From increased investment in technology and financial due diligence to the growing prominence of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards, trends and priorities are emerging for investors trying to navigate uncertainties related to, among others, geopolitics, government regulation and pandemic-related disruptions.

This report explores these dynamics in detail, reporting on investors’ expectations for global M&A over the next 12 months, standout sectors, the key risks they see – and how best to mitigate them.

Key findings include:

• 70% of the dealmakers surveyed cite technology, media & telecoms (TMT) as the most prolific sector in terms of expected dealmaking over the next 12 months. At the other end of the spectrum, 54% believe M&A will be least prolific in the energy, mining & utilities (EMU) space.

• Most respondents (54%) identify Asia Pacific (excluding Japan) as the single most attractive region for M&A over the next 12 months. Just over a third (34%) single out North America, with a further 32% identifying that region as the second most attractive for M&A overall.
• The vast majority of respondents (90%) predict an increase in scrutiny of deals for ESG implications over the next three years; almost half (48%) believe the increase will be significant.