December saw a notable decline in family office M&A transactions, with activity falling by 28% compared to November. However, strategic investments in healthcare technology and digital media platforms increased, signaling long-term sectoral bets among high-net-worth heirs.
- December deal volume fell 28% month-over-month
- Healthcare tech captured 34% of family office deal value
- Digital media and content platforms accounted for 26% of deals
- Five major investments exceeded $75 million each in December
- Real estate and industrial allocations declined to 18% of total activity
Family office deal volume dropped sharply in December 2025, registering a 28% decline from the previous month, according to internal transaction tracking across private equity-linked entities. Despite the overall slowdown, investment patterns revealed a clear pivot toward innovation-driven sectors. Healthcare technology emerged as the top category, accounting for 34% of all deals closed in the month, up from 22% in November. Digital media and content production platforms followed closely, capturing 26% of total transactions. Notable moves included a $120 million acquisition of a mid-tier streaming analytics firm by a New York-based family office portfolio and a minority stake purchase in a biotech diagnostics startup based in Boston, valued at $95 million. These investments reflect a growing emphasis on scalable intellectual property and data-centric models. The shift underscores a broader trend: heirs of ultra-wealthy families are prioritizing assets with defensible moats and recurring revenue potential. While traditional real estate and industrial holdings remained steady in terms of capital allocation, they represented only 18% of December’s deal flow—down from 25% in prior months. This reallocation suggests increasing confidence in tech-enabled service sectors over cyclical or asset-heavy industries. Market observers note that sustained investment in health and media could influence public market trends, particularly as these family-led ventures scale and potentially exit via IPOs or trades. The move also aligns with macroeconomic signals pointing to resilience in consumer-facing digital services despite broader economic headwinds.