Refinitiv: Global M&A pushes past US$3 trillion to fourth highest YTD total on record

Refinitiv: Global M&A pushes past US$3 trillion to fourth highest YTD total on record

M&A
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Lucille Jones, Deals Intelligence Analyst at Refinitiv, comments: “Worldwide announced M&A totals US$3.03 trillion so far during 2019.  Despite a 12% decline from this time last year, the value of M&A registered so far this year is the fourth highest year-to-date total since our records began in the 1970s.”

Deals with a combined value of US$210.2 billion have been recorded globally during the month of October 2019, taking the 2019 total to US$3.03 trillion so far.  Nine mega deals (>$5b) were recorded in October, taking this year’s tally to 79, down from 102 at this time last year.  The combined value of these mega deals is US$1.3 trillion, accounting for 43% of this year’s total M&A, the highest share since 2015.

Deals involving a US target totalled US$83.5 billion during October 2019, bouncing back after a slow September and taking the current 2019 total to US$1.48 trillion.  Despite a 1% decline from last year, US M&A accounts for 49% of global activity by value, the highest share year-to-date since 2000.

European M&A totalled US$44.6 billion during October 2019, the lowest monthly total since February this year. So far this year, European M&A totals US$580.2 billion, 34% less than last year and a three-year low.

Deals involving targets in Asia-Pacific totalled US$38.2 billion during October 2019, the lowest monthly total since February 2017. So far this year, Asia-Pacific M&A totals US$567.6 billion, 22% less than last year and a five-year low.

Deals involving a UK target totalled US$22.0 billion, taking the 2019 total to US$163.8 billion. While 20% less than the value recorded at this time last year, it is the third highest year-to-date total in the last decade.