Global: Fees, unpredictable regulators lead to disappointing year for M&A

The first three quarters of the hear have shown disappointing merger activity throughout the globe, say reports, a trend that could be attributed to rising interest rates and some unpredictable national regulators.

”We’re back in the annual dance of uncertainty,” said global corporate finance and M&A head Paul Parker, who works at Barclays.

The numbers have been disappointing as some experts expected increased M&A activities following Verizon Communications’ mega $130 billion deal earlier this year to retain ownership of its wireless operations.

Reports say Goldman Sachs Group is currently ahead of the race with $509.7 billion worth of M&A deals.

Some experts say the slowdown could also be attributed to the maturing competition regulation throughout the world compared with years past.

According to Scott Barshay of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, the world is “seeing more activism out of the antitrust regulators and as a result, fewer deals are being pursued because of fear that the regulators will just torn them down or demand too high a price.”

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