Pharma Leads the Way in M&A

The pharma, medical and biotech industry is the leading sector for M&A activity this year, Mergermarket‘s Q2 M&A stats reveal. The sector’s deals have been valued at US$252.5 bn,  a 16.9% market share in global M&A. Deal value is 48.2% above the whole of 2013’s value, and four deals account for a 61.3% share in the sector’s total activity.

Pharma, medical and biotech companies were the most targeted during the first six months of 2014, says Mergermarket; the value already exceeds the annual values of every other year since 2006.

Deals valued at US$ 84.8 bn currently have a 19.9% share in total European M&A, a considerable increase from a 5.4% share this time last year. US bidders accounted for a 71.8% share of European pharma, medical and biotech M&A activity, with deals being announced for tax benefits such as the US$ 45.9bn acquisition of Ireland’s Covidien by Medtronic.