Companies across the world struck 28 M&A deals worth $5 billion

NEW DELHI: Companies across the world struck 28 M&A deals worth at least $5 billion in 2013 so far compared to 21 such mega transactions in the same period last year, a report says.

The total value of such mega M&A deals reached $376.9 billion so far this year, registering a rise of 79 per cent over the year ago period, added the report from global deal tracking firm Dealogic.

"Americas accounts for the highest volume of $5 billion plus M&A deals totalling $292.9 billion in 2013 so far this year and accounted for 78 per cent of the $5 billion plus volume," Dealogic said.

The Americas was followed by the Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region which attracted $60.3 billion and Asia Pacific third with $23.7 billion.

The Americas accounted for 78 per cent of the $5 billion plus volume, followed by EMEA which attracted 16 per cent of the total volume and the Asia Pacific which was third with 6 per cent.

According to the report, Americas' $5 billion plus M&A volume in 2013 so far this year is driven primarily by US deals totalling $281 billion.

Of the 28 $5 billion plus M&A deals in 2013 YTD, 16 were for US targets, six for Europe, four for Asia-Pacific and two for the Americas (excluding-US).

Healthcare was the most targeted sector for global $5 billion plus M&A, which reached $112.5 billion in 2013 and accounts for 30 per cent of the total.

Telecom was second with $89 billion accounting for 16 per cent and technology was the third with $46.7 billion (12 per cent).

In terms of global $5 billion plus M&A advisory ranking, JPMorgan lead charts so far this year with $206.8 billion, followed by Goldman Sachs and Barclays with $191.5 billion and $173.9 billion respectively, Dealogic said.