A combination of SPACs, pent-up demand from pandemic-shocked 2020 and a wave of technology listings drove the IPO market to record highs 

Ambitious decarbonization policies are encouraging dealmaking within the renewables industry, with the sector’s untapped potential too big to ignore  

Governments around the world are tightening their scrutiny of foreign direct investments  

European leveraged finance markets rebounded in the past 12 months, driven  by enthusiastic refinancing activity and a resurgent M&A marketplace, setting the  stage for a healthy year ahead

A flurry of activity saw year-on-year leveraged finance issuance in Europe hit new heights in 2021. Can this pace be maintained in the months ahead? Based on pipeline activity and investor appetite for growth, the answer seems to be: Yes.

From record SPAC IPOs and M&A deal flow to the SEC issuing a variety of pronouncements, last year was one to remember.  

Annual deal value more than doubled 2020’s total to reach all-time high  

Deal value exceeded US$1 trillion in every quarter for the first time in history, in just one example of the record-shattering 2021.  

Logistics, packaging and shipments companies are using M&A to expand their service coverage and future proof.

Heightened interest in medical suppliers, contract research organizations and biotech firms resulted in an impressive year for healthcare dealmaking.

Further developments to Russian foreign investment laws introduce new requirements for investors and simplify regulation in some spheres

A guide to navigating the rules for investing in countries that require foreign direct investment approval

Issuance of leveraged loans and high yield bonds to fund buyouts surged to quarterly highs in 2021 as private equity sponsors raised their investment game

Deal activity in the auto industry has never been higher, as manufacturers look to capitalize on the shift towards electric vehicles  

Despite a spike in energy prices and persistent inflation, year-to-date leveraged loan activity showed substantial gains on 2020 levels  

Global high yield markets paused for breath in Q3 2021, but year-to-date issuance remains ahead of 2020 levels in most regions

After four quarters in a row of exceptionally high PE activity, Q3 2021 has continued the trend, recording the highest value and volume of any third quarter on record  

Despite a drop on the previous quarter, Q3 2021 global M&A value represented the strongest Q3 on Mergermarket record. 

The SPAC phenomenon has spread to Israel, where regulators have laid the foundation for local SPAC IPOs as well  

ESG-linked financing issuance swelled in 2021, with issuers responding to the rapid growth in investor demand for environmental and socially-linked debt issuance

Take private activity reached a decade high in the first half of 2021, fueled by large sums of dry powder and heated competition for assets.

PE is breaking records, notably in the education sector

FPSOs have revolutionized deep-water oil extraction but these technically complex vessels are a fertile ground for uncertainty, spiraling costs and long delays

PE investors stand ready to fund spinoffs of non-core assets as companies refocus for the recovery

Refinancing activity supports a double-digit year-on-year uptick in leveraged loan issuance in the United States and Europe, while mega-deals dominate in the Asia-Pacific region.  

Investors are finding businesses showing resilience

Low interest rates and high levels of liquidity are fueling transformational M&A deals