How to identify strategic activity

When doing initial research on an industry, what are good resources or methods for determining private equity and strategic acquirer M&A activity?

Is it, essentially; talk to intermediaries and lenders and ask them who's doing deals, when, & what the speed and level of interest is like?

Are there public records or disclosures one can check to catch signals?

I feel like information dissymmetry here creates a lot of advantages. Knowing that "interest from larger buyers occurs at $2M in EBITDA and major expansion at $5M+" can be incredible important to strategy, especially if you are paying a higher multiple.