M&A At A Glance (December)

After steady increases in U.S. M&A deal values since May, November saw a decline in aggregate U.S. deal value of 30%, led primarily by declines in strategic deal value, as well as in the number of transactions, which decreased by 19%. Global declines were less marked; in fact, sponsor deal values increased by 14%.

Key Takeaways

• After steady increases in US M&A deal values since May, November saw a decline in aggregate US deal value of 30%, led primarily by declines in strategic deal value, as well as in the number of transactions, which decreased by 19%. Global declines were less marked; in fact, sponsor deal values increased by 14%.
• Crossborder activity was mixed, with a 9% increase in the number of inbound US deals and a whopping 452% increase in US outbound deal value (largely driven by S&P Global's $43.2 billion acquisition of HIS Markit Ltd). Total inbound US deal values decreased by 34% however and outbound US deal counts decreased by 10%.