M&A Market Volatility: Geopolitical Tensions and Strategic Deals
Deal-making in the UK has hit a decade-low, but strategic megadeals are keeping transaction values steady. Alice and Lewis explore the impact of Trump's tariffs and global conflicts on M&A trends.
In this episode of UK Business Morning, Alice and Lewis discuss the current state of mergers and acquisitions in the UK, where deal-making has fallen to its lowest level in a decade. Despite the drop in the number of deals, transaction values remain stable at $969 billion, driven by large strategic megadeals. Alice and Lewis examine the factors behind this trend, including the uncertainty caused by Donald Trump's 'liberation day' tariffs and geopolitical tensions, particularly following the April 2 announcement of wide-ranging US tariffs and conflicts in the Middle East. They also highlight key transactions such as Cox's $35 billion takeover of Charter Communications, the $33 billion take-private of Toyota Motor's subsidiary, and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company's $24 billion acquisition of Australia's Santos. The conversation explores how economic uncertainty is affecting private equity and why companies are focusing on high-impact deals that move the needle. Join Alice and Lewis as they analyze the evolving M&A landscape and what it might mean for the future of business in the UK and beyond.
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