Global M&A rockets to nearly $5T in 2021
Global M&A flourished in 2021, as the unprecedented depth, breadth and velocity of the market sent total deal value past $4.9 trillion. The growing number of public companies, which are more acquisitive than their private counterparts, reverses a nearly 20-year trend and bodes well for future M&A activity.
Our 2021 Annual Global M&A Report, sponsored by Liberty GTS, breaks down the trends driving last year's records and explores the headwinds that might shape the market in the months to come.
Key takeaways
- Economic resurgence paved the way for record activity in both North America and Europe, with aggregate deal value at $2.8 trillion and $1.8 trillion, respectively.
- Healthcare M&A activity continued its multiyear growth trajectory, with the sector's largest deals underscoring the shift of healthcare IT toward cloud integration.
- Despite the sustained recovery in oil prices, energy dealmaking recovered only modestly, as the industry grappled with factors such as fuel shortages and the global energy transition.
- Tech ended the year at a frenetic pace, with deal value up more than 50% over 2020, yet looming regulatory scrutiny could complicate future dealmaking in the industry.
This report was sponsored by Liberty GTS.
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Table of contents
Executive summary |
2 |
Overview |
4 |
Liberty GTS: Emerging Trends |
8 |
European M&A |
10 |
Business products & services |
12 |
Consumer products & services |
13 |
Energy |
14 |
Financial services |
15 |
Healthcare |
16 |
Information technology |
17 |
Materials & resources |
18 |