From January to July 2025, the global mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market demonstrated the highest deal volume in the last four years — $2.6 trillion. Despite a 16% decrease in the number of deals compared to last year, the total value increased by 28%. This growth can be attributed to several large-scale transactions, each exceeding $10 billion in value.
This is reported by Finway
Notable Deals Worldwide
Among the largest deals globally is the acquisition of competitor Norfolk Southern by the railroad company Union Pacific Corp. for $85 billion. This deal became the largest in terms of volume in the transportation infrastructure sector and significantly impacted the overall level of M&A activity.
In the EMEA region (Europe, the Middle East, and Africa), a key transaction was the purchase of Israeli company CyberArk Software by American cybersecurity giant Palo Alto Networks for $25 billion. Also included in the list of significant deals was the acquisition of American pharmacy chain Walgreens Boots Alliance by Sycamore Partners for approximately $10 billion.
“The total value of deals was 28% higher than the same figure last year, although their number was 16% lower.”
Trends and Regional Features
In the technology and industrial sectors, a notable deal occurred between Samsung Electronics Co. and the German company FlaktGroup Holding GmbH, which specializes in manufacturing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. The value of this transaction was $1.7 billion. Of particular interest is that FlaktGroup Holding GmbH provides innovative cooling solutions for data centers, which is relevant given the increasing demand for digital infrastructure.
The record volume and increased value of global M&A transactions indicate a resurgence of strategic investments, even amidst an overall decline in the number of deals. Major international companies play a key role in these processes, concentrating resources to consolidate businesses and expand markets.