Private Equity: AI has become established in the deal process, particularly in data analysis and financial due diligence—but so far, only 13 percent of respondents use AI when preparing for a sale

• Only 17 percent rely on AI for commercial due diligence
• For sales preparation, respondents cite modernizing the data infrastructure as the top AI priority (42 percent)
• When it comes to AI-related acquisitions, employees with AI expertise and technical teams (67 percent) are considered the most important value drivers

In the ongoing deal process, the use of AI is most common in data analysis and financial due diligence, followed by document scanning and processing (26 percent), the detection of irregularities and fraud (24 percent), and operational due diligence (23 percent). The closer the actual sale gets, the less frequently AI tools have been used so far. According to respondents, 20 percent use AI to plan value enhancement and prepare the seller’s pitch, while 17 percent use it for commercial due diligence. AI is used least frequently in the concrete preparation of the sales process: by 13 percent of respondents.

“In the early phase of a transaction, the focus is on quickly evaluating balance sheets, contracts, and key operating metrics. AI can already do this quite reliably today,” says Andreas Stöcklin, head of FTI Consulting’s transactions practice in Continental Europe. “Negotiation, buyer outreach, and storytelling have so far remained largely a matter of experience. But even here, increased support from AI could significantly accelerate the overall process and safeguard critical points. Enormous potential will become apparent in the coming months and years.”

AI Capability Becomes a Key Criterion for Sale Readiness

When respondents are preparing a company for sale, they cite modernizing the data infrastructure as the top priority (42 percent) for the use of artificial intelligence. This is followed by AI-supported compliance and risk management, as well as AI-supported document processing (36 percent each), AI-driven forecasting, and the further development of the product and technology roadmap (35 percent each). A better view of operational processes (34 percent) is also among the most frequently cited priorities.

“Buyers are increasingly looking at how AI- and automation-ready the companies they’re interested in are,” says Andreas Stöcklin. “Because if the infrastructure is in place but hasn’t yet been implemented, tangible results can be achieved quickly. And the company can also be aligned for long-term efficiency and effectiveness. That’s why it’s important for sellers to make key areas of their business AI-ready, even if they aren’t rolling out AI themselves yet. The second benefit: The more AI-compatible the data already is—as prepared by the seller—the easier it is for buyers to use AI tools for their own evaluations. This can significantly speed up deals.”

AI-Related Acquisitions: What Buyers Pay Particular Attention To

When it comes to acquisitions where the target company’s existing AI capabilities are the focus, 67 percent of respondents cite employees with AI expertise and technical teams as important or decisive value drivers. 57 percent cite proprietary data and AI infrastructure, and 57 percent cite product and platform capabilities. When it comes to the strategic orientation of such acquisitions, the growth motive predominates: 41 percent of respondents cite accelerating growth and entering new markets as the primary drivers, while 19 percent cite safeguarding against being technologically overtaken by competitors.

“Companies that are not only AI-capable but have already built up concrete expertise and infrastructure within their own organization are particularly attractive targets today,” says Andreas Stöcklin. “Employees who are proficient in AI in their day-to-day work and a proprietary database are assets that buyers are specifically seeking today—and which are still relatively rare. Sellers therefore have two options today: make their own organization AI-ready in order to sell quickly and at a better margin; or pass this margin on to the buyer with an additional safety premium, allowing the buyer to subsequently modernize and automate the acquired company themselves. A targeted, case-by-case analysis is required to assess which path appears more worthwhile in each instance.”

About the Study / Methodology:

In December 2025, FTI Consulting surveyed a total of 200 private equity decision-makers, including 120 in North America, 50 in Europe and the Middle East, and 30 in Latin America. The respondents are involved in investment and operational decisions, and the firms they manage each have assets under management of at least one billion U.S. dollars. The results are based on self-assessments of AI programs and deal activities at their portfolio companies. The data on AI usage in the deal process (including preparation for the sale process, at 13 percent) refers to the deal activities surveyed. The value driver data refers to AI-related acquisitions.

The full study can be found here.

About FTI-Andersch

FTI-Andersch is a management consulting firm that supports its clients in developing and implementing sustainable strategies for the future, performance improvement, and restructuring. FTI-Andersch actively supports companies that are facing strategic, operational, or financial challenges and change processes—or that wish to proactively align their business models, organizations, and processes for the future. Its clients include, in particular, medium-sized companies and corporations that operate internationally. FTI-Andersch is part of the FTI Consulting Group (NYSE: FCN), which has more than 8,100 employees worldwide.