“We’re beginning to see signs of recovery and we’re getting some clarity on the types of deals that are likely to get into the pipeline soonest.” 
— Charles Corpening, CIO and Managing Partner, West Lane Partners

Charles Corpening Featured in CNBC Article on U.S. M&A Trends

Montclair, NJ – May 22, 2025. Charles Corpening, Chief Investment Officer of West Lane Partners, was a key contributor to a recent CNBC article examining the current state and future trajectory of U.S. mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity in the wake of shifting federal trade policy.

The article, “Dealmaking rebounds after Trump’s tariffs cut off a budding M&A boom,” explores how early-year momentum in the M&A market was disrupted by newly imposed tariffs, only to regain strength as those tariffs were suspended and market confidence returned.

Corpening, drawing on West Lane’s active engagement in the private equity space, provided insight into how investors are adapting to the volatility. “The trade war has indeed caused a slowdown in the anticipated M&A boom earlier this year, particularly in the second quarter,” he noted, citing rising bond yields and financing costs as contributing headwinds.

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Looking ahead, Corpening anticipates a steady uptick in dealmaking, especially in the special situations space with transactions involving motivated sellers, more flexible terms, and fewer regulatory hurdles. He also highlighted an increase in smaller, strategic deals that are easier to close amid today’s market conditions.

“We’re beginning to see signs of recovery and we’re getting some clarity on the types of deals that are likely to get into the pipeline soonest,” said Corpening. “We anticipate that these earlier transactions will lean toward special situations as the better-performing businesses will wait for more market stability in order to maximize sale price.”

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West Lane Partners continues to monitor the evolving deal landscape and remains focused on identifying and executing on opportunities across market cycles.

Read the full article on CNBC here.