The first quarter of 2021 saw a string of big-ticket deals in the transportation sector, pushing quarterly deal value to a record high

Highly competitive and liquid markets saw leveraged loan issuance in the US and Europe surge, while activity in Asia-Pacific dipped despite high-profile jumbo deals

Borrowers in the United States, Europe and Asia are tapping buoyant bond markets to extend maturities and refinance existing debt at cheaper rates

Signs of a rebound follow last year's pullback in private equity real estate deals

A string of deals took place in the first quarter as energy firms look to capitalize on offshore wind's potential  

More than any other factor, the energy transition motivates utilities deals worldwide

In Q1 2021, private equity activity reached its highest quarterly value in more than a decade

COVID-19 disruption has had little impact on borrowers' ability to refinance debt and extend loan maturities

SWFs acquired more deals in 2020 as they hunted for stable returns in volatile times

When COVID-19 closed the IPO window at the start of last year, expectations were bleak. But the market fought back and 2020 ended on a high.

As the pandemic continues to overshadow financial markets and the global economy, the following factors will have a major impact on the IPO market in 2021

Early-year highs gave way to a pandemic-driven downturn, which was then followed by a revival in H2

IPO activity ground to a halt following the outbreak of the pandemic, but activity in the second half of the year more than made up for the downturn

As the dust begins to settle, shareholder activists are making a comeback

Opportunities in uncertain times  

Despite encouraging signs that economies could reopen as COVID-19 vaccinations are rolled out, additional waves of infections and extended travel restrictions weigh heavily on the leisure and hospitality industry

Dealmaking is gradually making a comeback in the sector, both as a means to rebuild hard-hit companies and to meet growing consumer demand

General partner-led fund restructurings accounted for the majority of private equity secondaries volume in 2020 as managers sought liquidity in a flat exit market

We highlight the key European M&A trends in the second half of 2020, and provide our insights into the outlook for M&A moving forward.

Financial institutions M&A sector trends: specialty finance/marketplace lending — H2 2020 and outlook for 2021

Financial institutions M&A sector trends: consumer finance — H2 2020 and outlook for 2021

Financial institutions M&A sector trends: stock exchanges/clearing houses/trading venues — H2 2020 and outlook for 2021

Financial institutions M&A sector trends: payments — H2 2020 and outlook for 2021

Financial institutions M&A sector trends: asset/wealth management — H2 2020 and outlook for 2021

The European leveraged finance market remains resilient after a year of unprecedented hardship, as lenders dissect credits to determine the best possible deals, from pricing to documentary terms