Quality not quantity for M&A

Published in Raconteur’s M&A 2015 Outlook in The Times 

High-value global deals are leading the way in a mergers and acquisitions drive powered by cash-rich corporates, writes Sally Percy

Quality rather than quantity has been the defining global trend in corporate M&A in 2014. According to data from financial information provider Mergermarket, 12,693 transactions had taken place worldwide by the start of November, down from 14,511 for the same period in 2013. In contrast, total deal values have leapt by more than 10 per cent.

This jump in values can be partly attributed to the string of so-called “mega-deals” that have been agreed in 2014. These include the sale of French telecoms giant SFR to cable company Numericable, the merger of US pharmaceutical companies Actavis and Forest Laboratories, and US conglomerate General Electric’s acquisition of the energy business belonging to French rail company Alstom.

Continue Reading…

Comments are closed.