Growth is the lifeblood of business, but for many large incumbents, it's becoming harder to achieve organically. Whether listed or private, mature companies often face slowing revenue lines and intense competition. That's where acquisitions step in.
Instead of spending years and millions of dollars trying to build a new business arm, companies with strong balance sheets can simply buy the innovators already nibbling at their market share. It's a shortcut to fresh customers, new technology, and faster earnings growth.
For investors, this dynamic makes ASX small caps an intriguing hunting ground. Businesses that have done the hard yards of establishing products and market share can suddenly find themselves the subject of takeover bids — often at hefty premiums.
M&A momentum builds
There's been no shortage of deal-making across the Australian market in 2025. Several small-to-mid cap names have already attracted corporate suitors, with takeover offers sparking sharp share price gains.
Let's look at three recent examples:
RPMGlobal Holdings Ltd (ASX: RUL)
Mining software specialist RPMGlobal has seen its shares surge more than 90% since April. The big move was driven by a non-binding takeover offer from US giant Caterpillar Inc (NYSE: CAT), pitched at $5.00 per share and valuing the company at more than $1 billion. With long-standing ties to Caterpillar and a strong recurring revenue base, RPM is a natural bolt-on candidate.
Tourism Holdings Ltd (ASX: THL)
Tourism Holdings, the world's largest RV rental operator, was catapulted 50% higher in June after receiving a conditional all-cash offer from BGH Capital and the Trouchet family interests. The consortium already secured a 19.99% stake, underlining its conviction. Investors saw firsthand how quickly takeover news can re-rate a small-cap stock.
Johns Lyng Group Ltd (ASX: JLG)
Insurance building services and restoration company Johns Lyng was quickly re-rated after takeover interest emerged. When Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) lodged its first indicative offer in May, the stock had been under pressure, with sentiment drifting lower. That gave the right buyer an opportune moment to step in.
Following the subsequent scheme implementation deed, the $4.00 per share offer represented a 77% premium to where the share price closed the day before the first bid became known. It's a reminder that when the fundamentals of a business are attractive it's not just individual investors who take notice, but also professional acquirers with deep pools of capital.
Thinking like an acquirer
When larger players hunt for growth, they look for qualities that make a smaller business more valuable in their hands than on its own. Investors can use the same lens.
The most attractive traits include:
- Clear synergies – the ability to slot into a bigger platform, cut costs, or accelerate sales.
- Scarcity value – assets, services, or expertise that are difficult or expensive to replicate.
- Supportive ownership – a register open to deals, often with founders still aligned to maximise value.
- Undervaluation – shares trading below intrinsic worth, giving acquirers room to pay a premium.
- Favourable backdrops – low funding costs, plenty of private equity capital, and strong sector demand.
For small-cap investors, the lesson is simple: focus on fundamentals, watch how management behaves, and be patient. If the market doesn't close the gap, an acquirer might.
Foolish takeaway
The current wave of M&A activity highlights how much value exists in the small end of the ASX. For investors, the challenge is spotting businesses with the hallmarks of tomorrow's targets: scalable, profitable, and positioned in industries where larger players need growth.
By focusing on the qualities acquirers prize, investors may uncover small caps capable of delivering outsized returns, whether through compounding growth or an eventual buyout.
