Media Coverage: Sheon Karol Quoted in IndustryWeek on Strategic M&A Outlook

"To buy at a discount, you need to buy at a moment where a product is undervalued, where a product will become more valuable over time." — Sheon Karol, Senior Advisor, West Lane Partners

Montclair, NJ – July 18, 2025 – IndustryWeek recently quoted Sheon Karol, Senior Advisor to West Lane Partners, in its July 14 article, “Despite a Deal Flurry, M&A Watchers Say Activity Set to Slow.” The piece examines the state of M&A in the manufacturing industry and the broader industrial sector following a flurry of transactions in late June.

While some expect activity to slow due to high interest rates and tariff-related uncertainty, others see a market in transition. As the article notes, a potential interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve later this year could lower borrowing costs, prompting private equity firms to bring more holdings to market and unlocking a new wave of deal activity.

Karol shares this cautiously optimistic view, encouraging strong leadership teams to lean into the moment rather than retreat.

“To buy at a discount, you need to buy at a moment where a product is undervalued, where a product will become more valuable over time,” he said, pointing to infrastructure-related businesses and pent-up spending.

His comments reflect West Lane Partners’ long-term perspective and focus on the industrial sector, one of the firm’s four core verticals.

As Karol explains, periods of uncertainty can create rare opportunities for growth-minded investors to acquire high-quality businesses at favorable valuations. Greener pastures lie ahead for those bold enough to act while others hesitate.

Read the full article on IndustryWeek here.