Tuesday, August 12, 2025

OpenAI, Palo Alto, and SoftBank Drive $2.6 Trillion Global M&A Surge—Largest Since 2021 Pandemic Peak Featuring Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) and Salesforce (NYSE:CRM)

Global dealmaking reached an impressive $2.6 trillion through August 2023, the highest for seven months since the pandemic peak in 2021. Key factors driving this surge include artificial intelligence (AI) transactions and robust corporate growth strategies, starkly overcoming tariff uncertainties. Although transaction counts decreased by 16%, deal values increased by 28% year-over-year, largely fueled by U.S. megadeals exceeding $10 billion, such as OpenAI’s $40 billion funding round from SoftBank.

The technology sector led with $478 billion in deals, accounting for 24% of global activity, showcasing AI’s market influence. However, mid-market deals faced challenges due to initial tariff announcements, resulting in a slight decline in volume. Regional growth was notable, especially in Asia-Pacific with a 97% increase, while North America accounted for nearly half of global volume. Despite fewer overall transactions, mega deals remained resilient, reflecting confidence in long-term strategies.

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