{"id":85565,"date":"2025-12-23T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-23T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/mena-india\/?p=85565"},"modified":"2025-12-23T13:05:58","modified_gmt":"2025-12-23T13:05:58","slug":"year-of-the-megadeals-and-ai-acquisitions-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/mena-india\/2025\/12\/23\/year-of-the-megadeals-and-ai-acquisitions-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Year of the megadeals (and AI acquisitions)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Global M&A snapped back in 2025 \u2014 though unevenly.<\/strong> Transaction value jumped 36% and is on track to hit a total of USD 4.8 tn, which would make 2025 the second-strongest year on record for M&A, Bain & Company said in a new report<\/a>. Volumes rose just 5%, making clear this was a rebound driven by transaction value, not a flood of activity.<\/p>\n

(** Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links <\/strong>to our background as well as external sources.)<\/p>\n

Go big or don\u2019t bother: <\/strong>Transactions above USD 5 bn accounted for more than 75% of incremental transaction value as infrequent, deep-pocketed buyers re-entered the market. Around 40% of these agreements were \u201ctransformative,\u201d meaning they were worth more than half the buyer\u2019s market cap.<\/p>\n

Tech did the heavy lifting: <\/strong>Technology M&A surged more than 75% y-o-y, powered by AI-related agreements. Nearly half of strategic tech transaction value was tied to AI-native targets or capabilities, underscoring how acquirers are choosing to buy transformation rather than build it slowly.<\/p>\n

Growth is back in fashion. <\/strong>Roughly 60% of large transactions in 2025 targeted revenue expansion or new capabilities \u2014 the highest share on record \u2014 reversing the cost-cutting, consolidation-heavy playbooks that dominated during the downturn.<\/p>\n

Still, M&A lost the budget fight: <\/strong>Despite the rebound, companies allocated just 7% of total capital spending to acquisitions \u2014 a decade low \u2014 as capex and R&D took priority. The Magnificent Seven alone spent nearly USD 500 bn on capex and R&D through 3Q, crowding out dealmaking.<\/p>\n

US and China were still the two biggest M&A markets: <\/strong>US targets drove nearly half of global strategic transaction value growth, while Greater China led by transaction count thanks to domestic activity. EMEA\u2019s M&A market lagged \u2014 with volumes falling 7% despite strong growth in transaction value. <\/p>\n

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MARKETS THIS MORNING- <\/p>\n

Asian markets were in the green this morning<\/strong> after China held its loan prime rates steady, with Hong Kong\u2019s Hang Seng and China\u2019s CSI 300 both gaining more than 0.5%. Japan\u2019s Nikkei was also up 1.6%, while South Korea\u2019s Kospi rose 1.8%. Over on Wall Street<\/strong>, futures are also edging higher ahead of a shortened holiday week. <\/p>\n

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<\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

Sensex <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

85,504<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

+0.68% (YTD: +8.7%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

<\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

NIFTY 50 <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

26,156<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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+0.7% (YTD: +10.1%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

<\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

ADX<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

10,011<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

+0.4% (YTD: +6.2%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

<\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

DFM<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

6,120<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

+0.1% (YTD: +18.6%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

<\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

Tadawul<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

10,491<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

+0.07% (YTD: -12.8%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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<\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

EGX30<\/strong> <\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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4,427<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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+0.36% (YTD: +43.4%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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<\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

Boursa Kuwait<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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8,270<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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-0.31% (YTD: +20.2%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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<\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

QSE<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

10,748 <\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

+0.3% (YTD: +1.3%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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<\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

S&P 500<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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6,834<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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+0.9% (YTD: +16.2%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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<\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

FTSE 100<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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9,859<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

-0.38% (YTD: +19.37%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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<\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

Euro Stoxx 50<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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5,757<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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-0.05% (YTD: +17.07%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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<\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

Brent crude<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

USD 61<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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+0.86%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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<\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

Natural gas <\/strong>(Nymex)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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USD 4.1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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+3.04%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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<\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

Gold<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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USD 4,411<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

+1.67%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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<\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

BTC<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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USD 89,684<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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+0.9% (YTD: -6.6%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Values in the table above are listed as per the market position at 3:00 pm (IST) \/ 1:30 pm (GST).<\/p>\n

DECEMBER<\/strong><\/p>\n

26 December (Friday): Tender period for Emirates NBD\u2019s offer for RBL Bank\u2019s public shares ends.<\/p>\n

2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

JANUARY <\/strong><\/p>\n

1 January (Thursday): India assumes the Presidency of Brics.<\/p>\n

19-20 January (Monday-Tuesday): International Crop Science Conference and Exhibition<\/a>, Le M\u00e9ridien Conference Center, Dubai.<\/p>\n

26 January (Monday): Republic Day (Public Holiday). <\/p>\n

27 January (Tuesday): India-EU Summit<\/a> (to potentially finalize FTA), New Delhi.<\/p>\n

27-30 January (Tuesday-Friday): India Energy Week<\/a>, ONGC Advanced Training Institute, Goa.<\/p>\n

30 January-1 February (Friday-Sunday): India Agri Expo<\/a>, Ludhiana Exhibition Center, Punjab.<\/p>\n

31 January (Saturday): Commencement of Budget Session 2026, Parliament of India, New Delhi.<\/p>\n

FEBRUARY<\/strong><\/p>\n

1 February (Sunday): Union Budget 2026-27<\/a>, Parliament of India, New Delhi. <\/p>\n

3-6 February (Tuesday-Friday): ChemTech World Expo<\/a>, Jio World Convention Center, Mumbai.<\/p>\n

9-10 February (Monday-Tuesday): Pune International Business Summit (PIBS)<\/a>, SL Kirloskar Convention Center, JW Marriott, Pune.<\/p>\n

14-18 February (Saturday-Wednesday): IHGF Delhi Fair<\/a> (Spring), New Delhi.<\/p>\n

19-20 February (Thursday-Friday): India-AI Impact Summit<\/a>, Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.<\/p>\n

25 February (Wednesday): World Sustainable Development Summit<\/a>, Taj Palace, New Delhi.<\/p>\n

MARCH<\/strong><\/p>\n

4 March (Wednesday): Holi (Public Holiday).<\/p>\n

12 March (Thursday): ET Entrepreneur Summit & Awards<\/a>, Bengaluru.<\/p>\n

19-22 March (Thursday-Sunday): Bharat Urja Manthan - Global Energy Conclave<\/a>, New Delhi.<\/p>\n

20 March (Friday): Eid Al Fitr (Public Holiday).<\/p>\n

23-25 March (Monday-Wednesday): Indiasoft: International IT Exhibition & Conference<\/a>, New Delhi.<\/p>\n

23-25 March (Monday-Wednesday): Smart Cities Expo<\/a>, Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.<\/p>\n

23-25 March (Monday-Wednesday): PlastiWorld India<\/a>, Jio World Convention Center, Mumbai.<\/p>\n

31 March (Tuesday): Mahavir Jayanti (Public Holiday).<\/p>\n

Signposted to happen sometime in March 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n