At the half-year stage, US dealflow was down sharply whilst China was least impacted. Megadeals declined although mid-market showed resiliency. Meanwhile, private equity's global M&A market share reached record level.

• Silk Road geopolitics could play role in M&A pickup
• Infrastructure & energy, construction, pharma & cosmetics among potential target sectors
• Deal execution, government regulations hamper dealmaking

• Improving GDP prompts deal confidence
• 2018 M&A transactions highest on record
• Deals expected in TMT, energy and health sectors

• Energy, consumer and retail among the most active sectors
• Valuation gap and worries over macroeconomics impact deal-making

• Chinese buyers turn to German tech space
• Venture Capital used to route into Germany
• Chinese investors shift to a one-on-one approach with targets

This is a review of 2017’s most prolific Asian individual financial and legal advisers. The information can also be found in our League Tables tab as well as on the Profiler app available here.

• Chinese M&A activity into the region reached record heights during 2016, but has only seen two such deals during 2017 due to greater scrutiny.
• 2017 M&A activity in the region has increased 5.6% by value compared to the same period 2016.
• Private Equity buyouts reached record figures during 2016 with a strong 2017 pipeline indicated.

Chinese investors have been on a buying spree in Europe with a significant rise in deals in 2016. Yet the tone of regulators both in Germany and China looks set to tighten conditions for cross-border transactions. 

9 years after the financial crisis of 2008-9, patience is growing continuously thin on the market’s recovery.  While there have been several large increases in German M&A activity in recent years, the levels experienced pre-crisis have yet to be seen.  Fortunately for those waiting for this recovery, the 2016 trend report from Mergermarket offers several promising trends.  

The recent fall in M&A activity was a central theme at this year Benelux M&A and Private Equity Forum. Industry experts assessed the outlook for deal flow and evaluated which sectors looked the most promising.

In this trendspotter piece from Lisa Damast, we examine why private equity is chasing tech deals and how Israel's improved relationship with Turkey could support the energy sector.