The changing M&A game

May 20 - Financial Post (Canada) - Despite the slowdown in M&A activity, we are not at the beginning of a steep downturn in global dealmaking, according to a new report. However, the landscape has changed dramatically.

Relatively calmer financial markets have coincided with a surge of activity in recent weeks: Mars Inc’s US$23-billion purchase of Wrigley Co. to create the world’s largest confectionary company; Westpac Banking Corp. Ltd.’s US$17.6-billion bid for St George Bank in Australia; and Hewlett- Packard Co.’s decision to acquire Electronic Data Systems Corp. for US$14-billion. But despite the expected recovery for M&A, it will not look like 2006 or 2007, Citigroup’s global equity strategy team said in a report. Read More.