M&A Index, H1 2016 — Taking stock of a changed world

By Allen & Overy

The complete report, which was published in third quarter 2016, can be found online at https://www.allenovery.com/

Synopsis: Global merger and acquisition activity was depressed in the first half of 2016 due to economic and political uncertainties, note Allen & Overy. Concern over the Brexit vote, growth in China, the U.S. presidential election, the direction of interest rate policy, commodity and oil pricing, and unrest in the Middle East, all weighed on transaction decision-making.

“M&A markets usually falter at times of uncertainty and we believe the U.K.’s shock vote to leave the European Union, with all the economic and political upheaval it will cause, will significantly depress transaction activity in the months ahead,” notes the report. “We do not expect M&A markets to dry up in the coming months, h