Number of M&A deals globally 1985-2021

Over one million merger and acquisition (M&A) deals have been completed globally over the past 35 years. 2020 was the worst year in terms of the number of deals completed since 2014, and 10,000 deals were closed in the first four months of 2021. Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, and Morgan Stanley advised on the largest number of deals.

How has the value of M&A deals varied over the years?

The value of M&A deals worldwide fluctuated greatly since 1985. A peak value of approximately 4.9 billion U.S. dollars was reached in 2007. Since then, annual deal values have risen and fallen sporadically. In 2015, a value close to the peak value of the time period was reached, after which deal values gradually declined. In 2020, M&A deal value reached approximately 2.8 billion U.S. dollars – similar to the value in 2005.

How did the world’s leading financial advisor perform in 2020?

In 2020, Goldman Sachs was the leading M&A financial advisor both in terms of the value of M&A deals , and also in terms of the number of deals in 2020. While Goldman Sachs dominated the M&A scene in terms of deal volume and value, JP Morgan surpassed them as the world’s leading bank in terms of revenue from investment banking.