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As Execution Costs Rise, Faster, Better Due Diligence Is Key to PE Deals: SS&C Intralinks Report

As Execution Costs Rise, Faster, Better Due Diligence Is Key to PE Deals: SS&C Intralinks Report

WINDSOR, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: SSNC) today announced the publication of the 2026 PE Dealmaking Report. In association with PitchBook, SS&C Intralinks analyzed 18,256 global private equity deals executed this year* to understand changing market dynamics and opportunities.

“Market dynamics have transformed rapidly in 2026,” said Ken Bisconti, General Manager, SS&C Intralinks. “The cost of executing deals today is higher: sponsors are using less debt, being more selective and favoring safer bets on high-quality assets, while access to the most desirable assets on the market remains expensive. These trends suggest that fast, efficient due diligence is crucial in today’s PE deal economics, with technology becoming a key part of the equation. Virtual data rooms and AI-enabled diligence tools designed to shorten due diligence cycles, improve visibility and strengthen operational rigor are now more important than ever for maintaining returns.”

Key findings from the report include:

  • PE dealmakers’ appetite for larger deals is growing. The global PE median deal size has grown to USD 43.5 million YTD from USD 40.5 million in 2025. The size is more than double the median a decade ago (USD 21.7 million).
  • The largest deals are dominating the PE landscape. Megadeals accounted for more than 76% of PE capital invested in 2026, the highest percentage in a decade.
  • Higher interest rates are reshaping deal structures, with sponsors favoring equity over debt. The median equity/EBITDA multiple has ticked up to a decade high of 7.5x YTD, while the median debt/EBITDA multiple has fallen to 4.1x over the same period. Even smaller and less leveraged add-on deals are shifting toward more equity-heavy deal structures. Median equity/EBITDA multiples climbed to 9.1x YTD, up from 2.6x a decade ago.
  • Exits are low, but select deals pay off. Exit volumes are projected to be the lowest in a decade, with strategic acquisitions and sponsor-to-sponsor buyouts dominating the deal exit landscape. However, successful exits achieved positive outcomes: the median and average PE buyout exit multiple on invested capital (MOIC) reached a five-year peak of 2.7x and 6.4x, respectively, in 2025.
  • Sponsors are prioritizing smaller, lower-risk acquisitions. Add-on and growth-oriented investments now represent over 77% of global PE transaction counts.

Click here to read the full report.

SS&C Intralinks is a pioneer of the virtual data room, delivering software-enabled services across the entire deal life cycle, including deal marketing, deal prep, due diligence, insights and post-merger integration. Intralinks technology enables and secures the flow of information by facilitating M&A, capital raising and investor reporting. SS&C Intralinks has executed more than USD 35 trillion worth of financial transactions on its platform. DealCentre AI™ from SS&C Intralinks is the first true AI-powered dealmaking platform built to transform every phase of the transaction lifecycle — from ideation through closing.

*As of August 3, 2026.

About SS&C Technologies

SS&C is a leading provider of mission-critical, AI-powered technology and services empowering financial services and healthcare organizations to work smarter, faster, and securely. Founded in 1986, SS&C is headquartered in Windsor, Connecticut, and has offices worldwide. More than 23,000 financial services and healthcare organizations, from the world’s largest companies to small and mid-market firms, rely on SS&C for expertise, scale and technology.

Additional information about

SS&C (Nasdaq: SSNC) is available at www.ssctech.com.

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For more information

Brian Schell

Chief Financial Officer

SS&C Technologies

Tel: +1-816-642-0915

E-mail: [email protected]

Justine Stone

Investor Relations

SS&C Technologies

Tel: +1-212-367-4705

E-mail: [email protected]

Media Contacts

Madison Gallo

Prosek Partners

Email: [email protected]

KEYWORDS: Connecticut United States North America

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Professional Services Technology Insurance Finance Software Artificial Intelligence

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