with no option for early redemption. A subscription cap of 200 BTC applies. Upon maturity, participants can opt into automatic renewal, allowing both principal and accrued returns to roll seamlessly into the next staking cycle without requiring manual reinvestment. This structure is designed to give BTC holders a straightforward way to generate yield on idle holdings while maintaining predictable, fixed-term commitments.

The partnership with Function, the protocol behind FBTC, extends Bybit’s collaboration with the DeFi and TradFi convergence space, diversifying user access to potential yield opportunities across the digital asset landscape.

The upgraded exclusive BTC vault is now live on Bybit. Terms and conditions apply. Users may visit Bybit On-Chain Earn for details on eligibility requirements and potential restrictions.

#Bybit  / #NewFinancialPlatform

About Bybit

Bybit is The New Financial Platform.

We believe every person should have access to every financial opportunity on earth. That’s why we’re building the first intelligent platform that connects anyone, anywhere to the world’s finance.

Trusted by more than 80 million users worldwide, Bybit brings together investing, trading, payments, and wealth-building in a single secure and intelligent ecosystem. Through the combination of AI-powered technology, deep global liquidity, robust security, and transparent operations, Bybit makes global finance more accessible, efficient, and empowering for everyone.

Built for everyone. Powered by intelligence. Open to the world.

Learn more at Bybit.com

For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Press
For media inquiries, please contact: media@bybit.com
For updates, please follow: Bybit’s Communities and Social Media

Discord | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Reddit | Telegram | TikTok | X | Youtube

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SOURCE Bybit

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