Global mergers and acquisitions (M&A) will exceed $3 trillion this year, with experts expecting an increase in large deals in 2025 under Donald Trump’s presidency, writes the Financial Times. According to the London Stock Exchange (LSE), the M&A market in 2024 increased by 11%. A year earlier, its volume fell below the $3 trillion mark for the first time in more than a decade.
The value of so-called mega deals (worth more than $5 billion) has increased by 19% since the beginning of this year. That’s what drove total M&A volume up, while the number of deals fell 20% to a nine-year low.
High-profile deals this year included U.S. Mars’ $35.9 billion purchase of Kellanova, which makes Pringles chips, among other things, and financial firm Capital One Financial’s $35.3 billion acquisition of rival Discover Financial Services. A number of experts hope Trump’s return to the White House will mean less regulatory scrutiny of big mergers after the skeptical stance taken by regulators during Joe Biden’s presidency.
“The regulatory environment is expected to be less burdensome,” believes Anu Iyengar, global head of advisory and M&A at JPMorgan Chase.
“There are many signs pointing to 2025 being a successful year,” said Centerview Partners co-president of investment banking Tony Kim.
Although M&A activity slowed in the past three months compared to the third quarter, a flurry of deals followed the U.S. election in November.
“Rumors of a collapse in the M&A market have been exaggerated to some extent,” says Stefan Feldgois, co-head of global M&A at Goldman Sachs. – Since the election, activity has picked up markedly.
The U.S. accounted for 46% of global M&A activity this year. At the same time, the amount of deals grew by 8%.
M&A volume in Asia-Pacific was down 2%, although Japan jumped 45% to a 19-year high. Europe recorded a 20% rise. Investment banking fees rose 12% year-on-year to $111 billion, above the average for the past decade, the FT noted.
Goldman Sachs Group maintained its position as the global leader in M&A advisory. Morgan Stanley displaced JPMorgan Chase & Co. to take second place.
DIM Company announces the beginning of strategic partnership with TASkombank, within the framework of which special privileges are provided for the purchase of real estate in DIM residential complexes, the press service of the developer reported.
“We at Private banking know: home is more than walls, it is a place where dreams and living inspiration are born. We have joined forces with DIM, TAScombank has prepared unique opportunities for its Private banking clients: a 3% discount for the purchase of housing in the eco-complex business class Park Lake City”, – said Oleg Polyak, First Deputy Chairman of the Board of TAScombank.
Eco-complex business class Park Lake City became the first project from the portfolio of projects of the company DIM, where there are exclusive terms of purchase and payment for real estate. In the near future other projects of the company will be announced, where special conditions for potential investors of the company and unique offers for TASkombank Private banking clients will be introduced.
“The partnership between TAScombank and DIM is a confirmation of our reliability and stability in the realization of our projects. In the future, the partnership between banks and developers will become even more necessary and important, as developers will be able to provide stable financing for their projects, avoid delays in construction, increase the confidence of buyers, and special programs with favorable lending terms will make the purchase of housing more affordable for the general public,” said Arseniy Nasikovsky, junior partner of DIM.
DIM Group was founded in 2014 and specializes in the full cycle of development, including design, construction and property management. During this time, the company has commissioned 15 houses in eight LCDs, a total of 3,640 apartments, built more than 332.7 thousand square meters of residential and commercial space. In 2024 DIM commissioned 1191 apartments in three complexes – New Autograph, Lucky Land and Park Lake City. Six residential complexes of “comfort+” and “business class” category are under construction: Metropolis, Park Lake City, Lucky Land, A136 Highlight Tower, Olegiv Podil, The One.
Change in consumer prices in 2023-2024, %
Open4Business.com.ua
The World Economic Forum (WEF) has opened the world’s second Global Government Technology Center (GGTC Kyiv) in the capital of Ukraine, the press service of the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine reported.
“It is not by chance that Ukraine became the second country in the world where the Global Government Technology Center started its work. I am proud that our progress is recognized at the international level, and I am confident that GGTC Kyiv will become a center of cooperation, innovation and transformational solutions in the field of digital governance,” the press service quotes the Deputy Prime Minister for Innovation, Education, Science and Technology – Minister of Digital Transformation Mikhail Fedorov as saying.
It is reported that GGTC Kyiv will become a platform for cooperation between governments, businesses, scientists, technology companies and startups. It will facilitate the introduction of innovative solutions, exchange of the best GovTech practices and realization of joint projects. Through cooperation with international partners, Ukrainian startups will be able to share experience and accelerate digital reforms in the public sector around the world.
“The Center in Ukraine will support our global efforts to unlock the enormous potential of digital technologies to improve public services and create new opportunities. It will be a catalyst for cooperation between the public and private sectors, promoting digital technology and innovation at such a critical time for Ukraine and Europe,” the press service quoted WEF Director Mirek Dussek as saying.
GGTC Kyiv will host the GovTech Observatory, a platform for tracking global and national trends in GovTech. It is expected to become a place for knowledge sharing and data-driven policy development. In addition, Innovation Gateway – a platform for finding partners, piloting and scaling technologies in Ukraine with global investments. FutureGov Education – a training platform for public sector leaders to adapt the latest technologies such as digital twins and artificial intelligence. In partnership with CDTO Campu, the center will create a space for experimentation where leaders from around the world can test and implement promising digital solutions.
GGTC Kyiv is headed by social entrepreneur and innovation leader Zoya Litvin.
“Our mission at GGTC Kyiv is to position Ukraine as a global leader in GovTech innovation and inclusive digital transformation. By connecting with the World Economic Forum network and deepening collaboration across sectors, we aim to create solutions that strengthen governance, empower people, and set new standards of transparency and accountability in the digital age. We invite partners from around the world to join us in developing the future of governance,” Litvin was quoted as saying by the press service of the Ministry of Digitization.
The agreement to open GGTC Kyiv Fedorov, WEF President Berge Brende and its managing director Jeremy Jurgens signed in January 2024. It was reported that the first to open a similar center in Berlin, and Ukraine will become the second country in the world where such a platform will be opened.
In May, it was reported that the decision to open the center was contained in a memorandum that Fedorov, World Economic Forum Director Mirek Dushek and Eastern Europe Foundation President Viktor Lyakh signed at the Diia summit in Zurich. GGTC Kyiv will participate in the WEF and popularize the Ukrainian experience of digitalization at the global level.
https://thedigital.gov.ua/news/u-kievi-vidkrili-drugiy-u-sviti-global-government-technology-centre
China in November increased steelmaking by 2.5% YoY against the same month last year – up to 78.4 million tons, according to the State Statistics Office of the country. Meanwhile, relative to October, production decreased by 4.3%.
In January-November, steel output decreased by 2.7% YoY and amounted to 929.19 million tons.
The production of pig iron in China last month amounted to 67.5 million tons, which is 4.1% more than a year earlier, but 3.9% lower than in October. The country produced 782.8 million tons of pig iron in the eleven-month period, down 3.5% from the volume for the same period in 2023.
China has been the world’s biggest steel producer for years.
