Speed read: US mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity increases 6 percent to four-year high; European dealmaking falls 25 percent; Asia-Pacific M&A down 16 percent. Healthcare, Technology, Energy & Power and Industrial lead sector activity. Private equity-backed buyouts up 4 percent - strongest year-to-date since financial crisis. Cross-border dealmaking down by a quarter with emerging markets M&A flat. Goldman Sachs maintains top spot for worldwide, US and European M&A advice while Morgan Stanley leads in Asia-Pacific & Japan

Refinitiv reports

Worldwide M&A activity totalled US$3.9 trillion in 2019, down 3 percent from 2018 according to analysis by Refinitiv.

This marks the lowest period for global dealmaking in two years but also the fourth-largest year-to-date for M&A since records began in 1980 and the sixth consecutive year to surpass $3 trillion. By number of deals, worldwide dealmaking fell 6 percent in 2019. Global M&A for deals greater than $10 billion increased 28 percent compared to 2018, topping $1 trillion in deals for the first time since 2015. Fourth quarter 2019 M&A is up 28 percent compared to the same point during the third quarter of 2019.

European dealmaking falls by a quarter

Powered by 15 US domestic M&A deals in the list of top 20 deals in 2019, M&A in the United States hit $1.8 trillion this year, an increase of 6 percent compared to last year and a four-year high. European M&A activity hit $742.1 billion, down 25 percent compared to last year and the slowest period for dealmaking in the region since 2016. Asia Pacific M&A activity totalled $756.8 billion, down 16 percent from 2018 and the slowest period for M&A in the region in five years. Dealmaking in the Africa/Middle East region totalled $160.6 billion, more than double compared to last year and an all-time high.

Healthcare, Technology, Energy & Power and Industrial leads sector activity

Dealmaking targeting the healthcare sector hit $532.5 billion in 2019, up 26 percent compared to 2018. M&A in the technology sector totalled $528.6 billion during 2019, up 4 percent compared to last year. Dealmaking in the energy & power sector accounted for 13 percent of global M&A this year with $501.5 billion of deals announced and down 24 percent compared to 2018 levels. Industrials dealmaking accounted for 12 percent of activity and is up 11 percent compared to a year ago.

Private equity-backed buyouts up 4 percent

Global private equity-backed M&A activity totalled $478.5 billion during 2019, a 4 percent increase compared to last year and the strongest period for global buyouts since 2007. Private equity deals accounted for 12 percent of overall M&A, on par with 2018 levels. Private equity-backed M&A targeting the United States reached $198.9 billion in 2019, an increase of 3 percent compared to 2018 levels. European PE-backed M&A is down 4 percent compared to 2018 levels, while Asia Pacific buyouts have declined 13 percent, compared to a year ago.

Cross-border dealmaking down by a quarter

Cross-border M&A totalled $1.2 trillion during 2019, a 25 percent decrease compared to last year and the slowest period for cross-border deals since 2013 ($723.2 trillion). Cross-border activity accounted for 30 percent of total M&A activity this year, down from 39 percent a year ago. The United States initiated 20 percent of all acquisitions abroad in 2019 with $232.7 billion in deals, while China outbound acquisitions accounted for 4 percent of cross-border activity. M&A involving emerging markets totalled $980.5 billion during 2019, flat compared to a year earlier.

Goldman Sachs maintains top spot

Goldman Sachs maintained the top position for worldwide announced M&A advisory work during 2019, boosted by its top ranking in the United States and Europe. Morgan Stanley took the top spot in Asia-Pacific and Japan. Led by Evercore Partners, Centerview Partners and PJT Partners, 11 independent firms placed among the top 25 global financial advisors during 2019.

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Speed read: US mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity increases 6 percent to four-year high; European dealmaking falls 25 percent; Asia-Pacific M&A down 16 percent. Healthcare, Technology, Energy & Power and Industrial lead sector activity. Private equity-backed buyouts up 4 percent - strongest year-to-date since financial crisis. Cross-border dealmaking down by a quarter with emerging markets M&A flat. Goldman Sachs maintains top spot for worldwide, US and European M&A advice while Morgan Stanley leads in Asia-Pacific & Japan

Refinitiv reports

Worldwide M&A activity totalled US$3.9 trillion in 2019, down 3 percent from 2018 according to analysis by Refinitiv.

This marks the lowest period for global dealmaking in two years but also the fourth-largest year-to-date for M&A since records began in 1980 and the sixth consecutive year to surpass $3 trillion. By number of deals, worldwide dealmaking fell 6 percent in 2019. Global M&A for deals greater than $10 billion increased 28 percent compared to 2018, topping $1 trillion in deals for the first time since 2015. Fourth quarter 2019 M&A is up 28 percent compared to the same point during the third quarter of 2019.

European dealmaking falls by a quarter

Powered by 15 US domestic M&A deals in the list of top 20 deals in 2019, M&A in the United States hit $1.8 trillion this year, an increase of 6 percent compared to last year and a four-year high. European M&A activity hit $742.1 billion, down 25 percent compared to last year and the slowest period for dealmaking in the region since 2016. Asia Pacific M&A activity totalled $756.8 billion, down 16 percent from 2018 and the slowest period for M&A in the region in five years. Dealmaking in the Africa/Middle East region totalled $160.6 billion, more than double compared to last year and an all-time high.

Healthcare, Technology, Energy & Power and Industrial leads sector activity

Dealmaking targeting the healthcare sector hit $532.5 billion in 2019, up 26 percent compared to 2018. M&A in the technology sector totalled $528.6 billion during 2019, up 4 percent compared to last year. Dealmaking in the energy & power sector accounted for 13 percent of global M&A this year with $501.5 billion of deals announced and down 24 percent compared to 2018 levels. Industrials dealmaking accounted for 12 percent of activity and is up 11 percent compared to a year ago.

Private equity-backed buyouts up 4 percent

Global private equity-backed M&A activity totalled $478.5 billion during 2019, a 4 percent increase compared to last year and the strongest period for global buyouts since 2007. Private equity deals accounted for 12 percent of overall M&A, on par with 2018 levels. Private equity-backed M&A targeting the United States reached $198.9 billion in 2019, an increase of 3 percent compared to 2018 levels. European PE-backed M&A is down 4 percent compared to 2018 levels, while Asia Pacific buyouts have declined 13 percent, compared to a year ago.

Cross-border dealmaking down by a quarter

Cross-border M&A totalled $1.2 trillion during 2019, a 25 percent decrease compared to last year and the slowest period for cross-border deals since 2013 ($723.2 trillion). Cross-border activity accounted for 30 percent of total M&A activity this year, down from 39 percent a year ago. The United States initiated 20 percent of all acquisitions abroad in 2019 with $232.7 billion in deals, while China outbound acquisitions accounted for 4 percent of cross-border activity. M&A involving emerging markets totalled $980.5 billion during 2019, flat compared to a year earlier.

Goldman Sachs maintains top spot

Goldman Sachs maintained the top position for worldwide announced M&A advisory work during 2019, boosted by its top ranking in the United States and Europe. Morgan Stanley took the top spot in Asia-Pacific and Japan. Led by Evercore Partners, Centerview Partners and PJT Partners, 11 independent firms placed among the top 25 global financial advisors during 2019.