An analysis of GlobalData’s Financial Deals Database revealed that a total of 17,745 deals* were announced globally during Q1 2022, according to GlobalData. The leading data and analytics company found that this is a marginal increase of 0.8% over the 17,601 deals that were announced during Q1 2021. However, deal activity showcased a month-on-month fluctuating trend in Q1 2022 with February witnessing a decline in deal volume followed by a rebound in March.

Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Although deal activity showcased a slight improvement in Q1 2022, many of the key global markets suffered setbacks due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and more COVID-19 outbreaks in many countries. The new COVID-19 variant may also hamper global deal activity in the coming months.”

North America continued to account for the highest share of deal activity but witnessed a 4.7% decline in deal volume going from 7,907 deals in Q1 2021 to 7,534 deals in Q1 2022. Similarly, Europe witnessed a decline in deal volume by 4.1% in Q1 2022. In contrast, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa and South and Central America regions witnessed an improvement in deal activity by 11.6%, 24.9% and 28.9%, respectively.

Deal activity witnessed declines in many of the key global markets in Q1 2022 compared to Q1 2021 such as the US (by 3.5%), China (5.3%), Canada (14.6%), the UK (17%) and Germany (8.8%). However, countries like India, Japan, France, South Korea and Australia witnessed improvement in deal activity by 38.7%, 8.7%, 12.9%, 37.2% and 2% in Q1 2022 compared to Q1 2021, respectively.

Bose continues: “Some of the deal types (under coverage) also witnessed decline in deal volume in Q1 2022 compared to Q1 2021 while some managed to register growth. The number of private equity deals, and merger & acquisitions (M&A) deals witnessed a decline in deal volume by 9.4% and 3.6% in Q1 2022 compared to Q1 2021, respectively, while venture financing deals volume increased by 8.5%.”

*Comprising of mergers & acquisitions, private equity, and venture financing deals