The Deloitte M&A Index 2016

Key highlights in this edition

·         We’re expecting 2015 to end with over $4 trillion worth of deals making it the highest for deal values since 2007.

·         Cross-border deals are a major feature of this M&A wave. More than $1 trillion worth of cross-border deals have been announced so far this year, of which a third were in the vibrant deal corridor between North America and Europe. New corridors have started emerging between Asia and Europe, led by China and Japan.

·         Companies are committing to deliver annualized cost synergies that represent, on average, 3-4% of the transaction value. If all announced cost synergies are realized and sustained, they could add an estimated $1.5-1.9 trillion to the value of these companies. We can assume that delivering these synergies will be high on boardroom agendas.

·         As record-breaking 2015 closes, concerns over global growth are back, along with divergence in economic and monetary policies. Looking ahead, such divergence will create M&A opportunities and define deal making in 2016.