BCG has published a mergers and acquisitions report—covering M&A activity by year, the state of the M&A market, and perspectives on deal-making trends—annually since 2003. Explore the full series, including the latest BCG M&A report.
For many companies, creating value from mergers and acquisitions has been an elusive goal. BCG has long studied M&A activity by year to understand evolving trends and to identify what the activity means for value creation in the short and long terms.
Since 2003, our annual M&A report has presented analyses of buy-side and sell-side transactions based on our BCG M&A database, now comprising more than 900,000 deals dating back to 1980. This year’s report examines the bold buy-side and sell-side strategies that expert dealmakers are applying in response to capital scarcity and market volatility. Collectively, our M&A reports offer a longitudinal view of the market’s evolution and of how successful dealmakers create value.
The dashboard enables you to track corporate divestiture activity easily. Explore divestment patterns across different industries, regions, and buyer types. See how these deals have evolved, with a notable decrease in corporate divestitures yet a surge in acquisitions by PE firms in recent years. You can also view all M&A activity by year in our comprehensive M&A analysis. The takeaway: We expect increased scrutiny of capital deployment to promote divestitures going forward, reversing the recent decline.
This year’s report has four chapters. It begins by discussing ten lessons that stand out as consistently crucial for M&A success. Then, BCG's M&A experts explore current M&A activity—globally and regionally—and reveal how successful dealmakers create value amid capital scarcity and market volatility.
A number of success factors have withstood the test of time, proving to be as significant in our updated analyses as when we first identified them.
M&A activity is rebounding after hitting a low point early this year. Sustainability, digitization, and capital scarcity are leading factors shaping the dealmaking outlook.
BCG experts in six regions discuss the state of play in their M&A market and share insights about near-term deal drivers.
Expert dealmakers persist through tough times, seeking bargains or planning divestitures. Our research and experience point to alternative dealmaking approaches that enhance flexibility.
Since our first annual M&A report in 2003, we have complemented our analyses of M&A activity and trends with strategic insights into how companies can create value from mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. The reports have covered a broad range of macroeconomic environments and industry perspectives, focusing on both traditional and alternative deal types. Across the reports, our analyses pinpoint what infrequent dealmakers can learn from their more experienced counterparts’ success.
Corporate and financial acquirers are pursuing M&A targets more cautiously, but they have not closed shop.
Many companies are eyeing divestitures in the current environment. Are they likely to create value? What is the best path to success?
Companies are increasingly turning to innovative approaches to corporate collaboration to meet the challenges of the current crisis and adapt to disruptive megatrends.
Success requires careful preparation, thorough execution, and, especially, bold decision making in uncertain times.
The authors of our annual mergers and acquisitions reports examine M&A activity by year to spotlight trends and opportunities. Meet some of our M&A experts.
During the first nine months of 2023, BCG’s Transaction Center conducted the research that underpins BCG’s 2023 M&A Report.
The authors are grateful for the support provided by Paderborn University.
