US M&A had an extraordinary year in 2021, with total deal value reaching US$2.6 trillion—surpassing US$2 trillion for the first time

European leveraged finance markets rebounded in the past 12 months, driven  by enthusiastic refinancing activity and a resurgent M&A marketplace, setting the  stage for a healthy year ahead

Five factors that will shape dealmaking over the coming 12 months

In the second half of 2021, Delaware courts issued several decisions affecting M&A dealmaking

With data privacy laws tightening and cyberattacks on the rise, due diligence of technology networks and data processes should be a top priority for dealmakers

Borrower-friendly terms over the past few years have helped boost M&A totals—and a number of factors suggest the financing will not change dramatically in 2022

Dealmakers should be braced for a more aggressive stance under Chair Gary Gensler

The Federal Trade Commission is taking an increasingly stringent approach to antitrust investigations

Increased sector scope and concerns around a more aggressive approach to identifying non-notified transactions is leading to rising numbers of filings

After dropping in 2020, real estate M&A ramped up significantly in 2021

Despite the absence of megadeals, M&A in the sector climbed from 2020 levels thanks in part to strong PE and SPAC activity

The pervasiveness of technology, particularly since the pandemic, continues to drive deals to all-time highs

Dealmaking may continue to rise, as price volatility abates and companies embrace energy transition

In what was a stand-out year, M&A picked up the pace in almost every sector

Dynamics may be changing as the focus shifts to de-SPACs and regulatory scrutiny intensifies

Transaction values more than doubled year-on-year, as firms deployed ever-larger amounts of dry powder

All the stars aligned in 2021, creating a confident and exceptionally busy M&A market

A flurry of activity saw year-on-year leveraged finance issuance in Europe hit new heights in 2021. Can this pace be maintained in the months ahead? Based on pipeline activity and investor appetite for growth, the answer seems to be: Yes.

From record SPAC IPOs and M&A deal flow to the SEC issuing a variety of pronouncements, last year was one to remember.