“Despite the tepid economic environment, characterized by high interest rates and reduced availability of debt financing, the uptick in both deal volume and value suggests a cautious optimism among dealmakers,” the firm said in a release, adding it appears that players in the merger-and-acquisition market have seemingly adjusted to the prevailing economic environment.
According to Crosbie’s data, there were seven mega deals (transactions valued at over $1 billion) in the first quarter, representing a combined value of $32.1 billion.
The tech sector led the way in the first quarter, with deal volume rising, “mirroring the strong start to the year in the broader stock market and the [artificial intelligence] surge,” it said.
Conversely, deal activity declined in the financial sector, consumer staples and industrials.
“First quarter M&A activity remained stable, suggesting a bottoming with evidence of a…


