Global M&A activity in technology, digital, media, and marketing bounced back in the first quarter of this year, passing pre-pandemic levels, according to a report by M&A advisory firm Ciesco.
The 40-page study by Ciesco, a specialist M&A advisory firm operating in the technology, digital, media and marketing sectors, reported 472 closed transactions in Q1 2021, a 36 percent increase year-on-year from Q1 2020. The first quarter of 2020 was a strong, pre-covid quarter, when 346 deals were recorded, but Q1 2021 has been an even stronger increase, of 80 percent, on Q1 2019.
The M&A consulting firm also found that the overall disclosed value of deals has risen from $12.4 billion in Q1 2020 to $28.4 billion in Q1 2021 – just under the Q1 2019 level of $30.2 billion.
Ciesco said companies are fighting to stay well ahead of trends driven by the pandemic, such as shifts in working practices and environments, lifestyles, facilities, shopping and healthcare. The firm added that desired assets are rarer than the capital available to buy them, and this is driving competition on…
