EDGE 2026 in Cairns from late July will feature discussions on M&A opportunities, risks, and strategic decisions shaping the tech channel’s next growth phase, with limited spots remaining and industry experts leading sessions.

Latimer Partners will participate at EDGE, with leaders sharing insights on selling or acquiring and the evolving M&A landscape.

Major consolidators Evergreen and First Focus, along with Latimer Partners, are pursuing aggressive expansion to build larger national platforms, signaling ongoing consolidation in the market as strategic acquirers and private equity reassess portfolios for AI-driven opportunities.

Buyers and investors are conducting more rigorous due diligence and taking longer to close deals due to AI value and risk scrutiny, with potential price adjustments if weaknesses are found in models or financials.

Industry caution is advised, as the most dangerous acquisition can be the second one when assumptions are overextended.

On the sell side, readiness matters: founders must demonstrate robust documentation, repeatable processes, and leadership depth to operate independently of the founder.

Targets with expertise in AI agents and copilots across enterprise platforms, as well as knowledge in healthcare, financial services, and insurance, are increasingly valuable.

AI-driven M&A is reshaping Australia and New Zealand tech deals, with emphasis on AI, cloud, cybersecurity, and data platforms and a shift in deal structures driven by private equity and offshore investment.

Tax policy uncertainty, including potential changes to capital gains arrangements, is influencing owner exit planning ahead of mid-2027, prompting more founders to consider exits sooner.

There is strong demand for AI-enabled firms and capabilities, particularly those enabling AI-ready environments around Snowflake, Databricks, Microsoft Fabric, and Google BigQuery, as buyers seek differentiated value through AI integration.

Deal activity remains robust as organizations seek faster growth through acquisitions, with buyers outpacing sellers and the overall appetite for M&A staying strong despite economic uncertainty.