全球并购额创疫情后同期新高！年初至今达2.6万亿美元，AI与企业增长需求引爆交易潮

Group 1 - Global M&A transaction volume has reached $2.6 trillion, the highest level for the first seven months since the peak during the pandemic in 2021 [1] - Despite a 16% decrease in the number of transactions compared to last year, the total value of transactions has increased by 28%, driven by several large deals over $10 billion in the U.S. [1] - Major transactions include Union Pacific's proposed $85 billion acquisition of Norfolk Southern and SoftBank's $40 billion investment in OpenAI [1] Group 2 - The current M&A activity is primarily focused on growth, with companies eager to keep pace in the competitive landscape, particularly in artificial intelligence [1][2] - The healthcare sector was a major driver of M&A activity in the years following the pandemic, while the computer and electronics sectors have seen a significant increase in acquisition offers over the past two years [2] - AI is expected to continue driving more transactions, with notable deals such as Samsung's $1.7 billion acquisition of FlaktGroup and Palo Alto Networks' $25 billion acquisition of CyberArk [2] Group 3 - Private equity firms, which had previously been cautious, are becoming active again, with Sycamore Partners privatizing Walgreens Boots Alliance for $10 billion and KKR and Advent competing for a £4.8 billion bid for Spectris [3] - The U.S. remains the largest M&A market globally, accounting for over half of total transactions, while the Asia-Pacific region has seen a doubling of M&A volume compared to last year, outpacing Europe, the Middle East, and Africa [3]