Goldman Sachs: Global M&A Deal Volume This Year Expected to Approach 2021's Record High

Source: Global Market Broadcast

Goldman Sachs President John Waldron said on Thursday that, driven by corporate activity, the scale of mergers and acquisitions this year is expected to approach the record levels seen in 2021.

"We are on track to be close to, or even break, the record set in 2021. Our pipeline is in good shape, and deal activity remains strong," Waldron said at a financial conference in New York. "Interestingly, this is basically a corporately led market."

As the world's leading M&A advisor for over two decades, Goldman Sachs has benefited from a robust rebound in global dealmaking and has participated in several large transactions, including providing advisory services for Unilever's planned merger of its food business with McCormick, a deal that will create a company valued at $65 billion.

According to data from the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG), despite market volatility caused by the Iran war and changes in valuations, these have not hindered corporate M&A activity. The total value of M&A transactions in the first quarter has already exceeded $1.2 trillion, and dealmakers say there are still a large number of deals in the pipeline.

The total value of global M&A transactions in 2021 set a record at $5.8 trillion.

Waldron said the bank remains optimistic about the initial public offering (IPO) market and that the success of some major IPOs could spur more deals.