ANALYSIS: International M&A Slowed in Q1; Australia Bucked Trend

We are in a continuing slowdown in overall M&A deal activity, and the first-quarter totals for international deals show that the trajectory for cross-border M&A has been no different.

With a total Q1 deal volume of $142 billion, cross-border M&A activity fell to its lowest level since Q2 2020, and its second-lowest level in more than a decade. That tracks with overall M&A activity, which fell to $568 billion in Q1, the third-lowest global quarterly M&A deal volume over the same time period.

Cross-border M&A also saw a noticeable drop in market share of total M&A deal volume, from ...