Global M&A deal value touches $1.57 tn in first half of 2014

Merger and acquisition activity across the globe witnessed significant uptrend in the first half of this year with deals worth USD 1.57 trillion and the Asia-Pacific region accounted for one-fifth of the deal value.
During the first six months of this year, the Asia-Pacific region saw the strongest half year on record with deals valued at USD 286.7 billion, deal-tracking firm Mergermarket said.
"The Asia-Pacific region is one reason for the increased levels of global M&A," the report said.
The global average deal size was USD 408.8 million in the first half of this year, the highest half year value since 2001. It was also up 38 per cent since from USD 296.3 million in the first half of 2013.

The inflated average deal size during first six months of this year was largely driven by a surge in mega-deals (deals above USD 10 billion).
There were 18 such mega-deals valued at USD 476.5 billion accounting for 30.3 per cent of global M&A volume.

An area-wise analysis shows that US cornered USD 694.6 billion, Europe USD 453.6 billion and Asia USD 286.7 billion.
Inbound M&A value from other regions during in the first half of 2014 was valued at USD 49.8 billion, the highest valued half-year since the second half of 2010.
The Asia-Pacific's outbound deal value jumped to USD 22.6 billion in Q2, up over a third (36.2 per cent) compared to Q1 2014 but down 24 per cent compared to Q2 2013.

Emerging markets saw the strongest first six months since 2001. A total of USD 279.9 billion worth of deals during H1 2014, registering an increase of 23.4 per cent from H1 2013 (USD 226.8 billion).
Morgan Stanley retained its top spot in the Emerging Markets financial advisors league table by value with USD 27.7 billion worth of deals.