Global M&A Trends and Risks Report unveiled by Mergermarket's website
In a dynamic global business landscape, the latest report from Norton Rose Fulbright offers valuable insights into the M&A market of 2025. The report, titled Global M&A Trends and Risks 2025, is the third edition developed in partnership with Mergermarket.
The report underscores the continued importance of M&A as a strategic tool for businesses seeking growth and market access, despite economic and geopolitical uncertainties. It highlights the ability of M&A to enable organizations to restructure and access new markets amid unprecedented change.
Rising Popularity of Deal Insurance
One of the key findings of the report is the increasing use of representations and warranties insurance (RWI) in deals. Nearly 65% of respondents expect the use of RWI to increase in 2025 compared to 2024. This trend indicates a growing reliance on financial instruments to manage transactional risks.
Strategic Acquisitions and AI Integration
The report also reveals that domestic strategic buyers, particularly in emerging markets like Latin America, Africa, and South and Southeast Asia, are expected to be the most active acquirers in 2025. Furthermore, 51% of respondents have already acquired an AI business, and 46% are looking to acquire one in the near term.
Anticipated Changes in M&A-Related Financing
The report predicts that private credit will be the single most important form of financing for M&A deals in Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, as 35% of respondents expect it to become more difficult to secure M&A-related financing in 2025 compared with 2024.
Navigating Complex Deal Environments
The report provides actionable insights and strategies to help clients navigate the complexities of current deal environments. Raj Karia, Global Head of Corporate, M&A and Securities at Norton Rose Fulbright, stated that clients are approaching M&A more deliberately and strategically, with trade tensions, financing pressures, and regulatory scrutiny influencing how deals are structured and executed.
Expert Advice on High-Profile Transactions
With more than 450 M&A partners and 700 other deal lawyers worldwide, Norton Rose Fulbright advises on high-profile, complex, and significant transactions in the market. The report examines trends shaping dealmaking around the world and includes a survey of 200 top-level executives from multinational corporations, large private equity firms, and major investment banks.
Contact Information
For more information, you can contact Dan McKenna, US Director and Global Head of PR and Communications, at Tel: 1 713 651 3576. For Europe, Middle East, and Asia, you can reach Louise Nelson, Head of PR, at Tel: 44 20 7444 5086 or Cell: 44 79 0968 4893.
The report offers a nuanced view, emphasizing risk management, strategic agility, and deal structuring innovations as key drivers for successful M&A in 2025. It complements other contemporaneous market outlooks, such as J.P. Morgan’s and Baker McKenzie’s, which also note resilience in M&A activity amid macroeconomic and regulatory challenges, regional opportunities (especially in India and Asia Pacific), and regulatory complexities affecting deal timelines.
- In the foreseeable future of global business, the rising popularity of deal insurance, such as representations and warranties insurance (RWI), is expected to intensify due to increased reliance on financial instruments for managing transactional risks, as revealed in the 'Global M&A Trends and Risks 2025' report by Norton Rose Fulbright.
- As per the 'Global M&A Trends and Risks 2025' report, businesses in emergent markets like Latin America, Africa, and South and Southeast Asia will likely be the most active acquirers in 2025, and a notable 51% of respondents have already integrated artificial intelligence (AI) businesses into their operations, with 46% planning to acquire AI businesses soon.
