Deep Impact: Global M&A plummets in 2H22
After the party, comes the hangover. Rising interest rates, surging inflation and war in Europe have given global dealmakers a thumping headache. Worldwide, mergers and acquisitions totalled USD 3.6trn in 2022, down 38.8% from 2021’s record-smashing USD 5.9trn. Compare 2022 with the pre-pandemic five-year average (2015-19) – before the easy-money policies following Covid’s onset supercharged dealmaking in 2H20 and 2021 – then deal value this year is 9.3% lower.