BDO Horizons 2018 - Issue 2

In the latest edition of Horizons, BDO’s M&A experts forecast 8,289 mid-market transactions for 2018, a year-on-year increase up from 7,962, representing a 4% growth. The M&A outlook is positive, says BDO, as pressure from shareholders and the search for innovation continue to drive corporates towards M&A.

BDO is predicting that, as traditional sectors continue to blur under pressure from digitalisation, cross-sector M&A will accelerate in the years ahead. Cross-sector M&A activity in 2017 peaked at US$ 961bn, 21% above the 10-year historical average of US$ 794bn. Industry 4.0 is increasingly prominent in almost all major M&A sectors, setting off an increase in cross-sector deals, says BDO.

In India, mid-market investments declined and went to established players instead, but BDO is optimistic and predicts that 2019 Election reforms and India entering new verticals could see transactions triple, from US$ 17.5bn in 2016 to potentially US$ 49.3bn in 2019.

Published quarterly, BDO Horizons articles are authored by more than 20 BDO M&A specialists, providing invaluable insights into where investment is flowing and showcasing global deal activity. With topics ranging across regions and industry sectors, Horizons provides a satellite view, integrating impacts to the global economy and scoping out trends.