Despite headwinds blowing in the face of the Chinese economy in 2021 – including a major downturn in the real estate market, continued, if sporadic, COVID outbreaks and falling retail sales and consumer confidence – the M&A market withstood the buffeting.

After the economic dislocation of the pandemic, an acceleration in shareholder activism is on the horizon, according to a new report published by Skadden in association with Activistmonitor and Mergermarket.

After the devastating impact of Covid-19 in 2020, Latin America, and especially Brazil, saw a major resurgence in the M&A market in 2021, with a seven-fold rise in value.

Iberian M&A turns around in 2021 as corporates and private equity alike return to the peninsula

The DACH region handled the worst of the pandemic with a welcome sense of composure. Well-run public healthcare and a generally high rate of trust in government helped curtail the direst consequences of the crisis, especially in Germany, the region’s key economy.

Post-pandemic, the region has been slower to recuperate than others. But this has not discouraged global buyers from seeking out tempting high-growth assets

Assets in China and Hong Kong are garnering attention from domestic players with an eye to growth and consolidation, while international dealmakers hunt for regional footholds

The region’s long-standing resilience in the face of crisis and promise of a robust return to growth sees buyers from far and wide targeting valuable DACH assets

Hard-hit by the COVID-19 crisis, Spain and Portugal are showing signs of recovery, underpinned by international interest and high-growth, innovative segments of the energy sector

The future looks promising for a region replete with attractive technology assets, a burgeoning domestic PE scene, and a deserved reputation for staying composed in difficult times

The pandemic, Brexit and political uncertainty hit the UK hard in 2020 but the M&A market has remained resilient throughout with the remainder of 2021 looking particularly robust

M&A in the Benelux region has made a major comeback in 2021 and the remain of the year looks very promising with the energy sector a potential hotspot

Dealmakers: Mid-market M&A in Australia 1H21 market update, published in association with Pitcher Partners, dives into the trends and challenges shaping Australian M&A and the mid-market as dealmakers prepare for a promising second half of 2021.

Poland, private equity and the potential within the technology sector are driving dealmaking in the region and the prospects for the rest of 2021 and beyond look bright

Global dealmakers series 2021 - Deal breakers and opportunity makers: The rise of ESG in M&A, published in association with Baker Tilly International, dives into the trends around ESG priorities and opportunities as the world emerges from the depths of the pandemic.

A survey of 50 investment funds, pension funds, investment banks and sponsors reveals that investors are more focused on ESG issues than ever before

While COVID-19 adversely affected almost all sectors in 2020, one industry not only survived but thrived. And, according to our survey with Wolf Theiss, that sector is going to flourish again in 2021 and beyond

As and when the pandemic subsides, private equity and corporates will be in competition for the most prized assets in the region. But our survey with Wolf Theiss reveals that their outlooks, attitudes and strategies are, at times, very different.

Having spent the past year navigating significant headwinds, a recovery is anticipated for the Ukrainian M&A market in 2021

The region has weathered the COVID-19 storm better than most and while the pandemic is by no means over, our exclusive survey conducted with Wolf Theiss reveals that dealmakers are already looking at opportunities.

Even if vaccines and careful management are efficient in halting the pandemic, the economic aftermath could provide unique challenges to dealmakers – and that is on top of the usual obstacles to M&A.

Rules, regulations and risk can all be barriers to smooth running of transactions, and new legislation could make life even more challenging for dealmakers.

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues are no longer just a trend – they are fast becoming a mainstream part of the M&A process. And their importance is growing exponentially, according to our survey with Wolf Theiss.

Despite the pandemic, and, in some cases, because of it, M&A in the technology, media and telecommunications (TMT) sector has flourished. According to our survey with Wolf Theiss, it will continue to do so.

While the pandemic hit deal volume in the sector, value increased on the back of a lucrative banking deal in Hungary. Meanwhile our survey with Wolf Theiss shows optimism for post-COVID dealmaking.

The financial crisis saw banks retreat and private lenders emerge. In the years since, this once-nascent trend has become increasingly mainstream. And our survey with Wolf Theiss reveals that private backing for deals in CEE is only going to grow.

Three big deals and an increase in value covered up a big dip in M&A volume in the real estate and construction sector. And the outlook for the industry is very mixed, according to our survey with Wolf Theiss.

In Wolf Theiss' series focusing on key markets in the CEE/SEE, we shine a light on Hungary.

In Wolf Theiss' series focusing on key markets in the CEE/SEE, we explore Romania, which is ripe for an M&A revival.

The global pandemic, ageing populations and the burgeoning biotech subsector mean that the pharmaceuticals, medical and biotech (PMB) sector is set to see robust M&A activity in 2021.

European non-performing loan trends in a post-COVID-19 world

Pension funds and institutional investors are demanding better ESG reporting and compliance from infrastructure funds as asset performance data grows. An Inframation survey on the topic last month finds out how they are coping. Colin Leopold reports

Infrastructure fund managers have seen investment values plummet in the safest part of their portfolio, while value-add strategies have outperformed. They are also expanding investment teams and staring through a battered global economy, reports Colin Leopold

In Wolf Theiss' series focusing on key markets in the CEE/SEE, we look at the Czech Republic, where dealmaking was relatively stable despite the pandemic.

Despite, the pandemic hitting volume, the biggest deal in the region saw value in industrials and chemicals M&A rise significantly.

• Cross-border activity makes strong return with USD 516.6bn recorded in 1Q21
• US reaches highest global market share in 14 years
• SPACs help IPO activity surge to USD 200.9bn in 1Q21
• PE sponsors deployment amounts to USD 683.5bn since 3Q20

In Wolf Theiss' series focusing on key markets in the CEE/SEE, we turn our attention to Austria, which saw an upturn in its dealmaking fortunes in 2020.

