M&A Explorer | Aggregate global buyout value dipped sharply in the second half of 2022 reverting to pre-pandemic levels—the first three months of 2023, however, have seen an uptick in volume

The US private equity (PE) market in 2022 aligned overall with the broader M&A trend—activity eased off considerably, year-on-year, but remained above historic levels—and like the M&A market at large, it tailed off as the year progressed, but what does this mean for the year ahead?

M&A Explorer | Private equity (PE) deal activity shrinks as buyer and vendor pricing expectations widen and rising interest rates drive significant tightening in acquisition finance markets

M&A Explorer | In line with global M&A, private equity dealmaking experienced a dip in activity during the third quarter  

US deal activity saw an annual decrease in H1 of this year, but remains buoyant compared to pre-pandemic standards

Despite facing economic and regulatory hurdles in H1, PE dealmaking remains resilient, and looks set to reach its second-highest value on record

A host of megadeals bumped up deal value in the sector, but regulatory and economic headwinds remain  

Private equity dealmaking was slow to pick up the pace in Q1, yet activity remained in line with pre-pandemic levels

Transaction values more than doubled year-on-year, as firms deployed ever-larger amounts of dry powder

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

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  

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.

US private equity has rallied following pandemic lockdowns, thanks to adaptations to remote deal processes and record dry powder

Increasing cooperation between global PE players is pushing up price tags  

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

US buyout activity at the top end of the market dropped significantly but exit value held up in 2020

The energy transition and a growing need for efficient digital infrastructure are two trends fueling infrastructure dealmaking in 2020

A series of exit megadeals doubled the value recorded in Q3 2019, while global buyout activity lost momentum, growing more modestly in the third quarter.

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, total buyout volume in the first half of 2020 dropped 23% annually, while value fell 30%—less than half the rate of decline of overall M&A