Print this article
Global M&A Reached Third-Highest Value Level Ever In Q3 2014 - Data
Tom Burroughes
10 October 2014
Global merger and acquisition activity – often a major driver of liquidity events that wealth managers need to be aware of – reached the third-highest level on record in the third quarter of this year, according to Mergermarket. The third-quarter figure was 11.7 per cent above 2013’s annual total . Every quarter during 2014 has topped corresponding quarterly values in every other year since 2007. The third quarter’s $877.4 billion-worth of deals was the second highest valued quarter post-2007 after Q2 2014, and up 35.1 per cent compared to Q3 2013. Europe saw the most deals above $10 billion since 2007, and in Asia, where deals are historically smaller, the region saw the most deals above $2 billion on record. Private equity buyout activity in Q3 dropped below $90 billion for the first time this year but the $89.3 billion-worth of deals didn’t hinder the year-to-date value of $277.9 billion surpassing 2013 by 20 per cent.