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Merger Activity and Value Dips in December 2017

Written by FactSet Mergers Staff | Jan 23, 2018

U.S. M&A deal activity decreased in December, down 18.8% with 776 announcements compared to 956 in November. Aggregate M&A spending decreased as well. In December 15.8% less was spent on deals compared to November.

Over the past three months, the sectors that have seen the smallest decreases in M&A deal activity, relative to the same three-month period one year ago, have been: Non-Energy Minerals (71 vs. 66), and Government (five vs. four). 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.

Sector by activity      
Target Sector L3M 12/31/17 Deal Count L3M 12/31/16 Deal Count Difference
Non-Energy Minerals 71 66 5
Government 5 4 1
Misc. 10 12 (2)
Transportation 54 64 (10)
Distribution Services 143 158 (15)
Health Technology 82 98 (16)
Technology Services 424 440 (16)
Energy Minerals 41 59 (18)
Process Industries 107 126 (19)
Electronic Technology 77 96 (19)
Communications 30 50 (20)
Retail Trade 108 128 (20)
Consumer Durables 51 71 (20)
Consumer Services 196 216 (20)
Utilities 68 94 (26)
Consumer Non-Durables 82 109 (27)
Finance 364 398 (34)
Health Services 111 146 (35)
Commercial Services 428 463 (35)
Producer Manufacturing 148 194 (46)
Industrial Services 119 165 (46)
Total 2,719 3,157 (438)


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: Industrial Services (119 vs. 165), Producer Manufacturing (148 vs. 194), Commercial Services (428 vs. 463), Health Services (111 vs. 146), and Finance (364 vs. 398). 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 444 deals.

Topping the list of the largest deals announced in December were:

  • CVS Health Corp. agreeing to acquire Aetna, Inc. for $67.8 billion
  • The Walt Disney Co.'s agreement to acquire Twenty First Century Fox, Inc. for $54.7 billion
  • Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co LP offer to acquire the the Unilever NV's Spreads division for $8 billion
  • Campbell Soup Co. entering into an agreement to acquire Snyder's Lance, Inc. for $4.9 billion
  • Optum, Inc., a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, Inc., agreeing to acquire DaVita Medical Holdings LLC from DaVita, Inc. for $4.9 billion

FactSet Flashwire Monthly Report

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