Mergermarket, an Acuris company, have released their H1 2017 Global M&A Trend Report. According the the report, global M&A in the first half of the year has seen an 8.4% increase by value despite 1,117 fewer deals on the same period last year. H1 2017 recorded US$ 1.49tn across 8,052 deals, compared to US$ 1.38tn with 9,169 deals. According to Mergermarket intelligence, companies have been ‘future-proofing’ in the wake of rapid changes to technology and politics to keep ahead of rivals. There have been 17 megadeals (> US$ 10bn) announced since the beginning of the year, versus 14 such deals in H1 2016.
Highlights of the report include:
– European M&A has surged ahead, securing 32.3% share of the global value. Both the US (US$ 602.6bn, 2,446 deals) and Asia Pacific (exc. Japan) (US$ 272.9bn, 1,585 deals) saw their share drop to 40.4% and 18.3% from 42.8% and 21.3% respectively.
– The Energy, Mining & Utilities sector has been the most targeted industry globally by value with US$ 267.9bn across 662 deals.
– With an abundance of ‘dry powder’ at hand, private equity has had a stellar year. Buyouts are up 26.7% by value to US$ 240bn (1,420 deals) on this time last year and exits are up 19.4% to US$ 253.5bn (1,106 deals).
Goldman Sachs led the financial advisor league tables, having advised on 148 deals worth US$ 417.5bn.
British American Tobacco Plc’s acquisition of Reynolds American Inc was the largest deal of H1 worth US$ 60.7bn.
Click here to access the full report with financial advisor league tables.
Click here to access the full report with legal advisor league tables.