Listed companies led a comeback for global merger & acquisition in the first half of 2024 after last year saw the lowest total in almost a decade.
Global M&A volume grew 17% to $1.6 trillion, with corporate buyers accounting for 73% of announced deal volume, including 20 "megadeals", led of course by US companies.
North American deals reached $864 billion, up 33% from a year ago, contributing 57% of global deals.
US deals includedCapital One Financial Corp's (NYSE:COF)$35.3 billion acquisition of Discover Financial, and ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP, ETR:YCP) agreeing to buy Marathon Oil last month.
European and Middle East volumes grew 33% to US$438 billion, driven by 41 deals above $2 billion, with notable activity in the UK and technology sector, and a rise in buyout activity.
Asia Pacific M&A fell 26%, with China losing its second position worldwide, while delistings and take-private deals rose.
Mergermarket chief Lucinda Guthrie called it an "incredibly exciting" half year for M&A, "with the return of large-cap listed dealmaking, hitting the headlines around the world from the US and UK to Hong Kong and Australia".
"A resurgence in North American dealmaking led to an increase in overall deal volume, as large corporations have capitalized on this period of relative stability to spur growth and address declining share prices."
She said a hot area to watch is Indian telecoms M&A, which is behind a rebound in telco deals across the region.
"With upcoming elections worldwide, sectors with strong global tailwinds are expected to sustain dealmaking activity throughout the rest of the year," Guthrie added.