Global M&A activity enjoying best start to the year since 2000

London

WITH pent-up demand from 2016 and the challenges of an unpredictable US administration ahead, companies seeking to get deals done kicked off this year with a bang.

Global M&A activity amounted to US$224 billion in January, the highest volume since 2000 in the first month of the year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. For the first time since 2008, Europe topped North America on the list of target regions, as firms from Swiss drugmaker Actelion Ltd to Italian eyewear maker Luxottica Group SpA agreed to be bought.