Nastassia Samal/iStock via Getty Images Merger and acquisition volume is forecast to rise 20%, following a 17% contraction last year, and almost double the 12% predicted in a similar survey in January. "This would represent a return to near pre-pandemic levels of activity, with the number of deals in 2024 only about 4% below the average number of deals in 2017–19," according to EY-Parthenon Deal Barometer report released earlier this month. Through April, there has been a 69% increase in deal value y/y and a 22% increase in deal volume y/y for transactions over $100 million.
Private equity deal volume is forecast to rise 16% y/y, following a 15% contract last year and compared to 13% predicted in January, according to the survey. "While this would still leave deal volumes below the 2021 peak, it would represent a faster pace of growth than the average 9% annual pace from 2010 to 2019," according to the survey. Through April there have been 429 large deals (over $100 million) totaling $657 billion in the U.
S. Technology represented the most with 113 deals totaling $154 billion, followed by life sciences with 72 deals totaling $96 billion and energy with 64 deals totaling $152 billion. Peter Orszag, CEO of M&A advisory and asset management firm Lazard ( NYSE: LAZ ), said that M&A is picking up after a "terrible" year last year and PE deals are starting to perk up a bit.
"Strategics (companies) are back on the playing field and the next stage is for sponsors, private equity, t.
