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Global M&A Insights: New challenges, new opportunities

Our H1 report charts the continued recovery in transactions across regions and sectors, the areas likely to be increasingly busy, including hydrogen investments and large carve-out deals, and asks what’s next for special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs)?

Report highlights

H1 worldwide value shows extraordinary M&A growth in almost all regions and sectors
Hints of tighter regulation and cooling of equity markets cause a sudden slowdown in the number of SPACs formed
Changed work culture raises M&A challenges for employers and acquirers
Hydrogen-related M&A activity rises globally
Innovation sparks a forceful resurgence in MedTech transactions
Indonesia eases its traditionally tough restrictions on foreign direct investment (FDI) controls, bucking global trends
Carve-out and spin-off deals likely to increase as companies reorganise

131%
increase in worldwide deal value
29%
increase in worldwide deal volume
108%
increase in USD10bn+ megadeals
95%
increase in worldwide value of cross-border deals

Hydrogen is emerging as a credible alternative to fossil fuels in a wide variety of applications and markets. Listen to Goran Galic on the growing number of joint ventures in green hydrogen. Podcast length: 09:24.

Global deal flows

Deal value climbs sharply across almost all global regions

The recovery in the global M&A market, which began last summer, has continued apace in the first half of 2021, and shows no immediate sign of abating.

Indonesia eases foreign direct investment controls

Indonesia is relaxing its traditionally tough restrictions on FDI in a number of key sectors, bucking a global trend towards tighter FDI controls.

Carve-out deals likely to increase after Covid-19

As companies look to boost competitiveness, profits and shareholder value, we anticipate a sharp increase in corporate reorganisations, with carve-outs and spin-off deals on the rise.

M&A analysis by sector

Pandemic-resilient sectors soar, led by TMT and healthcare deals

The value of telecoms, media and technology (TMT) and healthcare transactions soared in the first half of 2021. Other sectors achieved growth, but at a slower pace.

A rise in hydrogen-related M&A activity globally

Green hydrogen finally looks to be coming of age as an alternative to fossil fuels, sparking a growing number of production and technology joint ventures.

Innovation and search for growth spark MedTech rebound

After a lull in deal activity this time last year, the first quarter of 2021 was the busiest for MedTech M&A for nearly five years, with further consolidation expected.