Can M&A Bounce Back in 2024? Second Half of 2024 Points to a Mixed Recovery for M&A
BCG’s New M&A Sentiment Index Indicates a Stable Global M&A Market Over the Next Six MonthsBased on Market Indicators and GenAI-Backed Analysis of Executive and Investor Sentiment, the Index Will Provide Monthly Insights into Where the M&A Market Is HeadedCurrent Momentum Is Strongest in Europe; Dealmakers in the Americas Appear More Cautious After a Strong Turn of the Year; Dealmakers in Asia-Pacific Seem Reluctant to Pursue Transactions, as M&A Activity in the Region Hits a Decade LowAcross Sectors, Energy Is the Bright Spot for the Remainder of 2024BOSTON—The M&A market has been slightly more active in the first half of 2024 than in the first six months of 2023, but its recovery from last year’s trough has been slower than many anticipated. The global value of M&A activity in the first half of 2024 was $1.0 trillion, well below the ten-year average of $1.5 trillion, according to a new article from Boston Consulting Group (BCG). What’s more, BCG’s newly launched M&A Sentiment Index reveals that momentum is not yet accelerating in all industries and sectors—though dealmakers appear to be more optimistic now than during the previous 24 months.