M&A Deal Volume, Value Drop 18% in April

U.S. M&A deal activity decreased in April, down 18.4% from March with 783 announcements compared to 959. Aggregate M&A spending also decreased. In April, 18.4% less was spent on deals compared to March.

Over the past three months, the sectors that have seen the biggest increases in M&A deal activity, relative to the same three-month period one year ago, have been Consumer Durables (59 vs. 45) and Distribution Services (168 vs. 162). Only two of the 21 sectors tracked by FactSet Mergerstat posted relative gains in deal flow over the last three months compared to the same three months one year prior.

Over the past three months, the sectors that have seen the biggest declines in M&A deal volume, relative to the same three-month period one year ago have been Health Services (98 vs. 186), Commercial Services (401 vs. 477), Retail Trade (74 vs. 134), Finance (345 vs. 380), and Health Technology (96 vs. 128). Nineteen of the 21 sectors tracked by FactSet Mergerstat posted negative relative losses in deal flow over the last three months compared to the same three months one year prior, for a combined loss of 504 deals.

Topping the list of the largest deals announced in April are:

• Becton, Dickinson & Co. agreeing to acquire CR Bard, Inc. for $23 billion
• JAB and BDT Capital Partners LLC agreeing to acquire Panera Bread Co. for $7.2 billion
• Cardinal Health, Inc's agreement to acquire Medtronic Plc's Patient Care, Deep Vein Thrombosis and Nutritional Insufficiency businesses $6.1 billion
• Fresenius SE & Co KGaA's deal to acquire Akorn, Inc. for $4.2 billion
• PetSmart, Inc. agreeing to acquire Chewycom LLC for $3.4 billion

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