After a relatively dismal June and July, M&A activity was up by total deal value across the board in August (even as the number of deals continued to fall), with a notable 116% increase in the U.S. and a more modest 11% increase globally. While U.S. strategic deal value was up significantly (63%), growth was driven primarily by a sizeable 224% increase in U.S. sponsor deal value. Total deal value in global strategic and sponsor transactions saw an increase of 9% and 18%, respectively. M&A activity was still down by deal count, however, falling 21% in the U.S. and 30% globally, with similar rates of decline in strategic and sponsor deals.
