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Leisure sector saw stronger M&A in H2 than H1 2021

The global leisure sector saw stronger M&A in the second half of 2021 than in the first half. A total of US$76.7 billion in deal activity was recorded in H2, compared to US$54.3 billion in H1. This was in contrast to most sectors which saw deal value drop in the second half compared the first.

Leisure sector saw stronger M&A in H2 than H1 2021
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Latin American M&A reaches record high volume in third quarter

M&A volume in Latin America & the Caribbean reached a quarterly high in Q3 2021. There were 239 transactions in the region over that period, overtaking the 227 deals in the fourth quarter of 2020, the previous record high (since 2006).

Latin American M&A reaches record high volume in third quarter
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Global industrials & chemicals M&A value breaks quarterly record

Total value in global M&A in the industrials and chemicals sector reached US$212.4 billion. This is a new high record for the sector, overtaking the previous value record set in Q1 2019, which recorded US$208.2 billion. The largest transaction of the quarter saw Swedish electric vehicle manufacturer Polestar acquired by special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) Gores Guggenheim.

Global industrials & chemicals M&A value breaks quarterly record
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Domestic US M&A top previous records in just first three quarters

A total of US$1.6 trillion in domestic US M&A value was announced in the first three quarters of 2021. Already, this is more than any full-year period on Mergermarket record (since 2006). The largest transaction of the year so far has been the US$96.2 billion acquisition of Warner Media by Discovery Inc.

Domestic US M&A top previous records in just first three quarters
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The UK is top target for cross-border M&A in Q3 2021

The United Kingdom recorded US$111.3 billion in inbound crossborder value in the third quarter of 2021—more than any other country or territory. The largest deal of the quarter was the acquisition of supermarket chain Morrison’s by US-based private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice for US$14 billion.

The UK is top target for cross-border M&A in Q3 2021
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Leisure sector sets new quarterly value record

Global M&A in the leisure sector set a record for highest quarterly value on Mergermarket record (since 2006) in Q3 of 2021. A total of US$61.1 billion in deal value was registered over the three-month period, topping the previous high of US$56.7 billion in Q4 2006.

Leisure sector sets new quarterly value record
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Western Europe M&A value reaches decade high

A total of US$380.1 billion in M&A value was recorded in Western Europe in the third quarter of 2021, the highest quarterly value in over a decade. The last time value topped this figure was in Q2 2007 which recorded US$545 billion in total value.

Western Europe M&A value reaches decade high
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Australian EMU deal value reaches highest quarterly total on record

The third quarter of 2021 saw US$41 billion of M&A activity in the energy, mining and utilities in Australia. This is far and away the highest quarterly value on Mergermarket record (since 2006)—more than double the US$17.8 billion in total deal value in Q4 2010, the previous high. The largest deal of the quarter was US$13.7 billion acquisition of BHP’s oil and gas business by Woodside Petrole

Australian EMU deal value reaches highest quarterly total on record
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Global real estate M&A value sees second highest value quarter

Real estate M&A value reached US$96.9 billion in quarterly value in Q3 2021. This was the second highest value of any quarter on record (since 2006), just under the US$97.1 billion announced in Q4 2017. The largest deal in Q3 was the proposed acquisition of Deutsche Wohnen by Vonovia for US$29.4 billion.

Global real estate M&A value sees second highest value quarter
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US outbound M&A reaches record high

Total outbound crossborder M&A involving US-based bidders reached a record of US$379.8 billion in the first half of 2021. This is already higher than any annual value total on Mergermarket record (since 2006). The largest of these deals was the acquisition of Singapore-based Grab Holdings by Altimeter Growth, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC).

US outbound M&A reaches record high
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Asian tech M&A value comes to highest total on record

A total of US$121.8 billion worth of deals were announced in the Asia tech sector in the first six months of 2021. This was higher than any annual total on Mergermarket record (since 2006), overtaking the US$109 billion in annual M&A value in 2018.

Asian tech M&A value comes to highest total on record
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Western European M&A volume sets record half-yearly total

There were 4,154 transactions in the first half of 2021 involving targets based in Western Europe. This was more than in any other half-yearly period on Mergermarket record (since 2006). The largest transaction was a merger between UK utilities firms National Grid and Western Power—a deal valued at US$19.8 billion.

Western European M&A volume sets record half-yearly total
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Transportation sector M&A reaches highest ever quarterly value in Q2 2021

The transportation sector has had its best quarter on Mergermarket record (since 2006) in Q2 2021. The sector registered US$58.7 billion in total transaction value. Much of this was due to the largest transaction of the quarter, the US$33.6 billion acquisition of Kansas City Southern by Canadian National Railway.

Transportation sector M&A reaches highest ever quarterly value in Q2 2021
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Software M&A in H1 sets record high value

Software M&A in the first six months of the year came to US$357.8 billion. This is already more than any annual total on Mergermarket record (since 2006). The largest deal of the year so far was the spin-off of WMware by Dell—a deal which values the company at US$52.2 billion.

Software M&A in H1 sets record high value
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Inbound M&A in the Middle East tops previous high

Inbound crossborder deal value in the Middle East topped previous Mergermarket records (since 2006) in H1 2021. A total of US$47.7 billion was agreed in the first half, already more than in any previous annual total. The largest transaction was the US$12.4 billion investment in Saudi Aramco’s pipeline business by a consortium led by EIG Global Energy Partners.

Inbound M&A in the Middle East tops previous high
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Industrials and chemicals value reaches second-highest half-year value on record

The industrials and chemicals sector had the second-best half-year period on Mergermarket record (since 2006) in terms of aggregate transaction value. A total value of US$315 billion was announced in the sector in H1, the highest total of any six-month period aside from the US$319.7 billion announced in H1 2019.

Industrials and chemicals value reaches second-highest half-year value on record
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Megadeals hit highest volume since 2007

There were 47 deals worth US$5 billion or more in the first quarter of 2021, the highest number of any quarter since Q2 2007, which recorded 48 deals in that price range. The largest of these this quarter was the US$31.1 billion acquisition of GE Capital Aviation Services by AerCap Holdings.

Megadeals hit highest volume since 2007
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UK sees highest Q1 value on record

UK M&A value came to US$111.2 billion in the first three months of 2021—the highest of any Q1 period on Mergermarket record (since 2006). The largest deal of the quarter was the US$19.8 billion acquisition of regional utility firm Western Power Distribution by National Grid.

UK sees highest Q1 value on record
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US PE buyout volume hits record high in Q1 2021

There were 478 US private equity buyout deals in the first quarter of 2021—more than in any other quarter on Mergermarket record (since 2006). This was an 11% rise on the previous quarter, the previous record high. The largest transaction of the quarter was the US$9.2 billion acquisition of Extended Stay America, an operator of a chain of apartment hotels, by Blackstone Real Estate Partners and St

US PE buyout volume hits record high in Q1 2021
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Automotive M&A tops decade high in Q1 2021

Global automotive M&A recorded the highest total value of any quarter in over ten years. Q1 2021 saw US$40.8 billion worth of deals in the sector, more than any quarter since Q2 2009 which registered US$52.1 billion in activity. Nearly half of the total value was due to the US$17.6 billion acquisition of electric vehicle firm Atieva (doing business as Lucid Motors) by Churchill Capital Corp IV.

Automotive M&A tops decade high in Q1 2021
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