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Global Mergers Hit 20-Year Low Amid Uncertainty

5/19/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Global mergers and acquisitions have plunged to a staggering 20-year low, with March recording just 2,482 deals—the fewest since May 2005. This decline, driven by uncertainty from U.S. tariffs, eclipses the downturns seen after the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. April offered a slight uptick to 2,513 deals, yet remains far behind last year's average of 3,457.

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Story summary

Global mergers and acquisitions have plunged to a staggering 20-year low, with March recording just 2,482 deals—the fewest since May 2005. This decline, driven by uncertainty from U.S. tariffs, eclipses the downturns seen after the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. April offered a slight uptick to 2,513 deals, yet remains far behind last year's average of 3,457.