Our thinking

Ahead of the pack: US M&A 2019

What's inside

While global M&A fell in 2019, the US forged ahead, maintaining its year-on-year value and taking a greater share of the global deal market

Foreword

Despite a fall in overall global dealmaking, M&A in the US has proved resilient, as megadeals and domestic activity boost the market

It has been a busy year for M&A involving US companies. While global deal value dropped compared to 2018, the US maintained its year-on-year total and took a greater share of the overall deal market. 

Confidence in the US economy and the opportunities it offers companies for growth and investment led to a market driven by megadeals (valued at US$5 billion or more), with the life sciences and TMT sectors leading the way. Indeed, a full 58 percent of the US$1.5 trillion worth of deals involving US companies qualified as megadeals, up from 47 percent in 2018. And nine of the top ten deals for 2019 were domestic, suggesting that US corporate executives see plenty of opportunity in their home market.

Last year was also characterized by a growing breadth of M&A market participants. Private equity (PE) remained active, buoyed by strong fundraising and high liquidity in the debt markets. Family offices continued their expansion into direct deals. And sovereign wealth funds, many of which had pulled back from direct investing, returned to M&A markets, with the US as a target.

Rising stock markets and competition for deals led to further increases in company valuations in both public and, in particular, private markets. Many corporates opted for deals involving stock consideration to mitigate high pricing, while PE players sought smaller platforms through which to execute buy-and -build strategies as well as hunting opportunity in taking public companies private. These trends suggest that dealmakers are proceeding with confidence but also caution when it comes to pricing. 

Talk of a downturn has been muted somewhat as we head into 2020—at least regarding the first half of the year. Economic growth will settle at 2.1 percent, according to the Conference Board. Unemployment is predicted to remain low, and financing for deals will continue to be widely available and low cost. However, with a presidential election in November, as well as ongoing headwinds such as trade wars and unrest in the Middle East, there is no room for complacency.

US dealmakers steer a steady path through global headwinds

As the rest of the world backed away from the deal table, confident US corporates continued buying businesses—especially in the life sciences and TMT sectors, and particularly in the domestic market.

Currency

Private equity stands its ground in 2019

In line with the wider US M&A markets, PE deals held firm through 2019 with 1,329 buyouts, worth US$208 billion, representing a decline of 9 percent by volume, but just a 4 percent fall by value relative to 2018.

New York City

Sector watch

Sector overview: Tech and healthcare take the top spots

In terms of value, the technology and healthcare sectors—separately and, sometimes, in tandem—have ruled the M&A markets in 2019. Meanwhile, the consumer industry faced tough times—though there could be a rebound in 2020.

Microscope

SaaS, cashless and convergence drive tech to the top

Technology continued to be among the most active subsectors for US M&A in 2019, with 1,138 deals announced worth a total of US$206 billion. This represents a marginal decrease of 3 percent in volume and 7 percent in value compared to 2018 activity.

Circuit board

Consumer deals fall but disruption may be a driver

Restructurings and uncertainty are hitting the US consumer sector. Retail M&A deal volume dropped 11 percent year-on-year to 459 deals, while deal value dropped 36 percent to US$76.87 billion.

Shopping Trollies

Real estate deals build on very solid foundations

The trend for megadeals in US real estate continued in 2019, with 38 transactions in the sector, worth a total US$56.6 billion—but overall deal volume was down 17 percent and deal value fell 25 percent year-on-year.

Fire escapes

Biotech boosts US healthcare M&A in 2019

The healthcare sector (incorporating pharma, medical and biotech) has seen M&A valued at US$256.5 billion across 645 deals in 2019. This is a decrease of 9 percent by volume, but an increase of 121 percent by value.

Pills

Pricing and pull backs affect oil & gas M&A in 2019

M&A in the US oil & gas sector slowed in 2019, with 190 deals worth US$158 billion, down 38 percent in volume and 45 percent in value, mirroring steep declines in global M&A in the industry.

