According to a recent S&P Global Market Intelligence analysis, U.S. financial services M&A activity increased in 2020 in terms of deal volume, despite the uncertainties surrounding COVID-19. In total, 2020 saw 420 whole-company and minority stake deals announced compared to 396 deals in 2019.
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Key highlights from the analysis include:
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- Despite the uptick in deal volume year over year, 2020’s aggregate deal volume was less than 2019 at $34.15 billion compared to $45.33 billion.
- Overall, there were 94 asset deals announced in 2020 compared to 123 deals in the prior year, but deal value rose year over year to $6.72 billion from $6.43 billion.
- Morgan Stanley was responsible for both of the largest acquisitions of 2020: its $13.13 billion deal for E*TRADE Financial Corp. and its $6.93 billion purchase of Eaton Vance Corp.
Financial Services M&A Activity Picked Up In 2020
U.S. financial services M&A activity managed to pick up in 2020 in terms of whole-company and minority deal volume, despite the macroeconomic uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic. However, the total value of those M&A transactions was lower than in 2019.
According to S&P Global Market Intelligence data, there were 420 whole-company and minority stake deals announced in 2020, with an aggregate deal value of $34.15 billion, compared to 396 deals worth $45.33 billion in 2019.
Meanwhile, there were 94 asset deals announced in 2020 compared to 123 deals in the prior year, but deal value rose year over year to $6.72 billion from $6.43 billion.
Morgan Stanley was responsible for both of the largest acquisitions of 2020: its $13.13 billion deal for E*TRADE Financial Corp. and its $6.93 billion purchase of Eaton Vance Corp.
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