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Alternative Market Briefing

Global deal activity down by 7% YoY during January-May 2026

Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Matthias Knab, Opalesque:

Global deal activity declined during the first five months of 2026, as dealmakers remained cautious. The total number of deals (mergers & acquisitions (M&A), private equity and venture capital (VC)) announced globally fell by around 7% during January-May 2026 compared to the same period in the previous year, according to GlobalData, a leading intelligence and productivity platform.

Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: "The decline reflects a more cautious environment for corporates and investors. The pullback was broad-based across deal types, regions and most countries, as buyers continued to weigh heightened execution risk. While overall sentiment remained subdued, select markets still showcased resilience."

An analysis of GlobalData's Financial Deals Database reveals that the total number of M&A deals announced globally contracted by 10% during January-May 2026 compared to the same period in the previous year. Meanwhile, private equity deal volume was down by 13% year-on-year (YoY) during the same period, whereas VC funding activity proved comparatively resilient, slipping only 3% YoY.

Regional trends show relative stability in North America, where deal volume was down just 1% YoY during January-May 2026, pointing to a steadier pipeline supported by deeper capital markets and sustained activity.

By contrast, the total number of deals announced in the Asia-Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and South a......................

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