Oil Fields

In Focus

Sustainability is an increasing focus for global M&A

Dealmakers are placing more emphasis on sustainability in the context of their investment practices. This is occurring despite a lack of US federal regulation on companies’ sustainability reporting.

Offshore Wind Turbine

Key dealmaking decisions from Delaware and New York

We focus on two H2 2019 rulings that could affect M&A transactions in the future.

New York Court House

Conclusion

Five trends that could move the M&A needle in 2020

After a solid 2019, the foundations are in place for a strong start to the M&A year in 2020. The following factors are likely to heavily influence the market in the months ahead.

Wall Street

Meet our Partners

Global M&A Leaders

John Reiss

John Reiss
Partner, New York

Gregory Pryor

Gregory Pryor
Partner, New York

Chang-Do Gong

Chang-Do Gong
Partner, New York

Darragh Byrne

Darragh Byrne
Partner, Frankfurt, Stockholm

John Cunningham

John Cunningham
Partner, London

Alexandre Ippolito

Alexandre Ippolito
Partner, Paris

Allan Taylor

Allan Taylor
Partner, London

Baldwin Cheng

Baldwin Cheng
Partner, Hong Kong SAR

Offshore Wind Turbine

Sustainability is an increasing focus for global M&A

Dealmakers are placing more emphasis on sustainability in the context of their investment practices. This is occurring despite a lack of US federal regulation on companies' sustainability reporting.

Insight
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3 min read

For decades, those who acquire, sell, finance or operate facilities have considered how environmental issues can impact their businesses. However, the evaluation of sustainability in the context of an M&A transaction differs from how environmental issues have historically been considered in deals. 

The evaluation of sustainability in the context of an M&A transaction differs from how environmental issues have historically been considered in deals

A sustainability assessment not only looks at tangible and quantifiable risks, such as subsurface contamination or compliance with laws related to air and water pollution. Instead, it also goes further and looks at harder-to-quantify risks and opportunities, such as whether a business involved in an M&A deal is managing the environmental impacts of its operations and products to both achieve compliance with laws and deliver value, and how climate change will affect a business due to extreme weather events, water scarcity, or vulnerability of the supply chain.  

Buyers and sellers should be aware of the range of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting regimes that can guide the external presentation of sustainability risks and opportunities in the context of a deal. The Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) and Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) are prominent regimes, particularly in light of BlackRock's recent letter to portfolio companies that focused on the importance of climate change and sustainability in BlackRock's investments. It asked companies in which it invests to provide sustainability disclosure in line with SASB guidelines, as well as climate-related disclosure in line with TCFD's recommendations. 

Other voluntary reporting and sustainability evaluation frameworks include the Global Reporting Initiative Standards and Guide on Climate Change for Private Equity Investors. There are also third-party raters like the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and Bloomberg ESG Data that analyze company sustainability data, provide ESG ratings, and summarize businesses' relevant risks and opportunities. 

Buyers and sellers, in environmentally sensitive industries in particular, can also work with outside advisors to prepare sustainability reports for the purpose of an M&A transaction much like environmental engineers have been utilized for decades to prepare phase I reports to identify hazardous substances at properties involved in M&A transactions. 

Despite the increased focus in the private sector on sustainability, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has avoided the topic since issuing guidance on climate-related risk disclosure in 2010. Nevertheless, information disclosed in voluntary sustainability reports must be accurate and consistent, as the SEC and other regulators may compare information voluntarily provided with information disclosed in SEC filings or other public documents. Going forward, public and private companies should consider whether a company's sustainability practices can be presented externally, or whether existing disclosure can be enhanced, in a manner that is consistent with what investors are looking for, considering sustainability as a means of improving a company's profile in the event of an M&A deal.

This publication is provided for your convenience and does not constitute legal advice. This publication is protected by copyright.
© 2020 White & Case LLP

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