Global Deal Values Rise 11.6 Percent in First Half

Global M&A values rose 11.6 percent in the first half of the year to $1.7 trillion from $1.5 trillion in 2014, according to research firm Mergermarket, their highest levels since 2007. Large deals -- those valued over $10 billion each -- were also on the rise, with 28 such transactions in the in the first six months of 2015, up from 16 mega-deals in the first half of 2014. Deal values rose 87.2 percent in the more recent period to $678.1 billion, compared to the same period in 2014, said Mergermarket.

The US again led the pack, with a total deal value of $721.5 billion, up 20.7 percent from 2014 and the highest level since 2007. Leading US deals was Charter Communications pending $78.7 billion purchase of Time Warner Cable, followed by HJ Heinz’ $54.5 5 billion buy of Kraft Foods. In the U.S., deal values in the technology sector rose 11.7 percent to $198.3 billion, while telecom deal values increased 10.3 percent to $176.1 billion.