The dealmaking climate in the energy, mining and utilities (EMU) sector in 2020 was distinctly gloomy, and the outlook for the coming year is mixed, according to our survey with Wolf Theiss.

In Wolf Theiss' series focusing on key markets in the CEE/SEE, we turn our attention to Poland, the largest economy in the region.

Lockdowns and a lack of discretionary spending hit M&A hard last year, but vaccines and distressed deals promise a brighter 2021.

Dealmakers pushed deal totals to new heights in H2 2020, setting the stage for a potentially robust year ahead

Survey of 100 global investors shows sentiment is robustly positive even through a year of pandemic and market uncertainties

Our survey conducted with Wolf Theiss reveals that dealmakers are cautiously optimistic about post-pandemic prospects for M&A in the region with new opportunities emerging. But challenges still lie ahead.

Despite the pandemic, an economic downturn and restrictions on both the general public and dealmakers, deal value in 2020 in CEE/SEE increased year on year. And our exclusive survey with Wolf Theiss reveals growing levels of optimism for the year ahead

Following a surge in activism in the second half of 2020, heightened activity looks set to continue well into 2021, according to a new report published by Skadden in association with Activistmonitor. 

M&A professionals need to consider cybersecurity risks as they execute deals, according to experts speaking at Mergermarket's Global M&A Conversation.

Mergermarket is pleased to present the Baltic M&A Monitor, in association with Ellex. This report provides analysis of M&A activity in 2020 in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, along with forecasts for the year ahead.

Mergermarket is pleased to present Dealmakers: Mid-market M&A in Australia 2021, published in association with Pitcher Partners.

Stream all of the sessions from Mergermarket's Global M&A Conversation 2021 here.

The latest report from Debtwire Par and Mergermarket reviews the key trends from LBO financing in Western European markets from 2020.

The impact of the coronavirus crisis in 2020 led to subdued M&A activity in the first half, but dealmakers reached unprecedented levels of deal making in the final few months of the year. 

Energy, technology, food to buck trend as more all-Dutch deals expected due to travel limits

Large listed companies explore disposals and M&A, as investors with dry powder do homework on targets ahead of FY results. 

Mergermarket’s Central & Eastern European (CEE) trendspotter expects digital economy, energy and healthcare sectors to do well, with strong levels of private-equity driven M&A look set to continue.

Positive momentum across MENA’s M&A landscape is expected to continue next year, with technology touted to be the hottest play along with distressed sales, sustaining the recovery in 4Q20, dealmakers have told this news service.

M&A activity up 11.2% despite pandemic as liquidity returns in abundance. 

Mergermarket’s UK Trendspotter reveals M&A deal count slumps to lowest since 2010, mid-market TMT are primed for consolidation crusade and corporate carveouts to remain centre stage.

Deteriorating economy could accelerate dealmaking in France in the short term, with strong PE activity to be sustained by robust Healthcare pipeline

Mergermarket’s Germany, Austria & Switzerland (DACH) Trendspotter reveals activity down at EUR 120.37bn and 961 deals amid pandemic uncertainty in 2020.  

Congratulations to the winners of the Mergermarket Europe M&A Awards 2020.

As political pressure on traditional lenders continues to grow the oil and gas sector is having to get creative with financing sources. What’s the current state of this vital part of the M&A equation, and how will that change over the rest of the year? Investors from both sides of the table get together to discuss the challenges and solutions for oil and gas companies looking to access the debt capital markets. 

The pandemic brought dealmaking to a halt for much of 2020. But there are signs of a recovery and a new report by Ansarada and Acuris reveals optimism is growing for 2021.

Following another period of lacklustre private equity exits in Q3, Europe saw a spike in divestments by buyout houses in October with momentum so far holding up in November, our data shows.

At the beginning of 2020, the signs for M&A in Portugal were positive – there was a strong pipeline of deals from both strategic and private equity players and expectations were high. Then the pandemic hit.

FDI scrutiny has seen many new developments in the last months, said Roberto Chieppa, Secretary General of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers. The official was speaking at Mergermarket’s Italian M&A and Private Equity Forum, held virtually.

First to feel the pains of COVID-19, Asia-Pacific may be one of the first regions to rebound in a post-pandemic world. Such is the sentiment among M&A dealmakers in the region. Read the full report with Baker Tilly here. 

Uncertainty and volatility will weigh heavily on market sentiment. Dealmakers are cautious and readying themselves for a difficult and challenging period ahead.

Business cycles are guaranteed, but few anticipated the global recession precipitated by a viral pandemic that sent the world into lockdown. Italy was the first country in Europe to be hit by the pandemic and has been on of the worst affected. Consequently, buyout activity and M&A more broadly took a significant hit. Read the full report published in partnership with Gatti Pavesi Bianchi here. 

Dealmaker sentiment has shifted in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, many remain optimistic that economic conditions in Australia will be better than those in other global markets. Download the full report here. 

The European Commission has forecast an 8.7% contraction in the region's economy for 2020. Read the full European Deal Drivers report here. 

1H20 deal count falls to 165 transactions across the region

Inevitably, M&A activity was heavily impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic that had such dramatic effects on markets worldwide during the first half of 2020. Download the Deal Drivers Americas report here. 

Southeast Asia is expected to begin to bounce back in 1H21 - in the best-case scenario that a vaccine will be rolled out next year - with deal activity picking up, especially industrial and technology deals.

Number of acquisitions by sponsors falls 28% with value down 12%

Mid-cap sponsor deals keep deal flame alive in lockdown months

Outbound deal flow overtakes inbound; bilateral and targeted processes rising trends in Norway

Fashion, retail and automotive sectors poised to be the most active