Global deal activity plunges by 29.9% YoY in January-April 2023, reveals GlobalData

11 May, 2023 Global deal activity plunges by 29.9% YoY in January-April 2023, reveals GlobalData

Posted in Business Fundamentals

Deal activity in the first four months of 2023 decreased in comparison to the same period in 2022, due to a decline in business activities, an increase in political and economic uncertainty globally, and volatility in financial markets. These factors may have reduced investors' appetite for risk, making them hesitant to invest in new deals. A total of 17,549 deals (comprising merger & acquisitions (M&A), private equity, and venture financing deals) were announced globally during January to April 2023, which was a decline of 29.9% over 25,027 deals announced during the same period in 2022, finds GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: "The current market situation highlights the need for dealmakers to be more strategic in their investments and consider the impact of changing market conditions. Understanding the trends and changes in the market may help them make informed decisions and present opportunities for those looking to make strategic investments."

An analysis of GlobalData's Financial Deals Database revealed that volume for all the deal types (under coverage) witnessed a year-on-year decline during January-April 2023. The number of M&As, private equity, and venture financing deals declined by 21.5%, 36.7%, and 37.5% during January-April 2023 compared to January-April 2022, respectively. This could be attributed to the subdued deal activity experienced across key markets.

North America registered the highest number of deals during January-April 2023, followed by Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, and South and Central America. However, North America saw deals volume declining by 33.9% in the four-month period, compared to January-April 2022. Deals volume for Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East & Africa, and South & Central America regions also declined by 23.6%, 28.3%, 32.4%, and 36.9% year-on-year in January-April 2023, respectively.

Deals volume for the US, China, the UK, Canada, India, Japan, Germany, France, Australia, and South Korea registered a year-on-year decline of 35.3%, 18.2%, 17.7%, 19.8%, 38.5%, 23.4%, 28.2%, 24%, 26.1%, and 42.3% during January-April 2023, respectively.

Bose concludes: "The US accounted for the highest volume of deals during January-April 2023, followed by China, the UK, Canada, India, Japan, Germany, France, Australia, and South Korea. Overall, the data shows a decrease in the volume of deals across all these top markets."