Goldman Sachs’ Australian head of mergers and acquisitions, Freund, told clients the country’s deal flow is beginning to lift after a prolonged slump that left it trailing both Asia and the United States. He said early indicators point to a modest but tangible uptick in transaction volume, suggesting the market may be exiting its most recent trough.

Investors have watched Australian M&A activity stall for several quarters as tightening credit and weaker commodity prices dampened corporate confidence. Freund noted that banks are now reporting more signed term sheets and a handful of mid‑size deals that had been on hold are resurfacing. That renewed interest could revive advisory revenues and spur private equity firms to redeploy capital locally.

The early signs do not guarantee a full‑scale rebound, but they give CFOs and boardrooms a reason to reassess strategic options that were previously shelved. Companies eyeing cross‑border expansion may find Australian partners more receptive, while domestic players could leverage the momentum to consolidate fragmented sectors. Australia’s M&A outlook now carries a measurable degree of optimism. Analysts will watch deal sizes closely, testing the rebound.