Stefan

The outlook for global deal-making

Stephan Feldgoise, Mark Sorrell, Alison, Stefan

Goldman Sachs projects a moderate 10–15% year-over-year increase in 2025 M&A activity, driven by falling interest rates and post-pandemic portfolio repositioning rather than a sudden market surge. While private equity capital deployment is recovering and Europe leads a global acceleration in deal volumes, significant headwinds persist due to limited exit options for large assets and lingering geopolitical risks. Strategic consolidation remains the dominant theme across energy, healthcare, and technology sectors as firms prioritize scale and generative AI infrastructure, with the IPO market's revival viewed as critical for capital recycling.