London, United Kingdom, 1st July 2019: Mergermarket, the leading provider of M&A data and intelligence, has published its Q2 2019 report in which all but one of the ten largest deals all targeted US-based companies, six of which were the result of domestic consolidation. Amid heightened geopolitical risks and rising protectionism, global cross border activity has accounted for just 33% of dealmaking this year, compared to a yearly average of 38.7% since 2010. Worth a combined USD 5.9bn over 43 deals in 1H19, Chinese outbound investment into the US and Europe was particularly subdued, reaching lows not seen since 2009.
The US took its largest ever share of global M&A value during 1H19, with 53.2% (USD 957.3bn in total global deal value). This was as much to do with its own 14.6% increase on last year’s showing as it was the downturn in Europe and Asia –38.8% and 34.2% lower respectively.
Although not reaching 2Q18 record levels (USD 180.1bn), at USD 133.6bn, global private equity buyout value in 2Q19 surpassed that recorded in the previous two quarters (USD 111bn in 4Q18 and USD 111.5bn in 1Q19).
Three mega-buyouts have already been struck in the US so far this year – the same number as for the whole of 2018 – including two large cross-border take-private deals in 2Q19: the USD 14.2bn acquisition fiber networks operator Zayo Group by a EQT/Digital Colony Partners consortium and the USD 10.2bn acquisition of midstream oil and gas pipeline operator Buckeye Partners by Australian IFM Investors.
Beranger Guille, Global Editorial Analytics Director at Mergermarket commented: “Perhaps a sign that de-globalisation forces are starting to permeate corporate strategies, several large companies, sometimes under activist pressure, are using M&A to strengthen their grip on their home markets or focus on their core businesses.”
Goldman Sachs & Co led the financial advisor rankings by value having advised on 158 deals worth USD 699.1bn up 3.4% by value compared to USD 676.0bn in 1H18. Deloitte led the financial advisor rankings by volume having advised on 213 deals worth USD 25.4bn down 60 deals compared to 273 in 1H18.
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz led the legal advisor rankings by value having advised on 31 deals worth USD 442.2bn up 105.4% by value compared to USD 215.3bn in 1H18. Kirkland & Ellis led the legal advisor rankings by volume having advised on 298 deals worth USD 372.0bn down 18 deals compared to 316 in 1H18.
Joele Frank Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher led the PR advisor rankings by value having advised on 82 deals worth USD 398.4bn up 147% by value compared to USD 161.0bn in 1H18. Kekst CNC (Publicis) led the PR advisor rankings by volume having advised on 124 deals worth USD 335.1bn up 33 deals compared to 91 in 1H18.
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